Drummer reacts to "Machine Messiah" by Yes 

Good god. Why didn't y'all tell me? Oh wait. You did. Oh well. This was fucking fantastic dude. I am cannot sing this songs praises loud enough. Thank you so much for watching y'all! It means the world to me, it really does. If you want to help support the channel, please consider liking this video and subscribing to the channel. If you would like to make a request or just send a request or donation, here's how! www.paypal.me/L33REACTS WWW.PATREON.COM/L33REACTS Thank you so much. A donation of any amount will get your named added to the supporter video that plays at the end of every video.

My fav quote about this album is that Trevor Horn tried to drag Yes into the 80s, but Yes ended up dragging him back into the 70s

After the Tormato album a split formed between Jon & Rick, who wanted to go further in that Vangelis direction they were attracted to & Chris, Steve, & Alan who wanted to go down a more hard-rocking energy direction. I was delighted with what they came up with in *Drama.* I remember there were a lot of Jon & Rick fans who complained bitterly that it wasn't "YES" anymore but I thought they were quite nuts. I think the Drama album is one of their best albums, period

When it came out we were disappointed Jon and Rick weren't in it BUT we quickly loved this album.

Don't know if anyone else has mentioned this yet, but Trevor Horn (not Rabin) and Geoff Downs were in a band called The Buggles that Chris Squire loved.He brought their album that contained their hit song 'Video Killed the Radio Star' to the rest of the band. They ended up joining the band for only this one album. Two reasons why they didn't last longer in the band; they were under contract to do another Buggles album and Trevor wanted the older songs to played in a lower key because he was struggling to sing as high as Jon could. Steve, Chris, and Alan rejected that request. Right after this album was done and Yes without a singer again, Steve was contacted by John Wetton (bass player and singer for King Crimson) who wanted to start an "pop" rock prog band called Asia. They persuaded Carl Palmer to play drums for them. Steve suggested that instead of a 3 piece band they should incorporate keys and got Geoff Downs to play for them. SO, Steve on guitar, John Wetton on bass and vocals, Carl Palmer on drums and Downs on keyboards. Asia's debut album is by far that band's best album. You should definitely make time to add that whole album to your list of reactions!

I’ve been listening to Yes For 50 years, and believe It or not, this is my Favorite album by them. It’s extremely HEAVY at Times, but light and Beautiful at the same Time. Spectacular LP!!

Thank you. Although this, Tempus Fugit, and Does It Really happen seem to be the premiere tracks, give a listen to the less popular Into The Lens. The one thing that strikes me about it is how Chris understands the power of one stark note, heard right off in the intro. Known for his beautiful bombastic flurries, Chris also understood how dynamics, moments of simplicity, and at times tonal subtlety can contribute to a piece to make it's point.

This album has 4 bangers 1 good song and 1 throw away. Diamond in the rough.

Drama is an album that gets over looked, mainly because Jon Anderson was gone, but iMHO its one of the best albums. Geoff Downs and Trevor Horn fit in perfectly. Its heavy Chris and Steve.

Steve loved heavy rock. When this came out, I was the first to play on the air, and asked listeners to tell me who it was. Only a couple got it right! I had it cranked up so loud-we had great sound in the studio. Jaw dropping. Love you son Lee ☮️❤️😎

Only seen Yes once, and it was on this album’s tour. The Drama stuff VERY MUCH held up against the older songs they played that night. 10/10

_Drama_ was one of the earliest Yes albums I had listened to as a teenager just starting to get into Yes. And I absolutely loved it, from the get go. One of my buddies had an excellent stereo system, and that was where I first listened to the album. I was extremely impressed, especially as a bass player with Chris Squire's amazing, powerful bass work! I'm sorry that you didn't give _Tormato_ more of a chance, because I feel there are some real hidden gems to be found on it. But you are going to love _Drama._ The next song "Man in a White Car" is only 1 minute 21 seconds, so I suggest playing it together with the next track "Does it Really Happen", which clocks in at 6 minutes 35 seconds, to make it worth while. A fantastic reaction, L33! You really got into it! I wish you a brave New Year! to borrow a line from Greg Lake. 😇😉🥂🎆

within 1 minute i was loving it after worrying that no one could replace jon and rick

Great reaction to an equally great record! One of the many things that constantly amazes me about Yes is how losing the likes of for example, Anderson, Bruford and Wakeman would be the death of most bands, but Yes always seemed to find replacements who despite stylistic differences, were just as good, and brought something unique to their respective recordings. Isn't it incredible to think that Howe, Wakeman and White weren't even original members? Those three alone could have made up one hell of a supergroup 😂. What a real blessing it is as a relatively new fan like yourself to have such an accomplished discography to enjoy throughout my life.

Great great album..still remember when i got the LP..i rejected it. Could not accept a yes album without Jon..now i love it

Many fans disregarded this album because Jon and Rick left, But I think this album is a masterpiece. Trevor Horn ended up producing 90125 and became the producer of the 80's. He changed the 80's. Steve and Geoff after this tour to start the band Asia. History was made here. I personally love this album. Tormato was good, but the production was weak. Trevor and Geoff were in a band called The Buggles with a hit called Video Killed The Radio Star. Awesome writers.

Given all the chaos that the band was going through at this time, it's amazing that this album turned out so damned good. Others have discussed why this lineup didn't last (at the time, anyway). After Howe and Downes left to form Asia, the others briefly collaborated on a project with Jimmy Page called "XYZ" (eX-members of Yes and Zeppelin) but they never finished an album. (One of the songs was later revived for the "Keys to Ascension" albums in the '90s.) Then they met Trevor Rabin and began a band called "Cinema" which, upon Jon Anderson's return, became Yes once again. Trevor Horn stayed on as a producer for the "90125" album. Geoff Downes would eventually come back in 2011 for the "Fly From Here" album (and he remains in the lineup to the present day). In fact, in 2018 they re-released the album as "Fly From Here - Return Trip" with re-recorded vocals by Trevor Horn, thus reuniting the entire lineup from "Drama".

I have to agree. Drama is a more satisfying listen than the very uneven Tormato! Drama is very impressive and showcases some great playing. I'm sure you will enjoy!

I remember seeing this album fresh in the store and being excited with the Roger Dean cover (the last two albums didn't have his art). I got back to the barracks (I was still in the Army). I became concerned when I saw no Anderson or Wakeman in the sleeve. But the music made my fears vanish. This was a killer album. All that I look for in Yes was still there, even if there was some differences. I remember being annoyed at a critic complaining that it just sounded like another Yes album. They haven't moved on with the music scene. SERIOUSLY!!! I felt there was definitely some variance but they didn't abandon what made them great. The best of both worlds. This album truly sits within their classic period. Enjoy.

Good morning, Ken here (49 times seeing YES live). I know you love Chris Squire and this song displays his talent. But......my favorite song on this album that Chris owns, is : Does It really Happen. Stay with it to the end, as it has one the greatest Out-takes of any YES song. It is FIRE. Happy New Year to you and your family.

This song is very much like Gates. Disjointed yet very cohesive. This is why Yes is a band unmatched. Their diverse playing style and attention to detailed time signatures is unmatched. The live version of this song with BD singing is awesome.

Yeah, when you're first listening to YES, you're always like..."THIS is my favorite song"...until you go back and listen to something already heard, then you're like..."well?" It's impossible! So many great works..."it's impossible" to pick favorites. Thanks. Rock On!

So glad you're hitting this album. I absolutely love it, start to finish

i was hard core jon anderson fan, so when they got a pop group to join i was devastated, but when i heard the LP...... wow amazing

I saw this performed in 2011 with Benoit David on vocals quite delectable 😅

This album was my introduction to Yes.....this one, and Talk. A friend had both of them but he kinda guarded them and wouldnt play them. Eventually i talked him into letting me borrow this one and i was off to the races. This song is one of my favorites...... I'd recomend the final track "tempus fugit" as well.

I think I got this for Christmas when it came out. I remember thinking it sounded way more like a follow-up to "Relayer" than either "Going For The One" or the odd Yes outfit that put out stuff like "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, of course, were previously known as The Buggles, and their album "Adventures In Modern Recording" is HIGHLY recommended. The main reason the vocals on "Drama" sound so similar to classic Yes is that Chris Squire was always such a strong vocal presence singing harmony with Jon Anderson with his great, distinctive voice.

bro. this whole album🔥

You're in SHOCK 🤯 😮😮😮. GREAT MASTERPIECE!!!😊😊😊

Trevor Horn is a genius. Great producer, multi instrumentalist and singer. He has worked with more artists that you know about and on more albums the same. Saw Yes when he was in the band a few years ago now.

Drama was a controversial album in the UK because of the Buggles connection. I saw them at the legendary Rainbow theatre in London. It was the end of a long tour and Horne's voice was clearly tired. There was some heckling but the band were on fire, as usual, and it was obvious that Geoff Downes was special.

Lesson here is that Yes is always Yes!

I'm getting up there in years and am an original OG Yes fan. Having said that I do enjoy listening to these less than classic tunes once every few years. Well done. Toe tapping.

L33: You said "I didn't even know they had this in them" and "Steve and Chris were absolutely shredding". Just wait until you hear the last song on the album, Tempus Fugit. It makes Machine Messiah sound like Barney the Dinosaur. Great reaction. My own was similar, as in, shock at the bass, drums and guitars just howling with heaviness. As time goes on, many repeated listens have taught me that, at least for my own personal preferences, there aren't as many layers to keep discovering in repeated plays. But it is still vital music when the mood strikes. As for all kinds of Yes you haven't heard yet, don't forget Your Move/All Good People (essential signature Yes, the Yessongs version which I prefer OR the Yes Album, either one, a masterpiece). And have you heard Perpetual Change yet? Bruford helped write that and it's a beast! Happy New Year to you, too.

Hey Dude, I suppose the thing that always impresses with yes is the attention to detail with the writing, playing and the Overall production. 🙏🖖

This is The Buggles (Geoffrey Downes and Trevor Horn) and Yes combined. And this is a hugely underrated Yes album. Although, admittedly, very uneven. 🙂 "Machine Messiah" and "Into the Lens" are definitely the best here, but on "Does It Really Happen?", at the end, there is a superb bass solo by Chris. 🙂

You're going to love the whole album! 🤗❤️

Drama was one of my faves too! I dug the heaviness too. Chris was a bigger part of the Yes vocal sound than many realize. Just check Chris out on The Old Grey Whistle Test from his solo effort and it still has that Yes sound to the vocals. Wait until you hear "Tempus Fugit" from this album:)

Drama is one of my favorite albums! Side note, many years later Trevor and Geoff returned to Yes for the album "Fly from Here", which was based on unfinished material from the Drama sessions. It's not as good as Drama, but it's not bad.

They did tour with the album. I saw them at London's Rainbow. Trevor handled the old material quite well. He was more interested in producing though and became the most sought after producer of the 80s.

Talk about a transition from Jon Anderson/Rick Wakeman to Trevor Horn/Geoff Downes. Yes is just fantastic; Steve Howe and Chris Squire together cranking it out together is as good a guitar duo as we have seen in the last sixty years. They are truly magical!!

Hey Lee! Drama! Very controversial album when released in 1980. Most YES fans couldn't accept an album without Jon singing on it. For me personally it took years to finally admit that Drama is a great album. Machine Messiah is definitely a highlight with Chris and Alan leading the way! My suggestion is to listen to Drama in its entirety. FOREVER YES❗️❗️❗️🎵🎼🎶🔈🔉🔊😎

This album could be released in 2024 and it would still sound like something new. It cam out when I was in High School. It is the birth of Progressive Metal IMO.

The album, and this song as its opener, is among the finest music Yes ever did. This song is pure 🔥. The next two, “Man in a White Car” and “Does it Really Happen” are as good and need to be heard in one listen. Can’t wait for this one❤ As noted, when Trevor added his vocals to a 2011 recording of Fly From Here (which he co-wrote in 1980) in 2018, it was the second outing of this lineup ❤❤❤❤😊

Love this album. It was greatly underrated at the time because of the lineup change, but taken on its own it's absolutely great. Definitely one of their top 5 albums, and maybe higher. The sound in general, and keyboard sounds in particular, are much better than the previous album, with a more forward-looking production style.

Dream Theater used to cover this song a lot in the early days.. Machine Messiah can probably be the first embrionary metal prog song.. as you said in you video, is much heavier than usual.. love that song and that album!

❤❤❤your mind is blown!!! It is a Masterpiece!!!😊😊😊I have this album! Excellent!!!😊😊😊

Thanks for this reaction - what a fantastic song - everybody in the best form plus Trevor Horn, Ridiculous brilliance.

I love this album. Steve and Chris really open up. Super album that I listen to all the time.

The heaviness of Drama was a direct and deliberate response to the “airy-fairyness” (Steve’s words not mine) of the Tormato album. Like Trevor or not, I think Drama is a musical achievement even for Yes. The whole album ROCKS!

TEMPUS FUGIT ! Do it next! Best song on the Drama album!

Not only does Trevor happen to sound a bit like Jon, he's a tremendous songwriter and a beast of a bass player in his own right.

Chris did the harmonies, Geoff Downs was very good on this album, probably the best he has done! Trevor Horn produced 90125 but he did not performed with the band on that record. Drama is a great album, the line up broke up because Trevor could not deal with the strain of singing like Jon and he also developed stage fright. Steve and Geoff left the band to form Asia with Carl Palmer and John Wetton, Chris and Alan tried creating a band with Jimmy Page called XYZ!

Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes were The Buggles, the band who recorded "Video Killed The Radio Star". So, that's Trevor's voice. Very similar to Jon Andersons. Matches just as well with Chris Squires. It was a no brainer to do an album with them. I will suggest "Tempus Fugit" which is a mind melter.

Thanks mate. One of my favorite tracks from a great album. You've entered the Yes roller-coaster now, better hang on... :)

Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes were very big YES fans and had written a number of songs with YES in mind, which they submitted to Chris, Steve and Alan. They loved it. Geoff is still with YES to this day.

I always think Machine Messiah is like the prototype of progressive metal.

Chris Squire said that Downes was "the best keyboard player Yes ever had. He listens." Steve then took Geoff with him into the band Asia, which came right after this album. In the '80s, Downes did a BRILLIANT solo album called "The Light Program." It's all '80s synth instrumental.

I hope you listen to the whole album?! It's worth reading the Wikipedia article on this album. The two "new" members, Trevor Horn (vocals) and Geoff Downes (keyboards), formed the band "Buggles" together. Their song "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the very first music video to be broadcast by MTV (1981). Incidentally, Downes has been the regular keyboardist in YES since 2010.

All of this solid Album…without Jon and Rick! So strange but this one is one of the best Produced! Sonically superb!

The Buggles have a song called 'Lenny', in which at one point Trevor Horn totally sounds like Jon Anderson, too 😀 Trevor also is a very good bass player 🙂 And great idea of yours to check out at least the first ASIA album! 😊👍

into the lensss

Great reaction. I’m glad you liked it. The rest of the album doesn’t sound like this, but they keep up the high level of energy. It’s a great album that was unjustly criticized at the time. I coulnd’t understand the harsh critics.Thankfully, I feel that it is now give. The respect it deserves. It is in my mind far superior to Tormato. Steve and Chris are on fire. I had to wait for The Ladder in 1999 to hear Chris being this energized. I don’t appreciate as much 90125, Big Generator, Union and Talk.

This whole album is pretty dam good! You’ll dig the tunes people have mentioned! Love Tempus Fugit …LOUD!!❤ As mentioned Steve and Jeff played in Asia together but are Still playing in the current lineup of Yes! Trevor Horn(also a producer I think) did a pretty dam good job filling Jon’s shoes on this album…contributing to writing some of it as well. Tormato is a totally different vibe…but still good imho😊

This is my favorite song from my favorite YES album!!!

Very good album. You can hear how Yes 90125 and Asia band album came about after this. Listen on this album to Does It Really Happen.

Happy New year bro thanks for the reactions.🤘✌️What an album. Heavier and darker rhythm section. Steve is incredible. If the keys were darker it would be perfect. The last great album from yes.

Great reaction. Mind blower stuff by Yes. Squire plays bass like electric lead guitar. Howe always amazes.

bought this lp when it came out and loved it since. oh and yes Geoff and Steve pair up well...they became the core of ASIA two years later

Last time I saw Yes, they opened with Machine Messiah, after Firebird suite of course

Oh, hell yeah! I utterly LOVE this song! (Starting video now!)

Do the entire album- you’ll not regret it!!! I love this album!!!

Very cool Bruce !

I got into prog 1983 so bit like you I was discovering all this music after it was cool but I was 17. I so love re experiencing it through you I felt very similar and loved Drama more than all the post Close to the Edge stuff because I had no preconceptions same with Rush re Power Windows. Thx man for making me re experiencing all this again through your ears love it

Trevor Horn produced The album “90125” for Yes… another one of My favorites😎

I saw them live for this tour. It was the Steve Howe show.

What a blast of gift. Yesyears is an amazing collection. I suggest to you to hear the first record with us, to give you a taste of the first years of the band

"Maybe we'll change offered the chance to finally unlearn our lessons and alter our stance." Good stuff, Maynard.

love this track, bought the LP on day of release

Fly From Here is an album made with The outtakes tracks of Drama

Keep improving each day, Lee. You're doing great.

It all makes sense when you hear the rough tracks of the post-Tormato days. Jon was writing tunes that made Circus of Heaven look heavy and Rick's airy fairy keyboard choices were becoming unbearable. Steve, Chris and Alan must have felt a great release (release) taking over the band and moving in a direction more suited to what they wanted to play. Drama is a fantastic album no matter what the Yes purists might tell you.

Always dig your heartfelt reactions. Thanks. Trevor H, like Jon, is from northern England. Trevor H only produced 90125 ("Owner of...") with Trevor Rabin on gtr and vox. Trevor H did sing on second version of "Fly from Here". Ian S Northern England.

Have you heard Alan White’s solo album Ramshackled? In 76 the band all did solo projects… as a drummer, you need to experience it

Have a great new year! Drama is such a unique album with a harder edge at times and so many different synth sounds. It’s like wrapping heaven up in foil!

Drama is my favorite non-Anderson YES album. Chris, Alan and Steve's playing is really tight, the songs are decent as well. Trevor sounds more like Jon on Machine Messiah than the other songs on Drama. i prefer Drama over Asia, even Asia's first, it is less commercial. i saw this tour twice, partly because both shows where so close to me, but worth the time and price. Tempus Fugit is also a highlight, Chris' simultaneous singing and playing is some of his best.

Harmony's to die for... so fucking good.

This one, Does it Really Happen and Tempus Fugit are gold.

Jeeez dude... always blows my mind !!! Stonking album from THE progressive rock band. 😍

Trevor Horn. Worldwide reputation for being a top producer.

Chris Squire's voice in the higher registers is actually quite similar to Jon's - it is him that you are hearing and thinking of Jon. Trevor Horn's voice is a great blend with Chris', but definitely distinct from Jon's 🙂 While I wouldn't change the way things actually happened, I certainly would have loved to have seen more of this lineup. The closest we actually got to another album from this particular group, though, was "Fly From Here: the Return Trip", which was largely penned by Trevor Horn (originally a short version of the title song was played during the Drama tour), but recorded originally (without the "Return Trip" in the title) by Steve, Chris, Alan, Oliver Wakeman (Rick's son), and Benoit David on vocals - then reworked by Trevor Horn with Trevor's vocals instead of David's - A number of keyboard parts on the "Return Trip" reworking were recorded by Geoff Downes, also. Trevor Horn produced 90125 (the album that gave us "Owner of a Lonely Heart"), but is not credited with any of the vocals.

The Drama album is one of my Top 5 favourite Yes albums.

Having met Chris at their joint manager Brian Lane's office, Trevor went down to Chris's house/studio with tapes of tracks he thought maybe Yes could do; Chris listened and said "You sound like Jon Anderson".

Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes were from the group The Buggles who'd just had a hit with Video Killed the Radio Star. They were both Yes fans and knew how to copy a lot of the Yes mannerisms. After this they did the second and last Buggles album and on that one Trevor Horn sounds even more like Jon Anderson, especially on the song Inner City. Trevor Horn was also a big time producer at this time, on the follow up 90125 that had Owner of a Lonely Heart Trevor Horn produced and sang back up vocals on Leave It.

Steve , Alan and Chris decided to come out with guns balzing on this album.

That album was made under so much pressure but it was what it was. Yes was at its height during the 70s there will never be another Yes like the 70s. Yes now is more of tribute band. Give it up guys its time to call it quits.

You have to check out Chris Squire's lead bass on Tempus Fugit. I never realized that Chris was playing what he was playing until I watched the official yeas video.

Peace....🖖♥️🙏🎼🎵🎶

Drama is Brilliant Lee🙏Yes track : Mind Drive Classic Line up is a good New year ending or beginning piece. I have a signed whole band copy of the Drama Tour programme✌

I like that you mentioned the variety of samples (or sound patches, as it may be) Geoff Downes uses here. His attention to timbre in patches- even live (he's been Yes's keyboardists, touring and on newer albums, again since 2011) when he has to recreate vintage sounds via softsynths- is an aspect I've noted and praised before. Tangent follows . . . Pretty much all of Yes's keyboardists have been pianists first. Tony Kaye, trained in piano, though developed an interest in jazz organ over time. Rick Wakeman, once on a path to the conservatory via piano. Pat Moraz, classical and jazz piano. (Skipping Geoff for now . . .) Igor Khoroshev (1990's), classical piano, also once destined for the conservatory. Even Trevor Rabin, their 80's guitarist who nonetheless played a fair share of the keys for them- piano and violin well before guitar. Geoff Downes /was/ taught piano, but raised on organ music and arrangement. Critical to classical or church organ is the voicing of the organ and management of the stops and volume- analogous to patches or samples for synths, and dynamics. His formal music education was not focused on performance or recital, as with other keyboardists in Yes, but rather on theory and composition. It gives him a very different style to most of the others in Yes- apart from more improvisational solos, in which he sounds a fair bit like Tony Kaye, probably due to a shared affinity for blues and jazz employment of the electric organ. Also of note, when 'classical' influences are mentioned, he's oddly divergent from his peers in Yes, favoring the neo-romantic and impressionistic more heavily. He's my favorite keyboardist in the band, though that can get some negative comments from some Yes fans. Geoff is a composer and writer who plays his works, whereas I'd argue someone like Rick Wakeman is a player who writes and arranges so that he has works to play.