Album Rating: 4.5
While I agree with some parts of your assessment, I have some points I'd like to make. The album obviously has some similar qualities to Yes's music, but it's also sufficiently different that I think it does a disservice to Squire and this album to say that it echoes any of Yes's work. Aside from the obvious similarities (Squire's vocals and bass), this album is not actually that similar to Yes. It has a different feel altogether.
Another issue I had with the review is that you wrote off "You By My Side" as a prettied up pop love song. I don't disagree, that if you look at the track in a vacuum it certainly looks like just another ballad about love. But if you look at it in the context of the album, I think you could say that it's exactly what was needed. In Prog Rock you need to take albums together as a whole in order to understand what the artist was trying to accomplish. In my opinion, this album is perhaps more cohesive as a single piece of art than most Yes albums. Don't get me wrong, I love Yes, but each song on Fish Out of Water is exponentially better in the context of the album than by itself. In my opinion, the album tells a story, and "You By My Side" is an inextricable part of that narrative. It's perfectly placed as the 2nd track and it establishes a solid foundation (both musically and story-wise) for the rest of the songs to follow. Just a theory, but I think this whole album is about love and a relationship (not just the second track).
Your last point I actually kind of agree with, but I still have mixed feelings. Yes, the album does have extended instrumentals which can be somewhat tedious, but I don't think that makes it weaker musically. Minimalism is appropriate at times, but it does somewhat diminish the ability to listen to the album multiple times without getting a little bored. So yeah, I could have done with shorter instrumental sections, but overall I don't think it was a mistake.
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