- Audio Cassette (21 Oct 1997)
- Format: Import
- Label: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
- ASIN: B000000OXI
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Don't Cry |
| 2. Smile Has Left Your Eyes |
| 3. Never in a Million Years |
| 4. My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want) |
| 5. Heat Goes On |
| 6. Eye to Eye |
| 7. Last to Know |
| 8. True Colors |
| 9. Midnight Sun |
| 10. Open Your Eyes |
| 11. Daylight [*] |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
'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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Asia "minor"
As a photographer, I would sum up Alpha, when compared to their debut, Asia, as having had a soft focus filter added. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Tim Kidner
Brilliant
This album is brilliant and carries on where their debut album left off really.It's brilliant so buy it now.
Any fan of classic rock will not be disappointed.
Any fan of classic rock will not be disappointed.
Published 6 months ago by A. Charters
Asia's Second Is Better Than It's First!
From the Asia debut comes Heat Of The Moment and Without You, out of the top drawer, but the rest is'nt in the same class. Read more
Published on 30 April 2010 by J. Thompson
Unparallelled Feelgood Factor.
Huge in America, this album simply demonstrates why hearing any one of the tracks on the radio, (fat chance in the UK! Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2008 by Alan Burridge
Not as good as the first album but good enough
Its always tough following up an immediate success and Asia found this to be the case with their second album. Read more
Published on 19 April 2008 by Tony Roberts
Pop disguised as rock
I have mixed feelings about 'Alpha'. Asia have been savaged by music critics since they recorded their first note, a band of first-rate musicians who, having paid their dues in... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2006 by D. J. H. Thorn
Awesome musicianship – shame about the lyrics
If this album had lyrics to match its music I’d never stop listening to it. But after straining every musical nerve to create a gigantic sound full of million-part harmonies,... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2003 by Nick Green
Do we really need another review of this album?
Asia lost as many fans as gained when this was first released or so the story goes. As a prog rock album it stands alone but to Asia fans still lost in the first album it was seen... Read more
Published on 3 July 2002 by "nigebc"
Unsurprising follow-up
»Alpha« continues where »Asia« ended. It is the same style - there's not been cared som much for the details though. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2000
Music Way Ahead of it's time...
This is absolutely one of the best rock albums ever. This may sound too strong, but after a couple of listenings you will see why. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 1999 by Tigran Haas
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