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Yes - Keys to Ascension

Yes - Keys to Ascension

List Price: $24.99
Your Price: $22.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It doesn't get any better!
Review: Absolutely brilliant selection of Yes material with the added bonus that Wakeman is on keyboards. Nearly 2 and a half hours of classic tracks, beautifully filmed with blkackouts between tracks, so you get the feeling that they bare only playing for you! None of the whooping and hollering that spoil so many concerts. Buy it now. P>S> where did Jon Anderson get the American accent from?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow!
Review: I don't know about this DVD receiving a 3 out of 5 stars because it absolutely cooks! The order of songs performed and how they are performed are just awesome. Jon Anderson's voice is still very much there and Steve Howe still shows how he was voted guitarist of the year many times by Guitar Player Magazine. Alan White on drums, and, of course, Chris Squire on bass anchor down one of the best rythym sections in rock history. And who can tickle and pound the ivories better than Rick Wakeman on the keyboards. This DVD is a must for Yes fans and probably will convert many of those persons who were not Yes followers before. I own several DVD's from other artists, but I have to say that the camera work, the agenda, and the flow of this musical DVD are unmatched by any others. Go buy it!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Music Good... Video Bad.
Review: The sound quality and overall performance are unparalleled, that is why I (generously) give this DVD two stars, however...I got the impression that half the film shot during the show was somehow lost and they tried to make up for it with interspersed video clips that are nothing short of ridiculous.

Furthermore,

The step-motion videography is extremely annoying,

If Steve Howe is performing a solo, don't show me Chris, or a flag, or water, or the ceiling, or anything else,

It is obvious (and distracting) that the audio and video are out of sync through most of the show, however, in some cases, its apparent that the audio and video are combined from two completely different performances. This is just plain insulting.

I dropped [money] on this and will likely never watch it again. I am a big yes fan going back to the mid-seventies but this is a big disapointment.

I would rather watch a third generation VHS tape of YesShows than sit through this one again

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Someone got new toys
Review: I purchased the video, excited about seeing Yes live. Instead, it seems like the creators of the video must have just bought some new technical video toys. There isn't a five second period where there are just shots of the band. Instead, we are treated to endless shots of sun gleaming off water, people hanging from ropes, people skiing..... I finally realized why they did this. The sound is not synched to the picture!

Watching it the second time wasn't so bad as I was able to close my eyes and just listen. It sounds great. Good enough to put on again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: YES-Keys to Ascension DVD-AWESOME!!
Review: If your a fan of the classic '70's era Yes music & lineup, this is a MUST! Some may not like the interwoven conceptual video footage (vs. a straight ahead concert) but if you dont mind that this is a killer concert video. (Personally, I like the conceptual video & think that it works here...not sure I'd like EVERY Yes concert video to have such footage, but I enjoy it here. In any event, the film's critics and detractors have WAY OVERBLOWN this "problem".) In this concert, the band played strictly music from the '70's due to the reformation of the classic lineup at the time ('96). For those who long to hear the less frequently played Yes classics, (ie. stuff from 'Tales from Topographic Oceans','Going for the One', 'Tormato', etc) this is the one you've been waiting for. The sound and picture are clean and clear & the performances sometimes even outshine the studio versions of the albums...just listen to this live version of 'Onward' and you'll see what I mean. Yes have always been unafraid to alter or reshape some of their classic arrangements and fans will enjoy these songs performed by a band that have improved their already amazing technical abilities.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not That Bad
Review: Being a big Yes fan, I saw them on the Relayer and Union tours, I was hesitant to buy this video after reading some of the scathing reviews. But curiosity got the best of me and I am happy to say I broke down and bought it. While the cheesy effects are a distraction they are only on the screen for seconds at a time. You still get to see the Classic Yes lineup in all it's glory. I also can't agree with the reviews which say the band looks bored. Sure they don't have the energy of the 70's Yes but compared to the "House of Blues" video, where they were lifeless, in this Video they look like they are really enjoying themselves and it shows in the music. My biggest complaint is not the goofy effects but the bad editing. Was it really neccesary to fade out of each song into the next and put the title of the song up? This really destroyed the continuity of flow of what should have been a live concert experience! I have read this is because the video is a patch work of two nights filming but it is a real shame they didn't just film a whole show without cuts.

So what do you get for your money? Basically a complete pieced together show, with great close up shots of the boys in action, in particular there are some great shots of Rick.

Cheesy effects not withstanding, great video of the classic line-up and decent, not great, audio in Dolby 5.1. Highly recommended despite the amateur production..........

This the fourth Yes DVD Video I have purchased and would have to rate it as my second favorite. Here's how I would rate them....

1. Live at the QPR: this is a two DVD set Asian import ( No Region Coding!!!)and gives you a full show of Yes from the 75 Relayer tour. Of the four I own I think this is by far the Best DVD video of Yes you can get, 5* video (for the era), 3* audio! The only downside is no Rick Wakeman. As others have said, search e-bay and grab it if you can! 2. Keys to Ascension: Despite the cheesy effects and bad editing, a great show by the classic line-up. 2.5 * video (for the amateur effects and editing otherwise a 4*), 3.5* audio. 3. YesSongs: Sure not the best quality video and audio but a must have just to see the band at their height playing the classics before they got bored with them... 2.5 * Video and Audio, 5*+ for nostalgia! 4. Live At the House of Blues: This might surprise some people, but despite the 5* Video and Audio production I thought the performance was lifeless and stiff. It lacked passion and it appeared like they were only acting for the cameras. I would get this as the production is steller but, except for a little energy from Chris and Alan, don't expect much energy or passion.

Still debating on purchasing Live in Philly 79 and looking forward to the release of Symphonic Yes and hoping for a video from the upcoming Classic Yes tour.... Now if I could only find a copy of the ABWH "A Night of Yes Music Plus" DVD... Any offers out there?

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: horrible
Review: What were they thinking when they made this? This DVD is very unwatchable. It contains some awful effects on every song. The feel of this being an actual concert video is completely lost due to these effects and the blank space between each song. Because of the effects, you have to squint to see the band members, and when you see them, they look bored. They look like they don't even want to be there because they might be able to forsee the outcome of the video they're recording. Hopefully they'll never screw up future concert DVDs like this. Avoid this one at all costs! If you want a recent show on DVD, get House Of Yes instead.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: symphinic rock or soap opera?
Review: The thing about this video is that it doesn't look, neither sound like a live concert...you don't feel the audience. The images makes the thinks of the soap opera that my mother like so much.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: It was not what I expected, I am really disapointed.
Review: The director made a big mess in this video, introducing too much, but too much abstract videos according his interpretation. I can tolerate a few seconds, but not over 50% of the concert, it is a bad job, I can not believe why Yes has permitted this, they should have a good taste, don't you think?
When I buy a concert DVD it is to see the band play, not to see water, clouds, plants, etc. to see that I can buy other kind of videos, (i.e. The weather channel)
The production looks like it was made with a low budget, too cheap.
Small theater, bad lights, the background was filled with images when video was edited, simulating there was a big screen behind them, it is too cheap, unbelievable.
They say that the sound is 5.1 but it sounds like an old consumer recorder, too poor, and also they don't let you see the band play.
I am really disappointed with this. Do not buy it, I have wasted my money buying this DVD, try House of Blues, this is a real concert, good video quality and well recorded.
But I insist, the director must be a musician, and know the melody to take the fingers and the faces when they play in the right moment, also more of the listeners, normally the cameras lose the best.
You want good quality, buy Roger Water (In the flesh) or a DTS of Bee Gees (One night only) those are the best I have seen and heard...

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: unwatchable
Review: It's no wonder the band sat on this VIDEO for 5 years before finally deciding to release it, it's pretty bad on several levels:
1) Some of the band members, notably Jon and Chris, look out of shape, and tried to squeeze into the same clothes they wore on stage in 1977.
2) The footage itself is pretty boring and lame.
3) The amateurish "effects", make the old early-70s Yes "Beat-club" videos look state-of-the-art.

How bad does this look? Imagine a camera shot of the whole stage that doesn't move, where you can't see any of the members very well, with one of the members super-imposed behind the stage, and inexplicably superimposed on top of the whole scene, a generic-looking forest with small, running stream. Still not convinced? I guess I am unable to put how horrible it is into words.

The music itself is the only bright spot here, but this concert is available on the "Keys to Ascension" CDs. The ONLY reason to buy this DVD is for the 5.1 audio mix. If you don't have the
equiptment to get the benefits of 5.1, then don't buy it. There
are better Yes concert DVDs out there, and more on the way.


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