Archiva 2 [Import]

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Resurgence UK
• ASIN: B000003RSY
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,535 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Obsession

2. Moon Under The Water

3. Love Like The Video

4. Don't Come To Me

5. The Smoke That Thunders

6. Satellite Blues

7. Showdown

8. That Season

9. Can't Tell These Walls

10. The Higher You Climb

11. Right To Cry

12. Armenia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good collection of songs not on their regular albums., May 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Archiva 2 (Audio CD)

This is actually a good collection of songs not used on any of Asia's regular albums. I can't believe the quality of some of them. I would've thought that they would have been on the regular albums and not on a collection of unused songs. "Moon Under the Water" is a great song with some great keyboard playing from Geoff Downes. "Don't Come to Me" is a great song and one of Asia's best. "Obsession" is good. The album ending instrumental "Armenia" is great. Archiva Vol. 2 is much better than the first Archiva volume. Worth a listen, there are some great songs on here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great almost-forgotten music..., August 22, 2001

By 

Robert Jenkins "video geek #1" (Celina, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Archiva 2 (Audio CD)

According to the liner notes, this album and the companion volume were released after Downes and Payne discovered a box of old, never-released tapes while cleaning up after their studio was flooded one year during their Christmas break. Not that I would ever wish water damage on anyone, but I'm glad their studio flooded, if that's what it took to get these songs onto CD. Like the first volume, this CD is full of excellent tracks that are definitely worth a listen or two (or more). One of the best things about these songs is that many of them are done in different musical styles than the main "Asia Sound" of the 90's on Aqua, Aria, and Arena. I especially enjoyed the songs done in the style of ELO. Overall, the disc has a little more "hard-rock" sound than other Asia releases. My personal favorites on this track are Obsession, Love Like The Video, The Smoke That Thunders, and Armenia. The latter two are cool instrumentals, once again displaying Geoff Downes' incredible talent. If you're normally turned off by "out-take" songs and albums, make an exception here and pick this one up.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable previously unreleased material., October 4, 2000

By 

sauerkraut - See all my reviews

This review is from: Archiva 2 (Audio CD)

I've always enjoyed having and listening to Archiva Vol. 2 from Asia. This disc consists of previously unreleased material from the period that John Payne (vocals/bass) has been with Asia. I actually find Archiva Vol. 2 to be just as good as Asia's regular albums. There's a total of twelve tracks, and all of them are good and have something to offer. John Payne does a good job with the vocal duties. The musicianship, songwriting, and production are tight and satisfying. The material also happens to be varied. There are two very cool instrumentals that are included--"The Smoke That Thunders" and "Armenia." "The Smoke That Thunders" sports catchy keyboard playing and a good beat. Also, there are a handful of tunes that sound somewhat different for Asia ("Showdown," "Satellite Blues," and "Love like the Video"). These three songs sport more of a raw rock approach--they are good songs that are in a similar direction to the tune "Back in Town" from the Aqua album. "Showdown" is a song originally performed by ELO. My favorite tracks are "Moon under the Water," "Armenia," and "Don't Come to Me." "Moon under the Water" is a nice ballad with encompassing and skilled keyboard playing from Geoff Downes. "Armenia" is also a really good instrumental with great keyboard playing--I can only describe it as enigmatic and mysterious (also features some nice guitar playing). "Don't Come to Me" is another good one that's a power ballad. "Obsession" and "The Higher You Climb" are straight-ahead pop rock songs, and "That Season," "Can't Tell These Walls," and "Right to Cry" are tracks in a mellow direction. The CD booklet includes the song lyrics along with comments about each track. I'm surprised that some of the tracks on this disc weren't included on the regular albums. It's cool that Asia decided to put out these previously unreleased songs. Anybody that's an Asia fan and doesn't have this disc should get it. The album cover is pretty interesting, too. Archiva Vol. 2 is enjoyable and worth a listen.