Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some don't like it--I do!!, January 24, 2001
Many people seem to say this is not Yes at their best. This assumption may be correct. However, from what I have heard, even with their classic albums like "Close to the Edge," "Fragile," or "Going for the One," this album, "Tormato," is actually my favorite. Lyrically, this album is bright, positive, and based on fantasy themes. Unicorns, UFO's, and spirituality all exist in this record. The production quality is also quite interesting and Rick Wakeman's choice of keyboards is quite unique for sure. The stand out cuts for me are "Madrigal," which is a beautiful little ditty--in fact, it's what I wish life sounded like--it's just a great, feel-good sounding song. Also, "Release, Release," which is probably my favorite is a great tune which will have your head bobbing up and down because this song has a great groove--even with an unnecessary drum solo, it's still a kickin' tune with great lyrics telling a tale of controllers releasing their people. "Circus of Heaven" is another song I love. The melody itself is breathtaking and the subject matter is fantasy at its best--unicorns, elves, and fairies all exist in this song--taking you to another world all together--taking you to the Circus of Heaven. The only problem I have with this song is the ending--it ends with a young boy talking. It would have been more effective with a good power ending, but the song is so well done that the ending doesn't ruin it entirely. The album's last song is another gem. "On the Silent Wing of Freedom" has a great intro, a powerful melody, and great lyrics about our own final freedom. "Tormato" is an album even Yes said they weren't very fond of. I, however, think it's just great. Give it a shot--very progressive indeed, but much more accessible than some of their other efforts.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brutally underrated classic!, December 20, 2001
The most tragically under-appreciated Yes
recording -- Tormato -- is
a glorious celebration of the art of music making.
If I had to choose one Yes album I'd take to a
desert island it would be this one.
Why? Because it has a little bit of everything that makes Yes great.
No, there are no 25-minute epics. (Let's face
it: most of their side-long pieces from the old
days were, though great, a patchwork of three
or four shorter tunes spliced together anyway). But here, more
than anywhere else in their career, do Yes prove
that it is not length, but creativity that gives music
its potency. Anderson is totally at ease in the leader role by this
time in his career, as is attested
by his allowing full compositional contributions
from Squire, Howe, White and Wakeman.
He is at his whimsy best on "Future Times" and
"Circus of Heaven," weaving tales of fantasy and
wonder that are his speciality.
Howe burns his way through pieces like "Arriving UFO,"
"Release Release," and
"On the Silent Wings of Freedom." The man is
clearly having the joy of his life on this music;
what a shame that they hardly ever perform
these songs in concert! White and Squire
are clearly at the peak of their
instrumental prowess, displaying blinding
pyrotechnics just about everywhere.
Wakeman is simply all over this album. His
melody lines race like the devil
through "Release Release"(next to "Sound Chaser"
it's the most powerhouse,
high energy song they ever did!), then spin abruptly
round to find him on harpsichord elegantly
accompanying Howe's classical guitar on the
baroque-inflected beauty, "Madrigal."
Even the details shine forth on Tormato: crotales on
"Circus of Heaven"; the French horn on
"Onward"; The whale song that Wakeman mimics
on his Birotron on "Don't Kill the Whale."
Listen carefully or you would miss these subtleties.
Nine out of ten people (many of them die-hard Yes fans) write
this album off as garbage, and I will never understand
why. This kind of snarling derision
hurled at Tormato is totally
unfounded, and can only be explained as a prejudice
against short songs. For my tastes it is one of their most satisfying
albums.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tormato - A poorly understood project?, September 5, 2001
I believe I am a loyal Yes fan, having an appreciation for nearly everything they've done. When it comes to Tormato, I am constantly fascinated as much by the ignorance and swift rejection of this album, as I am with its material. Why does this record get so little attention from Yes fans and the media alike - not to mention the band itself? Notwithstanding this, I believe Tormato has a curious blend of creative ideas with some of the best performances ever from the band.
I challenge all naysayers to listen carefully to the brilliance of the arrangements in "FutureTimes/Rejoice", the memorable melody in "Don't Kill the Whale", or the splendid performances in "Release, Release", for example. Perhaps all critics of this album can't help but to compare it with "Fragile", etc., but I enjoy it in absolute terms - most of the songs are simply beautiful, creative compositions albeit shorter in length. In all fairness, maybe it just never got the promotion it needed from the start. I have only one kick worth mentioning: "Circus of Heaven" and "Onward" should really be on Jon's and Chris' solo albums, respectively. To me, they sound too personal to belong on a Yes record. "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" is a very ambitious track (the longest one) highlighting Chris' bass guitar work. "Madrigal" sounds very classical featuring harpsichord and nylon string guitar, while "Arriving UFO" is just plain fun to listen to with its whimsical parts from each instrument.
All in all, Tormato may lack a central theme like "Tales...", but it IS a combination of GREAT music in its own right. I appreciate what it has to offer. Why not give it a fair chance?
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