Ep. 16: Close to The Edge - Yes

One of the most beloved records from the Yes discography, Close To The Edge is an album that almost every prog rock fan recognizes. This is Yes's most successful album to date. However, due to a variety of creative differences, it was the last Yes album to feature Bill Bruford as the drummer before he left the group, but what a note to go out on. Destin and Drew discuss the history of the album and struggle to find a concrete concept to the titular, side-long epic (which is par for the course with Jon Anderson's lyrics). Drew maintains that Close To The Edge has an immaculate blend of complexity and melody and was seminal in the development of the role of the bass guitar as the tones and riffs are prominent and unorthodox, rather than being confined to its traditional role as a rhythmic support system. Drew and Destin also take some time to discuss their enjoyment of prog rock and the shameful, yet unavoidable, pretentious air surrounding the genre.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.