Topography (The Yes Anthology) - Yes

Advantages: Much more polished, mature and awe inspiring sound
Disadvantages: Maybe too different for some listeners to appreciate

...The Dresden Dolls self titled debut album was a real burst of adrenaline in the stagnant alternative music scene; it's combination of raunchy yet raw lyrics with powerful drums and crazy piano melodies made it a very unforgettable listen, an album that I shall take to my grave as one of my all time favourites. So when I got the follow up album 'Yes Virginia' for my last birthday, I was curious, excited and even a little sceptical; I'd never heard any of the songs before hand so was completely unsure of what I was going to be gracing my ears with. Then, their was my ever present bout of cynicism that doubted that the band could make a second album with at least the same amount of promise and aptitude as their first. How wrong could I possibly have been? The album starts with 'Sex Changes', a positively wacky bundle of energy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: One of the best Yes albums out there.
Disadvantages: I can't think of one.. sorry.

...What an album. Released in 1971 and combining pumping tracks like 'Long Distance Runaround' and 'Heart of the Sunrise' with solo efforts in the form of 'Cans and Brahms' by Rick Wakeman and 'Mood for a Day' by Steve Howe in a way which sums up exactly what Yes is; A group of individually fantastic musicians who, combined, are even better than the sum of the seperate parts. Yes is a group founded in about 1969 and has had many members over the years and for this album has Jon Anderson singing, Bill Bruford on drums and percussion, Steve Howe on Guitar, Chris Squire on Bass Guitar and Rick wakeman on the piano. Their music in general and on this album is a kind af Rock and Roll mixed with the layers and depth of Classical Music usually called Progressive Rock, but it has since been elevated to being known simply as 'Yes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Every song has a deep meaning, and is sung passionately.
Disadvantages: You won't want to listen to anything else for a while :)

...After hearing a lot of songs from the Dresden Dolls' first self-titled album, I decided that it would be a crime not to listen to "Yes, Virginia...", an album that derives its name from a letter written from a young girl, Virginia O' Hanlon, asking if there is a Santa Claus. Beautifully, the reply explains that as long as people believe in Santa, he will exist. The letter can be found on the Dresden Dolls' website, in the bio section. The album starts with a bang, as a piercing, erratic piano announces the first track; Sex Changes, a song that seems to explore both Sex Changes and abortion at the same time. There are also slower tracks, such as Delilah, a song about a woman subjected to domestic violence. These songs are filled with just as much emotion and double meanings as the faster tracks. All in all, this is an amazingly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful