Now, before you press that "not helpful" button simply because I gave this album two stars, hear me out. I am a lifelong Yes fan, and they are my all-time favorite band (Dylan is my all-time favorite artist, Yes is my favorite band). I love these guys, and I have all of their albums. I saw this incarnation of Yes at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia last year (with Oliver Wakeman) and hung out with all of them backstage for quite awhile. I've always loved these guys, and I loved every album this band has released (including 1980's 'Drama,' 1987's 'Big Generator,' 1991's 'Union' and 1997's 'Open Your Eyes').

Until this one.

Look, I'm going to come out and say it, 'Fly from Here' blows. Yes, the Roger Dean cover art is great, and the funky Yes logo design is quite nice, but the music just isn't what it once was. The playing is alright, but it is not what it should be for musicians on this level. Benoit David is an okay singer, but I've come to the conclusion that he simply does impersonations on stage. He sounded alright the night I saw him, but he's either impersonating Jon Anderson or he's impersonating Trevor Horn (as he does here). Don't get me wrong, he's talented, and he's a nice guy too, but he just doesn't have much personality as a vocalist. That, for me, is a problem.

And then there is the production. Trevor Horn, in my opinion, is one of the best producers of the modern era. His work on '90125,' ABC's 'The Lexicon of Love,' and the Art of Noise records are just phenomenal. The guy is simply a genius as a producer. But on 'Fly from Here,' the production sounds very stale and quite amateurish, like he is using a GarageBand like computer program instead of proper production techniques. Considering all of the wonderfully produced records being made in this day in age (like Radiohead's 'The King of Limbs'), there is absolutely no excuse for a band like Yes to have an album this poorly produced, ESPECIALLY coming from a first-rate producer like Trevor Horn.

The songs are also somewhat of a disappointment. A previous reviewer described this really as a Buggles album, with Benoit David singing and Steve, Chris, and Alan playing along and occasionally throwing something in. To some extent, that is true. Steve Howe does get a solo piece here which is quite nice (I personally prefer 'Masquerade' from 1991's 'Union,' but that's just me), but the rest of it just doesn't seem to fit Yes very well. 'We Can Fly from Here' is a track that has been floating around since 1980, and it was even performed on the 'Drama' tour (a live version of it recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York in September of that year was released on the 2005 'The Word is Live' box set). Really, extending the track into a 22-minute suite just wasn't smart. The track worked brilliantly as a 6-minute tune, and if it were recorded on this album as it was performed on the 'Drama' tour, perhaps I wouldn't object to it. But trying to stretch it out into a lengthy epic suite like 'The Gates of Delirium' and 'Ritual' (and shortening it's title to 'Fly from Here') is just ridiculous. 'Life on a Film Set' could easily have appeared on the Buggles' 1979 album 'The Age of Plastic,' and 'The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be' is somewhat sappy, surprising coming from Squire. His voice doesn't sound bad, but the lyrics just aren't good.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the Buggles. But if I buy a Yes record, I want to hear Yes. I don't want to hear the Buggles. That why I bought 'The Age of Plastic.'

The final complaint I have is that Geoff Downes just doesn't click with Yes anymore. He is an ideal fit in Asia, with Wetton, Howe and Palmer, but in the 2011-present version of Yes, he just doesn't blend. He was right for Yes in the early '80s, but for some reason, he just doesn't seem to be on the same page as the rest of the band nowadays. He is a stellar keyboardist (one of the best), but he just seems out of place in the new Yes.

Look, I'm all for Yes trying new things, but this album just doesn't work. It isn't well produced, it's not well written, and in 20 years, when one is making a list of what they would consider classic Yes songs, let's be honest, NONE of these songs would even be contenders. This album is the first time I have ever felt disappointment from my favorite band, and I hope it is the only time. If this were some other band, maybe this record wouldn't bother me. But I was expecting so much better from musicians like Yes.

I recommend the album 'The Living Tree,' by Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman, which is also new for 2011. While that record is far more stripped down, it is well produced, it is far more intimate, and it is also better performed. That is the record Yes fans should be buying. 'Fly from Here' isn't. Buy 'The Living Tree' before 'Fly from Here.'

Overall, this record was such a letdown to me. Like I have said, it is the only Yes album that has left a sour taste in my mouth. I hate to jump on the bandwagon (especially because I am such a fan of the 'Drama' album), but this group needs Jon Anderson back desperately. Peter Frampton also played the night I saw Yes, and he definitely outperformed them that night. But that's irrelevant. The new record just isn't what it should be. I had such high expectations for this band's first album in 10 years. This album was well below my expectations.

I know I'm going to get a lot of unhelpful votes for this, but honestly, stick with the Yes albums you already have. If you don't own 'Fly from Here,' take my word for it: you aren't missing much.
Now, before you press that "not helpful" button simply because I gave this album two stars, hear me out. I am a lifelong Yes fan, and they are my all-time favorite band (Dylan is my all-time favorite artist, Yes is my favorite band). I love these guys, and I have all of their albums. I saw this incarnation of Yes at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia last year (with Oliver Wakeman) and hung out with all of them backstage for quite awhile. I've always loved these guys, and I loved every album this band has released (including 1980's 'Drama,' 1987's 'Big Generator,' 1991's 'Union' and 1997's 'Open Your Eyes'). Until this one. Look, I'm going to come out and say it, 'Fly from Here' blows. Yes, the Roger Dean cover art is great, and the funky Yes logo design is quite nice, but the music just isn't what it once was. The playing is alright, but it is not what it should be for musicians on this level. Benoit David is an okay singer, but I've come to the conclusion that he simply does impersonations on stage. He sounded alright the night I saw him, but he's either impersonating Jon Anderson or he's impersonating Trevor Horn (as he does here). Don't get me wrong, he's talented, and he's a nice guy too, but he just doesn't have much personality as a vocalist. That, for me, is a problem. And then there is the production. Trevor Horn, in my opinion, is one of the best producers of the modern era. His work on '90125,' ABC's 'The Lexicon of Love,' and the Art of Noise records are just phenomenal. The guy is simply a genius as a producer. But on 'Fly from Here,' the production sounds very stale and quite amateurish, like he is using a GarageBand like computer program instead of proper production techniques. Considering all of the wonderfully produced records being made in this day in age (like Radiohead's 'The King of Limbs'), there is absolutely no excuse for a band like Yes to have an album this poorly produced, ESPECIALLY coming from a first-rate producer like Trevor Horn. The songs are also somewhat of a disappointment. A previous reviewer described this really as a Buggles album, with Benoit David singing and Steve, Chris, and Alan playing along and occasionally throwing something in. To some extent, that is true. Steve Howe does get a solo piece here which is quite nice (I personally prefer 'Masquerade' from 1991's 'Union,' but that's just me), but the rest of it just doesn't seem to fit Yes very well. 'We Can Fly from Here' is a track that has been floating around since 1980, and it was even performed on the 'Drama' tour (a live version of it recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York in September of that year was released on the 2005 'The Word is Live' box set). Really, extending the track into a 22-minute suite just wasn't smart. The track worked brilliantly as a 6-minute tune, and if it were recorded on this album as it was performed on the 'Drama' tour, perhaps I wouldn't object to it. But trying to stretch it out into a lengthy epic suite like 'The Gates of Delirium' and 'Ritual' (and shortening it's title to 'Fly from Here') is just ridiculous. 'Life on a Film Set' could easily have appeared on the Buggles' 1979 album 'The Age of Plastic,' and 'The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be' is somewhat sappy, surprising coming from Squire. His voice doesn't sound bad, but the lyrics just aren't good. Don't get me wrong, I do like the Buggles. But if I buy a Yes record, I want to hear Yes. I don't want to hear the Buggles. That why I bought 'The Age of Plastic. '

The final complaint I have is that Geoff Downes just doesn't click with Yes anymore. He is an ideal fit in Asia, with Wetton, Howe and Palmer, but in the 2011-present version of Yes, he just doesn't blend. He was right for Yes in the early '80s, but for some reason, he just doesn't seem to be on the same page as the rest of the band nowadays. He is a stellar keyboardist (one of the best), but he just seems out of place in the new Yes. Look, I'm all for Yes trying new things, but this album just doesn't work. It isn't well produced, it's not well written, and in 20 years, when one is making a list of what they would consider classic Yes songs, let's be honest, NONE of these songs would even be contenders. This album is the first time I have ever felt disappointment from my favorite band, and I hope it is the only time. If this were some other band, maybe this record wouldn't bother me. But I was expecting so much better from musicians like Yes. I recommend the album 'The Living Tree,' by Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman, which is also new for 2011. While that record is far more stripped down, it is well produced, it is far more intimate, and it is also better performed. That is the record Yes fans should be buying. 'Fly from Here' isn't. Buy 'The Living Tree' before 'Fly from Here. '

Overall, this record was such a letdown to me. Like I have said, it is the only Yes album that has left a sour taste in my mouth. I hate to jump on the bandwagon (especially because I am such a fan of the 'Drama' album), but this group needs Jon Anderson back desperately. Peter Frampton also played the night I saw Yes, and he definitely outperformed them that night. But that's irrelevant. The new record just isn't what it should be. I had such high expectations for this band's first album in 10 years. This album was well below my expectations. I know I'm going to get a lot of unhelpful votes for this, but honestly, stick with the Yes albums you already have. If you don't own 'Fly from Here,' take my word for it: you aren't missing much.