Boasting a Seventies supergroup pedigree – Yes guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake and ...), King Crimson and U.K. singer-bassist John Wetton, and Buggles and late-model Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes–Asia actually has little to do with the cosmic debris and art-rock noodling of yesteryear. Instead, the group's debut album is molded in the AOR radio image of Boston, Journey and Styx: heavy melodies with grandstand pop hooks, Mormon Tabernacle Choir harmonies and guitar-synthesizer blasts.

In all fairness, Asia has an edge over the rest of the pack because of Wetton's throaty vocal resonance and Howe's ability to turn out ingenious guitar phrases, twisting Chuck Berry riffs and classical scales into creative knots in the middle of "Sole Survivor" and in the brief showoff section of "Wildest Dreams." It's also hard to argue with the insistent singalong charm of Top Forty muscle like "Heat of the Moment." The disturbing thing about Asia is the sound of talented players rolling over and playing dead for the sake of airplay. Their exotic name is really just a flimsy disguise for one more American-radio dream. (RS 369)

DAVID FRICKE