YESterdays

Yes, “Damaged World” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Damaged World” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

This track fits well on an album where Yes attempts to find some sense of purpose in a world beset by climate change and COVID. So why’d they leave it off?

Yes, “Mystery Tour” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Mystery Tour” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Maybe Yes’ bonus-track Beatles tribute “Mystery Tour” is just inoffensive fluff, but there’s a special place in my heart for this song.

Yes, “Sister Sleeping Soul” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Sister Sleeping Soul” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

“Sister Sleeping Soul” begins as a rather unwelcome return to the kind of soft rock-prog that doomed Yes’ ‘Heaven and Earth.’ Then something great happens.

Yes, “A Living Island” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “A Living Island” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

The Yes lockdown album bides its time, waiting for just the right moment to discuss the COVID-19 shaped elephant in the room.

Yes, “Music to My Ears” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Music to My Ears” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

With “Music to My Ears,” Yes continues to seesaw between song ideas that clearly sprang from individual members. That leads to an ego-driven mistake.

Yes, “Future Memories” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Future Memories” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Ever-more-confident Yes frontman Jon Davison seems to be growing into his role with each passing verse on the solo-written “Future Memories.”

Yes, “The Western Edge” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “The Western Edge” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Two different people constructed Yes’ “The Western Edge” from two different ideas while working in two different places. What could go wrong?

Yes, “Leave Well Alone” from ‘The Quest’ (2020): YESterdays

Yes, “Leave Well Alone” from ‘The Quest’ (2020): YESterdays

Yes has finally come to grips with the idea of making an album without Chris Squire. But can they avoid repeating the mistakes of 2014’s ‘Heaven and Earth’?

Yes, “Minus the Man” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Minus the Man” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

My hopes and expectations have been satisfied by the release of ‘The Quest,’ an album worthy of the name “Yes.”

Yes, “Dare to Know” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

Yes, “Dare to Know” from ‘The Quest’ (2021): YESterdays

The modern-era version of Yes has once again shown that they can do something pretty. Next time, guys, let’s dare to rock.