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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite.,
By
This review is from: Alpha (Audio CD)
I have been a fan of Asia for many years, and this is still my favourite album. A lot of prople felt that Asia should have developed the "prog" aspect of their music on this album, but instead they penned the radio-friendly monster hit "Don't Cry", and despite the immediate success, lost some of their fan-base. However, I think it's an excellent track. The lead guitar melody that starts off the song is great (apparently played by John Wetton after Steve Howe thought it was too cheesy!), the chorus memorable, the whole structure is a joy to hear. The next song, "The Smile Has Left...", is another wonderful song, with a bucketload of emotion and superb singing from John W. After that, the songs do become a bit more "prog", with an increased use of instrumental sections. Standout tracks for me are The Heat Goes On, which is still a concert opener for the band today, and boasts an excellent keyboard solo, Eye to Eye, full of big vocal harmonies, True Colours (great rock chorus), Midnight Sun (Steve Howe solos his head off), and to finish perhaps the most prog song on the album, Open Your Eyes, which ends in a glorious fanfare, and I imagine was a live highlight in the '80's. Asia have moved on, changed most of their personnel, and remain a good band, both live and in the studio. Their later material is worth checking out. But I have yet to hear anything to top this for me. PS: I also love their debut.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Smile Won't Leave Your Eyes,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alpha (Audio CD)
Sometimes you come across a really "nice" album that you just want to listen to over and over again. You find yourself humming the tunes to yourself all day without even realising it. I really like this album. I liked it immediately, but it definitely grows on you after the fact. "Don't Cry", "Open Your Eyes" and "Smile Has Left Your Eyes" are all brilliant. They're smooth and easy to listen to. The only reason I didn't give the album 5 stars is because it begins to sound the same after a while and you have to switch to something else to "refresh". It doesn't take long though till you want to put it back on again.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
ALPHA BETTER???,
By Stotty (Bolton, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Alpha (Audio CD)
'Alpha' was Asia's follow up to the hugely successful, utterly excellent self-titled debut. One may have thought that the first album would be something of a millstone, but for me, 'Alpha' proves that the band could make a slightly different record to the first and still sound great.
'Alpha' is certainly not as robust or as in your face as the debut. In fact, it is a much more laid back record and actually quite relaxing to listen to. Whereas 'Asia' was a musicians album, 'Alpha' is primarily, a songwriters record. 'Don't Cry' was never one of my favourites and although it was a big hit single, it's value is nothing more than that of commercial viability. In contrast, 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes' is a tear-jerker that, despite being the second single, is too personal and bleeding-hearted to sell out. 'Never In A Million Years', 'The Heat Goes On' and the closer 'Open Your Eyes' show the band blowing off some cobwebs and returning briefly to the more powerful sound showcased on the debut, but for me the more delicate 'My Own Time', 'The Last To Know' and 'Midnight Sun' are the more effective numbers as they reveal something new with each listen, such is the quality of songwriting and playing on those tracks. 'Eye To Eye' and 'True Colours' remain good album fillers. 'Alpha' drops a point for Mike Stone's fluffy, overblown production, and the fact that Carl Palmer doesn't seem to let rip on the drums as much as he did on 'Asia' is a bit of a disappointment. Also, Wetton's lyrics of betrayal and failed relationships ('The Smile Has Left Your Eyes', 'My Own Time', 'The Last To Know' etc) tend to be too slightly reminiscent of his lyrics from the first album ('Only Time Will Tell', 'Time Again', 'Cutting It Fine' etc), making him sound at times like a male version of Alanis Morrisette or Dido!!!All things considered though, the quality of the music on 'Alpha' oh so nearly matches the debut and that in itself is some achievement. Roger Deans artwork is awesome too. Good stuff.
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