Asia - Astra (CD)

I have always liked this album because it was more about social justice than love songs. The second album is my favorite, Alpha and while I like the first album, it has songs I had to listen to a long time to like them while the other two, I liked from the get go. Go and Radio Free America are the best songs on this album. I have always wondered why Go did not have the ratings as In the Heat of the Moment and the Heat goes on. Many consider this album the down slide of Asia because Howe left to join aisome of his Yes buddies again. This album is enjoyable and shows Wetton's ability to write catchy songs while maintaining good lyrical quality. However I remain a bigger fan of the Downes/Payne Asia because they truly had a variety of strong lyrics and were one of the '90's/early 2000's top progressive rock bands. The early Asia was closer to new wave/ pop than the progressive rock roots that Wetton, Palmer, Downes and Howe had. This probably accounts for the early departure of Howe who was replaced by Mandy Meyer on this album. Howe has never stayed on one spot too long. The original Asia reunited but sadly Wetton passed away earlier this year. May he rest in peace.