Comments for Asia, Astra

This is album is basically unheard of, and is no longer made. However, "Voice of America" can be found on Then And Now. If you have the chance, get the album just to hear "Rock and Roll Dream." A classic Asia tune.

I find it a controversial album ..some great peaks, like "Go" (stunning), "Voice of America" or "Rock and roll dreams", but also some quite disappointing falls ... It signs prectically the end of the 1st Asia era. GL

Awesome! My favorite Asia album! R&R Dream, After the War, Countdown to Zero...all superb tunes. Astra is being re-released in '96!!

Grant Cummings (above) is off in my opinion. "RR Dream" is utter piffle, and the two best songs are "Go" and "Too Late." "Countdown" would be great if it weren't for Wetton's voice overs. "After the War" is also a decent tune. The creativity just wasn't there foe ASTRA. It is my least favorite, above "Then and Now."

Rock and Roll Dream ROCKS! Piffle? My ass! The orchestra accompanyment is awesome, and I wish Asia had produced more songs with an orchestra background.

Mandy Meyer was a damn good guitarist! Steve Howe is an excellent guitarist, but I have to say that I think ASTRA would have sucked if he would have remained with the band. Mandy Meyer's guitar was a breath of fresh air Asia sorely needed, and he really brought "Rock And Roll Dream" to life in a way that Steve Howe would never have been able to. Of course, this is my own personal opinion. I do, however, find it sad that Meyer never got to perform live with Asia. I would really like to hear how his guitar would have sounded playing "Only Time Will Tell".

A surprise! From such an overrated early 80's supergroup! Pretty decent!

it''s been said of THE BEATLES that they hit the market at just the right time, sooner would have been too soon and later would have been too late. i don''t believe that of THE BEATLES but i do believe that of ASIA. ASIA had so little time to make their mark with the oncoming "synthetic sound" of the mid to late eighties. there could be no success for an uncompromising ASIA in this market. still, even in this musical climate ASIA sounded great. this isn''t the ASIA of ''82 but a progressive sound and a contemporary sound as well, brought on by artistic growth and the a practical knowledge of shifting market fads and pressures from the label to stay on top. one cannot compare this album to their first. it stands on its own. there are no klinkers on this album (which can be said of the previous two albums as well). the album rocks from beginning to end but some real gems are VOICE OF AMERICA, WISHING, ROCK AND ROLL DREAM, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, TOO LATE, SUSPICION, and AFTER THE WAR but then, that''s almost the whole album. i always enjoy listening to this album! anyone interested in "talking" about ASIA or music in general contact me anytime. LUVFABFOUR@webtv.net