Fantasia: Live in Tokyo
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DVD details
Actor: AsiaDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Live, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 155 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-10-02
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
DVD Reviews of Fantasia: Live in Tokyo
DVD Review: Awful sound mix
Summary: 1 Stars
Totally agree with a previous review about the sound mix on the Blu-ray disc - it's awful. You get 3 options, DTS-HD, Dolby 5.1, and LPCM. Both the DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 are terrible - you can barely hear the guitar and anytime the keyboard plays it is way louder than all the other instruments. The only way this disc is watchable is by using the LPCM audio option, which doesn't suffer from the bad audio mixing, but still isn't worth paying extra for Blu-ray. Don't know if this is a problem with my player - it's a Panasonic DMP-BD35, but if you're looking for sweet DTS-HD sound, keep looking.DVD Review: Great Show!
Summary: 5 Stars
These guys are aging like fine wine. Wetton still has that clear and dynamic voice. The video and sound are done well and there is not a medicre song on the playlist in my opinion. Especially loved hearing "In the Court of the Crimson King". Amazing group of musicians. DVD Review: Yikes! Sound Mix?!
Summary: 1 Stars
I love ASIA. I loved seeing 'em live and was totally blown away.
And, this is a great document of their tour--except for the sound mix!
I was excited to hear the DTS-HD Master Audio and totally immerse myself in the band. Problem is, the surround mix just totally immerses you in Geoff Downes!
I saw another review online that asks how this mix could've been released. I wonder the same thing myself. What happened?!!
It's really like listening to the keys monitor mix. Can't hear Steve much at all, and Carl is a distant mono.
Is this a problem with my player? Do I need to update it?
Or is this issue with the mix?
In any case, it's very disappointing.
DVD Review: PROGRESSIVE ROCK AT ITS BEST !
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this concert DVD in the "Heat of the Moment" and it has quickly become one of my favorite concert DVD's. In March 2007 "Asia" band members Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton reunited for this memorable 25th anniversary concert in Tokyo Japan. Hailed as one of the first super groups of the 1980's "Asia" definitely lived up to their billing as they ripped through 17 songs with great timing & precision. The bands' playing was just as incredible in 2007 as it was when they formed in 1982.
For me this concert DVD was everything I had hoped for and so much more. I'll admit that the guys are 25 years older and definitely showing their age but they haven't lost anything when it comes to their musicianship on stage. Steve Howe seemed to really enjoy the whole reunion experience and his guitar playing was outstanding to say the least. Carl Palmer's drumming in my opinion was truly awesome and he made it seem effortless as he went about his business as usual. Geoff Downes sounded much louder compared to the others, but he was still the showman on stage and his playing didn't disappoint. What can you say about John Wetton, his voice has truly stood the test of time and it's hard to believe 25 years has gone by. He was in fine form for this concert and he sounded as good as ever. He seemed to be in sync with the music and had no problem hitting all the notes.
"Asia" live in Tokyo Japan marks the 25th anniversary of the band and fans will not want to miss out on this memorable performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has done an incredible job with this DVD release. The video image is absolutely spectacular. The picture is crisp and clear and the colors are vibrant and sharp. I can't find any faults with the sound options; the 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS sound options are simply outstanding. The camera angles and editing are stellar and I wish every DVD concert was filmed like this one. In my opinion this is the best "Asia" concert DVD on the market and fans would be happy to own it.
DVD Songs:
Time Again / Wildest Dreams / One Step Closer /Roundabout / Without You / Cutting it Fine / Intersection Blues - Steve's Solo / Fanfare For the Common Man / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Don't Cry / Court of the Crimson King / Here Comes the Feeling / Video Killed the Radio Star / The Heat Goes On - Drum Solo / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Ride Easy / Heat of the Moment /
DVD Bonus Features:
Interviews with Asia Band Members
DVD Review: Catching the pearl
Summary: 4 Stars
Having gotten into prog and classic rock when I was in high school in the mid-90's, I was not into modern music at all during this period. After listening to a lot of Rush and Yes, I discovered that I really had an ear for the 80's period of many prog groups, admiring the accesibility of the lyrics, the nice melodies, and the lush synths that permeated many songs of that era. Or maybe I was subconciously enjoying the song styles of my youth, when MTV was on in the background of my home, who knows. In the summer of '98, I picked up a used LP of Asia's Alpha (for $2 at a thrift store), and was intrigued by the arena rock/prog stylings, having been familiar with Steve Howe's and Geoff Downes' tenure in Yes. This was also my initial introduction to Palmer and Wetton. I thought the album was okay, but didn't suit my taste at that time.
Fast forward six months later. Having heard their 1982 debut, I was well and truly hooked. Gorgeous, dramatic songs with lots of power. Lyrics were a little saccharine, but I was still pretty starry-eyed back then anyway. It was what I wanted to hear at that time. I went on to complete my Asia collection of various studio, live and archive releases, enjoying both eras of the band, as well as delving deeper into the works of King Crimson, ELP and the Buggles. (For those that continue the childish "Wetton vs. Payne" arguments...get over it. Both sides of the history of Asia have their strengths and weaknesses, and John Payne contributed some wonderful styles and experiments, musically and lyrically. But that chapter is now closed and things have come full circle...)
I always had a strong connection to various Asia songs, in particular with "Heat of the Moment" being a poignant, catalystic song between me and my then-girlfriend. (And this is in the late 90's. Bear in mind that I was 2 and playing with tinker-toys when the song came out originally.) Jump forward to 2006, and that same girlfriend calls me up telling me that she's ready to move in with me and get a place, having just caught "Heat of the Moment" on the radio, sparking a thought of me which prompted the call. During this same period, the original Asia lineup reunites (3/4ths almost got together in '99, but it was nullified), and it seems like two things that I never thought I'd see come into being. I was ecstatic. It turned out to be an exciting but dark time in my life, as things didn't work out between me and my girl, and our planned Asia concert together never came to fruition. I moved back to California very confused and sad. I felt like I lost a wonderful dream. "Heat of the moment" indeed...
Now, onto the DVD...
This is a wonderful concert document, fulfilling a piece of Asia's own destiny, having never had a full concert video of the original lineup ever released. (1983's MTV concert, Asia In Asia, featured ELP's Greg Lake on vocals, after a hasty short-term departure by John Wetton.) The fact that it is in Tokyo is a nice touch, the audiences there having a particular affinity for the group. The film editing is tight, the cameras are crisp, and (despite being keyboard-heavy) the mix is pretty much spot-on. The band plays with a great amount of reverence and enthusiasm for the material, and (having heard the debut about a million times) I notice that there's certain tiny moments -- little flourishes, fills and shadings -- that are played exactly as they were on the LP. I can tell that the group went back to the debut, listened to it closely, and mirrored it in live form very accurately.
The band's choice of mixing and sound is pretty good, although I would've given Palmer's drums a bit more reverb and snap. Wetton's bass is thumping and deep on certain parts, but mixed a little low. Vocals are excellent, although Downes usually fills in background vox with samples. Wetton's voice is in fine form after 25 years, as has a little wear and raspiness to it that actually enhances certain sections. Steve Howe shines in particular here, having a lot of passion and excitement in his playing, and wonderful usage of tone and shading on all the tracks. The audience is mixed well and is happy and appreciative, although their Japanese reserve keeps them from going bonkers at key musical moments. (Would've liked some audience shots of cute Japanese girls, but hey...)
The setlist is (almost) everything I could have wanted. I would have preferred an electric version of "Don't Cry" and perhaps something from the Steve Howe-less Astra (such as "Go") and more from Alpha, but these are small gripes compared to the delightful choices that they included. The never-played-live-before B-side "Ride Easy" is given a chance to shine in acoustic form (its lyrics having a certain prophetic and emotional foreshadowing for the group), and the entire 1982 debut is played throughout the set -- which has the rarely played live "Time Again", "Cutting It Fine/Bolero" (which has Downes doing a swell job of recreating his climactic keyboard march near the end) and "Here Comes The Feeling", as well as the (as far as I know) not-played-since-'82 "One Step Closer (featuring co-lead vocals from Howe and Wetton -- a live surprise and better than I thought) and "Without You."
Classics by the group's more well-known bands are given an outing, with a sloooow version of Yes's "Roundabout" (Wetton having to handle both bass *and* vocals -- not easy in a song like that), ELP's "Fanfare For The Common Man", "Video Killed The Radio Star" by the Buggles (pretty good, but don't care for the vocoded chorus), and King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" (which is a strange choice, as Wetton wasn't in the original '69 Crimson lineup that did it, and only sang it live years later with Steve Hackett on The Tokyo Tapes. Perhaps it's a tribute to Greg Lake's filling-in at the Budokan in '83? Nah...)
And, quite obviously, the '91-'05 era is completely ignored, but I don't think anyone was surprised by that. (Although I secretly hoped for a Geoff Downes instrumental keyboard medley of key tracks from those underrated albums...)
Included is a 40-minute documentary, relatively simple and direct as each band member talks about the origins of the group, how they got into music etc. I was hoping for a bit more production and lyrical insight into those early albums, but oh well. (And Carl, please burn that shirt you're wearing.)
The cover artwork by Roger Dean is pretty good, if a bit simplistic. His paintings for the debut and Alpha are jaw-dropping works of art; absolute complete "worlds" to get lost in with the music, so I apologize if I criticize and say this isn't quite up to his standard. Although I do like the subtle, metaphorical touch of the melting snow and cherry blossoms. New beginnings, anyone?
Jumping ahead to '07-'08 in my life...After spending a couple years in contemplation and reaquainting my fascination with Zen Buddhism and Asian culture, I meet a girl from Thailand that lived one town over from me, and liked all of my Asia CDs (she also got a crush on Carl Palmer.) We quickly fell for eachother and bonded deeply. One of our first concerts was seeing the original Asia lineup on the Phoenix tour when they came to southern California. It seems as if I went full circle, as well as the band. My dream was fulfilled...
"You catch the pearl, and ride the dragon's wings..."
Description of Fantasia: Live in Tokyo
Asia, featuring members of Yes, ELP and King Crimson, was the first supergroup of the eighties. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1982, was a huge success racking up global sales in excess of 15 million copies. In 2006 the original four members reunited for the first time in over 20 years for a series of concerts in the US and the UK. The success of this tour led to a full-blown world tour running throughout 2007 in celebration of their 25th anniversary. This DVD was recorded in Tokyo in March 2007 on the Japanese leg of the tour.Tracklisting: 1) Time Again 2) Wildest Dreams 3) One Step Closer 4) Roundabout 5) Without You 6) Cutting It Fine 7) Steve Howe Guitar Solo 8) Fanfare For The Common Man 9) The Smile Has Left Your Eyes 10) Don't Cry 11) Court Of The Crimson King 12) Here Comes The Feeling 13) Video Killed The Radio Star 14) The Heat Goes On / Carl Palmer Drum Solo 15) Only Time Will Tell 16) Sole Survivor 17) Ride Easy 18) Heat Of The Moment
BONUS FEATURES: 40 Minute Interview with all 4 band members.
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