Yes

Yes evolved into the reigning kings of prog with this 1971 album. Their previous two records were somewhat blah Beatles-influenced clone rock, as the band searched for an identity. But here the biggest geeks of the '70s made their space-traveling, tempo-shifting, classical prog statement with the kind of confidence and suddenness you rarely come by in music.

Jon Anderson, who delivers the inane Con III lyrics with prissy expertise, and Tony Kaye, whose keyboards run the gamut from vague to overweening, are the bad guys. Bill Bruford, who rocks the rather fancy tempos and signatures, and Chris Squire, best when he gets a good interlock going with Bruford, are the neutrals. And new guitarist Steve Howe makes the record worth hearing if not owning. His commentary throughout "Yours Is No Disgrace," his live acoustic solo "The Clap," and his duet with himself on "Würm" (that's German for "worm," in case you're interested) make the first side almost interesting, and he's at the heart of the album's one great cut, "I've Seen All Good People," where all their arty eclecticism comes together for 6:47. (Grade - B-)