OT: ASIA "Arena"

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:24 pm

I love this album, and discovered it soon after I learned Geoff Downes had still been releasing albums under the ASIA name, so I bought this one, "Aria", and "Arvhiva Vol 1" all at the same time.

I fell in love with the guitar lead in the opening instrumental track, and learned it note for note several years ago. It remains one of my favorite leads to practice, and I was having fun with it for over an hour tonight. Here's a sample:

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/window/ ... LO,00.html

by **Rockindeano** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:29 pm

OK, serious here, not some joke post.

Asia? Fucking Asia? These guys don't need ticket sales, they need Depends ultra thin adult diapers.

Come on folks? Asia, Dokken, Richard Marx? WTF is wrong with you people?

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:38 pm

Rockindeano wrote:OK, serious here, not some joke post.

Asia? Fucking Asia? These guys don't need ticket sales, they need Depends ultra thin adult diapers.

Come on folks? Asia, Dokken, Richard Marx? WTF is wrong with you people?

How can anyone resist those blue eyes?

by **Rockindeano** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:39 pm

Like I said, get em some diapers.

How embarrassing!

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:40 pm

Rockindeano wrote:Like I said, get em some diapers.

How embarrassing!

John Wettin', as in Bed-Wettin'...

by **ProgRocker53** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:44 pm

I'm actually a pretty big Asia fan.

by **Rockindeano** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:44 pm

How do you live with yourself?

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:46 pm

ProgRocker53 wrote:I'm actually a pretty big Asia fan.

You have to be if you're a progger!

by **Saint John** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:47 pm

Rockindeano wrote:How do you live with yourself?

Not sure why, but this made me spit my beer out. :lol:

by **Rockindeano** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:48 pm

You cocksuckers probably love Yes too. Jesus, I saw those dickbreaths open for Journey in LA on 2002. The entire crowd was asleep. Neal was none too happy. Thanks Yes, you prog rockers.

by **Saint John** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:50 pm

Rockindeano wrote:You cocksuckers probably love Yes too. Jesus, I saw those dickbreaths open for Journey in LA on 2002. The entire crowd was asleep. Neal was none too happy. Thanks Yes, you prog rockers.

Yes and Rush are the two worst bands...ever.

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:02 pm

Saint John wrote:
Rockindeano wrote:You cocksuckers probably love Yes too. Jesus, I saw those dickbreaths open for Journey in LA on 2002. The entire crowd was asleep. Neal was none too happy. Thanks Yes, you prog rockers.

Yes and Rush are the two worst bands...ever.

I was never a huge Yes fan -- too self-indulgent, though I did enjoy 90215 (or whatever it was called). Actually had some singles on it!

Rush, however, RULES with an iron fist...

by **Higgy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:20 am

Asia's Arena album is one fucking great album! It is the album that shows you that Downes/Payne was every bit as good (or even better than) Wetton/Downes. How fucking great would this album have been with Steve Howe.

GPS's Windows album is almost as good.

by **ProgRocker53** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:22 am

Saint John wrote:
Rockindeano wrote:You cocksuckers probably love Yes too. Jesus, I saw those dickbreaths open for Journey in LA on 2002. The entire crowd was asleep. Neal was none too happy. Thanks Yes, you prog rockers.

Yes and Rush are the two worst bands...ever.

Elaborate.

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:29 am

Higgy wrote:Asia's Arena album is one fucking great album! It is the album that shows you that Downes/Payne was every bit as good (or even better than) Wetton/Downes. How fucking great would this album have been with Steve Howe.

GPS's Windows album is almost as good.

I dig that avatar, Higgy! I haven't pulled this album out in a long time, but worked with the guitar for a quite while last night, then went to sleep listening to the disc, and woke up to play with it again. Great album to mellow out to. I've learned a good bit about lead progressions by learning and experimenting with that Santana-style solo instrumental at the beginning, and yes, it also reminds me a bit of Steve Howe. The guy was apparently a Japanese player named Hotei Tomayasu, also listed in the credits as Tomayasu Hotei, so I'm not sure which is actually first name is... I just fell in love with it the very first time I popped it in and hear the first few notes of the main lead guitar:

6/12 6/14 6/15~~~~ 6/14 6/12 6/14~~~~ 6/12 5/15 5/15~5/17~5/15 5/12 (that was a bend from 5/15 to 5/17 and back)

Has kind of a "fantasy" feel to it, and just kinda takes me out of my mind to another place, and very ASIA! Maybe I'm getting into it too much, but it's become one of my favorite leads of all time, for something not that well known.

Rodney Matthews did the excellent cover art, which was faithful to the style of the Roger Dean covers. Folded out, you have a winged lion with eyes on the wings, a hissing dragon/serpent, a mountain city, spaceships, and nuclear symbol skulls in the sky, with a great orange/red sky. Killer cover!

Yes, the Downes/Payne era, which actually began with the AQUA album feat. Steve Howe (guest) and Carl Palmer, was very underrated, though some of the material at times was weak to me. It was during that time that I bought the keyboard from Geoff Downes and the bass from John Payne, and those are two of my treasures. The Downes/Payne albums features some excellent guest session players like Al Pitrelli (Megadeth, TSO) and Elliott Randall (Steely Dan), until they settled for a more "band" approach with "Silent Nation".

All in all, I'm just really ready for a full new ASIA studio album with the originals. Those 4 have not released a full album together since "Alpha", and that was when I first really started getting into them! No one writes self-pity songs with words like "The brightest ring around the moon will darken when I die" like John Wetton... except Don Dokken!

by **Higgy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:57 am

Yeah, the cover art on that album almost makes the entire album for me. It solidifies the concept of the battle between the Lion and Cobra.

Rip - do you like Spock's Beard?

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:04 am

Higgy wrote:Rip - do you like Spock's Beard?

You know, I've heard of them, but never listened to them. Are they good?

by **Ehwmatt** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:43 am

Asia is great... they took prog and made it radio friendly, which, depending on what kind of prog fan you are (close-minded snob or someone with a little more variety in musical taste) is a great thing or an awful thing. I haven't dug the Payne live stuff too much on YouTube, but I remember Long Way From Home from Silent Nation and that was a great cut. I don't know much Payne era stuff though. Definitely looking forward to the new album.

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:50 am

Ehwmatt wrote:Asia is great... they took prog and made it radio friendly, which, depending on what kind of prog fan you are (close-minded snob or someone with a little more variety in musical taste) is a great thing or an awful thing. I haven't dug the Payne live stuff too much on YouTube, but I remember Long Way From Home from Silent Nation and that was a great cut. I don't know much Payne era stuff though. Definitely looking forward to the new album.

I'm listening to "Coldest Day In Hell" off of AURA again right now.... Beautiful song, and I love the lyrics, guitar and keys in the final progression of it the most. Haven't pulled these discs out in a few years... ASIA has the same problem as bands like Europe do -- stereotyped for their radio hits, but to stick to those alone is a real mistake. It's the non-singles that really define their style and talent.

ASIA also had all the talent of Yes, but with much more cohesion and self-restraint in their playing. Yes was very self-indulgent and was just a bunch of soloists in my opinion.

by **Higgy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:49 am

Rip Rokken wrote:
Higgy wrote:Rip - do you like Spock's Beard?

You know, I've heard of them, but never listened to them. Are they good?

Check out the "Snow" CD. They released it right before their lead singer pulled a Kerry Livgren. If you like Arena, you'll probably like this. Their keyboardist, Ryo Okumoto, plays now with John Payne in GPS.

by **youkeepmewaiting** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:03 am

ProgRocker53 wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Rockindeano wrote:You cocksuckers probably love Yes too. Jesus, I saw those dickbreaths open for Journey in LA on 2002. The entire crowd was asleep. Neal was none too happy. Thanks Yes, you prog rockers.

Yes and Rush are the two worst bands...ever.

Elaborate.

Yes have some fine damn tunes.

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:47 am

youkeepmewaiting wrote:Yes have some fine damn tunes.

I did used to be more into Yes, primarily because of the Steve Howe connection. In fact, I got into several band that ASIA members had been connected to, such as ABWH (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe), 3 (Carl Palmer, Keith Emerson, & Robert Berry), and Emerson, Lake & Powell (DANG it's been a long time since I've heard that disc!). I never was able to get into the original ELP, though... My first guitar teacher turned me onto a lot of that stuff, and taught me how to play "Mood For A Day" by Howe. He was convinced I'd love ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery", but I just didn't dig it.

I like Yes best when they are singing something I can also sing along to, unless it's "All Good People"... always found that song obnoxious!

Speaking of obnoxious tunes, I was eating in an Indian restaurant just the other day, and this music was playing -- an Indian girl was singing these short verses again and again and again, in the same droning melody, but it sounded as if the words were changing with each verse. It continued thru my entire meal! I got a kick out of it and as I was paying, I made a joke to the cashier about how I was surprised she hadn't run out of breath yet. Turned out it wasn't a song, but a type of prayer, and each verse was praying to a different God. I'd prefer anything Yes has done over that again!

by **ProgRocker53** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:07 am

Rip Rokken wrote:
youkeepmewaiting wrote:Yes have some fine damn tunes.

I did used to be more into Yes, primarily because of the Steve Howe connection. In fact, I got into several band that ASIA members had been connected to, such as ABWH (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe), 3 (Carl Palmer, Keith Emerson, & Robert Berry), and Emerson, Lake & Powell (DANG it's been a long time since I've heard that disc!). I never was able to get into the original ELP, though... My first guitar teacher turned me onto a lot of that stuff, and taught me how to play "Mood For A Day" by Howe. He was convinced I'd love ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery", but I just didn't dig it.

I like Yes best when they are singing something I can also sing along to, unless it's "All Good People"... always found that song obnoxious!

Speaking of obnoxious tunes, I was eating in an Indian restaurant just the other day, and this music was playing -- an Indian girl was singing these short verses again and again and again, in the same droning melody, but it sounded as if the words were changing with each verse. It continued thru my entire meal! I got a kick out of it and as I was paying, I made a joke to the cashier about how I was surprised she hadn't run out of breath yet. Turned out it wasn't a song, but a type of prayer, and each verse was praying to a different God. I'd prefer anything Yes has done over that again!

Are you sure it wasn't this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:24 am

ProgRocker53 wrote:Are you sure it wasn't this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA

No, much worse! Was playing when I came in, and still playing when I left. Just a droning chant, again and again, in a female Hindu voice.

by **Rick** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:34 am

ProgRocker53 wrote:
Rip Rokken wrote:
youkeepmewaiting wrote:Yes have some fine damn tunes.

I did used to be more into Yes, primarily because of the Steve Howe connection. In fact, I got into several band that ASIA members had been connected to, such as ABWH (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe), 3 (Carl Palmer, Keith Emerson, & Robert Berry), and Emerson, Lake & Powell (DANG it's been a long time since I've heard that disc!). I never was able to get into the original ELP, though... My first guitar teacher turned me onto a lot of that stuff, and taught me how to play "Mood For A Day" by Howe. He was convinced I'd love ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery", but I just didn't dig it.

I like Yes best when they are singing something I can also sing along to, unless it's "All Good People"... always found that song obnoxious!

Speaking of obnoxious tunes, I was eating in an Indian restaurant just the other day, and this music was playing -- an Indian girl was singing these short verses again and again and again, in the same droning melody, but it sounded as if the words were changing with each verse. It continued thru my entire meal! I got a kick out of it and as I was paying, I made a joke to the cashier about how I was surprised she hadn't run out of breath yet. Turned out it wasn't a song, but a type of prayer, and each verse was praying to a different God. I'd prefer anything Yes has done over that again!

Are you sure it wasn't this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA

That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

by **Rip Rokken** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:50 am

Rick wrote:That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

No, that would be the word "Na" in Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"

by **Rick** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:59 am

Rip Rokken wrote:
Rick wrote:That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

No, that would be the word "Na" in Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"

Yeah, forgot about that one. At least that had a point, what the hell is Chocolate Rain?

by **Blueskies** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:01 am

Rip Rokken wrote:
Rick wrote:That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

No, that would be the word "Na" in Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"

by **Blueskies** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:08 am

Rick wrote:
Rip Rokken wrote:
Rick wrote:That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

No, that would be the word "Na" in Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"
Yeah, forgot about that one. At least that had a point, what the hell is Chocolate Rain?

na na na na na....had a point? Never thought about it before but now that you say it....maybe Perry saying na na na na to the girl like a little kid on the schoolyard? :shock:

by **Rick** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:14 am

Blueskies wrote:
Rick wrote:
Rip Rokken wrote:
Rick wrote:That has to be a Guiness Book record. How many times can a lyric be repeated in a song? Wow!

No, that would be the word "Na" in Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'"
Yeah, forgot about that one. At least that had a point, what the hell is Chocolate Rain?
na na na na na....had a point? Never thought about it before but now that you say it....maybe Perry saying na na na na to the girl like a little kid on the schoolyard?

Exactly.

MR

OT: ASIA "Arena"

OT: ASIA "Arena"

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