Omega

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B0039SFKSW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,076 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Finger on the Trigger

2. Through My Veins

3. Holy War

4. Ever Yours: Listen Children

5. End of the World

6. Light The Way

7. Emily (bonus Track - Available 1st Pressing)

8. Still The Same

9. There Was a Time

10. I Believe

11. Don't Wanna Lose You Now

Editorial Reviews

Omega by Asia

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen To The Record! Asia's Best? YES!, May 10, 2010

By 

D. Dutton "Baltimore Colts Fan" (Powhatan, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Omega (Audio CD)

.

First off let's dispense with the following critiques...

1) They are old.

The alternative is to quit or die, so cool it with calling them old. They are old. We get it.

2) They have forgotten their Prog roots.

Asia is the only successful Pop band to be formed by former Prog stars. That is what they do, so stop pretending that they should be YesELPcrimsonbuggles. They are Asia.

3) They are not as good as the 1980's.

In 1982 the critics hated even the debut hit "Asia" because it was too much Pop and not enough Prog. These guys have gotten better with age. Wetton and Howe are both better than ever.

Additionally, the "prog snobs" should hate it. In fact, they hate most everything that has melody, harmony or sounds good. Make no mistake this CD is well written, well performed, pure rock ear candy.

If you are an Asia fan, you already have the CD. If you are a casual fan and can't decide...buy it NOW! The music is classic Asia with better than ever sound quality. Listen with headphones and be prepared to be carried off to pop/prog heaven that only Asia can deliver. It just sounds good, check it out.

Wetton is singing better than ever, and as always the driver with his cutting bass. His amazing voice has gotten even richer. You cannot mistake the Steve Howe sound, and it is evident on every track especially "Emily" where the Fender slider is played flawlessly by the master. Palmer is spot on as always and because of the mix really cannot be appreciated until you don the headphones. Downes fills the canvas behind Howe Wetton and Palmer. Downes, as always, is awesome on this CD.

On any CD I look for 2 to 3 strong tracks. Omega delivers 5! All 5 are airtime ready, but won't get any. The haunting "There Was A Time" features Wetton and has a Court of the Crimson King sound and is the best "Proggy" song on the CD. "Finger on the Trigger, "Holy War", and "Listen Children" would all be hits if these were the 1980's. That said ALL TRACKS ARE VERY GOOD. Buy this CD. NOT The DOWNLOAD. GET THE REAL SOUND. (Rip it only if you must jog)

***** Track Ratings*****
1. Finger on the Trigger *****5
2. Through My Veins ***3
3. Holy War *****5
4. Ever Yours ***3
5. Listen Children *****5
6. End of the World ***3
7. Light The Way ****4
8. Emily (bonus track) ****4
9. Still The Same ***3
10. There Was a Time *****5
11. I Believe *****5
12. Don't Wanna Lose You Now ****4

For the first time since the debut ASIA in '82, the band chose an outside producer. Mark Paxman does a great job crafting the sound and is a great addition. The production quality is amazing. The harmonizing that Asia has always done sounds even better on Omega.

This is the BEST ASIA ALBUM. Asia's debut album will always be viewed (like Boston's) as the standard by which the rest are measured. I say the standard is now OMEGA! ENJOY!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly exciting, joyful, and fantastically performed triumph!, May 26, 2010

By 

Exwag (Iowa City, IA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Omega (Audio CD)

OK, first off: let me tell you where I'm coming from. I am a serious prog rock fan, but enjoy lots of stuff, and always appreciate a well-written and performed song, as I am a songwriter myself. I am NOT an Asia nut or partisan in any way. I had the 1982 debut record like everyone else, and loved it (I was 12, so take it for what it's worth), but I would more likely throw on King Crimson, Yes, or ELP than anything else the band has done (and I've never even listened to the John Payne version--Asia is Wetton's band, to me, and his distinctive vocals and personality in singing is a big reason I even thought about looking into this new record). It never occurred to me to look into 2006's Phoenix, and I assumed that the band would be a pale imitation of its former success. I am not a huge fan of AOR rock (e.g., I don't listen to Journey, REO Speedwagon, et al), and have little tolerance for dumb lyrics and lighter-raising stadium rock moves. But. . . .I love Omega. I read the strong review in Classic Rock magazine and was surprised they had such good things to say about how revitalized the band was. So, I listened to the 30 second samples here and was surprised how good they sounded. Still, I didn't buy it; I've been burned before on samples that turn out not to represent the song as a whole. But a funny thing happened. I couldn't get the melodies from those 30-second samples out of my head. That is very unusual, and a sure sign that there is some strong songwriting on Omega. So, I finally downloaded it via Amazon, and seriously, guys, it is GOOD. Firstly, the record sounds fantastic--the excitement and power of the debut record but with no early-80s, dated production sheen. Clear strong sound, lots of air, not overly compressed and loud. Second, from the playing it is immediately clear that these old guys are not going through the motions (as I gather many thought they were on Pheonix, which I've not listened to yet). They are pumped up. The playing is really strong, tight, not flashy, no long solos (sorry proggers. . . I wouldn't have minded a few myself), but lots of very thoughtful licks that serve the song. The excitement and FUN is immediately apparent and very winning. I can't really believe how great Wetton's voice still sounds. I'm tempted to say better than ever--he used to have just a little bit of pitch trouble in the old days but his voice is now a very appealing, powerful and strong instrument in itself. Third, and most important--the SONGS. Really good writing, nearly every song has multiple strong melodies in the verses and choruses, that stay with you after one listen. This is an art that is sadly lost today, even by those like Asia who once had a firm grasp on it--well, no more for this group. Like most records today, it should be 45 min. instead of 60 (I'd get rid of "There Was a Time" and "I Believe", two of the weaker tracks), but oh, those 45 minutes--great tunes played with excitement, joy, and power by excellent musicians. To those who blast this release for being pop: oh, jeez, get over yourself. Asia was always a pop band and a great one. They prove it here. For those who lament, for example, that "Carl Palmer is given so little to do here": firstly, don't be misled. I'm a drummer, and to play with strength, control, and to really swing in the beat while driving the song forward---that is not simple. Sometimes banging all over the kit to something like "Tarkus" is actually easier than what Palmer does here, for example. Also: did it ever occur to you that no one is "giving" any of these guys "little to do"? Did it occur to you that, like me, and (hopefully) like you, these musicians like many types of music and choose, in the context of Asia (Howe has played much more proggy material recently with Yes, you know), to write and play great, sophisticated pop songs that sound great on the radio? Maybe "Emily" sounds like the Beatles because. . . hold on to your seats. . . .the guys in Asia LIKE THE BEATLES. Who doesn't? The relevant question is not: is it prog, or is it Asia? The relevant question is: is it good? And the answer is yes. I was not at all prepared to love this record, but I do. The guys have really pulled it off, and I hope that they get recognized for it. Are the lyrics sometimes banal? Sure, just like they were on the debut record, and frankly, in much of what Wetton does. But this is not the Shins, or Belle and Sebastian, or Grizzly Bear, OK? This is classic, big, catchy, prog-pop that would sound awesome blasting out of a radio this summer (not that it will probably get much airplay these days). Enjoy it for what it is, check your cynicism for a minute and dig it. With "Finger on the Trigger" blasting away, I can tell you, I at least feel like I did in 1982, when I heard "Heat of the Moment" and raced to the stereo to hit record on my cassette tape filled with airshots of top 40 hits on WKTI, Milwaukee, 94.5 FM. At $7.99 to download the album, you can't go wrong.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Asia delivers.........again!, May 9, 2010

By 

S. Green - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Omega (Audio CD)

John Wetton had mentioned that this album was very much in the vein of "Alpha", their 1983 release. I would have to agree. "Alpha" was a bit less prog and more accessible pop/rock. Much the same can be said about "Omega". Though I would have liked to see the guys veer more into the prog-rock genre, I am pleased with what they've dished up on this one. Signature Asia sound with Wetton's fantastic, distinctive vocals and Steve Howe's unmistakable virtuoso guitar work. Carl Palmer is solid as always and Geoff Downes holds it all together with his keyboards. The songs are all quite good and there isn't a weak one in the bunch. As much as I liked "Phoenix", I am tempted to say that "Omega" just might be consistently better overall. I am pleased to note that Howe's guitar is featured a bit more prominently on this cd. Overall, nice work guys! Asia fans will be pleased. Here's hoping that in two more years we will be celebrating yet another new Asia album. Thumbs way up!