Listen to Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, Part 1

[@MrBlond777]

Wow 🤩 this is so great! Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks have made the best Yes music album in ages! This is a gift 🎁 Thanks for the great reaction Jim!

[@grahamkey8496]

My goodness, this is like a lost Yes album! If there was any doubt that Jon Anderson is the heart and soul of Yes, let that be dispelled now.

[@stephenodell7253]

And Chris Squire. Miss Chris !!!!

[@grahamkey8496]

@@stephenodell7253 Fot sure, playing bass like that and singing backing vocal harmonies at the same time was legendary!

[@JimNewstead]

Yup!

[@joecrocilla7695]

@@grahamkey8496 does any one know what happened to Jon and Steve ? Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I think if Chris was still here YES would be together?

[@charleswagner2984]

​@@JimNewsteadI feel that this whole album is ABWH without Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe. But much better, but still not Yes music but closer to Yes than ABWH.

[@appendages]

I was 71 but while listening to Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks I was once again 20 years old.😊 Amazing music. It's so alive with the beautiful colors of creativity and grandeur.

[@stephenodell7253]

Me too !!!!!

[@JimNewstead]

Music is… magic!

[@robertsegal9869]

Love that. I'm 64 & Yes has been my band since 1972.

[@gerardcooney1810]

I was lucky enough to see Jon with the Band Geeks. They are Fantastic. Felt like I was a Kid again. They are all Fantastic musicians and Jon Anderson still has it. God Bless Him. Such a Humble and Wonderful Human Being. Peace to All.

[@johnyarusso4953]

I played this entire album a few days ago and I actually can't believe how good it is! This is better than anything Yes has released in the last 20 years and I've been a fan since 1971

[@stephenodell7253]

Same here !!!!

[@BayouMaccabee]

I'd say it's probably better than anything Yes has released since Drama, back in 1980.

[@JimNewstead]

Haha, agreed!

[@charleswagner2984]

​​@@JimNewsteadYou need to read the writing credits. Some interesting names from the past. Jimmy Haun (played guitars on 2/3 of Union) writing in two songs with Jon. Richie (from Blue Oyster Cult) writing on a few with Jon. I like that this group writes songs better than current Yes. A composition lesson for Steve Howe. Let the others write some music and sit back and tweak the arrangements.

[@charleswagner2984]

​@@BayouMaccabeeNo way. This album is great. But Yes has a dozen albums better than this.

[@johnwolf3294]

This song is true brilliance. What an artistic masterpiece. When I'm listening, it takes me to such positive, uplifting places. I don't want the song to end. May God bless this man for bringing us such positive uplifting music l.

[@duanesmith1523]

This the new YES album we have been looking for

[@parshakamarsh]

Like a lot of people I suppose, I discovered The Band Geeks during the lockdown, and it was obvious from watching them that they had a real love for Yes's music and that they were fantastic musicians. I would never have dreamt that this collaboration would come about, and that it would be so good

[@JimNewstead]

It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

[@lesblatnyak5947]

I used to suggest to them back then that they work with Jon and there you go 😊

[@slauer1969]

This record is soooo much better than all the Steve Howe Yes albums of the last decade. I agree with you, that this album has what I've been wanting, the energy and inspiration and I do believe Jon's voice truly is Yes!

[@stephenodell7253]

@@slauer1969 1000% agree !!!!!

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

This is great music. No, better than great. Superb.

[@Zack419]

As always, great review Jim. We saw Jon and The Band Geeks 7/27/2024 in Peachtree City, Georgia. Need I remind you that it's blistering hot in Georgia in July. We arrived a little early, so we heard some of the rehearsals. They played for close to 2 hours 45 minutes with a 15 minute break. It was an incredible performance....incredible. I have been listening to YES since the early 1970's, with my first concert 1979. Looking forward to much more music to come as well as your review of the rest of the recording. I've listened to it several times and believe it's great music. Keep you the great work!

[@JimNewstead]

Thank you so much!

[@2wayplebney]

Good to see you back, Jim. The more I hear of this album, the more I catch the nods to The Yes Album, Topographic Oceans, Fragile and the Rabin years. But mostly I just love playing this on the way to and from work. I have other stuff by great bands to listen to, but this knocks them all into a cocked hat. It does not dip, Jim.

[@JeffReams]

Besides the cover, this album is more ‘Yes’ than Steve Howe’s cover band. It was fun watching your reaction because I had a perpetual smile on my face for the first three songs.

[@andrewwallace1376]

Fresh new sound bravo !! Jon is superb !! the musicians fit together like a glove. Yes albums The Ladder, Magnification, Fly from here,all bring something to the Yes pantheon Jim 🙏

[@64214Jose]

I’m very excited about this album and enjoying the music a lot. A masterpiece IMHO. Thank you for your excellent review.

[@JimNewstead]

You and me both!

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Jim! Awesome album!! TRUE has everything. The Band Geeks are incredible and Jon sounds fantastic for pushing 80 next month!!!! 10/10 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😎

[@TigerMtnKing]

🤩

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@TigerMtnKing 👍😎

[@realbser1956]

Going to see them on 9/15!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@realbser1956 Awesome! Enjoy!👍😎

[@JimNewstead]

Superb! Amazing! Wonderful!

[@DaveWrightKB9MNM]

I started watching the Band Geeks a couple of years ago when they did Close To The Edge album. It blew my mind to hear they were travelling with Jon and I never did get to see them live. I agree, beautiful work and love the "mash up" of eras.

[@markdrechsler5660]

I’ve been playing this album for a week now. Jon is in fine form, and the Band Geeks are top notch. This sounds more like Yes than anything Yes has put out in the last two decades.

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

It's so amazing to watch you listen to music !

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks

[@douggottlieb]

Spot on Jim: bits of the 70s and 80s sounds, very well blended. A great release

[@JimNewstead]

Isn’t it fantastic?!

[@ronjm945]

I had the pleasure of seeing these guys in June and they were great! They only played Shine On and Thank God from this album and they covered all the classic Yes songs from the 70’s through the 90’s and they covered it flawlessly. I had seen Yes several times in the last few years and sadly they were not up to the mark. I have seen Jon with Yes in 1977, with ARW in 2016 and with The Band Geeks in 2024 all great shows. See him if he comes to the UK, you will not regret it….

[@JimNewstead]

Fingers crossed!

[@dio7184]

Jon's talking voice is just like his singing voice, I believe that's why he sounds so good, most singers don't talk like they sing.

[@mrcjanssen1]

This album sounds like what the follow up to the Ladder should have been.

[@TerryKrysinski]

Glad you're diggin' this one,Jim (thought you would). Can't wait to see the rest... BTW-- if you've not heard their 'The Ladder' album...you really need to. The last great one they recorded,IMO. THe entire album is solid. Cheers, T

[@JimNewstead]

Ok, it’s on my list!

[@edbrandt8972]

Richie Castellano on bass. He has also been touring with Blue Oyster Cult for close to 20 years. He pretty much founded Band Geeks.

[@JimNewstead]

Super interesting!

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

Jim, As you say is a fantastic album!

[@scoxocs]

They used so much creativity and talent on the music, they could only muster a quick Photoshop cover :). The whole album is great. Listened to it 3-4 times al the way thru and listened to various tracks by themselves. Got my tickets to see them in 2 weeks. Needles to say EXCITED.

[@scotthodge]

Great Album! Can’t wait to see them live in a couple weeks 😊

[@JimNewstead]

Have fun!

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

You make a valid point on here Jim about it resembling mostly the Trevor Rabin era. I think that is probably the closest era check. The Band Geeks are also talented musicians with Richie having played with Blue Oyster Cult but his bass is so reminiscent of the sadly missed Squire. Enjoy the rest of the album. My favourite track comes next

[@JimNewstead]

Amazing stuff Dave!

[@TigerMtnKing]

It felt like I was listening to YES. I could hear different eras of YES.🤩

[@JimNewstead]

All within the same record!

[@64214Jose]

I’m very much interested in everything Jon does. He is a true artist magnificent, so talented and incredible. And this is my album, like world music, but prog drives me nuts. Thanks to the Band Geek too.

[@susangonsalves9636]

Jon Anderson saw the Band Geeks performing "Heart of the Sunrise," on youtube and contacted them. They have been touring the last couple of years. I haven't had the chance to see them other than on youtube and yes, they are that good. Richie C is in Blue Oyster Cult and the other band members also have impressive credentials. It is not surprising Jon A wanted to tour/record with them. I'll throw in my vote for "The Ladder" too.

[@JimNewstead]

It’ll come 👍🏼

[@Lightmane]

Totally agree with you about the cover, Jim. I'll be curious to see what you think of the album. Looking forward to this : )

[@ChrisAddotta5373]

i was thinking the exact same thing man, a perfect mash up of 70s and 80s Yes.

[@Kmg_24]

Jon won't be putting Roger Dean out of work with artwork like that, but the music is quite fantastic! It's the best 'Yes' album since The Ladder, in my opinion. A really solid 8/10, which is astonishing for a man who is awfully close to 80 years old!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@Kmg_24 Roger never did a Jon solo album. Why would he do TRUE?👍😎

[@joecrocilla7695]

@@jeffschielka7845 maybe Roger Dean is the Steve Howe camp ?

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@joecrocilla7695 Roger and Steve are good friends. 😎

[@IllumeEltanin]

Jim, thank you for listing Ann Marie Nacchio as a member of The Band Geeks. Many reviewers have not. I don’t know why she isn’t in the videos for these first two songs on this album, as she was their lead singer on their covers of Yes tunes which is where Anderson discovered them. Speaking of these first two videos, those are all I have watched prior to this listen with you, even though Counties and Countries has been out for awhile. I look forward to hearing the rest of the album along with you!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@IllumeEltanin She does get credit for backup vocals on the album. Remember it's Jon's album. He IS the singer!!🎙👍😎

[@IllumeEltanin]

@@jeffschielka7845 , definitely. Jim read the list of band members on the album jacket. However, in most of the reviews I’ve seen of True, the reviewers haven’t mentioned Nacchio at all, which is why I thanked Jim.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@IllumeEltanin 👍😎

[@JimNewstead]

I suppose that she wasn’t in the photo, and her role in Band Geeks is singer. This is Jon’s album with BG so not much room for her. It’s sad, but I’m glad she was able to contribute some vocals.

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

Yes, I agree with you

[@Lightmane]

How does one explain how Jon Anderson still sounds this good? Perhaps he really is an Alien.

[@annex4398]

@@Lightmane I saw Jon do a storyteller’s type show a few years ago. He classified himself as an “alto tenor”. Said it is just his natural voice and he doesn’t have to push himself like other singers might have to reach those high notes.

[@Lightmane]

@@annex4398 so Jon's worked out a good cover I see 😛

[@palantir135]

Never heard if Band Geeks but I’m open to everything since Jon is singing. Indeed, sounds like good old Yes and not only because of Jon. Great progressive rock music, I like this a lot.

[@JimNewstead]

Yes, defo one for you Will!

[@AdamConus]

Richie Castellano has been in Blue Oyster Cult for the last decade or so, and was a major factor in the creation of their 2020 album The Symbol Remains (which I love). The Band Geeks has been his (and others) non-Blue Oyster Cult project for as long as I've known about him, and I think they got Anderson's attention doing top notch Yes covers. Anyone who knows better, feel free to correct me.

[@kevingreen3429]

Firstly jim loving the "an hour before it dark" mat under the blue vinyl

[@JimNewstead]

Yup!

[@donstratton6343]

Jon gets his revenge, well served.

[@JimNewstead]

Not sure…. Revenge?

[@donstratton6343]

@@JimNewstead Is this the music that Yes would have made after Jon had recovered as opposed to be fired?

[@IllumeEltanin]

:happy sigh: What a nice surprise upon awakening. 💖 :headphones on and settling in to finally listen to this album:

[@JimNewstead]

Enjoy ☺️

[@ArjayELevin]

It's a Bargain bin cover for sure. It would be a shame if that caused anyone to skip it. This is the very best prog album by anyone in years!

[@PAC-fp9hy]

Sounds like Yes. Must be Yes.

[@saurian11]

Hi Jim! What a Blast Off, right? Trust me you are going to Love this new Journey of Jon and the Band Geeks! I’m not sure why there is so much negativity towards the cover. It’s a photo that his daughter Deborah took of him. It doesn’t bug me at all but that’s just me! I think if he would have had a more “Roger Dean”type cover, the critics out there would have accused him of ripping off or copying the Howe-led Yes! It doesn’t matter, because the music on this is FANTASTIC throughout the entire album!!! You’re going to enjoy this!!!!! Oh, and Jon, as you can tell, sounds Amazing!!!!

[@JimNewstead]

Brilliant album.

[@GTO4now]

YES! 😊 Well, almost. 😅

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Wow!

[@TONE11111]

Font on the album cover is roger dean-ish

[@JimNewstead]

Very ish!

[@nicksodano4762]

May i suggest the following Yes/Jon albums since you said you didn't hear post 1990s. 'The Ladder" definitely had its moments. "Magnification" even better. And the solo album "Animation" has a stunning title track. Especially the latter 2 give insight to this latest... masterpiece ?

[@JimNewstead]

All the Yes albums are on my to do list!

[@nanufigueiredo4380]

This is absolutely an extremely powerfull record in all aspects but the cover albums needs another image urgently, I also agree. Does anyone can propose a 2 edition with a renewed cover. The music here and specially Jon deserves a graphic design much much more rich and better developed to show the jewel inside. We all wanted the best success for such huge project.

[@git606]

The Band Geeks have a great KZbin channel, their version of The Calling is amazing. They even did the whole of Close to the Edge. Check them out 🤘

[@sunlinepr6783]

Imagine the next album.. they will be more integrated Hope we will hear the continuation of close to the edge

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

Hi there Jim! Hmmmm. A solid 8.5 / 10 for "new Yes" from me; I do miss the occasional slowed tempos and calm periods the original Yes-crew scattered about their works. Band Geeks are a pro/am team with easily (guessing here) 15-20 years hi-level musicianship each. And they can do a brilliant Yes-clone (their _Close to the Edge_ is stunning) too. Q: Was something *genuinely new* brought to the prog cannon? That's a No from me, so marking the album a tad down. But, the original lineup took a few albums to reach greatness; again a solid effort. Re Jon. Alas, I've heard so so much of his voice that I'm, well, a bit tired of it... Anne-Marie has a great voice; hope she gets a turn! (I wonder if either of them can do growls?) Last comment - at some level I sense there is some "everyone playing at once" going on (a tar-pit for new bands; everyone wants their spot) . But that could be my want for more space and varied tempos. On to the next side! :)

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@xlerb_again_to_music7908 Enjoy TRUE, there will not be another album from Jon with The Band Geeks.👍😎

[@chucksaden]

The Band Geeks - The YES 3-D Printer (and a whole lot more...)

[@cliveshell5543]

Frontier Records are trying to captivate the Hannah Montana fans with that album cover. Genius.

[@JimNewstead]

I don’t think that audience would enjoy the contents!

[@qrandle1]

It’s real. Go listen to them live.

[@davidstafford9921]

It's difficult to praise this album, this band, without stepping on the toes of the official Yes band. That's not my intention. But comparisons are impossible to avoid because the Band Geeks (in tandem with Jon Anderson) have essentially created a new Yes album, an album I prefer to anything since Big Generator. It's ironic because Steve Howe is a guitar idol of mine, the guitarist I tried most to emulate in my youth. Sadly, Yes just haven't created anything to stir my interest since they moved on without Anderson. That was a HUGE mistake on their part, as far as I'm concerned. Their personal story is their own. Fortunately, as a music fan I don't need to concern myself with their politics and struggles for control; I care only about the music they produce. And with this album, Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks have out-Yessed Yes. I don't care what name it's under; to me this the real spirit of Yes.

[@JimNewstead]

100% agree with this.

[@davidlane2737]

That's the way to do it.

[@jeffwatson9890]

Sounds like Spocks Beard with Jon Anderson singing. And I don't mean that in a bad way. 😎

[@brucefelger4015]

Band geeks is one of the very few bands to Cover Close to the Edge

[@TheReaperMan275]

Jon should have got in touch with his old pal, Roger Dean to do the cover for him. Then it would _for sure!_ be a lost Yes album.

[@vfrbore1728]

Jon Anderson has as much right to go out on tour with The Band Geeks and call it Yes, as Steve Howe does with his own 'legacy' version. Let's be honest, Yes have had multiple keyboard players, three guitarists, four vocalists, two bass players and three drummers, but in any band, when you replace the lead singer there is a change that re-defines the sound. Jon has always been, and always will be, the voice of Yes. It is his vocals that are on all of the great Yes albums, and his energy that traditionally kept them bobbing and weaving through various musical experiments. It's to Yes' eternal shame really that they wouldn't wait for him to heal when he became unwell, and went out on tour/made albums with others and the reunion ship has now sailed. Or has it? Interestingly for me, the chart performance of True hasn't matched that of the last few Yes studio albums even though it is streets ahead on quality and content. I wonder why that is. Jon won't be up for any kind of legal battle to call this band Yes, so it isn't likely to happen, but they are on tour and may well come to the UK next, so we will have a chance to see for ourselves. Jon has a history of not finishing projects or bands disintegrating for various reasons (ARW), and who knows how long this one will last, but this is his strongest release since the early 1980s IMHO.

[@JimNewstead]

Maybe Jon isn’t interested in a pissing competition…. He wins anyway!

[@vfrbore1728]

@@JimNewstead My thoughts too. Love your review of this album and it's great to see yours , and other viewers comments about the album. I thought it was only me! It's a fantastic effort.

[@TONE11111]

Music has a kaipa-feel to it, and flower kings-ishness, but isn't groundbreaking.

[@JimNewstead]

Nope, not creating new genres or challenging the listener, but by George, it’s rewarding the listener with brand new old music!

[@TONE11111]

@@JimNewstead I suppose there must be a point where we can't recreate the creativity of fragile/close, and that time is way past. But!... As an Anderson Solo project, its one of his best 👍

[@alanmartin-hz5bp]

Hi Jim you have to listen to the ladder to see the resemblance

[@JimNewstead]

Ok, it’s on my to-do list!

[@rodrocolodro]

great music!!! reggaeton style cover :(

[@JimNewstead]

Haha!

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

Where is part II ?!

[@JimNewstead]

And 3, 4 and a review!

[@anthonyblakely399]

I have not heard this album.

[@robprice8509]

I agree; the album art is as bad as the music within is good. Was Roger Dean unavailable?

[@glennthompson1173]

I agree the cover is really bad, but the music is exceptional.

[@qrandle1]

I teach graphic design at the university level. And I use the cover as an example of bad design. I’m so sad. But the music is so amazing I can forgive them.

[@JimNewstead]

It is. Love the record.

[@WolfhandsYouTube]

The cover really is diabolical. Apparently Jon’s daughter made it? 🤷‍♂️

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Turns 80 next month. Sounds 18

[@privatemale2147]

I absolutely do not get the blubbering over the album cover. It's just a photo/art pic of Jon. It's not about the cover. Do you buy albums for the album cover or the music?

[@JimNewstead]

For sure, but part of the joy of physical media, especially vinyl, is having something beautiful to look at as well as to listen to. The album is stellar, but I doubt anyone would have a poster of this cover on their walls. It’s functional.

[@grande-bretagnenilpoints8912]

It takes 2 weeks to get a CD in the UK (Amazon). Bit annoying

[@JimNewstead]

That is annoying! I got mine as a preorder on the day.

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

Album cover of the year, ha ha! I LOVE the new album. I figured it would be good but it was beyond excellent. Excellent review!

[@JimNewstead]

Aww, thanks Larry! How are things dude?

[@yes_head]

Re: the cover, Jon is notoriously cheap. To be fair, he probably got no money from Frontiers, or they said we'll deduct any cover expenses from your advance. The cover was created by Jon's daughter Deborah, who is a photographer but not a graphic designer. She probably did it for free or a dinner out or something. "True Messenger": 3/5. Some nice moments, but no through-line or big payoff (ending with a guitar solo?). "Shine On": 4/5. It is catchy, and reminds me of Yes circa 'Open Your Eyes' (an album I actually like). IMO, the main failing on both songs are the lyrics, that peddle the same 'glorious wonderment of the universe' thing Jon's been rehashing for the last 30 years. But I also agree that the entire band sounds *hungry*, which is something you just don't get from today's incarnation of Yes.

[@kenl2091]

Virtually every review I've heard/seen says 'pretty good album but dreadful cover art' Does nobody do any market research before release these days? It would have been an easy fix. The album is indeed pretty good (the Band Geeks know what they're doing) but nowhere near 'album of the year'. Had it been released under the 'Yes' name (and with a Roger Dean cover) it would be regarded as their best album for 20 years and would sell twice as much as this is going to. I'm not one of the 'No Jon, no Yes' crowd but I will say Jon & Band Geeks > current Yes.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@kenl2091 First, Roger never did a solo Jon album. Second, this is not a YES album. It's a solo album by Jon and The Band Geeks. One and done! Enjoy it!!!👍😎

[@kenl2091]

@@jeffschielka7845 Yup, I know what you're saying but it SOUNDS like a Yes album!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@kenl2091 I agree.👍😎

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks Ken!

[@Sentientfx1]

Agreed about the cover - bloody awful! Anderson's voice though is amazingly still so fresh and the band injects some great energy into this music..

[@Babaziba]

Love the album, hate the cover. Love the band, hate their name.

[@simonal1989]

This is just Anderson/Stolt part 2 which is a better album I think

[@JimNewstead]

Is it? I need to listen!

[@j.jennings1722]

Great album, horrible album cover, which looks like a cover for a bad, '90s, Rap group. I learned the cover was created by Jon's daughter, and it's not good ...however, it is memorable for being so bad.

[@JimNewstead]

Indeed!

[@anthonyblakely399]

You are so correct. The cover sucks!!! Jon Anderson could come up with a better cover than that!!!! He has the money to make a better cover than that!!!! He definitely will get some flack from Yes fans on that!!!!

[@joecrocilla7695]

Heaven and earth awesome album cover, but worse YES album ever

[@rockonileva]

The album is as great as the cover is horrible

[@Bigjunk9999]

SPOILERS: It doesn't "dip."

[@BarrySanchez]

It’s his daughter who took the picture, give us a break with your nasty criticism, the Music Is AWESOME!!!

[@scoxocs]

Dude, that cover though. Jim ain't wrong. It's the music that I bought and THAT is fabulously Yessish but also feels new. Love this album (but the cover looks like it was made in a GIF generator).

[@JimNewstead]

The music is awesome. Sorry, not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings or offend, but I like my physical media, gate fold vinyl especially to be fantastic to look at too.