DVD Rating Audio: B- Video: A Extras: C Overall: B-

Yes are arguably one of the most endeared and well-respected bands in progressive rock. Their 35 years worth of creating intricate, beautiful and often groundbreaking music is an accomplishment to be reckoned with. The new DVD release “YesSpeak” from Classic Pictures takes an intimate look at the newly reformed classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White as they trekked about Europe of their Full Circle Tour. However, if you are looking for the definitive documentary of the legendary Yes, you will need to look elsewhere. This 10-part, three-hour film focuses exclusively on the five current members and rarely hints at parts of the band’s history past 1973. This is also not a concert film. Bits of live performances from the 2003 Montreaux Jazz Festival and a few other shows are interspersed throughout, but there is no full concert footage included.

The first three parts of the film give a brief history of the band, including recent interviews with the band, both backstage and at their respective homes or vacation locales. Neither a long-time fan nor a viewer of the 1991 video “YesYears” will learn much new with regards to the band’s formation from this film. The more interesting moments of the film occur during the five spotlight features, one on each current band member. Each of them speaks about how they became part of Yes, their involvement in the band including songwriting, how the perceive the band and its tumultuous history, and their thoughts about the future of Yes. There is a particularly nice moment with Jon Anderson at his home in San Luis Obispo, California where he is playing the harp and then decides to pick up an acoustic guitar and demonstrate how he came up with the new Yes song “Show Me”. There is no spirit alive in the world like that of Jon Anderson’s.

The visual quality of the film is very good, from the interviews, to the candids, to the concert footage. And although the audio is presented in both DTS and Dolby 5.1 and is crisp, there are serious flaws in the mix, and the host. During much if not all of the speaking segments, there is Yes music playing in the background. However, the backing track is never reduced in volume to allow the voice track come through very well. Also questionable is this choice of The Who’s Roger Daltrey as the narrator. Daltrey no doubt is a rock legend with strong speaking voice, but his inflections and untimely word emphasis sound like he’s telling a children’s story or trying to sell a K-tel tape on a TV ad.

By design, the content of the DVD is very specific to the five current members of Yes. However, it is very tough to tell the story of Yes without detailing Bill Bruford’s involvement, the band’s comeback in 1983 with “90125” courtesy of Trevor Rabin, or the YesFeud that ended in the questionable “Union” project of the early ‘90s, not to mention Yesfan favorites like 1974’s “Relayer” and 1980’s “Drama.” Granted “90125” had Rabin and not Howe, “Relayer” had Patrick Moraz and not Wakeman, “Drama” had Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn not Wakeman and Anderson, and “Union” is a sore spot for, well, most people, but these are all integral parts of Yes’ long and rich history. Hopefully, at some point someone will make THE definitive, all-inclusive, ultimate Yes video history. Then again, that could rival The Lord of the Rings in running time!

Finally, the DVD includes an audio-only concert from the Full Circle Tour. As good as this concert sounds, you cannot play this disc in a CD player, therefore your only choice is to listen to it at home on your DVD player. Seems a little silly. Also, if the concert was so important to include on a DVD, why not present the video footage? If I’m stuck in my basement listening to a DVD, give me something to watch other than the track listing.

Though a bit long (at three hours) for the limited history that is presented, “YesSpeak” is a nice look into the band as it exists today with the classic lineup. An improved mix and more sensible extras (er, extra in this case) would have made for a more enjoyable product, but the intimacy of the interviews is worth the price of admission.

Review by Chad Hutchinson
February 17, 2004