ARIA

This is where Asia kinda loses me... Yes, THIS is where they kinda lose me... Hey, Don't make that smirky face at me! I realize that Asia stopped breaking (any semblance of) new ground after their debut-- but at least I still felt that their studio albums continued to be fairly entertaining in a pseudo-proggy sort of way... up 'til this one anyway.

This album is a collection of Hard Rock/ borderline turn-of-the-decade Hair Band stuff... and it has little connection to the Wetton/Howe/Palmer 80's ASIA that we (well, some of us) knew and loved... Granted, the first song and the last song do kinda sorta imply an itsy-bitsy connection -- but that's it!

In conclusion: This doesn't really resemble the Asia of old... and it certainly wouldn't get within a sniffing distance of this (or any other prog-related) website if it wasn't for the name on the sleeve... However, it's a bit enjoyable if you have a soft spot for 80s AOR or Hair Rock.

PS: Their next album ARENA is really good in places.

1 star on the Prog-o-meter

2 stars on the Personal-Taste-meter

2 stars overall