THEN & NOW

I normally never rate "best of"- compilations (or as in the present case a "worst of"- compilation), always preferring the original studio albums. However, when, and only when, such compilations have material that is not available on the band's regular albums, I will rate them. In this particular case the material not available elsewhere is very restricted, there are only four such songs here; Days Like These, Prayin' 4 A Miracle, Am I In Love? and Summer (Can't Last Too Long). All these songs are rather weak and hold little interest even for those who enjoy Asia's 80's albums. If you think that the band's two first albums are low on progressive content, you should compare with these songs! Steve Howe is sorely missed here.

The first half of the album consists of songs from the band's first two albums, Asia and Alpha. While I find these albums good but non-essential (three stars), they have here, not surprisingly, managed to pick some of the very worst songs from those albums. Only Time Will Tell and Wildest Dreams are not bad, but Heat Of The Moment and Don't Cry are clearly the most commercial and least Prog-related songs from these albums. The whole thing is ended by the worst song from the weak Astra album, Voice Of America. This song features one of the most boring choruses I have ever heard; "Voice of America, Oh, Oh, Oh, America"

Do yourself (and the band too) a favour and don't let this compilation be your introduction to Asia. Not even fans of the band will need this compilation unless they are completionists.

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