All Artists:Asia Title:Omega Members Wishing: 7 Total Copies: 0 Label:101 DISTRIBUTION Original Release Date: 1/1/2010 Re-Release Date: 5/4/2010 Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC:8024391045527
First off let's dipense with the following critiques...
1) They are old.
The alternative is to quit or die, so cool it with calling them old. They are old. We get it.
2) They have forgotten their Prog roots.
Asia is the only Pop/Prog band ever. That is what they do, so stop pretending that they should be YesELPcrimsonbuggles. They are Asia.
3) They are not as good as the 1980's.
In 1982 the critics hated even the debut hit "Asia" because it was too much Pop and not enough Prog.
Additioanally the "prog snobs" should hate it. In fact, they hate most everything that has melody, harmony or sounds good. Make no mistake this CD is well written, well performed, pure rock ear candy.
If you are an Asia fan, you already have the CD. If you are a casual fan and can't decide...buy it NOW! The music is classic Asia with better than ever sound quality. Listen with headphones and be prepared to be carried off to pop/prog heaven that only Asia can deliver. It just sounds good, check it out.
Wetton is singing better than ever, and as always the driver with his cutting bass. His amazing voice has gotten even richer. You cannot mistake the Steve Howe sound, and it is evident on every track especially "Emily". Palmer is spot on as always and really cannot be appreciated until you don the headphones. Downes fills the canvas behind Howe Wetton and Palmer. Downes, as always, is awesome on this CD.
On any CD I look for 2 to 3 strong tracks. Omega delivers 5! All are airtime ready, but won't get any. The haunting "There Was A Time" has a King Crimson sound and is the best "Proggy" song on the CD. "Finger on the Trigger, "Holy War", and "Listen Children" would all be hits if these were the 1980's. That said ALL TRACKS ARE VERY GOOD. Buy this CD. NOT The DOWNLOAD. GET THE REAL SOUND. (Rip it only if you must jog)
***** Track Ratings*****
1. Finger on the Trigger *****5
2. Through My Veins ***3
3. Holy War *****5
4. Ever Yours ***3
5. Listen Children *****5
6. End of the World ***3
7. Light The Way ****4
8. Emily (bonus track) ****4
9. Still The Same ***3
10. There Was a Time *****5
11. I Believe *****5
12. Don't Wanna Lose You Now ****4
For the first time since the debut ASIA in '82 the band chose an outside producer. Mark Paxman does a great job crafting the sound and is a great addition. The production quality is amazing. The harmonizing that Asia has always done sounds even better on Omega.
This is the BEST ASIA ALBUM. Asia's debut album will always be viewed (like Boston's) as the standard by which the rest are measured. I say the standard is now OMEGA! ENJOY!"
Best album since their debut!
Hemingway | Berkley, MI USA | 05/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
"Omega" is the second album since the reformation of the four original members of Asia, and it shows further musical, lyrical and even, spiritual development within the band.
Sonically, what is most noticeable about "Omega" is the presence of John Wetton's bass guitar high in the mix. Along with Carl Palmer's stellar percussion work, Asia's rhythm section provides a driving beat that hasn't been heard to this extent on any previous Asia album. The opening track, "Finger on the Trigger," is a real tour-de-force. Who said 60-year olds can't still rock? Others like "Listen Children," and "Light the Way" rock with a renewed energy.
Although it lacks the progressive elements of its predecessors, "Omega" is full of great hooks, even on the mid-tempo numbers. And the arrangements are such that they allow keyboardist Geoff Downes and guitarist Steve Howe plenty of opportunities to overlay their instrumentation above the rhythm. The album is well-produced by Mike Paxman and this results in an abundance of wonderfully multi-layered musical textures. "Omega" sounds as if all four members truly enjoyed the recording experience.
Most of all, Wetton's voice is in peak form; strong and sounding better than ever and he sings with great emotion throughout. As is typical of his songwriting, Wetton's lyrics are mostly autobiographical and are influenced by the spiritual renewal he has recently experienced in his personal life. This is particularly apparent on songs such as "Ever Yours," "End of the World," and "I Believe." Musically, the latter two, along with "Holy War," maintain Asia's identifiable majestic keyboard-driven sound.
Interestingly, the eighth song of the twelve on this album, "Emily," is billed as a bonus track. Along with "I'm Still The Same" and "Don't Wanna Lose You Now," they provide the albums' most pop-influenced moments. The emotional "There Was A Time," begins with a sparse arrangement highlighted by Howe and Downes' flavorful instrumentation. It gradually builds in intensity as the subjects' pain is reproduced in Wetton's vocalization. "Through My Veins," one of two Howe/Wetton compositions on the album, speaks of the pain and emptiness one can experience in coping with the loss of a loved one.
There aren't too many albums where every song is a keeper, but "Omega" is one of them. Simply put, this is a sensational album, undoubtedly Asia's best since their debut album in 1982. Brilliant!
"
Asia delivers.........again!
S. Green | 05/09/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"John Wetton had mentioned that this album was very much in the vein of "Alpha", their 1983 release. I would have to agree. "Alpha" was a bit less prog and more accessible pop/rock. Much the same can be said about "Omega". Though I would have liked to see the guys veer more into the prog-rock genre, I am pleased with what they've dished up on this one. Signature Asia sound with Wetton's fantastic, distinctive vocals and Steve Howe's unmistakable virtuoso guitar work. Carl Palmer is solid as always and Geoff Downes holds it all together with his keyboards. The songs are all quite good and there isn't a weak one in the bunch. As much as I liked "Phoenix", I am tempted to say that "Omega" just might be consistently better overall. I am pleased to note that Howe's guitar is featured a bit more prominently on this cd. Overall, nice work guys! Asia fans will be pleased. Here's hoping that in two more years we will be celebrating yet another new Asia album. Thumbs way up!"
Definitely Asia!
R. Chambers | Michigan, USA | 05/11/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In my early days as a journalist, I tried many different kinds of writing, including reviewing new record albums. The first one I did was the second album from what was then -- as now -- my favorite music group: Asia. The album was "Alpha," the band's followup to its powerful self-titled debut.
Sadly, I lost my copy of that review long ago, but I remember much of it. I wrote about how I invited my sister to listen as I dropped the newly purchased vinyl LP onto my turntable. (Yeah, I know, I know...) Her comment as the opening track, "Don't Cry," pounded through the speakers? "It's definitely Asia."
Twenty-seven years later, the original members of Asia have offered up "Omega," arguably the bookend to "Alpha." And what a bookend! It's an impressive musical adventure that shows how the already excellent talents of John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe have become even richer through the years.
Though "Alpha" had plenty of great music, it's generally considered a commercial disappointment. There was tremendous pressure on Asia to quickly recapture the success of the first album, which spent nine weeks atop the charts in 1982 with hits such as "Heat Of The Moment," "Only Time Will Tell" and "Sole Survivor." As if to put a fine point on their expectations, Asia's handlers dropped them into a frozen Canadian wasteland, thinking a remote studio locale--and lack of distraction--would stimulate their creativity. That Asia managed to put out an album at all, and one as good as "Alpha" managed to be, is a testimony to their incredible musical prowess.
"Omega," on the other hand, comes at a time when the band--which, in its original lineup, broke up after "Alpha"--is experiencing an impressive renaissance. Reunited in 2006 and touring annually since, Asia produced a comeback CD, "Phoenix," in 2008. "Phoenix" was a solid effort demonstrating the growth that each member had experienced over the years, even if it didn't shake up the music world the way "Asia" did in '82. (In this iPod era, what album possibly could?)
So "Omega" becomes something of a greater experiment: Was there more to tap from the Asia well? Could one of the best bands of the 1980s one-up their comeback, in a way "Alpha" failed to do?
In my view, the answer is a resounding "yes." "Omega" impresses in every way that "Alpha" perhaps did not. While "Alpha" had good and not-so-good elements, every track on "Omega" pegs the 'Wow' needle. It's how one would expect a band with the great talents of Asia to sound a quarter-century hence, and even more so considering their pre-Asia pedigree (King Crimson, Yes, ELP, The Buggles). The music is richer and more diverse, the themes reflective of longer life and deeper life lessons. And, if this is possible, each member of the band simply sounds better than ever, whether in instrument or voice or both.
One hopes that, despite its name, "Omega" doesn't prove to be Asia's final musical offering. The depth and quality of this outstanding album says that there is much more wonderful music that Asia has to share--and all of us are the better for it.
In short: It's definitely Asia!"
Surprisingly exciting, joyful, and fantastically performed t
Exwag | Iowa City, IA | 05/27/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"OK, first off: let me tell you where I'm coming from. I am a serious prog rock fan, but enjoy lots of stuff, and always appreciate a well-written and performed song, as I am a songwriter myself. I am NOT an Asia nut or partisan in any way. I had the 1982 debut record like everyone else, and loved it (I was 12, so take it for what it's worth), but I would more likely throw on King Crimson, Yes, or ELP than anything else the band has done (and I've never even listened to the John Payne version--Asia is Wetton's band, to me, and his distinctive vocals and personality in singing is a big reason I even thought about looking into this new record). It never occurred to me to look into 2006's Phoenix, and I assumed that the band would be a pale imitation of its former success. I am not a huge fan of AOR rock (e.g., I don't listen to Journey, REO Speedwagon, et al), and have little tolerance for dumb lyrics and lighter-raising stadium rock moves. But. . . .I love Omega. I read the strong review in Classic Rock magazine and was surprised they had such good things to say about how revitalized the band was. So, I listened to the 30 second samples here and was surprised how good they sounded. Still, I didn't buy it; I've been burned before on samples that turn out not to represent the song as a whole. But a funny thing happened. I couldn't get the melodies from those 30-second samples out of my head. That is very unusual, and a sure sign that there is some strong songwriting on Omega. So, I finally downloaded it via Amazon, and seriously, guys, it is GOOD. Firstly, the record sounds fantastic--the excitement and power of the debut record but with no early-80s, dated production sheen. Clear strong sound, lots of air, not overly compressed and loud. Second, from the playing it is immediately clear that these old guys are not going through the motions (as I gather many thought they were on Pheonix, which I've not listened to yet). They are pumped up. The playing is really strong, tight, not flashy, no long solos (sorry proggers. . . I wouldn't have minded a few myself), but lots of very thoughtful licks that serve the song. The excitement and FUN is immediately apparent and very winning. I can't really believe how great Wetton's voice still sounds. I'm tempted to say better than ever--he used to have just a little bit of pitch trouble in the old days but his voice is now a very appealing, powerful and strong instrument in itself. Third, and most important--the SONGS. Really good writing, nearly every song has multiple strong melodies in the verses and choruses, that stay with you after one listen. This is an art that is sadly lost today, even by those like Asia who once had a firm grasp on it--well, no more for this group. Like most records today, it should be 45 min. instead of 60 (I'd get rid of "There Was a Time" and "I Believe", two of the weaker tracks), but oh, those 45 minutes--great tunes played with excitement, joy, and power by excellent musicians. To those who blast this release for being pop: oh, jeez, get over yourself. Asia was always a pop band and a great one. They prove it here. For those who lament, for example, that "Carl Palmer is given so little to do here": firstly, don't be misled. I'm a drummer, and to play with strength, control, and to really swing in the beat while driving the song forward---that is not simple. Sometimes banging all over the kit to something like "Tarkus" is actually easier than what Palmer does here, for example. Also: did it ever occur to you that no one is "giving" any of these guys "little to do"? Did it occur to you that, like me, and (hopefully) like you, these musicians like many types of music and choose, in the context of Asia (Howe has played much more proggy material recently with Yes, you know), to write and play great, sophisticated pop songs that sound great on the radio? Maybe "Emily" sounds like the Beatles because. . . hold on to your seats. . . .the guys in Asia LIKE THE BEATLES. Who doesn't? The relevant question is not: is it prog, or is it Asia? The relevant question is: is it good? And the answer is yes. I was not at all prepared to love this record, but I do. The guys have really pulled it off, and I hope that they get recognized for it. Are the lyrics sometimes banal? Sure, just like they were on the debut record, and frankly, in much of what Wetton does. But this is not the Shins, or Belle and Sebastian, or Grizzly Bear, OK? This is classic, big, catchy, prog-pop that would sound awesome blasting out of a radio this summer (not that it will probably get much airplay these days). Enjoy it for what it is, check your cynicism for a minute and dig it. With "Finger on the Trigger" blasting away, I can tell you, I at least feel like I did in 1982, when I heard "Heat of the Moment" and raced to the stereo to hit record on my cassette tape filled with airshots of top 40 hits on WKTI, Milwaukee, 94.5 FM. At $7.99 to download the album, you can't go wrong."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
