Long-time Prog fan happily impressed!
David Hussey | 08/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd heard this was gonna be a 'fluff' project from Billy Sherwood (who has brought us the best YES-like music over the past decade with CIRCA: and his solo albums), Tony Kaye (YES) and Bobby Kimball (of TOTO)--it was said to be more 'commercial,' so I was only half-heartedly interested.
Tonight, I was lucky enough to see this band (with killer drummer Scott Connor and stellar axeman Johnny Bruhns) at one of the final rehearsals before their official first tour, and I was excited from start to finish! The YES and TOTO stuff sounds more fresh than I'd heard it in many many years--and more than that, the NEW songs from YOSO were just FANTASTIC! It's what I wish the new ASIA output would be--wonderful, meaty playing with nice hooks and great prog elements. I'm so happily surprised and was just excited the whole time each new song came up and sounded so great! They tread the line between accessible and musically satisfying so incredibly well, now I can't wait to hear the entire album!
And, if you're lucky enough to see them on tour--you will be VERY happy. They're tight, powerful, energetic, incredible players, and the music all sounds fresh and exciting (they change some things up from old YES hits, adding parts and fleshing out things to be more proggy--and to really great effect!). I'm so very very happy for these guys.
I've wanted to root for them because of what they've done in the past, but after hearing what I heard tonight, I can't help but root for 'em because of what they've done NOW!
UPDATE: Okay, I realized I could download this album instead of waiting for the cd, so I did! It's overall more straight-ahead, driving rock with a power-80's sound. It's got a lot of soul and infectious energy. And, Bobby Kimball's never sounded better!
So, now that I've heard it all, I'm STILL HAPPY!
And, go see 'em live--you will be happy you did.
Details: http://www.yosohq.com/"
