Customer Reviews

Alpha

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Alpha which is the follow up to their classic debut, is a album filled with bittersweet romantic rock songs.

Songwriters bassist/singer John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes and producer Mike Stone really create a vibrant Rock/pop album. Don't Cry and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes were the big hits from this album. Never In A Million Years, My Own Time, Midnight Sun and Open Your Eyes are the other standout songs.

Songs from the likes of The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac and the producing qualities of Phil Spector seem to be a big influences on this album. Producer Mike Stone really creates a lush "wall of sound" quality that incorporates Geoff Downes' diverse and richly textured keyboards, Steve Howe's peerless guitar work, Carl Palmer's powerful drumming and John Wetton's impassioned vocals into a superb melodic Rock/pop album.

Call it Power Pop, Melodic Rock, either way if you're a fan of classic 80's rock then Alpha is a must have.

This album is a definite classic. Asia's first ablum was a bit rougher (although overall they're not a very rough band, period) and this one shows a softer side to them. Sensitive, sweet, beautiful, yet still with a good beat and a full sound that drives this album home. Highlights are the classics "Don't Cry", "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", "Open Your Eyes", and "The Heat Goes On" accompanied by lesser known but still beautiful "Never In A Million Years", "My Own Time", and "Eye To Eye." Heck, I've named about 75% of the album right there. Really though, its tough to pick what stands out because the whole work is a masterpiece. Pick it up. This is only one of three outstanding Asia Albums.

This is absolutely one of the best rock albums ever. This may sound too strong, but after a couple of listenings you will see why. It is not just the fact that you have one of the best musicians around, gatehered in a supergroup (John Wetton/King Crimson, UK, Steve Howe/Yes, Geoffrey Downes/Buggles, Yes and Carl Palmer/Emerson, Lake & Palmer) but that the album is also superbly produced and as it was done in 1983, it sounds ahead of it's time even today. Powerfull vocals from one of the best voices in the bussines - J. Wetton, fantastic guitars from S. Howe, Keyboard magic from G. Downes and some of the best drumming in the world by C. Palmer. Although their first album ASIA received higher acclamation and succes, for me personally this one was more stronger vocaly and musicaly. Album that takes you to places in your past, present and future. Very strong but also very romantic. It is still music that nobody is able to copy or reproduce, nor these days, come ven close! Simfo/Melodic Rock at it's best. Favorites are: Don't Cry, The Smile has left your eyes, Eye to Eye, Heat Goes on and Open Your Eyes. Actually there isn't a song. It's a pity some tracks were left out, like Daylight. For this price you will be getting a superb album.

Although generally forgotten in the shadow of Asia's first album, Alpha is nonetheless a worthy follow-up and a strong album in its own right, even if it does not contain songs as visible as "Only Time Will Tell" or "The Heat of the Moment" from that album. This is actually in some ways a more diverse album, with different songs capturing your attention each time you listen to it. If you liked the debut, you'll probably want to get this one as well.

"Alpha" is an indelibly vivacious Prog Rock powerhouse from Asia. This CD, along with their debut "Asia" (1982), "Astra" (1986), and "Then and Now" (1990), has the ability to uplift you from Life's most bleakest misfortunes! Why shouldn't it?! Asia combines John Wetton along with Prog Rock overlords Carl Palmer (ELP), Steve Howe (Yes), and Geoff Downes; that says it all! The guitar work and the keyboards are a work of art, and Wetton's vocals burst with inspirational energy in each song.

Every track on "Alpha" is musical medicine for the broken soul. The very best tunes include "Don't Cry", "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", "Eye to Eye", "Midnight Sun", and "Open Your Eyes". However, I'm most madly in love with "My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want)". This is one of the most positively healing rock tunes ever written! It seeks to tell you that you are worth something in this sometimes chaotic world, even if you do the right thing in your own way in lieu of much pain, opposition, or doubt because you know that good things will eventually come, even if you face it on your own. I don't think I would have ever gotten over breaking up with my First Love if it weren't for this song! God bless you, Asia!

The critics of "Alpha" commonly state that it is "more of the same" thing that their debut had to offer. For better or for worse, this is only half-true. Asia's debut was compellingly consistent and for the uninitiated, that is the place to start. However, "Alpha" is the first to display the inconsistencies that would plague the rest of the band's career in all of its forms. Don't misunderstand: "Alpha" is hardly unlistenable, and at times it genuinely captures the powerfully bombastic aesthetic of its predecessor, but it also represents the aesthetic and personal rifts that would ultimately force Geoff Downes to redefine Asia as a strictly studio project whose success would ultimately be marginal.

"Alpha" was made at a time when the individual musicianship of the members of the project was allowed to define the sound of the group. At their height, Asia certainly displayed a certain amount of chemistry. At the very least, they had enough individual musicianship to circumvent any notion to the contrary. However, for the listener that is familiar with Asia and has an acute ear, Steve Howe's increasing marginalization on Alpha is perceptible

Howe had been increasingly shut out of the writing process on Alpha for reasons that are still complex and interpersonal. As a result, much of his guitar work feels "added on", and certainly not as integrated as it was on "Asia". His rather "distinctive" style does not seem to work as well under these conditions, and although the parts are technically impressive, the end result is not the best example of his work.

According to all reports, this exclusion came from the Wetton/Downes camp. Seeing where Asia was going with the heavier and increasingly relevant 80s pop-metal guitar sound (as Van Halen and Journey were popularizing) that was later apparent on "Astra" may provide some insight into this rift. In all probability, Wetton/Downes genuinely wanted to recreate the success of "Heat of the Moment", but possibly saw Howe's guitar work as archaic. One might wonder what happened in the alternate universe where Trevor Rabin ended up playing for Asia, who for a short time straddled the fence between prog, pop, and metal. Asia's longevity might have been different and Yes' fan base would not have had to come to terms with Rabin's reinvention of the group. Consider the relative dud "True Colors", which at times sounds remarkably like the winner "Changes" from "91025". I can't help but ponder how Rabin's contribution might have changed the overall sound of the group.

In the end it seems like it is Carl Palmer, who I usually enjoy taking a good poke at for his "unique" sense of time (listen to the band struggle to keep up with him during his drum solo on "Wildest Dreams" on their debut), that really holds "Alpha" together. His playing on "Do What I Want" is a high point and one that I wish Wetton would have similarly reached for in his vocal delivery. While he sounds great, a simple turn of the octave at the right time would allow it to reach the potentially emotional heights of the song.

The aforementioned inconsistencies take the form of a couple of duds on "Alpha". For example, "Eye to Eye" fails to convince, and "Never in a Million Years" sports clichés aplenty. The aforementioned "True Colors" and "Midnight Sun" might sound more comfortable on "Astra" with the more metallic Mandy Meyer on guitar. However, these songs also remind me of more successful tunes like Yes' "Changes", which is where my previous statements about Trevor Rabin come.

However, there are several songs that reach and exceed the expectations that their debut set. "Don't Cry" is probably their most convincing follow-up to "Heat of the Moment". "Last to Know" is a moving prog-pop tune that is texturally related to "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" but that boasts the power of an emotionally bombastic chorus. Wetton sounds great on "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", and while innovations may be relatively sparse, one would be deaf not to hear the lightly tread crossroads between the Beach Boys and ELP on "Open Your Eyes."

The Lowdown: For those of you just tuning in, Asia has had a long and sordid history since the release of this album. However, if you see their debut "Asia" as a classic, then you will most likely at least hold "Alpha" in high regard.

Unlike most die hard Asia fans, I wasn't introduced to the group until I heard the song "Don't Cry". When it was followed by the amazing "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes", I sought out the LP. And WOW! I would dare say that the cover of Alpha is my favorite cover of all time. It wasn't until after I had worn out "Alpha" that I realized that Asia had put out an LP from the year before. (What can I say, I was 12 and there was no internet). Many people overlook Alpha because they measure it up to the first LP, "Asia", but since I experienced it the other way around, let me say, Alpha more than stands on its own as a classic.

As a follow-up release to ASIA's self-titled best-selling album, "Alpha" does a relatively good job of holding its own.

The biggest hit featured, "Don't Cry", doesn't have nearly the punch of the first album's claim to fame, "Heat Of The Moment", but it is still an enjoyable listen.

One of the drawbacks of the album is that so many of its selections, while truly well-executed, never received their much-deserved attention and airplay on the radio at the time of the album's release.
"Never In A Million Years" is a fine power ballad, and "My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want)" is a powerful anthem for any wannabe rebellious teen of the '80s. The song that comes closest to the strength and impact of the first album is "The Heat Goes On", with cords and lyrics that harken back to the band's initial work.

But it must be noted that there is one near-criminal omission on this CD. In the original LP and cassette release of 1983, there was a final song included, entitled "Daylight". Arguably the best song on the entire album, it was presumably cut because back in the day CDs were quite new and the time allotted on them was fairly limited. Rather than examine the listing for the least impressive piece, the final track was simply eliminated when "Alpha" first came out on CD. (Why, in a time where we can now fit 20 tracks on one dsic, the album was never re-released with its original, full listing, is beyond me.)

If you can find the song "Daylight" on another collection or download it, do so by all means. "Alpha" is indeed worth having in your music library, but preferably on vinyl or, if you can actually find one, cassette. It's CD version is indeed lacking considerably with one of its best cuts missing.

With the success of their first LP, I'm sure this follow up was a little rushed in the making. Steve Howe had left for a while to spend time with his wife and family, leaving Wetton and Downes as the main songwriters.
What a fine team they made, great songs like "Don't Cry", and my favorite Wetton-only-written "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes". I originally didn't care much for the others when I first heard the LP, but letting all the songs play one afternoon changed my mind. (This is where I make my recommendation to purchase it in CD format). "Midnight Sun", "Eye to Eye" and "Open Your Eyes" are all good songs.
One missing from this disc is "Daylight" which at the time was only available on the pre-recorded cassette tape, or the b-side of "Don't Cry" (Although available now on "Asia Gold" and "Anthologia").
Who knows where this may have gone had Howe given input to the some of the song writing. As it is, the disc stands up pretty well anyway.
If you've read any of my other Asia reviews, here it goes again, pick up "Asia Gold" or "Anthologia" instead. The tracks have been re-mastered and with a little higher price, but also include the b-sides. You get it all: Asia, Alpha, Astra, and Then & Now on two discs and sounding better than ever.
I would recommend this disc to any who need a complete collection, or have the other three Wetton era CD's

I bought this album back in 83 when it first came out before I ever heard anything from the debut album. I fell in love with it immediately. Every song is a winner. And I mean every song. The only so-so track on the album is "Never In A Million Years". It's still a good track, but compared to any other track on the album, it pales in comparison. And, for the price you are paying for it, you can't go wrong. I own quite a few Asia albums, and this is definately one of the best.