The Double Doghouse

hello folks! the weekly record this week is 1971 record Fragile by prog rock band Yes – let’s check it out!

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure turned Roundabout into a bit of a meme song, but legit this whips. the part at the beginning that is part of the meme is already excellent, especially into that incredible bass line, but legit this song has hooks and some incredibly good movements. Cans and Brahms is fine. i dont really have any feelings on it. i actually kinda really like like We Have Heaven – some really interesting vocal layering happening on this song. also really like the way it wraps up like a Monty Python sketch and the way it bursts back in later. South Side of the Sky goes a bit heavier, a bit more serious, and its also very fun. lyrically i dont really engage with it (though there are a few parts that really shine), but instrumentally im a big fan. Five Per Cent For Nothing isnt really much. Long Distance Runaround has some interesting vibes that remind me a lot of surf rock sounds – very fun song. The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) is another more transitional track. not many thoughts on this one either but its nice. Mood for a Day does some fun stuff with flamenco guitar, and is just a real cool piece. Heart of the Sunrise is an incredible track and its a very good decision to put it at the end, as the track has some very very fun sections. i think the highlight for me is the first crest right before the 6 minute mark – really really good moment. plus, the way We Have Heaven slams back through the dooor at the end is a really fun way to close things out.

faves – Roundabout, We Have Heaven, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround
dislikes –

yeah dug this one a lot – i havent listened to tons of Yes, but reminded me a lot of Klaatu, who wouldnt have released 3:47 EST when this came out but very much explore some similar sound. when doing some cursory research on the record, i saw that the record is kinda split between the four group compositions (Roundabout, South Side, Long Distance, and Heart of the Sunrise), and the rest of the tracks which were each solo compositions by each band member. i read that a lot of the critics at the time really felt friction between the two parts of the record, and while i feel like a lot of it is mitigated by the track order and briefness of tracks like Cans and Brahms and Five per Cent (the worst offenders on this part), i can see where theyre coming from.

on the whole though, a really fun listen and a very interesting record!

Fragile – 8/10

for the next Weekly Album Review, i’ll be listening to From A to B, from New Musik. i’ll be back next Friday, December 29th with that review and to pick another weekly record, and in the meantime, let me know what album you’d like me to review! (i pool all suggestions in one place, and draw a person, then one pick from that person, so feel free to drop as many as you’d like! if you leave an email or username i’ll contact you when i’ve gotten through all your suggestions.)