------------------------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: RockAhead http://www.rockahead.net/reviews/reviewpage.php/?link=YES_ACOUSTIC.HTM&artist=YES Yes Acoustic DVD Review Classic Pictures DVD 7090X As many people will be aware Yes have just recently celebrated their thirty fifth anniversary. As part of the celebrations of that anniversary, Yes embarked on an extensive and massively successful world tour. During the tour the band saw the release of a documentary DVD entitled Yesspeak and a greatest hits double CD, which also found itself on the racks with the bands back catalogue, which had also been re-mastered and re-issued to tie in with the tour. The classic line up of Yes which included Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman just seem to go from strength to strength and this DVD captures the band in fine form at the beginning of January 2004 performing a number of Yes classics for a simulcast across cinemas in America just prior to a seventy five minute premier of the Yesspeak film. The band decided to re-arrange the songs for an acoustic performance, which in my opinion was excellent. I do know however that some Yes fans were not as excited as me by the new arrangements of songs like Roundabout and felt the band would have been better just performing the songs as they would in concert. This in my opinion misses the whole point of Yes as the band have been constantly pushing the boundaries of their music for the entire thirty-five years of their career and to my ears at least these performances sound fresh and new. As with most DVD packages these days there are a number of extras which here includes pre-broadcast footage of the band rehearsing and trailers for the Yesspeak premier. There is also an amusing commentary from Rick Wakeman proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Yes do indeed have a strong sense of humour and are far from the dour serious musicians certain members of the press would have you believe. Yes Acoustic is another previously unseen side of the band and one, which could well be developed, further should the band so decide. I feel that it would be an interesting avenue at the very least and also one, which would interest the fans also. As an addition to the Yes catalogue Yes Acoustic will certainly be snapped up by the still large fan base and also one which could well introduce Yes to a whole new audience and pave the way for even greater success for this incredible band of musicians. Hugely enjoyable and highly recommended! Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com