PHOENIX

When this album first came out, I was very disappointed. The original line-up was back, but for me, they failed to capture that prog-lite sound of the initial first releases. It was heavily (and admittedly) dominated by Wetton and Downes led songs with very little input from Howe, and Palmer seemed to fade into the background as just another session drummer. Had I reviewed this when it was first released, a 1 star, maybe 2 is where I was at. With the release of Gravitas, I've dusted off all my original Asia discs and listened to them a number of times. Phoenix has come out of the pack of last four albums as a bit of a leader. I am hearing more of that keyboard led sound that I missed initially having compared it to the first Asia release of 1982, Downes shines on Phoenix. To the newer releases Phoenix is the one I would lean toward and enjoy the most. I will always support these leaders and musicians of the prog world, live concerts are still amazing and I will be stuck in the 80's with my favorite Asia releases. Phoenix gets a bump up on the enjoyment chart and I won't be afraid to listen to it in the future.