Asia - Phoenix
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Free Music Notes for Phoenix
Free Music Review: Asia's Original Lineup Returns, With A New "Seize The Day" Message
Hit: 5 Stars
PHOENIX, the first album by the original lineup of the 80s supergroup Asia in 25 years, is a powerful piece of work intertwining love ballads that are excellent nonprescription tranquilizers with rockers that convey a message of "Carpe Diem", or "Seize the Day", which was a mantra that I used to look good for some young women I knew in Connecticut during the 90s. Some of the lyrics were exactly the same as I worded my promises to these girls, so the album has a familiar feel to it. The opening track, "Never Again" could alternately be interpreted as someone swearing or affirming that they'll never nominate someone they call a friend for a show such as WHAT NOT TO WEAR and as someone saying they want to move on from their past altogether, the latter theme present through many of the songs here, which was, for me, why I chose to skip my old school's food-related reunions after 1994 to look good for the girls I was close with in Connecticut, and later to look good for my favorite actresses. Overall, this is a great, deeply-felt album from one of the best bands to come out of the 80s, and the band members' opposition to Indonesia's trumped-up 2005 drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist makes PHOENIX an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.Free Music Review: Impressive Comeback
Hit: 5 Stars
The beauty of this "reunion" album is the fact that they don't try and create another album that is just like their debut. They wrote and played songs in the style which fits them today. There aren't alot of rockers on this, but a great mix of adult comtemporary songs. Great song writing adn great lryics all the way through. What one must get past it that ASIA isn't a progressive rock band, and I don't think they ever were. People complain because of the history of the members, they want them to write Close To the Edge, or Starless. It's been pretty consistent what these guys do, when they perform together and this album doesn't deviate from that. Songs played extremly well, and Wetton's voice never has sounded better, which is quite amazing considering what he's been through and you hear what Jon Anderson and Greg Lake sound like today. And Steve Howe's guitar playing clearly was what was missing on Astra, it's evident here.
I am a fan of Payne era Asia, and I'm thankful for it as it kept the ASIA flame burning somewhat, but i think it's clear that with this release, on top of the other 2 (Asia and Alpha) that there is no comparison.
Free Music Review: At Last, The Original Asia Is Finally Back
Hit: 5 Stars
After a 25-year hiatus, the original Asia line-up of John Wetton (bass), Carl Palmer (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), and Steve Howe (guitars) has finally re-formed and their new album "Phoenix" features the same classic Asia sound that made them so popular years ago. There have been several incarnations of Asia in past years, most recently including Geoff Downes and John Payne, but none of these psuedo-line-ups could match the musical ability of the original foursome.
This CD is loaded with songs containing the trademark Asia sound. Carl Palmer can still bang drums with the best of them, and John Wetton still sounds good on lead vocals. Songs like "Never Again" and "An Extraordinary Life" bring back memories of twenty-five years ago.
I've been a loyal Asia fan for many years, and I bought some of the CDs that didn't include the original line-up. Needless to say, they weren't as good. I kept hoping for a reunion of the original members, and "Phoenix" was definitely worth the wait. If you're a fan of the original Asia, then make sure to listen to Phoenix. The band still sounds as good today as they did 25 years ago.
Free Music Review: not bad for a bunch of old guys
Hit: 5 Stars
I swear this album could have been released in 1984 as the follow up to Alpha with that same great sound and wonderful production. Not bad for a bunch of old guys.
Highlights:
Never Again (an uplifting rockin' anthem)
Nothing's Forever (a melodic optimistic track)
Heroine (a powerful ballad)
Sleeping/No Way Back/Reprise (indescribable gem)
Alibis (brilliant pop)
Shadow of a Doubt (beautiful up tempo song)
Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Deya (stunning, best track on the album)
Wish I'd Known All Along (Howe's finest track)
An Extraordinary Life (a very convincing closer)
Thank you Wetton, Downes, Palmer & Howe for a highly seasoned and memorable disc. I'm sure if more modern albums were this convincing, the record (CD) industry would still be flourishing.
One of the best Asia albums in their entire career.
4 stars (I rated this item as 5 stars, because too many idiots were rating it low, because it wasn't prog-rock enough; even though Asia has never been prog-rock.)
Free Music Review: From the ashes they did arise
Hit: 5 Stars
What seemed to be an impossible dream finally came true in 2006 when all four original members of Asia reunited on stage. Two years later, the band presents their long overdue follow-up to 1983's ALPHA, and it seems they haven't missed a beat. This album has all the hallmarks of the classic band, with the more introspective lyricism of Wetton's recent solo and ICON outings. Three songs date to the eighties, letting the band wrap up some unfinished business: "Déyà," "Over and Over," and "Alibis" (previously known as "Jodie"). Furthermore, the verses on "No Way Back" sound strikingly like those from the Wetton/Downes tune, "Walking On Air," now attached to a catchier chorus. After the success of the Wetton/Downes ICON albums which helped pave the way for the full reunion, I was pleased to find that two of the most captivating songs were those written by Steve Howe. Surprisingly, one of the more haunting tunes, "Orchard of Mines," is a cover of a song from "Epicon" by Globus, and it is perfectly suited to John Wetton's voice. This is a mature album from a classic band; it almost makes me believe I've found myself in '82 again.