----------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 1, 1998 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: Progressive World http://www.progressiveworld.net/yes.html  Yes - Open Your Eyes By Stephanie Sollow Yes' latest all studio release, Open Your Eyes, isn't really the best album Yes have ever produced. Continuing in the more pop progressive end of the genre, there doesn't seem to be much difference between this Yes, and the Yes of the past few albums. Loosely, this is a concept album, where each song reinforces the theme of the title. While that seems recursive to say, some play on the theme in a spiritual sense (opening eyes to a greater wonder) others in a romantic sense...well, I suppose could also be a spiritual sense if we were to really pick the lyrics apart. This is Yes, nothing is really that obvious is it? Comprising the band this time out for those tracking such things: Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe, and a new to the band, though not new to the prog scene, Billy Sherwood. The album begins big, brassy, and in your face (though they will never be mistaken for a metal band). The instruments are upfront in the mix, the harmonized vocals getting lost during several tracks. The opening three tracks are dense and leave no breathing room for any instruments and the vocals are shrill. But, things improve starting with track 4, and while the universal peace theme of "No Way We Can Lose" may be wishful thinking and the composition itself a bit overly sunny for a typical Yes tune, it is one of the better tunes on the disk. Maybe not very progressive, especially compared to previous Yes output, but it is one of the few that are allowed to breathe, where each instrument is allowed some space. The next track, "Fortune Seller" is typical modern Yes, and really could have appeared on any of the last couple of albums. My personal favourite is the acoustic "From the Balcony," just Anderson on vocals and (I believe) Howe on guitar. "Man On The Moon" seems more nursery-rhymish on a first listen (Yes does Doctor Seuss), but overall isn't a bad tune. "Wonderlove," sappy lyrically but, yet again, another well arranged song. "Love Shine" is rockier than "Wonderlove," but here again a bit on the overly sentimental end. Overall this is an average album, that gets better as it moves along. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com