A guy I work with put me on to Yes. He grew up with them, and me being 27 years old had never heard of them outside of the radio overplaying "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Honestly thats probably the one reason I never gave them so much as a second look before. But this guy told me about some of the most amazing music the made, so on a whim I bought Classic Yes. I was surprised at the well thought out music. Very tight, very cohesive, and these guys are on the top of their game.
However.......Pre 80's Yes= AMAZING, 80's Yes = clechie (much like Pre 80's Foreigner is awesome, and then it all went downhill from there.) Don't get me wrong, I understand people love all Yes no matter what. But for me, with songs like "Owner" its too "pop music of the 80's" (I hate the synthesized 80's crap with a passion....more than Hair Metal.)
Yes will forever remain in my collection, even if I have to turn the cd player off half way through the "Ultimate Yes Collection"
Brian