Grand Scheme of Things

Steve Howe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Relativity
• ASIN: B000008GQ4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,341 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Grand Scheme of Things

2. Desire Comes First

3. Blinded by Science

4. Beautiful Ideas

5. The Valley of Rocks

6. At the Gates of the New World

7. Wayward Course

8. Reaching the Point

9. Common Ground

10. Luck of the Draw

11. The Fall of Civilization

12. Passing Phase

13. Georgia's Theme

14. Too Much Is Taken and Not Enough Given

15. Maiden Voyage

16. Road to One's Self

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Howe Finds His Roots, April 10, 2002

By 

Kevin Caffrey (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Scheme of Things (Audio CD)

Released in 1993, _The Grand Scheme of Things_ sadly seemed to go out of print here in the US by the end of the 90s. Therefore, I'm sure many Howe/Yes fans have not heard the material that is on this album. Even though it's still not available in the US, it's nice to see that it's now available for a reasonable price as an import.

_The Grand Scheme of Things_ is very similar to Howe's first solo outing, _Beginnings_, in that it combines instrumentals with songs that feature vocals from Howe. While still not a traditional lead vocalist, Howe's vocals have improved through the years. Personally, I like his vocals because they are warm and intimate. The title track opens up the album nicely with it's steady pulse, and leads into a beautiful instrumental, "Desire Comes First" which features Howe's electric guitar trading lines with a violinst - very nice stuff. "Blinded By Science" might be the 'poppiest' Howe solo tune, and "Too Much Is Taken and Not Enough Given" also finds Howe rocking out - in a politically-conscious sort of way.

Howe fans should love this album. Think _Turbulence_ meets _Beginnings_ with an early 90s political-conscious theme to many of the lyrics.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Un tèrmino medio, March 30, 2004

By 

J. B. Fresno (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Scheme of Things (Audio CD)

Steve Howe es el único miembro de Yes que ha mantenido una cierta coherencia en su carrera en solitario. Aún con altibajos, su sonido, no es que se parezca a Yes, pero mantiene unos niveles de calidad bastante aceptables. Es más en la epoca que siguió a 1983, los discos de Steve Howe son, casi siempre, mejores que los del grupo. Este disco, sin embargo, es, probablemente, el peor de su carrera. En cierta forma es similar a Beginnings, aunque con el lastre de que los temas son peores. La voz de Howe a mi, particularmente, me recuerda mucho a la de Neil Young, aunque con menos garra y, desde luego no es su fuerte, aunque a mi no me desagrada cuando adopta un tono más íntimo como ocurre en los dos discos de Homebrew. Los instrumentales brillan, en este disco, con luz propia, mientras que los temas cantados, además de las mencionadas debilidades vocales de Mr. Howe, son bastante planos. En definitiva, sobra la mitad del disco.

2.0 out of 5 stars The low side of Howe, January 25, 2010

By 

E. Lipper (upstate new york) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Scheme of Things (Audio CD)

S.H. did not record any solo albums in the 80's, after 2 in the 70's. Then he did one instrumental album and this one. The early 90's were a tough time for most bands and artists -(whose early 90's albums rate high among their previous and future work?..) So, this is true for this album - unspectacular songs, not much great playing, and a weird, cheap sound to the whole thing. Interesting, but not very good.