Customer Reviews

Deseo

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Being a Yes fan, I bought this on a whim when I found it cheap. Surprisingly, it's not bad at all. Don't let that "Teakbois" monstrosity from the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album fool you; Anderson actually can make good world-beat music and he does it here. All the tunes are quite pleasant, and the slew of Latino guest performers keeps things interesting. I would think any Yes fan would get some enjoyment out of this.

This was originally released early 1994 by Windham Hill Records (also the former home of Yanni). This was overshadowed by the group release "Talk" shortly after. Anderson can't always please us all both in a group and on his own like most people have. He's become a part of that new age/world music scene. Most of the songs are in Portuguese, pertaining to the Brasilian theme, and possibly some in Spanish (where's Peggy Hill when you need her?!). Featuring two tracks with Brasil's own superstar Milton Nascimento (who I only heard of through Duran Duran). Real hardcore fans might want this, otherwise it doesn't seem like a Yes solo album. It could be anyone. Even his albums with that other Greek artist, Vangelis, are more approachable for Yes fans. Not that "Deseo" was good or not, it's just not my bag. You be the judge.

Well, what can I say about this album???... I guess every musician thinks he can make real Latin Music. UNFORTUNATELY NO EVERYONE CAN. And this is the case of Jon Anderson. This CD, far from having a real Latin sound, sounds exactly like the music they used to play in OLD Cruise Ships for gringos, and music for exotic restaurants in the 50's, when a Taco was considered an exotic meal in USA.

But not everything is bad about this CD. It has big names from the REAL Latin Music scene like: Milton Nascimento, Maria Conchita Alonso, Otmaro Ruiz, Aaron Serfaty, and Fredy Ramos, which made it worth a try.

It is nice to see a Classic Rock musician attempting to explore another music field; however, he didn't quite make it. The FAKE TROPICAL STEEL BAND and EXAGGERATED AFRICAN DRUMS arrangements of the songs, in conjunction with his overstated and unnecessary English accent in EACH WORD he articulates, made this CD forgettable and irrelevant.

However, if you are into "cruise latin music from the 50s" and when you think about Latin Music you think about "La Bamba"... Then this CD is for you !!!!

When Jon was in Mexico, on the TV-commercials of his concerts, was announced as THE YES VOCALIST !!!!, and the people thinked that Jon's concerts be a Yes-concert, WHAT A PUBLICIST MISTAKE !!!!, the concert was not the best thing in the J.A.'s life. I recommend this record..but don't wait a yes album, this is an authentic Jon Anderson's (and friends) album.....BUY IT !!!!!!

Se você sabe que a música do "Yes" é muito mais que rock progressivo, vai gostar desse CD. Jon é um gênio. É impressionante como ele soube captar a música, ritmos e alma latina em "Deseo". Composições que trazem melodias lindas no melhor estilo de Jon Anderson. Milton Nascimento, que ao lado de Jon, considero o maior músico do planeta, participa de maneira brilhante. Milton canta em "Amor Real", pede a seu parceiro eterno, Fernando Brant, a letra para os trechos em português nessa canção. Jon ainda canta, de Milton, "A de Ó". "Boca Livre", um grupo brasileiro único no estilo e qualidade, empresta e participa na canção "Dança do Ouro", outro destaque do CD. Eduardo del Signore, compositor assistente, ajudou Jon a escolher um time de estrelas convidadas com destaque para o uruguaio, como Eduardo, Ruben Rada. Este CD tem mais uma pérola de Jon: "Bridges". "...Hoy creamos puentes para ir por tu amor, respirando en paz, conectados...". Um disco maravilhoso.

I listen to this cd, but not all that much. Nothing grabs me when I listen to this. Not enough musical muscle to keep my attnetion. I like JA, but this one is sorta forgettable.

I know how odd Jon sounds on his solo albums but this is just beyond all oddness ever created. And yet somehow its smart and just alive with sound that makes you feel good.

Jon Anderson put out several solo albums in the 90's that had him straying outside of the "prog rock" genre that made him famous with Yes. _Deseo_ finds Anderson surrounded by Latin/world music and the experiment is quite enjoyable. It's my opinion that no one writes a better melody than Jon Anderson - and he doesn't disappoint on _Deseo_. "Amor Real", "Cafe", and "Midnight Dancing" are fun, vibrant songs, and "Bless This" and "This Child" are soothing and gentle. Jon's daughter, Deborah, guests on some tracks, as does actress/singer Maria Conchita Alonso on "Bridges" (a diff. version of this song can be heard on Anderson's _Toltec_). This is a great album for fans of Yes who want to hear Anderson succeeding at pushing the boundaries of what is commonly expected of him. It's also a great album to play in your backyard on a hot summer night.

JON ANDERSON É UM ASTRO QUE CONSEGUE MESCLAR A BELEZA DE SUAS CANÇÕES COM UM SENTIMENTO UNIVERSALISTA E REVOLUCIONÁRIO. GOSTARIA DE CONHECER PESSOAS DO BRASIL OU DO MUNDO QUE COMPARTILHAM DA MINHA OPINIÃO.

Unlike some here, I was wide open to the CD when I grabbed it up. This is Jon anderson, not YES, okay? In fact, I am a Yes fan, but I was hoping this would go beyond the Yes sound, into Jon Anderson-land... and in that way, it totally succeeds.
This CD is whimsical, light, fun... it is a hybrid of all kinds of styles.

I would have a hard time telling anyone (at least in a meaningful way) what it sounds like --- except to say THIS DISC IS EXCELLENT!
I love it. I only paid a dollar for it, which is the case with a lot of my "scores" - and I was open to just loving it.... and I do!

You see, I am a real music lover. I love music in many many different styles and shapes. I approach music with an open mind and with open ears, and whenever possible, I refrain from having to compare it to my expectations of the music...

* When you listen to creative music with pre-expectations, this artificially sets a bar for him to have to clear, he has to measure up to something.... and how F - ed up is that???!!!!

Listen people - I am going to let you in on a secret that only some of us brilliant people know: Leave your expectations and comparisons at the door. We don't want them. Let it go -- be in the moment -- untainted, pure.

---- I had to stop reading these reviews, as they are all talking about both Jon's attempt to do a Latin flavored CD and then comparing it to YES.
These reviews became real old, real fast.

Here is my take on this CD: It is bouncy, light, easy to listen to, and it is catchy and FUN. Really. None of this music is genre-bending completely - so?

It doesn't sound like YES, nor does it sound completely unlike Yes... so?

Latin? I don't even hear it, but I listen to so many hybrids like this CD is that I don't even notice or care... this CD is really challenging in a light and fun way.

Highly recommended, only if you can listen to it free of your prejudices. Okay?

YES