Jon Anderson - Olias of Sunhillow (1976)
 

This thread is for discussing Jon Anderson's solo album from 1976. It was the PFAC homework assignment for week 24, but of course anyone can join in on the discussion!

As Boo posted :

So, what do you guys think? :)

I've given this 4 spins or so now which is enough, I think, to get an impression. There are some good songs here, Sound out the Galleon is nice. Dance of the Ranyart and Flight of the Moorglade were both enjoyable. I have to admit though, for me, the best parts are the most structured parts which are not so new agey. A lot of the time on this record is, like Boo wrote, more about repetitions and atmospheres than rock songs. I have to admit I like Yes' earlier albums with rock songs like Yours is no Disgrace and Siberian Khatru and for me, Olias of Sunhillow pales in comparison.

I'm not sure it's a fair comparison. I'm pretty sure I'm outside the target group for this album. I like Jon Anderson, but mainly as the singer in the rock band Yes. One thing I like about this album is that I feel as if I understand more what Anderson brings or brought to Yes. I'm sure he had a lot to do with many of those beautiful and harmonious moments on Close to the Edge. Nothing comes close for me on this one though, so it's a mediocre for me. To me, that means there are good moments and bad and so I probably won't spend time with the stuff I didn't like in the future. Rather, I'll listen to the songs I like now and then and forget the rest. ;)

I think this album will have a lot more appeal to someone who has more intimate knowledge of later Yes as well as Jon's stuff with Vangelis and perhaps other solo records.

Man nobody ever gets involved with these. :(

Olias of Sunhillow is an enjoyable record from beginning to end and it really is in a world of it's own. Jon has some good stuff with Vangelis but it doesn't compare to this IMO. I can't think of any Yes album to compare it to, but it does recall some of the weirder moments off of Tales.

I voted good, but I would have voted for great if it was an option, I wouldn't call it brilliant because that's a word I reserve for very few albums. It's certainly an acquired taste and even being a Yes fan won't guarantee that you'll like it because it's a really out there record. It's hard to recommend an album like this because I can't think of anything to compare it to, you'll just have to check it out for yourself.

One thing I didn't mention but which is worth mentioning (might at least generate discussion) is that the cheese factor is relatively high here for a 70s album :p: Jon really wants to convey the story of these peoples from his imagination and unlike other groups like f.ex Magma, he does it without sillyness or whimsicality. For me, I feel like the seriousness of the project is what gives it the relatively cheesy feel.

Cheesy isn't necessarily a bad thing of course. Just make sure the neighbours are gone before you blast it out your speakers if it really bothers you :p: and of course, it's not half as cheesy as, say, Kamelot or Mighty Rhapsody, but it flavours the album nonetheless (imo).

I'm not so sure you can qualify any of what you hear on Olias as cheesy: a lot of sci-fi themed stuff, particularly the harder stuff, is quite serious in literary presentation, so its not so surprising that Anderson does the same here in a more musical format.

Really, it all comes down to whether or not you can empathize with Jon's sensibilities as a songwriter or not: if you were born after the 70's, then even your average proghead would have trouble managing that feat. :p:

Jon Anderson at the peak of his muse. LOVE this album. Same with Squire's Fish out of Water.
Howe's Beginnings? Sucks.

Checked this out today - thanks to you

This is really Yes quality music. He’s a great singer. The orchestration is great. Unassailable record.

Hearing that really shows how much of the classic Yes sound was Squire. He must have grown up surrounded by chamber music because he really knew how to orchestrate a small number of instruments. His vocal harmonies are as good as anything Paul and John ever came up with.

Glad you dug it. It's actually going to get better with more listens!

Church

I really love OoS, my favorite of the 1976 Yes solo albums, just barely over Fish Out of Water.