Phoenix (Asia album)

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.

Phoenix
Studio album by Asia
Released	11 April 2008
Recorded	September 2007 – February 2008
Studio	Liscombe Park, Buckinghamshire
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	65:01
Label	Frontiers (Europe) Capitol (US) EMI (Canada)
Producer	Asia Steve Rispin
Asia chronology
Fantasia: Live in Tokyo (2007) Phoenix (2008) Omega (2010)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Reception

Phoenix was seen as somewhat polarizing. News and review site Vintagerock was positive towards the album, stating that the band had matured significantly over the years. "Superior musicianship and great songs never go out of style, and while it’s illogical to think Phoenix could ascend to the heights of the group’s debut from 1982, the record succeeds by remaining true to its purpose. If this release is a set up for things to come, then we could be seeing some more new and wondrous music from Asia."^[2] Allmusic was also generally positive towards the album, with a 4/5 rating that compared it favorably to Asia's first two albums. On the other hand, Variety criticized it for that very same reason, going on to say that "What’s sorely missing this time out is the pop/rock catchiness of the aforementioned “Heat” and “Only Time Will Tell” which carried the band to unexpected success back in the day. An excess of syrupy Muzak-like ballads such as ”Heroine” and “I Will Remember You” and little actual rock only serve to remind that you not only can’t but really shouldn’t go home again."^[3] Glide Magazine also panned the album. "Because Phoenix has practically no redeeming quality, it seems Asia’s debut is to be sadly relegated to something I like despite itself. Phoenix doesn’t even fare that well, because there is simply no pleasure, guilty or otherwise. I guess everything that rises from the ashes isn’t good."^[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Never Again"		4:55
2.	"Nothing's Forever"	Wetton	5:46
3.	"Heroine"		4:54
4.	"Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise"		8:10
5.	"Alibis"	Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, Wetton	5:40
6.	"I Will Remember You"		5:12
7.	"Shadow of a Doubt"		4:18
8.	"Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Déyà"		8:13
9.	"Wish I'd Known All Along"	Howe	4:07
10.	"Orchard of Mines"	Jeffrey Fayman, Daniel Pursey	5:12
11.	"Over and Over"	Howe	3:34
12.	"An Extraordinary Life"		4:59
Total length:			65:01

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

European limited edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
13.	"An Extraordinary Life" (acoustic remix)	4:16
Total length:		69:17

Japanese limited edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
13.	"I Will Remember You" (acoustic remix)	5:14
Total length:		70:15

Personnel

Asia

• John Wetton – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
• Steve Howe – electric, acoustic and steel guitars, harmony vocals on "Wish I'd Known All Along"
• Geoff Downes – keyboards
• Carl Palmer – drums, percussion

Additional musician

• Hugh McDowell – cello (on "I Will Remember You" and "An Extraordinary Life")

Technical personnel

• Steve Rispin – co-producer, engineer, mixing engineer (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, bonus tracks)
• Simon Hanhart – mixing engineer (tracks 1 (European edition), 3, 12)
• Curtis Schwartz – mixing engineer (tracks 5, 8, 9, 11)
• John X. Volaitis – mixing engineer (on "Never Again" (U.S. edition))
• John Dent – mastering engineer (at Loud Mastering, Taunton, Somerset) (European edition)
• Evren Göknar – mastering engineer (at Capitol Mastering, Hollywood, Los Angeles) (U.S. edition)
• Roger Dean – cover logotype, inside painting
• Martyn Dean – computer work, cover design
• Michael Inns – photography
• Karen Gladwell – artwork

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5]	58
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[6]	27
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[7]	38
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[8]	75
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9]	10
US Billboard 200[10]	73

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format
Europe	11 April 2008	Frontiers	CD Limited edition enhanced CD
Canada	15 April 2008	EMI	CD
US		Capitol
Japan	23 April 2008	Melodious Frontier	Limited edition enhanced CD
Worldwide	29 April 2016	Asia Music	Special edition double CD

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Asia: Phoenix > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
2. newvin_admin. "Asia | Phoenix – CD Review | VintageRock.com". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
3. Nieciecki, Rich (16 April 2008). "Asia – 'Phoenix'". Variety. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
4. "Asia: Phoenix". glidemagazine.com. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Phoenix" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
6. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2008-04-23" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
7. "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Phoenix". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
8. "Swisscharts.com – Asia – Phoenix". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
9. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
10. "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.