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It’s time for Mark and me to expound our reactions to the new Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks album, True. I just listened to the music and deliberately stayed away from all other information about the writing etc. of the album but Mark found out a little more. I wonder if our views on the record will be the same as yours.
- Is this a Yes album?
- Why would it be?
- Is it any good?
Let us know if you agree with us!
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Theme music
The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from: archive.org
10 replies on “True Review – Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks – 643”
As I said in my review when it was released, I give it a 9 out of 10. It’s my favorite Jon album since “Animation” in ’82, thanks to the Band Geeks.
There have been many times I have chuckled at something said on YMP episodes — in addition to just enjoying and learning from all the commentary. But I think the biggest smile has been produced when Mark said something like, Jon would do well to buy a thesaurus! He’s right, I think. (I might add an edition of the OED!) And that isn’t to disparage Jon. His lyrics are wondrous — in many ways.
For the most part I had to agree with both of you except the part about the Band Geeks not so much sounding like themselves individually which seems obtuse as it is obvious Jon was putting forth not a solo album but his version of YES. I would imagine it is titled as it is more due to legal reasons then just saying what I’m sure Jon would have wanted like Y2.O, or even more cheeky “Affirmative”. If Steve can do it why not Jon. Indeed we would all like to see Richie and crew write a full album with Jon as a band all together in the studio from soup to nuts and I believe Mark would get what he is looking for minus the Jon solo album (forgive me) clunkers. I consider this a YES album the same as I consider the first Starcastle album a YES album just with five different musicians that managed to channel YES in a mystical unearthly manor. As for scratching my YES itch I give it a 9 out of 10 and I must admit (forgive me Mark) I enjoy the Jon solo sounding songs that you both ragged on. Love the Podcast, as always great job guys.
This is the best Yes in more than 25 years–most reviewers agree and are blown away by it. It sounds fresh but maintains the quality of great musicianship that classic Yes always displayed. The Howe band has not released one great song that you would want to play a month after its release. Other than Howe the band doesn’t have any great musicians or song writers. But this album will last as a great accomplishment. Including a great new very moving epic.
Completely disagree, Mirror to the Sky is outstanding, be happy we have an abundance of new YES material without feeling compelled to dis Official YES.
I agree that I could do without the last track, “Thank God.” It’s a lovely tribute to wife Jane, but anticlimactic after the epic “Once Upon a Dream.” Its placement last & being a short 3 minute song reminds me of the fact that “Hold Lamb,” written by Jon, was put last on Big Generator, over the objections of several other Yes members who didn’t think it fit the style of the other BG songs and that it was basically a Jon song & too mellow.
That’s “Holy Lamb” of course that I was referencing.
This is a Yes album. I don’t think there’s much doubt. It very much sounds like that’s what they set out to do. It’s fun to play “spot the Yes references.” There are so many. Once Upon A Dream is the highlight. It can stand up along side other classic Yes long-form pieces.
As I am sure most long term Yes fans have experienced, listening to new Yes-like music has always been a process. For me, much like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. I don’t always get it finished at the first sitting. The first 2-3 listens are akin to finding and connecting the edge pieces, thus discovering the outline of the puzzle (album). The next listens (5 – 8) are like finding the similarly colored pieces (ideas and themes), putting them together in groups, and identifying where they fit into the outline of the edges. It is only then, after 9 – 12 (or so) listens that the interior groups are attached to one another, finally filling in the gaps. This is when I can step back and appreciate how the pieces fit together to form the entire picture (album). So it was for me with listening to True. After a dozen or so times through, it has become an album that I want to keep listening to. I always appreciate your open and honest opinions, and this time they were helpful in solidifying my positive reaction to this album. I have many of the same views as you both and also gave it an 8.5 rating. I think the album is reminiscent of Magnification and The Ladder, the last new Yes albums that I found myself playing over and over. I also sense influences from Change We Must, in addition to the obvious ones from 70s and 90s Yes music. The highlight for me is True Messenger, 10 out of 10! The fact that it was currently being played live motivated me to drive nearly three hours to attend the Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks show on September 15, at the Keswick Theater outside Philadelphia. Bottom line is that I’m glad I was there; Jon and the band seemed to get so much pure joy out of being onstage and playing this music. Thanks again, Kevin and Mark for sharing another great episode.
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks: True – Build Me an Ocean (Piano and String Quartet (Japanese Bonus Track)