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 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,834 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

2010 album from the Prog Rock supergroup featuring all four original members: John Wetton (King Crimson/UK), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP) and Geoffrey Downes (The Buggles). While the band was an enormous success when they debuted in 1982, the original quartet fractured and Howe left in 1984. It wasn't until 2006 that the original foursome reconvened for a tour and then a new studio album in 2008. Two years on from that album, Omega finds all four members at a new creative peak. First pressing limited edition digipak including 1 bonus track! Frontiers.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 89 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

Format: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! Read more ›

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul Survivors May 24, 2010

By SoundDiscoveries

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

First off,let me say that I am not biased as I love all of the work Asia has put out with all the past and current members. I still listen to the John Payne era line up and was disappointed to see it fade away. Well who in the progressive rock community would not love to see all four original members put out more great music? I have read the reviews and it seems that there are many who tag this as too melodic and not progressive enough for their particular tastes! Well it is 28 years since the first album by this supergroup and I gave Omega a couple of weeks to listen to it before writing a review. First off I hate the digipak format which is why I opted for this more expensive Japanese release which has a bonus track just like the American version on the Frontier label ( which I also recently purchased).

To see these four musicians continue to put out great music is a a thrill for us middle age people who know that music should not be dictated by record companies for the sake of sales or just for a quick buck by an old group who has fallen short on cash. Neither of these applies to Asia. They have already proved,"Time and Time again",that they can write and still perform better in their sixties then any teenie group out there. They are all accomplished musicians and skilled writers who deserve praise,not criticism for their tireles efforts.

And No this isn't as progressive as it used to be,they have changed with the times and progressed into a more melodic pop/prog rock group,but can still write a well thought out song. And if John Wetton wants to sing about God,then that is his perogative. This isn't cheesy contemporary christian rock.It is from his heart,that is the difference....

Five stars for great upbeat music that still has great song structure and four guys who I admire for coming back and saving us from all of the hateful,negative music we have been fed for the last 15 years or so. Cheerio! Read more ›

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best album since their debut! May 12, 2010

By Hemingway

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Omega" is the second album since the reformation of the four original members of Asia, and it shows further musical, lyrical and even, spiritual development within the band.

Sonically, what is most noticeable about "Omega" is the presence of John Wetton's bass guitar high in the mix. Along with Carl Palmer's stellar percussion work, Asia's rhythm section provides a driving beat that hasn't been heard to this extent on any previous Asia album. The opening track, "Finger on the Trigger," is a real tour-de-force. Who said 60-year olds can't still rock? Others like "Listen Children," and "Light the Way" rock with a renewed energy.

Although it lacks the progressive elements of its predecessors, "Omega" is full of great hooks, even on the mid-tempo numbers. And the arrangements are such that they allow keyboardist Geoff Downes and guitarist Steve Howe plenty of opportunities to overlay their instrumentation above the rhythm. The album is well-produced by Mike Paxman and this results in an abundance of wonderfully multi-layered musical textures. "Omega" sounds as if all four members truly enjoyed the recording experience.

Most of all, Wetton's voice is in peak form; strong and sounding better than ever and he sings with great emotion throughout. As is typical of his songwriting, Wetton's lyrics are mostly autobiographical and are influenced by the spiritual renewal he has recently experienced in his personal life. This is particularly apparent on songs such as "Ever Yours," "End of the World," and "I Believe." Musically, the latter two, along with "Holy War," maintain Asia's identifiable majestic keyboard-driven sound.

Interestingly, the eighth song of the twelve on this album, "Emily," is billed as a bonus track.... Along with "I'm Still The Same" and "Don't Wanna Lose You Now," they provide the albums' most pop-influenced moments. The emotional "There Was A Time," begins with a sparse arrangement highlighted by Howe and Downes' flavorful instrumentation. It gradually builds in intensity as the subjects' pain is reproduced in Wetton's vocalization. "Through My Veins," one of two Howe/Wetton compositions on the album, speaks of the pain and emptiness one can experience in coping with the loss of a loved one.
There aren't too many albums where every song is a keeper, but "Omega" is one of them. Simply put, this is a sensational album, undoubtedly Asia's best since their debut album in 1982. Brilliant! Read more ›