Survival & Other Stories

Jon Anderson's voice has been a beacon of light for more than 40 years. As the mystical singer of Yes, Jon helped define progressive rock in 1970s, creating some of the most ambitious and timeless musical works of his generation. In the 1980s, Anderson paired up with the Greek keyboard wizard Vangelis, a collaboration that resulted in hauntingly beautiful extended works like The Friends of Mr. Cairo and Horizons. And in the 1990s, Jon teamed up with the New-Age composer Kitaro to create the exquisite and inspiring music found on the album Dreams.In the new millennium Anderson continued to work with Yes until life-threatening health issues led to his involuntary departure from the group he put his heart and soul into. The circumstances surrounding Jon's rift with the band are unfortunate. However, true to form Jon has responded to the challenges life thrust upon him with personal and musical dignity. I saw Jon Anderson in concert in Ridgefield CT in 2010 and can personally attest that his unique musical gifts (and sense of humor) are well intact. Jon is still in very good voice and his music and stage presence are as enchanting as ever.Jon is best experienced in small venues, which allow for an intimate setting and a real rapport with the audience. Recording technology is amazing, but no CD or recording can truly capture the magic of hearing Jon live. Nevertheless, his new album, Survival and Other Stories does what good music should do; namely, it creates a bond with its listeners.Jon's music on Survival and Other Stories is both highly personal and deeply felt. Unbroken Spirit touches on Jon's health crisis and his struggle to maintain his spirit in the face of bodily decline. This is not the kind of fare you'd expect from a rock singer, but this gentle, almost whimsical song is suffused with a melodic grace that is touching and inspiring.Jon is in remarkably good voice throughout this record, which is a wonder considering his health issues. Nevertheless, one can't help but notice a certain frailty and vulnerability in his sound. If anything, I think this works to the music's advantage because I believe age has extended the emotional range in Jon's voice. Paradoxically, Jon may sound more emotionally exposed, but he is also more inspiring than ever.There is a wealth of great melodies on this album. Love and Understanding, for example, is as uplifting and melodically exuberant as anything Jon Anderson has ever done. The music here is just full of an irrepressible soul-nourishing joy. Just One Man, on the other hand, is an achingly beautiful song that expresses Jon's belief that hope can triumph over mankind's tragic condition.If I were to use just one word to describe the music on the album it would be "organic." The songs here are wholesome, refreshing, and soul-nourishing. Jon's spirit is shining as brightly as ever on his new album. This is music that will warm your heart and touch your soul.

I've had Jon's new CD for several weeks now. So far I have found only one problem with it - I can't seem to stop listening to it!!! It's in my home stereo and car stereo constantly.The songs are beautifully infectious. Some of them hitting hard with kind of a Peter Gabriel/Tony Levin type of soundscape. Others that are just breathtakingly ethereal. Others that are profoundly spiritual (Just One Man literally brought my wife to tears the first time I played it for her). This album has it all. And it's so good to hear Jon putting together his trademark 3 and 4 layer vocal harmonies again - he's like a choir unto himself.All the praise here in these five star reviews is 100% correct. So I don't want to spend a lot of time rehashing what has alrerady been said by other reviewers (and said very well, I might add - kudos to all) but if I could give it 6 stars, I would.A shining beacon of musicality in today's sea of common, empty banality!! I haven't been inspired by a new work of music like this for quite some time.Also, I'd have to wholeheartedly agree with "Steve in Memphis" - not that this really has any bearing on anything as a whole,but we all know this comparison is inevitable: this album FAR EXCEEDES the new Yes album in every respect.Here's hoping that "Survival & Other Stories" is just the beginning of a new chapter in the amazing 40+ year career of Mr Anderson.It's a shame that very little of this, if any at all, will ever get any mainstream radio play. There are a lot of people out there who are desperate to hear good music like this. They just don't know where to find it.

Classic Jon Anderson! A man whose music I've dubbed my favorite above all others in my life. I will listen to this and the rest of his albums as long as I can still find a way to do so! 💖

I saw Jon Anderson at the Alladin Theatre in Portland Oregon on July 19th of this year 2011. He performed "Unbroken Spirit" from this Cd. He also sang "State of Independence"...and was accompanied only by his guitar. I was floored and frankly it gave me goose bumps. He also sang two songs from his early work: "Olias of Sunhillow". His impossibly high voice was crystal clear as he nailed every note to perfection. Better yet you could feel his joy and spirit soar as he sang and you can tell that truly lives to sing. Even in his 60's he still sings as a child. I'm so glad I was there.This Cd reminds me of "Change We Must". And I believe it is surely one of his best works. Run Jon Run...

This CD is the best thing I've heard from Jon in a long time. It is so spiritual and uplifting. The unique concept of the songwriting collaborations perfectly suits his wonderful message. Jon's voice has recovered nicely. It is truly a pleasure to hear him sounding so good again. I can't wait for the further issues coming from this concept in the future. Buy it, listen to it, and love it.

Blasphemy or not, let's get this straight... this is better than Olias, better than Three Ships, better than Song of Seven. And it stands (to these ears) equal to or above the best songs Yes ever put to tape. Mr. Anderson's recent serious health issues apparently carried him to the cliff of his mortal coil, and that experience has lead him to create the most mature, spiritual and personal song cycle of his career. Survival & Other Stories indeed! Gone are the dense, wandering lyrics that, while we may all love and are bewitched by, were never truly decipherable. On Survival... Jon's lyrics are straightforward, understandable, and lead the listener to honest, sacred spaces that we all can recognise. No, this CD doesn't rock. The instrumentation and arrangements match the reverent tone of the words. But for fans of Jon Anderson and Yes, this just may be your most satisfying discovery of the journey so far.

I'm not very good at starting reviews so I guess I'll just say that this is a brilliant album. The music offered here is quite amazing and is one of the most emotional albums I have heard this year. The rich arrangements and almost chilling vocals create an unusual but very welcome experience. Jon Anderson opens with one of the most triumphant album openers I've ever heard. New New World starts with a crash of drums that immediately gets you sitting up and paying attention. It sets a precedent for the whole album which keeps you fully engaged right through to the final note of Cloudz. The drums and guitar give the song a sort of African feeling before the song reaches its climax. I honestly thought that nothing that followed could match this song but I was mistaken. Understanding Truth brings the tone right down to a very mellow almost melancholy tune. Here we have Jon delivering some of his most tender vocals over an acoustic guitar. Very simple but highly effective and powerful. This is a man that knows how to manipulate emotions. Unbroken Spirit is another triumphant celebration of life. I don't pretend to understand Andersons lyrics which seem to reflect a spirituality which is completely alien to me but whatever it is that he is singing about, his lyrics flow beautifully over the swelling music which leaves you feeling incredibly warm and happy for no particular reason at all. Love of the life is quite a short song which opens with some nice harmonies then launches into an energetic and very driven songs which maintains it's pace and has a great rhythm. Layers of instruments and sounds create a great overall texture which I can only describe as a feast for the ears. There are so many little backing vocal snippets that are easy to miss but rewarding if you catch them. Big Buddha Song is the absolute highlight of this album. In terms of the lyrics and the spirituality behind this song I have to say I disagree strongly with Mr. Anderson who seems to just worship anything that moves. "I wanna thank you Buddha for being my teacher, I wanna thank you Jesus for bringing this love, I wanna thank Mohammed for being the Prophet and Singing of Krishna". He then sings a bit about the Divine Mother. But beliefs beside, this is an incredible song. The guitar on this track is absolutely beautiful. The rich arrangement of vocals and instruments is stunning and really plays with your emotions. I can't describe the feeling as this track starts followed by the feeling as we reach the chorus. Whilst the lyrics make little sense, once again they compliment the music brilliantly and the song flows smoothly and wonderfully from the first strum of the guitar to the last of Jon's chants. While i disagree with Jons beliefs I can't help but respect his feeling of wonder and respect for all he believes and loves. The emotions he must feel to convey such beauty in a song defy belief. Also, spot the cheeky reference to "We Have Heaven" in the chorus. Incoming is another mellow track with an uplifting tone in Jon's voice. Jon sings over a simple piano line for half the song and is then joined by gentle strings and finally drums. The gradual and continuous crescendo creates another moment of Triumph (I've been using that word a lot) for Jon. I'm aware that this review is in danger of becoming very long so I'll try to be brief. On the track Effortlessly, Jon is once again accompanied by and acoustic guitar which flows over a beautiful melody and almost straight into Love and Understanding. Jon refuses to stop celebrating life and love in this song "Never before has love been so alive". This is a man who recently nearly died from an illness but is able to sing passionately about how wonderful he percieves the world to be. Spot the line "going for the one" in this song. Just One Man was present in a slightly different incantation on the Anderson/Wakeman album The Living tree. The version we have here is a very tender piano and vocal track. It's about Jesus apparantly. Whatever it happens to be about, the words and music are beautiful and deserve a place on this brilliant album. Moving swiftly on we have the penultimate track Sharpening the Sword. This returns to the triumphant (there itis again. Not very imaginative am I?) feel of the earlier songs. It also incorporates more world music textures and strong lyrics and vocals. The last track Cloudz deserves a proper mention. This is another track on which Jon sings over a piano. Silence is used to great effect on this song and after you add Mr Andersons powerful but gentle vocals, the finished product is absolutely heartbreaking. The emotional heights reached by this song are rarely matched in music these days. This is the kind of song that should be listened to in the twilight in the early hours of the morning. Such a beautiful end to this album.Lyrically this album is strange but typically Jon. I don't have any of Jon Andersons other solo albums yet so I don't know if this is what he normally offers but all I do know is that having been ousted from Yes, he went on to produce an album that is, in my humblest opinion, better than the album that Yes recently released. This mans music and his vocals have a way of touching you even if you thing he's not making any sense. To conclude, an absolutely incredible album which even the most casual of Jon Anderson fans should buy.My goodness. I've waffled a lot in this review. I'm afraid I got a bit carried away. My apologies.

I have been a YES fan for more years than I care to remember and have always loved Jon's unusual voice. And yet I have few of his solo albums. Survival and Other Stories is a recent acquisition, prompted by re-hearing Songs of Seven on LP at a friend's house and then buying the CD. I have played Survival addictively since its purchase - at home, in the car, even in my head!It is a wonderful collection of songs with the last - Cloudz - reducing me unexpectedly to tears.The tracks vary in tempo.They are spiritual without being overtly religious. And all the way through is Jon's clear voice, at it's gently poignant best on the tracks where he is singing simply with piano or guitar to accompany him.New New World begins dramatically; Understanding Truth - like a poem to guitar accompaniment;Unbroken Spirit beautiful, followed by up-tempo Love of Life and a 'pop-like' fifth track: Big Buddha Song. Tracks 8 Love and Understanding and 10 Sharpening the Sword are similarly more 'pop', or maybe I should say 'bop', for they are great to dance to (solo and when the house is empty!). Track 6 Incoming has an unusual insistent beat; 7 Effortlessly - is a tender song with guitar. Track 9 Just One Man is probably the most clearly religious but, for those who are not, the words could, by analogy, address each and every one of us about the difference we can all make individually on behalf of others.Which brings me to Track 11 - Cloudz. Beautiful, simple, heartfelt. Takes my breath away.

Not what I expected but still a very good album, something different but I preferred his original albums.

After spending several weeks listening to the new YEs album, and being thoroughly underwhelmed by it's pseudo-Dramaesque style (it's good enough, but pretty much "yes by numbers" to my ears) I decided to give Jon Anderson's new work a listen through Spotify. And what I found was an album of startling beauty that gripped me from the beginning and hasn't let go.Jon's vocals are as distinctive as ever, but more importantly they are as crisp, clear and beguiling as ever, his is a voice which, given it's tone and apparant fragility you would think would have suffered the ravages of time, but to the contrary he sounds as wonderful as ever - which at 66 is no mean feat!The songs, whilst maybe straying into the spiritual too obviously for my liking sometimes, are always lsitenable, and the air of optimism that permeates the album makes me smile regularly.Basically this is an album that could be used as an introduction to Anderson, but will also keep the long time fans happy. I wish I'd purchased this and tried "Fly From Here" on Spotify rather than the other way around, but it's an oversight that I have since corrected and it makes a delightful addition to my music library.And now, back to my regularly scheduled Slayer!

Favourite track: Big Buddha Song