JON ANDERSON is back to making new music. This time debuting with his backing band, going under the name, JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS. The album called “True,” is Jon’s sixteenth album, but the first one with THE BAND GEEKS and is produced by Jon and Richie Castellano, who is also part of THE BAND GEEKS. When I first put on “True” to have a listen, I was taken back and thought how strange this was. That was before I realized Jon originally came from Yes, not having been a big fan of that band. Once I realized that, this album made a lot more sense. “True” is very much the classic sound of Yes, and sure to please those fans. It has nine songs with a total run time of just under an hour. The band flexes their Yes prog style with a couple of epic songs, one at just under ten minutes and another over sixteen minutes. In true Yes fashion, the songs are keyboard driven with complex rhythms.

“True Messenger” leads off the album. It begins with an interesting arpeggio pattern, and is carried by a moving rhythm that is very upbeat. The song ends with a very complex section of music, as it seems that the piano and keys and guitar are all trying to outdo each other, before abruptly ending. “Shine On” follows next, starting off with harmonized vocals, before the band kicks in with an upbeat funky rhythm. This is a lively song that lifts you up. The whole band really excels on this one. “Counties and Countries” is the first of the epics at 9:51 run time. An acoustic guitar starts the song, but an orchestra quickly comes in, then an electric lead guitar. It all leads to a complex driving rhythm. “Once Upon A Dream” is the other epic on the album clocking in at sixteen and a half minutes. This one is filled with Queen-like vocals, big orchestral sections, with some interesting transitions to funk rhythms, all while keeping the stylings and sound of Yes. Then when you think the song is over, it’s only half done. It goes into this slow soft piece for a while, before picking up again.

Overall, the whole album is one that fans of Yes should enjoy. I tried to keep this in mind, while listening to “Truth.” The epic songs I found to wander a bit and be too long. There are times I can enjoy some good progressive lengthy songs, but these ones just lost me in the middle. While I’m not a fan of Yes, nor the vocals of JON ANDERSON, there are a couple of tracks that even I could get into and enjoy.