LYLE MAYS with MARC JOHNSON and JACK DeJOHNETTE – Fictionary (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lyle Mays, who came to fame for his electric collaborations with Pat Metheny, surprised many with this superior outing in an acoustic trio setting. On the liner jacket Mays thanks Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, and Paul Bley for their inspiration. If one adds in Chick Corea and especially Bill Evans, that should give listeners an idea of what to expect. However, to his credit (and with the assistance of bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Jack Dejohnette) Mays avoids performing overly played standards and sticks mostly to originals (including two free improvisations). There is no coasting on this excellent set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Bill Evans    4:48
 Lyle Mays 
2.    Fictionary    7:10
 Lyle Mays 
3.    Sienna    6:30
 Lyle Mays 
4.    Lincoln Reviews His Notes    7:38
 Lyle Mays 
5.    Hard Eights    7:31
 Lyle Mays 
6.    Something Left Unsaid    4:52
 Lyle Mays 
7.    Trio #1    6:08
 Jack DeJohnette / Marc Johnson / Lyle Mays 
8.    Where Are You From Today    5:32
 Lyle Mays 
9.    Falling Grace    4:44
 Steve Swallow 
10.    Trio #2    5:23
 Jack DeJohnette / Marc Johnson / Lyle Mays 
11.    On The Other Hand    5:04
 Lyle Mays 
Credits :
Bass – Marc Johnson 
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Piano – Lyle Mays

LYLE MAYS — Lyle Mays (1986) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Lyle Mays waited a long, long time before straying from the Pat Metheny Group to issue his first solo album, but when he did, the results were at once removed but not totally untethered to the Metheny sound and feeling. On his own, Mays' synthesizer solos and textures are close in sound to what he was doing in the Metheny group, but the turns of phrases in his acoustic piano solos reflect the heavy shadow of Keith Jarrett. "Highland Aire" naturally has a buoyant, wistful Scottish flavor; "Teiko" begins with a wash of synths and then offers a mechanical rhythm that is vaguely Asian in feeling; and "Slink" is the closest the album comes to the floating Metheny groove. Although the 14-minute "Alaskan Suite" forms the centerpiece of the LP's side two, the entire side could be considered a suite as a whole, with a ruminative piano solo "Mirror of the Heart" preceding "Alaskan Suite," and "Close to Home" reprising the twinkling, burbling shafts of synthesizer of "Alaskan Suite"'s opening. Bill Frisell gives Mays a different yet no less musical and enterprising guitar foil; drummer Alex Acuna and Metheny group percussionist Nana Vasconcelos are as flexible a team as Mays could want. Marc Johnson is on bass and Billy Drewes is on alto and soprano sax. A very pleasing, thoroughly musical solo debut. Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist : 
1. Highland Aire  7:02
Bagpipes [Uilleann] – Patrick Sky
2. Teiko 7:21
3. Slink 8:17
4. Mirror Of The Heart 4:58
Alaskan Suite (14:12)
5. Northern Lights
6. Invocation
7. Ascent
8. Close To Home 6:10
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Composed By, Piano, Synthesizer, Autoharp, Producer – Lyle Mays
Double Bass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Alejandro N, Acuña
Guitar – Bill Frisell
Percussion – Naná Vasconcelos

ASIA — Asia (1982-2013) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This marriage of four players with impressive pedigrees proved to be the success story of 1982 when Asia's debut lodged itself at the top of the U.S. album charts for two months. The album spawned a massive number four single in "Heat of the Moment," a follow-up Top 20 hit in the sweeping "Only Time Will Tell," and a handful of other tracks that received heavy radio play despite going against the grain of the new wave styling of the day. Produced by Mike Stone, Asia's strengths were the powerful vocals of John Wetton, the nimble, classically tinged guitar work of Steve Howe, Geoffrey Downes' majestic keyboard playing, and anchoring the band, Carl Palmer's propulsive drumming. The lyrics are overwrought at moments, but there's no denying the epic grandeur of the music, which provided some much-needed muscle to radio at the time, and did so with style. Tom Demalon

Tracklist :

1.     Heat of the Moment

2.     Only Time Will Tell

3.     Sole Survivor

4.     One Step Closer

5.     Time Again

6.     Wildest Dreams

7.     Without You

8.     Cutting It Fine

9.     Here Comes The Feeling

Line-Up :

John Wetton - Bass, Lead Vocals, Keyboards 

Carl Palmer - Drums, Percussion 

Steve Howe - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals 

Geoffrey Downes - Keyboards, Vocals

ASIA — Alpha (1983-2014) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The eagerly awaited follow-up to the supergroup's debut, Alpha landed with a resounding thud a year later. The album still managed to be a platinum-selling Top Ten hit, as did the leadoff single "Don't Cry," but where Asia managed to make old sounds fresh, Alpha fails miserably. Nothing on Alpha packs the sheer sonic force of the band's debut. Instead, much of the record is lightweight both lyrically and musically, leaning heavier on keyboard-laden ballads like "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," which managed to scrape into the Top 40, and "My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want)." The only real meat on the record comes during the last cut, "Open Your Eyes" (and only at the end of the song). Rumored creative differences, the album's lukewarm reception, and flagging ticket sales for the ensuing tour led to lead singer John Wetton leaving the band before the year was out. Alpha is sorely disappointing, especially coming on the heels of a promising debut. Tom Demalon
Tracklist :
1.        Don't Cry 3:38
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
2.        The Smile Has Left Your Eyes 3:12
Written-By – Wetton
3.        Never In A Million Years 3:46
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
4.        My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want) 4:49
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
5.        The Heat Goes On 4:55
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
6.        Eye To Eye 3:14
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
7.        The Last To Know 4:40
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
8.        True Colors 3:52
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
9.        Midnight Sun 3:48
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
10.        Open Your Eyes 6:29
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
11.        Daylight 3:34
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
12.        Lying To Your Self 4:13
Written-By – Wetton, Howe
Credits :
Arranged By [All Tracks Arranged By] – Asia 
Design [Original Album: Cover Design] – Roger Dean 
Drums – Carl Palmer
Guitar [Guitars] – Steve Howe
Keyboards – Geoff Downes
Vocals, Bass Guitar [Bass Guitars] – John Wetton

ASIA — Astra (1985-2014) SHM-CD | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Released in 1985, Astra is Asia's third studio album and first without guitarist Steve Howe. While somewhat unfairly regarded in comparison to Asia's first two albums, Astra is nonetheless a solid prog rock outing that finds bassist/vocalist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, drummer Carl Palmer, and replacement guitarist, Krokus' Mandy Meyer, delivering a set of melodic and driving rock anthems. Admittedly, Astra came on the heels of a tumultuous period for the band that found Wetton unceremoniously booted and replaced by ELP singer Greg Lake right before the highly publicized 1983 live televised concert event Asia in Asia. By 1984, Wetton had been reinstated, but tensions remained and Howe eventually left the band early in the recording process for Astra. Featuring a slightly more arena rock and pop-metal sound, Astra featured two Top Ten singles in the epic "Go" and the dramatic "Too Late." Elsewhere, there was a handful of similarly radio-ready cuts, including the sparkling George Harrison-sounding "Hard On Me," the '50s-influenced synth balladry of "Wishing," and the grand and symphonic rock theatrics of the very Queen-esque "Rock and Roll Dream." Certainly, while Asia is at its best with the original lineup, Astra is a truly underrated '80s rock album and a must-hear for fans. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1.    Go 4:08
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
2.    Voice Of América 4:28

Written-By – Downes, Wetton
3.    Hard On Me 3:36
Written-By – Palmer, Downes, Wetton
4.    Wishing 4:16
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
5.    Rock And Roll Dream 6:51
Featuring, Orchestra – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestrated By, Arranged By, Conductor – Louis Clark
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
6.    Countdown To Zero 4:17
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
7.    Love Now Till Eternity 4:13
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
8.    Too Late 4:13
Written-By – Palmer, Downes, Wetton
9.    Suspicion 3:46
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
10.    After The War 5:10
Written-By – Downes, Wetton
Credits :
Drums – Carl Palmer
Guitar – Mandy Meyer
Keyboards – Geoff Downes
Design [Cover Design] – Roger Dean 
Vocals, Bass Guitar [Bass Guitars] – John Wetton