Asia (Official Thread)

Zombeels

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Re: Asia

When the album first came out I loved it but now I find it very dated and overblown. I still enjoy Time Again and Sole Survivor from time to time.
 

METALPRIEST

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Re: Asia

i pretty much agree with LG. i expected more. on paper Asia sounded like it would be a great group but in reality they were just an average band


Here is the ONLY problem that I think ASIA has with some people.

They sound good on record and they are much weaker live. When you think of some of the material and see a live DVD on a store shelf...you're thinking WOW and get it home and it's meh! :heheh:

Now keep in mind I like ASIA ALOT!! I also like Yes,ELP & King Crimson

Now I'm a firm believer that all music has feelings whether it be classical,rock,country or disco :heheh:

I have also talked to prog nuts who put down groups like Cinderella.... or hair band fans that don't seem to get Topographic Oceans.....and I guess that's ok.

But one thing that I don't think either side seems to realize is that it's hard on both sides to do what these artists do. No matter your genre...a real musician will dabble in other forms of music outside of their respective chosen genres (cause it's fun and real musicians are open minded musicians).

That's when you find out the real deal and it has nothing to do with talent,songs or whether it's working or not.

Musician's like Carl Palmer, Steve Howe and John Wetton are pretty damn awesome in the studio.....and all the technical stuff that they are known to play is easy for them.

I think when guys like these branch out into any POP rock style or something more straight forward and "hooky" they just don't have that "ooomph" or that "energy" needed to really pull it off and make it sound believable.

Nothing is ever as easy as it looks. As can be seen here in a PRO DVD.

Look at poor Carl struggling to keep a solid beat...it's rough...Steve Howe is all, "What's a power chord?"

You gotta give these cats credit.



Having said that I think ASIA is a fine band and own alot of their stuff and hope they continue to get together and create new music.

:cheers:
 
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LG

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Re: Asia

^^While I have nothing but the highest respect for your opinions about music MP, I have a little different view of Asia.

When you have the equivalent of a "Supergroup" like this band, and they just didn't seem to produce the quality of work you Know they are capable of and that is why I was a little disappointed. It had nothing to do with a Pop sound on their records, after all they are all from monstrously successful progressive bands so going for a commercial sound or doing just lighthearted rock is fine. I just felt they left so much on the table,,,and they should have hired Alan Parsons to do the engineering/production, that is my technical side talking now...:heheh:

Still as I stated previously they are okay and I do play the compilation disc I have of their best material.
 
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METALPRIEST

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Re: Asia

^^^ Well that is kinda what I was saying.

These cats are used to playing in "all over the place" time signatures ect. As by my video example they appear out of their element and a bit stiff...so kinda like you say ,something missing or empty.

Maybe they just should have used a few tunes and the rest just went nuts with the prog end.

There is a roomy production sound too...but no matter, Palmer is not a heavy hitter or a rythym 4/4 style drummer. He's more light, more percussive...

I hope all this is being worded right...because I like ASIA alot and the collective members seperately. :grinthumb
 

LG

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Re: Asia

I am a big fan of the whole band, individually MP, and I get what you are saying.

I don't mind the "Roomy" sound, the debut sounded thin, they could have kept the mid-highs the same but bolstered the lower register that would have made a Huge difference to me anyway.

The songs themselves were decent, if they stretched out a bit that would have been cool too, but as we know musicians are a capricious bunch and love to changes things around to keep from getting stale.;)
 

That 70s Guy

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Re: Asia

Be careful if you do. As of 2008, there are two distinct groups using the Asia name: a reunion of the band's original line-up performing as Asia, and Asia Featuring John Payne featuring three members from later incarnations of Asia.

I hate when that happens.
 

METALPRIEST

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Re: Asia

I am a big fan of the whole band, individually MP, and I get what you are saying.

I don't mind the "Roomy" sound, the debut sounded thin, they could have kept the mid-highs the same but bolstered the lower register that would have made a Huge difference to me anyway.

The songs themselves were decent, if they stretched out a bit that would have been cool too, but as we know musicians are a capricious bunch and love to changes things around to keep from getting stale.;)

:grinthumb I see what you're sayin'

:cheers:
 

Sweaty

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Re: Asia

I agree with LG at the moment I like listening to them but don't get fully inspired by them, thought they were good live last year then again they did a bit of ELP. I would expect more progressive stuff from them.
 

JakeMM626

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Re: Asia

I am probably the biggest fan of Asia ever. They will always be the first band I ever truly obsessed about. It all started with finding the album "Alpha" and being mesmerized by Roger Dean's landscape. I learned to love the band from the first time I listened to the album and recieved for my 12th birthday, the newly released 20th anniversary Asia Anthologia. All 36 songs featuring John Wetton on lead vocals 1982-1990. I listened to every song everyday after school and learned every word to every song. I finally got my first chance to see Asia when they reunited for their 25th Anniversary tour (Just before Phoenix was released). I was probably the youngest kid in the crowd let alone the youngest person who knew every word to every song haha. I listen to them on occasion nowadays. When the mood strikes. I have since seen them 3 times and I gotta say their live abilities are fading... It's a little disappointing, but I still love the band just the same. I never really looked too far into the John Payne band but I do have Aqua on my computer and it's pretty good. It also features Steve Howe on Guitar and I think Palmer on drums. The only one to stay with Asia through and through was good ole' Geoff Downes.

Great band, my guilty pleasure. Asia rocks forever...

"We Tried Everything..."
 

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