GTR

Some reviewers were expecting an old-school Yes or Genesis album because of the people involved here. Any such expectations were however obviously misdirected; this album was released in 1986, about the same time as Genesis' Invisible Touch and Yes' Big Generator. I think this album is very much better than those albums.

Many tend to compare GTR to Asia, probably because Steve Howe was in Asia just before he formed GTR with Steve Hackett, and also because the album was produced by another member of Asia, Geoff Downes. Downes also wrote one of the songs here, The Hunter. However, I don't think that it is a good comparison at all, since Asia and GTR are quite different bands. But let's go on with it anyway and compare these two bands. I think GTR is much better than Asia.

The guitar work on this album by two of my all time favourite guitarists is outstanding. A lot more varied and interesting than on the Asia albums. Both Steves play a lot of acoustic guitars in addition to the electric ones. And both of them also play keyboards! Max Bacon is a very good vocalist with a distinctive voice (and to go along with the Asia comparison) I much prefer him to John Wetton. The GTR album is also much more varied than the Asia albums. Both Howe and Hackett have their own instrumentals here and the there is a well balanced mix between slower and faster material. Even the lyrics are far better than Asia's in my opinion.

The GTR album is also much more progressive and harder rocking than any of the Asia albums. In fact, much of this album is complex hard rock rather than the 80's style pop/rock of Asia.

The are only two things that I can think of speaking in favour of Asia in this comparison. The first is the band name and the second is the cover art. GTR is a really bad band name and the album should have had a Roger Dean cover!

In my opinion at least this album is a lot better than any of the albums by Asia, or anything either Yes or Genesis did during the 80's. I also think this album ranks among the best work either Steve Howe or Steve Hackett ever did outside of Yes and Genesis.

This album is highly recommended for all prog fans and for fans of either Steve Howe or Steve Hackett this album is essential listening.