Aura [Import, Limited Edition]

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Universal/Absolute
• ASIN: B0000594XQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,647 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Awake

2. Wherever You Are

3. Ready to Go Home

4. The Last Time

5. Forgive Me

6. Kings of the Day

7. On the Coldest Day in Hell

8. Free

9. You're the Stranger

10. The Longest Night

11. Aura [Instrumental]

12. Under the Gun [*]

13. Come Make My Day [*]

14. Hands of Tim [*]

Editorial Reviews

Classic Rock, June 2001

Songs from the very top drawer

It's been a very long time coming, but well worth the wait --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Asia's seventh album, Aura was released on June 5, 2001. The album was produced bny the legendary Roger Dean and includes a host of guest musicians. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably the Best of the Payne/Downes Era, October 15, 2002

By 

Calvin93 "calvin93" (Fort Lee, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aura (Audio CD)

As an ASIA fan since the beginning, I had become increasingly unimpressed with the Payne/Downes releases after AQUA. I bought this album more out of obligation but expected the same occasional hooks from ARIA and ARENA. Boy, was I glad to be wrong! AURA - 14 songs long - is full of excellent songs, more hook than usual, excellent keyboards and guitar work. Probably their strongest studio album since AQUA (which is even more amazing when OBSESSION is included), with their trademark blend of ballads and uptempt songs on love and war. This album just SOUNDS better, more tightly constructed. AWAKE kicks off the album with inspiring lyrics (albeit a simple, but catchy, keyboard riff). Standouts include WHEREVER YOU ARE (reminds me of the message of 1981's ONE STEP CLOSER a bit), KINGS OF THE DAY (you might even THINK it's John Wetton!), FREE (a nearly-9-minute concert staple that really does ROCK), READY TO GO HOME (a mellow and spiritual ballad with excellent moody guitars) and UNDER THE GUN (on the "extra tracks"... why are they extra if every CD has them) with keyboard sounds that harken back to ALPHA. There is the standard album-ending instrumental, AURA, that is not as good as, say, AQUA II or BELLA NOVA, but sums up the mood well. I was very impressed with this album and it grows on you immensely each time you listen to it again. This makes me hope that there will be a 5th studio release from Downes & Payne. No, it's not as good as the first two Wetton albums - nothing ever will be - but well worth the purchase!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subtle sensory stimulus..., February 24, 2001

By 

Tigran Haas (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aura (Audio CD)

Amongst the floods of mass-produced music of mediocre or very low quality the genre of AOR/Sympho/Art/Melodic/Progressive (or whatever you want to call it) Rock became almost drowned by it. Fortunately brilliant attempts by new artists and bands like The Storm, Two Fires, Transatlantic, 101 South, Alliance, Arena, Ten, etc., and solo acts like Kip Winger, Bob Catley, Hugo and others saved the day. Giants like Journey, Yes, Saga and others made and are making new stuff and survive rather well in the process. Asia was then but it also became 'now'. And 'now' happened with the appearance of the 4th studio album in the new Asia era - the brilliant and sophisticated product called "AURA". The long awaited album proved that the phrase "Worth waiting for..." is definitely true. "Aura" is a magnificent and highly progressive attempt by the Supergroup Giants of the 80's - Asia! This is a new Asia. One shouldn't expect a powerful and striking entré and momentous thread throughout, as the first 3 albums of the old Asia had. It is not so much about dynamics, power, anthemic velocity and over perfection. It is much more about subtle sensory stimulation (as the name of album indicates - AURA), melancholy, mellowness, warmness, appeal and thematic soundness. There is a theme, a place, a moment in time, a special feeling, a story to be told, very intimate and personal music to be listened to. Aura requires your full attention. It is not a simple album and that is what it gives its greatest quality. From the opening mellow anthemic chorus like "Awake", throughout the beautiful and heart striking "Ready to go Home" (with a finish reminiscent of Police) and up to the fantastically consistent thread songs as "The Last Time", "Forgive me", "Kings of the Day". The album just vibrates with such an incredible aura which none of the previous Asia albums had, except maybe for "Alpha", and partly "Asia". Song "Free" with Saga's Ian Chrichton and ex-Asia's Pat Thrall on guitars validates the statement that this is a progressive album, at least for those that want to prove it by some cliché standards.The album moves all the time in a union of incredible music, superb writing, constrained but ever presented, fundamental and dominating Downes keyboard magic. Payne's theater operatic voice leads the whole thing into a perfect whole. His mastery comes up clearly in "On the coldest day in hell". This comes out as the most passionate and mellow song Asia ever produced. The threads continue in the last tracks of the album, "You are the Stranger" and the "Longest Night" (this one has some good guitar work). The standard version closes with a Santana vibe instrumental track "Aura", featuring Elliot Randall. This wonderful tune could fit just about everywhere, and here it closes the whole package nicely. The biggest surprise comes in the limited edition of the album (one which should have been the standard one). Here the listener is awarded with 3 more tunes. And what tunes they are! When you think this magnificent album is over 3 breathtaking tunes arrive at the scene. "Under the gun" brings the 'old' Asia keyboard feeling and drive that "Aria" had. "Come make my day" gives yet another turn, while "Hands of time" is maybe 'the most progressive' track on the album. It's an exciting song, a mixture of today's quality progressive bands with touches of ELO and Queen and the positive vibes from "Arena". Like a nice 70's tune washed in 80's clothes and reborn in 90's touches proudly ready to enter the 00's. These three songs were done in the beginning of the creation of new Asia that was to arrive on Aura. Ian Chrichton (Saga) really shines here as well as the new drummer Chris Slade (ex AC/DC). Maybe the whole album would have benefited if Ian remained throughout all the tracks, though Guthrie Govan does a very nice job. Steve Howe's flash appearances are worth a million. Geoff Downes keys provide a foundation for every Asia album now. This time one can feel that his playing has matured immensely form the old Asia days. It just shows that an incredible talent can never stop in advancement. For Geoff Downes it seems that there is no end. There are breezes of his latest solo works ("Light Program" & "World Service"). Writing on this album is probably the finest in Asia history. Production by Simon Hanhart is top of the notch. The masterful strokes of Roger Dean's thematic paintings are back again. Maybe it's no coincidence that the album features the return/resurrection of the "Alpha" pyramid. John Payne's vocal potentials are awesome. While the album probably won't achieve the success of any of the 3 albums of the 80's, due to so many other things beside the music on the album itself (today's scene, music, preferences, industry, advertisement, etc.) it will certainly assert Asia again with the above mentioned old and new spearheads of quality music. Asia always deserved to receive the music greatest achievement - the Grammy award. It didn't happen in the 80's but there is always a chance for this group to be recognized if the right thing comes along. This year proved that old timers like Steely Dan could take most of the things away from the "plastic" age representatives. Asia is one of the very few groups or singers capable of making high quality music. "Aura" is a special album from a special group. It is an enjoyment from the first to the last minute. It is not a simple product and it requires a lot from the listener. If you decide take this "subtle sensory stimulus journey" don't expect a plain musical ride. It's much, much more complex task. If you decide to take the "Aura" journey, you will be in for a ride of your life. If you decide not to, you missed a hell of a experience.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Asia at their most spiritual..., August 23, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Aura (Audio CD)

This is definitely a departure for the Payne-era Asia, although it is still up to the excellent standard they have set with Aqua, Aria, and Arena. The intro song, "Awake", is a good lead-in to the album, and sets the tone for all of the remaining tracks. The next song, "Wherever You Are", is a haunting tune that speaks to everyone who has ever found themselves far from home and missing familiar places. "Ready to go Home" is a very spiritual, uplifting song that would fit in perfectly on any Christian rock station, and "Coldest Day In Hell" is a return to the Asia "classic" style. And, as usual, there is a wonderful keyboard solo track, "Aura". While these are my favorite tracks on the album, the others are all strong, as well. A special bonus on this album is the guest appearance of Steve Howe on a couple of tracks. His presence reminds one of everything he contributed to the first two albums. It's just a shame that quality music like this just can't seem to find its way onto the radio anymore. Asia is still one of the best bands out there. Definitely worth the purchase.