Yes is Morphine's third album, released on Rykodisc in 1995. The trio of Mark Sandman on two-string slide bass and vocals, Dana Colley on saxophones, and Billy Conway on drums continues the band's guitar-free approach while expanding their sonic palette with guest appearances and additional instrumentation on some tracks. The album moves between the slow, hypnotic grooves that defined Morphine's sound and more varied arrangements, from the whispered intensity of "Whisper" to the driving momentum of "Scratch." Colley's baritone and tenor saxophone remain the primary melodic instruments, functioning in the role a lead guitar would play in a conventional rock band. Sandman's songwriting and vocal delivery maintain the film noir atmosphere of Cure for Pain — deadpan, narrative-driven, and deliberately understated. Produced by the band with Wally Gagel, the album was recorded at Hi-N-Dry Studios in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Yes continued Morphine's commercial momentum, debuting higher on the Billboard charts than its predecessor, and further established the band as one of the most distinctive acts in 1990s alternative rock. The album's success demonstrated that Morphine's unusual instrumentation and low-key approach could sustain audience interest beyond the novelty of a guitarless rock trio.
