Reviews

Being a solo project from American multi instrumentalist and composer Jonathan Saunders, Zen Rock and Roll sounds, nevertheless, like a full band outfit. This can only be seen as an initial compliment to what is achieved in the musical world of this project, as everything is competently played and layered. Among other aspects, the way the vocal games work is very well achieved, as well as the overall result for the specific style that is targeted here: a melodic and tremendously popish approach to the progressive rock aesthetics of the 70’s. Even if bands such as Queen, 10CC, Styx and Be Bop Deluxe can serve as good references, as well as a smoother version of A.C.T., the sound displayed in this album is very specific and with a very personal signature that differentiates it from the aforementioned bands. Sometimes there is a very naïf vibe, though this is quite obvious it is introduced on purpose. This characteristic ends up working as an extra charming venue for the music. The also very subtle use of keyboards, and the specific role they play in the music, is something that deserves proper praising, as the way the keys evolve contribute to the huge lightness that the music carries. And then, as everything is emotional and full of moods and feelings, the album ends up being a sort of major representation of light pop-prog, or art-rock (as you prefer).
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=34567

"Undone" represents a well-made album reflecting inspirations from the 70's school of symphonic progressive rock set within an accessible framework, emphasizing melody and harmony over challenging instrumental and compositional features, with an epic-length creation sporting a closer tie to classical symphonic music as a side dish. Well-made and well-performed, but without managing to impress me on a higher level. Those fond of late 70's Genesis will most likely be a key audience, and I suspect many of those will regard this disc as a nice addition to their collection.
www.progressor.net/review/zen_rocknroll_2011.html

onathan Saunders is a classic prog devotee, his music is steeped heavily in keyboards and mellotron, with complex arrangements and layers of percussion and digital sound effects. But on this new album, he is exploring his more commercial side. "Undone" has early light sympho Prog elements for sure, but a strong Melodic Rock essence blended with American Classic Rock. At times it reminds of Yes merged with Styx, a little Queen here, a bit of Ambrosia there, even some more obscure favorites like City Boy or Gentle Giant. Saunders has a voice that sounds close to Dennis De Young of Styx and some on the music on this album brings back memories of early Styx albums without the power of a strong group supporting. The music is definitely keyboard driven like early Styx, and the vocal harmony helps to re-enforce the similarities.
0dayrock.blogspot.com/2011/11/zen-rock-and-roll-undone-2011.html

Accordingly I had to judge the forty minutes of music on Undone in a rather different way compared to his former releases. After listening to the album a couple of times I discovered that the music cannot be compared to his previous work. I also determined that Saunders again released an amazing album whereby he had become an all-round singer-songwriter and musician. The songs seem to be emotionally stronger than on his earlier work. In my opinion the highlight on the album is the epic piece Concerto For The Original Sinners which contains some elements of classical music, but also experimental guitar parts that reminded me of King Crimson and Pink Floyd. Saunders wrote another long epic for this album, but unfortunately The Circle (23:06) has not been included on the promo version I've got. That's quite regrettable because the aforementioned epic was a real treat to my ears. The omitted epic would have suited well, since it would have brought the total playing time to approximately one hour, but even without this piece the album is still worthwhile. If you expect the same kind of music on the third album of Zen Rock And Roll as he recorded on his previous two releases than you might be either a bit disappointed or rather surprised. That depends of course on you personal taste. However, for me Undone is a very enjoyable album that certainly contains more than enough elements to call it great progressive rock music.
www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDReviews/ZenRockAndRollUndone.html

Saunders has a voice that sounds familiar yet different. His voice is closest to Dennis De Young of Styx and some on the music on this album brings back memories of early Styx albums without the power of a strong group supporting. The music is definitely keyboard driven like early Styx, and the vocal harmony helps to re-enforce the similarities. "Antiquated Love Song" is one of the tracks on the album that truly captures this early Styx sound, mixed with a little early Queen influence as well. The addition of a flute helps to take an edge off of the similarities. Undone is an interesting story set to good music and vocals. "Concerto for the Original Sinners" is by far the best track on the album. It is full of wonderful keyboards and dramatic movements in it's over 14 minutes of sound. Much of the keyboard work reminds me of some sounds from some of Steve Hackett's early, more synthesizer influenced albums. But still very moving towards the end. Overall, this is a good introduction to Saunders' work.
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=11483

I find Jonathan’s voice irresistible on songs like “All In the Dark” and “Antiquated Love Song.” On the latter, he reveals a musical theater background (and maybe an affinity for Freddie Mercury) in his performance. I’m not sure it’s intended, but I also hear similarities to City Boy’s Lol Mason on “At the First Glance” and 10CC’s amazing Kevin Godley at various times. As a musician, Jonathan shines too. “Concerto for the Original Sinners” is my favorite instrumental piece on a vocally dominated album since Spock’s Beard “Skeleton At the Feast” from 2006. This sounds like a soundtrack more than a Concerto to my ears and has great Mellotron getting in, it then does a bit of a turnaround after seven minutes and drives a pulsating electronic beat when suddenly the synthesizers wash over you in symphonic glory at the end of its almost 15 minutes. Electrifying!
www.prognaut.com/reviews/zen-rnr2.html

ProgRock Records, July 2011 Just immagine you enter a lounge where everything has this comfy, warm feeling of relaxed and friendly déjà-vu. It's not the place Where Everybody Knows Your Name, it's the new Jonathan Sauders (a.k.a. Zen Rock and Roll) release: Undone. The welcome is driven by the opener ”All in the Dark” and by the following ”At the First Glance”, two well calibrated, sunny prog-pop tunes that set the sonic standard of the entire CD. But like a conversation with a long missed friend, it all goes from the happy excitement of the first words to the deep explanations of thoughts and expression of unsaid feelings. The pinnacle of the entire CD is, in my opinion, ”Concerto for the Original Sinners”, an almost 15 minutes long instrumental where all the ideas and feelings of Undone are condensed. ”Concerto” is, as the title implies, a classical-derived piece where themes are exposed and elaborated in a modern fashion. Neat! And after all this, a sad farewell (”Lamento”) is necessary. Will we have to wait another 7 years for the 4th Zen Rock and Roll album? So, if you are in the Canterbury prog scene and you like it spiced with a little bit af Gentle Giant and Focus in it. This CD is a must have.
metal-revolution.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.3608

The one-man project Zen Rock And Roll is lead and made by Jonathan Saunders who made two earlier albums like this. I’m not familiar with those but research shows that they are quite different from this new one ‘Undone’. The good man offers a concept album but I’m afraid that the music is a bit too light for that, to carry the right feeling. The band Toto comes to mind most often and by the sound of the vintage keyboard there are also some Genesis flavours detected. Saunders’ voice leans toward the Toto sound as well and that alone is worth a compliment. The ship steers out of course at one time with the ballad ‘Antiquated Love Song’ but is pulled back right after that. Not a concept with twelve different voices and characters on this concept album, Saunders proves that it also can be done like this.
www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=19587&lang=en

It must have been like 8 years ago or something before we last reviewed an album of the band ZEN ROCK AND ROLL, which is actually a one-man’s journey, namely the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist JONATHAN SAUNDERS. He released 2 albums in the early 2000s, but it took him all the way to 2011 and a label deal with PROGROCK RECORDS to release a new record titled ‘Undone’. The result is a very impressive Melodic Progressive/Pomprock affair that sounds like a mix between AVIARY, STARCASTLE, STYX and ZON, so very 1970s American Prog/Symphonic Pomprock inspired and happily Jonathan is not only a professional multi-instrumentalist, he is also a very pleasant and melodic lead vocalist. In fact, he gives the music a pure American Pomprock touch and with the addition of the keys/synths and massive harmonyvocals it is like we are listening to a re-issue of an old undiscovered late 1970s US Pomprock Classic in the tradition of ROADMASTER, AVIARY, STYX, TOUCH and such (listen to the pure STYXish Pomprock gem “Undone” and it’s like we stepped in a time machine and set the course back to the year 1978 destination Midwestern USA!). Although less commercial and perhaps a little more proggy here and there (also please note that a couple songs are classical piano/vocal only, which is still sounding excellent by the way!), this ‘Undone’ record will definitely be loved by fans of mentioned bands, thanks to a bunch of intelligent AOR and Pomprock ish melodies in both the vocal and keyboard department. Quite a surprise this ‘Pomprock’ release and for me personally the motivation to search and relisten again to their earlier albums, which are stored somewhere
www.angelfire.com/ma/strutteraor/HOTNEWREVIEWS172.htm