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Joined: December 03 2015
Location: CANADA
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Points: 732
Topic: uk and asia (first releases) Posted: April 03 2016 at 14:58
After listening to both asia and uk first albums ,I decided that both have strong points that are the basis for comparing the two,a lot who rather say that it is like chalk and cheese. I think that there are striking similarities for one both have john wetton very powerful vocalist, and somewhat now becoming commercial, in sound but found carl palmer and eddie jobson, complemented greatly to each band ,but sadly I think allan holdsworth is fantastic, but tend to find steve howe, arrangements,a little more colourful or grandiose on scale. Although both are decidedly great works of prog. I lean to asia, as a more filling because of the dare I say,pop anthems, as opposed to the melancholy songs of uk,like to know different opinions because not everyone shares the same sediment,different points of view, I love to hear them . Once again thanks for reading
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
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Posted: April 03 2016 at 15:21
^ sediment Guess I'm a sedimental fool I've most likely spent more time with Asia's debut, mainly because it is a catchy album with a 'crunchy' sound. Well played, clever and really sticks with you. With U.K. - the debut is my least favourite - I am very fond of the live release. Sure, the debut has Bruford and Holdsworth, has many brilliant moments (Nevermore being my favourite) but the Dead Of Night and Alaska tracks sound much better live. I've always found the debut to sound a bit 'clinical'. It's been years since I spun my LP. And I've spun my Asia record not so long ago.
Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
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Posted: April 03 2016 at 22:59
Actually, both rather dissapointed me. With Asia I already had the idea I would be dissapointed before buying it, because I knew what I was getting into... which is not prog at all, but pop. I still love mostly "Only time will tell", and to a lesser degree "Heat of the moment", but the rest of the album is just OK. However, from UK I did expect more, because I had read lot's of praise for it around here, and it was a full blown prog album... and prog it is indeed... only that I didn't like much from it. The melodies just aren't as beautiful nor as memorable as I would like, and Wetton's vocals still aren't ones I would enjoy. With King Crimson the music was so good that I could ignore being bothered by the vocals... but not so with UK. In Asia, something happened that Wetton's vocals do sound enjoyable (at least on studio, for live once again there's something I just can't like).
Joined: April 05 2006
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Posted: April 04 2016 at 11:39
Although neither UK nor Asia is to my taste, I have heard albums of both. The second U.K. album is more in the Asia vein. The first U.K album is definitely preferable to Asia to me, heck, Asia could be linked to Europe (sonically rather than geographically in this case -- they could have formed "Eurasia - An AOR Odyssey).
Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
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Points: 6754
Posted: April 04 2016 at 11:51
Rednight wrote:
dr wu23 wrote:
UK well over Asia for me......plenty of good prog on the first UK and imho Asia was a big let down with primarily radio friendly stuff.
I'm with Wu.
Me tWu.
The only song on the first Asia LP I really like is "Sole Survivor," it features some excellent Howe guitar work with wah-wah.
The first UK LP was amazing, and I'm lucky to have seen Wetton with LTIA KC, UK and Asia. He's one of my favorite vocalists/bassists. The guy can play and sing at the same time in amazing fashion.
Joined: January 25 2015
Location: kentucky
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Posted: April 04 2016 at 11:59
I like the UK debut album, but I really enjoy the Asia album. I really only got into both much after their release, so there was no sense of disappointment because I knew what I was getting, and wasn't expecting Asia to be prog. If you take away the expectations, I think it's a solid AOR album, and I really like some of the songs, particularly Without You (really excellent guitar solo plus very good vocals from Wetton).
Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
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Points: 4591
Posted: April 04 2016 at 18:54
The debut UK is my fave of their 3 though it did take me somewhat by surprise. I'd known of Jobson from his work in Roxy and with the rhythm section of my fave piece of Crimson history I was expecting heavy prog. I've come to appreciate Holdsworth's magic and contributions to the album as the years have passed, but the jazz-fusion aspects of the album wasn't at all what I was expecting.
I bought Asia's debut when it came out and except for Sole Survivor which I liked, was bitterly disappointed. I couldn't believe that putting 4 of the premier prog virtuoso's would yield stuff this musically uninspired and radio oriented. Wetton's watered down bass playing didn't surprise me and I love his voice no matter what he sings but I was blown away that Howe and CP would turn their backs on their incredible abilities...but hey, even prog masters gotta eat and after so many years on the fringes of the big time I just figured they deserved a shot at the pie...but that didn't mean I had to listen to it
Edited by The.Crimson.King - April 05 2016 at 10:10
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
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Points: 15916
Posted: April 05 2016 at 01:57
There's a few outstanding tracks on the Asia album as far as I'm concerned ; Sole Survivor, Time Again and Cutting It Fine. These songs are not as 'simple' as they seem. Only Time Will Tell is also a worthy song.
Joined: September 03 2005
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Points: 15916
Posted: April 05 2016 at 04:10
For the record - I've tried several Asia albums over the years - and bar 1 or 2 tracks, they don't come up to the knee-caps of the debut. I do have this oddly shaped pic-disc of Don't Cry (rubbish song) but the B-side True Colours, is the only really good song on Astra I liked. For U.K. - Danger Money is the best !! What Asia 'should have' been styled like.
Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
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Points: 4591
Posted: April 05 2016 at 10:14
cstack3 wrote:
The first UK LP was amazing, and I'm lucky to have seen Wetton with LTIA KC, UK and Asia. He's one of my favorite vocalists/bassists. The guy can play and sing at the same time in amazing fashion.
Agreed. Wetton's ability to play bass lines that are a counterpoint melody or even in a different rhythm from his vocal lines is remarkable. The only other bassist/lead vocalist I can think of with that advanced level of ability is Geddy Lee (Squire gets an honorable mention for his backing vocals/bass parts).
I missed the 1st UK tour but saw the Wetton/Jobson/Bozzio lineup open for Tull in '78...next to Gentle Giant opening for Yes in '76, that UK/Tull pairing could be the best prog bill I ever saw
Edited by The.Crimson.King - April 05 2016 at 10:16
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
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Points: 15916
Posted: April 05 2016 at 16:54
^ I doubt it fetches much on the market. I bought a near-mint copy, gawd, must've been around 1990, for 6 bucks. I haven't spun it in years, but I've got some of the songs going in my head right now, so the music has made an imprint in my mind. I think I reviewed it with 3 stars - that's the last time I heard it.
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