ASIA

In this website, there's so much 5 stars that it kinda doesn't mean anything anymore. 3 stars, is very acceptable. And this record, is acceptable. One day, Mike Rutherford, underrated mastermind of Genesis, said ( in substance): 'People are ingrates. They cannot understand that we can appreciate many types of music. If you deviate from Genesis Gabriel-period, they say that you betray what you done before. Genesis is a sacred cow that must just do what it does. Is it so hard to understand that it is possible to like more than one thing?' Amen my bearded brother. Many groups suffers from prejudice that they MUST do what they did before. Hey, do you listen to the same music over and over again? I hope most of you have more interest in music than prog, because you're missing a lot of good stuff... like ASIA for instance.

Asia was a treat for Palmer, Howe and Wetton. More like a new dessert that you want to try. Why not accepting it? I mean, George Harisson did the Are Chrisna thing, Lennon the Plactic Ono Band and Ringo Starr acted in movies. Does that mean that you forget what the Fab Four done? Plus, Wetton have such a great voice in Heat of the Moment. It's poppy, but it's still a very decent 4 minute song!! More, ask Howe if he wanted to play with Yes all the time. Man, seeing the same people over and over again is unhealthy (I don't know how nerds-super-friends-posses do it). Without the shadow of a doubt, ASIA had a ball recording it. It probably felt good to everyone to try something new, to explore a lighter side of progressive rock. It'a normal to tend to the idea that you won't play Tarkus or Starship Trooper all your damn life. What a bore. Proggers, give those guys a break for doing what they like.