Phoenix

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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 5099921286926
Label: Frontiers Records/EMI America
Manufacturer: Frontiers Records/EMI America
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Frontiers Records/EMI America
Release Date: 2008-04-15
Studio: Frontiers Records/EMI America

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Customer reviews of Phoenix

Customer Rating:

Summary: Melodic and Exceptionally Powerful
Comment: I've been listening to ASIA and offshoots of ASIA since the original Heat of the Moment. I've been a fan of the old and the new ASIA, but certainly have my favorite albums. In all honesty, Phoenix is my very favorite album by ASIA. Yes, the musicians are getting older. But the music of Phoenix has a special, melodic quality that exceeds any of their previous works in my opinion. It is emotional and powerful. Most of the songs are ballads, or at least more mellow than in the past. You can hear the roots of predecessor bands - especially Steve Howe who resembles the Steve Howe from YES. But as far as a reunion album goes by a bunch of old greats, this album is exceptional. If you are looking for emotionally charged music that pricks the soul and elevates the conscience, this is the album.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Great Era Of Music !
Comment: I have been a fan of Asia since the early 80's and have just purchased their new CD Phoenix. I can tell everyone this and it is great to listen to real muscians, not the de sensitised so called music of todays generation of mindless rap crap and its off shoots. I am not saying there is not great muscians today but I don't feel they get to bring forth there talents as muscians of the 70 & 80's.

This new CD from Asia has the sound and sophistacation from these true muscians. This collection purely broght back memories of an age gone past, this age could do much good in its re surgence.

Sit back and indulge yourself in this age less collection. I hope there will be further colaberations from these talented muscians

Customer Rating:

Summary: At Last, The Original Asia Is Finally Back
Comment: 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.

Customer Rating:

Summary: You Will Remember Them!
Comment: This is the classic line-up of Asia - again making great music. I liked very much the albums "Asia" and "Alpha" which were their two first albums. I didn't like "Astra" so much and I think that when the vocalist was changed, that something disappeared. However, "Aria" was still great! This new album starts with maybe their best song ever "Never Again" - it has beautiful great lyrics that you should do your best and not harm your brother or neighbor. "Alibis" is one of the greatest moments too. This sounds very much like old Asia - although they are now much older. "An Extraordinary Life" is an excellent way to finish the album. One of the greatest moments is also the cover song "Orchard of Mine". I didn't like it at first but eventually it grew, and now I like it very much. There's only two tracks I don't like so much: "Nothing's Forever" and "Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise". "Sleeping Giant..." is quite boring. "Shadow of a Doubt" and "Wish I'd Known All Along" are also key tracks in this album. Welcome Back, the original Asia!
Stars: Never Again, An Extraordinary Life, Alibis

Customer Rating:

Summary: They're back...albeit a bit slower and more conservative...
Comment: Two points here first:

1) As a young'un I was a huge fan of the first release "Asia". It's the biggest reason I got into 70's progressive rock and discovered Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Genesis, UK, etc. As much as I loved "Asia" (the album), I admit after discovering the original bands Howe, Wetton, Downes, and Palmer had played in, I realized "Asia" was a watering-down of their musical abilities. There was little in any of the music of "Asia" that taxed their respective talents on a level equal to early Yes, ELP, etc. BUT, there was a feel and energy with the first album that helped negate the complaints of how "de-progged" their music had become. These guys appeared to be enjoying playing together, writing simpler songs, and enjoying the merits of executing them well.

2) For most of the folks pulled into Asia (the band) by their first or second album, the drug-on-too-long, Geoff Downes version wasn't ever really "Asia". And that's the simplest reason why they were so easily "closed down" and replaced with the "original" line-up. John Payne (from the Downes-led, new version of the band) must have felt a bit of sting in the announcement that the original line-up was pre-empting his work and use of the Asia name, but I'm sure lots of other folks (including me) didn't care so much.

So, I'll mostly look at the CD in comparison to the work from the original line-up.

And how is it? Well, as some review mentioned, it's kind of like meeting up again with an old friend. They look familiar and sound familiar, but they've aged a bit, slowed a bit, and mellowed a bit as well. The good news is it DOES sound sort of like the same musicians who made "Asia" (the CD). It just sounds like they're not quite as nimble and sprite. The BAD news (for me, maybe not so many other folks), some of the songs have lame lyrics (not a first for Asia) and are obviously-crafted pop tunes (not a first for Asia either). But, Wetton's voice sounds good, Howe gets in quite a few licks that sound Howe-ish, Downes gets to use some big bold brassy synth patches, and Palmer keeps a steady beat, not unlike his earlier role in Asia.

So the classic Asia elements are there, just in a version diluted a bit from the first Asia album. As well, the music has been arranged and mixed to focus more on Wetton's voice. On the first Asia album Wetton's lead and multi-tracked backing vocals were catchy and clear, but the arrangements let the instruments take prominence as well, and there was better balance between vocals and instruments. On this, the guitar and keys do occasionally come out front, but not as often as I'd like. Unfortunately, a lot of the keyboard and guitar work seems frequently just complimentary background for the vocals. Lastly even the recording, mixing and mastering seems "nicer" and less aggressive than the first CD.

As a side note, it's interesting to see that 2 of the songs were written entirely by Steve Howe (no collaboration). Part of the reason Howe left the band in the early days was he felt the band was getting too commercialized and his music was getting squeezed out for album selection by the more radio-friendly Wetton-Downes tunes. Appropriately, the 2 less trite, less poppy songs on here are the Howe-penned tunes.

So, if you're looking for something with a similar (though not exact) feel to the first couple Asia albums, this definitely delivers. It just doesn't do so with a boatload of energy. As for Asia videos let me recommend the "Live in Tokyo" DVD from the 2007 tour over "Live in Moscow". For a group of geriatric rockers, they pull off quite a nice show.

Editorial Reviews:

Asia’s eponymously titled debut album in 1982 was both ecstatically received and the biggest selling album of the year. It spawned a trio of US top 10 singles in "Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell" and "Sole Survivor." Over the greater part of the 80s, Asia racked up 15 million in global record sales.

Rising from the ashes in 2008, the Multi-Platinum Supergroup Asia returns with "Phoenix," the first new album featuring the original line up in 25 years. With a revered musical pedigree, Geoff Downes (Yes, The Buggles), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP), and John Wetton (King Crimson) have returned to their hit making roots. Featuring the anthemic lead track "Never Again", and the poignant "An Extraordinary Life," Asia’s revived the sound that made them radio staples.

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