AMG Review of Anthologia: The 20th Anniversary/Geffen Years Collection (1982-1990)

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

This is a set for the dedicated -- the fans who will indeed be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Asia's formation by seeking out the double-disc set, Anthologia: 20th Anniversary Geffen Years Collection 1982-90. This collection is no mere anthology; it is a complete recorded works, containing everything the band recorded for Geffen in the '80s, from full albums (Asia, Alpha, Astra), to B-sides and a handful of rarities. Asia had a brief moment as one of the biggest-selling acts in rock, just before MTV came along, and their debut album still holds up as a great moment in post-prog, ambitious, and accessible arena rock, while moments of Alpha are nearly as captivating, but the drop on their third album was steep. Because of this, it's hard to recommend this set, as exhaustive and well-packaged as it is, to anybody outside of the collectors, since its very best moments are found on Asia, as well as more succinct hits collections. But for the fans and collectors who want all of Asia's recordings in one package, this delivers what it promises, and more.