The Asia Thread

[The Walrus]

Didn't see any results for Asia on the search... shame on you all.

Asia is the butt of a lot of ridicule for reasons I strongly disagree with. These guys - the real Asia, not this John Payne nonsense - made some amazing, heartfelt music. I only got into them about 5 years ago, but I fell in love with the music right away. Alpha helped me get through a really low time in my life. It's very much a winter album to me, in that I appreciate it more when I hear it during the cold months for some strange reason. Simply put, it makes me happy and uplifts me in a way most other albums just aren't capable of.

John Wetton, RIP. He passed on my birthday this year and it took a long time for me to listen to songs like Bury Me In Willow and Ghost of a Chance again without feeling sad. I was really disappointed with Gravitas, but I haven't listened to it since JW passed, and I think it's about time to try listening again. The other comeback albums are fantastic - XXX being the outstanding one. The guitar solo in Ghost of a Chance is my single favorite section of music from these guys and I always have to show it to someone looking for rock with some depth and real heart to it.

[Polarbear]

I could swear that I've seen an Asia Thread here somewhere before! Maybe I'm just remembering it all wrong..

I do love a lot of the stuff that Asia has done, the hits included. Wetton had an amazing voice!

But what is with John Payne fronted Asia being nonsense? Aqua, Arena and Aura are better than any of the reunion era albums imo!

[KevShmev]

Nothing wrong with a new thread especially if the previous one was pretty old. 

Anyway, I am a big fan of the first Asia album.  Just one great song after another. 

I don't go hog wild over the comeback albums, but they did yield some excellent tunes like Holy War and An Extraordinary Life.

[The Walrus]

I searched for an Asia thread for the last couple days and couldn't find anything (search function only came up with passing mentions in Yes threads, and AvantASIA threads, of course). So regardless, sounds like a good time for a new thread

@Polarbear: I was excited to get into the Payne albums, but oh man, I do not like *any* of them. I thought it was a fluke when I bought Aria and was disappointed with it, but all of them, they do nothing for me. Totally different band completely unworthy of the Asia moniker compared with the first two albums and the 'comeback' ones with the old lineup. The 'true' albums as I call them all invoke an emotional response in me. The only feelings I get from Payne's are disappointment and boredom.

[Podaar]

Here's the old thread. https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=22401.msg856731#msg856731

[KevShmev]

@Polarbear: I was excited to get into the Payne albums, but oh man, I do not like *any* of them. I thought it was a fluke when I bought Aria and was disappointed with it, but all of them, they do nothing for me. Totally different band completely unworthy of the Asia moniker compared with the first two albums and the 'comeback' ones with the old lineup. The 'true' albums as I call them all invoke an emotional response in me. The only feelings I get from Payne's are disappointment and boredom.

I hear that.  I don't remember anything from the albums without Wetton being memorable at all, although I admittedly didn't give them many listens.

[The Letter M]

The seven albums with Wetton are pretty good, though the first three over the latter four, obviously, but there are some gems on those last four.

The Payne albums are obviously going to be different, but there's still some good tracks here and there. I'll throw them on if I just want some good rock in the background, but I'll agree, if I want to be moved, I'll throw on Asia or Alpha, or even Astra. Those three albums rank as one of my favorite First-Three-Runs of any band.

-Marc.

[Polarbear]

@Polarbear: I was excited to get into the Payne albums, but oh man, I do not like *any* of them. I thought it was a fluke when I bought Aria and was disappointed with it, but all of them, they do nothing for me. Totally different band completely unworthy of the Asia moniker compared with the first two albums and the 'comeback' ones with the old lineup. The 'true' albums as I call them all invoke an emotional response in me. The only feelings I get from Payne's are disappointment and boredom.

I hear that.  I don't remember anything from the albums without Wetton being memorable at all, although I admittedly didn't give them many listens.

Try listening to "Who Will Stop the Rain" or "Two Sides of the Moon". I don't remember seeing them in Spotify, but I suppose you could find them in Youtube.

There are admittedly some really bad songs on the Payne albums, but some true gems as well! Like the two I mentioned above..

[Stadler]

I'm totally with Kattoeloxandbagels on this one.   The first Asia album is special to me in so many ways (that don't have to do with music), and is in my top 10 records ever, even though I personally like the music on Alpha better.   I really liked the reformation records (Bury Me In Willow makes me cry, more often than not) and when John Wetton died it was one of the very few musician deaths that actually affected me (not that I don't care, but these are not really people I "know", and I don't project like that often).   

Having said that, I saw the Payne-Asia at Toad's Place (a small 750 seat club in New Haven, CT) on the tour that Howe played with them, and I have to say, it was a joke.   It really was.  He was wearing this stupid hat that looked kind of like Slash, and it was just comical.   Howe gave them a smattering of gravitas (pun intended) but it wasn't the same.  I was lucky enough to see the original Asia - free concert at Mohegan Sun - and it was a world apart.  Even though Howe was clearly phoning it in, it was SO much better, and Wetton's solo spot on "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" was jaw-dropping.  I tried to meet the band after (my buddy is a very VERY senior guy in the tribe) just to tell him that, and wasn't able to, but so be it. 

[The Walrus]

I don't mind Who Will Stop The Rain (it's inoffensive compared to the rest of that album), but it just doesn't sound like Asia to me. That's weird to say, but yeah, I just don't dig John Payne AT ALL. I do like almost all of Asia's album art though.

Like Stadler enjoys Asia's debut for non-musical reasons, I enjoy Alpha for the same. Something about it... Every single time I play it, I think of winter - I think of winter afternoons, right around the 3:00-4:00 PM hour, where the sun is low and orange-yellow and beams through the windows, with a thin layer of snow outside. I don't know why but it comforts me in a way I can't describe. Specifically "My Own Time" and "Last To Know."

[gazinwales]

I rather like the JP era albums, I have all of them and for the most they are pretty consistent in quality.

[BelichickFan]

I do like the debut a lot but I think I'm the only one in existence who likes Alpha more than Asia.  Regarding the Payne era, it's definitely hit and miss but I love Aria, especially the run from "Feels Like Love" to the end.  That is some top quality stuff right there.

[The Walrus]

I do like the debut a lot but I think I'm the only one in existence who likes Alpha more than Asia.  Regarding the Payne era, it's definitely hit and miss but I love Aria, especially the run from "Feels Like Love" to the end.  That is some top quality stuff right there.

Plenty room in that boat, my friend - hop in. It's a far stronger record in every way, I think, except for the production. It's way too quiet and doesn't have much 'oomph' even when cranked to 11, yet the energy is palpable and the melodies stick to the brain like gorilla glue.

[BelichickFan]

I do like the debut a lot but I think I'm the only one in existence who likes Alpha more than Asia.  Regarding the Payne era, it's definitely hit and miss but I love Aria, especially the run from "Feels Like Love" to the end.  That is some top quality stuff right there.

Plenty room in that boat, my friend - hop in. It's a far stronger record in every way, I think, except for the production. It's way too quiet and doesn't have much 'oomph' even when cranked to 11, yet the energy is palpable and the melodies stick to the brain like gorilla glue.

Glad to see I'm not the only one.  Not sure I've ever heard anyone else admit it before.  Partially I love the intensity of the lyrics.  If I ever were to get divorced, I'd play a lot of these tracks at my Divorce Party 

[Stadler]

I do like the debut a lot but I think I'm the only one in existence who likes Alpha more than Asia.  Regarding the Payne era, it's definitely hit and miss but I love Aria, especially the run from "Feels Like Love" to the end.  That is some top quality stuff right there.

Plenty room in that boat, my friend - hop in. It's a far stronger record in every way, I think, except for the production. It's way too quiet and doesn't have much 'oomph' even when cranked to 11, yet the energy is palpable and the melodies stick to the brain like gorilla glue.

Glad to see I'm not the only one.  Not sure I've ever heard anyone else admit it before.  Partially I love the intensity of the lyrics.  If I ever were to get divorced, I'd play a lot of these tracks at my Divorce Party 

No, I'm in there too.  The first has more memories, but I like the music on the second way better.   There's no "Sole Survivor" (my favorite Asia song), but from that point on, everything is solid as a rock.  Like Kattoelocksandkeys says, the melodies... "I was the first one to really know your name; you were the first one for me... you were the first one to ever let me down, and I was just the last to know."    Dammit.  Gives me chills.   "Midnight sun... guiding light!"    I could do this all day.  Or at least ten times.     Actually, 11, since the b-side - Daylight - is just as good as anything on the record. 

[Lowdz]

Asia, Alpha and Astra are great. I’ll throw in Aria from the Payne era, love that one.

[King Postwhore]

I got to see them on the Alpha tour.  They were great live.  Don't make me type who opened for them.

[Orbert]

Here's the old thread. https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=22401.msg856731#msg856731

Wow, it just kinda stopped, over five years ago (yet I remember it like it was only fours years ago).

[Stadler]

I got to see them on the Alpha tour.  They were great live.  Don't make me type who opened for them.

Your killing me, now.   Wang Chung?   (I saw them open for The Cars, and MAN did they suck).

[TAC]

I got to see them on the Alpha tour.  They were great live.  Don't make me type who opened for them.

I'm surprised you typed the headliner.

 

[King Postwhore]

I got to see them on the Alpha tour.  They were great live.  Don't make me type who opened for them.

I'm surprised you typed the headliner.

 

   *Bitch Slap*

I got to see them on the Alpha tour.  They were great live.  Don't make me type who opened for them.

Your killing me, now.   Wang Chung?   (I saw them open for The Cars, and MAN did they suck).

Something to do with a Ferryman........

[TAC]

Bryan Ferry

oh no, I mean Chris DeBurgh.

[T-ski]

the first Asia albums are fantastic, despite the critical despise for them.  Astra was weird, they tried to get a heavier vibe and it seemed a bit disjointed, although I love "Too Late" and "Suspicion".

I tried one of the Payne albums and didn't care for it.  I think I have Archiva as well, probably gave on listen through though.

[KevShmev]

Something to do with a Ferryman........

I was expecting Spandau Ballet.

[King Postwhore]

 

Tim was right.  Chris DeBurgh.  Thankfully, it was before he wrote Lady in Red.

[KevShmev]

[King Postwhore]

Dear God! I forget that movie!

[TAC]

Tim was right.  Chris DeBurgh.  Thankfully, it was before he wrote Lady in Red.

So I hear The Lady In Red quite a bit on my work radio intercom. Now I never really paid attention to it back in the day, nor does it hold any significance to me, but there's something about it that every time I hear it, I am stopped dead in my tracks and just listen. There is no other song that transports me to back to the 80's faster and more effectively than that one.

[ytserush]

Love the first three Asia albums, Asia In Asia, Live In Moscow, Live in Nottingham.



Only Payne album I have is Aura which is mostly because of the guest musicians. Not a fan of what he brings at all.

Also love the reunion albums (and live albums.)

If there are three of the four originals members in Asia I tend to enjoy all of those.
 Less than that and I don't.

[Stadler]

Love the first three Asia albums, Asia In Asia, Live In Moscow, Live in Nottingham.



Only Payne album I have is Aura which is mostly because of the guest musicians. Not a fan of what he brings at all.

Also love the reunion albums (and live albums.)

If there are three of the four originals members in Asia I tend to enjoy all of those.
 Less than that and I don't.

Looking back on this... if it's not the original four, I generally pass.   Yeah, I have a couple songs that are patchwork (the "Then And Now" disk has one of my favorite Asia songs, "Days Like These", which has Steve Lukather on guitar) but if it's not the four, I'm out.   ESPECIALLY Wetton.  His songwriting in Asia is really underrated.   

[KevShmev]

Of the new songs from Then and Now, I like Prayin' 4 a Miracle a lot, too, although Days Like These is certainly the standout.

[ytserush]

Love the first three Asia albums, Asia In Asia, Live In Moscow, Live in Nottingham.



Only Payne album I have is Aura which is mostly because of the guest musicians. Not a fan of what he brings at all.

Also love the reunion albums (and live albums.)

If there are three of the four originals members in Asia I tend to enjoy all of those.
 Less than that and I don't.

Looking back on this... if it's not the original four, I generally pass.   Yeah, I have a couple songs that are patchwork (the "Then And Now" disk has one of my favorite Asia songs, "Days Like These", which has Steve Lukather on guitar) but if it's not the four, I'm out.   ESPECIALLY Wetton.  His songwriting in Asia is really underrated.

The only reason I have those songs on the "Now" side is when I picked up the Anthology set  just before the reunion which covers the pre-Payne years.

Never bought them until then. Those are my least favorite Wetton-Asia songs by far. I know there were label pressures but I don't have clue one as to why these got released.

[The Walrus]

Bump. John Wetton passed one year ago yesterday. RIP...

[ytserush]

Bump. John Wetton passed one year ago yesterday. RIP...

Still remember watching (on you tube) his wife play drums on Heat Of The Moment at the tribute concert. That's going to stay with me a while.