Asia Album: “Axioms”

Axioms is a late-90's collection of Asia's best music from that decade, spanning three albums. All the best cuts from this era are represented (at last, more from Arena!) and the track-sequencing is superb. Disc 1 starts and ends with short Geoff Downes instrumental keyboard pieces, while Disc 2 starts and ends with short full-band songs that lyrically and musically bookend everything perfectly.

I'd give this 5 stars, but it gets one less for having each CD be just under an hour. Over twenty minutes of music could have been put on each one. Then, upon reflection, I realized that if all of the good 90's era Asia tracks were on this set, no one would buy the standard albums...

Having said that, Axioms is a good affordable set ($ 12.99 in many stores) and an excellent sampler for 90's Asia if you've only heard the early years with John Wetton ('82-'90), or are a fan of other prog-rock, such as ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Saga, Marillion etc. Track selection is superb, BTW, and there's some tasty liner notes by Asia expert Dave Gallant.

I wouldn't have thought it, but I actually like this later Best of Asia collection (Axioms) better than the Heat of the Moment Best of earlier Asia. Even though the earlier collection (1 Disc) has more recognizable hits, this one (2 Discs) has better overall sonics and really better crafted songs. This title gets repeated spins in my player. Just plain good music with some progressive roots. Highly recommended.

To get a good taste of Asia's music I would recommend two best of collections. `Heat of the Moment' for a feel for their early music and then `Axioms' for a feel for the later stuff up until this albums release.

On a double album you get selection of tracks to remind you quite why you like this band as much as you do. With lush keyboards, great guitar solos and those soaring eighties inspired vocals, the music here may be cheesy at times, but it certainly moves you. I love `Sad Situation' with it's potent lyrics and I love the intro to `The Hunter' as well.

This has a real nostalgic feel for me, being the music my dad played for me as I grew up and I get a certain warm feeling whenever I play it. I find myself reaching for this during autumn and winter as the music here seems to suit those darker evenings and wintry, foggy days very well. If you are new to this band then you could do a lot worse than buying the two best of collections mentioned here, you may know them more for `Heat of the Moment' and early tracks, but you will soon start to love them for the tracks on offer here as well.

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