Asia Omega
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Omega is the latest offering from the recently reunited original lineup of Asia. After a series of impressive (but poor selling) albums with bassist/vocalist John Payne, the original lineup of Asia – John Wetton, Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer – cashed in on the reunion opportunity in 2007, touring extensively and releasing a new studio album (2008’s Phoenix). Disregarding the reunion hype, Phoenix was a very tame, very safe Asia effort that didn’t have the energy and spirit that the John Payne era albums had. Unfortunately, that appears to be the formula Asia has settled on, as Omega is almost identical to its predecessor.
Geoff Downes’s keyboards are as impressive as ever, as is Palmer’s drumming. John Wetton still has a great voice, and he turns in a solid bass performance as well. Steve Howe – who is arguably the best musician of the bunch – is just…there. It seems like it could have been any nameless guitar slinger on this album. It’s just hard to believe that a group of musicians of this caliber working together can come up with music so lifeless.
Now, as with Phoenix, there are some good songs on Omega. Leadoff track (and first single) “Finger on the Trigger” is pretty catchy and actually rocks quite a bit, “Holy War” is pretty proggy and “I Believe” shows some actual emotion. The rest of the album is pretty much a variation on the same, tame, mid-tempo Asia song. Not too rocking, not too progressive, not too interesting. They really should have retained John Payne as a songwriter. He brought a real sense of heart and soul to the Asia albums he was involved with, and that’s something that is sorely lacking here.
If you liked Phoenix, you’ll likely have no problem with Omega. It’s essentially Phoenix volume 2 (which more or less means it’s Astra volume 3). No frills, no surprises, and no real excitement. If you’re one of the few who followed Asia in the John Payne days or who are hoping for a return to the Asia/Alpha sound, you won’t get much out of this album other than heartache.
Label: Frontiers Records
Track Listing:
1. Finger on the Trigger
2. Through My Veins
3. Holy War
4. Ever Yours
5. Listen Children
6. End of the World
7. Light the Way
8. Emily
9. I’m Still the Same
10. There Was a Time
11. I Believe
12. Don’t Wanna Lose You
Online: www.originalasia.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 6/10
Completely disagree. Omega is a great fresh piece of musical art from 4 of the best players in the business. JP is a talentless pop metal bozo that couldn’t get a gig playing the bathroom at a local Wallmart.
Nothing personal Justin but you have to get over it. The JP music wasn’t too bad but near the end they were playing bathrooms. I thought Silent Nation was a very good cd but mostly because of Guthrie Govan. Payne may have been able to write some good tunes but his voice just didn’t carry well. It was very monotone and stale. Many of the tunes he wrote I thought would have been good with John Wetton singing. Now on Omega I think it’s very unfair for you say that they could have had any guitarist? Are we listening to the same cd? I hear Steve Howe all over the place. In many of the tunes he’s just in the mix with the other musicians as it should be as it’s a band and not a showcase. As a Steve Howe fan since 1977 I can honestly say that this is the most joyous I’ve heard him play in over 20 years. give it another listen buddy with a good set of headphones and turn the volume down slightly. It might surprise you? Oh and sorry but personally I think this is the best CD ASIA in all incarnations has done since the first album. And I’m a very hard critic to please normally. Again give it another listen and take the thought of JP out of the mix. This is not the same band just the same keyboard player.
Omega is another fantastic album by Asia. THE REAL ASIA…John Wetton, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and Geoff Downes. Anything from that other cover band is a joke. Including the talentless dirtbag that should be performing in bathrooms at the local K-Mart.