Review: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks 'True' (progressive rock)

Join Pete Pardo for a review of the new album from Jon Anderson (Yes) & the Band Geeks, 'True'. #jonanderson
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[@giovannicaprini7780]

To describe such an album in 2024 by a band led by an 80-year-old singer needs only one word : masterpiece Jon thank you for existing and enduring

[@holydiver73]

I heard Counties and Countries for the first time this morning when getting dressed for work and soon as I had put my socks on they were blown right off again. That song was so good. Brilliant in fact. It just reminded me of Yes, Good Yes. Steve Howe may be trying to keep the Yes sound alive in ‘official Yes’, but compared to this, he is failing to do that. Jon is now doing the same, only Jon is doing it better. I hope the collaboration with the Band Geeks continues in this vein and more albums follow. The future of Yes is here.

[@cyounger5716]

The album with Roine Stoldt is just as good

[@mulemusic]

The very best album of YES music since 90125. These songs are incredible!!!

[@TheAlbumReviewGuy]

Hey Pete. Magical reaction and Yes it is an extremely excellent album. On my review I went higher and gave it the 10/10 as I believe it is the ultimate gift to the legions of fans who have desperately waited for something like this for so long. Make no mistake Jon is on top form but the guys in the band are top notch and more than play their part musically and vocally helping to rekindle those magical days once more. All the best Pete. Dave✅✅

[@harrisrosenberg7992]

100% agree listening since 1970 best YES in forever.

[@TheAlbumReviewGuy]

@@harrisrosenberg7992 Thanks. It’s such a great album that gets better and better the more you listen to it

[@fredyair1]

Jon's voice is all there, like time stands still for him, and music is sooo good and the band so precise and smooth. 5 Stars album.

[@TheProgCorner]

Fantastic!!!!❤❤❤

[@747jono]

I love it Scot❤

[@massimobattaglioli6651]

The best Yes album since 2001 Magnification!

[@MichProgNerd]

Agreed

[@JeffReams]

For real... Magnification and The Ladder were great records because they had Jon on vocals and most of the original members.

[@Atom-56]

@@JeffReamsDon’t forget Keys Studio.

[@cyounger5716]

@@Atom-56 meh; 2 good songs

[@stinky_nut_blast]

@@Atom-56 Nah. overrated because it had that 70s feel, but the songwriting simply wasn't there.

[@Darrylizer1]

Pete you make a great point in that the band doesn't rehash or reimagine parts of old Yes tunes, it just sounds like Yes.

[@Prog-t9d]

Jon is YES. The music on new record is one of his best works.The Geeks are really his best band in years.

[@JonnyDee123]

I Love this album. It serves to highlight the now turgid, flat and drab output of the collection of musicians who call themselves Yes. Since 1971 Yes were my favourite band from my teenage years but very sadly they lost it when they turfed out Jon and then sadly Chris passed away. Time for them to exit stage left. It's over. Great review, too.

[@jimmorin895]

I saw Jon and the Band Geeks live and they were fantastic! I agree that this album sounds more like classic Yes than more recent Yes does!

[@harrisrosenberg7992]

Me 2 OUTRAGEOUSLY BEAUTIFUL YES

[@shaunogle530]

This is a return to form from a great singer. Best thing he has produced in years. Terrific review.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Sounds real real good. Thanks for another day of reviews. Pete 👍💯

[@seachild100]

I agree 100% about this release. It is the best sounding "Yes-ish" release in years IMO. Very solid and well worth having in my collection. Great review, Pete.

[@johncoviello8570]

I love how Jon worked in the lyric "heart of the sunrise" into a song on True with a different sound than the early 70s. My favorite track is Counties and Countries. Powerful, reminiscent of their early 70s tracks, and great keyboards in the 2nd half. Great song!

[@gregbeatty1805]

Much like your review Pete, I’ve seen Jon’s tours of late, including the current one, and listened to all the recent Yes and related recordings. The concerts have all been fun, and like you, the records haven’t generated repeat listenings. For my money, the only post-Anderson Yes recordings I frequently returned to was Fly From Here and Drama. I was so impressed by the Band Geeks playing at the show - so it was good to hear your positive record review. I am looking forward to checking it out.

[@jason-budney7624]

Nice review Pete! I do agree about that last song, but other than that what a great album! Here's hoping we continue to get more true Yes sounding material with the Band Geeks and Rabin releases!

[@drummusicinc4027]

Fantastic record. It’s the Yes album I’ve been waiting for since ….. the 80s? Voice sounds great, great musicians doing yes musical things. I love it

[@patriotpizzaman]

The best Yes album in years!!!! This is the Yes album we've been hoping for since the early 80s.

[@francoislabro]

Like I did a long time ago for Going for the one and Tomato, I will change the front cover with a Roger Dean's or Tim White's artwork... Jon is a legend and all the Band Geeks are fantastic on this album, as usual. What is mad is that each can play brilliantly different instruments... I'm looking forward to see one day Andy Ascolese play the bagpipe, I'm sure he will rock !

[@iceclimbers22]

Music better be something special because that album cover....YIKES!

[@jimfritz2087]

You've heard the expression " You can't judge a book by looking at the cover ". You don't PLAY the cover !

[@bazeye]

Which is ironic because book covers are literally designed to encapsulate the content.

[@jimfritz2087]

@bazeye True. But some albums have some " interesting " covers that don't match the music inside. As they say " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ". ( In years past , put a sexy babe on the cover , sell product. )

[@terrymtbnurse4760]

An awesome cover is the difference of me buying the vinyl or the CD.

[@jimfritz2087]

@terrymtbnurse4760 I think Pete did a show about bad album covers but good music. Or good covers BAD music . Anyway , to me the cover is just that . But clearly we all want both . Good cover/ good music .

[@FrankAHuser]

You are right, don’t judge a book by its cover….. but remember the Roger Dean covers, how they were obviously an integral part of the artistic ‘product’. The cover is so to speak the entrance to its content. This cover is very bad, kind of paste and copy in photoshop, all kinds of elements that don’t have anything to do with the music, it’s rubbish. My two cents.

[@stevebean1543]

Andy ask-o-LEASE and Ann Marie NASH-e-o. Jon Anderson's daughter took the cover photo, which is probably all you need to know about that. Great review - this is a very good album. This is one of the best comments I've seen about it: "This album is what Yes should sound like in 2024."

[@SOALNightLive]

Agreed! This scratches the Yes-ish itch so well!

[@ghj290]

Yes, more Yes than "Yes" are; cracking album and yes, get the "warm and fuzzies".

[@JamesSmith-ee7yn]

The album sounds like what the Union album could and should have been if egos didn’t get in the way. It’s a great blend of 70’s lineup Yes and 80’s Trevor Rabin Yes.

[@toddhill7483]

Looking forward to hearing this album. But man, that album cover.........

[@martymartin2894]

What's so bad about it.

[@craigherriot4026]

@@martymartin2894 Well, it's just not very imaginative. Even the wording doesn't go with the music at all. Like something you'd see on a bible rather than an epic prog rock album. IMO.

[@scottmcrae3355]

Pretty sure Jon’s daughter designed the cover so there’s that.

[@scottmcrae3355]

@@craigherriot4026it looks very 90s southern hip hop. Cash Money records or something. Not sure if his daughter meant it to be a pastiche or something? It definitely doesn’t suit a prog album😂

[@fredyair1]

The meat is in the music, who cares about the cover, just get a Roger Dean picture online and slap it over it.

[@reinaldofavoreto7160]

I agree it´s the best "Yes" album since "Keystudio". I also like Magnification and Fly from here- though, and Mirror to the Sky is also not bad, but "True" is really more energectic and sounds amazingly like classic Yes

[@edf13]

Who woulda thought in the year 2024 Jon Anderson while approaching octogenarian status would assemble a band (or join an assembled band) to produce an album that sounds like Yes? He must have some alien magic in his blood. Thank God for JA and TBG they've done the impossible and given us one more (nearly) Yes album 25 years since the last proper one!

[@test4el]

I've been a Yes fan since middle school (mid 70s). I attended the Baltimore show last year and this past Friday's show in Philly. It's just phenomenal to hear Jon with The Band Geeks. And the new album is a triumph...especially Shine On.

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

I heard 4 songs, and I dare to say that it is a masterpiece. One of the best albums of 2024, without a doubt. It's hard to believe that Anderson is still singing with that quality at 80 years old. And the musicians who accompany him also have a great performance. All very talented. And as you say Pete: Jon has achieved a splendid album very similar to the Yes style of the early 70's. Truly spectacular.

[@user-tl7mj2bm4m]

I'm clicking....and I can't believe this is ONLY at 730..it should be HIGHER! What the hell folks?....This vid should be at a solid 1K!

[@rael2099]

I disagree is the beat since 90150, Magnification is truly good.

[@davel.9467]

My copy arrived earlier this week. Haven’t spun it yet but your review has me really chomping at the bit. I was hopeful that it was going to be a winner because of the great videos I’d seen of Jon and The Geeks making magic together.

[@danmaske1066]

Agreed. Best Yes-connected music I’ve heard since the ‘70s, even though it seems to be a backwards looking album, trying to capture that whole vibe from 40 to 50 years ago.

[@fredyair1]

It really succeeds in recapturing the 70's vibe but the music, the sound and the dynamics of the album is absolutely timeless and fantastic.

[@chrisfuller2556]

PROGRESSIVE means to move forward.. this album is REGRESSIVE ROCK. Jon's voice is great, the players are great and this is a commendable mimic of classic YES. what is missing is the deep inspiration that drove YES's 70's music. The artist that best captures the prog spirit is ANYONE, the band that has moved progressive rock forward. for those who want modern prog check out 'In Humanity" or "Miracles In The Nothingness', both albums are incredibly good. The crazy thing is that Anderson was working with ANYONE on the album 'In Humanity' which would have been beyond amazing, but the collaboration crumbled when Anderson learned that Jon Davison and Riz Story were old friends.

[@Nitramessahc]

Had a listen today. I was impressed! Good musicians and Anderson sounds great.

[@victormendez8811]

Awesome cd !! The more i listen to it the more I like it!!!!!

[@artg2767]

With each listen, I like this album more and more. I hope they do more together. 👍

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

A contender for the worst album cover this year but already ordered my copy from The Professor of Prog - Mr. Ken Golden - and picking it up at the post office later today. Have watched some other reviews in addition to this and must say anticipation is high [not always a benefit for listening]. But really enjoyed the one song listened to early but decided then and there to wait for the CD to hear it all at once. Thanks, Pete, for moving this up in your review stack and doing this episode so soon after the album's official release.

[@747jono]

Great review Pete honest, I've seen another reviews from some of your guests but you gave an honest review. Its a great album, certainly 70s classic Yes

[@StarlessBandNJ]

Probably the best Yesrelated album in a long time. Its also a major grower. I've enjoyed it more and more on every subsequent listen

[@AndyTempleman-ot6lu]

Love his song on the "Streams "compilation album. "The Only Thing I Need"

[@MrDirtybear]

Thank you Pete for this review, particularly for inter record company chat; Inside Out Records vs Frontiers Records. On that front what do you think happened to Blue Elan Records -the label on which '1000 Hands - Chapter One' on the way? And what happened to '1000 Hands Chapter 2', for which there are masters but set release ? Is relatively minor record company competitive disinterest why Jon's unreleased projects remain unreleased? Anyway I'll get the new album on CD eventually and prepare to design my own cover for it before I get it....

[@wolf1977]

1000 Hands - Chapter One for me is one of Jon's best solo outings yet - all for Chapter Two!

[@rapidfirerob4]

Just ordered. I really want to see them live here in the Bay Area. Ritchie from BOC and Chris Clark from Brand X. Some guy named Jon Anderson. lol. Anne Marie is Ritchie's ex wife. Great vocalist.

[@williamhunter77]

Utterly surprised me when I heard it last week. Astounding stuff!! I totally agree with your review.

[@rktdrop]

Received a copy today. I enjoy it and I’m not a big Yes fan. I listened to Counties and Countries on KZbin and ordered on the spot (watch the video for that and see each band member really laying it down).

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

I did the same thing, but went real retro and got the vinyl double album.

[@747jono]

That lovely anticipation of waiting for Jon's vocals magical ❤

[@Raberje]

I’ve been listening to it all day in the car. It gets better with each listen.

[@toddc28]

I would say it’s better than anything since Keystudio. Keystudio is fantastic. A like Talk better than True as well. But outside of those two it’s the best Yes album in a very long time.

[@williamlangan5902]

I don’t think I’ve ever felt as excited to check out a cd after one of your reviews, Pete, as much as I love your reviews. I did check out Black Sabbath’s Born Again at your suggestion. It was different in an interesting way. I too was disappointed by the cover art. But if you buy the album just for the cover art, you may be even more disappointed! I heard a few songs already and was impressed. So I will check it out and thank you for the suggestion, Pete!

[@chrisroberts5747]

What a fantastic album, it was an instant buy.. And it gets better with each listen. It absolutely sounds like Yes, but I dont agree it really sounds like the 70s. Kinda reminds me more of the Rabin era Yes, and even The Ladder... but even better

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

Great review. Love the track True Messenger!

[@visualizeprog2874]

This is IMO the best solo album of Jon's entire career, if it can be considered a solo album with all of the input from the Band Geeks. I never took to "Olias" as much as other Yes fans seem to. Anderson/Stolt was also a very good collaboration. I've come to realize that Jon needs collaborators to bring out his best work. Albums where he has been the sole writer or instrumentalist are not nearly as strong as "True" or Anderson/Stolt IMO...I will add, too, that I also continue to support the current Yes led by Steve Howe. Music doesn't always have to be a competition with winners and losers. I've actually had "True" & "Mirror to the Sky" in regular rotation this week and love both.

[@JoeMay-wc6nv]

Great Album by a Great Man & Band that sounds more like YES then the band YES. I'm also a fan of Magnification & Fly from the Return Trip.

[@newspapertaxis1]

Magnification...........Best prior to True..

[@duanesmith1523]

totally agree. This is YES. Much better than the Steve Howe version. Jon is amazing. The writing and playing are awesome

[@stuartwexelbaum9070]

Have this ordered can't wait to listen to it..

[@TheAlbumReviewGuy]

You won’t be disappointed Stuart

[@thedarkwizardroom]

The music is phenomenal. And to hear he still has it. I got to own a copy when I can. And would love to see, Not since seeing him in YES in 79.

[@ACooke108]

Excellent review for an excellent album.

[@keithbk]

Hey guys, a heads up, we have a "NEW" Yes song with Jon Anderson from YesEdits: The Promise 'Yes Version.' I think this song is INCREDIBLE! Check it out.

[@timjackson4705]

I like the cover. I’m getting tired of everyone complaining about it. Just enjoy the fact that he’s still alive and going strong.

[@johnbeagley1195]

Nice review. Deborah Anderson designed the sleeve. I love the album its like 70s 80s 90s Yes all mixed into one. If it was a Yes album it would be in my top 5. Nice review.! I swapped emails with Jon last week and he was delighted with the response and said he was feeling really good about it!

[@andykitson50]

Thanks Pete. A great album, yep more 'Yes' than the stuff S.Howe is doing these days. Superb musicians. But what a voice at 79. Many younger than that can't hit it anymore and we urge to retire! Keep going Jon..

[@martymartin2894]

John Anderson is Yes

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

@@martymartin2894 YES he is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wolf1977]

@@martymartin2894 No 'Jon' Anderson is...The guy with an 'h' in his first name is a country singer (and 10 years younger)

[@wolf1977]

Just got this but so far I like it quite a bit - 6 out of 9 tracks clicked (so far). The vocals are still intact - kinda amazing at age 79! Conceptually combining members of Yes & BOC? OK (Castellano is a big Yes fan so...). Did I think this was a new Yes record when I first heard it? Kinda. Let me say that I really like the bass work on this - that and Anderson's vocals remind me the most of that great 'Y' band. Catchy tunes too so the songwriting's there. Overall in terms of ranking this against all Anderson solo records I'd put it near the top - I still give 1000 Hands Chapter One & Invention Of Knowledge higher marks but this one's not far off!

[@darcyska]

I know you're not someone who gives Yes a free pass just because of the amazing work they did in their career, so I'm really excited to hear your praise for this one and can't wait to grab a copy

[@JeffReams]

I’ve listened to this album bunch of times and it sounds more like ‘Yes’ than Steve Howes cover band.

[@robertklimczak2207]

Love Richie and the Geeks!

[@tkousek1]

Good review. Thank you.

[@arnaudb.7669]

Great album!

[@harrisrosenberg7992]

THIS IS THE BEST YES ALBUM SINCE RELAYER

[@TerryKrysinski]

Nice review,Pete...thanks. I like the album alot and I think there's lots of room for it to keep growing. That's due to the complexity of the music. A big part of me wants the bit more melodic,less frenetic prog of early Yes and also the Rabin era. There are traces of that here,but Jon & band are making us work for this one,too. As said...very high potential as a grower.. T

[@joseantoniomarmol6324]

Ok Pete, you just convinced me… will give this album a real chance. Thanks! Cheers 🍻

[@markoliver630]

Thank you for all your work Jon.

[@witeskyn7]

I get the "Idear" behind the cover, Jon is 1/2 of the band creators of YES. This is a statement to Steve in a way in that Steve has said (about Yes) "Looking back is bad...Is old..Is not what he wants to accomplish with Yes...etc etc." Well...Jon's Statement is in the goods. Been a Yes fan since 1971 and...He's finally done it with the Band Geeks. This album gets a full 10/10 from me. It hits everything I loved about Yes in the 1st place. Mirror to the sky got a 9/10 from me just for carrying on from a different point of view. Steve's view. Now if only Mr. Howe would let his bandmates shine instead of being new napoleon onstage...Maybe things could progress.....They don't look happy at all Live and it comes across musically. TRUE is a point made by JA that, back has never been looking backwards...."BACK" to me, is still the original 'IDEAR" of looking over the horizon to see what may be next. I Love Both bands for differing reasons. But that cover.......Uhh...Yeah..... ;)

[@Arcturian1111]

Counties and Countries is breathtaking. Good to see Staten Islanders are on the map again.

[@danburnes722]

The songs I heard are quite musically dense with virtuosity throughout. There was a hint of Homeworld in one of the songs I heard.

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

Typical case of not judging a book by its cover (or a record in this case). The music is great.

[@jerrypotente872]

Great review , PETE - I couldn’t agree more , and I am soo proud of this and -primarily from my home state of N.J. ,,as Andy Edwards stated, and I concur- Jon Anderson is-the heart soul and brains of PROG. ROCK!!!!!!rock’on -JON😀

[@jerrypotente872]

Thebandgeeksbeing primarily from N.J.!

[@stevebean1543]

@@jerrypotente872 Staten Island is in New Jersey now?

[@jerrypotente872]

@@stevebean1543 I heard it said that a few members of the band geeks-hailed from my N.J. -if I was misinformed, I stand corrected, but Staten Island isn’t that far from New Jersey I think the people in both of those places are pretty similar. Laugh out loud.

[@raminitzan]

great album the bass player is awesome🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@wolf1977]

I thought so too - definitely reminds me in feel/sound to Squire. Wonder if he also plays a Rick...?

[@asoucytube]

The album cover must be a joke, or a way to ridicule the bands that have prog looking album covers for pop/rock music. Thanks for the review! Hopefully, Jon could be a guest for an interview on that new album.

[@MusicandCatLover-vc6jb]

It seems that it is a fight between two record companies (Frontiers and Insideout). Jon did the better music and Yes have the better cover and artwork. But great we have them both.

[@pkats9093]

Listening to it right now. So far so good! Is it possible that his voice is actually getting better? I don’t think that can happen as you age, just physically impossible. He’s hitting some pretty solid high notes. Does he auto tune? Anyway, definitely worth some extended listening unlike recent yes albums.

[@mattpaine2558]

3.8/5. Good to very good. I preferred Invention of Knowledge, but this is still a REALLY good album.

[@747jono]

I am a Yes fan from day one and been waiting so long for this to emerge Awesome

[@weirddebbiem1619]

Jon looks like he is auditioning for the role of Bilbo Baggins. Nevertheless, the songs are fantastic. Awesome album.

[@joelograsso2863]

Great new Jon!

[@JoeDibiase386]

Really loving this.

[@pedrosebaguzman]

Sumando a que es lo mejor del universo Yes desde 1000 hands, y Magnification, sumaria las giras de la escuela green, muy especialmente la gira AWR (extrañé un trabajo inédito de ese trío, quien sabe si en el futuro ❤️)...en fin de ahí creo Magnification sigue la huella de las piezas maestras (Bach (JS) fue reconocido gracias genios musicales pasado un siglo) hacia el pasado...pero en fin junto entonces con compartir probablemente algo muy compartido en esta hermosa red sensible 🎶...tb quiero sumar la enorme sabiduría que Jon transmite tb a través de sonoridades que vienen de Jon y Vangelis, sus Olimpia, y una fusión tan exquisita de timbres de todos los tiempos...Band of Geek tremeeeeendos....ser un intérprete continuador del legado de Mr Fish wow...tocar simultáneamente al rabin de los 80, al de talk y al Howe del alma de Gates of Delirium, CTTE, GFTO, del the Ladder... qué teclados, dignos de los riempos de viaje al centro de la tierra...una percusion mas de la escuela de Alan Whire 🙏🏼...en fin, solo me nace poesía y gratitud de compartir presente con semejante genio que me lo hace sentir tan cerca ...un hermano, en lo mas sagrado 🎶❤️

[@Yes_Jorge_Yes]

I Saw then Live in July best Yes Sounding concert I have seen since Union.

[@caroleann_2142]

They are Fantastic Saw them last year, just like Classic Y E S❤

[@user-tl7mj2bm4m]

Whoa!.....Based on your review....Wow! You got me interested......(Saw Ritchie C. with BOC years ago.....he rocked!...by the way...) I think I will look into this..AND pay attention IF he comes around..... THIS is why I do watch SOT.... I need honesty Pete...and you DO provide it. (and ALWAYS have!) Hell...I would have been happy with a 3.25 out of 4......just saying...

[@adambower2677]

It remind me so much of 90215 and the union era of yes

[@bernardjharmsen304]

Jeff Koons artwork 😎

[@jaymolina4452]

The Current Yes sound tired and like a Howe solo album. This is fresh, energetic and harks back to the Yes of the 80's. Not quite to the compositional level of Fragile or Close to the Edge, but close. Yes sounds like a tribute band, this sounds like classic Yes and the buzz out there is warranted.

[@timrobertson2222]

Howe has turned Yes into Home Brew. He has selfishly robbed his fans of what they love. I don’t think he ever got over the Trevor Rabin thing. Thanks Jon for Keeping it real!

[@josephcrocilla1469]

Steve is not a good leader of YES, it’s really sad what happened between him and Jon. Good point about Home Brew . I thought for sure after Chris passed on Jon would join the team. That’s never happening , with Steve hanging onto YES he is destroying the band’s legacy. The last album was ok ,a far improvement over the last two.

[@bk4885]

This sounds nothing like vintage yes

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

It sure does...and I'm not the only one hearing it.

[@Chris-Russell22]

I agree, it doesn’t sound like Yes, i much prefer Steve Howe’s Yes.

[@anthonybomberry9935]

What about junior brown I'm the highway patrol

[@Niels133]

Think I buy it. But it's usual now a days that half year after you bought it, they bring out one with bonus tracks or 2 discs.

[@michaeljones9301]

I walk around singing tiki...tiki... Song makes me cry....DAMN!!!! Feels like a SwanSong though.