ASIA

[lonestar]

I also imagine it's nice to have a break every five minutes during live shows.  When I saw Yes on their Masterworks tour, 5 20+minute songs, one thing I admired was their endurance.

[King Postwhore]

I also imagine it's nice to have a break every five minutes during live shows.  When I saw Yes on their Masterworks tour, 5 20+minute songs, one thing I admired was their endurance.

I was exhausted working 58 hours that week and saw the Masterworks tour and was so tired I was coconuting with my cousin who was falling asleep too.

[ytserush]

It's just my impression, but it's the first thing I thought of.  I remember Steve saying something to the effect that he'd never played power chords in a band before Asia, and it's pretty cool.  I thought about Yes and the type of music they play, and a lot of it is so intricate, so demanding, that it must be kinda cool to play in a band like Asia, with all great musicians but not nearly as technically demanding.

Sure makes a lot of sense.

[LudwigVan]

Had a backyard BBQ this saturday after golfing with my regular 4some.    We're hanging out on the deck swigging beers and smoking cigars, and I decide to put on something nice and mellow.  So I throw on Asia's s/t debut album....  something a bit commercial that they'd recognize and dig, or so I thought.    WTF it was too prog for those guys     They kept on asking me what is this weird music I had on? is it classical or jazz or both? and one of them even tried to turn on his Iphone to drown it out with Chinese pop music        I'm sitting there thinking, well shit... you should be glad I didn't lay on the hard stuff like Tarkus or Larks' Tongue.   

[King Postwhore]

It is funny that line that people find music progressive but to us it only has hints of progression.

BTW, I had a friend at my old job that listened to chinese pop and it sounded like cats killing each other.  I guess it was too progessive for me.

[Orbert]

(C)hinese pop... it sounded like cats killing each other.

I've heard some of that stuff, too.  There's a Chinese restaurant around here that caters to 2nd- and 3rd-generation Chinese, and they play some the of most Godawful music I've ever heard.

Full disclosure: I'm 3G myself, but unfortunately I know the difference between authentic Chinese food and Chinese food prepared for American taste buds; and whoever decided that traditional Chinese (quarter-tone) music would sound good with Western-style backbeats, guitars, and synths needs a good ass-whooping.

[ytserush]

(C)hinese pop... it sounded like cats killing each other.

I've heard some of that stuff, too.  There's a Chinese restaurant around here that caters to 2nd- and 3rd-generation Chinese, and they play some the of most Godawful music I've ever heard.

Full disclosure: I'm 3G myself, but unfortunately I know the difference between authentic Chinese food and Chinese food prepared for American taste buds; and whoever decided that traditional Chinese (quarter-tone) music would sound good with Western-style backbeats, guitars, and synths needs a good ass-whooping.

Why must everything be prepared for American taste buds anyway? Can't it just be accepted as it is?




Back on topic, I put on the Asia Enso Kai disc on yesterday for the first time after watching the Asia In Asia video from 1983 with Greg Lake and realized that it was much more exciting to watch (I guess since it WAS MTV afterall) than it was to listen. 

I always enjoyed listening to this disc but I guess now after having watched it, it's doesn't seem as fun to listen to anymore. It's still fun to hear, but I'd never seen this when it was first broadcast and thought it was pretty cool. (Maybe video DID kill the radio star in this case).

[King Postwhore]

I have my original VCR tape of this from MTV plus a pro shot.  What turnover with band members like Yes.

[ytserush]

Listened to Astra yesterday and I never noticed the huge Alan Parsons Project influence in some of After The War.

[King Postwhore]

Listened to Astra yesterday and I never noticed the huge Alan Parsons Project influence in some of After The War.

It's been a while since I listened to it.  It's on my I-pod so I'll give it a spin.

[LudwigVan]

Any opinions on the new Asia album XXX? 

[The Letter M]

Any opinions on the new Asia album XXX?

I listened to it a couple of times about a month ago. It's pretty good, and up to par with the other original-line-up albums they've put out over the last few years. Good songs with some good musicianship, but nothing as excitingly memorable as the first album, as much as they try to be. I think I liked XXX more than the previous two, though, but then again, I only gave those albums a few listens too.

-Marc.

[Jaq]

Unlike a lot of prog people, I have nothing but love for the first Asia album. It managed to be a solid arena rock album while also maintaining enough technical prowess that, if a prog fan gave the album a chance, would impress a listener. To me the only way you can say that there isn't prog on it is that your definition of prog is all side long epics and nothing under 10 minutes long. I wish the band hadn't made some of the choices they made-the really interesting songs, like Without You, were Wetton/Howe songs, but the label insisted on focusing on the Wetton/Downes writing team for the second album, where a lot of the criticisms of the first album are actually fair to say. The first album is a perfect dose of, for want of a better term, commercial prog, and is better than a lot of people give it credit for just because there's a few pop-rock songs.

[Nel]

Any opinions on the new Asia album XXX?

I thought they were on a pretty damn good streak with Silent Nation, Phoenix, and Omega. I really liked Omega. XXX is just kind of... there. It's not bad, and I think "Tomorrow The World" is a great opener. Rest hasn't really done much for me though.

Did they ever give Americana a release date? That's the next one featuring John Payne as the lead singer, It'd be interesting to see how it stacks up to the current output with Wetton.

[ytserush]

Any opinions on the new Asia album XXX?

Haven't gotten around to it yet.....Hopefully soon.

[Nekov]

I've only listened to their first album and a couple of songs from the second one. Saw them live once and they blew my mind away, specially when they played Fanfare for the Common man by ELP. I sincerely did not think Jeff Downes could pull that one up but boy, he was just fantastic.

[KevShmev]

Unlike a lot of prog people, I have nothing but love for the first Asia album. It managed to be a solid arena rock album while also maintaining enough technical prowess that, if a prog fan gave the album a chance, would impress a listener. To me the only way you can say that there isn't prog on it is that your definition of prog is all side long epics and nothing under 10 minutes long. I wish the band hadn't made some of the choices they made-the really interesting songs, like Without You, were Wetton/Howe songs, but the label insisted on focusing on the Wetton/Downes writing team for the second album, where a lot of the criticisms of the first album are actually fair to say. The first album is a perfect dose of, for want of a better term, commercial prog, and is better than a lot of people give it credit for just because there's a few pop-rock songs.

Could not agree more.  I always chuckle when progheads bash it, because you know, given the players involved, they are just pissed that they didn't go all-out with the crazy prog.

[ytserush]

I've only listened to their first album and a couple of songs from the second one. Saw them live once and they blew my mind away, specially when they played Fanfare for the Common man by ELP. I sincerely did not think Jeff Downes could pull that one up but boy, he was just fantastic.

If you think Asia does that well -- and they do -- you need to listen to Emerson, Lake and Palmer do it. 

Hell, even the Carl Palmer Band does amazing things with it.

[Orbert]

Unlike a lot of prog people, I have nothing but love for the first Asia album. It managed to be a solid arena rock album while also maintaining enough technical prowess that, if a prog fan gave the album a chance, would impress a listener. To me the only way you can say that there isn't prog on it is that your definition of prog is all side long epics and nothing under 10 minutes long. I wish the band hadn't made some of the choices they made-the really interesting songs, like Without You, were Wetton/Howe songs, but the label insisted on focusing on the Wetton/Downes writing team for the second album, where a lot of the criticisms of the first album are actually fair to say. The first album is a perfect dose of, for want of a better term, commercial prog, and is better than a lot of people give it credit for just because there's a few pop-rock songs.

Could not agree more.  I always chuckle when progheads bash it, because you know, given the players involved, they are just pissed that they didn't go all-out with the crazy prog.

You don't think it could possibly be because the music is pretty boring?  John Wetton's voice is interesting for about two songs, then they literally all start sounding the same because he sings them all the same way.  And he sings all the songs.  The songs themselves are well-arranged and well-produced, but just don't have much going on.  It's not because they're not prog.  It's that there's really not much that's remarkable about it.  Verse, verse, break, verse.  Asia overall is pretty boring stuff.  I don't hate them or anything, there's just a lot better music to listen to if you feel like listening to pop.

[Nekov]

I've only listened to their first album and a couple of songs from the second one. Saw them live once and they blew my mind away, specially when they played Fanfare for the Common man by ELP. I sincerely did not think Jeff Downes could pull that one up but boy, he was just fantastic.

If you think Asia does that well -- and they do -- you need to listen to Emerson, Lake and Palmer do it. 

Hell, even the Carl Palmer Band does amazing things with it.

Obviously the ELP version is the best. I fell in love with that song thanks to them. As far as the Carl Palmer Band, I saw them live but wasn't really fond of all the keyboard parts being played in guitar.

[ytserush]

I've only listened to their first album and a couple of songs from the second one. Saw them live once and they blew my mind away, specially when they played Fanfare for the Common man by ELP. I sincerely did not think Jeff Downes could pull that one up but boy, he was just fantastic.

If you think Asia does that well -- and they do -- you need to listen to Emerson, Lake and Palmer do it. 

Hell, even the Carl Palmer Band does amazing things with it.

Obviously the ELP version is the best. I fell in love with that song thanks to them. As far as the Carl Palmer Band, I saw them live but wasn't really fond of all the keyboard parts being played in guitar.

I love the keyboard parts on guitar though I'll admit it's a little different interpretation. 

[KevShmev]

Unlike a lot of prog people, I have nothing but love for the first Asia album. It managed to be a solid arena rock album while also maintaining enough technical prowess that, if a prog fan gave the album a chance, would impress a listener. To me the only way you can say that there isn't prog on it is that your definition of prog is all side long epics and nothing under 10 minutes long. I wish the band hadn't made some of the choices they made-the really interesting songs, like Without You, were Wetton/Howe songs, but the label insisted on focusing on the Wetton/Downes writing team for the second album, where a lot of the criticisms of the first album are actually fair to say. The first album is a perfect dose of, for want of a better term, commercial prog, and is better than a lot of people give it credit for just because there's a few pop-rock songs.

Could not agree more.  I always chuckle when progheads bash it, because you know, given the players involved, they are just pissed that they didn't go all-out with the crazy prog.

You don't think it could possibly be because the music is pretty boring?  John Wetton's voice is interesting for about two songs, then they literally all start sounding the same because he sings them all the same way.  And he sings all the songs.  The songs themselves are well-arranged and well-produced, but just don't have much going on.  It's not because they're not prog.  It's that there's really not much that's remarkable about it.  Verse, verse, break, verse.  Asia overall is pretty boring stuff.  I don't hate them or anything, there's just a lot better music to listen to if you feel like listening to pop.

Anything is possible I suppose, but it just seems like anyone over the years who has identified themselves as a huge prog fan who bashes Asia always has to throw in the "why didn't these guys do prog?" line, or something to that effect.  Sure, there is better pop out there, but to me, it is like the cousin of Yes' 90125; they are both early 80s excellent pop rock records.  But that's me.

[Pols Voice]

The over-the-top 80s production of the debut album drags it down for me. The drums sound like they're being played in an empty warehouse. I like a lot of straightforward music, but Asia never really clicked, although they have some okay songs.

[Orbert]

I do prefer prog, and the first album was definitely a letdown considering the players involved and the songs they ended up making.  But I've always liked good pop and I'll admit it when a song is good or catchy or whatever, and I just don't find Asia to be that interesting.  As I said, it sounds great, the playing is top-notch, but overall the songs just don't do much for me, and John Wetton's voice... well, you either like it or you don't.  I thought his work with King Crimson was amazing; the Wetton-Bruford band was my favorite lineup of King Crimson.  He was even okay in U.K., but you could feel that pop streak screaming to get loose, and it finally did in Asia, and for me it just ruins everything.  It's not that it's not prog; it's just not very good pop.

[ytserush]

I do prefer prog, and the first album was definitely a letdown considering the players involved and the songs they ended up making.  But I've always liked good pop and I'll admit it when a song is good or catchy or whatever, and I just don't find Asia to be that interesting.  As I said, it sounds great, the playing is top-notch, but overall the songs just don't do much for me, and John Wetton's voice... well, you either like it or you don't.  I thought his work with King Crimson was amazing; the Wetton-Bruford band was my favorite lineup of King Crimson.  He was even okay in U.K., but you could feel that pop streak screaming to get loose, and it finally did in Asia, and for me it just ruins everything.  It's not that it's not prog; it's just not very good pop.

I never really saw Asia or even Yes from that period as pop. There was always an economy of musicianship that was laden with some hooks. I do like Wetton's voice, which I guess may be why I listen to those first three Asia records and the live recrdoings from that era and 1990 a lot more than I probably should. I was just an an impressionable age where that was more than most of the new stuff on the radio at that time. I always thought that the lryics were above average too, which is not to say they are anywhere near genius.