Review: Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, True

Review of the new album True, by Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks.

There are also membership options available if you feel super generous!

Mail me: Jim Newstead, PO Box 6487, Milton Keynes, MK10 1RE, United Kingdom

__________________________________________________________________________________

[p-Nitti]

This album gave me memories of putting tales from topographic oceans on the turntable in 1974. An absolute gift from Jon to us Yes fans, thank you Jon

[JonnyDee]

Re the Jon & and current Yes relationship. There are warmer trays of ice cubes. Current Yes is a busted flush and ought to call it a day. True is utterly sublime. It is the Yes album the faithful have been waiting for for decades. Geeks are exceptional and Jon at almost 80 is a legend in every sense of the word.

[johnwolf]

I completely agree with you. This is modern Yes, more Yes than the Steve Howe band, that's for sure.

[harleyw]

Jim, I listen to something from True almost every day. If it's Once Upon a Dream, I find myself dancing... this is the best gift I never expected.

Thanks for the great reaction.

[Kmg_]

You make a fine point at the very end of this review, Jim. If I ever have the honour of seeing Jon perform live here in the UK, as much as I want to hear Close to the Edge, And You And I etc, I wouldn't at all feel cheated if half of this record was part of his live set. That's a great indicator as to how good this LP is. I'm sure you'd agree with that sentiment.

Whether this is his last album or not, thank God for Jon Anderson.

[nicksodano]

This will sound odd, but i saw Jon & Geeks in early '23 in NJ, & he hit some of his highs with such clarity and power that i first felt joyous that he could still do it, but then quickly questioning... How? It clearly wasn't technical assistance. He simply has maintained his voice! Amazing.

[paulh.]

Jim, I am so glad you reviewed this album. My wife and I saw Jon & The Geeks about a month ago. He said he had projects for the next 5 years. We pray he can fulfill those projects.

[johnbeagley]

When I spoke to Jon a year or so back we were talking about maybe doing a Jon and Vangelis tour....but he said he had many things in the pipeline and I'd heard he had discovered The Band Geeks. Obviously he chose a better route to follow. I heard this album and it frankly made me cry Jim. Its absolutely amazing. Close your eyes and it could be Yes, if it lacks the backing vocals of Chris...the bass could be him. This is the "Yes" album Ive been hoping for for so many years. If it was a Yes album it would be in my top 5 Yes albums.

[lisaingram]

Great reviews Jim, not just here, but always. I saw The Band Geek videos on Youtube apparently back before Jon did, when Ann Marie did all the vocals, and was floored by how great they/she sounded. I was so excited when I saw the announcement Jon was touring with them back in '23, I bought tickets that night. I'm so glad she was able to have a place on this outstanding album.

[Silbentrenner]

This album is amazing. You won't believe Jon is 80 years old. His singing is phenomenal and the arrangements are just fantastic. I am impressed!

[Zack]

Thank you Jim. Your review is absolutely profound!! It is amazing that these musicians linked up with Jon at this time. I sort of had the same opinion/feeling that this might be Jon's 'swan song' when I had a first listen. Hopefully, we're both wrong. Jon has stated time and again that he has much more music in him to get out. Always enjoy your reaction while listening and your comments. Keep up the great work!!

[GaiaMiranda]

Honestly the best music I've heard in years❤

[chris-qwxb]

Wonderful review hope Jon keeps making great Yes music with these guys♥️

[grahamhowes]

Astonishingly good! Masterpiece. I love that Richie Castellano having played some amazing YES covers on YouTube got a call out of the blue from Jon. They talk about how he then did some YouTubes and they talk about how he’s a big picture guy and then said: ‘Ok let’s tour!’ Then after the tour: ‘Right - let’s make an album!’ So Richie and Jon after some back and forth and other band members created this masterpiece. Now they’re going to tour this album and I believe Jon is keen to do another!

[lesimprosdulezardvert]

You're right
Just, "Thank god", behind "Once upon a dream", it's bit hard to me. I would have preferred ending with "Once upon a dream"

[JeffReams]

Love your review Jim, I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s just an amazing album. 👍

[jeffschielka]

Hey Jim! I knew you would love TRUE. It's a phenomenal album!!! 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😎

[mutantplants]

Credits:
True Messenger Written-By – J. Dunlap*, J. Anderson*, R. Castellano*

Shine On Written-By – J. Anderson*, R. Castellano*

Counties And Countries Written-By – J. Anderson*

Build Me An Ocean Written-By – J. Haun*, J. Anderson*

Still A Friend Written-By – A. Ascolese*, C. Clark*, J. Anderson*, R. Castellano*

Make It Right Written-By – J. Anderson*, J. Elias*, R. Castellano*

Realization Part Two Written-By – J. Haun*, J. Anderson*

Once Upon A Dream Written-By – A. Ascolese*, C. Clark*, J. Anderson*, J. Elias*, R. Castellano*

Thank God Written-By – J. Anderson*, R. Crow*

[MrKeefdave]

My brother and I were listening to some Yes just last week and I said to him that I wish the remaining members would re-record some tracks using the technology of today. It's as if my prayers were answered. This album is quite simply superb.

[IllumeEltanin]

Thank you for getting to this so quickly, Jim. ❤

For me, while I enjoyed everything, Thank God as a closer hits me like To The Runner on Olias. It’s a beautiful tribute to his wife, but I think I would have preferred it’s placement on side four to have been reversed, similar to Wonderous Stories and Awaken on Going For The One. Otherwise, this was a gorgeous listening experience all around.

I’m sure Anderson will continue to make music, but if he is going to slow down my hope it is so he can concentrate fully on Zamran, and get it released before it winds up being a posthumous release from him. Which may be why this is a one and done collaboration with The Band Geeks.

Que sera, sera. We shall see.