Asia is bad? Can’t be!
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Forum Name: Proto-Prog and Prog-Related Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss bands and albums classified as Proto-Prog and Prog-Related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10027
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Topic: Asia is bad? Can’t be!
Posted By: freakmeeko
Subject: Asia is bad? Can’t be!
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 13:47
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Why does everyone say that Asia is bad? They are a prog fan's dream band! I mean, I've never heard them, but really wow! They had: *Steve Howe (The guitarist from YES, who was rated the 22nd greatest guitarist of all time on digitaldreamdoor.com AND Yes was rated NUMBER ONE for greatest prog bands) *John Wetton (Bassist from KING CRIMSON, rated 26th greatest bassist on digitaldreamdoor.com and King Crimson was rated 2nd greatest prog band) *Geoff Downes (Keys player from YES, rated 46th greatest keyboardist on ddd) *Carl Palmer (Drummer from ELP, rated 6th greatest drummer on ddd AND ELP was rated 4th greatest prog band)) So now, I can't imagine these guys being bad. You have been owned.
------------- Keyboardist-bassist. Rick Wakeman>Emerson (Though they both kick it) |
Replies:
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 13:51
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You know Owner of a Lonely Heart and I Can't Dance, don't you? So much for "great artists always make great music". BTW: I don't know Asia either, I'll keep out of this argument from now on. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Posted By: Zac M
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 13:53
Asia is not bad.....for AOR, and they sound nothing like any of the members previous bands. Actually, they sound more like Toto or another AOR band. I think that they made good 80s music......(O and I am sure you have heard "Heat of the Moment" before, it was one of the biggest songs of the 80s )------------- "Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression." -Merleau-Ponty |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 13:56
you say it yourself: you haven't heard them. but I have. Goddess beware! -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
freakmeeko wrote:Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 13:59
There's a slight flaw in your argument - " I've never heard them" so you're not really in a position to comment! Yes, they had 4 of the best instrumentalists in the history of prog rock, but that doesn't mean they will make great music together. Look what happened when McCartney and Wonder got together! |
Posted By: Progbear
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 14:22
Well, you should really hear them to understand. Having all these amazing musicians making such banal music, it’s rather akin to using a Fabergé egg as a doostop. ------------- [IMG] http://www.denness.net/rpi/u/Progbear/fs/8/w/500/cp/2/s/5/si g.png"> |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 14:41
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Maybe is not bad, but is really poor... really sad its music... the lineup is awesome but the music not ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 14:45
| Great band in my opinion. Problem in these parts is, they didn't make much at all in the way of prog. |
Posted By: Under
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 15:00
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I only know the song "Heat of the Moment". Well that says it all.
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 15:02
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Asia was very good.....at pop. They unfortuantely did not make prog, I don't blame them it was 1982. ------------- 
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Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 15:05
'Only Time Will Tell' & 'Soul Survivor' were hits on both sides of the Atlantic as well! Must have heard them on the radio? |
Posted By: fabiog
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 15:46
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It isn´t fair compare Asia with prog bands like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, ... Because Asia isn´t a "traditional" prog band, however was made with finest prog musicians... Listen Asia Anthologia and you can do your own opinion... I like Asia and John Wetton´s songs very much! ------------- Fabio |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 15:50
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I like that comparison ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Tiresias
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 16:21
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Let's hear what you've said: I Havent Heard Them This is essential to making your point. Asia make pop music with a prog rock line up because prog was dormant at the time. They suck progwise. The line up doesn't mean anything if they only focus on sh*tty music.
If you blend tuna, milk, pickles and cheez whiz, and spread it on Pop-Tarts, its gonna taste sh*tty. If you blend Crimson, Yes and ELP alumni, but make them play pop, they are gonna suck ------------- Wh'ghal ng'fth mglw'y Ry'leh, Cthulhu fhtagn...  |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 16:32
| Asia set out with the intention of not doing prog (or anything particularly interesting for that matter).They were an ok eighties band..if your idea of 'ok' is Reo Speedwagon. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 18:26
| It's good old fashioned power pop...by old farts who wanted more money. The first three i like...after that they kinda sucked..........but then don't most groups go way past their sell date....the stones are a prime example. |
Posted By: Arsillus
Date Posted: August 12 2005 at 18:30
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Here's your problem on why you can't understand why Asia sucks: You haven't heard them! Take a listen.... |
Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 00:06
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HEY! WAKE UP! ASIA RULE! ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 00:41
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I dug the first Asia.
Too bad about GTR. |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 05:38
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Well, mate, go nab an Asia LP out of the discount bins at your local ASDA and judge for yourself. Shhheeeeeesh, what a friggin' post! ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 06:26
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Well I like Asia and own several of their albums. I would not say they are progressive rock - more like 80's power rock with a bend towards commercialism in a very big way. My favourite album is "Aqua" - easy listening with some v nice guitar work from Steve Howe. Not as hateful as everyone assumes, but each to our own ... -------------  "Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 08:31
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I love the albums Asia did- there, I've said it! I see nothing wrong with the music they did- if they had made a prog album, they'd have been pilloried by the music press for being 'old hat' and 'breaking no new ground'. However, by doing the AOR they did, they gained a lot of criticism for doing non prog material from fans. So, they couldn't really win! I am not so worried about what they didn't do and choose to enjoy the band for what they were- if I want a prog album from these guys, I'll play Yes, ELP, King Crimson or any of the other bands they were in. |
Posted By: DavidInsabella
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 13:38
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That's what happens when four musicians think they're so great anything the do will be amazing.
------------- Life seemed to him merely like a gallery of how to be. 
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Posted By: Wormboy
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 19:04
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Yes, I'm sorry. Asia was indeed bad. A great lineup does not guarantee a great album. Every guy you name was past his prime when Asia got together. In fact, none of them was involved in a highly rated prog album near the Asia period. By all accounts, it was a pop effort banking on their big names to make some money. A better name would have been "Alimony"  |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 19:25
| Whats wrong with making obscene money.....that's the Tory party for you. |
Posted By: goose
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 19:38
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At least they don't put out naff music at the same time though eh?
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 19:58
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The problem of Asia is that their stuff is not bad, only weak, but for that level of artists weak is bad. If any 80's POP band would have done this stuff everybody would consider it good, but for this guys is simply not enough.
So, Asia is not the only case in which supergroups don't work. Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Hangedman
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 22:38
| saying that a band is good only because the musicians are good, is like saying food is good only because it has only the most expensive ingrediants. In order to make a good dish you must have a good combination of tastes and flavors, if you just put all the rarest and most sought after spices it will taste terrible. Music is very similar. |
Posted By: Progbear
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 23:15
Actually...that’s not the problem. The line-up certainly had the ability to make good pop music. But they chose not to, or rather, didn’t care to. It’s the difference between Genesis’ Duke and Genesis’ Invisible Touch. Prog snobs who pretend anything vaguely poppy is crap will tell you there is no difference, but that’s not true. The problem with Asia was that their hearts weren’t in it. They didn’t make the music they made because they enjoyed it. They made it because they were thinking, “this will put another Rolls Royce in the garage.” The sad thing is, they were absolutely right. There’s nothing wrong with music that just happens to be commercially successful/viable if the people making it genuinely enjoy the music they’re making; that will communicate itself to the listener. It’s when someone makes commercial pop music purely as a moneymaking venture that it becomes tragic. ------------- [IMG] http://www.denness.net/rpi/u/Progbear/fs/8/w/500/cp/2/s/5/si g.png"> |
Posted By: MANTICORE
Date Posted: August 13 2005 at 23:28
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SOLE SURVIVOR & HIT OF THE MOMENT the only songs that I have listened very pop.! but not bad -------------  |
Posted By: Rob The Good
Date Posted: August 14 2005 at 07:49
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To be honest, I REALLY like Asia...but they're not Prog. I don't mind - I like to let my hair down once in a while. ------------- And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..." Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster. |
Posted By: Axis
Date Posted: August 14 2005 at 08:06
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I bought the first two albums when they came out. They're OK, I like some of the stuff. Haven't really bothered with them ever since. Their current guitarist - Guthrie Govan - is a superb player! |
Posted By: M. B. Zapelini
Date Posted: August 14 2005 at 08:49
| As an AOR band, Asia is great, one of the best bands. As prog-rock, they are probably the greatest deception of all time. |
Posted By: Fantômas
Date Posted: August 14 2005 at 19:25
It isn't just bad, it's motherf**kin bad... Jesus...  ELP is awful, so Asia doesn't really surprise me being even worse... Damn, Wetton was a member of one of the best bands ever! He should treat the people with more respect! ------------- And above all, is punk  
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Posted By: Shaman
Date Posted: August 14 2005 at 20:59
| Love the first two albums. It's not prog but is good 80's Rock. |
Posted By: Sir Hogweed
Date Posted: August 15 2005 at 05:06
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This line-up and great Roger Dean covers must have lured many proglovers like yourself into buying their albums expecting to hear great things. I still sense some hard feelings towards this band because of that. If they would have put a removable sticker on the cover, saying "File under pop/rock", they would still have been succesful and their old fans would not have felt betrayed. I suggest you buy all their albums to learn an important lesson about how statistics relate to music.
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Posted By: Bilek
Date Posted: August 15 2005 at 05:39
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ASIA SUCKS!!!!! there's nothing much to say about this, becasue everything that needs to be said is said. Just make a brief search in the forum. There are several threads on this, and one colloborator had even given some historic facts about how the hell Asia was formed, and what happened since then (with record companies, etc...) I suggest freakmeeko to keep the hell out of Asia! Not knowing this awful band is far better than knowing it and hating the individual members for this crappy project, despite the great work they put forward before! ------------- Listen to Turkish psych/prog; you won't regret: Baris Manco,Erkin Koray,Cem Karaca,Mogollar,3 Hürel,Selda,Edip Akbayram,Fikret Kizilok,Ersen (and Dadaslar) (but stick with the '70's, and 'early 80's!) |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 14:25
I think the cooking metaphor is very fitting. You can take the best ingredients available and mix them, but don't expect to always come out with something wonderful - it's a question of chemistry as well. In the case of Asia, there was indeed a lot of pressure from Geffen, but also the desire of some members (Wetton in particular) to make lots of money. Then, it all happened in the Eighties, one of the worst periods of all for good music. Look what happened at Genesis and Yes (though I like 90125)...
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Posted By: Wormboy
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 15:29
Yup. And so gimicky! Let's start the name of every album with "A," whether it's a good name or not! Like I said, the album name should have been "Alimony," cause I'm sure that's why the album was made!  |
Posted By: bobthesalesman
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 15:30
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Why did so many great bands seem to crap out in the 80s?
Damn punk movement and hair metal. ------------- www.myspace.com/thepianowar |
Posted By: Fishy
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 16:43
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This isn’t the first time there’s a topic appearing about how bad Asia is. Really, I don’t understand the fuss.This issue should have been discussed in 1982 not in 2005, but I supposed there was a similar discussion back then. Being a teen at the time, Asia showed me the way to prog music and after that a whole new musical world opened. To my humble opinion they did a great job with introducing young people to this kind of music. I especially liked the first two albums. True on some moments it does sound more like aor than prog but what the hell. On other moments they play an accessible version of this kind of music. This is just what Yes did at the time, remember ? Prog music is not just about complex compositions, classical themes or extended instrumental interludes. It’s also about creating a symphonic landscape of different instruments playing their parts at the same time to create a symphonic wall of sound and that’s just what these guys did. Songs like “Here comes the feeling”, “Wildest dreams”, Without you”, “Cutting it fine”, “Daylight”, “The smile has left…” , “Time again”, “Ride easy, “After the war” and maybe on or two others are pure prog. Most of their other tracks could be classified under the file of “aor with symphonic tendencies”, the last category is pure aor : the 4 hitsingles, Too late, Countdown to zero, …. |
Posted By: Chris88
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 12:02
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I just bought asia Alpha and it SUCKS!!!! It was $1.98 and the only reason I bought it was for the cool cover. How can anything with Wetton and Howe be this bad
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 18:00
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Goose said: At least they don't put out naff music at the same time though eh? Erm.....erm.......erm...oh bugger you got me there goose........................but they did release the poll tax...and that was def out of tune with everybody |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 18:59
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------------- "Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Gene
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 16:17
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I agree that Asia is not prog rock, it is shamefully commercial and, considering the band members, one would expect some unbelievable masterpieces, yet it is decent music. In an era dominated by endless lame pop-dance hits, no wonder some legendary prog names gathered and came up with something that would reflect the popular pressure. Nonetheless, the Asia albums never went so low as Phil Collins solo horrors. And, on almost all the tunes, the virtuosity is impressive and that makes the overall work at least respectable. Sole Survivor and Who Will Stop The Rain beautiful songs, and I still like them even after years of listening.
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Posted By: zaxx
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 16:34
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I dunno but when I think of Asia, I think of : 1) Aura -> awesome 2) Aqua -> beautiful 3) Rare -> unique 4) Aria -> heavy The rest is of course mediocre... ------------- Destiny... Infinity... Eternity... |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 19:12
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I don't think they're bad, they dont have to be prog to be good I enjoy most of their songs, its not bad to be 'catchy' |