Most Underrated Albums: Yes’ ‘Talk’

It’s regarded by many fans to be their most overlooked album. A sheer masterpiece that was initially panned by critics. Guitarist at the time, Trevor Rabin, has the distinction of playing on Yes’ most commercially successful albums. He also has the distinction of playing on their second lowest charting album. If anything because of timing. Because his final album contribution to Yes, 1994’s ‘Talk,’ is a truly overlooked piece of hard rock prog excellence. It’s just that 1994 wasn’t receptive to the sound that they produced. But it doesn’t make it any less amazing. With the exception of the terrible ‘Yes’ logo that was used on the cover.

As the band rolled into the 90’s with the ‘Union’ line up, it was clear that certain party members simply wouldn’t work well together in the long run. The management and producers favored the Rabin led version of Yes and that line up entered the studio. With Rabin producing and mixing most of the material. The result? Maybe the finest album this line up created. And one of Yes’ all time greatest in any era.

The album follows pretty much the same formula as the previous three. Progressive rock with a mainstream hard rock/pop twist. Had the album been released four years prior, it no doubt would have been a major success. The album opens with the insanely catchy ‘The Calling.’ A track that would have fit perfectly on Yes’ 1987 smash ‘Big Generator.’ The harmonies, the chords and the classic hard rock rhythm. It’s uplifting sound and nature. It’s all there, and it’s all good. A perfect song to start the day. The emotional ‘I Am Waiting’ follows. It’s simply one of the most beautiful ballads ever written. And there’s some really cool breaks and bridges in the song. Riding the fine line between prog and mainstream rock. ‘Real Love’ is a centerpiece on the album. It’s a very unique track that most closely resembles ‘City of Love’ from 83’s ‘90125.’ It’s not quite as heavy, but it’s a track that certainly has heaviness in it. It also possess a certain darkness. An eerie, alien type of sound. The breakdown groove at the end is pretty addictive when Rabin rides with Tony Kaye’s low end keys.

‘State of Play’ is a simple, yet very effective hard rock piece. With a killer melodic chorus. And one bad ass guitar solo. The song has a great bounce to it that anyone can dig. ‘Walls’ should have been a hit. There’s no doubt about that. It’s timelessly thoughtful material. Simply classic Rabin era Yes. Right up there with ‘Love Will Find A Way.’ And it’s true that it was a modest hit. But it didn’t even crack the top 20. Which is just crazy to me. It’s just that, ya know, 1994. ‘Where Will You Be’ isn’t the strongest Yes song in the pile. But it’s an interesting tribal beat that mixed with traditional European vocal harmonies. But the coup de gras of the album is the epic ‘Endless Dream.’ It’s truly where Trevor Rabin becomes one with the prog nerd side of Yes. It’s always the track I show Steve Howe purists. And more often than not, it converts them. The three piece suite covers a little over 15 minutes. The song starts with the instrumental ‘Silent Spring’ before moving into the main part of the song ‘Talk.’ Then it finishes with the short ‘Endless Dream.’ An amazing piece that really takes the listener on a journey.

All in all this is just one hell of an album. It’s not just a great prog album. It’s a great rock record. And it’s a shame that it didn’t get the notoriety that it deserved upon its release. Fortunately though, as the years go on, it becomes more and more popular with the Yes fanbase. But it’s still really overlooked. I mean, it’s not even on Spotify. It’s not even on I-tunes!! That’s criminal. Add this amazing album to those outlets asap!! It deserves so much more recognition.

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