Asia - Classic Prog Supergroup

Trollheart · 06-26-2012, 07:03 PM

Just got it guys: will be reviewing in a few days, once I've taken it all in!

Unknown Soldier · 06-27-2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Just got it guys: will be reviewing in a few days, once I've taken it all in!

I doubt they'll be too much to take in, it'll probably just be a cut and paste job from the glory days of the 1980s. Nice album cover though.

Trollheart · 06-27-2012, 04:47 AM

Why do you say that? Did you not enjoy "Phoenix" and "Omega"? I wasn't too taken with "Silent nation", to be sure, but I thought both the albums that followed were strong and a real return to form.

Howard the Duck · 06-27-2012, 06:35 AM

i'm not too taken in at all by any of their albums

the singles were great, though

Trollheart · 06-27-2012, 09:37 AM

On first listen I'm a little underwhelmed. Seems quite generic, nothing stands out and there's no big epic number like "Sleeping giant" from "Phoenix". Still, it's only the first listen, so maybe it'll grow on me by the time I review it.

Anteater · 06-27-2012, 09:44 AM

Yeah, even I'm a bit surprised at how pedestrian XXX really is. On top of that, they even lifted the hook from 'Don't Fear The Reaper' for the track 'No Religion', lol!

Also, I'm probably in the minority here, but I really miss the John Payne era.

Trollheart · 06-27-2012, 12:31 PM

It's not only that: I see hooks from other songs --- some theirs, some not --- used in many of the tracks. The piano, for instance, in I think "Faithful"? (Not totally sure, will check) sounds very like the basic melody of "The last time" from Aura. And I also prefer Payne; he had more heart in his voice, if that's not a mixed metaphor...

For an album celebrating thirty years of a band's achievement (which I assume the title refers to) I find it, at the moment, something of a let-down and a bit of a damp squib. "Judas" in particular disappointed me: talk about generic!

Maybe I'll warm to it. Maybe not. But you shouldn't have to even do that with an Asia album, and I haven't, up to now.

Time to call it a day?

Trollheart · 06-27-2012, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Yeah, even I'm a bit surprised at how pedestrian XXX really is. On top of that, they even lifted the hook from 'Don't Fear The Reaper' for the track 'No Religion', lol!

Oh man yeah! I only recognised it now that you say it! How completely unoriginal!

Trollheart · 06-28-2012, 10:39 AM

God, the more I listen to this album the more I hate it for not only playing safe, but being boring, boring, boring. What a wimp-out! Expect a pretty savage review in the next day or so...

Musicwhore A-Z · 07-28-2014, 08:00 PM

I have to agree with those who say that Asia is more POP than "prog". Don't get me wrong, they have good songs but they were CLEARLY aiming towards radio with their music, specifically within the American market. The majority of prog rock bands of the 70's couldn't care less about radio, and understandably so.

06-26-2012, 07:03 PM	#41 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	New Asia album out now! Just got it guys: will be reviewing in a few days, once I've taken it all in! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-27-2012, 04:47 AM	#43 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Why do you say that? Did you not enjoy "Phoenix" and "Omega"? I wasn't too taken with "Silent nation", to be sure, but I thought both the albums that followed were strong and a real return to form. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-27-2012, 09:37 AM	#45 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	On first listen I'm a little underwhelmed. Seems quite generic, nothing stands out and there's no big epic number like "Sleeping giant" from "Phoenix". Still, it's only the first listen, so maybe it'll grow on me by the time I review it. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-27-2012, 12:31 PM	#47 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	It's not only that: I see hooks from other songs --- some theirs, some not --- used in many of the tracks. The piano, for instance, in I think "Faithful"? (Not totally sure, will check) sounds very like the basic melody of "The last time" from Aura. And I also prefer Payne; he had more heart in his voice, if that's not a mixed metaphor... For an album celebrating thirty years of a band's achievement (which I assume the title refers to) I find it, at the moment, something of a let-down and a bit of a damp squib. "Judas" in particular disappointed me: talk about generic! Maybe I'll warm to it. Maybe not. But you shouldn't have to even do that with an Asia album, and I haven't, up to now. Time to call it a day? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-28-2012, 10:39 AM	#49 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	God, the more I listen to this album the more I hate it for not only playing safe, but being boring, boring, boring. What a wimp-out! Expect a pretty savage review in the next day or so... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-28-2014, 08:00 PM	#50 (permalink)
Musicwhore A-Z Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 139	I have to agree with those who say that Asia is more POP than "prog". Don't get me wrong, they have good songs but they were CLEARLY aiming towards radio with their music, specifically within the American market. The majority of prog rock bands of the 70's couldn't care less about radio, and understandably so.