With Benoît David fired from Yes due to his respiratory issues, Yes had no vocalist. The late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins recommended Jon Davison, who would begin his tenure as vocalist with this album. It would also be the last album for Chris Squire, as he died of leukemia a year later. This album is not on Spotify.
Members:
Jon Davison: vocals
Steve Howe: guitars
Chris Squire: bass
Geoff Downes: keyboards
Alan White: drums
The Tracks:
- “Believe Again”: One of the good things about Davison is that his vocals sound very similar to Anderson. The guitars sound nice, but it kind of falls apart during the choruses.
- “The Game”: There’s some excellent guitar and keyboards on this, but the rhythm sounds basic.
- “Step Beyond”: There’s some unnecessary layering on the vocals during the verses, and the keyboards sound awful. Things slightly pick up during the chorus, but not enough to save the song.
- “To Ascend”: This song isn’t excellent, but it’s better than the songs that led up to it. The guitars and keys sound cool, and the rhythm is better as well.
- “In a World of Our Own “: The keys and guitar sound great on this, although White still doesn’t quite sound good.
- “Light of the Ages”: This is the best song on the album, with some excellent guitar and bass. The rhythm is better than it’s been up until now.
- “It Was All We Knew”: The guitar on this is all right, but Downes’ keyboards sound a little strange.
- “Subway Walls”: Squire’s bass is excellent on this, making me wonder what he’s been doing this whole album. It’s a good song overall, but not enough to save the album.
Final Verdict: This album is a real disappointment, and I was hoping I’d enjoy it. While Davison sounds like a good fit, the bass and rhythm is overall lackluster.
Grade: D
Aspie Catholic 