CD-Charts Position 81
Average Rating:

Axioms

by: Asia

Release Date April 20, 1999
Asia is one of my favorite bands. The music has a "stealth" complexity to it, that one picks up only after several times in the disc player. This CD fits the bill for what one would purchase a Greatist Hits CD; an overview only hitting the highlights. I don't think you'll be disappointed, but know what you are purchasing before putting your money down. As a fan of Prog Rock, I cannot say this disk of Asia's truly fits the bill. The music on this CD is more Rock with a contemporary feel touched by progressive aspects/signatures. Many have faulted Payne for his singing. I don't think the critism is warranted, he is just a different singer than Wetton (who I am a huge fan of); however, where I do fault Payne is his lack of musical personality ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 82
Average Rating:

Scandinavia

by: Asia Featuring John Payne

Release Date March 11, 2008
ASIA is simply John Payne. The old ASIA doesn't even exist for me. I would have felt more kindly towards the old ASIA group if they hadn't kicked John Payne out. Why they couldn't have worked with him is beyond me. At least ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE survives, and I absolutely cannot wait for their release of ARCHITECT OF TIME. If you need more John Payne, try GPS or his recent solo album which is loaded with Payne-era ASIA.

CD-Charts Position 83
Average Rating:

Live in the USA

by: Asia

Release Date July 08, 2008
ASIA is simply John Payne. The old ASIA doesn't even exist for me. I would have felt more kindly towards the old ASIA group if they hadn't kicked John Payne out. Why they couldn't have worked with him is beyond me. At least ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE survives, and I absolutely cannot wait for their release of ARCHITECT OF TIME. If you need more John Payne, try GPS or his recent solo album which is loaded with Payne-era ASIA.

CD-Charts Position 84
Average Rating:

Live in Osaka

by: Asia

Release Date January 01, 1998
This cd of Asia live, is like most live Asia cds, poor. Although it is better than any Wetton Asia live cd, that's not sayng much. The recording is poor, sounds like someone out in the crowd is holding up a tape recorder. The vocals are distant, the drums hollow, and the rest all is mixed into a muddled mess. Does contain a fair look at Asia's cd up to the release of the cd, which was recorded on the AQUA tour. Sadly it's missing, their two biggest hits, THE SMILE HAS LEFT YOUR EYES & HEAT OF THE MOMENT. This cd does not fairly represent Asia in concert.

CD-Charts Position 85
Average Rating:

Quadra

by: Asia

Release Date September 03, 2002
No matter how big a fan you are of Asia, Steve Howe, Yes, ELP, King Crimson, etc., DO NOT BUY THIS! It is a horrible, horrible product. I've read others warning of this, but I bought it anyway, figuring it couldn't be that band. I was wrong. The sound is dreadful. You can hear audience members talking louder than the band is playing. There are much better bootlegs out there. I couldn't even listen to this once. It would have been great if the sound was even radio-quality, but it sounds like it was recorded from the hallway on a dictation system. It is a total disgrace that this was ever released by anyone associated with the band.

CD-Charts Position 86
Average Rating:

Live in Koln

by: Asia

Release Date November 25, 1997
Yeah, it's an audience recording. Yes, it's two discs. But this really is a treat if you can find it cheap or used. Because no one...not Asia, not Wetton solo...nobody...has ever pulled off a better recording of "Sole Survivor" than the one that is contained on Live In Koln. Aziz Ibrahim's guitar screams and whines, Michael Sturgis' drum fills blow away any enemy in sight, Downes' keyboards are on fire, and Payne, coupled with a rowdy and wild German audience, are dark, painful, angry bearers of the song's mantra. "...Just keep on burning, right to the end." Keyboard/acoustic versions of "Summer" and "Sad Situation" are good too.

CD-Charts Position 87
Average Rating:

Quadra

by: Asia

Release Date April 22, 2008
Yeah, it's an audience recording. Yes, it's two discs. But this really is a treat if you can find it cheap or used. Because no one...not Asia, not Wetton solo...nobody...has ever pulled off a better recording of "Sole Survivor" than the one that is contained on Live In Koln. Aziz Ibrahim's guitar screams and whines, Michael Sturgis' drum fills blow away any enemy in sight, Downes' keyboards are on fire, and Payne, coupled with a rowdy and wild German audience, are dark, painful, angry bearers of the song's mantra. "...Just keep on burning, right to the end." Keyboard/acoustic versions of "Summer" and "Sad Situation" are good too.

CD-Charts Position 88
Average Rating:

Chronicles

by: Asia

Release Date September 27, 2005
Don't be fooled by the title. This is just their first three albums "Asia", "Alpha" and "Astra" in one package. It's not really a bad idea since everything they've released since then have been commercial failures. If you really want the best of John Wetton and company then go with "The Very Best Of Asia:Heat Of The Moment (1982-1990)" or even the 2CD set "Gold" which has all the songs here plus some additional tracks. Otherwise, this set will just save you the trouble of getting their first three albums seperately

CD-Charts Position 89
Average Rating:

Alpha

by: Asia

Release Date 1996
Don't be fooled by the title. This is just their first three albums "Asia", "Alpha" and "Astra" in one package. It's not really a bad idea since everything they've released since then have been commercial failures. If you really want the best of John Wetton and company then go with "The Very Best Of Asia:Heat Of The Moment (1982-1990)" or even the 2CD set "Gold" which has all the songs here plus some additional tracks. Otherwise, this set will just save you the trouble of getting their first three albums seperately

CD-Charts Position 90
Average Rating:

Communing With Music: Practicing the Art of Conscious Listening

from: Summit(Classical)

Release Date July 05, 2005
Don't be fooled by the title. This is just their first three albums "Asia", "Alpha" and "Astra" in one package. It's not really a bad idea since everything they've released since then have been commercial failures. If you really want the best of John Wetton and company then go with "The Very Best Of Asia:Heat Of The Moment (1982-1990)" or even the 2CD set "Gold" which has all the songs here plus some additional tracks. Otherwise, this set will just save you the trouble of getting their first three albums seperately