Asia Album: “America: Live in the USA [DVD]”

This DVD is really grate, the sound is clear but not very powerfull and the image is clear, but I got very disapointed when I realise that Kings of the Day and the Love under Fire/Sad Situation/Longest Night medley listed on the box are not on the DVD. That's way I just give it 4 stars. But definitely if you fill fine without the missing songs go for it, indeed is grate the performance.

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.

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!!

I have known about "overacting", but the new singer in Asia makes a real "oversinging"! Man, the guy (he's also the bass player) has a incredibly powerful and beautiful voie, but sometimes he sings like if he was in a gospel church!! It's really annoying, mainly on the old classics.

Anyway, there are times when he can restrain himself, and the band as a whole is very good (check Chris Slade on drums. The guy is a consumate pro, decades on the road with artists going from AC/DC through Jimmy Page). The set list was also good.

Another flaw is the guitar sound. It is ludicrously thin here, I can't tell if it was sounding this way at the live show or the damage was done in the mixing table.

In generalm it's worth watching. Like someone below said, it's miles better than the crap that flows through the airwaves nowadays....

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.