Post Tagged with: "YESterdays"

Yes, “Universal Garden” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Universal Garden” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

The initial three songs on Yes’ ‘Open Your Eyes’ find the world’s greatest progressive rock band at the top of their game.

Yes, “Open Your Eyes” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Open Your Eyes” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

Billy Sherwood always had a knack for melding traditional Yes elements with a contemporary sound. Same here.

Yes, “New State of Mind” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “New State of Mind” from ‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997): YESterdays

‘Open Your Eyes’ is on my Top 5 list of favorite Yes albums, even if it had the misfortune of being one of their lowest-charting studio LPs.

Yes, “Sign Language” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Sign Language” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

A rare instrumental, “Sign Language” closes out arguably the best Yes album to that point since 1983’s ‘90125.’

Yes, “Children of Light” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Children of Light” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Producer Billy Sherwood again shows his talent at blending the Yes tradition with a contemporary feel.

Yes, “Bring Me to the Power” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Bring Me to the Power” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

If ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ remains Rick Wakeman’s final Yes studio album, then this was a fine way to leave the band.

Yes, “Foot Prints” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Foot Prints” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

The fact that Yes’ ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ wasn’t a hit is more due to the changing music environment that the material.

Yes, “Mind Drive” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

Yes, “Mind Drive” from ‘Keys to Ascension 2’ (1997): YESterdays

“Mind Drive” was a deliberate attempt to recapture the epic feel of Yes’ main-sequence albums – and it worked brilliantly.

Yes, “Be the One” from ‘Keys to Ascension’ (1996): YESterdays

Yes, “Be the One” from ‘Keys to Ascension’ (1996): YESterdays

“Be the One” was a strong start to what should have been the opening song for a new Yes studio album.

Yes, “Endless Dream” from ‘Talk’ (1994): YESterdays

Yes, “Endless Dream” from ‘Talk’ (1994): YESterdays

The final song on 1994’s ‘Talk’ became a ’90s-style progressive epic, creating a lasting legacy for the Trevor Rabin era of Yes.