XXX (Asia album)

XXX
Studio album by Asia
Released 20 June 2012
(see release history)
Recorded January–March 2012
Studio Liscombe Park Studios, Buckinghamshire
Genre Progressive rock, pop rock
Length 49:41
Label Frontiers
Producer Mike Paxman
Asia chronology
Omega
(2010)		 XXX
(2012)		 Gravitas
(2014)

XXX (pronounced either Triple X[1] or Thirty) is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band Asia, released in 2012. It is the fifth and final studio album with the original line-up, consisting of Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton, due to Howe's departure the following year.

The name features the Roman numeral 'XXX' in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the release of their debut album. The cover artwork was created by Roger Dean. The flying dragon-fish indicates that 2012 was the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar.[1]

XXX was released on CD, Deluxe Edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind the scenes footage), and on a limited edition vinyl.[1]

Chart success

XXX debuted at No. 134 in the US on the Billboard 200 chart.[2] It also entered the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 69, the highest Asia chart position there since 1985's Astra.[3]

"Face on the Bridge", released digitally on 14 May 2012, was the album's first single.[1] It topped two charts: The Planet Rock UK Airplay Chart and Amazon UK MP3 Progressive Rock Chart.[4] The album itself reached No. 1 in two more charts: Amazon UK's DualDisc Music Category Chart and CD Universe's "Top Future Releases" Chart.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Classic Rock RevisitedB[7]

XXX received favourable reviews from critics.

Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited gave the album a "B" ("buy it"), and claimed that "XXX is worthy of being played right alongside the best the band has to offer." Wright concluded that Asia "have released, thirty years down the road, the best follow-up to the original release of their career."[7] William Clark of Guitar International gave the album a positive review, and called it "an incredible compilation of hard rock, progressive rock, and a few modern influences that come together brilliantly to make this a consistently thrilling Asia music hour."[8]

Track listing

All tracks written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes except when noted.

CD edition
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow the World"  06:47
2."Bury Me in Willow"  06:01
3."No Religion" (Steve Howe, Wetton, Downes)06:36
4."Faithful"  05:37
5."I Know How You Feel"  04:53
6."Face on the Bridge"  05:59
7."Al Gatto Nero"  04:36
8."Judas" (Howe, Wetton, Downes)04:43
9."Ghost of a Chance"  04:21
Total length:49:41

Credits

Production

  • Produced by Mike Paxman
  • Engineered by Steve Rispin
  • Recorded in January–March 2012 at Liscombe Park Studios in Buckinghamshire
  • Mixed by Mark "Tufty" Evans at Wispington Studios, UK
  • Mastered by Secondwave
  • Illustration and logo – Roger Dean
  • Computer work – Kate Haynes

Release history

Region Date
Japan 20 June 2012
Mainland Europe 29 June 2012
UK 2 July 2012
North America 3 July 2012

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[3] 69
US Billboard 200[2] 134

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Asia Announces New Album and 30th Anniversary World Tour". www.noblepr.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 "XXX chart position in the US". Billboard.
  3. 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the UK". Official Charts Company.
  4. ↑ ""Face on the Bridge" Hits No. 1". www.originalasia.com.
  5. ↑ ""XXX" Reaches No. 1 on Two Charts". www.originalasia.com.
  6. ↑ Collar, Matt. "XXX review". Allmusic.
  7. 1 2 Wright, Jeb. "XXX review". Classic Rock Revisited. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Clark, William. "XXX review". Guitar International.
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