YES "Shoot High, Aim Low" ~ Reaction and Dissection The Decomposer Lounge 

Rabin is a fabulous composer and I'm grateful for his Yes collaboration's, they are like nothing else in their catalogue.

I am REALLY into this song…it transcends and pulls you in. What an awesome piece of music to do here…thank you 😎

And I LOVE the buttery smoothness of Trevor's voice in conjunction with the angelic high pitch of Jon Anderson! 💕

The masterful percussion holds the disparate sounds together in perfect synthesis. The work of the sound engineers, keeping the sounds perfectly balanced, was the proverbial "final tough" to the sythesis.

I am a millennial whose parents were hugely into progrock and English bands. Yes was the first concert I went to. Anderson was still singing. Kansas opened for them. I'm sure most kids my age would've thought it was lame, but I adore Yes. And I adore this album. It was one of the first cassettes I stole from my mom without asking. Gotta love Howe.

Close To The Edge is a very important album in my soundtrack of life so I actually bought this CD to learn more about Yes... and I found that the music is too advanced for me to easily appreciate. Never took the time to shut off my built in biases and really let it change me..... With this video you've got me curious about it again!

One of my favorite Yes songs. The "crispness" of the tones and instruments in this track always appealed to me.

This was my favorite cut off the two "Yes-Pop" albums in the mid-80's. Saw them do this live on their 1988 tour and it was glorious.

A fair amount of this album doesn't age particularly well, but this song is a clear exception. Always loved it. Sounds as good today as when it first came out... nearly 34 years ago.

Always remember listening to this with my father when it came out. Good stuff, thanks! Another good Yes tune with lots of layering candy would be *"Lift Me Up"* off of the _Union_ album. 🤙🏼

"Pull a nugget on the machine." made me chuckle. I can dig it and followed the advised approach. No regrets and a quick thank you for all the work you do to bring us these videos. Thank you, Geebz.

This song kicks my ass so hard. I love how it balances the super ambient/chill vibes with moments of epic, monstrous heaviness. Great, criminally underrated tune that makes for awesome late night driving soundtrack fodder. It's fantastic to see it getting the love it deserves. Thanks for the ride, Geebz!

One of my favorite Yes songs. Listened to this track several times in the last weeks. Nice coincidence. "Heart of the sunrise" or "changes" are also worth a reaction.

This song has always resonated with me. Like many of Yes' songs, this takes me to another place. Something about 'in the blue sedan we never got much further...' Feel that Trevor Rabin and David Gilmore were of the same ilk, Vocals and guitar, similar in many ways if you listen to them both. Underrated song, imho. Just beautiful. Thanks for this 💚💚💚

Love the breakdown, thank you. I'd love to see you move 6 years forwards with Yes to 1994 and react to 'Endless Dream' from the 'Talk' album. Rabin is still with the band at this point and really pushed the boundaries with the song imo. Are they still pushing the limits with it? ☺️

How do you even begin to replace Steve Howe? Trevor certainly found his place. Great musician!

I was in high school and working at a music store when this came out. It got heavy play in the store heh. My manager was close friends with a WEA rep in Ottawa at the time, lucky sod got to meet the band when they came to town... Came back grinning with photos of her and Jon Anderson cheek to cheek with their arms around each other. I did score a signed copy out of it :) I've always loved this album. I didn't get to see a version of them until the ABWH tour.

I've never heard any other YES songs besides Roundabout. Thanks for reacting to this, now I want to listen to more of their stuff!

I'm delighted by Alan White's subtle hi-hat emphasis - one measure he's hitting the downbeats, the next he joins the bass drum on the syncopation. RIP - you were the best.

I hear this and immediately think of Steven Wilson. He MUST have had some influence from YES. First listen for me. Good stuff!🤙

An underrated album. Probably the most Yes-like track in the classic sense is I'm Running, but there's plenty of other good stuff on it, including a great stereo moment in the title track.

Thank you Geebz, I really enjoy your comments in your many videos I´ve seen. You have reacted to many of my favorite bands for years, but always keep looking for new bands and enjoyable music sensations. Please consider to make reactions to Arch Echo's Leonessa, also to The Omnific's The Stoic and the very heavy Andromida's Havoc. I think you'll enjoy them. Keep up with your good stuff !! congratulations. Regards from Santiago, Chile

One of my many favorite albums growing up what an epic review thanks for sharing mate

Ah Yes, I’ve loved this band since I was a kid thanks to my dad. Met Jon Anderson a few years back when he was with Jean Luc Ponty, great guy.

Peter Gabriel was a Fairlight-pioneer and Stewart Copeland did wonderful stuff with it (e.g. the album The Equalizer and Other Cliffhangers - one of my all time favourites)

I've been enjoying your videos for the last month or so and am thrilled to see you analysing this song! I grew up listening to my dad's mix of classical music alongside the classic rock (and eventually heavy metal) bands. He bemoaned the 80's output of some of the bands he but this song was among the exceptions, and I'm eternally grateful for that. Exceptional song with such a unique, relaxed but powerful feel. Thanks, keep up the great work.

This song absolutely slays. I heard it for the first time 2 years ago on the radio. I ended up looking it up on RU-vid and listening to it on repeat for an hour straight.

I love this song. This one and the final track from this album "holy lamb" are both profoundly powerful songs. Anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human mind through the use of psychedelics this is the band for you. They must have been aware of what they were doing to those altering their own mind in such ways. Yes are masters of their craft and their music has an innate quality no other band cat really touch. I've been lucky enough to catch them live twice and live they were awesome. Cheers for picking this one my friend.

This has always been a track I've used to listen to new speakers / electronics. It's a very spacious and involving song with good gear.

Very fortunate to have seen them on the Reunion tour. The most complete line-up, melding the older members with newer. And it was In The Round on a revolving stage. Amazing.

I agree with you. "Yes" music taught me how to compose music...

Every Yes album has something new to love. This was one of those albums I was into in the late 80's. A former band of mine covered "Love Will Find a Way" from this album in the 90's as one of the two Yes songs we did. "Changes" was the other one. I loved playing those songs so much.

Hoy con días de tinieblas, materialismo y locura los mensajes trancendentales de YES y su portentosa música me da esperanza dia a día.

I see you are an Axtell puppet user and a Yes fan, me too! yes rules, and I get so much use from Axtell's in my shows.

This album along with 90125 both have amazing engineering. How many different snare drum sounds are per song to emphasize a move in the songs vibe. Just an awesome album.

This the big generator tour was my very first Yes concert. This album holds so many wonderful memories for me.

The natural ambient reverb is the castle the record the track in.... From Wikipedia about the recording: "the second group track,[5] was one of the songs recorded in Carimate, and features reverb that was captured naturally around the castle's acoustics, rather than reverb added electronically in the studio.[19] "

Another quality dissection even though it is not my style of music, not the type of band I'd listen to. If you'd like to keep it heavy: MESHUGGAH - i (One track EP, 21 minutes long) THE FIVE HUNDRED - Walls of Jericho Cheers!

No idea why, but this reminds me of “Yet Another Movie” by Pink Floyd. I mean, same time period, same tech, but that real soundscape, longing quality to the song coupled with super 80s sounds - you should do that track some time!

Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. Saw Chris and his band 36 times. Siberian Khatru would be a brilliant introduction for your audience

I'll be the rooooundabout The words will maaake you out 'n' out I spend the daaaay your waaaaay Call it morning driving through the sound and In and out the valleeeeey

YES was the second concert I ever went to as a kid, a young teenager really, back in the early 80's. Chris Squire was such an amazing musician and one who really made an impact on me as a young bassist in the 80's. I will always view him as one of the best Rock bassists to ever play the instrument, and both he and John Entwistle will forever remain my two Rock bassist influences. Their playing styles were so aggressive and the tones of their basses were so thunderous, that they stood out among all of the rest of the bassists in that genre of music. Squire was the driving force behind the YES sound and if I had to pick one song that epitomizes that, it would be "Roundabout". Have a great weekend Geebz!!

Do close to the edge!

One of the great anti-war songs! Fantastic review, very knowledgeable stuff!!!

❤️❤️❤️ Yes, and even more so when Trevor joined!!! 😁🤘❤️🎼

Bought the Album in 87! Classic Album!

I've seen Yes several times over the years, in their various configurations. The Big Generator tour was a standout for me. One of the best shows, I've ever been to. And I've been to hundreds of shows. They did Starship Trooper, for an encore, and even in an extended version, I can assure you that nobody in that crowd wanted it to end. Trevor Rabin is a top notch musician and composer, that put a slightly different face on Yes. And here's my usual request for you to react to something from HUM. Awwright! 🤙🏼

I transitioned to this after my Mom died. I was heavy into the doors during her demise.

Always a favorite song of mine... I never got why this album is not more loved...

Please do Coil/Heir Apparent by Opeth!

Welcome to my world dear chap. Love your honest and natural reaction and appraisal to the sheer audio pleasure this material bestows. Many 'whole of life' Yes fans reacted snobbishly to both the 'Yeggles' and the 'Rabin years' . As for myself, I never suffered such idiotic prejudice, I just loved the musical journey and the musical near perfection continually achieved throughout Yes's amazing musical journey that sadly ended, when Chris Squire passed away. PS. RIP Mr Alan White too. 🙏

IMO one of the greatest chill songs ever...always takes me somewhere else.

Soundgarden - tighter and tighter, zero chance

Should check out The Argus by WEEN 👌. Trippy tune

My favorite Yes song,, 🥰

I haven’t heard this since it came out, it’s much better than I remembered.

I first saw YES in 1978, and have been a fan ever since. I don't tire of listening to the complex simplicity, the sustains, and the boldness of including near silence within the song. Amazing work, awe inspiring, and so much more.

I'm thinking that the "bass" following the electric/acoustic guitar riffs (Peizo pickup?) right before you stopped to comment may be a baritone guitar or likely another bass that Trevor played. The tone of it is pretty different than Chris' bass throughout. Not that Chris can't handle the lick, but at that time, he seemed very willing to let Trevor take the wheel on stuff like this. Also, what's up with the "grand mute" of the guitar chords (around 12:48 on this video) right before Jon comes in with "Who says there's gotta be a reason"? The reverb trail is cut off. Maybe it was their way of dealing with limited tracks of that time and something else needed to go on those tracks. What do you think?

Oh man, what a throwback. This album has a sound like no mother, sonic excellence. Saw the tour live in L.A. and was doubly impressed, their engineer's just nailed it, especially Trevor's solo. Thanks man! The reverb is like we're listening at the end of a mile long tunnel. Another record (track) that had a similar feel was Rush "Marathon".

YES does not prescribe a single dose of the feels. Have all of them. ✌️❤️🇦🇺

Great comments! I'm a very early admirer of the (in the first place) arrangement of this song. It's a pure art! It's a film of a catching story, sustained by the "just enough" musical means. I love this song since 1987-88! And I'm old, and I'm proud :P

hands down one of my all time favorite bands and tracks.

He's clearly very knowledgeable, but he doesn't break down what's happening for people like me who aren't musicians. Say what you mean by "that phrase." Say what you mean by "atmospheric." Say what you mean by "glam out." You need to use less jargon and talk to us like we don't know what is happening at all, if you want to reach more people. I love this track, but was bored by what you said about it because it wasn't basic, specific, and clear enough.

If you want to continue the prog-rock-band-composing-an-ambient-influenced-song thread, you really should dive into "Mystic Rhythms" by Rush off their Power Windows album. :)

good one Geebz..first gig i ever went to was Steve Hillage,Hammersmith Odeon,1979...support was Trevor Rabin (on his own)..so I got lucky..re: production of this album.This album started with Trevor Horn producing (carrying on from 90125)..'stuff' happened and he didn't finish the project..Normally,an album that goes through many producers/engineers hands, ends up a mess but not the case here (many engineers credited on this album)..This particular track was recorded in a castle in Italy which may explain the particular sound/acoustics

Trevor Rabin is the producer for Big Generator and 90125 albums. Rabin has also worked with Manfred Mann and others.Trevor was a member of Yes from 1983 until 1195. He is the backing vocalist on this cut to Jon Anderson’s lead vocal. Gated reverb on the drums with healthy compression was popular in that era. (In the air tonight) While Trevor was not a founding member of Yes his contributions and ability to change the direction of the band made them successful a second time in their long career. The guitar work on this track also belongs to Rabin. Chris Squire’s tremendous bass work on SHAL is incredible.

Geebz, I have to jump back on this request. If you’re talking about layers, engineering, and ethereal ambience, you absolutely MUST listen to “Afternoon With the Axolotls” or “Isle of the Cheetah” by HUM. Nice breakdown; this was a very cool song and it’s much more ambient and chill than most of the Yes tracks I’m familiar with.

A lot of Yes fans discredit 90125 and Big Generator because (like what most other bands of this ilk put out during this era) it was not progressive enough. Use of drum machines, Trevor Rabin's pop rock guitar style, digital synths, progressions that were more "palatable" to the masses, etc, but these albums are gold. This album has a lot of wonderful moments, not to mention they played at Blaisdell during this tour in 1987. On a side note, Chris Squire met his wife (now widow) during their 2003 show where they played with the Honolulu Symphony for the first half of the show.

Confirmed geebz has a volcano. funny you saying david gilmour, thought it sounds pink floyd ish. 15:50 Like i was taught, K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid. Never heard this song before, very chill.

You need to check out some more Mike Patton. He's had and been part of lots of groups with a huge variety. Dog Fashion Disco, Polkadot Cadaver, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, The Alterboys and a bunch others I can't think of at the moment. Dog Fashion Disco - Pogo the Clown was my first favorite but, Magical Band of Fools would also be good to break down.

I always prefered 90125 to this album from the two main Rabin-era albums: Big Generator was a great album in general, but really only had a few moments of "Yes-ness". This song and "I'm Running" strike me as the ones which keep the "classic Yes thread" running, while the rest of the album feels almost like a new Rabbitt album - excellent music, but not really *Yes* music. This song, though - I love it, yet can't quite figure out what they were after: Rabin's guitar parts sound at times like he was trying to capture some of Steve Howe's scales and arpeggios, while laying his own tones on top of it! It works, but in an odd kind of way. I also hear a whole lot of influence from Rush - there are several parts where the vocals even sound almost like Geddy Lee! (I think they are Trevor's, not Jon's, but ...) All in all, though, it comes together beautifully in a cohesive whole that is both radio-friendly and interesting to the musician at the same time - not such an easy task :-)

Heyyy Geebz!!! I discovered your channel recently and I have to say that your reviews are the most detailed and my new favorite of all the different music reviewers out there!!! It's an absolute treat to hear the perspective you share! Anyways, to get to my point, I would absolutely be thrilled if you could take the time to review my favourite song of all time since the release a year and a half ago!! I have seen you review some of my other favorite songs (Reptile, Of Matter), and if you could do a review of the song DARK by INVENT, ANIMATE, I think you will understand why I believe it will be my absolute favorite song forever!!! I truly believe it will blow you away with how perfect it is in every way! 🔥 Much Love my Brother!! 🙏❤

What a great experience!! I am not afraid to admit, that I usually am not that into Yes (only because of the vocals actually) but this track was insane! I totally heard the connections the arrangement had to TesseracT, I never appreciated how much ambience can pull me in before I found TesseracT. Maybe I should give this Yes record a chance! The mixing also reminds me of one of my alltime favorite records, you probably know it: Misplaced Childhood by Marillion. I always called it "band playing gently in the mists" - If you don't know it, I can highly recommend it. The whole thing is one track to me so it is hard to suggest a single track. Just don't pick Kayleigh I guess. :P

Hey Geebz, I know you get a million requests. Would it be possible to get another Protest The Hero song? Your breakdown of blood meat was amazing. I’d love to see what you think of their newer stuff. My personal favorite is Fireside, but From the Sky is also amazing.

As the 80's dawned, I thought Yes was dead after Drama and the massive change of sound(I loved it). Then along comes 90125 and this album and all was amazing in the Yes camp.

Anderson explains that the "blue fields" mentioned in the first line are in Nicaragua. At the time the album was being worked on, a legal battle between the U.S. and Nicaragua had occurred over U.S. aid to anti-government guerrillas. Beyond war.

I've seen Yes about a dozen times since the Tormato In-the-Round tour. The Big Generator tour was one of the better ones, in my opinion. I'm a fan of the classic line ups, but I will admit having a guitar player with the vocal capability of Trevor Rabin, so much so that he can share the lead vocals with Jon Anderson, was a highlight of this line up. Having Anderson, Rabin, and Squire, especially Squire's ability to do higher harmonies than Anderson's vocals, on their three part harmony is amazing.

Hi Geebz, I've come here after watching your reaction to the studio version of 'anesthetize' by Porcupine Tree. After being totally moved and mesmorised by your reaction of such depth and analysis, I knew from any recommendation/references you made I needed to check it out. Thank you! I love it! You have a new fan here. Lx

Yeah... epic, magical, my man! Gives you the gut feeling-tone of the aphorism for resetting course in one's life journey and soundtrack... Came to give it a listen at your urging after TesseracT - you're definitely telling the truth about the similarities despite the differences between them, I reckon. Sorry I overlooked Yes, and so many other bands (and their sound technicians and producers) you've dissected for us who they must have consciously or not influenced Thanks for passing on your cumulative wisdom with us. All the best 👍💯

Love Yes! Camel is another great group! Check out, “Dunkirk” by Camel it’s on the Snow Goose album. It’s not as epic, but it’s a great listen.

The deep sustained bass notes are the Moog Taurus pedals. A lot of bands used them. Chris played them with his feet. Rush, Genesis, Styx, and The Police used them. This song also used a combination of acoustic drums and drum sounds from the Fairlight C.M. IIx triggered from Simmons pads connected to the Fairligh

I really only know their song Roundabout (which I LOVE) but this song was pretty cool too. Almost feels like something you'd hear in church

Thanks for posting this. Although you said it was self-proposed, I would have recommended it anyway!

Would you please react to the 2013 live performance of the song Macabre by the band Dir En Grey? It's a bit long but I really think you'll like it and I would love to get your perspective on it! It has a really sick bass solo (the bassist is so cool honestly). Much appreciated! I hope your day goes well :)

I only knew the song Roundabout by Yes before seeing this video and even though I think its an amazing song, it's just not my jam. So I wasn't planning on watching this, but since you insisted on it in your next video I figured, why the hell not. And wow, am I glad I did. This is amazing! Thanks for telling me to watch this one ;)

My sister used to do Tony Kayes travel. I lucked out. Tony gave us tickets to The Big Generator tour. I'll never forger this song as a standout. Trevor Rabins guitar work on this song was other worldly . Jon's voice eloquently bounced off of Reunion Arena in Dallas Texas!

Exactly what I thought upon hearing first few times; it reminded me of David Gilmore's sustain, reverb etc.

Thanks for reminding me of this epic Yes classic. I tend to forget that they also have fine short works. I've seen them maybe four times now, and on their Big Generator tour, they had a huge flying saucer looking thing over our heads, which shined down interesting lights in patterns on us, as "Shoot High, Aim Low" played. Transcendent. Great review. Subscribed.

This song always reminded me of Narnia or Lord of the rings or Harry Potter. Some type of mystical theme. As a teen when this came out, I would think of Roger and Martin Dean and some foggy deep Forest. Yeah, the weed back then helped a little also.😁

Great album & great song ! Trevor Rabin is a beast on guitar and I prefer Yes w/Trevor more than their music with Steve Howe. Union w/both musicians is my favorite Yes album of all though.

I've always been a YES fan, but never heard this song until Pandora introduced it to me a year. Since then it has grown on my big time. I love it. Thanks for the review!

I like Trevor Yes, don't love it because it's really all Trevor keeping the thing going at the time. The Yes brand wasn't really a cohesive band. Big Generator has lot's of songs with Love in the title and Holy Lamb which is the most out of place thing on a major record, like, ever. Shoot High Aim Low, the hits and maybe the title track are pretty good, and very contemporary to it's time. One thing to notice is it sounds like a boatload of money was spent on it and it has a dynamic range that's seldom heard on new recordings.

I forgot all about this song… until I happen to come across it in someone’s “bumper music” on the radio… and have been listening to it again… nonstop, like I did when it came out… ❤️

"Exchanges in the currency of humans bought and sold And the leaders seem to lose control Shall we lose ourselves for a reason Shall we burn ourselves for the answer Have we found the place that we're looking for Someone shouted "open the door" Lookout".

In a blue sedan we never got much further. I have a monstrously huge Yes and related collection. This song ranks in the top ten (I think). They have many, many incredible pieces of music. The new album is the mellowest I've heard.

Children of Bodom - Kissing the Shadows

YES are a key band in my musical appreciation. Big Generator's sound world is 1980s and not timeless as their earlier work was and as such leaves me cold

I get ya when you talk about the simplicity! It's the beauty in the purity of a sound, like that of Dave Gilmour when he hits a note, and holds it. ❤️

How about another Yes tune for the final 30? I don't know enough to be qualified to suggest a track, but I think it should be another Geebz' choice!

I see what you're saying about the vibe being similar to that Tesseract song, but honestly this reminds me more or Steve Wilson's song "Drive Home". Either way, love em all!