Disco de Yes: “Big Generator”

Big Generator is a great album, but it seriously needs a sonic overhaul. Why re-master 90125, but not Big Generator? As for those idiots who'll say this album sucks or isn't really YES, ignore them and check it out for yourself. Both Yes and Deep Purple seem to have this problem in common. You know, ignore the "recent" stuff, `cause their greatest music was back in the 70's. I personally enjoy it all, due to an open mind and open ear.

By 1987, Yes had moved away from the progressive roots that made them famous and towards the 1980s radio pop-Billboard Hot 100 type of music. And the result of all of that was 'Big Generator,' which is easily their best record of the 1980s.

I did enjoy '90125,' but this record has more songs that I like. 'Rhythm of Love' is a song that features soaring guitar from Trevor Rabin, as well as great backing vocals from him as well. Jon Anderson's vocals are in top shape on this track.

Another great one is 'Shoot High, Aim Low.' The words to this song are meaningful, and it features some great keyboards from Tony Kaye.

'Love Will Find A Way' is easily one of the best songs of the 1980s, in my opinion. It's got great harmonica lines, great vocals from Rabin, Anderson and Chris Squire. Squire's bass lines on this one are great as well.

I have read reviews that feature people complaining about the style of music that Yes plays here. For fans of strictly 1970s Yes, chances are you will not enjoy this record. But for fans of all eras of Yes like me, than you'll love this record.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this Yes record. This is a must-own if you're a die-hard Yes fan like I am.

Highly recommended for the die-hard or 1980s Yes fan. ENJOY!!!

Please note that this is not a review of the album but a comparison of the Japanese SHM 2009 minisleeve version against the Standard CD 1987.

This is my first SHM (Super High Material) CD and I am mightily impressed. What is difficult to know is whether this huge audio improvement of the SHM versus the 1987 version is because of remastering by Isao Kikuchi or because of the material the CD is made from, or a combination of both?

For Rabin detractors, the audio improvement won't change their dislike of this album, but for those who still like albums of this period of Yes, then picking up a SHM version is recommended. I managed to obtain a brand new copy here in New Zealand for $10. I would hesitate paying the exorbitant prices I have seen for these SHMs both new and second-hand.

I have read that SHMs are supposed to have a similar quality to that of a SACD. My initial reaction would be to query this - yes, the sound is greatly improved with a warmer, louder bottom end and more definition to the treble - but SACD quality, I think not.

Having said that the sound is so much better than the 1987 version that it is like hearing this album as if for the first time. The SHM sounds far more dynamic with the light and shade of the songs coming through. Alan White's drums are much warmer in this mix and as already said, Squire's bass is now audible and even pronounced in places. The first time I listened the SHM 'Rhythm of love' I was stunned at the detail and power of the bass. This is the single most dramatic improvement of the SHM against the 1987 version. Secondly the detail and separation of voices is noticeable whereas I was always disappointed with some of the 1987 CD production where the tracks sound compressed.

'Shoot High, Aim Low' I've always liked but now it is amazing as the silences and space seems cleaner yet still driven by that hypnotic Alan White groove. You hear delicate shimmering sounds from the guitar and keyboard sounds in the distance that I never noticed before. Alan plays rim-shots on his snare towards the end of the track that unless you're listening to the SHM version, it isn't audible. A quality track that is now special because of the SHM. Beautiful.

So why not 5 stars for this remaster if I think the audio is so improved? That's easy. The 5 bonus tracks including an extended version (silly studio grooves) of 'Love will find a way' and trashy dated remixes of 'Rhythm of Love'do more than spoil the album - it wrecks it for me. I know I don't have to listen to this drivel, but having them added at the end taints the whole remaster so much that I nearly took off two stars! Note on the other SHM Yes remaster, '9012 Live The Yes solos' there are two brand new tracks from their live performance that were amazing. That's what I call a bonus.

So those who liked the original album and can get your hands on the SHM for a fair price - definitely worth getting. For those who hated it before...you'll just hear what you loathed better :)

This is a great album, much loved by Yes completists and fans of excellent 80s music. Unlike a lot of their by-now-ageing contemporares, they knew how to use a studio. But this album requires remastering! ASAP! Why has it been left out of the schedule? The '90125' remaster was colossal!

This review is only for those interested in sound quality. For reviews regarding content, please see other posts in this forum, or go to All Music Guide (dot com). Also, due to Amazon's unfortunate programming policy of cross-pollinating reviews across different versions of the same CD title, this review may appear elsewhere.

The primary Yes catalog has been through at least five different sonic revisions since the debut of those horrid-sounding domestic Atlantic CD's in the late 1980's. Domestically, in 2003, Rhino released a full set of new remasters with added bonus tracks. In 2009, Japan issued a complete set of fifteen new SHM-CD's, non-HDCD-encoded titles with exactly the same bonus material as their U.S. Rhino counterparts, but audio-wise, they are all now slightly better than the Rhino's, due to new `09 remastering.

In my personal preference, the 1998 HDCD-encoded Japan mini-sleeves are my favorites. The HDCD editions had a superior clarity to the mid and high range that no other standard-CD remaster, including the 2003 Rhinos, came close to. However, the HDCD's had no bonus material. The same mid-upper clarity is also resident on these new `09 remasters, and when A/B'd against the HDCD's, there is virtually no difference in the mid to high frequencies. There are other subtle, audible differences between the two editions, but nothing being a showstopper in either, and neither series has any loudness compression or insidious remixing, like the recent, terrible, bastardized Genesis "remasters".

The major difference between the two Japan releases is the HDCD's very distinctly heightened bass. So from a audiophile-purist standpoint, the SHM's are probably the more sonically acceptable of the two releases. However, I find the HDCD's more enjoyable for that very dichotomy. Yes is renowned for it's fabulously inventive and adventurous rhythm section, and the HDCD's are literally thunderous in the lower frequencies, while still remaining faithful to the dynamic range of the original recordings. You can, of course, try pushing the SHM's by attenuating the bass on your pre-amp, but it's just not exactly the same. You also notice a little extra oomph in harmonics when the HDCD's are fed thru an HDCD-capable DAC (mine is a Camelot Uther). No doubt, a Horde Of Hoffman denizen will take issue with my preference, but you have to actually listen to both versions to understand why I lean to the HDCD's; to me, they're just more fun to listen to. I should also mention I have never been able to discern any sonic benefit on ANY SHM release from the incorporation of the supposedly magical LCD-material substrate.

So, if you're lucky enough to own the HDCD's, acquisition of the 2009 SHM's should still be considered, to obtain the best audio versions of the bonus material. I certainly would never divest either set for the other.

Then there's mini-sleeves themselves. As glorious as the audio is on these releases, the immaculately detailed replication of each miniature LP album jacket, especially of the Roger Dean-art titles, are just downright fabulous... THIS is why Japan `sleeves are so great.

The 1998 `sleeves were based on the U.S. LP designs, but the `09 SHM's are reproductions of the U.K. albums, and there are stark differences between the two series in several of the titles. Examples: The HDCD Yessongs had the U.S. accordian-jacket design, while the SHM has the U.K.'s booklet-type package (I prefer the SHM), and Close To The Edge has the U.K.'s cool textured finish to the exterior cover, which is much nicer than the photo matte-finish of the original Atlantic LP and the HDCD `sleeve.

It should also be noted the expanded booklets from the Rhino releases are included in each SHM title. Unfortunately, while many non-Yes SHM-CD mini-sleeve releases have contained neat one-page replications of the original LP's A&B-side labels, Warner Japan has chosen not to participate in those.

These new SHM-Yes mini-sleeves sold out when they streeted in Japan in July 2009, but were re-issued in 2010. That wasn't entirely a surprise, as the older Yes HDCD's, in addition to the 1999 Genesis and 2001 Pink Floyd 'sleeve catalogs, were among the most highly prized and sought-after collectable mini-sleeves ever produced by Japan. Indeed, when the SHM's were announced for pre-order, I had reservations about making the additional investment. However, swayed by the 2009 remastering, the bonus material, the U.K. jackets, and being a long time ardent Yes fanatic, the acquisition proved to be an albeit expensive but perfect complement to the HDCD versions. If you are a true Yes fan, these are the benchmark of any standard CD versions available worldwide, and short of also owning the HDCD's, this is the Yes catalog you need to acquire.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, everything included in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and die cuts, are is precisely replicated and included, An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.