MPBrown Music Reviews

Album Review #25   Artist:  Icon (John Wetton and Geoff Downes) Album:   Icon Year of Release:   2005 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members John Wetton – vocals, bass, acoustic guitar Geoff Downes – keyboards, vocoder John Mitchell – guitars Steve Christey – drums Hugh McDowell – cello Annie Haslam – vocals on “In The End”   Background John Wetton is one of my favorite singers.  As a member of King Crimson, UK, and Asia, he found much acclaim and success but it was not until Asia when he really found his niche.  Geoff Downes found success in The Buggles (“Video Killed The Radio Star”) then later in Yes and Asia.   After the breakup of the Wetton iteration of Asia after three albums, Wetton focused on solo work.  With newfound sobriety, John Wetton and Geoff Downes began writing songs together.  In some ways, it was a trial run of a potential Asia reunion (which would actually happen then next ...

  Album Review #22   Artist:  Asia Album:   Phoenix Year of Release:   2008 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members 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 Musicians: Hugh McDowell - cello   Background Asia released their monstrously successful self titled debut album, which was the biggest selling album of 1982.   Their rushed follow up album “Alpha” was released in 1983.   While it was successful, it fell far short in sales than their debut album but still went platinum.   This caused friction in the band.   MTV announced “Asia in Asia” live concert broadcast.   Singer/bassist John Wetton was booted from the band with no notice and shortly before the “Asia in Asia” promotion.   Part of the...

  Album Review #20 Artist:  King Crimson Album:   Red Year of Release:   1974 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members Robert Fripp – guitars, mellotron, Hohner Pianet John Wetton – vocals, bass guitar Bill Bruford – drums, percussion   Additional musicians: David Cross – violin, mellotron Mel Collins – soprano saxophone Ian McDonald – alto saxophone Mark Charig – cornet Robin Miller – oboe   Background King Crimson was a band formed by Robert Fripp in 1969 with Greg Lake on vocals for their first major album “In The Court Of The Crimson King”.   However, Greg Lake left the band during the recording of the second album.   After two or three other lead singers and changes of other personnel, King Crimson reformed by Fripp with a new rhythm section of John Wetton on bass and vocals (formerly of Family) and Bill Bruford on drums (formerly of Yes) and adding Jamie Muir on percussion (a complete wildman) and Davi...

  Album Review #13   Artist:   John Wetton Album:   Caught In The Crossfire Year of Release:   1980 Grade:   4 / 5   Band Members John Wetton – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards Martin Barre – guitar Phil Mazanera – guitar Simon Kirke – drums, percussion Malcolm Duncan – saxophone     Background John Wetton is one of the main voices in progressive rock.   He was the lead singer and bassist of King Crimson’s biggest albums (“Lark’s Tongue in Aspic”, “Starless & Bible Black”, and “Red”).   He also played with Uriah Heep, Roxy Music, before creating the group U.K.   After his time with UK but before he created the massively successful Asia, he released his first solo album called “Caught In The Crossfire”.   It was not released in the US until 1986 after Asia became popular.   He is one of my favorite vocalists.   Ever since his King Crimson days, Wetton had aspired to change ...

  Album Review #6 Artist:   UK Album:   UK Year of Release:   1978 Grade:   4.5/5   Band Members Allan Holdsworth – guitars Eddie Jobson – keyboards, electric violin, acoustic guitar John Wetton – vocals, bass Bill Bruford – drums, percussion   Background Sometimes this band is called the greatest supergroup that you’ve never heard of.   John Wetton and Bill Bruford played together for several years in King Crimson for a trio of albums (Lark’s Tongue in Aspic, Starless & Bible Black, the classic Red) before Robert Fripp disbanded King Crimson.   Afterwards, Wetton and Bruford tried to convince Fripp to restart Crimson to no avail.   Wetton and Bruford decided to form a new band with Bruford’s former Yes partner Rick Wakeman.   Wakeman’s record label refused to allow their solo star to work with Wetton and Bruford in a new band.   Wetton and Bruford decided to each choose one person each to bring ...

  Album Review #1   Artist:   Asia Album:   Asia Year of Release:   1982 Grade:   5/5   Band Members John Wetton (Bass, Vocals) Steve Howe (Guitar) Geoff Downes (Keyboards) Carl Palmer (Drums)     Background To be honest, this album came out of the blue for me.   I was heavily into music – primarily in the standard rock vein.   The term supergroup was tossed around at the time but to be honest, the only one of the band members that I had heard of previously was Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer fame).   Joining him were guitarist Steve Howe (of Yes), Geoff Downes (of Yes and The Buggles), and John Wetton (of King Crimson, UK, Uriah Heep, and Roxy Music).   This was the biggest selling album of 1982 in the US.   Track Listing 1.        Heat Of The Moment (Wetton, Downes) 2.        Only Time Will Tell (Wet...