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Cyan Blue

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  1. Cyan Blue
    (If you like progressive rock, or classic rock in general, listen to this album!)
     
    So to start out my first blog post, I'll review something I choose. The Yes album! I don't know any Yes fans on here, so I hope some of you who like this type of music give it a try! If you like Rush, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc. You have a high chance of liking this band.
     
     
    OK, so if you are still here , I'm going to review it track by track.
     
     
    Yours is no Disgrace (Opening tack):
     
    This is the first song I have heard from the album, I believe. It's also the opening track by coincidence. It doesn't have much singing at all, more of a song to play on an instrument. It has multiple tempo and pitch changes, and goes from a major to a minor into the guitar solo-ish area if I believe. It starts out with simple chords. EE A E, AA D A, AA D A AE,. and then changes pitches. Until it goes to the guitar break down thing. There is also a part in the middle, close to the end almost where it is a lot of peoples favorite part. It gets all "badass". Great song, awesome opening track and a great listen.
     
    8.5/10
     
     
    Clap
     
    OK, so the real name is THE CLAP, Yes, laugh it up, but most people refer to it as Clap. It's a simple guitar tune made for you to clap your hands along to! Kind of... Anyway, It is a complex solo acoustic guitar piece with a playful nature to it. Next to Mood for a Day, it is another genius work of art by the guitarist, Steve Howe. FUN FACT: This was written for his son Dylan the day he was born.
     
    8.5/10
     
    Starship trooper:
     
    Simply amazing track, blows my mind to this day. It is a song you have to just listen to. I can't explain it perfectly. The live version from "Yessongs" in 1973 is amazing. With "Disillusion" in the middle with the acoustic just picks up the tempo and brings the song into a more "happy" tone. Then it goes straight back into the jaw-dropping "Wurm" with a memorizing guitar solo and the mini moog solo by Rick Wakeman. My favorite song on the album.
     

     
    9/10
     
    SIDE 2:
     
    I've seen all good people:
     
    This song is notorious for it's "poppy-ish" style, and it's repedative-ness. It is not received very well by fans. I guess I am the minority then. It isn't my favorite song by and means, but I still think it a great song. "Your move" Is a happy tune, it makes me happy. Then it goes into a blues-ish rock thing. A note able part is the amazing guitar solo, very fun to play.
     
    8/10
     
    A Venture:
     
    To be honest, I never was a big fan of this song, probably the weakest song on the album. One of the shortest songs on the album and nothing noteworthy to me. It's sort of a quiet song. I can't relate to it in any way and was honesty a boring song to me.
     
    7/10
     
    Perpetual Change:
     
    Starting with the in your face guitar and keyboard chords in the beginning, and the awesome tempo change in the middle of the song that surprises you. It is an awesome song, another highlight. I love how at the tempo change in the middle, half of the band is doing one thing, and the other side something else. Pretty creative. I do also like the lyrics for some reason. A great listen.
     
    8.5/10
     
     
    Hey guys, this was my first post. I spent quite some time on it. Leave me feedback on it! Tell me what I should review next! Tell your friends. For now, I'm out. Hope to see you next time!
     
     
    -Cyan Blue
  2. Cyan Blue
    This is my second blog post and also my second review of an album. I know nobody is keeping up with it but even if one person looks at it, I get to share my taste in music.
     
     

     
    Close to the Edge, by Yes (of course ) is one of the most well known album by Yes and was probably where all the musicians were at their peak. Rick Wakeman was as genius as ever. Alan white was new on tour (but Bill Bruford is the one playing drums on the album) Steve Howe was ripping out amazing solos, as well as Chris making mesmerizing bass lines. Jon was breath taking also.
     
    This is usually recognized as one of the most proggy albums Yes ever came out with. Only holding 3 songs, the album is about 40 minutes long. Let's start off with the 18 minute title track, Close to the Edge!
     
     
    This song is the longest track on the album. It is divided into multiple sections, so I am going to review it like that, here we go!
     

     
    1. Solid Time of Change:
     
    Starts out slow, with various synth noises and birds, etc.
     
    Then it goes into total chaos. With lightning fast keyboard and guitar riffs. Along with the insane rhythm section.
     
    FUN FACT: This part came about when someone in the band (I forgot who) asked how fast keyboardist (Rick Wakeman) could play. He then came up with this.
     
    Then after the chaos, it goes into the breakdown. It gets a little less overwhelming.
     
    Steve Howe get's out the Sitar soon after that, then the vocals come in.
     
    Most of Yes' lyrics make little to no sense anyway, so.
     
    Overall, this is an awesome part to the song. Not something I would recommend for someone to listen to if they never heard Yes, but a true fan favorite.
     
     
    2. Total Mass Retain
     
    Not much to say here, it's pretty much almost the same thing as where we picked up last time, until...
     
     
    3. I Get Up, I Get Down
     
    "We have the ‘the I get up, I get down’ part before it goes into a beautiful ocean of energy. You’ve gone through nearly 10 minutes of music that’s very well put-together, but then you want to let go of it. You relax a little bit."- Jon Anderson
     
    (Read more at http://www.yesworld.com/2012/12/jon-anderson-talks-yes-close-to-the-edge-track-by-track/#VGvjs8Zgau2EpR4R.99 )
     
    "This is where everyone starts lighting up"- Me
     
    It's a relaxing bit, a slow, peaceful, part in the middle with a lot of beautiful vocal harmonies. It takes you away...
     
     
    A truly haunting church organ plays in the middle of it, that amazes people to this day.
     
    It's a one in a lifetime experience, pure bliss.
     
    4. (Final) Seasons of Man:
     
    Straight back to the chaos I see. I don't even know what to think at the beginning of this part, it's crazy.
    The keyboard solo is awesome once again.
     
    It then is kind of like a reprise with the Total Mass Retain part, again with Howe on the Sitar.
     
    It ends with emotional singing, which is a great way to close the track, then comes back the birds and the rest of the synth.
     
    Awesome song overall, great title track. A spiritual experience, indeed.
     
    9/10
     
     

     
     

     
    Song 2: And You and I.
     
    "The best love song ever without using the word "love" a single time."
     
    This song is also in sections, so I will again review it like that.
     
    1. Cord Of Life:
     
    Starts out with the harmonics on the 12 string acoustic guitar, then goes into this slow part. It kind of sounds like the beginning of the end (Which it is).
     
    It goes a into a bit of a "happier" chord progression, with D shaped chords.
     
    Next, there is a great relationship switching back with Chris and Jon's singing.
     
    Awesome start, not much to say here.
     
    2. Eclipse
     
    Steve brings out the Lap steel, and Rick Wakeman's passages with the Mini Moog and the Mellotron really make this part.
     
    The singing is also a work of art, as usual.
     
    It goes back to the acoustic guitar, which really is a great way to end the section.
     
    Slow and emotional, a masterpiece.
     
     
    3. The Preacher, The Teacher:
     
    My favorite section, a ballad like section.
     
    It's really quite amazing, actually.
     
    I almost cried when I first heard the song.
     
    It's also what prog rock is about, put your own meaning to it. Create a meaning that means something to you.
     
    That's how I interpret it, anyway.
     
     
     
    4. Apocalypse:
     
    Once the piano hits its last note:
     
    It's the end, everyone.
     
    The title of the track really fits for some reason, I feel like this is what most love songs should be like.
     
    It closes with a slow guitar and a slide in the background.
     
     
    This song needs nothing more said.
     
     
    10/10 Yes, I rate it that high. Best song on the album, in my opinion.
     

     
     
     


    SONG 3: (Final Song)
     
    Siberian Khatru
     
     
    The shortest of all the songs, but that doesn't mean anything. It's still a strong song.
     
    It starts off with the fast guitar, and then the rest of the band comes in. This is the perfect song to close the album.
     
    To be honest, It gets a bit redundant. Mostly towards the end.
     
    FUN FACT: I play this song on my guitar daily, (my brother hates me for it )
     
    According to Jon, this song is about how Siberia is so far away, or something like that.
     
    (ANOTHER FUN FACT: ‘Khatru’ means ‘as you wish’ in Yemeni.)
     
    I hate to leave off the this post with such a weak song review, but there isn't much to say about it to be honest. Doesn't mean it's a bad song at all. You just have to listen to it on your own
     
     
    Overall, great album. One of my favorites from Yes. You need to listen to it.
     
     
    OVERALL RATING: 9.5/10
     

     
     
    REQUEST ME STUFF!
     
     
    Anyway, for now. I'm out
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