PHOENIX-2008 (A)
PHOENIX is the Asia cd a lot of fans have been waiting for, the return of the original lineup. I for one was a big fan of the original lineup, but probably a bigger fan of the later day John Payne vocal era. Original vocalist John Wetton was always a fairly good in the studio, but live I always thought he was pretty crappy, off key and out of time. His solo cds following Asia were not better, actually they were worse. But something happened, he got off the booze, and straighted his life out. He got back with Asia keyboardists Downes and made an excellent cd called Icon. Now they, Downes and Wetton, have gotten rest of the original band together and made a great new cd.PHOENIX starts out with one the best Asia songs ever, Never Again. I would put this song in my top 3 Asia songs, it is that good. From the opening guitar lick this song stands out. Wetton sings on this song and rest of this cd, in top form. As a matter of fact, he has never sounded better. And the same can be said for the rest of the band, they are all in top notch form.
I can think of nothing bad on this cd, the last time I listened to it was today, and I can only think of how good this cd is.
PHOENIX never falters. It is like taking a step back in time. This should have been the follow up cd to ALPHA. The only thing missing is Mike Stone, doing the production on the cd. That is really my only complaint about this cd. The production is not the big sound of the first three Asia cds, but now it is a more lean sound. But this lean sound fits the somberness and maturity of the music. But the production does seem a little heavy on the bass, and when cracking it up, it tends to thumpy and not enough top end.
I could go on about the songs, but if you don't like the first three songs on the cd, then it is not for you. Never Again, Nothings Forever, and Heroine are those songs. This how "classic" rock should sound.
FANTASIA LIVE IN TOKYO-2007 (B)
Asia has never really put out an exciting live cd, and this cd will not change your mind. All the hits are here, from the Wetton era of the band. It was recorded on the reunion tour that the band started out on in 2006. The band sounds good, but nothing makes you want to put it on instead of the studio cds.
PROGRESSIVE ROCK FRIENDS-2008 (D+)
What is this crap!?! Some record company trying to make money off the reunion tour of the band. With covers of some of their solo work, for the songs they couldn't get outright. And the Asia songs are from the dreadful LIVE IN MOSCOW. And speaking of the live songs, this was thrown together so quick the live songs are not even edited for smooth transactions between songs. Skip it and buy the original stuff.
LIVE IN ATLANTIC CITY USA-2007 (C+)
A descent bootleg of the reunion tour, the above professional cd is a better product. Production is better, and all the songs are the same.
REUNION TOUR-2006 (B-)
One of the first shows from the reunion tour, all the same songs as above two shows (cds). Band sounds a little rough around the edges, but they had only been on tour a couple of weeks. Still a good find.
SILENT NATION-2004 (A)
This is my favorite Payne era cd, and my second favorite Asia cd, behind their debut cd. There is not a sub par song on this cd. Every song is good, and the cd's first four songs are awesome. The cd dips a little for a couple of songs (Silent Nation and Ghost In The Mirror), but even these songs are good. The cd even has a male chorus on a couple songs that really adds to the atmosphere of the cd.
It is a shame this cd, on any Payne era cd, never took off in America. They have had some pretty good cds, but a couple of duds too, like just about any group. But also just like about any group that has gone thru a major lineup shakeup, people tend to either stay an originalist, saying that only the original lineup is the group. Or they take hold of the new lineup and say this is how the group should haven been all along. And there are the few like me, that like the music (if it is good) no matter what the lineup is. A shame people can't listen to the music and leave the politics of the band out of it, because this cd is very good music...
LIVE IN VIENNA CONCERT DOWNLOAD-2002 (B+)
Will try to put a concert on site every week or two for download. Artwork will be included and track listings too, if I have them.
This week, I am putting up a Asia concert from 2002. This concert is from the John Payne lead vocal era. This is a soundboard recording and has 19 songs in all.
It is my favorite concert I have from this era of the band. It includes many of the classic Asia songs, Only Time Will Tell, Heat Of The Moment, and a few more, plus some cool Payne era songs, Awake, Free, Who Will Stop The Rain, and many more. The cd also has a keyboard solo, and new song Bad ass dog, and a Asia Melody containing a few new and old Asia song thrown together.
Plus When John introduces the wrong wrong song, it becomes a running joke throughout the show. Well worth listening too. Artwork is in the download and on this page. The link is below for the show...
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LOGFOYYZ
ANTHOLOGIA-2002 (A)
This double cd set, has all the fist 3 cds (Asia, Alpha, and Astra), plus the new songs off Now And Then. It even includes the b-side songs included on Heat Of The Moment; The Very Best Of Asia (1982-1990). This is a very good cd, but since all the songs are on other cds, it is hard to recommend. But the cd has been remastered and the songs sound great, even most of the ones from Astra and Then And Now, but there are some songs no remastering can help, like the dreadful Am I In Love and Summer (Can Last To Long).
LIVE IN THE USA-2002 (B-)
A dvd recorded in Philly, on the AURA tour. Songs sound ok, production is a little muddy, and the fan interviews, ugh? But a descent set list of new and old songs.
AURA-2001 (B+)
Asia's 2001 cd Aura is their first full cd of new material since Arena in 1996. Arena was a very weak cd and the two unreleased cds were weak and the greatest hits had nothing new. Aura is a very strong cd from the band.
Awake starts the cd off strong and is a very strong vocal from Payne. Ready to Go Home, Forgive Me, On The Coldest Day In Hell, Free, The Longest Night and Aura are the strong songs on the cd. Rest of the songs are good and have a strong vocal and musical performance. There is nothing really weak on this cd, no filler, but rest of the songs lack a hook to pull you in, to make them burn into your memory.
The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990)-2000 (A+)
This is the best of all the Asia hit cds, from any era of the band. This cd only covers the John Wetton vocal-ed era, which is the most well known era. This cd blows away the pitiful THEN AND NOW cd. This cd also contains 3 b-side songs, Daylight, Ride Easy, and Lying To Yourself, which are all fine songs. Couple of songs have the radio edit version, which isn't as good as the album cut. But over all a great cd, and the best of the best.
ANTHOLOGY-1997 (B)
It has been about ten years since Asia's first hits cd THEN AND NOW. That cd was weak, not enough old songs and two much new. But it was a fitting end to the Wetton era. Now the band is back with a new hits cd from the Payne era.
The song selection from the cd is pretty good, but a little to heavy on the songs from the Arena cd, which I think is the Bands weakest cd of new material. But that is just my opinion. Also some of the bands big hits from the Wetton era are on here (Only Time Will Tell, Heat Of The Moment, Don't Cry, and Go). But theses songs don't hold up to the Payne songs, for the simple fact they are rerecorded by Payne and the current lineup. Due to record companies, the originals are not here. So the originals are rerecorded. But at least they are here.
Also GTR's The Hunter is on the cd, rerecorded. And I must say that it is a pretty good version of the song.
Over all not bad at all, not a lame as THEN AND NOW, but not as good as HEAT OF THE MOMENT: THE BEST OF ASIA.
ARCHIVA -1996 vol.1 (B) vol.2 (C+)
Volume 1 and 2 are basically songs that did not make it on to previous Asia cds. Some of the songs you can hear why they were left off, and really should have been left off here as while. But some songs are really good. Songs go back to the Wetton era, and some back to the GTR era that had vocalist Max Bacon on lead. But all songs now have Payne on vocals.Over seas this was released as a double cd, but here in the states they were released separately. Album covers are the same except for one saying Vol 1 the other Vol 2. Vol 1 has some good songs, most notably is the lead off song Heart Of Gold. A very good pop oriented song. Also pretty good is I Believe and Reality. Payne does a great vocal on I can' Wait A Lifetime. And Steve Howe shows up for Ginger, a good solo song. Tears is ok, and the rest of Vol. 1 is pretty weak.Vol 2 has the awesome A Right To Cry and Obsession. Moon Under The Water and Love Like The Video are descent, as is ELO's Showdown, but rest of the d is pretty bad.Not really worth picking up unless you are a die hard Asia fan .
ARENA-1996 (C-)
After two very strong Cd's from the new lineup, the group loses a good axeman and makes a not so good cd, just like the original line up on their third cd. Arena comes off very laid back, too laid back. The songs are missing the rock feel of previous cds. The axeman brings no life to the songs. Production is not up to the standards of the cds that came before. At times the songs seem muddled.
There are only three songs that I really listen to on the cd. The Day Before The War comes off very haunting, Never shows some urgency to it, and the title track Arena along with it's intro, Into The Arena are the best track on this disk. Arena (the song) actually benefits from this new laid back sound of the group.
Overall a very boring outing from the group. Plus poor production and a lack of wanting to rock make for a very unhappy Asia fan.
ARIA-1994 (B+)
Another great cd from the band with new vocalist John Payne. The cd starts off with a great 1,2,3 punch with Anytime, Are You Big Enough, and Desire. John again shows great emotion in his voice, that makes you feel the pain or love that the song is trying to get across. Feels Like Love another great song, along with Sad Situation. Aria is a slow marvel of a song with a moving symphonic ending.
But unlike the last cd AQUA, this cd does a couple of songs that don't hit the mark, Remembrance Day and Summer. But still a great cd overall.
AQUA-1992 (A-)
Big changes for the band here. New vocalist John Payne and new guitarist Al Pitrelli are welcome changes. Both bring an excitement to the band that has been missing for some time. Payne is a good replacement for Wetton, who left to do battle with his own personal demons. Both new comers play great and Payne turns out to be a great vocalist as well as writer. The songs come across as more mature and even though they are not the big arena rock of the 80's hair bands, the music is still strong and has a good kick to it.
Who Will Stop The Rain has some great keyboard work on it and doesn't come across sounding dated. Someday is another good song with a strong chorus. But the two best tracks on the cd are The Voice Of Reason and Don't Call Me. Both pick up speed and power as the move along, and Paynes voice may not be as pristine as Wetton's, but he delivers a very powerful and moving vocal on these tracks.
Rest of the songs are good have some equally strong points to them. There is not any songs that I skip when in my cd player, so this makes a very good cd for the band.
LIVE IN MOSCOW-1990 CD (C-) DVD (D)
This cd, Asia's first live cd, is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Right off the bat, axeman Steve Howe is missed. The new guitarist Pat Thrall does ok, but for the most part, the band comes across sounding sloppy. John Wetton sounds off key and like he is having a very bad night. Production of the cd while good, just makes the band sound even more lifeless than they already are.
Book of Saturday and Starless, are included on the cd, and are the best points of the cd. The new song Kar-Anne has a bouncy feel to it, but is still one of the groups most boring songs.
The video sounds no better, and the group sure are not the entertaining bunch on stage. They basically stand in there spot and do there thing. The video does contain Rendevous 602, Cutting It Fine, and Prayin For A Miracle, which are not on the cd.
THEN AND NOW-1989 (B+)
The only reason I mention this cd is for 2 of the 4 new songs. Days Like These and Prayin 4 A Miracle. Both two very strong Asia songs. There are other hits cds by the band out there, but they do not have both songs on them. The other 2 new songs are 2 of the worst by Asia, and are not worth typing. As for rest of the cd, the other 6 songs are from the first 3 cds by the band, which are great to good. But a lot of songs were left off. The hits cd I would get would be Heat Of The Moment released in 2000.ASTRA-1985 (B-)
Asia's 1985 cd Astra, was their first without axeman Steve Howe, and he is sorely missed. Keyboards seem to be creeping more and more into each cd, and without a strong guitarist there to hold down the front lines, the sound can easily slide to one side. Which is what has happened on Astra. Mandy Meyer does a descent job on the strings, but the keyboards just push him to the back.Go starts the cd off, and at the start you can tell something is different in the sound. Go rocks, but Mandy is so far in the back, it is hard to hear him. And this continues through out the cd. There is some good guitar work on After The War, Rock and Rock Dream, Go, and Suspicion. But it is short, and does not draw you toward it, the way Howe did. And again the guitar is pushed so far back into the sound, it is really hard at times to get the feel for the player.
So Dowens struts his stuff on this cd, and he is good. Suspicion, Go, Voice Of America, and Count Down To Zero, really show off is playing.
Go, Voice Of America, Wishing (love how the chorus starts the song), and Suspicion are the best songs on the cd. What should be great songs, Rock And Roll Dream, After The War, and Love Now Til Eternity, fall flat. There is no killer riff to hook you.
Wetton does ok this time, his singing gives me goose bumps on Countdown to Zero, but for the most part he and Palmer seem to be going thru the motions.
After a great debut cd, they seem to be falling further away with each release.
LIVE IN ASIA-1983 (B-)
Neirther John Wetton or John Payne was lead singer on this Asia's biggest concert ever. This MTV special feature drummer's Carl Palmer ELP partner Greg Lake on vocals. When band members and singer Wetton could not get along right after the recording of the second cd, Wetton left, leaving the group hanging, so in stepped Greg. Greg does a good job and comes across very much like Wetton. But this would be of the only instance I know of the Greg stepping in. Can't say much of the song list, since it is only two cds in, so there really isn't a lot to choose from.ALPHA-1983 (B+)
Asia returned with a good second cd, that offered more of the same from the first cd, but with a more keyboard slant. The cd unlike, the first cd does have some songs that come across as filler. Every song on the first cd was top notch, but some on the second could have been b side singles, they were that poor. Never In A Million Years, My Own Time, Eye To Eye, are prime examples of this, just dull songs.
But, the cd does have some good songs that is on the level of the first cd, The Last To Know, True Colors, Midnight Sun. And Some songs that may actually be better than most of the fist cd, Don't Cry, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, The Heat Goes On, and Open Your Eyes.
Wetton is still in good voice, and delivers with great passion, love is delivery on Last To Know. Downes is more prominent this time around and has some good work here. He really gets to shine on Open Your Eyes, Midnight Sun, Heat Goes On, just like the list of songs that he puts his touch on.
Never been a Palmer fan, and he does a good job, not as good as the first cd, but still one of his best cds. And Howe isn't in the fore front like he was on the first cd, which is a shame, he is a very good guitarist, and shouldn't be short changed.
Last cd till 2008 with this, the original line up.
ASIA-1982 (A+)
Asia's debut cd is one of the best debut by a band. From the opening licks of Heat Of The Moment, to the last beat of Here Comes The Feeling, this cd keeps you enticed. Heat... is one of those rock anthems that you know within 2 seconds of hearing it.The opening keyboard on Only Time Will Tell is also one of those songs that sticks with you, long after the song is over. The whole cd is like this, song after song, after song.Never been a Carl Palmer fan, but he out does his self this time, and he really shines on Wildest Dreams. Also never liked John Wetton's vocal in King Crimson, or UK, but here he hits every note and shows no strain at all, no matter what the note. Without You is a good showcase of how good he is singing on this cd. Steve Howe as always done a good job, and when you hear the start of Heat Of The Moment, you know he still has it. His guitar work this cd is good to stunning.Geoffrey Downes, I never knew of him until this cd, but I have been a fan of his ever since. Really Asia has revolved around his keyboard playing. Vocalist, drummers, guitarist come and go, but Downes has always been there, and seems to be the back bone of the group. From start to stop, I sing all the way through on this cd, and the air guitar is always cranked up.
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