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It’s a bit of a shame that Asia had only a limited amount of time to spend on creating their latest album Phoenix. What could have been a spectacular comeback for this 80′s supergroup unfortunately turned out a tad half-baked. After the unexpected downtime due to John Wetton’s heart surgery in 2007, the group found themselves with some extra time on hand before guitarist extraordinaire Steve Howe had to return to his other meal ticket, Yes. So, Asia had to work fast in order to fit the whole process of recording, releasing and marketing a new album before giving Howe over to Yes in July 2008. but they managed to do just that plus squeeze in a worldwide tour to support the new album. It’s truly remarkable that they were able to put the album together so quickly but the results are a bit scattershot with moments of brilliance mixed in with utter crap. the album closer – An Extraordinary Life is a prime example. The verses are done perfectly with a nice minor key chord progression and some interesting lyrics. But when the song hits the chorus, they modulate to a major key and lose the momentum built by the verses. It could have been a great song but the chorus is totally weak and filled with bland cliches that sound to me like a coffee commercial: Go seize the day, wake up and say This is an extraordinary life, enjoy today, come what may, This is an extraordinary life. and that’s how it is throughout the album – shining moments marred by awful ones. some shining moments include a great drum solo at the end of a great instrumental section in the track Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya, the two Howe penned tracks (Over and Over, Wish I’d Known All Along) and a great cover of a song originally done by Globus (Orchard of Mines). what we’re left with are bland ballads (Nothing’s Forever, I Will Remember You) and others that just needed more time to develop like the song I mentioned earlier – An Extraordinary Life. another mis-step is when the band inserts knowing-nods to the past such as starting off Never Again with power chords (a la Heat of the Moment), or cloning the opening to Don’t Cry in Shadow of a Doubt. ultimately making references to their past serves no purpose except to make the listener go grab Asia’s previous albums. when they’re not trying so hard to sound like the 80′s version of the band, the songs are less “gimmicky” and sound more natural like in Parallel Worlds and Wish I’d Known All Along.
you know, I totally understand the need to strike when the iron is hot and keeping the momentum going right after the successful reunion tour in 2006. but I just feel that the album could have turned out a whole lot better if they spent more time on the material.

Phoenix tracklist:

1 Never Again (Downes, Wetton) 4:54
2 Nothing’s Forever (Wetton) 5:46
3 Heroine (Downes, Wetton) 4:52
4 Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise (Downes, Wetton) 8:10
5 Alibis (Downes, Howe, Palmer, Wetton) 5:39
6 I Will Remember You (Downes, Wetton) 5:10
7 Shadow of a Doubt (Downes, Wetton) 4:18
8 Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya (Downes, Wetton) 8:11
9 Wish I’d Known All Along (Howe) 4:05
10 Orchard of Mines (Fayman, Pursey) 5:11
11 Over and Over (Howe) 3:33
12 An Extraordinary Life (Downes, Wetton) 4:56

purchase Asia related CDs at Amazon:

Related posts:

1. Asia Concert Review – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium – Omega 2010 Tour
2. Yes/Asia 2009 summer tour setlist
3. upcoming Wetton Downes dates
4. Asia: the lost years
5. Asia – Fantasia Live In Tokyo 2007

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music, reviews by retroDan