Omega (Asia album)

Last updated

Omega
Asia - Omega (2010) front cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released21 April 2010
RecordedOctober 2009 – February 2010
StudioLiscombe Park, Buckinghamshire
Genre Progressive rock
Length61:51
Label Frontiers
Producer Mike Paxman
Asia chronology
Phoenix
(2008)
Omega
(2010)
XXX
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Omega is the eleventh studio album by British rock band Asia, released on 21 April 2010 in Japan by Melodious Frontier and on 23 April 2010 in Europe by Frontiers Records. It was the fourth studio recording with the original line-up and second after the reunion in 2006.

Contents

Production

Omega was recorded from October 2009 to February 2010 at Steve Rispin's Liscombe Park Studios, Buckinghamshire, where Asia had already worked on their previous album, Phoenix (2008). For the first time since the debut album, released in 1982, the group employed an outside producer, Mike Paxman. [2] The cover artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who had collaborated with Asia since their inception and with Yes, of which guitarist Steve Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes had previously been members. The white tiger on the front cover indicates that 2010 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. [3]

"Finger on the Trigger" was previously recorded by vocalist/bassist John Wetton and Downes for their collaboration studio album Icon II: Rubicon (2006).

Reception

Bret Adams gave Omega a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. "Finger on the Trigger", "Holy War", "Light the Way" and "I Believe" were selected as four "Track Picks". He compared the album with the previous one and summarized that "Phoenix has better songs overall than Omega — probably due to the initial excitement and creative surge spawned by the reunion — but Omega satisfies, and longtime fans will enjoy it". [1]

The album did not sell well, failing to chart in both United Kingdom and United States, but reached number 29 in Japan, where Asia were always a popular foreign act. [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes, except where noted.

European release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Finger on the Trigger" 4:30
2."Through My Veins" Steve Howe, Wetton5:08
3."Holy War" 5:59
4."Ever Yours" 4:04
5."Listen, Children" 5:56
6."End of the World" 5:39
7."Light the Way"Howe, Wetton5:09
8."Emily" (bonus track) 5:12
9."I'm Still the Same" 4:43
10."There Was a Time" 5:58
11."I Believe" 4:42
12."Don't Wanna Lose You Now" 4:45
Total length:61:51
Japanese release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Finger on the Trigger" 4:30
2."Through My Veins" Steve Howe, Wetton5:09
3."Holy War" 6:00
4."Ever Yours" 4:05
5."Listen, Children" 5:57
6."End of the World" 5:39
7."Light the Way"Howe, Wetton5:10
8."I'm Still the Same" 4:44
9."There Was a Time" 5:57
10."Drop a Stone" (bonus track)Wetton, Downes, Howe, Carl Palmer 5:09
11."I Believe" 4:43
12."Don't Wanna Lose You Now" 4:46
Total length:61:47

Personnel

Asia

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [5] 56
French Albums (SNEP) [6] 158
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [4] 29
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [7] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [8] 55
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [9] 13

Related Research Articles

Asia (band) English rock band

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful line-up was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands that had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton of King Crimson and U.K., guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes of Yes and the Buggles, and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their best selling album and went to number one in several countries. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets and peaking in the U.S. at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>Asia</i> (Asia album) 1982 studio album by Asia

Asia is the self-titled debut studio album by English rock supergroup Asia, released in 1982. According to both Billboard and Cashbox, it was the #1 album in the United States for the year 1982. It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

John Wetton English musician

John Kenneth Wetton was an English singer, bassist, guitarist, and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth, Dorset. Between 1972-1982, he rose to fame fronting the bands King Crimson, U.K. and Asia. Notable work as a bass guitarist and backing vocalist included brief stints with Family, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash.

<i>Drama</i> (Yes album) 1980 studio album by Yes

Drama is the tenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 18 August 1980 by Atlantic Records. It is their first album to feature Trevor Horn on lead vocals and Geoff Downes on keyboards. This followed the departures of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman after numerous attempts to record a new album in Paris and London had failed. Drama was recorded hurriedly with Horn and Downes, as a tour had already been booked before the change in personnel. The album marked a development in the band's musical direction with more accessible and aggressive songs, and featuring the use of modern keyboards, overdriven guitar, and a vocoder.

Heat of the Moment (Asia song) 1982 single by Asia

"Heat of the Moment" is the first single released by English progressive rock supergroup Asia from their 1982 eponymous debut album. It was written by singer and bass guitarist John Wetton and keyboardist Geoff Downes. It was named by Lee Zimmerman of Paste as Asia's signature song.

<i>Alpha</i> (Asia album) 1983 studio album by Asia

Alpha is the second studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 26 July 1983 in the United States and on 12 August 1983 in the United Kingdom by Geffen Records. It was recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, and Manta Sound in Toronto from February to May 1983. Alpha adopted a notably more polished sound with radio-friendly elements and less emphasis on progressive rock sections. Like its multi-platinum predecessor, the album was produced by Mike Stone. It was also the last album to feature the band's original line-up for twenty-five years until Phoenix, which was released in 2008.

<i>Astra</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Asia

Astra is the third studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 30 November 1985 by Geffen Records. It was their last full-length studio album with co-founding vocalist and bassist John Wetton until Phoenix (2008), released after the original line-up reunited in 2006. Astra is the first of two albums from Asia—the other being Then & Now—with Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, who replaced Steve Howe.

<i>Aqua</i> (Asia album) 1992 studio album by Asia

Aqua is the fourth studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released in 1992. It was the first album with longtime vocalist and bassist John Payne.

<i>Aria</i> (Asia album) 1994 studio album by Asia

Aria is the fifth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in April 1994 in the United Kingdom by Bullet Proof Records and in 1995 in the United States by Mayhem Recordings. Unlike its predecessor, which was recorded with the help of several guest musicians, Aria features a stable line-up consisting of vocalist and bassist John Payne, keyboard player Geoff Downes, guitarist Al Pitrelli and drummer Michael Sturgis.

<i>Arena</i> (Asia album) 1996 studio album by Asia

Arena is the sixth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in March 1996 by Bullet Proof Records. Recorded at Electric Palace Studios in London during 1995, it was produced by vocalist John Payne and keyboard player Geoff Downes. The album was a departure from Asia's usual sound, adopting a more acoustic production style with Latin and Middle Eastern influences.

Geoff Downes English keyboardist

Geoffrey Downes is an English keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer who gained fame as a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia.

<i>Then & Now</i> (Asia album) 1990 compilation album

Then & Now is a compilation album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 14 August 1990 by Geffen Records. It consists of two parts titled as Then and Now. Then comprises songs from the band's first two albums, Asia and Alpha, which featured the band's original line-up of Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton. Now comprises songs recorded by the band after Howe's departure.

<i>Phoenix</i> (Asia album) 2008 studio album by Asia

Phoenix is the tenth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2008. It was the first studio recording with the original line-up after the reunion in 2006. Songs like Sleeping Giant and Parallel Worlds are the longest ever recorded by Asia. Parallel Worlds is the closest to prog songs from Asia, part two and three of that song Vortex/Déyà are built like songs from Yes for instance, like movements in a classical piece of music.

<i>Fantasia: Live in Tokyo</i> 2007 live album by Asia

Fantasia: Live in Tokyo is a double live album by British rock band Asia, released on 21 June 2007 in Japan by WHD Entertainment and on 26 June 2007 internationally by Eagle Records.

Mike Paxman is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Judie Tzuke, Nick Kamen, Uriah Heep and Status Quo and Asia.

<i>XXX</i> (Asia album) 2012 studio album by Asia

XXX is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2012. It is the fifth and final studio album with the original line-up due to guitarist Steve Howe's departure the following year and vocalist/bassist John Wetton's death in 2017.

<i>Gravitas</i> (Asia album) 2014 studio album by Asia

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References

  1. 1 2 Adams, Bret. Asia: Omega > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  2. "Asia Turn Omega Men on New Record". Planet Rock. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  3. "Asia – Omega: Album Detail". Frontiers Music Srl. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2010-05-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Omega" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  6. "Lescharts.com – Asia – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  7. "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  8. "Swisscharts.com – Asia – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  9. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2018.