![Utopia [Import]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002DD3G.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg)
| 1. Libertine |
| 2. Bad Little Actress |
| 3. Feet Don't Fail Me Now |
| 4. Neck On Up |
| 5. Say Yeah |
| 6. Call It What You Will |
| 7. I'm Looking At You But I'm Talking To Myself |
| 8. Hammer In My Heart |
| 9. Burn Three Times |
| 10. There Goes My Inspiration |
| 11. Princess Of The Universe |
| 12. Infrared And Ultraviolet |
| 13. Forgotten But Not Gone |
| 14. Private Heaven |
| 15. Chapter And Verse |
| 16. Hammer In My Heart (Dance Mix) |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Out of print in the U.S.. 1982 album by Todd Rundgren's art/ prog/ power pop group. Features the original cover art, all fifteen of the original cuts, and the bonus track 'Hammer In My Heart' (Dance Mix). Standard jewel case.
There are no filler tracks on the album. Zero.
Great melodies. Great hooks. Sly little songs like Denise, Laser Show, and Lost in Space don't wear out their welcome. They come in like a cool, refreshing breeze and are gone in less than 2½ minutes. Never does this album drag. A few semi-serious songs will make you think, like the nostalgic Prom Theme. Mostly FoW is about having a good time, describing ordinary life with wit, in a perfect musical context. They know exactly when to use acoustic guitars, electric guitars, a cheesy synth, or a soaring string part.
Fountains of Wayne are able to express genuine pity in songs like Go Hippie and Fine Day For A Parade, but even here their sense of humor and intelligence never flags. Hippie contains a classic guitar solo that recycles every stereotypical riff and effect from the psychedelic era and spits it out in one minute. I love it! You will smile with recognition and thrill to the beauty of it.
Sometimes it is easier to list an album's flaws than its strengths. Honestly, after a dozen listens to Utopia Parkway, I can't find any flaws. If pressed, I would say that lead vocalist Chris Collingwood's voice is slightly thinner and weaker than on FoW's latest studio record, Welcome Interstate Managers, but for this type of music, it is hardly necessary to have the chops of a Billy Joel or the power of a Springsteen to pull it off. And Chris does, in spades.
Red Dragon Tatoo
It's just about on me
I got it for you
So now do you want me
With nothing to prove
Will you be my honey
Oh yeah
In you I confide
Red dragon tatoo
I'm fit to be dyed
Am I fit to have you?
This chorus from the second song on Utopia Parkway sums up the humor, simplicity, and cleverness of Fountains of Wayne. Like Interstate Managers, Utopia Parkway's songs are written from a middle-class suburban perspective. And what's wrong with that? FoW are us. Arguably this is a better album than their latest and more famous Welcome Interstate Managers, but really both albums are five star efforts. Don't be in the dark about this great band.
Utopia started out as a six-piece ensemble with three keyboard players, including synthesizer experimentalist Jean-Yves Labat, and Todd himself on guitar. This debut album could be called Tales from Todd-ographic Oceans. Critics in 1974-5 hated it. In retrospect, it's not hard to see why: by then, the whole prog thing had run its course, most of the key prog and fusion bands had peaked, and critics had moved on.
The music is a mélange of cliches: low-rent Return to Forever, factory-second Genesis, clearance-sale ELP. For all the "epic" quality of the music, the writing is not very sophisticated, relying too much on riffs and repetitious passages. The lack of a true virtuoso instrumentalist in the band hampers matters further: Todd is no Steve Howe; none of the keyboard players are on the same level as Wakeman, Emerson, or Corea. The "experimental" synth sounds are of the dated-sounding bleep-and-fart variety, like ELP's Tarkus from three years previous.
Yet another problem is the thin, muddy sound quality: instead of cramming over half an hour of music on each side of vinyl, Todd really should have edited. The most worthwhile moments here are the "chorus" segments of each track, which showcase Todd's real gift for melody writing.
Yet the album almost gets over on sheer energy and balls; it could even be categorized as "garage-prog." For all its musical inferiority to the likes of Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy or Brain Salad Surgery or Foxtrot, this is progressive rock that *rocks*. So on balance, this is a worthwhile addition to any prog fan's collection.
He was perhaps at his proggiest in 1974 and 1975 when he gave us "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" and followed it up with his "Initiation" album (which I've already gone on record as promoting as a personal "Top 5" album). But this Utopia album is different from all of the subsequent Utopia albums in one major way: the personnel that comprised all subsequent studio albums of the prog-pop Utopia were Todd, Kasim Sultan (bass), Roger Powell (keys), and John Wilcox (drums), while this one-off first Utopia album consisted of Todd, John Siegler (bass), Kevin Ellman (drums), and THREE keyboardists: Moogy Klingman, Ralph Schuckett, and Jean-Yves "M. Frog" Labat. Different sound and different musical focus.
The bottom line here is that this album is really something special for prog fans. The opener, "Utopia Theme", was recorded live in Atlanta, and really is superb for all of its 14 minutes, featuring GREAT guitars (by TR), synths, vocals, melodies, and mystical lyrics. The remainder of the album is studio recorded. The 10-minute "Freak Parade" begins with a great vibe, and ends with the solo bass line fading out. In between, you get a little Zappa-like quirkiness - a bit weird for me in places, but it does hold together pretty well. "Freedom Fighters" is not quite as "poppy" as some reviewers might have you believe. Yeah, it's written in 4/4 time and only lasts about 4 minutes, but it's also a pretty good song. And you kind of need that before the 30-minute-long album closer "The Ikon". This cut is classic prog that runs the gamut from symphonic to spacey (think "Treatise on Cosmic Fire" in spots), to jazz fusion, to Western hoedown! Lots of soloing and jamming combined with clever transitions to new sections.
If you like adventure and a plethora of keyboards in your prog diet, this first unique Utopia album is a great way to escape to musical nirvana. Recommended.
I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 8.8/10; Performance = 9/10; Production = 8/10; CD length = 9/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 8.7 ("4 stars")
Even still, this album for the most part is a solid production, good listening to and it was worth my money even as a non-latino. Check it out!
I recommend everyone to buy this album, you won't be disappointed!!!
Utopia- 5/5 a great starter for the CD slow but catchy.
Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama- 5/5 the first single of this CD and deffinitley one of my favorites. A great song to rock out to with a very catchy beat.
See a Little Light- 2 1/2/5 Deffinitley one of her weekest..not that impressive. The vocal pitches were a little off
Bella Tracion-5/5 One of the best! Fast, catchy, rocky, fun, pop song! I must liked
Contigo O Sin Ti- 4/5 very different..but i like it. I don't really like Nicole Schnizer's voice in it..but not including that, fun/ different.
Alguien Mas-4/5 a darker song..more dreary but great vocals!
Quein es Feliz-5/5 Great pop song ! fun beat and catchy great to fool around with! who is happy? a great song!
Pudo Ser Tan Facil-2/5 Never listen to this song..not that fun more of a dark sad song.
Noche Cool-4/5 fun up beat little rappy song..i like the beggining of the song but after that is it ok.
Amiga Soledad-4/5 I nice melodic song about her dog that died.:( nice
Good...Good-2/5 One of the WORST horrible but some parts are ok
Luz Sin Gravedad (See A Little Light in Spanish) 4/5 much better than the English version.
Never Enough-4/5 a fun song but stupid lyrics..ok..
"Way to go BELINDA!! FELICIDADES mi niña ahi la llevas, tremendo trabajo!"
The huge, electric "orchestra" present on the debut had been reduced to a four-piece comprised of Roger Powell (synthesizers, piano, organ, and vocals); Todd Rundgren (electric and acoustic guitars); Kasim Sulton (electric bass guitar and vocals); and John "Willie" Wilcox (drums percussion, and vocals). This lineup was great and there is some impressive proggy ensemble work on RA. The abilities of each member are showcased on the lengthy track Singring and the Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale) - they all get a 1-2 minute unaccompanied solo. Of the solos, I liked Roger's synthesizer workout the best.
The seven tracks on RA range in length from 3'28" to the lengthy 18'24" Singring and the Glass Guitar. The music on RA is very much in the vein of what you might expect from the early Utopia albums: Olympian-scale feats on individual instruments; dense ensemble work; great vocal harmonies; and the occasional pop hook or two...or three. In general, I am fine with the music although I do not think that Singring works very well from a composition perspective: while there are excellent main themes and some great ensemble work at the beginning and end, about half of the piece is comprised of unaccompanied solos, a few of which are just a bit dull. My favorite tracks include Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise/Communion with the Sun along with Sunburst Finish, although all of the pieces have something to offer. The odd track out is Magic Dragon Theatre which merges a scene from an imaginary "play" (complete with dialog), with some good prog. Very interesting overall.
In terms of the concepts on RA, quite literally, everything under the "sun" is taken on. Of these concepts, the one that I latched on to (or at least loosely embraced) is that presented on Singring. There is a narrator on Singring that is supposed to be a Middle Earth dweller (an elf) that narrates the tale of Singring in what sounds like a mock Scottish accent on helium. I have to admit it is actually pretty funny, although I can imagine that most prog fans would raise their eyebrows at this track. As far as the actual concept goes, Singring tells the tale of four brave souls that locate the four keys needed to open up a glass guitar that contains an imprisoned and weeping spirit (Singring). I may be way off here (I am a Biologist), but it seems that Todd may have been bemoaning the loss of urgency and "spiritual vitality" in music in the late 1970's - "if you take a look around, harmony is dying" - and that this was his attempt to "rescue" the vitality and urgency of rock music. If this is what the band was aiming for then hats off to them.
In terms of the CD package, Rhino/Bearsville did a pretty good job and the CD booklet features each of the band members dressed up in Egyptian garb and posed in odd (quasi-ritualistic?) stances - with the exception of the drummer who simply stands with his arms folded over his chest. The lyrics to each of the songs are printed on the inner sleeve. The sound quality is excellent.
All in all, while RA is a good album of interesting prog rock and nice pop tunes, there were aspects of the album that just did not sit too well with me, although I am very forgiving and was able to overlook them. I would recommend this album to hardcore proggers as the last album of its type to be released by Utopia. After RA, the band plunged headlong into pop territory with Oops, Wrong Planet (1977). For those folks that are starting out with Utopia, definitely snag the 1974 debut album - it is a great listen.
The musicianship is stunning and there are some great melodies but it is still a silly, goof yconcept album. The chorus from Hiroshima? Todd what were you thinking?
There are enough hooks here that Utopia could have crafted real songs. To someone other than a Utopia fanatic, this is unlistenable.
What he is least credited for, but SHOULD be best-known for, is his fabulous work in his band Utopia, a group compromised of (at one point) THREE synth players. Todd Rundgren's experimentation with LSD may have played a huge role in his surge in tallent and creativity during these albums, but whatever the cause is, the effect is outstanding. Tales of lone sea creatures and tiny elves, reminesing about history, strange hillbilly voices, and REALLY sweet and progressive music is all found on this album.
'RA' can be considered a "concept album", if you will - setting a similar goal as Yes - Close to the Edge, Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick, and Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. This isn't just a collection of songs, but all having something to do with (and possibly connecting to each other) about THE SUN. Yes, the sun is the only possible way that Japan and tiny elves can possibly relate to one another.
My favorite song on the LP is side two's legendary spectacular called "The Glass Guitar" (An Electrified Fairy Tale). You can tell that TR was on something when he wrote this song - it begins with a minute-long introduction by what sounds like an elf on helium,
"This is an electrified fairy tale. If you've never heard of an electrified fairy tale, just picture tiny elves, with wee-little electric guitars!" :)
The song is about (I think) these four keys located in the "four corners of the earth" which four brave "individuals" rescue from different elements of the earth (mountain, wind, fire, water). Once the keys are rescued, they are joined together to shed "light" on the earth - possibly the sun? I think this is not a mistake! ;)
Not surprisingly, it details these rescues of these keys with a solo from each of the band members (there are only four band members presently when the album is released) - so yes, the lone saviors of the world are also the humble "Utopia"! =)
The epic is 18 minutes long and has some VERY progressive movements. It is both catchy "There's a ru-mor I've heard, that's going a-round", frightening, incredibly passionate, and instrumentally complex. I hate to compare, but think "Close to the Edge" with a more focused story to it. It has all that a good song needs (but with MUCH better drumming than Bill Bruford's chops in Close to the Edge).
Who can I recommend this LP for? Certainly a rock fan with an open mind and a good taste. DEFINITELY Todd Rundgren fans (shame on you if you haven't picked this up already!), and last but not least Progressive Rock fans. I am a gigantic fan of progressive rock, and I'd say without hesitation that Utopia, particularly with this record, ranks up there with the likes of Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, and earlier King Crimson stuff.
This LP is HIGHLY recommended, and I suggest that if you're even VIEWING this review now, that you do not think a second longer about purchasing this record. You will be a better person for not only supporting the all-time most tallented musical hermit to ever exist, but for also enjoying one of the many lost treasures in seventies progressive music.
What this means is that this CD will also require a specialized audience. There's only a little over 30 minutes of music on it, mostly short cues. But it does have that exhilarating music for that mysterious opening, as well as that sublime ending, as well as the sort of polonaise accompanying the curtain call, and that makes it well worthwhile for me.
As someone who loved this show, I heartily recommend the score. But, if you know very little about it, I doubt the music will be that much more revealing. As one of only a few actual background music scores, released to CD, it enters a rarified category. It will probably be a collector's item very soon...
Still, I'm really glad I have it.
The first song, "Hyperspace" is a great and catchy song and a good start to the album. It is really unlike their previous stuff in the sense that it is more indie sounding. It is not the best song on the album, but it is still a supurb song. The second track, "Amateur" is the self-proclaimed "single" from the album. I beleive this song got some radio play in the UK. It is a cool song with a really cool chorus and has a cool temp change near the middle. The third track, "80 Windows" is definitly one of the best on the album. It is a softer song with the greatest lyrics; it has so much meaning to it. The fourth song, "Mother's Day" is also one of my favorites and one of the heavier songs on the album. It is more of a comic song than serious and the ending is really funny (Blue balls and all that bull****, blue balls and all that bull****!). The 5th song, "Troublemaker" is a very unique song. When I first heard the album I never gave this song a chance at all. However, I actually listened to it and the more I did the more it grew on me. It is one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard and has a great tune and probably the 2nd best on the album. Now track six, "Bacardi" is by far the best song on the album and one of the best songs I have ever heard from any band. I go against everything I believe (my belief that nothing is perfect) by giving "Bacardi" a 10/10, but it is just that good! It is so heavy, has wicked bass guitar, and a major temp change towards the end. It is about the after-effects of partying, something I can definitly relate to. It is such a feel good song that gets you pumped up as hell. The seventh track, "Bad Best Friend" is another really good song, but is probably the least good song on the CD. It has more of a poppy tune and the lyrics aren't something I relate with. The eighth song, "Dispossession" is a song that was one of my favorites when I first heard the album, but was surpassed by almost all of the other songs. It is a good heavy song with an interesting chorus. Moving on, "The Voices" is one of my favorite tracks. It just has an all around good melody. "Firecracker," track ten, is also one of the best songs on the album. It is the only song on the album Nada Surf made a video for (I think) and I think it was also a single from the album. The song definitly makes sense and I can relate to it. "Slow Down," the next song is probably the most underestimated song on the album. When I first heard it, I didn't like it that much. But, WOW, is it good. Another one of the best songs on the album (notice a pattern?). The following song and track twelve, "Robot" is the original last song of the original release of the album. The lyrics are quite interesting and it has a real nice tune. It is also the longest track on the album. This version is much better than the less heavy version on North 6th Street. The final two tracks are two songs that were included on the re-release of the album in the U.S. "Silent Fighting," track thirteen, is an old b-side (from the High-Low era) which has not been re-recorded. It is a great song though with a really catch meldoy. I also really like the lyrics. The final track "Spooky" is so freaking awesome. The original version of this song was later released on North 6th Street and isn't as good. This version, however, is really cool and some of the lyrics have been changed up. I beleive this track was a b-side to this album. Anyways, this album is definitly one that should be picked up by anyone who just likes good music. I could see people who are into punk to soft slow alternative getting into this album.
Track 1, "The Road to Utopia" 5/5
This flirtatiously begins as a progressive track for the first minute and a half before turning into a pretty straightforward, beautiful pop song. "Beautiful" is no surprise. For a long time, it seemed that prolifically writing beautiful, catchy pop songs came to Rundgren as easily as breathing. That Rundgren didn't have constant radio hits is one of music's great injustices. Or maybe not. He might not have as consistently produced interesting music in that case.
Track 2, "You Make Me Crazy" 5/5
This track is a very interesting combination of a 60s pop song and new wave. A Cars influence can be heard, which is ironic now, considering that Rundgren is currently in "The New Cars". Great singing from drummer "Willie" Wilcox and interesting bass playing from Kasim Sulton. Sulton's bass on the prechoruses (and the way that Rundgren changes chords on the verses) makes them sound far more outside than they really are, and of course the third verse is just wonderfully outside overall. I love the melody in the prechoruses and the chorus, and the interplay between Sultan and the "background vocals" on the chorus, which have a subtle, odd flanging effect on them.
Track 3, "Second Nature" 5/5
Except for the discofied drumbeat on the chorus, this could have easily fit on Rundgren's Something/Anything?, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's a leftover song from that period. In any event, a typically gorgeous melody/harmony on a catchy tune. A bit short, but there's nothing wrong with short pop tunes.
Track 4, "Set Me Free" 5/5
A song wholly written by Sulton. This has great, unusual verses, where the chords, dominated by Roger Powell's Rhodes keyboard, build and change without repeating. In fact, I'm not sure there's any guitar on this track at all. The chorus makes you want to get up and dance and sing along like you're in a gospel church. Smokin' but relatively simple sax solo--I love the ending.
Track 5, "Caravan" 5/5
And talk about simple but effective, that's what the guitar riff on this song is all about. There's one ringing kinda dissonant note (maybe just dissonant because of the flange effect on it) towards the end of the phrase that makes it even better. Rundgren repeats it as an ostinato under the smooth verses while chord changes on top of it wax and wane the tension (especially with respect to that one note)--that's one of my favorite compositional devices. The choruses have a strangely attractive cheesiness to them. The bridge, which ends up being constructed like a concise, traditional jazz improv (and this is recurs in the outtro), is surprisingly heavy. I love the keyboard solo with the heavy effects. Rundgren does some killer guitar work on the outtro.
Track 6, "Last of the New Wave Riders" 5/5
The heaviness continues. But the song becomes almost a spoof (as we might have guessed from the title) when the vocals enter; it's very funny. Kinda Queen-ish. Still, this song isn't just a spoof. There's a great melody in the chorus and there are some unusual things going on structurally in the verses. The bridge is very much progressive hard rock, often retaining the Queen references. The overblown ending is very funny, too.
Track 7, "Shot in the Dark" 5/5
And then Utopia makes a Queen-ish left turn, first suggesting a Professor Longhair-like sauntering blues in the intro, played by Powell on the piano. But suddenly, things get new wavy again. The verses are orchestrated in a way that suggests alien reggae. Melodically and harmonically this is much more a traditional rock tune, but the orchestration and production make it much more.
Track 8, "The Very Last Time" 5/5
The vocals are oddly mixed a bit back on this track, but it's a great song. Pretty straightforward for Utopia. Beautiful choruses again.
Track 9, "Love Alone" 5/5
This has a really soulful chord progression, played beautifully by Powell, who is the only instrumentalist on this track, with great singing again from Sulton and the rest of the band on Queen-like background vocals. This would have been a great closer, but the album unexpectedly goes to--
Track 10, "Rock Love" 5/5
A disco party! This is another very tongue-in-cheek song, but very good and catchy. Very funny lyrics. Sulton really cooks on bass throughout, especially on the chorus. I love the chord progression and harmonies on the prechoruses. The end of the bridge/solo segueing to the prechorus is odd and genius. Don't miss the over-the-top scream from Rundgren near the beginning of the outtro.
Some really memorable songs, ranging from "prog-rock" to pop to ballads to punk-ish anthems on this album.
"The Road to Utopia" is an incredible lead-in to this album. One of the catchiest tunes I've ever heard. In the same league are "You Know You Make Me Crazy", "Rock Love" and "The Very Last Time" (LOVE the lyrics to that one!).
"Love Alone" and "Second Nature" do up the ballad thing quite nicely.
"Last of the New Wave Riders" just kicks ass as a "New wave/punk "anthemic" song.
"Caravan" Easily the best song on the album. This one's the "prog-rocker". Great singing, a beat that don't quit and fantastic guitar.
Finally, I saw these guys live right after this album came out... one of the best concerts I've ever attended. Love the album, and I highly recommend it.
It's the prog fan in me that brought me to Todd's "A Wizard, A True Star", then "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Over the years, I've found many a TR/Utopia LP that I listened to, enjoyed three or four tracks fully, maybe appreciated one or two more, and felt turned off by the rest. ("Swing to the Right" was the nadir, with only "Lysistrata"'s name bringing good musical memories.)
I almost fast-forwarded an Internet radio station when Utopia's "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" (from this album) came on a "Gentle Giant"-themed radio station. Say what? My preoccupation with work ended up being a major bonus that got me to the surprisingly catchy chorus, which avoids being saccharine due to the fact that none of the four has a particularly sweet voice (each has its own edge).
And so I started looking around to see if I could find a copy of the song. My only hope was (gulp!) buying the CD. Listening to the sound samples on Amazon, I gulped harder. This didn't sound very friendly.
I received the CD yesterday. I am in _awe_. I played it three times last night (a rare feat for me). There are so many insanely great "nerdy-chords-meets-catchy-melody" moments that few apart from Utopia could pull off that I can't really get bored listening to it. I wonder, had "Perfect Heaven" been pulled off the album so that everything could fit on one 45-minute LP, if the album would have fared better in the shops.
Definite highlights are "Neck on Up", "Say Yeah", "Burn Three Times", "Call It What You Want", and the aforementioned "Feet Don't Fail Me Now". But selecting highlights is an injustice to the album, as "Libertine", "Bad Little Actress" and "Hammer in my Heart" are superior to 90% of the songs on the other albums from their poppier years.
At the risk of sounding like I'm gushing endlessly, it really sounds as if Utopia set out to better every highlight of their "power pop/rock" years with this album. "Say Yeah" beats Deface the Music's similar "That's Not Right" with sheer exuberance. "Libertine" comes really close to matching Oops! Wrong Planet's "Trapped". Roger Powell even screams out a note right at a breakdown in "Burn Three Times". It even seems like Utopia seriously worked this one out before going into the studio, with all four singers demonstrating remarkably similar vocal delivery, hitting most every note dead on. Solos are often eschewed so that the whole arrangement stands out, and at times the right "different chord" can be heard in _just_ the right place during the last chorus. This should have been all over the airwaves in the '80s, alongside the Cars' "Heartbeat City" and Yes's "90125". And the samples on here don't do the album justice. If you're too nervous to buy a copy, do yourself a favor and borrow a friend's, or hunt the local 2nd-hand record shops which still allow you to preview the album. The only thing that stops me from calling this "Utopia's Party Album" is the presence of three ballads, of which I feel one is superfluous ("Perfect Heaven"). (And hey, I could always program my CD player to skip it, or them, were I to play this CD at a party.) It may or may not be my absolute fave Utopia album (the first one is hard to beat), but it'll definitely be my most listened to. I want to start an "original songs" band based on this album alone. Any takers?
But the three-sided artifact those silly Utopians left is great -- tremendous tight harmonies, crystal clear production and glistening guitar runs, clever lyrics, too-cool melodies -- it's a solid, consistently superior package. It's hard to put this on and not feel the infectious, upbeat, intelligent melodies put you in a better mood - from the clever "Princess of the Universe," to the moody "Bad Little Actress" to the Beatlesque "Chapter and Verse," to the should-have-been hit rock ballad "There Goes My Inspiration." Add to that the hits (for Utopia)"Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and "Hammer in My Heart" and you have an irresistable top notch package. As this will surely go out of print again soon, I recommend this for any serious music collector, and the casual Todd fan as well.
Lovers of Todd's very early or recent material may find this too bland. However, I have enjoyed each stage of Todd's work.
Vocal harmonies are a favorite of mine, and there is an abundance here on this album. On this CD, I found it very enjoyable to hear all four singers have a turn to lead, and the background vocals are featured loudly enough to where one can make out each particular singer doing their thing, which can be very cool and adds to the relistenability. Each singer is quite competent, and Kaz of course has an excellent voice as always.
This band deserved so much better a fate than the relative obscurity under which it toiled.
"The Man From Utopia" is even better than the previous year's "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch". To begin, the album-cover artwork on this album is much more appealing and clever than the primitive artwork on "...Drowning Witch" (which is the 2nd worst album cover of all of FZ's albums; the #1 place for rotten artwork goes to the "Filmore East 1971" album).
The fact that the All Music Guide rated this FZ's worst official album (2/5 stars) baffles me. The album begins with 2 fantastic songs:
1. "Cocaine Decisions" is about the cocaine fad among yuppies of the 80's that is still a powerful anti-drug song.
2. "Sex" may seem a bit juvenile with its lyrics but it is so catchy and fun to listen to. Its chorus "the bigger the cushin' the better the pushin'" was almost stolen word-for-word by Spinal Tap a year later for their song "Big Bottom."
The next gem on the album is "The Dangerous Kitchen" - with its frightening background music and lyrics about how one's dity kitchen can harm them if they are not careful. PLAY THIS ON YOUR I-POD AT 3AM WHILE YOU'RE WALKING TO THE KITCHEN FOR A LATE-NIGHT SNACK...I DARE YA!!!
In "Stick Together", FZ exposes how Unions are not the perfect organizations they pretend to be. "The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou" is an old medley of two oldies tunes that is reminiscent of the songs from the "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" album...in other words, a real treat.
With these 5 tunes and the rest in between, how can you go wrong if you're an FZ fan??? Maybe you won't like it if you only like Zappa's complex musical compositions and not his semi-raunchy but always amusing lyrics to go with the music. I like it all.
Of course, I didn't start out that way but his music grew on me.
1. Cocaine decisions- 8/10 This underated bluesy number was often played on the 1982 tour. It is a great political statement and is an entertaining listen.
2. Sex- 8/10 Another solid track. Possibly the most offensive song on the album but still a very good song, which has a hilarious message, skinny girls are no fun.
3. Tink walks amok- 9/10 This incredible instrumental features Arthur 'Tink' Barrow ripping it up on bass.
4. The radio is broken- 8/10 By far the most bizzare song on the album.
5. We are not alone- 9/10 Another incredible instrumental, this song was originally written with lyrics.
6. The dangerous kitchen- 7/10 Not one of my favorites, but still a funny and bizzare 'melt-down' song.
7. The man from Utopia meets Mary Lou- 7/10 This combination of two doo-wop tracks is entertaining, but Frank has done better.
8. Stick together- 7/10 This reggae song is not one of the best off of the album, but its ok.
9. The Jazz discharge party hats- 8/10 The final melt-down song on the album is the best by far, it is a hilarious story about a band and their pool-side adventures, among other things.
10. Luigi and the wise guys- 6/10 This recently added track is by far the weakest song on the album. It features irritating vocals and stupid lyrics.
11. Moggio- 10/10 This rewarding instrumental is a great way to finish this unbalanced, but amusing album.
Out of print in the U.S.. 1982 album by Todd Rundgren's art/ prog/ power pop group. Features the original cover art, all fifteen of the original cuts, and the bonus track 'Hammer In My Heart' (Dance Mix). Standard jewel case.
Utopia,Utopia,Unidisc Records,Album Rock,New Wave,Pop,Pop/Rock,Power Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Utopia [Import]
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Utopia Parkway
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ASIN: B00000IFW1 Release Date: 1999-04-06 |
Tracks:
- Utopia Parkway
- Red Dragon Tattoo
- Denise
- Hat And Feet
- The Valley Of Malls
- Troubled Times
- Go, Hippie
- A Fine Day For A Parade
- Amity Gardens
- Laser Show
- Lost In Space
- Prom Theme
- It Must Be Summer
- The Senator's Daughter
Amazon.com
Fountains of Wayne's second album is somewhat of a new thing under the sun: Pet Sounds for '90s Jersey high schoolers. Main-men Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood litter these songs with cultural references (Pink Floyd laser shows, tattoos, Puff Daddy, lavender Lexuses, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"), but their "Valley of Malls" is saturated with as much bittersweetness as that of Adam Sandler's wedding singer. The pop-savvy Schlesinger--who also puts in time as a member of Ivy and wrote That Thing You Do!'s title song--is wiseacre enough to dub a touching ELO tribute "Prom Theme," but when the album ends with one of the kids falling for "The Senator's Daughter," it feels as openhearted as when Brian Wilson puzzled over why he just wasn't made for these times. --Rickey WrightCustomer Reviews:
I love this CD!.......2007-06-04
Parkway to Pleasure.......2006-08-26
A Pop Classic.......2006-08-20
Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album.......2006-07-26
There are no filler tracks on the album. Zero.
Great melodies. Great hooks. Sly little songs like Denise, Laser Show, and Lost in Space don't wear out their welcome. They come in like a cool, refreshing breeze and are gone in less than 2½ minutes. Never does this album drag. A few semi-serious songs will make you think, like the nostalgic Prom Theme. Mostly FoW is about having a good time, describing ordinary life with wit, in a perfect musical context. They know exactly when to use acoustic guitars, electric guitars, a cheesy synth, or a soaring string part.
Fountains of Wayne are able to express genuine pity in songs like Go Hippie and Fine Day For A Parade, but even here their sense of humor and intelligence never flags. Hippie contains a classic guitar solo that recycles every stereotypical riff and effect from the psychedelic era and spits it out in one minute. I love it! You will smile with recognition and thrill to the beauty of it.
Sometimes it is easier to list an album's flaws than its strengths. Honestly, after a dozen listens to Utopia Parkway, I can't find any flaws. If pressed, I would say that lead vocalist Chris Collingwood's voice is slightly thinner and weaker than on FoW's latest studio record, Welcome Interstate Managers, but for this type of music, it is hardly necessary to have the chops of a Billy Joel or the power of a Springsteen to pull it off. And Chris does, in spades.
Red Dragon Tatoo
It's just about on me
I got it for you
So now do you want me
With nothing to prove
Will you be my honey
Oh yeah
In you I confide
Red dragon tatoo
I'm fit to be dyed
Am I fit to have you?
This chorus from the second song on Utopia Parkway sums up the humor, simplicity, and cleverness of Fountains of Wayne. Like Interstate Managers, Utopia Parkway's songs are written from a middle-class suburban perspective. And what's wrong with that? FoW are us. Arguably this is a better album than their latest and more famous Welcome Interstate Managers, but really both albums are five star efforts. Don't be in the dark about this great band.
Catchy Happy Guitar Pop.......2005-10-10
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Todd Rundgren's Utopia
Utopia Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0000032P0 Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Utopia Theme
- Freak Parade
- Freedom Fighters
- The Ikon
Album Description
Utopia's first album - a break away from Todd's romantic pop leanings to a more progressive "fusion" sound.Customer Reviews:
Tales from Todd-ographic Oceans.......2007-07-18
Utopia started out as a six-piece ensemble with three keyboard players, including synthesizer experimentalist Jean-Yves Labat, and Todd himself on guitar. This debut album could be called Tales from Todd-ographic Oceans. Critics in 1974-5 hated it. In retrospect, it's not hard to see why: by then, the whole prog thing had run its course, most of the key prog and fusion bands had peaked, and critics had moved on.
The music is a mélange of cliches: low-rent Return to Forever, factory-second Genesis, clearance-sale ELP. For all the "epic" quality of the music, the writing is not very sophisticated, relying too much on riffs and repetitious passages. The lack of a true virtuoso instrumentalist in the band hampers matters further: Todd is no Steve Howe; none of the keyboard players are on the same level as Wakeman, Emerson, or Corea. The "experimental" synth sounds are of the dated-sounding bleep-and-fart variety, like ELP's Tarkus from three years previous.
Yet another problem is the thin, muddy sound quality: instead of cramming over half an hour of music on each side of vinyl, Todd really should have edited. The most worthwhile moments here are the "chorus" segments of each track, which showcase Todd's real gift for melody writing.
Yet the album almost gets over on sheer energy and balls; it could even be categorized as "garage-prog." For all its musical inferiority to the likes of Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy or Brain Salad Surgery or Foxtrot, this is progressive rock that *rocks*. So on balance, this is a worthwhile addition to any prog fan's collection.
Overlooked prog masterpiece.......2007-06-22
No need to wait another year, UTOPIA is here.......2007-03-28
Why does this album always seem to "fly under the radar" of prog fans?.......2006-05-23
He was perhaps at his proggiest in 1974 and 1975 when he gave us "Todd Rundgren's Utopia" and followed it up with his "Initiation" album (which I've already gone on record as promoting as a personal "Top 5" album). But this Utopia album is different from all of the subsequent Utopia albums in one major way: the personnel that comprised all subsequent studio albums of the prog-pop Utopia were Todd, Kasim Sultan (bass), Roger Powell (keys), and John Wilcox (drums), while this one-off first Utopia album consisted of Todd, John Siegler (bass), Kevin Ellman (drums), and THREE keyboardists: Moogy Klingman, Ralph Schuckett, and Jean-Yves "M. Frog" Labat. Different sound and different musical focus.
The bottom line here is that this album is really something special for prog fans. The opener, "Utopia Theme", was recorded live in Atlanta, and really is superb for all of its 14 minutes, featuring GREAT guitars (by TR), synths, vocals, melodies, and mystical lyrics. The remainder of the album is studio recorded. The 10-minute "Freak Parade" begins with a great vibe, and ends with the solo bass line fading out. In between, you get a little Zappa-like quirkiness - a bit weird for me in places, but it does hold together pretty well. "Freedom Fighters" is not quite as "poppy" as some reviewers might have you believe. Yeah, it's written in 4/4 time and only lasts about 4 minutes, but it's also a pretty good song. And you kind of need that before the 30-minute-long album closer "The Ikon". This cut is classic prog that runs the gamut from symphonic to spacey (think "Treatise on Cosmic Fire" in spots), to jazz fusion, to Western hoedown! Lots of soloing and jamming combined with clever transitions to new sections.
If you like adventure and a plethora of keyboards in your prog diet, this first unique Utopia album is a great way to escape to musical nirvana. Recommended.
I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 8.8/10; Performance = 9/10; Production = 8/10; CD length = 9/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 8.7 ("4 stars")
TODD IS NO RUNT BUT IS THE NAZZ AND A WIZARD A TRUE STAR.......2006-02-25
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Utopia
Belinda Manufacturer: EMI Latin ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000I2ISHC Release Date: 2006-10-03 |
Tracks:
- Utopia
- Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama
- See A Little Light
- Bella Traicion
- Contigo O Sin Ti
- Alguien Mas
- ?Quien Es Feliz?
- Pudo Ser Tan Facil
- Noche Cool
- Amiga Soledad
- Good...Good
- Luz Sin Gravedad
- Never Enough
Customer Reviews:
A surprise for your expectations and worth buying.......2007-02-18
Even still, this album for the most part is a solid production, good listening to and it was worth my money even as a non-latino. Check it out!
GREAT CD!!!!!!.......2007-01-31
I recommend everyone to buy this album, you won't be disappointed!!!
Belinda Gets Older and Improves.......2006-12-17
Utopia- 5/5 a great starter for the CD slow but catchy.
Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama- 5/5 the first single of this CD and deffinitley one of my favorites. A great song to rock out to with a very catchy beat.
See a Little Light- 2 1/2/5 Deffinitley one of her weekest..not that impressive. The vocal pitches were a little off
Bella Tracion-5/5 One of the best! Fast, catchy, rocky, fun, pop song! I must liked
Contigo O Sin Ti- 4/5 very different..but i like it. I don't really like Nicole Schnizer's voice in it..but not including that, fun/ different.
Alguien Mas-4/5 a darker song..more dreary but great vocals!
Quein es Feliz-5/5 Great pop song ! fun beat and catchy great to fool around with! who is happy? a great song!
Pudo Ser Tan Facil-2/5 Never listen to this song..not that fun more of a dark sad song.
Noche Cool-4/5 fun up beat little rappy song..i like the beggining of the song but after that is it ok.
Amiga Soledad-4/5 I nice melodic song about her dog that died.:( nice
Good...Good-2/5 One of the WORST horrible but some parts are ok
Luz Sin Gravedad (See A Little Light in Spanish) 4/5 much better than the English version.
Never Enough-4/5 a fun song but stupid lyrics..ok..
My Best CD!.......2006-10-18
Belinda's GREATEST!.......2006-10-09
"Way to go BELINDA!! FELICIDADES mi niña ahi la llevas, tremendo trabajo!"
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RA
Utopia Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0000032P7 Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Mountain Top and Sunrise/Communion With the Sun
- Magic Dragon Theatre
- Jealousy
- Eternal Love
- Sunburst Finish
- Hiroshima
- Singring And The Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale)
Album Description
Digitally remastered reissue of original album by Todd Rundgren's art/ prog/ power pop group. Contains all eight tracks from when the album was first released in 1977, including 'Eternal Love'. Also features the original cover art & new interviews in theCustomer Reviews:
Good musicianship.......2007-07-21
The huge, electric "orchestra" present on the debut had been reduced to a four-piece comprised of Roger Powell (synthesizers, piano, organ, and vocals); Todd Rundgren (electric and acoustic guitars); Kasim Sulton (electric bass guitar and vocals); and John "Willie" Wilcox (drums percussion, and vocals). This lineup was great and there is some impressive proggy ensemble work on RA. The abilities of each member are showcased on the lengthy track Singring and the Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale) - they all get a 1-2 minute unaccompanied solo. Of the solos, I liked Roger's synthesizer workout the best.
The seven tracks on RA range in length from 3'28" to the lengthy 18'24" Singring and the Glass Guitar. The music on RA is very much in the vein of what you might expect from the early Utopia albums: Olympian-scale feats on individual instruments; dense ensemble work; great vocal harmonies; and the occasional pop hook or two...or three. In general, I am fine with the music although I do not think that Singring works very well from a composition perspective: while there are excellent main themes and some great ensemble work at the beginning and end, about half of the piece is comprised of unaccompanied solos, a few of which are just a bit dull. My favorite tracks include Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise/Communion with the Sun along with Sunburst Finish, although all of the pieces have something to offer. The odd track out is Magic Dragon Theatre which merges a scene from an imaginary "play" (complete with dialog), with some good prog. Very interesting overall.
In terms of the concepts on RA, quite literally, everything under the "sun" is taken on. Of these concepts, the one that I latched on to (or at least loosely embraced) is that presented on Singring. There is a narrator on Singring that is supposed to be a Middle Earth dweller (an elf) that narrates the tale of Singring in what sounds like a mock Scottish accent on helium. I have to admit it is actually pretty funny, although I can imagine that most prog fans would raise their eyebrows at this track. As far as the actual concept goes, Singring tells the tale of four brave souls that locate the four keys needed to open up a glass guitar that contains an imprisoned and weeping spirit (Singring). I may be way off here (I am a Biologist), but it seems that Todd may have been bemoaning the loss of urgency and "spiritual vitality" in music in the late 1970's - "if you take a look around, harmony is dying" - and that this was his attempt to "rescue" the vitality and urgency of rock music. If this is what the band was aiming for then hats off to them.
In terms of the CD package, Rhino/Bearsville did a pretty good job and the CD booklet features each of the band members dressed up in Egyptian garb and posed in odd (quasi-ritualistic?) stances - with the exception of the drummer who simply stands with his arms folded over his chest. The lyrics to each of the songs are printed on the inner sleeve. The sound quality is excellent.
All in all, while RA is a good album of interesting prog rock and nice pop tunes, there were aspects of the album that just did not sit too well with me, although I am very forgiving and was able to overlook them. I would recommend this album to hardcore proggers as the last album of its type to be released by Utopia. After RA, the band plunged headlong into pop territory with Oops, Wrong Planet (1977). For those folks that are starting out with Utopia, definitely snag the 1974 debut album - it is a great listen.
Utopian Album.......2007-06-27
self indulgent silliness.......2006-08-29
The musicianship is stunning and there are some great melodies but it is still a silly, goof yconcept album. The chorus from Hiroshima? Todd what were you thinking?
There are enough hooks here that Utopia could have crafted real songs. To someone other than a Utopia fanatic, this is unlistenable.
Todd Squad!.......2006-06-19
This is what Todd should be known for!.......2005-05-04
What he is least credited for, but SHOULD be best-known for, is his fabulous work in his band Utopia, a group compromised of (at one point) THREE synth players. Todd Rundgren's experimentation with LSD may have played a huge role in his surge in tallent and creativity during these albums, but whatever the cause is, the effect is outstanding. Tales of lone sea creatures and tiny elves, reminesing about history, strange hillbilly voices, and REALLY sweet and progressive music is all found on this album.
'RA' can be considered a "concept album", if you will - setting a similar goal as Yes - Close to the Edge, Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick, and Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. This isn't just a collection of songs, but all having something to do with (and possibly connecting to each other) about THE SUN. Yes, the sun is the only possible way that Japan and tiny elves can possibly relate to one another.
My favorite song on the LP is side two's legendary spectacular called "The Glass Guitar" (An Electrified Fairy Tale). You can tell that TR was on something when he wrote this song - it begins with a minute-long introduction by what sounds like an elf on helium,
"This is an electrified fairy tale. If you've never heard of an electrified fairy tale, just picture tiny elves, with wee-little electric guitars!" :)
The song is about (I think) these four keys located in the "four corners of the earth" which four brave "individuals" rescue from different elements of the earth (mountain, wind, fire, water). Once the keys are rescued, they are joined together to shed "light" on the earth - possibly the sun? I think this is not a mistake! ;)
Not surprisingly, it details these rescues of these keys with a solo from each of the band members (there are only four band members presently when the album is released) - so yes, the lone saviors of the world are also the humble "Utopia"! =)
The epic is 18 minutes long and has some VERY progressive movements. It is both catchy "There's a ru-mor I've heard, that's going a-round", frightening, incredibly passionate, and instrumentally complex. I hate to compare, but think "Close to the Edge" with a more focused story to it. It has all that a good song needs (but with MUCH better drumming than Bill Bruford's chops in Close to the Edge).
Who can I recommend this LP for? Certainly a rock fan with an open mind and a good taste. DEFINITELY Todd Rundgren fans (shame on you if you haven't picked this up already!), and last but not least Progressive Rock fans. I am a gigantic fan of progressive rock, and I'd say without hesitation that Utopia, particularly with this record, ranks up there with the likes of Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, and earlier King Crimson stuff.
This LP is HIGHLY recommended, and I suggest that if you're even VIEWING this review now, that you do not think a second longer about purchasing this record. You will be a better person for not only supporting the all-time most tallented musical hermit to ever exist, but for also enjoying one of the many lost treasures in seventies progressive music.
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The Coast of Utopia
Mark Bennett Manufacturer: Ghostlight ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo
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ASIN: B000Q66I1I Release Date: 2007-06-12 |
Tracks:
- Medley: Voyage: Trilogy Prologue/500 Souls
- Voyage: Michael Comes Home
- Voyage: March Here, March There
- Voyage: Spring At Premukhino
- Voyage: Nothing But Self
- Voyage: A Greater Man Than Michael
- Voyage: Serfs At Sunset
- Voyage: The Bonfire
- Voyage: Liubov's Procession
- Voyage: Twelve Days To Catch Up
- Voyage: Moscow
- Voyage: After the Soiree
- Voyage: The Telescope
- Voyage: The Telescope
- Voyage: Belinsky At Work
- Voyage: Riverboat Farewell
- Voyage: Ginger Cat Waltz
- Voyage: Voyage Finale
- Shipwreck: Birch Trees
- Shipwreck: Sokolovo To Salzbrunn
- Shipwreck: Paris
- Shipwreck: The Revolution
- Shipwreck: The Failed Uprising
- Shipwreck: Michael Captured
- Shipwreck: Dejeuner Sur L'herbe
- Shipwreck: Nice: 'Lu Ciuccio De Cola'
- Shipwreck: 'Bella Nice, Che D'Amore'
- Shipwreck: 'I Lamenti Di Una Bella Fanciulla'
- Shipwreck: Return To Sokolovo
- Shipwreck: Shipwreck Finale
- Salvage: Olga Asleep
- Salvage: Herzen In England
- Salvage: Like a Dream
- Salvage: Blackgang Chine And Beach Visitors
- Salvage: Farewell To England
- Salvage: Geneva
- Salvage: Trilogy Finale, the Ninth Wave
- Salvage: Curtain Call
Customer Reviews:
Broadway Background Music.......2007-07-25
What this means is that this CD will also require a specialized audience. There's only a little over 30 minutes of music on it, mostly short cues. But it does have that exhilarating music for that mysterious opening, as well as that sublime ending, as well as the sort of polonaise accompanying the curtain call, and that makes it well worthwhile for me.
As someone who loved this show, I heartily recommend the score. But, if you know very little about it, I doubt the music will be that much more revealing. As one of only a few actual background music scores, released to CD, it enters a rarified category. It will probably be a collector's item very soon...
Still, I'm really glad I have it.
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The Proximity Effect
Nada Surf Manufacturer: Great Utopia ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00004W5KD Release Date: 2000-08-29 |
Tracks:
- Hyperspace
- Amateur
- 80 Windows
- Mother's Day
- Troublemaker
- Bacardi
- Bad Best Friend
- Dispossession
- The Voices
- Firecracker
- Slow Down
- Robot
- Silent Fighting (Bonus Track)
- Spooky (Bonus Track)
Album Description
Nada Surf released their debut album in 1995 and scored the massive hit 'Popular'. 'The Proximity Effect' is the follow-up album, delayed due to legal negotiations with their former label, Elektra, with 14 exuberant, thoughtful pop tracks which have been called the, 'Pet Sounds for the new millennium'. Featuring the bonus tracks 'Silent Fighting' and 'Spooky'. Standard jewel case.Customer Reviews:
Awesome album.......2006-08-30
Addicting.......2005-05-04
This is one of my favorite albums...ever........2005-01-21
The first song, "Hyperspace" is a great and catchy song and a good start to the album. It is really unlike their previous stuff in the sense that it is more indie sounding. It is not the best song on the album, but it is still a supurb song. The second track, "Amateur" is the self-proclaimed "single" from the album. I beleive this song got some radio play in the UK. It is a cool song with a really cool chorus and has a cool temp change near the middle. The third track, "80 Windows" is definitly one of the best on the album. It is a softer song with the greatest lyrics; it has so much meaning to it. The fourth song, "Mother's Day" is also one of my favorites and one of the heavier songs on the album. It is more of a comic song than serious and the ending is really funny (Blue balls and all that bull****, blue balls and all that bull****!). The 5th song, "Troublemaker" is a very unique song. When I first heard the album I never gave this song a chance at all. However, I actually listened to it and the more I did the more it grew on me. It is one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard and has a great tune and probably the 2nd best on the album. Now track six, "Bacardi" is by far the best song on the album and one of the best songs I have ever heard from any band. I go against everything I believe (my belief that nothing is perfect) by giving "Bacardi" a 10/10, but it is just that good! It is so heavy, has wicked bass guitar, and a major temp change towards the end. It is about the after-effects of partying, something I can definitly relate to. It is such a feel good song that gets you pumped up as hell. The seventh track, "Bad Best Friend" is another really good song, but is probably the least good song on the CD. It has more of a poppy tune and the lyrics aren't something I relate with. The eighth song, "Dispossession" is a song that was one of my favorites when I first heard the album, but was surpassed by almost all of the other songs. It is a good heavy song with an interesting chorus. Moving on, "The Voices" is one of my favorite tracks. It just has an all around good melody. "Firecracker," track ten, is also one of the best songs on the album. It is the only song on the album Nada Surf made a video for (I think) and I think it was also a single from the album. The song definitly makes sense and I can relate to it. "Slow Down," the next song is probably the most underestimated song on the album. When I first heard it, I didn't like it that much. But, WOW, is it good. Another one of the best songs on the album (notice a pattern?). The following song and track twelve, "Robot" is the original last song of the original release of the album. The lyrics are quite interesting and it has a real nice tune. It is also the longest track on the album. This version is much better than the less heavy version on North 6th Street. The final two tracks are two songs that were included on the re-release of the album in the U.S. "Silent Fighting," track thirteen, is an old b-side (from the High-Low era) which has not been re-recorded. It is a great song though with a really catch meldoy. I also really like the lyrics. The final track "Spooky" is so freaking awesome. The original version of this song was later released on North 6th Street and isn't as good. This version, however, is really cool and some of the lyrics have been changed up. I beleive this track was a b-side to this album. Anyways, this album is definitly one that should be picked up by anyone who just likes good music. I could see people who are into punk to soft slow alternative getting into this album.
Nailer..........2004-12-19
Excellence.......2004-10-20
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Adventures in Utopia
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ASIN: B0000032PD Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- The Road To Utopia
- You Make Me Crazy
- Second Nature
- Set Me Free
- Caravan
- Last Of The New Wave Riders
- Shot In The Dark
- The Very Last Time
- Love Alone
- Rock Love
Album Description
Digitally remastered reissue of 1980 album by Todd Rundg ren's art/ prog/ power pop group. 10 tracks, including 'The Road To Utopia', 'Set Me Free', 'You Make Me Crazy' & 'The Very Last Time'. Also features the original cover art and liner notes with new interviews. 1999 release.Customer Reviews:
Too bad they never did the TV show.......2006-07-28
Track 1, "The Road to Utopia" 5/5
This flirtatiously begins as a progressive track for the first minute and a half before turning into a pretty straightforward, beautiful pop song. "Beautiful" is no surprise. For a long time, it seemed that prolifically writing beautiful, catchy pop songs came to Rundgren as easily as breathing. That Rundgren didn't have constant radio hits is one of music's great injustices. Or maybe not. He might not have as consistently produced interesting music in that case.
Track 2, "You Make Me Crazy" 5/5
This track is a very interesting combination of a 60s pop song and new wave. A Cars influence can be heard, which is ironic now, considering that Rundgren is currently in "The New Cars". Great singing from drummer "Willie" Wilcox and interesting bass playing from Kasim Sulton. Sulton's bass on the prechoruses (and the way that Rundgren changes chords on the verses) makes them sound far more outside than they really are, and of course the third verse is just wonderfully outside overall. I love the melody in the prechoruses and the chorus, and the interplay between Sultan and the "background vocals" on the chorus, which have a subtle, odd flanging effect on them.
Track 3, "Second Nature" 5/5
Except for the discofied drumbeat on the chorus, this could have easily fit on Rundgren's Something/Anything?, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's a leftover song from that period. In any event, a typically gorgeous melody/harmony on a catchy tune. A bit short, but there's nothing wrong with short pop tunes.
Track 4, "Set Me Free" 5/5
A song wholly written by Sulton. This has great, unusual verses, where the chords, dominated by Roger Powell's Rhodes keyboard, build and change without repeating. In fact, I'm not sure there's any guitar on this track at all. The chorus makes you want to get up and dance and sing along like you're in a gospel church. Smokin' but relatively simple sax solo--I love the ending.
Track 5, "Caravan" 5/5
And talk about simple but effective, that's what the guitar riff on this song is all about. There's one ringing kinda dissonant note (maybe just dissonant because of the flange effect on it) towards the end of the phrase that makes it even better. Rundgren repeats it as an ostinato under the smooth verses while chord changes on top of it wax and wane the tension (especially with respect to that one note)--that's one of my favorite compositional devices. The choruses have a strangely attractive cheesiness to them. The bridge, which ends up being constructed like a concise, traditional jazz improv (and this is recurs in the outtro), is surprisingly heavy. I love the keyboard solo with the heavy effects. Rundgren does some killer guitar work on the outtro.
Track 6, "Last of the New Wave Riders" 5/5
The heaviness continues. But the song becomes almost a spoof (as we might have guessed from the title) when the vocals enter; it's very funny. Kinda Queen-ish. Still, this song isn't just a spoof. There's a great melody in the chorus and there are some unusual things going on structurally in the verses. The bridge is very much progressive hard rock, often retaining the Queen references. The overblown ending is very funny, too.
Track 7, "Shot in the Dark" 5/5
And then Utopia makes a Queen-ish left turn, first suggesting a Professor Longhair-like sauntering blues in the intro, played by Powell on the piano. But suddenly, things get new wavy again. The verses are orchestrated in a way that suggests alien reggae. Melodically and harmonically this is much more a traditional rock tune, but the orchestration and production make it much more.
Track 8, "The Very Last Time" 5/5
The vocals are oddly mixed a bit back on this track, but it's a great song. Pretty straightforward for Utopia. Beautiful choruses again.
Track 9, "Love Alone" 5/5
This has a really soulful chord progression, played beautifully by Powell, who is the only instrumentalist on this track, with great singing again from Sulton and the rest of the band on Queen-like background vocals. This would have been a great closer, but the album unexpectedly goes to--
Track 10, "Rock Love" 5/5
A disco party! This is another very tongue-in-cheek song, but very good and catchy. Very funny lyrics. Sulton really cooks on bass throughout, especially on the chorus. I love the chord progression and harmonies on the prechoruses. The end of the bridge/solo segueing to the prechorus is odd and genius. Don't miss the over-the-top scream from Rundgren near the beginning of the outtro.
Waited all night... smoked a hundred cigarETTES!!!!.......2006-01-28
Some really memorable songs, ranging from "prog-rock" to pop to ballads to punk-ish anthems on this album.
"The Road to Utopia" is an incredible lead-in to this album. One of the catchiest tunes I've ever heard. In the same league are "You Know You Make Me Crazy", "Rock Love" and "The Very Last Time" (LOVE the lyrics to that one!).
"Love Alone" and "Second Nature" do up the ballad thing quite nicely.
"Last of the New Wave Riders" just kicks ass as a "New wave/punk "anthemic" song.
"Caravan" Easily the best song on the album. This one's the "prog-rocker". Great singing, a beat that don't quit and fantastic guitar.
Finally, I saw these guys live right after this album came out... one of the best concerts I've ever attended. Love the album, and I highly recommend it.
almost like the Beatles, but too 80's.......2005-09-02
An exemplary showcase of Todd and the boys.......2004-10-24
Utopia's Reasonably Big Adventure.......2004-01-09
Not really knowing what would make the biggest commercial success (late 1979 and 1980 was a schizophrenic time in rock & roll, with disco being ushered out the door, punk dying off, and new wave not yet having gained a solid foothold), Utopia threw a little of each in the mix. This is a good band - Roger Powell and Willie Wilcox are very good at keyboards and drums, and Todd and Kasim Sultan are multi-instrumental talents. But the songwriting isn't strong here - "Set Me Free," a Top 40 hit, is catchy but inconsequential, and "Last of the New Wave Riders" combines a theme begging for a catchy arrangement with a synth-heavy bombastic arrangement. And while these guys are pretty good singers, the harmonies won't make me forget the Beatles (obviously their fervent hope, although I suspect they weren't targeting me specifically when this was released).
Still, I've always been impressed with the disco/rock hybrid "Rock Love" (which could have been a single in the wake of Blondie's "Call Me"), "You Make Me Crazy" is a clever pop song (enhanced by a now out of circulation video), and "The Road to Utopia" may be one of the catchiest things the band has ever done. So it's a mixed bag - which is one of the charms (or irritations, depending on your point of view) of Todd Rundgren's solo and group output as a whole.
Side note: I'd probably be happier with these guys if they listed who sang lead on which song (perhaps this is listed on the CD booklet; I only have the vinyl version). Sultan and Rundgren sound so much alike it's hard to differentiate.
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Utopia
Utopia Manufacturer: Unidisc Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00002DD3G Release Date: 2000-01-14 |
Tracks:
- Libertine
- Bad Little Actress
- Feet Don't Fail Me Now
- Neck On Up
- Say Yeah
- Call It What You Will
- I'm Looking At You But I'm Talking To Myself
- Hammer In My Heart
- Burn Three Times
- There Goes My Inspiration
- Princess Of The Universe
- Infrared And Ultraviolet
- Forgotten But Not Gone
- Private Heaven
- Chapter And Verse
- Hammer In My Heart (Dance Mix)
Album Description
Out of print in the U.S.. 1982 album by Todd Rundgren's art/ prog/ power pop group. Features the original cover art, all fifteen of the original cuts, and the bonus track 'Hammer In My Heart' (Dance Mix). Standard jewel case.Album Details
Reissue with Bonus Track: 'Hammer in My Heart (Dance Mix)'.Customer Reviews:
I never thought I'd like a latter-day Utopia album through and through!.......2006-07-20
It's the prog fan in me that brought me to Todd's "A Wizard, A True Star", then "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Over the years, I've found many a TR/Utopia LP that I listened to, enjoyed three or four tracks fully, maybe appreciated one or two more, and felt turned off by the rest. ("Swing to the Right" was the nadir, with only "Lysistrata"'s name bringing good musical memories.)
I almost fast-forwarded an Internet radio station when Utopia's "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" (from this album) came on a "Gentle Giant"-themed radio station. Say what? My preoccupation with work ended up being a major bonus that got me to the surprisingly catchy chorus, which avoids being saccharine due to the fact that none of the four has a particularly sweet voice (each has its own edge).
And so I started looking around to see if I could find a copy of the song. My only hope was (gulp!) buying the CD. Listening to the sound samples on Amazon, I gulped harder. This didn't sound very friendly.
I received the CD yesterday. I am in _awe_. I played it three times last night (a rare feat for me). There are so many insanely great "nerdy-chords-meets-catchy-melody" moments that few apart from Utopia could pull off that I can't really get bored listening to it. I wonder, had "Perfect Heaven" been pulled off the album so that everything could fit on one 45-minute LP, if the album would have fared better in the shops.
Definite highlights are "Neck on Up", "Say Yeah", "Burn Three Times", "Call It What You Want", and the aforementioned "Feet Don't Fail Me Now". But selecting highlights is an injustice to the album, as "Libertine", "Bad Little Actress" and "Hammer in my Heart" are superior to 90% of the songs on the other albums from their poppier years.
At the risk of sounding like I'm gushing endlessly, it really sounds as if Utopia set out to better every highlight of their "power pop/rock" years with this album. "Say Yeah" beats Deface the Music's similar "That's Not Right" with sheer exuberance. "Libertine" comes really close to matching Oops! Wrong Planet's "Trapped". Roger Powell even screams out a note right at a breakdown in "Burn Three Times". It even seems like Utopia seriously worked this one out before going into the studio, with all four singers demonstrating remarkably similar vocal delivery, hitting most every note dead on. Solos are often eschewed so that the whole arrangement stands out, and at times the right "different chord" can be heard in _just_ the right place during the last chorus. This should have been all over the airwaves in the '80s, alongside the Cars' "Heartbeat City" and Yes's "90125". And the samples on here don't do the album justice. If you're too nervous to buy a copy, do yourself a favor and borrow a friend's, or hunt the local 2nd-hand record shops which still allow you to preview the album. The only thing that stops me from calling this "Utopia's Party Album" is the presence of three ballads, of which I feel one is superfluous ("Perfect Heaven"). (And hey, I could always program my CD player to skip it, or them, were I to play this CD at a party.) It may or may not be my absolute fave Utopia album (the first one is hard to beat), but it'll definitely be my most listened to. I want to start an "original songs" band based on this album alone. Any takers?
New Wave Todd.......2005-11-30
But the three-sided artifact those silly Utopians left is great -- tremendous tight harmonies, crystal clear production and glistening guitar runs, clever lyrics, too-cool melodies -- it's a solid, consistently superior package. It's hard to put this on and not feel the infectious, upbeat, intelligent melodies put you in a better mood - from the clever "Princess of the Universe," to the moody "Bad Little Actress" to the Beatlesque "Chapter and Verse," to the should-have-been hit rock ballad "There Goes My Inspiration." Add to that the hits (for Utopia)"Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and "Hammer in My Heart" and you have an irresistable top notch package. As this will surely go out of print again soon, I recommend this for any serious music collector, and the casual Todd fan as well.
The most mainstream pop of Utopia - four-part vocal harmonic bliss!.......2005-08-31
Lovers of Todd's very early or recent material may find this too bland. However, I have enjoyed each stage of Todd's work.
Vocal harmonies are a favorite of mine, and there is an abundance here on this album. On this CD, I found it very enjoyable to hear all four singers have a turn to lead, and the background vocals are featured loudly enough to where one can make out each particular singer doing their thing, which can be very cool and adds to the relistenability. Each singer is quite competent, and Kaz of course has an excellent voice as always.
This band deserved so much better a fate than the relative obscurity under which it toiled.
It isn't the last one, but it's the last uniformly great one.......2005-04-15
Heaven 17 & Ambrosia are Electro Nirvana but I want Utopia!.......2005-02-23
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The Man from Utopia
Frank Zappa Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B0000009T5 Release Date: 1995-05-02 |
Tracks:
- Cocaine Decisions
- SEX
- Tink Walks Amok
- The Radio Is Broken
- We Are Not Alone
- The Dangerous Kitchen
- The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou (Medley)
- Stick Together
- The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
- Luigi And The Wise Guys
- Moggio
Customer Reviews:
Not one of Zappa's best, but worth 9 dollars.......2007-06-21
A great album.......2007-03-11
bueno , esta bien, hasta los genios la pifian alguna vez..............2006-09-26
Zappa's Most Underrated Album....5 classic songs to enjoy.......2006-03-14
"The Man From Utopia" is even better than the previous year's "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch". To begin, the album-cover artwork on this album is much more appealing and clever than the primitive artwork on "...Drowning Witch" (which is the 2nd worst album cover of all of FZ's albums; the #1 place for rotten artwork goes to the "Filmore East 1971" album).
The fact that the All Music Guide rated this FZ's worst official album (2/5 stars) baffles me. The album begins with 2 fantastic songs:
1. "Cocaine Decisions" is about the cocaine fad among yuppies of the 80's that is still a powerful anti-drug song.
2. "Sex" may seem a bit juvenile with its lyrics but it is so catchy and fun to listen to. Its chorus "the bigger the cushin' the better the pushin'" was almost stolen word-for-word by Spinal Tap a year later for their song "Big Bottom."
The next gem on the album is "The Dangerous Kitchen" - with its frightening background music and lyrics about how one's dity kitchen can harm them if they are not careful. PLAY THIS ON YOUR I-POD AT 3AM WHILE YOU'RE WALKING TO THE KITCHEN FOR A LATE-NIGHT SNACK...I DARE YA!!!
In "Stick Together", FZ exposes how Unions are not the perfect organizations they pretend to be. "The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou" is an old medley of two oldies tunes that is reminiscent of the songs from the "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" album...in other words, a real treat.
With these 5 tunes and the rest in between, how can you go wrong if you're an FZ fan??? Maybe you won't like it if you only like Zappa's complex musical compositions and not his semi-raunchy but always amusing lyrics to go with the music. I like it all.
Of course, I didn't start out that way but his music grew on me.
Good 1980's Zappa release........2005-07-19
1. Cocaine decisions- 8/10 This underated bluesy number was often played on the 1982 tour. It is a great political statement and is an entertaining listen.
2. Sex- 8/10 Another solid track. Possibly the most offensive song on the album but still a very good song, which has a hilarious message, skinny girls are no fun.
3. Tink walks amok- 9/10 This incredible instrumental features Arthur 'Tink' Barrow ripping it up on bass.
4. The radio is broken- 8/10 By far the most bizzare song on the album.
5. We are not alone- 9/10 Another incredible instrumental, this song was originally written with lyrics.
6. The dangerous kitchen- 7/10 Not one of my favorites, but still a funny and bizzare 'melt-down' song.
7. The man from Utopia meets Mary Lou- 7/10 This combination of two doo-wop tracks is entertaining, but Frank has done better.
8. Stick together- 7/10 This reggae song is not one of the best off of the album, but its ok.
9. The Jazz discharge party hats- 8/10 The final melt-down song on the album is the best by far, it is a hilarious story about a band and their pool-side adventures, among other things.
10. Luigi and the wise guys- 6/10 This recently added track is by far the weakest song on the album. It features irritating vocals and stupid lyrics.
11. Moggio- 10/10 This rewarding instrumental is a great way to finish this unbalanced, but amusing album.
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Swing to the Right
Utopia Manufacturer: Castle Essential ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00002DDTI Release Date: 2006-04-10 |
Tracks:
- Swing to the Right
- Lysistrata
- Up
- Junk Rock (Million Monkeys)
- Shinola
- For the Love of Money
- Last Dollar on Earth
- Fahrenheit 451
- Only Human
- One World
Album Description
Digitally remastered reissue of 1982 album by Todd Rundg ren's art/ prog/ power pop group. 10 tracks, including 'For The Love Of Money'. Also features the original cover art and liner notes with new interviews. 1999 release.Customer Reviews:
This Album ROXX!.......2007-02-07
A period piece?.......2006-03-31
Stinging sarcasm and political bite to a rock'n'roll groove........2000-03-15
Swing to the right.......2000-01-24
Interesting, upbeat pop with bit of Reagan-era commentary........1999-03-27
A number of the songs are social commentary on attitudes of the Reagan-era (I know Todd was no Reagan fan!). But the messages are by no means obnoxious (even if you're a staunch conservative!) and deal with money and greed in society (and the record industry). (Last Dollar on Earth, For the Love of Money, Swing to the Right and Junk Rock (Million Monkeys).) The theme is not distracting or overbearing (this is no rock opera) and all of the songs are good standing alone.
Kasim and Todd split most of the lead vocals while Roger gets a turn as usual (though Roger is more valuable as a keyboard player than a vocalist!). Todd's vocals are nicely featured on Only Human.
All in all, one of the best albums from the Rundgren, Sultan, Powell, Wilcox version of Utopia.
(Note: as a Todd/Utopia disciple, I give it 5 stars! But for most people this is not what you'd call a Sgt. Pepper! But, still, a nice effort from a fun bunch of guys.)
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- Visitors [Original recording remastered]
- Voice [Import]
- Young & Stupid [Import]
- 100% Hockey & Other Stuff
- 38 Special
- 4 Kicks [CD-single] [Import]
- 4 Songs Live [CD-single] [Enhanced] [EP] [Limited Edition] [Live]
- 47 Moons
- A Fix Back East
- A Glorious Lethal Euphoria
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Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 / Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
Music: Singularity 2-001 [Import]
Saving Private Ryan: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]
Puttin' It Down [Explicit Lyrics]
Live Licks (topless cover) [Live]
Rachmaninoff - The Elegiaque Piano Trios
Moscow Festival of Military Bands [Live]
Monday Night at the Village Gate [Live]