Then & Now

Artist: Asia
Label: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 720642429822
EAN: 0720642429822
ASIN: B000000ORW

Release Date: 2005-07-28

Then & Now

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock

| Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Only Time Will Tell
Heat Of The Moment
Wildest Dreams
Don't Cry
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Days Like These
Prayin' 4 A Miracle
Am I In Love?
Summer (Can't Last Too Long)
Voice Of America

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Customer Reviews:

The multidimensional sound!.......2007-03-02

"Asia" was one of those bands who sounded structurally complete with original sound, innovative rhythm, supported by an extraordinary set of first rate trained musicians and captivating chorus; and the merit is still remarkable according the circumstances in which the creativity as vehicle of expression had experienced a sensible decay. And I want to be specific with this statement; I mean those bands whose sound was beyond of a rock band, bands such as The Queen, Scorpions or Genesis, who explored new roads and blended rhythms and melodies.

The creative vein was product of this untiring keyboardist Geoff Downes who in this compilation didn't compose the piece "Days like these", whose muse was inspiration of Steve Jones. Of course, it's worthy to remark the presence of the legendary Carl Palmer in drums and percussion, after having been part of that unforgettable band "Emerson, Lake and Palmer in the late sixties and early seventies.

The album smartly was divided in then and now. This is essential to find the experienced evolution. Pay attention for instance in the piece "days like these in which the synthesizer leads opens with a sort of innovative fanfare the rhythm to come, I mean the influence of Palmer is more than evident in this first stage. You may realize how the band experienced a sensible transformation with major emphasis in the chorus, trying to fill the enormous void left by the premature departure of Freddie Mercury.

Asia is now part of an important period in the musical evolution of the eighties and nineties.

BLAH.......2006-06-24

Only 2 songs worth putting on my IPOD - Heat of the Moment & Only Time Will Tell. The rest are awlful.

Then & Now.......2005-08-27

First off, let me just say John Wetton's a great vocalist. I bought this album when it came out and was pleased with it. I didn't like most of the new stuff, but the old stuff was great. I will make one exception for the new stuff. "Days Like These" was a great song. I know, it may seem cliched and a bit corny, but it's also upbeat and optimistic. To me, the song is, on the surface, merely about one having a good day. But there's more to it than that. It's about refocusing on goals, possibly a spiritual renewal. The song gives off a sense of redemption after a possible hardship. It says, "I'm gonna be alright", regardless of the past. Today, I can do anything. It says, "and today I'm strong enough and anyway I love the rain". It is a song about a day in which the writer felt strength regardless of anything. There aren't many days like that for most of us. Corny, yes. Inspired, definitely.

Only purchase if you need "Heat of the Moment" on CD..........2004-06-10

...Because if you want any more Asia than that, then you at least need the better collection, Heat of the Moment : The Very Best of Asia. Then & Now, unfortunately, does not stack up well, nor has it aged well in the title, I might add. Five "old" songs and five "new songs". Well, four really. "Voice of America" wasn't "new", having been on 1985's Astra. My guess is that, seeing as how the song was John Wetton's tribute to his musical heroes, the Beach Boys, and Asia had played a 1989 German tour opening for them, he had the song placed in the latter section in their honor.

Two reasons not to buy Then & Now : No "Sole Survivor". And no "Go". Another possible third reason would be the sappiness of "Am I In Love?" which even Geffen executives thought was too saccharine for the Astra album, five years previous. Don't get me wrong, it's a good, pretty tune, but considering how high the bar had been set by 80's Asia, that was too low for a rapidly-approaching decade of new trends in music. However, both "Days Like These" and "Prayin' 4 A Miracle" have grown on me over the years ( they have to...I'm an Asia fan! ), and I liked "Summer" from the beginning. Yeah, a synth-drum set in 1990 is pretty sad, but the song is pure pop-rock candy for those bright, hot summer days with nothing to do.

In a nutshell, just get Then & Now, preferably cheap, if you want to sample Asia on a budget and can't get more recent collections, or if you're a hardcore fan and want the exclusive tracks. 'Nuff said.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Brivido Calo ~ Matia Bazar

Peaceful Flight ~ Keith Robinson

You and Me ~ Phat Phunktion

Jazz in Schloss Gracht ~ Percy Humphrey

Swing Along With Charlie ~ Charlie Shavers

Prism ~ Matthew Shipp Trio

On M'a Dit ~ Olivier Gann

What Do You See?

Mario Castro Neves & Samba Sa ~ Oscar & Samba Sa Castro-Neves

Celtic Requiem ~ Various Artists