Yes – Big Generator

People that hate on this record are usually hard core “original lineup” fans or just bigger fans of their early, deep Progressive Rock work. In reality, it was a solid follow up to “90125”, so much that sometimes it sounds like it would have been the second album in a double album release. “Love Will Find A Way” (the lead single) was one of the band’s larger hits (which is why some hardcore fans hated this record, it was “commercial”) along with “Rhythm of Love”. Personally, I loved the title track a ton and on a recent re-listen in the store when we received a great copy I was reminded what a banger it was for a group that shred away from that earlier in its career. I have no idea what people are taking about when they complain about the mastering, etc. on this record - it sounds giant and beautiful. Worth a listen for sure.

This is a nice Yes album from late 80's, and sounds like that. I love the music but I woud like that is an analog recording. This is digital and lost some of its magic. The sound is not so bad, but as I said, it lost some of its magic.

Stunning album with incredible arrangements and musicianship throughout. The mastering is the only letdown, somehow holding the whole recording by its throat and removing it of its dynamics and balls (which you can tell are there in the performances!). Crying out for a Steven Wilson treatment if only there were original stems for him to work with!
Other than that, there are moments on this to rival anything else in the catalogue for sheer beauty and exquisite texture....namely during the tracks 'Shoot High Aim Low' (there's a moment where I would swear Alex Lifeson was playing!), 'Love Will Find A Way' (sooo Beatley!) and the title track. Personally I enjoy this more than 90125.

Does not approach the greatness/perfection of "90125", but has absolute gems such as "Love will find a Way"
, & "Shoot high, aim low".

When sitting down with this album for the first time, I was prepared for a rough ride. I was surprised to hear an overwrought, yet ionately made album with great contributions from Anderson, Kaye, and Rabin. The rhythm section gets a bit lost, but then the late 80s were not a good time for virtuoso drummers and bass players, and Yes followed suit. Perhaps that was hard to get over for classic Yes fans, after the hard sell of 90125, but as a singular product Big Generator does the business.

For the second time in a few years, Yes lost their direction and energy. This is very much an album of its time, and that's what's really wrong with it. If you look back to Tales from Topographic Oceans (one of their supreme achievements), this is probably about as far away as you'll get in style and content. It really isn't Yes, so much as Trevor Rabin. Too much punchy, radio-friendly. He's not Steve Howe.

Unfairly panned by the world and his wife, there are some decent tracks on this, the studio follow-up album to the phenomenally successful 90125. "Rhythm of Love", "Love Will Find A Way", and "Final Eyes" are certainly not typical Yes tracks; clearly they are more suited to the Rabin rock stable but they are nonetheless good tracks. The final track "Holy Lamb" puts me in mind of "We Have Heaven" from Fragile with it's great multi-tracked harmonies.
It's definitely an album "of its time", a real 80s effort, but it's not a bad album at all and certainly far better than many give it credit for.