Get a bunch of superstar
prog-rockers together
in the early 80’s
and watch them write
hit pop songs. “The heat
of the moment showed
in your eyes” is objectively
a dumb lyric. Does this
chorus speed up? I think
I inherited this album
from my brother’s discarded
record collection, but it’s
got a price tag on it: 95 cents,
and I can’t imagine my
brother shopping for used
records. The songs that were
not hits on this record are
not very good. In a couple
of moments Asia allows the
prog to poke out from the edges.
Case in point: “Time Again”
or “Wildest Dreams.”
While I remember not
hating this music, I was
not sufficiently enough
interested to buy it.
I was squarely a new waver
by 1982 and I would have
found this album too
mainstream for my liking.
I kept this, like a lot of things,
maybe because it was 95 cents
and in nearly perfect condition,
but more likely
because I thought I should,
because all these cats
are famous and renowned
players on their respective
instruments, and this record
was a huge hit, should probably
be in a serious collection.
My collection is anything
but serious, but it’s got Asia in it.
That should count for something.
Notes on the vinyl edition: ASIA, Geffen Records, 1982. Used copy in great condition. I dare you to try to find a good used record for 95 cents. A rarity these days.
Postscript in Bullets
- I’m listening to all of my records, from A to Z. Writing a “poem” about each artist. It may take me a long-ass time to complete this project.
- I’m trying to write poems, not reviews. It’s not always gonna work out that way. But I am giving myself permission to be digressive, autobiographical, discursive, associative, and actually prefer that, when it occurs.
- I will only “cheat” when I come to a record that I have listened to recently. That has not happened yet.
michael jarmer 