Search - Yes :: Ultimate Collection: the 35th Anniversary

An amazing band, an amazing career

Neil Fenton | Ireland | 10/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is actually the first official 'best of' collection from this band which is very surprising considering this band have been going 35 glorious years.
Yes, have been something of a forgotten band since the 1990's which is sad considering they were always perched very much at the top from the late 60's straight through to the late 80's Hopefully this release along with current tours will raise their profile once again as one of the truly great, talented and innovative bands of all time.
This compilation, complete with the always brilliant Roger Dean Artwork is action packed with the great music of the band's long, never boring,changeable career from late 60's hippy folk, 1970's epical Progressive rock to their radical but milestone changeover to new wave stadium rock of the 1980's which yielded them single successes.
Yes are one of those few bands who could bring out more quality 'best of' compilations than you count on your one hand.From their splendid Progressive rock era included here is the brilliant 'Starship Trooper' (10 mins long of course) from the 'Yes album','And you and I' from the surperb 'Close to the edge' is one of those epical, emotional tearjerking to elating epics that represent the wonderous yes at their very best. 'Awaken' from fabulous 'going for the one' is 17 mins of sheer, sublime beauty draining almost every emotion inside of you, not one second wasted,stunning musicianship and arrangements leaving you thinking-''Does music get much better than this?''
The second cd contains mostly the shorter songs from the band's 1980's singles career, they may have commercialised their sound somewhat in the 80's but the classic rock single/world no.1 hit 'Owner of a lonely heart' and other great songs like 'Leave it' and 'Big Generator' are thrilling and unignorable. Are a band writing good music sellouts? Anyway I could go through each song and its story from a wonderful band of musicians forver but I should probably leave some room for other people's reviews. The one thing that dissapointed me about this was that nothing from the album 'Drama' was included which I consider to be one Yes' better albums. But I suppose there is only so much good music you can fit on 2 cds.I will conclude by advising any Rock fan, or fan of good music to buy this record a very worthy and representative compilation from a maginificent rock band."