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B. E. Steyskal | Washington, DC USA | 05/20/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I won't go over all the ground that other reviewers have. First thing to say is that with Yes seemingly on hiatus, I really WANTED to like this album, but I just don't. This is not on the whole a bad album, it's just plain (I was originally going to say "cheesy" but I think that is a bit harsh and reflects more the difference between my high hopes and reality than it does the actual quality of this effort).



The vocals are fine, and I think the best comparison I can make is that they are very similar to what we hear on the Kansas album "Somewhere to Elswhere"...raspy, yet with a pretty good range. I do find myself wishing to hear Downes moved up in the mix though...every time you hear his backing vocals, you want them to kick into something off of Drama. But they don't.



Taken individually, all the instrumentation is good, the drums are even great. As mentioned by others, the bass definitely does have a Chris Squire feel, which almost makes things worse, because it's a constant reminder of what this album could have been. But it's not.



I think it is just the song writing. Everything is played safe, and since no chances seem to have been taken, you get something that sounds like an opening band for Yes or Asia in the 80s. They don't really distinguish themselves, and it all just seems to fall flat, and an hour after I've heard it, I can't seem to remember any of it 'till I put it on again, and then my thought is something like, "Oh, yeah...now I remember this..."



I get the feeling that *any* band with capable musicians could've made this album, and these guys should be capable of so much more. I'm not saying it isn't worth a listen, but it will not blow you away. There is definitely potential there, but the realization isn't here yet..."