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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: 1 stars
Summary: Excellent performances, but not exciting to watch
Review: If you're deciding between this tape and 'House of Yes', choose 'House'. While the material here is performed excellently as usual, it seemed a bit dry, or mechanical, like they had to do several takes of each song. And actually, you can tell the video was cobbled together from at least two taping sessions by the sudden change in position or expression when the view cuts from one camera to another. Plus, they must have dubbed the vocals from the 'Keys' CDs because not only are backup vocals heard where none are visually provided, I could recognize some of Jon's vocal riffs that were on the CDs.

The shots chosen for the video were amateurish. Where the 'House' video took you to the key player making the hot licks at the time, this video might linger on Chris holding one note or Rick staring at something. Arg! Also, about half the footage is from the perspective of maybe 50 rows back, although they do overlay close-up shots in the middle of the screen at the same time.

Another annoyance is the seemingly constant fades to tranquil scenes of cloudy skies or burbling streams. If I pay to watch a concert, I want to see that concert and not some art director's idea of what the songs are about. On the other hand, I do give him or her credit for some of the bordering or transparent touches -- they would have looked fantastic if they were really projected in concert, as compared to the dull backdrop the audience got to look at.

While it was great to see the band playing what must have been the original instruments for many of the songs -- if not all of them (how many trucks are needed just to carry Steve's guitars?), this tape does not compare well to the up-front and personal 'House'. Consider this more a documentary of Yes' best early work than an exciting performance.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Yet
Review: This is the best Yes video to date. I can't believe these other reviews. I have seen Yessongs, Live in Philly and House of Yes. The first two are unwatchable due to the terrible soundtracks. House of Yes is good but obviously the playlist doesn't compare with Keys. As for the added graphics, I did not find them to be a distraction and in some cases I thought they were pretty damn cool. They did have a slightly dated quality but I found it appropriate for a concert of all 70's music. I can't believe I almost didn't get this due to some of the other reviews.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT
Review: Nonsense to all the critics of this video DVD. This is a must video for YES lovers. I personly love the effects. The complexity and depth of there music is so great the more I listen to it the better I love it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't waste your money or time on this one.
Review: I love Yes but this product is horrible. All of the bad reviews are true, but the overuse/misuse of graphic effects is in no way my biggest complaint. The main problem is that the video isn't properly syncronized to the audio. It's downright painful watching Steve Howe play when the audio is just a hair off or at times completely wrong. Bottom line is that I'll probably never watch this one again. If anyone knows how to contact the producer of this schlock please let me know as I'd love to tell them how I feel. Boycott this one folks. We deserve much better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent document of a short lived lineup.
Review: For anyone who unfortunately missed the last tour, this is a must see, with the added benefit of having Rick Wakeman in the group. While at times the group (especially Wakeman) seem to be on autopilot, the performance never lacks the energy and clarity you would expect of a Yes performance. The only drawbacks to this DVD are the occasional intrusive graphics and some amateurish camera shots. It's obvious the band was not seriously condidering a video release at the time, hence the limited angles, but this was definitly worth it. I was pleased with the full 150 minute running time. Any classic Yes fan must have this one!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Cover up the screen
Review: The musical performance is fabulous, but i cant stand the cheezy graphics. Guitarists will appreciate, however, that the camera often stays on steve long enough to cop some cool riffs. If thats not your thing, listen to it and watch something else.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: What's the problem?
Review: Obviuosly if your reading this your interested in Yes. And if you are, what are you waiting for? Its Yes. Do you need any other reason? Sure there are too many cheesy graphics, and their is an occassional out-of-sync problem, but the band is at their very best. It was a three night concert tour, and this is your chance to have a copy you can watch over and over again. Should you buy this dvd? Yes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Yes Purists, Don't Miss This One
Review: So what if the video / audio is not perfectly synched or was re-recorded for perfection. This DVD chronicles an important event in Yes history--probably the last time this "classic" lineup of these particular members will ever occur. The song choice and music quality are superb (2-1/2 hours worth of non-stop, flawless Yes Masterworks) and there are plenty of tight close ups and long shots to counter-balance the added visual effects. Like other Yes DVDs, this one may soon be rare. Buy it while you can.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Let's be honest
Review: As stated in other reviews, these concerts were recording sessions in front of an audience. Consequently there are almost no theatrics to the concert. I don't see that as a bad thing but I guess the video producers did, so yeah, there's a lot of unnecessary video junk mixed in. But man, the musical performance is brilliant. This is the video I've always dreamed of -- the concert that so many love and so few were able to see. If you like classic Yes, don't pass this opportunity by.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Endless Music-Too Many Effects
Review: The music of Yes as we all know is endless. It has spanned the years bringing music of the future to the times of today. This DVD is proof of just how GREAT their music is. However, if this DVD had focused on the band the music and the lighting of the stage, it would have been perfect. Someone, must have been just introduced to the special effects buttons. There are so many effects in this DVD that you are almost yelling at your television to just show the band playing. There are water effects(LOTS) and spinning effects. Fade in and out effects. Sparkle effects slow motion effects. WAY TOO MANY!! Another interesting thing is it appears that there must be a group of singers off stage helping the band. In the Revealing Science of God, it is evident that this is going on. I am and always will be a Yes fan. I will still watch this DVD. I wish it had been filmed more like The House of Yes show, where you can focus on each band member.


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