ARENA

'Arena' is my introduction to ASIA, I'm more of a harder rock, alternative, metal, fan but I do enjoy well played quality prog. such as this. The vocals are high quality and the melodies are pretty. The music is quite full and complex, it has more of a pop sensibility than a lot of 'Prog" does and yet incorporates some of the best of prog. music. Sometimes I tire of the organ/keyboard sound in a lot of prog. rock, it sounds the same from KANSAS to ELP, but the ASIA style, I like a lot. The time, style and tempo changes are enjoyable in 'Arena'. The lyric content is slighly uneven but mostly thoughtful and rather intelligent. There are a few songs that leave me flat, 'Tell Me Why' is a bit 'forced' to me. But overall it's an album full of beautiful music performed by very talented people.