Asia - America: Live in the USA
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price:
$29.95
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$26.99
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Manufacturer: Classic Rock Legends
Starring: Asia
Directed By: *
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0823880010354
Format: Color
Label: Classic Rock Legends
Manufacturer: Classic Rock Legends
Number Of Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Classic Rock Legends
Region Code: 0
Release Date: 2003-03-11
Running Time: 110
Studio: Classic Rock Legends
Theatrical Release Date: 2003-01-14
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Editorial Reviews:
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This imported DVD, playable on USA systems, features Asia, in their 20th Anniversary concert, live from New Jersey. In addition to their top material, the DVD features candid interviews with the band, behind-the-scenes footage on tour in Europe and at work in rehearsal and in the studio.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: WEEEAAAK!
Comment: really a bummer of a let down. nobody from asia is playing, well i guess geoff downes on the keyboards is playing but otherwise a bunch of cover players! waste of time, money, whatever! you will regret this one. this one is a no burner!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Payne is HOT!
Comment: I'm glad I didn't "listen" to most of the reviews and bought the DVD to see for myself. I think it's a great DVD. Yes, it had interviews after each song, but I don't think it took away from the music at all, I enjoyed whatever time I had to get to know the guys. The picture was fine as well, I thought it was clear. I'm a fan of Asia from their first release and I think John Payne did a damn good job of singing the old tunes. He has an absolutely beautiful voice. I only wish that all the tunes on the live CD were on the DVD. If you liked Asia during the Wetton era and/or during the Payne era, you are going love this DVD! I had never heard of Guthrie Govan (guitar) before, but he is an awesome guitarist! Chris Slade on the drums, well what can I say...the guy played with AC/DC in the past, you know he's beyond good and into greatness. And for you gals out there...John is absolutely gorgeous, you gotta get this DVD just to watch him!! I also recommend you buy the "Silent Nation" CD, the edition that has the bonus DVD of "The Making of Silent Nation". If you read this, please buy it, you won't be disappointed!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Low budget, good band
Comment: This is a tricky DVD to review, because some people (as previous reviews have shown) consider Asia to be Wetton/Howe/Downes/Palmer, or nothing. In fact, the classic line-up only recorded 2 albums before Steve Howe left, to be replaced by the competent but ordinary Mandy Meyer. And since then, things have changed dramatically. The new "core", if you will, is Downes and Bass player/vocalist John Payne, who has a totally different vocal style to John Wetton. And these two have in fact just released their 5th studio album together, and having gone through a series of guitarists, drummers and assorted guests, seem to have settles on the current line-up at least for now. Drummer Chris Slade is solid, not extraordinary but does everything necessary to hold the songs together.
Guitarist Guthrie Govan is a teacher and column-writer, who can pretty much play any style you'd care to hear. I agree his sound is thin on the DVD (unlike live, where it was great), but his playing is superb, and it gives the songs where he is allowed to solo an extra dimension. "Arena" is one in particular which is significantly superior to the album version.
Apart from that, the picture is OK, not fantastic, and the songs are separated by brief interviews, which can get a bit annoying (should have been a separate section IMHO). The camarawork is also OK, not spectacular. The most charismatic musician is Govan, who pulls faces, throws his hair around, travels around the stage, and generally seems to be throughly enjoying the fact that he gets to be in a band! And Payne has his moments.
You have to accept that the "classic" songs are going to sound different with Payne singing, but he does a good job, and the new material is generally high standard, if less familiar. I'd have liked more off Aria (my Payne favourite), but you can't have everything when a band is promoting a new CD (Aura). And apart from "Awake" - which sends me to sleep - it's good stuff.
And the instrumental "Bad Asteroid", whilst totally off the wall compared to the rest of the material, is a good piece, and shows just how good Govan really is.
A bigger budget and more thought would have earned a star or two more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Incredibly insipid.
Comment: Man, I have mixed feelings about this one. First of all, in a time of MTV-destroyed music (with things like J-Lo and Beyonce ruling the charts) any chance of an echo from the past is well received.
So, I went to check this DVD, even knowing that "ASIA" was not playing in it. The "real" ASIA must have Wetton, Palmer, Downes and Howe or, at least, the former three with another guitarrist.The result is a bunch of great songs played in a unintersting way by a strange band, with a faceless guitar player, a "I've Played With Them All" drummer (Chris Slade), a potent new singer and a sleepy Downes. Really not enjoyable, my friends.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Tragedy!
Comment: Geoff Downes must pay his bills, so he keeps carrying the ASIA flag even if this is not ASIA at all!! The singer and bassist, Paynes, makes me wanna puke with his exaggerated singing, destroying the old classics, even if it's clear the guy can sing like few people do. The guitarrist is a joke, his stage presence is equal to zero. Chris Slade on drums is a remarkable drummer and, as with any band he's ever played, he plays with conviction, but this is not enough to save this dumb DVD. Downes himself clearly is not enjoying none of it, playing for the paycheck. I regret ever buying this thing.
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