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Written by JORDAN BRANDES / Live Photo by BARRY BRECHEISEN
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
In rock n’ roll sometimes the good stuff comes not out of what a band says but what it does. After all, in the end it is really it is rarely about the people but the albums produced. The exceptions of course being for visionaries like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Unfortunately for those watching the new YES DVDs the members of the band are quite dull to listen to for an extended length of time.
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Yes: Classic Artists
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 Entertainment
 Art
 Special Features
Produced by Image Entertainment
Starring Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White
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It is not that YES is not a good band, they have no doubt made their mark on history. But unlike many other rock bands one never gets the impression that anything really exciting ever happened. The first disc contains 204 minutes of essentially nothing but interviews. There is no real concert footage and only rarely stock photos of the members in their prime.
This becomes a problem for those, like myself, relatively unacquainted with the band. Many of the interviews seem to talk of events that, unless you were a true hardcore fan, do not seem important at all. Even the band members seem disinterested at certain points in the film.
YES was a progressive rock band that became a hit in the mid-seventies. The packet given with the movie makes the claim that YES “ranked along side such groups as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and ELP [Emerson, Lake and Palmer]”. Over the course of their musical career they managed to recruit and drive out more musicians than any I’ve ever heard of. The most well known are of course Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. By the time they got to their fourth album they had already replaced three members from the original group.
This of course has caused quite a lot of discontent among the various members of the group. Many openly admit that while there may have been a tight family bond between many other bands that simply did not exist in YES. The band existed for one purpose and that was to hit superstardom and make amazing music. Rather than simply breaking up the band had what one member calls a “revolving door policy” for its members. No one seemed to stick with the group for long.
Disc-two of the collection saves this muddled box set. Not nearly as long as the first disc the second half of the collection contains everything real fans wanted to find in abundance. The most notable feature on the dvd is the unseen footage of YES rehearsing at S.I.R. Studios in New York City in 1996. Although the footage is slightly more recent then most fans will expect it is still more than welcome. It is one thing to hear the band members get nostalgic about what it was like playing on stage decades ago, it is another to see them in their element on stage playing.
As both a music and film critic, I can honestly say that this documentary really does not prove itself worth buying. This DVD collection will inevitably make its way the local library. That is where it is worth checking out. Give yourself a weekend to soak it all in, you will need that to get through the first disc. So remember, if you are ever in the store shopping and your friend asks if you want to buy the new YES DVD just say no. |
What a strong response
Written by Guest on 2008-02-06 11:22:27
Must have been mind numbing the way you describe it... So what 'era' does it cover? Or is this box set suppsoed to span their entire musical careeer as "Yes"? Seems like a real let down. I hope they get it together and a label gives them their due at least for one more album.
They've always been creative and intriguing to me, but their love-hate relationship with one another is nearly legendary. From the original changes in the Yes lineup, to the actions that caused Trevor Rabin to quit in the 90s, Yes has proven they can produce tremendous music... but effective 'casualties' as well.
Seems a shame. Thanks for the heads up about the box set.
--Steven | Why no?
Written by Guest on 2008-02-06 11:23:08
I see what you mean, but critics should give an objective review. Never think say no is a solution. Its unfair when you as admit yourself, you dont really know much about Yes, should advise people not to buy it. I am jot a die hard Yes fan, but find your skills as critic very limited and narrow. Take a course I would say, then try again. | How about maybe?
Written by publisher on 2008-02-06 11:33:59
This DVD s a BIG commitment and unles you are a really big fan not sure one will be able to sit through the first disc let alone disc 2. A 204 minute documentary is exceedingly long on any subject I don't care what you say. Especially when it's mostly just talking heads with little action. This set is great source material on the band but not sure for the casual fan this is the way to go. | Skip
Written by Guest on 2008-02-06 14:07:45
I've always found YES to be very boring and bland, just awful to listen to and they pollute classic rock radio stations along with Boston and the usual Led Zep tunes. So it's even funnier to read that the DVD is boring and that they seem bored and, well, there you go. | Well, back in the day...
Written by Guest on 2008-02-06 19:22:39
The "claim" that they were as big as Zep, ELP and Floyd is correct. Yes was bigger as far as tours and albums. Their stage show was tremendous and the musicianship simply extraordinary. Their music was similarly way above much of the noise that was the 70s. But still in many ways an acquired taste. I didn't have any interest after 1979 or so. Never liked the "pop" sound they tried to achieve. Like Genesis around the same time, it was a different "product" and vastly cheaper in quality. | Critics study period
Written by Guest on 2008-02-07 12:34:34
To the reader that told me that I should do my hw before I write a review. I do agree with you but unfortunately I am on a pretty strict deadline as well, I only really have maybe 3 days to watch the DVD and write the article. Given that amount of time, plus other work I have to do it does not leave me nearly enough time as I would like to do research. I knew of the bad a little, had i had more time I would have given myself more of a crash course. I respect your comment but realize my situation as well.
Thanks
Jordan Brandes | re: yes dvd
Written by Guest on 2008-02-08 12:02:51
yes are one of the most amazing bands to ever see and hear live,even more so now after so many years.those of us who bought the dvd did so out of respect and want for more on this incredible band. I suggest the listener check teir other concert film dvds |
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