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Music : Alpha
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Rating: 
- Alpha Review
I had this DVD before only lost it due to a B&E. It's great to have the music back again. I listen to it almost constantly. I'll probably wear it out. What can I say? I like most of Asia's music.
Rating:
- The smile had left their eyes, but it's a good 2nd effort
Not as focused as the first ASIA. Yet it contains their 2 best songs of their career, Midnight Sun and Open Your Eyes and for those 2 gems it should not be overlooked. The band was breaking up and you can here it in the stale arrangments, but It's still very good 80's pop rock.
Rating:
- Not nearly as good as first album... Some good stuff...
1983 - after a huge 1982 #1 freshman album it was hard to go back in the studio & equally impress a 2nd time. The same line up is here one final time (howe/downes/palmer/wetton) & tensions between wetton & the others, especially howe, were high. It was mostly over wetton's need for musical control as he obviously dominated the arrangements. Some will recall the MTV 1983 special in japan with greg lake (not able to handle wetton's demanding vocal arrangements) taking wetton's spot. Anyway, the same formula remains in Alpha but the tracks arejust not as strong. I liked don't cry just fine & the smile has left your eyes but I think they're both overproduced. I find myself listening to midnight sun & open your eyes as wetton's & downes's performances are both phenomenal. I am a huge wetton fan & he always has very demanding vocal tracks. Howe's guitaring is good but drowned out & muted. palmer is normal palmer with his typical ELP style. I think the ASIA albums would have benefitted from a larger drum set with higher toms & more technical drum fills. Well, that's carl palmer... Downes is doing his normal stuff & uses somes vocoder (which I love) on open your eyes. Overall, good album & the last time until now (2007) that all 4 guys will play together.
Rating: - Underrated but Inconsistent
The critics of "Alpha" commonly state that it is "more of the same" thing that their debut had to offer. For better or for worse, this is only half-true. Asia's debut was compellingly consistent and for the uninitiated, that is the place to start. However, "Alpha" is the first to display the inconsistencies that would plague the rest of the band's career in all of its forms. Don't misunderstand: "Alpha" is hardly unlistenable, and at times it genuinely captures the powerfully bombastic aesthetic of its predecessor, but it also represents the aesthetic and personal rifts that would ultimately force Geoff Downes to redefine Asia as a strictly studio project whose success would ultimately be marginal.
"Alpha" was made at a time when the individual musicianship of the members of the project was allowed to define the sound of the group. At their height, Asia certainly displayed a certain amount of chemistry. At the very least, they had enough individual musicianship to circumvent any notion to the contrary. However, for the listener that is familiar with Asia and has an acute ear, Steve Howe's increasing marginalization on Alpha is perceptible
Howe had been increasingly shut out of the writing process on Alpha for reasons that are still complex and interpersonal. As a result, much of his guitar work feels "added on", and certainly not as integrated as it was on "Asia". His rather "distinctive" style does not seem to work as well under these conditions, and although the parts are technically impressive, the end result is not the best example of his work.
According to all reports, this exclusion came from the Wetton/Downes camp. Seeing where Asia was going with the heavier and increasingly relevant 80s pop-metal guitar sound (as Van Halen and Journey were popularizing) that was later apparent on "Astra" may provide some insight into this rift. In all probability, Wetton/Downes genuinely wanted to recreate the success of "Heat of the Moment", but possibly saw Howe's guitar work as archaic. One might wonder what happened in the alternate universe where Trevor Rabin ended up playing for Asia, who for a short time straddled the fence between prog, pop, and metal. Asia's longevity might have been different and Yes' fan base would not have had to come to terms with Rabin's reinvention of the group. Consider the relative dud "True Colors", which at times sounds remarkably like the winner "Changes" from "91025". I can't help but ponder how Rabin's contribution might have changed the overall sound of the group.
In the end it seems like it is Carl Palmer, who I usually enjoy taking a good poke at for his "unique" sense of time (listen to the band struggle to keep up with him during his drum solo on "Wildest Dreams" on their debut), that really holds "Alpha" together. His playing on "Do What I Want" is a high point and one that I wish Wetton would have similarly reached for in his vocal delivery. While he sounds great, a simple turn of the octave at the right time would allow it to reach the potentially emotional heights of the song.
The aforementioned inconsistencies take the form of a couple of duds on "Alpha". For example, "Eye to Eye" fails to convince, and "Never in a Million Years" sports clichés aplenty. The aforementioned "True Colors" and "Midnight Sun" might sound more comfortable on "Astra" with the more metallic Mandy Meyer on guitar. However, these songs also remind me of more successful tunes like Yes' "Changes", which is where my previous statements about Trevor Rabin come.
However, there are several songs that reach and exceed the expectations that their debut set. "Don't Cry" is probably their most convincing follow-up to "Heat of the Moment". "Last to Know" is a moving prog-pop tune that is texturally related to "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" but that boasts the power of an emotionally bombastic chorus. Wetton sounds great on "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", and while innovations may be relatively sparse, one would be deaf not to hear the lightly tread crossroads between the Beach Boys and ELP on "Open Your Eyes."
The Lowdown: For those of you just tuning in, Asia has had a long and sordid history since the release of this album. However, if you see their debut "Asia" as a classic, then you will most likely at least hold "Alpha" in high regard.
Rating:
- "Arena Rock" II
I've seen "Arena Rock" used quite a bit to describe Asia. Although I don't generally agree with the term, I can certainly see where it comes from. Asia didn't move too far away from its debut release when these tunes were composed. If you liked their first album, you will likely enjoy this one as well.
For a bit more in-depth coverage, I'll say that I don't like Alpha nearly as much as the debut. Perhaps it's because I was hoping for a bit of growth and an effort to reach beyond what they accomplished with "Asia".
There are a few somewhat remarkable tunes on this album, though. I would recommend "Don't Cry" (which everybody has probably heard) and "Eye To Eye". The best tune on this album, though, has got to be "The Heat Goes On". It has that same drive and fantastic guitar work from Steve Howe that wooed me with "Time Again" from the first album.
Unfortunately, a few good songs can't lift this album anywhere above a two-star release. The rest of the songs range from the mediocre (e.g. "The Heat Goes On", "True Colors" and "Open Your Eyes") to the outright painful, such as "My Own Time", "The Last To Know" and "Midnight Sun".
Generally, Steve Howe's presence is much less obvious on this release and is typically replaced with keyboard work from Geoff Downes. The good thing is that Downes is an engaging artist, albeit not nearly as much as Howe.
This album is probably worth getting if you are a big Asia fan. Otherwise, beyond their first album, there is plenty of generic '80s rock to go around. Look elsewhere.
- Alpha ReviewI had this DVD before only lost it due to a B&E. It's great to have the music back again. I listen to it almost constantly. I'll probably wear it out. What can I say? I like most of Asia's music.
Rating:
- The smile had left their eyes, but it's a good 2nd effortNot as focused as the first ASIA. Yet it contains their 2 best songs of their career, Midnight Sun and Open Your Eyes and for those 2 gems it should not be overlooked. The band was breaking up and you can here it in the stale arrangments, but It's still very good 80's pop rock.
Rating:
- Not nearly as good as first album... Some good stuff...1983 - after a huge 1982 #1 freshman album it was hard to go back in the studio & equally impress a 2nd time. The same line up is here one final time (howe/downes/palmer/wetton) & tensions between wetton & the others, especially howe, were high. It was mostly over wetton's need for musical control as he obviously dominated the arrangements. Some will recall the MTV 1983 special in japan with greg lake (not able to handle wetton's demanding vocal arrangements) taking wetton's spot. Anyway, the same formula remains in Alpha but the tracks arejust not as strong. I liked don't cry just fine & the smile has left your eyes but I think they're both overproduced. I find myself listening to midnight sun & open your eyes as wetton's & downes's performances are both phenomenal. I am a huge wetton fan & he always has very demanding vocal tracks. Howe's guitaring is good but drowned out & muted. palmer is normal palmer with his typical ELP style. I think the ASIA albums would have benefitted from a larger drum set with higher toms & more technical drum fills. Well, that's carl palmer... Downes is doing his normal stuff & uses somes vocoder (which I love) on open your eyes. Overall, good album & the last time until now (2007) that all 4 guys will play together.
Rating:
- Underrated but InconsistentThe critics of "Alpha" commonly state that it is "more of the same" thing that their debut had to offer. For better or for worse, this is only half-true. Asia's debut was compellingly consistent and for the uninitiated, that is the place to start. However, "Alpha" is the first to display the inconsistencies that would plague the rest of the band's career in all of its forms. Don't misunderstand: "Alpha" is hardly unlistenable, and at times it genuinely captures the powerfully bombastic aesthetic of its predecessor, but it also represents the aesthetic and personal rifts that would ultimately force Geoff Downes to redefine Asia as a strictly studio project whose success would ultimately be marginal.
"Alpha" was made at a time when the individual musicianship of the members of the project was allowed to define the sound of the group. At their height, Asia certainly displayed a certain amount of chemistry. At the very least, they had enough individual musicianship to circumvent any notion to the contrary. However, for the listener that is familiar with Asia and has an acute ear, Steve Howe's increasing marginalization on Alpha is perceptible
Howe had been increasingly shut out of the writing process on Alpha for reasons that are still complex and interpersonal. As a result, much of his guitar work feels "added on", and certainly not as integrated as it was on "Asia". His rather "distinctive" style does not seem to work as well under these conditions, and although the parts are technically impressive, the end result is not the best example of his work.
According to all reports, this exclusion came from the Wetton/Downes camp. Seeing where Asia was going with the heavier and increasingly relevant 80s pop-metal guitar sound (as Van Halen and Journey were popularizing) that was later apparent on "Astra" may provide some insight into this rift. In all probability, Wetton/Downes genuinely wanted to recreate the success of "Heat of the Moment", but possibly saw Howe's guitar work as archaic. One might wonder what happened in the alternate universe where Trevor Rabin ended up playing for Asia, who for a short time straddled the fence between prog, pop, and metal. Asia's longevity might have been different and Yes' fan base would not have had to come to terms with Rabin's reinvention of the group. Consider the relative dud "True Colors", which at times sounds remarkably like the winner "Changes" from "91025". I can't help but ponder how Rabin's contribution might have changed the overall sound of the group.
In the end it seems like it is Carl Palmer, who I usually enjoy taking a good poke at for his "unique" sense of time (listen to the band struggle to keep up with him during his drum solo on "Wildest Dreams" on their debut), that really holds "Alpha" together. His playing on "Do What I Want" is a high point and one that I wish Wetton would have similarly reached for in his vocal delivery. While he sounds great, a simple turn of the octave at the right time would allow it to reach the potentially emotional heights of the song.
The aforementioned inconsistencies take the form of a couple of duds on "Alpha". For example, "Eye to Eye" fails to convince, and "Never in a Million Years" sports clichés aplenty. The aforementioned "True Colors" and "Midnight Sun" might sound more comfortable on "Astra" with the more metallic Mandy Meyer on guitar. However, these songs also remind me of more successful tunes like Yes' "Changes", which is where my previous statements about Trevor Rabin come.
However, there are several songs that reach and exceed the expectations that their debut set. "Don't Cry" is probably their most convincing follow-up to "Heat of the Moment". "Last to Know" is a moving prog-pop tune that is texturally related to "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" but that boasts the power of an emotionally bombastic chorus. Wetton sounds great on "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", and while innovations may be relatively sparse, one would be deaf not to hear the lightly tread crossroads between the Beach Boys and ELP on "Open Your Eyes."
The Lowdown: For those of you just tuning in, Asia has had a long and sordid history since the release of this album. However, if you see their debut "Asia" as a classic, then you will most likely at least hold "Alpha" in high regard.
Rating:
- "Arena Rock" III've seen "Arena Rock" used quite a bit to describe Asia. Although I don't generally agree with the term, I can certainly see where it comes from. Asia didn't move too far away from its debut release when these tunes were composed. If you liked their first album, you will likely enjoy this one as well.
For a bit more in-depth coverage, I'll say that I don't like Alpha nearly as much as the debut. Perhaps it's because I was hoping for a bit of growth and an effort to reach beyond what they accomplished with "Asia".
There are a few somewhat remarkable tunes on this album, though. I would recommend "Don't Cry" (which everybody has probably heard) and "Eye To Eye". The best tune on this album, though, has got to be "The Heat Goes On". It has that same drive and fantastic guitar work from Steve Howe that wooed me with "Time Again" from the first album.
Unfortunately, a few good songs can't lift this album anywhere above a two-star release. The rest of the songs range from the mediocre (e.g. "The Heat Goes On", "True Colors" and "Open Your Eyes") to the outright painful, such as "My Own Time", "The Last To Know" and "Midnight Sun".
Generally, Steve Howe's presence is much less obvious on this release and is typically replaced with keyboard work from Geoff Downes. The good thing is that Downes is an engaging artist, albeit not nearly as much as Howe.
This album is probably worth getting if you are a big Asia fan. Otherwise, beyond their first album, there is plenty of generic '80s rock to go around. Look elsewhere.