Fragile - Yes (1971)
This intriguing album is probably the most well-rounded album Yes ever produced, and it could easily be labeled one of the best progressive rock releases ever. The band uses a great blend of short and long tracks that really showcase the band's overall range. Shorter tracks like "Roundabout" and "Long Distance Runaround" are probably the most well-known samples from the album, but the long player on the album, "Heart of the Sunrise," truly makes this album shine. Jon Anderson's vocals could not be any better, and Bill Bruford's drumming is top-notch, as usual. Legendary bassist Chris Squire is also in top form, giving many listeners a reason to place this album somewhere at the top of a "best bass albums ever" list (see his track "The Fish"). Steve Howe displays his unique guitar-playing style throughout the album, but my favorite bit is his solo composition "Mood for a Day," which is an emotional acoustic piece that is nothing less than absolutely peaceful. Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman does his thing, which is usually beyond complete comprehension.
A very solid album, and also a great introduction to the prog rock genre for any newcomers. Highly recommended.
Great video that really shows how awesomely bizarre these guys were:
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