Music Banter - View Single Post - Jon Anderson - Olias of Sunhillow (1976)
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Old 06-21-2010, 03:50 AM   #2 (permalink)
Guybrush
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I've given this 4 spins or so now which is enough, I think, to get an impression. There are some good songs here, Sound out the Galleon is nice. Dance of the Ranyart and Flight of the Moorglade were both enjoyable. I have to admit though, for me, the best parts are the most structured parts which are not so new agey. A lot of the time on this record is, like Boo wrote, more about repetitions and atmospheres than rock songs. I have to admit I like Yes' earlier albums with rock songs like Yours is no Disgrace and Siberian Khatru and for me, Olias of Sunhillow pales in comparison.

I'm not sure it's a fair comparison. I'm pretty sure I'm outside the target group for this album. I like Jon Anderson, but mainly as the singer in the rock band Yes. One thing I like about this album is that I feel as if I understand more what Anderson brings or brought to Yes. I'm sure he had a lot to do with many of those beautiful and harmonious moments on Close to the Edge. Nothing comes close for me on this one though, so it's a mediocre for me. To me, that means there are good moments and bad and so I probably won't spend time with the stuff I didn't like in the future. Rather, I'll listen to the songs I like now and then and forget the rest.

I think this album will have a lot more appeal to someone who has more intimate knowledge of later Yes as well as Jon's stuff with Vangelis and perhaps other solo records.
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