Progressive Palaver

Episode 57 – Steven Wilson Part 1, Insurgentes & Grace for Drowning Paul and Joe begin a short segment on Steven Wilson solo records starting with Insurgentes and Grace for Drowning. These two records show Steven Wilson finding his footing as a solo artist and exploring the musical canvasses he wants to use in this phase of his career. While looking for ways to destroy mp3 players, SW was creating...

Bonus Episode – Palaver Mailbag, Late Delivery Part 2, 2018 Paul and Joe end 2018 by dipping into the Palaver Mailbag to discuss some of your messages and questions. We appreciate every message we get so please keep them coming. We hope you enjoy! Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Them...

Special Episode – Tony Kaye Tom, Ken and Joe have the honor to interview Yes founding member Tony Kaye. Tony shares with us his perspective of the beginning of progressive rock in the late 60’s and the resurgence of Yes in early 80’s. Tony shares some insights from his Hall of Fame career including his return to Yes for the 50th anniversary (and beyond). Having worked with some of the best, most i...

Episode 56 – Yes Part 19, Yes & Time and a Word Paul, Ken and Joe correct a past Palaver mistake by closing out the year of #YES50 and returning to the first two Yes albums; Yes and Time and a Word. These two albums were skipped when the Palaver began the initial Yes segment but their importance meant that they had to be covered. The group considers these two records in relation to the beginnings...

Episode 55 – Yes Part 18, Heaven & Earth Tom, Ken and Joe move to the end of the of Yes catalog with the most recent release from @YesOfficial, Heaven & Earth. This album marks a clear movement towards new horizons and was, at the time, only the third album released without Jon Anderson. New singer Jon Davidson has significant writing credits here and Billy Sherwood pitches in with engineering dut...

Episode 54 – Yes Part 17, Fly From Here & Fly From Here, Return Trip Joe and Ken have an unabashed lovefest for both versions of the Fly From Here album. Thirty years in the making, Fly From Here is worth every day of the wait. The discussion focuses on the interesting amalgam found in these albums from songwriting, influences, production and singers. It’s not often you are able to fully enjoy two...

Episode 53 – Yes Part 16, Magnification Joe, Paul and Ken discuss this often-overlooked gem in the Yes catalog. When Chris Squire sings “You might need a guide” you should probably pay attention. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 52 – Yes Part 15, The Ladder The year of Yes continues as Paul, Ken and Joe tackle The Ladder. The technical gremlins manifest themselves in this episode as phantom beeps but the Palaver is as engaging as ever for this joyful, enjoyable album. The group finds The Ladder as a pleasant surprise (Ken declares the album a “hidden gem”) in the catalog in this time. The only Yes album recorded w...

Episode 51 – Yes Part 15, Keys to Ascension & Open Your Eyes The almost full Palaver of Joe, Paul, Ken, Jay and Tom tackle both Keys to Ascension albums and Open Your Eyes in this episode. The musical parallels between Keys and Tormato are explored at some length whether or not they actually exist. Either way it seems this group can’t stop talking about that particular album (Ken suggests a drinki...

The Yes palaver continues with Jay, Tom, Ken, Paul and Joe covering Talk. The group considers the (at the time) cutting edge recording and production techniques which lend this album a unique flavor. The 2 < 5 theory is explored again as well as the effect of no strong outside producer (too many Trevors, too many Jons and where is the bass???). This album does, however, contain perhaps the most "Y...

Bonus Episode – Trevor Rabin, Can’t Look Away In this bonus episode, Paul and Joe take a (small) sidestep away from Yes to discuss Trevor Rabin’s solo effort Can’t Look Away. Paul has always held this album in high regard and time has proven him correct. The influence of a top-notch producer (Bob Ezrin) is readily evident in focusing Trevor’s creative urges. This album serves as a fascinating adde...

Episode 48 – Yes Part 12, ABWH & Union For this episode of the Yes Palaver Paul, Ken and Joe discuss the curious period in Yes history with the albums Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and Union. These two albums represent a very dynamic period in the band’s history. The interweaving timelines for the two Yes camps that resulted in these albums is fascinating and is ultimately punctuated by management...

Episode 47 – Yes Part 11, Big Generator This episode is another lean Palaver where Ken and Joe consider the Yes album Big Generator. Ken provides a look into the outstanding prog context of 1987 (what a year!). Regardless of the greater Palaver’s feeling about this album, Big Generator was the group’s ultimate gateway to Yes, originally via Paul. While Tom provides some scathing criticism via text...

Episode 46 – Yes Part 10, 90125 In order to help celebrate 50 years of Yes, the Palaver returns to the Yes catalog with the 1983 album 90125. Paul, Tom, Ken and Joe (including Jay and Colby in spirit if not substance) dive deep into this game-changing (for better or worse) album featuring the return of Jon Anderson and Tony Kaye to the band. The significant influence of the two Trevors is contempl...

Bonus Episode – Total Mass Retain In this very exciting bonus episode Joe and Ken get to interview three of the members from Total Mass Retain. As a featured performer at the YesFanFest – 50 True Summers event in Philadelphia on July 21st, TMR is one of the hottest trending names in the world of tribute bands. Members Joel Simches, Mark Gonzalez and Joey Cassano share their love of all things Yes...

Episode 45 – Asia Part 6 Omega, XXX & Gravitas Joe completes his solo consideration of the Asia catalog, finishing up with last three albums featuring John Wetton. These three albums are full of surprises and demonstrate a band that is in clear control of their art. Fast tempos, killer vocals, well-balanced songwriting and even a mantra are the hallmarks of these albums. Even the departure of Stev...

SCS9- Yes - Philadelphia PA - July 21 2018 by Progressive Palaver

SCS8 – Yes – Philadelphia PA - July 20, 2018 Celebrating the summer of Yes with this first of two Special Concert Series episodes, Paul, Ken and Joe discuss the Yes 50th Anniversary Tour show at the Fillmore in Philadelphia PA on July 20, 2018. The group is reveling in the bold choice of the band to open with Close to the Edge and as usual are awed by the timeless wonder that is Steve Howe. This c...

Episode 44 – Asia Part 5 Aura, Silent Nation & Phoenix Joe continues his solo consideration of the Asia catalog, finishing up the John Payne era with Aura and Silent Nation before moving on to the rebirth of original Asia with Phoenix. Aura, always a Joe favorite, fares well over time and there is much in this album to appreciate. The long list of guest musicians provides depth and interest across...

Episode 43 – Asia Part 4 Aria, Arena & Archiva 1 Joe continues his solo consideration of the Asia catalog, moving deep into the John Payne era with these three albums. Aria sees the new Asia continuing to develop as a band with the addition of Al Pitrelli. Is Desire awesome or terrifying? How much dramatic vocals is too much? Arena leads the band into new, jazz-influenced directions as the guitari...

Episode 42 – Asia Part 3 Astra, Then and Now & Aqua In this Palaver for one episode, Joe begins his solo exploration of the bulk of the Asia catalog. Picking up where the original group discussion ended these three albums cover many changes for the band from the departure of Steve Howe on Astra through the extensive use of session musicians on the studio tracks on Then & Now to the formation of es...

Episode 41 – Rush Part 16 Test for Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows & Clockwork Angels In this episode of the Palaver Tom, Paul and Joe finish out the Rush catalog by doing a quick burn through the last four albums. These four albums span a great deal of real time and the Palaver tries to sort out the greater context both in the Rush lineage and the larger musical landscape. Of particular not...

Episode 40 – Rush Part 15, Counterparts In this episode of the Palaver Tom, Ken, Paul and Joe spend some quality time with Counterparts. This album features the return of Peter Collins and with him a recurring theme (real or imagined) of the Queensryche influence. The context of 1993 (with the onset of grunge and the continuing demise of prog) is explored in general terms and how Rush maintained r...

Episode 39 – Rush Part 14, Roll the Bones & Rupert Hine Reflections Technical difficulties… They are bound to catch up with most podcasts sooner or later. The Palaver got them good for this section. Due to these technical gremlins we lost the recordings of both our episode on Roll the Bones and the outstanding interview Tom and Joe did with Rupert Hine. This episode attempts to recap both of those...

Episode 38 – Rush Part 13, Presto “Hitting if fresh and finding it new” - This Palaver finds Joe, Ken, Colby and Tom considering Rush’s Presto. First and foremost, the group must consider the effect of producer Rupert Hine on this record and the fact that Presto is sonically very different from other Rush albums up to this point. From there the group considers the question “How proggy is Presto” a...