You'd probably need a mainframe computer to keep track of all the personnel changes in
Yes over the years, and the quality of the prog rock giant's music has fluctuated nearly as much as the lineups.
The Ladder is a synthesis of the best traits of the experimental
Fragile era and the pop-oriented
90125 era. Producer
Bruce Fairbairn completed
The Ladder shortly before his death in 1999, and unlike some of his work with
Bon Jovi,
Aerosmith,
Kiss, and others, he didn't overproduce it. Vocalist
Jon Anderson, lead guitarist
Steve Howe, and bass guitarist
Chris Squire all have fine moments, and drummer
Alan White is consistent. The roles of keyboardist
Igor Khoroshev and, in particular, guitarist
Billy Sherwood are less clear. It occasionally seems the purpose of
Khoroshev's keyboards is providing a variety of sonic textures instead of functioning as a lead instrument.
Sherwood's second guitar tends to flesh out the sound. "Homeworld (The Ladder)" is a tight band performance, but the supple vocals/acoustic guitar/piano coda is the best part.
Howe's bouncy acoustic guitar drives "Lightning Strikes," yet the biggest surprise is the addition of a horn section. The energetic "Face to Face" is the strongest track, and
Squire lets loose with a sputtering bassline. "If Only You Knew" is a sweet, straightforward love song
Anderson wrote for his wife. "The Messenger" has a smooth, funky feel -- a remarkable feat considering prog rock is usually considered the "whitest" rock genre. "New Language" is the best long song on
The Ladder, thanks to a clever arrangement giving all six members an opportunity to demonstrate their talents.