XXX (Asia album)

XXX (pronounced "triple x") is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2012. It is the fifth and final studio album with the original line-up due to guitarist Steve Howe's departure the following year and vocalist/bassist John Wetton's death in 2017.

XXX
Studio album by
Asia
Released20 June 2012
RecordedJanuary–March 2012
StudioLiscombe Park, Buckinghamshire
GenreProgressive rock
Length49:39
LabelFrontiers
ProducerMike Paxman
Asia chronology
Omega
(2010)		 XXX
(2012)		 Gravitas
(2014)
Singles from XXX
  1. "Face on the Bridge"
    Released: 14 May 2012 (digital release)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

XXX was released on CD, special edition CD/DVD-Video (featuring bonus tracks, new music videos and the making of the album) and LP. To promote the album, "Face on the Bridge" was made available as a digital download single and a music video on 14 May 2012.[2]

Production

The recording sessions took place from January to March 2012 at Liscombe Park Studios, located in Buckinghamshire countryside west of Bedfordshire town Leighton Buzzard, where Asia had worked on their two previous albums. XXX was produced by Mike Paxman and engineered by Steve Rispin. The cover artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who had collaborated with Asia since their first album, released in 1982, and with Yes, which Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes had previously been members of. Dean updated the symbolic flying dragon and orb to 2012, which is the Year of the Water Dragon in the Chinese calendar. The title of the album features the Roman numeral XXX in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the debut album.[2]

Reception

XXX has received favorable reception from music critics and fans, with many hailing it as the group's best release since the 1980s.[3] Matt Collar gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. "Bury Me in Willow", "No Religion" and "Face on the Bridge" were selected as three "Track Picks".[1]

The album debuted at number 69 on the UK charts, peaking at the highest spot since Astra (1985).[4] It reached number 33 in Germany and number 36 in Japan.[5][6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes, except "No Religion" and "Judas" written by Steve Howe, Wetton and Downes.

No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow the World"6:47
2."Bury Me in Willow"6:01
3."No Religion"6:36
4."Faithful"5:38
5."I Know How You Feel"4:54
6."Face on the Bridge"6:00
7."Al Gatto Nero"4:37
8."Judas"4:44
9."Ghost of a Chance"4:22
Total length:49:39
Special Edition CD
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow the World"6:47
2."Bury Me in Willow"6:01
3."No Religion"6:36
4."Faithful"5:38
5."I Know How You Feel"4:54
6."Face on the Bridge"6:00
7."Al Gatto Nero"4:37
8."Judas"4:44
9."Reno (Silver and Gold)" (bonus track)5:16
10."Ghost of a Chance"4:22
11."I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix)" (bonus track)5:24
12."Faithful (Orchestral Version)" (Japan bonus track)4:55
Total length:65:13

Personnel

Asia

Technical personnel
  • Mike Paxman – producer
  • Steve Rispin – engineer
  • Mark "Tufty" Evans – mixing engineer (at Wispington Studios, Cookham, Berkshire)
  • Secondwave − mastering
  • Roger Dean – illustration, logotype

Charts
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7] 134
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 33
Italian Albums (FIMI)[8] 83
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[6] 36
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[9] 39
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 43
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 69
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] 8
US Billboard 200[12] 134
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[13] 45
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[14] 21
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[15] 9

Release history
RegionDateLabelFormat
Japan20 June 2012Avalon
  • CD
  • Special edition CD/DVD-V
Mainland Europe29 June 2012Frontiers
  • CD
  • Special edition CD/DVD-V
  • LP
United Kingdom2 July 2012
North America3 July 2012ScarecrowSpecial edition CD/DVD-V
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References
  1. Collar, Matt. Asia: XXX > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  2. "Asia Announces New Album and 30th Anniversary World Tour". Original Asia. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  3. Pilato, Bruce; Gallant, Dave (August 2012). "About". Original Asia. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  4. "Asia | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – XXX" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  6. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2012-07-02" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  7. "Ultratop.be – Asia – XXX" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  8. "Italiancharts.com – Asia – XXX". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  9. "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – XXX". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  10. "Swisscharts.com – Asia – XXX". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  11. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  12. "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  13. "Asia Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  14. "Asia Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  15. "Asia Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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