uk and asia (first releases)
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=106367
Printed Date: April 26 2024 at 11:37
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: uk and asia (first releases)
Posted By: grantman
Subject: uk and asia (first releases)
Date 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 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date 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. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date 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). |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 09:29
|
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. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 10:30
------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
dr wu23 wrote:Posted By: Logan
Date 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). ------------- Just a fanboy passin' through. |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 11:51
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.
|
Posted By: emigre80
Date 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). |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 13:21
|
From Danger Money....which only sounds like Asia to the extent that Wetton is singing. Far far better than anything Asia ever attempted...imho. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 13:47
| indeed |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date 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
 ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date 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. |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 03:20
I'm with Wu too. Rednight is on the money with his summary. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 03:36
That makes four. The UK debut is 4+/5. Danger Money is in my top 10.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date 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. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 10:14
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
------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 11:17
| Eddie jobson had a band called zinc I think it was, heard the album call green on cassette not bad from what I remember ? |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 16:07
| ^ It has its moments. Gary Green (Gentle Giant) guested on it. The 80's production values lets it down somewhat but it's a respectable album. |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 16:48
|
^I bought a very clean used copy of it on vinyl. Never listened to it though. Is it worth any money? ------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date 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. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: April 05 2016 at 20:53
|
No love for the Danger Money LP? Both UK albums are gems. At the time they seemed antiseptic but now they just cook. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: April 07 2016 at 10:21
|
UK by a country mile, but I understand where the OP is coming from. UK was a supergroup that was looking to the future of prog, not to their glorious pasts. The sounds were more metallic and polished....shiny rather than fuzzy. It opened the door for Yes' Drama album and neo-prog/pop-prog, like the first Asia album. That first Asia album was all over MTV and FM radio....it's a shame this is the way that a lot of folks were introduced to Howe, Wetton, Lake and Palmer. It's also a shame that Asia was set up from the start to sell, sell, sell.....even the name was chosen as a way to sell records (Howe recalled that the name Asia was chosen 'cause it was a short, sharp name that started with "A" so that browsers at record stores would see their album first.....alphabetical order, you see). Asia "sucked".....and the first album was so much better than anything else they came up with.....what a waste of talent. ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: April 07 2016 at 11:48
| I agree about asia john paynes aura and some other stuff was by all accounts pretty lame or tame stuff compared to the first studio lp although I heard john payne ,s asia (live) if you can get not bad ac,tually rather good . |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: April 07 2016 at 11:51
|
My first album was night after night always liked rendezvous 6.02 |
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 10:02
| Despite being very different, I would put both the first U.K. and the first Asia albums among my 10 favorite of all-time! |
Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 10:11
|
Asia was kind of my gateway drug to prog so I will always have a place in my heart for it but UK is probably the better album.
|
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 10:58
|
UK all the way ------------- We all live in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain. My face IS a maserati |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 11:33
|
Asia is AOR crap. UK was Prog with a capital P. Btw, why wasn't this a poll?
|
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 11:39
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 11:55
Yes, it rules!  I really enjoy UK. Their debut is my personal favorite.------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: March 29 2018 at 12:52
|
Both are very good albums in their own ways. UK is more overtly prog, but Asia has some very catchy melodic songs and Howe's trademark imprint is across most of it too. With the exception of Wetton's voice on both, they are chalk and cheese, and I wouldn't really want to choose one over the other. I've had pleasure from both over the years at different times and moods. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: wiz_d_kidd
Date Posted: March 30 2018 at 13:33
|
UK. Period. While Asia had an amazing prog lineup in their first release (with Wetton in common), they played radio pop. Nice enjoyable music, but not prog. |