True is the sixteenth studio album by former Yes lead singer Jon Anderson. It is a collaboration with the Band Geeks that was released on 23 August 2024 by Frontiers Records.[1]
| True | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 August 2024 | |||
| Length | 58:22 | |||
| Label | Frontiers | |||
| Producer |
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| Jon Anderson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from True | ||||
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Background
editIn March 2024, Anderson announced that a new tour, titled "Yes: Epics, Classics and More" would begin with the Band Geeks as a backing band, who had previously been on tour with Anderson. Alongside this announcement, Band Geeks member and co-producer Richie Castellano also announced that they were working on a new studio album.[2] The label Frontier Records described it as "a collection of songs that harkens back to Yes’s classic 70’s sounds as well as to their latter-day success with the album 90125."[3] Two singles and music videos were released in promotion of the album, "Shine On" on 13 June 2024[4][5][6] and "True Messenger" on 29 July 2024.[7]
About the album, Anderson told Classic Rock Magazine: "I’ve got the Yes that I wanted" and called the album "like a gift from the heavens" and the recording process "one of the most wonderful experiences of my life."[8]
Reception
editChris Roberts of Louder Sound was positive towards the album, giving it a 4/5. They described it as his best work since 2016's Invention of Knowledge, hugging "the corners of Seventies (as opposed to Eighties) Yes with just the right balance of mimicry and mutability". The main highlight was the longest track, "Once Upon a Dream" which they stated was reminiscent of the Yes album Fragile.[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "True Messenger" |
| 5:50 |
| 2. | "Shine On" |
| 4:18 |
| 3. | "Counties and Countries" | Anderson | 9:51 |
| 4. | "Build Me an Ocean" |
| 3:20 |
| 5. | "Still a Friend" |
| 5:02 |
| 6. | "Make It Right" |
| 6:07 |
| 7. | "Realization Part Two" |
| 3:33 |
| 8. | "Once Upon a Dream" |
| 16:32 |
| 9. | "Thank God" |
| 3:49 |
| Total length: | 58:22 | ||
Personnel
editJon Anderson and the Band Geeks
- Jon Anderson – lead vocals, harp, production, musical arrangement
- Richie Castellano – bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals, production, musical arrangement, engineering, mixing
- Andy Ascolese – drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals, associate production, musical arrangement, engineering
- Andy Graziano – guitar, vocals
- Christopher Clark – keyboards, musical arrangement
- Robert Kipp – Hammond organ, vocals
- Anne Marie Nacchio – additional vocals
Additional contributors
- Sam Stauff – mastering
- Deborah Anderson – album artwork, Jon Anderson photo
- Claudia Morini – album layout
- Rob Schmoll – The Bank Geeks photo
- Jimmy Haun – co-writer on "Build Me an Ocean and Realization Part Two"
Chart performance
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] | 43 |
References
edit- ^ Blabbermouth (2024-05-08). "YES Legend JON ANDERSON And THE BAND GEEKS To Release 'True' Album In August". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Lewrypublished, Fraser (2024-03-05). "Jon Anderson announces Yes: Epics, Classics and More tour". louder. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Ewingpublished, Jerry (2024-05-08). "Jon Anderson announces he will release a new album in August". louder. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks Announce 2024 Tour Dates". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Announce 'YES Epics, Classics, and More' Tour for 2024; New Album in the Works". Rock Cellar. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Garland, Steve. "Featured Interviews: JON ANDERSON OF YES!". Steve Garland's Hot Rock Podcast. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Jon Anderson shares video for brand new song True Messenger". Louder. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ ""I contacted Steve Howe and got very little back. Eventually you say, 'OK, I've got to move on'": Jon Anderson is finally over the idea of rejoining Yes". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Robertspublished, Chris (2024-08-23). "Out now: Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks capture the right essence on True". louder. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks – I'll Find My Way Home". Swiss Singles Chart.