Customer Reviews

Asia - America: Live in the USA

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Being a fan of but never having heard the post Wetton Asia lineup live, I wasnt sure what to expect with this DVD. The sound is surprisingly clear. Singer John Payne's vocals are very strong. Geoff Downes keyboard playing is typically great. Highlight's include The Arena, Only Time Will Tell, Go, Free, & Wherever You Are. My only complaint is that the songs Kings of the Day and the Love under Fire/Sad Situation/Longest Night medley listed on the box are not on the DVD.

Do not listen to the Nay sayers on this. They either dont know anything about music or need their heads examined. Although not as Great as the Original line up of Howe,Downes,Palmer,& Wetton -the new Asia is pretty good and have put out some good ablbms (check out: Aria, Arena, and Aura) The concert is a good one and the sound is good also. I wish they would have kept the interviews sepreate and included the entire concert (solos and a few acoustic songs missing) Put as a whole Asia is still a good band putting out some soild music a million times better than the Crap that is out there today. If you were an Asia fan you will enjoy this or if you are new to them give em a try they are pretty good. As artists they are exploring new directions not just relying on Past hitts or staying as a greatest hits machine?? after all that what true artists do, explore new directions not relying on old ones to get them thru. The people who gave this a bad reviews -simply dont know what they are talking about-and they probibly enjoy listening to people like William Hong (IDOL REJECT) and they think that is music.

This DVD is really grate, the sound is clear but not very powerfull and the image is clear, but I got very disapointed when I realise that Kings of the Day and the Love under Fire/Sad Situation/Longest Night medley listed on the box are not on the DVD. That's way I just give it 4 stars. But definitely if you fill fine without the missing songs go for it, indeed is grate the performance.

This is a tricky DVD to review, because some people (as previous reviews have shown) consider Asia to be Wetton/Howe/Downes/Palmer, or nothing. In fact, the classic line-up only recorded 2 albums before Steve Howe left, to be replaced by the competent but ordinary Mandy Meyer. And since then, things have changed dramatically. The new "core", if you will, is Downes and Bass player/vocalist John Payne, who has a totally different vocal style to John Wetton. And these two have in fact just released their 5th studio album together, and having gone through a series of guitarists, drummers and assorted guests, seem to have settles on the current line-up at least for now. Drummer Chris Slade is solid, not extraordinary but does everything necessary to hold the songs together.

Guitarist Guthrie Govan is a teacher and column-writer, who can pretty much play any style you'd care to hear. I agree his sound is thin on the DVD (unlike live, where it was great), but his playing is superb, and it gives the songs where he is allowed to solo an extra dimension. "Arena" is one in particular which is significantly superior to the album version.

Apart from that, the picture is OK, not fantastic, and the songs are separated by brief interviews, which can get a bit annoying (should have been a separate section IMHO). The camarawork is also OK, not spectacular. The most charismatic musician is Govan, who pulls faces, throws his hair around, travels around the stage, and generally seems to be throughly enjoying the fact that he gets to be in a band! And Payne has his moments.

You have to accept that the "classic" songs are going to sound different with Payne singing, but he does a good job, and the new material is generally high standard, if less familiar. I'd have liked more off Aria (my Payne favourite), but you can't have everything when a band is promoting a new CD (Aura). And apart from "Awake" - which sends me to sleep - it's good stuff.

And the instrumental "Bad Asteroid", whilst totally off the wall compared to the rest of the material, is a good piece, and shows just how good Govan really is.

A bigger budget and more thought would have earned a star or two more.

Great sound and picture. I have two major complaints about this DVD. 1) Kings Of The Day, Keyboard solo, Love Under Fire, Sad Situation, Longest Night & Love Under Fire, which are listed as being on the DVD, are not there, 2) Put the interviews on separatly, instead of between songs. THIS IS A HUGE DITRACTION, when your getting into the concert.

I'm glad I didn't "listen" to most of the reviews and bought the DVD to see for myself. I think it's a great DVD. Yes, it had interviews after each song, but I don't think it took away from the music at all, I enjoyed whatever time I had to get to know the guys. The picture was fine as well, I thought it was clear. I'm a fan of Asia from their first release and I think John Payne did a damn good job of singing the old tunes. He has an absolutely beautiful voice. I only wish that all the tunes on the live CD were on the DVD. If you liked Asia during the Wetton era and/or during the Payne era, you are going love this DVD! I had never heard of Guthrie Govan (guitar) before, but he is an awesome guitarist! Chris Slade on the drums, well what can I say...the guy played with AC/DC in the past, you know he's beyond good and into greatness. And for you gals out there...John is absolutely gorgeous, you gotta get this DVD just to watch him!! I also recommend you buy the "Silent Nation" CD, the edition that has the bonus DVD of "The Making of Silent Nation". If you read this, please buy it, you won't be disappointed!!

For those who would like to see ASIA more like the John Wetton era check out the other ASIA DVD recording in the late eighties for British television. It's the original lineup sans Steve Howe. Pat Thrall fills in admirably for Howe and can surely blister the axe.

I have known about "overacting", but the new singer in Asia makes a real "oversinging"! Man, the guy (he's also the bass player) has a incredibly powerful and beautiful voie, but sometimes he sings like if he was in a gospel church!! It's really annoying, mainly on the old classics.

Anyway, there are times when he can restrain himself, and the band as a whole is very good (check Chris Slade on drums. The guy is a consumate pro, decades on the road with artists going from AC/DC through Jimmy Page). The set list was also good.

Another flaw is the guitar sound. It is ludicrously thin here, I can't tell if it was sounding this way at the live show or the damage was done in the mixing table.

In generalm it's worth watching. Like someone below said, it's miles better than the crap that flows through the airwaves nowadays....

Please find something else to do with your hard earned money than buy this. If you are a fan of ASIA circa 1982 you will be HORRIFIED at the Broadway show tune versions of classics like "Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell" and even "Go" from the third album ASTRA. The only thing more disturbing is the guitarist, Guthrie Govan soloing vomitously over every song--imagine a cut rate Steve Vai hacking away at songs you have loved for 20+ years. Just say no!!!

really a bummer of a let down. nobody from asia is playing, well i guess geoff downes on the keyboards is playing but otherwise a bunch of cover players! waste of time, money, whatever! you will regret this one. this one is a no burner!