To answer your question, yes, that is a naked woman on the album cover. This is the first of two Yes album covers to feature nudity, and out of those two it's certainly the better album cover, but I'll talk more about that when we get to the Going For The One review.
There's a reason I've but off this review for so long. This is a really unremarkable album. It's not really that good, so I don't to have much to praise about it, but it's not really that bad either, so I can't really rip it to shreds. It's just unremarkable
Okay, so there are some remarkable things about it. The first is that decided to use a full orchestral backing on this one. This does have a slight downside in that it diminishes the role of the guitar and keyboards. The second is that Chris Squire's bass work is fantastic throughout this album.
The next thing that it is important to point out is that they have an orchestra on this album. Personally I don't think it really works. It is often times there for the sake of just being there. and I think that it sounds kind of cheesy at times, although there are some times where it works to good effect. One downside to it is that it causes Peter Banks guitar work to be diminished, leading to the myth that he wasn't very good, while in reality he is quite good, just not as good as Steve Howe (but I do like him more than Trevor Rabin).
Now on to the actual songs. Once again there are two cover songs. The first is "No Oppritunity Necessary, No Expirence Needed", originally by Richie Havens. It's a pretty good song, one of the better ones on the album, but the orchestra is a bit corny at times. The second is "Everydays", originally by Buffalo Springfield. This one has kind of a jazzy feel to it. it is also one of the only songs with any memorable guitar and keyboard work. Part of the reason I liked the first album so much was because of the guitar and keyboard, so it's nice to see one song where it shows up again.
The song "Then" is really good musically and melodically, possibly my favorite on the album,but we are forced to listen to Jon Anderson's stupid, generic hippie lyrics he was writing at the time (Love is the only answer/Hate is the route of cancer). Listening to it makes me wish he would hurry up and write the more abstract lyrics he became known for. Still, it's a great song.
I don't like "Sweet Dreams" too much, it's too poppy for my test. I can almost imagine it as a 90125 era song, just make it more generically 80s! "The Prophet" has some cool keyboards at the beginning, and the orchestral build-up works well. the only problem is that after the super cool intro, the melody of the vocal part isn't to strong. Then there's a really cool instrumental break. if the melody of the vocal part was stronger this would probably be my favorite song on here. "Clear Days" has an alright melody, but it's over-orchestrated, and in the end is unmemorable. Astral Traveler is the one song where the guitar is really the lead instrument. It's a cool song, but there's a better version then the one on here.
Finally we get to the title track, Jon Anderson's grandiose hippie anthem. I have a feeling this would have been a hit had it been released in 1967, but by 1970 it sounded a bit outdated. despite it's generic hippie lyrics (there's a word, and the word is love and it's right for me, it's right for me, and the word is love) , I really like it, it's my favorite song on the album, and the use of the orchestra is the most effective on the album with a grandiose build-up at the end.
So all in all, it's not great, but it's by no means a bad album. If you're instrested in this early period of Yes, pick up the first album before this one, and then pick up this one if you like that one pick this one up.
Best Song: Time And A Word
Worst Song:Sweet Dreams or Clear Days
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