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octopus-4

Special Collaborator

RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams

Joined: October 31 2006
Location: Italy
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Points: 14212

Posted: May 13 2013 at 01:53

I like it as much as GTR LOL

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

richardh

Prog Reviewer

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28404

Posted: May 13 2013 at 01:36

I loved that debut when it came out. Carl Palmer's drumming was as powerful as it had been for years. He obviously relished the chance to use twin bass drums for the first time and it shows on Sole Survivor which as mentioned is one of the best tracks on the album. Howe is also on top form and shows the rockier side of his repertoire. Wetton is probably the most impressive. Love the bass and vocals. I would rate this as one of the best AOR albums but it does have some nice prog touches. Geoff Downes beautifull keyboard peice at the end of Cutting It Fine is one of those moments and Palmer struts his stuff impressively on Wildest Dreams. The production and artwork are also things I really like about this package.

So has it stood the test of time? I think so as long as you don't try to rate or regard it as a prog album. The band have always made it clear that this was a project that was meant to be outside of prog yet people erroneously still want to view them as a prog band. It was never meant to be a 'prog supergroup'.

Later albums? Well Alpha was a big let down. A few good songs but it was a lot less appealing than the debut. Howe and Wetton were apparently at odds with each other and Wetton decided to leave. A press announcement was made that Greg Lake was the replacement ( very ironic if you know your prog history) and was to play in the up coming world wide live broadcast (later released on VHS as Asia in Asia). Clearly Lake was very uncomfortable singing Wetton's parts and the management asked Wetton to return which in turn resulted in Howe leaving to be replaced by Mandy Meyer. The resulting album Astra was barely any improvement on Alpha , more standard issue AOR.

After that my knowledge of the band is sketchy. Eventually Palmer rejoined ELP , Wetton left to concentrate on his solo career and Geoff Downes was left holding the baby along with John Paynes. I know there are some that rate this era as better than with the 'classic' line up. I have heard one album and it was very respectable but I gave it away to my boss who is more into this stuff. Basically a heavier sounding version of Asia.

Of course the original line up got back together around 2005. I went to see them at Shepherds Bush Empire and the place was packed out. Great gig and the played all of the debut album. Since then they released 3 albums all respectable and listenable in my opinion. Howe has of course recently departed and we await to see what impact that will have..

Edited by richardh - May 13 2013 at 01:39

Tom Ozric

Prog Reviewer

Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
Status: Offline
Points: 15926

Posted: May 13 2013 at 01:27

Like many others, I quite like the debut of this 'Supergroup', after that, it's all down hill .

King Crimson776 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: October 12 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2779

Posted: May 12 2013 at 21:33

Good driving music.

The reunion album, Pheonix, has some good moments. The best being "Parallel Worlds", probably the most prog thing they've done.

HolyMoly

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Retired Admin

Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
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Points: 26138

Posted: May 12 2013 at 18:54

I was like 13 when that debut album came out, and I was probably the ideal target audience for such an album. I thought it was great. I still enjoy it from time to time, either as an "80s nostalgia" piece or just a nice album from my youth, like 90125. The followup "Alpha" was pretty good too.

My other avatar is a Porsche

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.

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cstack3

Forum Senior Member

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Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
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Points: 7326

Posted: May 12 2013 at 18:07

Stool Man wrote:

Yesterday in a secondhand record shop I found the first Asia LP for £1. I'd never heard anything by this band, but I know the band members are mostly very talented etc etc so I got it.

It's blimmin' awful!

Might get more than £1 on ebay for it though, as it's in good condition and there's an insert with it.

Any fans of this record or this band wish to persuade me of its merits?

Hah! I remember its debut very well, they created quite a buzz! I don't like it much, except for one song, "Sole Survivor." That one is a keeper. I did see their first tour & they put on a very good stage show, although Palmer had to use his ridiculous revolving drum set that he used with ELP!! "Cheesy prog"!!

Wetton did very well with Asia, he's possibly the most financially successful of all prog bassists (well, him or Rutherford, but I consider Wetton more of a leader).

Asia has had a rather dizzying lineup, including some fine guitarists like Al Pitrelli! However, I'm not much in favor of such corporate super-groups.

Errrr....am I a fan? Well....I like one song, so.... Clap

Aussie-Byrd-Brother View Drop Down

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Joined: October 12 2011
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Posted: May 12 2013 at 18:02

Stool Man, I'm kind of with Humor4u1959 here, that first album is quite OK, and some of the intros are really cool! But...it is their only bareable album. If you think that first one is too commercial and straightforward, wait until you get to the second one....although that probably won't happen now!

The first one is the only one I can stomach, and there is FAAAAAR too many other bands worth looking into before Asia again...like pretty much ANY other prog related band?!

I'm always very fascinated when prog musicians try to find a balance between prog and commercial, it brings about some interesting results! Asia, of course, tipped way too far one way!

Tapfret

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 12 2007
Location: Bryant, Wa
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Points: 8581

Posted: May 12 2013 at 17:22

Stool Man wrote:

Any fans of this record or this band wish to persuade me of its merits?

I'm in no way a fan of the music, but the cover art is fantastic!

1 Merit!

And holy crap! I just checked their PA page. 11 studio albums?!?!?!? LOL

Edited by Tapfret - May 12 2013 at 17:25

Bandcamp

humor4u1959 View Drop Down

Forum Groupie

Joined: April 02 2013
Status: Offline
Points: 97

Posted: May 12 2013 at 16:54

How could you have not heard anything by Asia? Anyway, I quite like them. They're a pop/prog band, so if you were expecting complex music, I suggest you try U.K. or King Crimson.

The merits of Asia's first album are: great vocals, nice melodies, & interesting keyboard sounds. Remember, it was 1982. So, for what it is and when it came out, it's a solid album. Just my opinion.

Stool Man

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Joined: January 30 2007
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Points: 2689

Posted: May 12 2013 at 16:50

Horizons wrote:

Looks like you bought it in the heat of the moment.

Yeah, I felt like I might need to re-visit my lunch. "Here comes the feeling", I thought. But I kept it down.

rotten hound of the burnie crew

Horizons

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Posted: May 12 2013 at 16:44

Looks like you bought it in the heat of the moment.

Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.

Stool Man

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Joined: January 30 2007
Location: Anti-Cool (anag
Status: Offline
Points: 2689

Posted: May 12 2013 at 16:30

Yesterday in a secondhand record shop I found the first Asia LP for £1. I'd never heard anything by this band, but I know the band members are mostly very talented etc etc so I got it.

It's blimmin' awful!

Might get more than £1 on ebay for it though, as it's in good condition and there's an insert with it.

Any fans of this record or this band wish to persuade me of its merits?

rotten hound of the burnie crew