Asia - a four letter word?

[tobytanzer]

I know there are some Asia haters and some fans here, but I don't apologize for any of my opinions about Asia...to either group.

Pat and I saw Asia last Saturday night at Casino Rama. Let me first say that we are not and never have been fans of Asia, but I also don't hate them. I was very dissappointed in their music when their early albums came out, because I expected progressive rock from these guys.

So why did we go when I could have stayed home and caught Tom's show?
1. The venue is close to me.
2. The venue has a few good restaurants.
3. Carl Palmer and Steve Howe were playing.
4. Hoped for some ELP, Yes, or KC tunes
5. I felt an obligation to support these guys, who have given me so many great musical memories, although not with Asia.
6. I hoped the music would improve with age, in my ears.

As to the music... My low expectations were fully met. I still think Asia was thrown together as a blatant attempt to make money. It was manufactured to appeal to a wide (ie pop) audience. There was no passion or emotion I could detect. The songs were all in 4/4 time, Wetton's voice is good but only within a 5 note range. The chord progressions are the same 3 or 4 chords repeated endlessly. The lyrics are insipid.

There were a few decent solos by Howe that were always cut short after a few bars. Nothing inspiring from Wetton's bass or Downes keys.

That's the negative side. On the positive side there was an extended solo by Howe on acoustic guitar. The medley of Mood for a Day and Valley of the Rocks was the high point of the show for me. He still has it.
The other high point was THE Palmer drum solo. The one from ELP's Tank... the same solo he's made a career out of. Still great but not new. And not Asia. There were some ok tracks from their latest album Omega, but it sounded just like the early albums.....


When we awoke after the encore thankfully the drive home was short, and we did enjoy the meal.

[mariocc]

Hola Toby..I saw ASIA 2007 here in Santiago, it was very good show, very good set lists and with many of the items you say. My point is try to see and listen always good musicians and with special interest in those like Asia members, with a inextinguishable musical background
ASIA will play here next May 20, same tour date for Ian Anderson...hard to choose..

[TheFish]

Originally Posted by mariocc

Hola Toby..I saw ASIA 2007 here in Santiago, it was very good show, very good set lists and with many of the items you say. My point is try to see and listen always good musicians and with special interest in those like Asia members, with a inextinguishable musical background
ASIA will play here next May 20, same tour date for Ian Anderson...hard to choose..

Ian Anderson buddy!


Asia is just... well... Asia

I hear you too Toby. The only reason I saw then 3 years ago was because they played the first album start to finish. And it didn't knock my socks off either.

[mariocc]

hola Fish..I ve seen JTull 3 times and this will be an Ian Anderson solo show,,,,could be interesting..last JT show they played very good versions of their tunes.

[Yesspaz]

If Asia is a four letter word, that word is "Okay." Not "Good." Not "Poop" or related words. Just "Okay." I like the first album okay. I like songs here and there okay. I actually think "Aqua I," "Aqua II," and "Who Will Stop the Rain?" from the album Aqua are great tunes, but the rest of the album sucks like a Hoover.

Yes, they're pop-rock on their singles, but they're prog-pop-rock. Their non-singles aren't really pop at all.

I know Jim disagrees with me totally, but I think the better of their material should be on AM.

Still, I'm not putting them in the top 50 prog bands or anything.

[Simman]

I just saw ASIA last night in Montreal, and although I'm a diehard fan of their music, I admit that it's not prog and it's also not classic rock music. I just told people around, who would listen, that we love ASIA for their PEDIGREE, who the are and where they came from (prior to forming ASIA) Although their music isn't classic, it's enjoyable. But just watching these four on stage together is simply spectacular. You can't help but want to listen to ASIA just for that. I thoroughly loved the show and feel my music life is now complete.

[emperorken]

Asia is a group of great musicians who have combined to play slightly better-than-average pop music. Perhaps it was their intent, but a gross underachievement in my book.

[Mike413]

I first heard them in 1982 at the age of 12. I didn't buy their albums(the first few)until a few years later. As you might imagine I'm a bit more tolerant of their music than those who were already into the prog bands of the member's earlier groups. Of course I still prefer Yes, ELP, KC etc to Asia but I accept the music for what it is which to me would be good proggy pop/ aor pop rock. I saw them once about six years ago and that was good enough for me. It was a very good show but I won't lose any sleep if I don't see them again. I still have a soft spot for the first few albums but they don't hold a candle to the parent bands.