XXX (Asia album)
| XXX | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Asia | ||||
| Released | 20 June 2012 | |||
| Recorded | January–March 2012 | |||
| Studio | Liscombe Park Studios, Buckinghamshire | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, pop rock | |||
| Length | 49:41 | |||
| Label | Frontiers | |||
| Producer | Mike Paxman | |||
| Asia chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Classic Rock Revisited | B |
XXX (pronounced either Triple X 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.
XXX was released on CD, Deluxe Edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind the scenes footage), and on a limited edition vinyl.
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." 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."
XXX debuted at No. 134 in the US on the Billboard 200 chart. It also entered the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 69, the highest Asia chart position there since 1985's Astra.
"Face on the Bridge", released digitally on 14 May 2012, was the album's first single. It topped two charts: The Planet Rock UK Airplay Chart and Amazon UK MP3 Progressive Rock Chart. 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.
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