ASIA

Any fans of this band?

They were hugely popular in the 1980's when they were formed as a progressive rock supergroup; John Wetton of King Crimson, Steve Howe of Yes, Carl Palmer of ELP, and Geoff Downes the Buggles.

I'm was a huge fan of the band's first album when it was released but always felt the follow-up and their third album were downward spirals. Steve Howe was being left out of the writing, which was really unfortunate.

When John Wetton left and John Payne took over the vocal duties, I actually started liking the band more. I personally think Payne is a better vocalist. Of course Wetton is back with the band now.

I had their first album on cassette back in the day (hell, everybody had that album back in the day) but haven't heard it in years. I liked it a lot back then, I have thought about upgrading that one to CD from time to time but have never gotten round to it.

Last I heard the original first album Asia lineup was back together and touring again. They came thru this area two or three months ago if memory serves.

I've seen the new CD at Wal-Mart but haven't decided wheter to pick it up or not considering I'm not too familiar with their material (apart from a few songs here and there).

I had their first album on vinyl back in the date, wasn't impressed with their 2nd release and haven't heard any of the newer stuff.

As I recall, their debut was the top selling album of the year in the US.

I have a framed Asia poster on my wall, right next to my collection of action figures.

Have the self-titled and Aqua and quite like them both. Haven't really kept up with the band though.

Always found John Payne's inexplicably glam get up in the Aqua album photos to be kind of amusing considering they're a prog/arena rock band.

I like the first album but very little after that.

It's an OK continent, but I prefer North America.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I have a framed Asia poster on my wall, right next to my collection of action figures.

Hey your not 40 years old!

The new album "Phoenix" is pretty good. If you like the first album then you will like the new one. It could have fit in very nicely after their self titled album.

spiritoradio wrote:

The new album "Phoenix" is pretty good. If you like the first album then you will like the new one. It could have fit in very nicely after their self titled album.

Isn't there some kind of law that all their album titles begin and end with 'A'?

What's up with this?

rattpoison wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I have a framed Asia poster on my wall, right next to my collection of action figures.

Hey your not 40 years old!

I'm glad someone got that. Otherwise someone might get the wrong idea about me.

I was just writing on another thread how I very seldom like radio classics anymore (of any genre); but that Asia s/t is one of the few I still like. Reminds me of an old girlfriend from back then.

I bought Phoenix on iTunes yesterday, and I absolutely LOVE it!

MetalGuy71 wrote:

rattpoison wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I have a framed Asia poster on my wall, right next to my collection of action figures.

Hey your not 40 years old!

I'm glad someone got that. Otherwise someone might get the wrong idea about me.

...That your a loser!

I own the S/T and love it. "Sole Survivor" is one of my all time faves.

So I've been meaning to check this band out for ages. I know I must know their hits, but ask me to name one and I don't think I could. Someone posted Aqua on SwapaCD, so I went to Amazon and gave the samples a listen. It sounds pretty damn good! So I requested that and Aria.

There is no logic to suggest I won't like this band, considering the range of prog rock that I do like. So what can I expect?

Holy crap! They do "Heat of the Moment!" Haha. I had no idea. Man, if you'd asked me who sang that song I'd have said Mike and the Mechanics, or something. Crazy.

The S/t really isn't very "proggy" is it? Great AOR though. It's kind of a streamlined version of Wetton's previous band UK, which is great melodic prog!

I like them

Like Journey, Foreigner, and Survivor, Asia is one of those bands that when I hear one of their songs, I'm immediately transported back to sometime in the early 80's. I don't know where Asia ranks on an all time band list for me, but I can say this, they rank high on the nostalgia factor.

I would say that my favorite song would probably have to be "Sole Survivor"!!!

I donot like alot of AOR bands but I did like Journey, Foreigner, and Boston but I never liked Asia but than I am only familiar with their hits, but what I have heard seemed to calculating, not music from the heart but for the charts.

I listen to all kinds of music, but Asia never connected with me, which is surprising considering the pedigree in this band.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

It's an OK continent, but I prefer North America.

Am I the only one who thinks this is hysterical?



But Yes, I enjoy Asia. Mainly because of Yes. See, that bit there was clever.

I am a huge Yes fan though, and thus found Asia because of that (as well as everything the rest of the band was into). I have the first two albums on Vinyl, and I miss not hearing them. Need to pony up for a turntable.

The S/T has some good tracks on it!

- Robbie

I like their stuff.

Bringing this back from the dead. I listened to the debut album the other night for the first time since the mid-80's. It transported me so completely back to the messed up kid I was in 1982 that it choked me up. I've listened to it 3 times since then and it hits me the same way every time. Nostaligia...completely...but in a healing way.

That debut album (aside from a couple clunkers) is still a brilliant album. That record works because the songwriting sounds natural, there are lots of progressive bits mixed in with the pop element...but not in a calculated way. But unfortuately I think the unexpected MASSIVE success of that record caused them to become paranoid about writing more "hits"...thus Alpha sounds horribly dated and fake in comparison.

However, I just received the reunion concert "Fantasia" from Netflix this evening and it's quite wonderful. They still sound great...I swear Wetton's voice hasn't aged a day. I really liked the acoustic re-arrangment of "Don't Cry" from Alpha (getting rid of that awful pop drum beat from the studio album). It was also great fun hearing them run through tracks like Roundabout (Yes), Fanfare For The Common Man (ELP), In The Court Of The Crimson King (KC) and even Video Killed The Radio Star (Buggles).

I think I'll have to pick up Phoenix now....