Utopia [CD-single]

1. Utopia a

2. Utopia AA

3. Utopia Minuet

Utopia,Greater Than One,Wax Trax Record,Electronic,Rock

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Average customer rating: I love this CD! Parkway to Pleasure A Pop Classic Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album Catchy Happy Guitar Pop

Utopia Parkway Fountains of Wayne Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fountains of Wayne Welcome Interstate Managers Out-of-State Plates Traffic and Weather Drunk Enough to Dance ASIN: B00000IFW1 Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

1. Utopia Parkway
2. Red Dragon Tattoo
3. Denise
4. Hat And Feet
5. The Valley Of Malls
6. Troubled Times
7. Go, Hippie
8. A Fine Day For A Parade
9. Amity Gardens
10. Laser Show
11. Lost In Space
12. Prom Theme
13. It Must Be Summer
14. 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 Wright

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD!.......2007-06-04

This is a great CD. There is not one song that I do not like. It has this 70's sound to it. I love to listen to it over and over again. My favorite song is Dragon Tattoo.

Parkway to Pleasure.......2006-08-26

The second (and probably least appreciated) album by Fountains of Wayne. Although there are not many chart toppers here (mainly due to the album's softer tone), I found the album very enjoyable, although if I had to pick a single FoW album to own it would be their self titled debut. Chris and Adam continue to write lyric that make me laugh (who else would you hear "We've driving.. through the Valley of Malls" from?) and put them to tunes with varied (from the psychedelia of Go Hippie to the electronica of Denise) melodies. Favorites include Red Dragon Tattoo, Troubled Times (one of prettiest relationship ending songs I think I've ever heard.. Almost make you want to break up all over again), and The Senator's Daughter.

A Pop Classic.......2006-08-20

The more I listen to Fountains of Wayne, the more they amaze me. Intelligent, witty, and catchy songs, and they can play, too. Who do these guys think they are? The Beatles?

Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album.......2006-07-26

One of the few perfect pop music albums made in the past 25 years. If there was a college class on how to make a pop record, Utopia Parkway should be the primary textbook.

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

Utopia Parkway shimmers with the accomplished song writing that Fountains Of Wayne are famous for. With a Beatles meets Weezer sense of harmony and melody and lyrics with the kind of sense of humour and play on words purveyed by the likes of Ween and They Might Be Giants. There are serious ditties too but the majority is straight up fun. It is up beat, immediate and catchy and if that is the way you like your pop then buy this album. If you like things a bit more experimental or gritty this is not for you.

Average customer rating: A surprise for your expectations and worth buying GREAT CD!!!!!! Belinda Gets Older and Improves My Best CD! Belinda's GREATEST!

Utopia Belinda Manufacturer: EMI Latin ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Belinda Faltan Lunas Celestial Ananda El Mundo Se Equivoca ASIN: B000I2ISHC Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

1. Utopia
2. Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama
3. See A Little Light
4. Bella Traicion
5. Contigo O Sin Ti
6. Alguien Mas
7. ?Quien Es Feliz?
8. Pudo Ser Tan Facil
9. Noche Cool
10. Amiga Soledad
11. Good...Good
12. Luz Sin Gravedad
13. Never Enough

Customer Reviews:

A surprise for your expectations and worth buying.......2007-02-18

I first saw/heard Belinda on Christmas Day 2006 with her singing "Ni Freud Ni Tu Mama" on TV. I didn't know who she was, but a couple weeks later I heard the song again and when I found out who it was, I decided to buy the cd with the expectation that only that song would be worth listening to. I'm happy to say that there are a lot of really good songs on the cd, none quite as driven as "Ni Freud" but still likable anyway. The overall mix of sounds that she sings on her album are eclectic, but they don't define her style or sound definitively, and with the exception of "Ni Freud" none of them make her stand out as an artist in any particular genre, probably because this is the trend for many "crossover debuts" of artists in the Latin music community (spanish and english songs) almost as if they are trying to cater to too many listeners.
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

Although I dont like Belinda, I really like her music. This cd is AWSOME!!! I really like her first album but this one is more mature and way better. There is no doubt that she has an aswome voice! and she proofs it in this cd. one of her best songs, in my opinion, is NI FREUD NI TU MAMA, LUZ SIN GRAVEDAD, SEE A LITTLE LIGHT, and my favorite, PUDO SER TAN FACIL!
I recommend everyone to buy this album, you won't be disappointed!!!

Belinda Gets Older and Improves.......2006-12-17

Belinda's new CD Utopia is alot more mature than her last CD debut album Belinda. With not as many young power pop songs she focuses on darker rocky songs. Overall i thought that she produced a fantasitic album but, i think she needs to get rid of her rap songs.

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

I cannot undestand a word of spanish, but for this CD you don't need to. Belinda's voice is all that matters. This cd is the best I own (along with my Instant Star Soundtracks)She is such a wonderful singer, and a few of her songs have both Spanish and English. I love every single song on this CD, but my personal favorite is Contigo O Sin Ti (which translates into With You Or Without You) I LOVE the music. This song is both english and spanish, I listen to it non-stop. I can't wait for her next CD (that is hoping she makes another). YOU ROCK BELINDA!

Belinda's GREATEST!.......2006-10-09

i think this is her overall GREATEST album. The first was very good but UTOPIA tops it! *proof that's she's growing up into her music.

"Way to go BELINDA!! FELICIDADES mi niña ahi la llevas, tremendo trabajo!"

Average customer rating: Not one of Zappa's best, but worth 9 dollars A great album bueno , esta bien, hasta los genios la pifian alguna vez....... Zappa's Most Underrated Album....5 classic songs to enjoy Good 1980's Zappa release.

The Man from Utopia Frank Zappa Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch Them or Us Studio Tan Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention Sleep Dirt ASIN: B0000009T5 Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

1. Cocaine Decisions
2. SEX
3. Tink Walks Amok
4. The Radio Is Broken
5. We Are Not Alone
6. The Dangerous Kitchen
7. The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou (Medley)
8. Stick Together
9. The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
10. Luigi And The Wise Guys
11. Moggio

Customer Reviews:

Not one of Zappa's best, but worth 9 dollars.......2007-06-21

Some good stuff mixed with some of his most offputting and annoying material. For FZ fans only; don't make this your first Zappa purchase or you'll probably never get by "Jazz Discharge Party Hats" or "Dangerous Kitchen", or buy anything else by him.

A great album.......2007-03-11

This album is a fantastic Zappa piece. It is original, and many of the songs are live. Very funny and creative.

bueno , esta bien, hasta los genios la pifian alguna vez..............2006-09-26

quizas ,para los fanaticos de zappa,debe ser dificil tener que comentar alguna placa que no sorprende, es mas, aburre por momentos. este disco, deja un gusto amargo en la boca y porque no decirlo, en los oidos tambien....erratico, monotono por momentos, predecible, repetido, en fin....siempre es cool alabar la obra de este musico genial, aunque a veces debemos sincerarnos y dejar este disco abandonado en ese lugar poco accesible de nuestra discoteca... ya vendrian mejores tiempos para el maestro...

Zappa's Most Underrated Album....5 classic songs to enjoy.......2006-03-14

Those who believe FZ's albums decreased in quality and enjoyment as the 80's progressed need to re-listen to this 1983 release.

"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

This album, released in 1983 and recorded between 1980 and 1982, has often received a bad rap from many Zappa fans. It IS a rather obscure piece in his collection, and the material may not be for everyone, but I think it is a very unique album.

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.

Average customer rating: Tales from Todd-ographic Oceans Overlooked prog masterpiece No need to wait another year, UTOPIA is here Why does this album always seem to "fly under the radar" of prog fans? TODD IS NO RUNT BUT IS THE NAZZ AND A WIZARD A TRUE STAR

Todd Rundgren's Utopia Utopia Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: RA Initiation A Wizard, A True Star Todd Something/Anything? ASIN: B0000032P0 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Utopia Theme
2. Freak Parade
3. Freedom Fighters
4. 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

Why did pop-rock wunderkind Todd Rundgren - of "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw the Light" fame - dabble in progressive rock? Only the Runt himself knows for sure. Rundgren has had a history of assaying different musical styles with a mixture of affection, parody, and cynicism - in the manner of Frank Zappa's doo-wop side project Ruben and the Jets.

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

Todd's first lineup of Utopia, that included three keyboard players, was short lived, however, this debut release is an outstanding psychedelic prog disc that is overlooked (don't know why) by some prog fans. Most of the songs are lengthy, well written, and exciting, so I never lose interest. "The Ikon" is a thirty-minute constantly changing musical journey of ideas that are cohesive. I can't say the same of most other epic tunes. As expected with three keyboard players, there is plenty of room for instrumental passages and solos, so if that's not your style, pass on this. However, if you're a prog fan and you've never heard this, it is essential listening.

No need to wait another year, UTOPIA is here.......2007-03-28

Music that will take you to that idealized place. A concept album built around Utopia(the place which the band was named after). The music is different than anything that the band would try again and it's kind of surprising to me that this one is still one of the easist ones available given the fact that it's the least radio friendly with three long songs mixed in with one short one. The songs themselves, starting with Utopia which is recorded live and is quite involved rocks hard. Freak Parade is a cool tune with some really nice changes in it. Freedom Fighters is a fun song and The Ikon which used to take up all of side two goes to many wonderful places. I should add that the lyrics are also execelllent. Makes you think that Utopia REALLY IS HERE. Once again, the JVC copy rocks.

Why does this album always seem to "fly under the radar" of prog fans?.......2006-05-23

I'm an avid prog rock fan, but I also have a pretty extensive collection of Todd, whose music most may view as "eclectic" if nothing else - dabbling at times in pop, prog, electronica, computer-based effects, etc. So if you never spent the time to get to know the Todd beyond his Carole King-like ballads, then you might have missed some pretty cool music of his. (You also would have missed some not-so-great stuff in and around, but we won't go into that here;-)

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

THE SUMMER OF 74 AND MY GIRLFRIEND WANTS TO SEE TODD NO WAY.I'M A ROCKER BABY NOT THE "WE GOT TO GET YOU A WOMAN,HELLO IT"S ME" STUFF. GIVE ME ZZ,BLACK SAB,FLOYD,TULL! WELL WE HAD THE FIGHT AND SHE WENT OFF WITH A GIRLFRIEND. GOODRIDDANCE I SAID.TODD CAME ON ACTING OUT( I MEAN TAPED MUSIC WHILE ACTING TO THE WORDS AND MUSIC) HIS SOLO STUFF AND I THOUGHT I WAS VENDICATED AND HOOKED UP WITH THE LADY SO I COULD GLOAT AND LET HER KNOW IT. WELL THE CURTAIN RISES TO (3) KEYBOARDS,DRUMS,BASS AND THE BLACK MARIA HIMSELF PROCCEDED TO BLOW THE WHOLE AUDIENCE AWAY AND MY FREAK FLAG WAS WAVING HIGH. GET THIS CD(REMASTERED) AND GIVE THE FINGER TO THE MAN! NO THE GIRL SPLIT ANYWAY(GOODRIDDANCE) BUT I HAVE ALL OF TODD'S LP'S AND CD'S. :):):)

Average customer rating: I never thought I'd like a latter-day Utopia album through and through! New Wave Todd The most mainstream pop of Utopia - four-part vocal harmonic bliss! It isn't the last one, but it's the last uniformly great one Heaven 17 & Ambrosia are Electro Nirvana but I want Utopia!

Utopia Utopia Manufacturer: Unidisc Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Adventures in Utopia Todd Rundgren's Utopia Swing to the Right RA Faithful ASIN: B00002DD3G Release Date: 2000-01-14

Tracks:

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)

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

This album is so great (considering Utopia's power-pop/rock side, not the earlier prog side), that any attempt at a retrospective of their career pales comparing to this single album. And that's saying a lot.

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

Todd went through many phases, both individually and with Utopia. Here he dons the new wave duds, the two-tone attitude, and shows he can do power pop/new wave as well as anybody who's ever attempted it. Too bad poor promotion and releasing this after the brilliant but obtuse Deface the Music pretty much meant Todd, once again, killed the buzz. As another reviewer mentioned, they limped off with two ok but not great albums, never to have reached the summit that seemed quite attainable after the well-received Adventures....

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

I own Todd and Utopia's complete catalogue, and this particular album is their most mainstream pop rock of them all. This collection is a particular favorite in that after repeated listenings, I learned to appreciate all sixteen tracks, which is very unusual for me.

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

The self titled Utopia LP, originally released in September of 1982 as a 3 sided LP (actually the 4th side repeated the third so, call it what you will) was not Utopia's last LP as someone below stated. They switched to PVC records and recorded 2 more full LPs (POV and Oblivion)and an overview/odds and ends LP (Trivia). However, this was the last really great Utopia LP and it really delivers a diverse set of music with tracks stylistically all over the Rundgren/Utopia map. A lot of the album is in a new wave vien, but still with enough signature Utopia thrown in make it comfortable. It has a little something for everybody (except maybe the fans of the original progressive unit Todd began with). There is hard rock (Princess Of the Universe, and Hammer In My Heart), power pop (Libertine, Neck On Up), Nazz inspired psychedelia (Infrared & Ultraviolet), and material that sounds like it could be Todd solo (Call It What You Will, There Goes My Inspiration). Some new ideas are pulled out of the cannon with Feet Don't Fail Me Now (which had one seriously weird early video that Todd produced--check it out on Utopia's Retrospective DVD, another worthwhile purchase for fans) which runs a bit into Beatles territory while still remaining very much a Utopia song. My personal favorites would be Princess of the Universe which has Willie Wilcox spitting out venomous lyrics to a (possibly potential??)significant other over a garage rock beat and Neck On Up which is sung by Roger and has some highly interesting wordplay. My least favorite songs here tend to be the ones that sound like Todd's solo recordings, and that maybe because the group really gelled on this album and their efforts in that direction are so strong. It's just a shame that the album flew under the radar.Unfortunetly it was the beginning of the end for the band as they just weren't selling that many records anymore and were reduced after this record to the tiny PVC label and made two really worthwhile albums (and one overview record)that most people don't even know about (as I stated at the beginning of this review). Oblivion had the brilliant "Cry Baby" on it that in a perfect world would have been a huge hit and kept the band together.

Heaven 17 & Ambrosia are Electro Nirvana but I want Utopia!.......2005-02-23

One Word: Hammer In My Heart! Actually four, but it Rocks as Hard as anything Todd ever did. Tempo: Bang The Drum All Day. Topic: Love Song (possibly about how Thor finds women!) WAIT! "HERE IT GOES AGAIN!" A great album you could buy just for this song and not feel cheated one bit! Feats Don't Fail You NOW: on the way to the store. ROCK has never Danced This Hard!

Average customer rating: Good musicianship Utopian Album self indulgent silliness Todd Squad! This is what Todd should be known for!

RA Utopia Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Todd Rundgren's Utopia Initiation Adventures in Utopia A Wizard, A True Star Something/Anything? ASIN: B0000032P7 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Mountain Top and Sunrise/Communion With the Sun
2. Magic Dragon Theatre
3. Jealousy
4. Eternal Love
5. Sunburst Finish
6. Hiroshima
7. 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 the

Customer Reviews:

Good musicianship.......2007-07-21

This 1977 follow-up to the great 1974 debut (Todd Rundgren's Utopia) covers somewhat similar ground (American proggy hard rock), although the lineup had been stripped back and there was a higher proportion of shorter pieces. While I do not feel that RA is as consistently good as the debut, there is some excellent musicianship and fantastic melodies that make this album a worthwhile addition to the prog rock collection.

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

First I must say, music does'nt get dated.. People Get Dated.. It is the same exact incredible piece that it was in 1977.. People get older and taste change.. I can only hope I never grow out of love with the music I grew up with.. With music like this, I dought it will ever happen... "50" and going.. Thanks Todd, Kasim, Roger and Willy...

self indulgent silliness.......2006-08-29

I love Todd Rundgren and respect all of his talents. He must have had a lot of clout to make this absurd work.

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

Another in the long list of great Todd/Utopia albums! It gets a little carried away and over the top, but that's what you expect with Mr. Unpredictable! The Live Tour was unreal! I think it was when I saw Todd do a flip off the top of the pyramid while playing the chrome plated ankh guitar! At that time he was on the way to Rock Guitar God! Oh Well!!!!

This is what Todd should be known for!.......2005-05-04

I am a huge TR fan, and while most listeners are going after the wizzard of rock's newest album, Liars, I am still searching through my vinyl collections looking for every copy of 'RA' and 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia' that I own. Todd Rundgren has been known as a musical artist, singing in genres everywhere from pop to rap, from latin to progressive, and all the way back again to tech-heavy experimental fusion artist.

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.

Average customer rating: Broadway Background Music

The Coast of Utopia Mark Bennett Manufacturer: Ghostlight ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast) The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast) Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast) Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast) ASIN: B000Q66I1I Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

1. Medley: Voyage: Trilogy Prologue/500 Souls
2. Voyage: Michael Comes Home
3. Voyage: March Here, March There
4. Voyage: Spring At Premukhino
5. Voyage: Nothing But Self
6. Voyage: A Greater Man Than Michael
7. Voyage: Serfs At Sunset
8. Voyage: The Bonfire
9. Voyage: Liubov's Procession
10. Voyage: Twelve Days To Catch Up
11. Voyage: Moscow
12. Voyage: After the Soiree
13. Voyage: The Telescope
14. Voyage: The Telescope
15. Voyage: Belinsky At Work
16. Voyage: Riverboat Farewell
17. Voyage: Ginger Cat Waltz
18. Voyage: Voyage Finale
19. Shipwreck: Birch Trees
20. Shipwreck: Sokolovo To Salzbrunn
21. Shipwreck: Paris
22. Shipwreck: The Revolution
23. Shipwreck: The Failed Uprising
24. Shipwreck: Michael Captured
25. Shipwreck: Dejeuner Sur L'herbe
26. Shipwreck: Nice: 'Lu Ciuccio De Cola'
27. Shipwreck: 'Bella Nice, Che D'Amore'
28. Shipwreck: 'I Lamenti Di Una Bella Fanciulla'
29. Shipwreck: Return To Sokolovo
30. Shipwreck: Shipwreck Finale
31. Salvage: Olga Asleep
32. Salvage: Herzen In England
33. Salvage: Like a Dream
34. Salvage: Blackgang Chine And Beach Visitors
35. Salvage: Farewell To England
36. Salvage: Geneva
37. Salvage: Trilogy Finale, the Ninth Wave
38. Salvage: Curtain Call

Customer Reviews:

Broadway Background Music.......2007-07-25

"The Coast of Utopia" was a mammoth, 3-part, 9-hour epic play, all about expatriate intellectual Russians during the mid-1800's, no less, which had a limited run at Lincoln Center in New York over this past season, 2006-07. What this means is that it takes a certain kind of audience member to be interested in this kind of presentation. I am one of those people, having traveled from San Diego to New York just to see it. Interestingly, I met a lot of other people there, who also traveled quite far to see this show.

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.

Average customer rating: Too bad they never did the TV show Waited all night... smoked a hundred cigarETTES!!!! almost like the Beatles, but too 80's An exemplary showcase of Todd and the boys Utopia's Reasonably Big Adventure

Adventures in Utopia Utopia Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Utopia RA Todd Rundgren's Utopia Swing to the Right Hermit of Mink Hollow ASIN: B0000032PD Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. The Road To Utopia
2. You Make Me Crazy
3. Second Nature
4. Set Me Free
5. Caravan
6. Last Of The New Wave Riders
7. Shot In The Dark
8. The Very Last Time
9. Love Alone
10. 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

This is the second more commercial, pop-oriented Utopia album, after 1977's Oops! Wrong Planet, but of course, Todd Rundgren has never been a stranger to pop music, despite progressive/art rock tendencies and excursions.

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

Truly a cool album! I've always liked Rundgren, and he assembled a crack band in "Utopia".
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

We have this one in the car sometimes and I kinda like it although it not perfect. But the songs are pretty hummable and it flows pretty smotth. The only thing is that it has a real "boxy" sound. Something about the way it sounds is just to 80's. My girlfriends ex-boyfriend got it for her birthday a few years back and he actually had the nerve to tell her to give it back. He also wanted her Footlose video back. I told her to give that one back, that music is so cheesy in that movie. That "never never never" song is pityful.

An exemplary showcase of Todd and the boys.......2004-10-24

I love this album as much today as I did when I received my first vinyl edition in 1980, before I realized what a masterpiece I had. The musical variety clearly demonstrates why Todd is such a sought after production consultant to so many other artists, and has an almost cult-like following of fans. Some might think that this collection illustrates why Todd has not had all the commercial success he so richly deserves, because it crosses and even pulls together different genres without a consistent style. On the contrary, his ability to appeal to fans of different music without compromising his artistic creativity in the name of commercialism is commendable. If you are looking for technical production that was innovative for the era, catchy tunes and lyrics as well as some that will make you think if you listen carefully, and a general album that has something for everyone, I highly recommend Adventures in Utopia.

Utopia's Reasonably Big Adventure.......2004-01-09

The second album from Utopia Version 2.0 (Top 40 rock, as opposed to the semi-prog rock of the first few albums) must have surprised a few onlookers, as it was the band's highest-charting LP, hitting #32 in Billboard (just three notches below leader Todd Rundgren's biggest solo LP, "Something/Anything?"). The performances were somewhat tighter than the previous album, "Oops! Wrong Planet," but no one wrote anything quite like the hit "Love Is the Answer" (which, unfortunately, became a hit not for Utopia but for soft-rock dudes England Dan & John Ford Coley), and therein lies part of the problem.

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.

Average customer rating: Well-balanced choral work Utopia very much Triumphans One of the few essential recordings of Renassance polyphony intellectual exercise (yawn) Great for meditation

Utopia Triumphans Huelgas Ensemble , Paul Van Nevel , Thomas Tallis , Costanzo Porta , Josquin Desprez , Johannes Ockeghem , Pierre de Manchicourt , Giovanni Gabrieli , and Allesandro Striggio Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gabrieli, Giovanni | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tallis | Tallis, Thomas | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Heinrich Isaac: Missa De Apostolis Lassus: Masses for Five Voices; Infelix ego Obrecht: Missa Caput; Salve Regina Palestrina: Missa Hodie Christus natus est; Stabat Mater; Lasus: Missa Bell' Amfitrit' altera Gombert: Magnificats 1-4 ASIN: B000002APL Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

1. Spem in alium - Thomas Tallis
2. Sanctus, Agnus Dei - (from the `Missa Ducalis`)
3. Qui habitat (Psalm 90) - Josquin Desprez
4. Deo gratias
5. Laudate Dominum
6. Exaudi me Domine - Giovanni Gabrieli
7. Ecce beatam lucem

Amazon.com

A greatly expanded Huelgas Ensemble performs here a collection of multivoice works--pieces that are often referred to but, for logistical reasons, rarely performed. Tallis's famous Spem in alium non habui for 40 voices is here, of course; so is the piece that inspired it, Striggio's 40-voice Ecce beatam lucem. Also included are two extraordinary canons: Ockeghem's 36-voice Deo gratias and Josquin's 24-voice Qui habitat--as well as relatively modest pieces for 13 to 16 voices by Porta and Gabrieli. Spem has had livelier performances (try the Tallis Scholars on Gimell), but none of the others have been recorded elsewhere at all, let alone as well as this. You're not likely to hear them in concert, either, so check this disc out. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Well-balanced choral work .......2007-05-28

I admit I bought two versions of Spem In Alium performed by Huelgas Ensemble and the Tallis Scholars. There are strong and weak points in both of the recordings but what strike me most about the Huelgas' interpretation, like other reviewers covered in this review portion (and I completely agree), is its balanced performance of the piece. I could actually hear the forty voices without "drowning" and outdoing each other, unlike the Tallis Scholars' recording. However, some parts of the choral (I'm referring to Spem only) are kind a bit sloppy and technically inferior as compared to the Tallis Scholars' version. Example of this is in the portion of "ET OMNIA PECCATA HOMINUM" followed by a pause and "IN TRIBULATIONE" where the Tallis Scholars captured it best. The portion "RESPICE" is almost a whisper in the Huelgas' recording while the Scholars' interpretation of it is like Tchaikovsky's cannons in his 1819 (is the date right?) Overture, which in my opinion, is the proper interpretation (it is one of the high points of the piece, by the way) and Huelga misses this one. All in all I will rate the Scholars' performance 4 stars for its technicality and 4 stars to Huelgas' for its balanced performance. I'm just wondering if Alessandro Striggios' 60 part choral "Sanctus" survived will give these fine performers something to look forward to recording. I bet it will make Handel look like a first grader in music!!!

Utopia very much Triumphans.......2007-01-23

This magnificent recording is sure to delight all lovers of Renaissance a capella performance. The voices come over clearly and brightly with the interplay of parts easily heard in every piece. The information provided with the CD is sufficiently detailed to more than adequately place the pieces within both historical and musical context. Several of the works (Porta's 'Sanctus', Manchicourt's 'Laudate Dominum') are, I think rarely heard but hold their own well with the more frequently heard works Desprez, Ockeghem and Gabrieli. Of particular interest to me is the performance of Striggio's rarely heard forty part motet Ecce beatam lucem. The opportunity to compare and contrast this fine work with Tallis' own (and much performed) forty part motet Spem in alium is greatly enhanced by the performance notes.

One of the few essential recordings of Renassance polyphony.......2005-05-28

Paul van Nevel and the Heulgas Ensemble convey an intensely intimate yet ultimately powerful impression with this collection of gigantuan polyphonic works of mind boggling contrapunctal complexity. If you thought that some of Bach's four part counterpoint was exceedingly complex then try to get your mind around the fact that here you will find 12 voice, 24 voice - all the way up to 40 voice counterpoint! The audacity of such complexity is infinitely fascinating and utterly hypnotic. Though the mind may boggle in trying to follow the kaleidoscopic display of infinitely complex part writing, these are yet works of just enormous immediacy of emotional and spiritual appeal that makes them a far cry from the academic works they might seem to appear. These works are a testimony to the fact the composers of the Renaissance are every bit the equal of their peers in other arts such as painting and architecture, for in turns of the sheer phenomenal complexity of that these rich works display, the world has never since seen their equal.

The richer sounds of this continental European ensemble in comparison to the relentless purity of English groups is also highly welcome. As usual Paul van Nevel encourages a vocal sound that comes more from the chest giving a darker hued color that also has great expressive warmth. There is no attempt to artificially brighten up the upper registrars by doubling the soprano parts for example. In an age dominated by Cambridge style English cathedral style singing from groups which can sometimes start to sound all the same, it is wonderful to hear a group that dares to occupy so unique and distinctive a sound world as theirs.

The Spem in Alium is a good case in point for the performance here is wonderful and quite unique. As for the claim that this performance of the 'Spem in Alium' is somehow weak, you can safely ignore that. Yes, the Tallis Scholars are still excellent too but there is a place for a less ostentatious and relaxed-intimate 'chamber' approach to this music. The performers even stood forming a circle in church to record these works. Warm and understated poetic intimacy are wonderful virtues that the Huelgas Ensemble always convey in abundance.

In all this is one of the absolutely essential recordings of Renaissance polyphony. It is a must have for anyone who loves fine music and it you only own one recording of Renaissance polyphony this might well be it. It certainly has a firm place on my desert island collection.

intellectual exercise (yawn).......2004-04-12

Kudos to this group for recording these works. However I can't remember a duller performance of Spem in alium. I have performed the work three times and own several recordings of it. Whether or not you buy this CD depends on your reason for wanting it. If you want to own one recording of Spem in alium, this is not the CD you want. Get the Tallis Scholars' recording instead. If you love polyphony and are looking for a good listening experience, depending on your taste, this one might do, especially if you are looking for something relaxing (i.e., something to put you to sleep). If you are a musicologist with an intellectual interest in multichoral polyphony, and just want to hear the works, and want a performance that is correct, and don't need it to be exciting, this recording is worth the purchase.

Great for meditation.......2003-11-27

Originally having acquired this album shortly after its release in the mid-1990s after having read a magazine review, I must say that over the years this piece has stood the test of time as part of my music collection. The following is the original review I read, which was written by Barbara Eisner Bayer: "Imagine yourself in an enchanted forest where, from every direction, above and below, you're surrounded by voices - 40 in all - attacking your senses, each with an independent line. From the 40-voice motets by Tallis and Striggio to the simpler(!) 36-, 24-, and 14-voice pieces, this one-of-a-kind recording shakes your body and induces ecstatic revelry. The sound is luxuriously top-heavy, occasionally too bell-like, and small movements become lost. Because of the massive swelling when all voices sing simultaneously, individual lines tend to dive into the pool of sound, unable to claim a personal identity. This dizzying compilation of Winnebago-sized choral pieces will be exhilerating to some, a bad trip to others, but a must hear for all." Very accurately said. And, in addition to this album being an extremely high quality recording, and an excellent reading and meditation companion, I was surprised to find that the lyrics, in a language I have not read much since junior high school (Latin), are actually beautiful prayers. For example, this piece opens up with "Spem in alium": "I have never had hope in anyone but Thee, God of Israel, Thou who grow angry and will hear prayer. Thou eliminate all the sins of men in tribulation. Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, look down upon our humility." If you enjoy choral or polyphony, this is an album you will not want to dismiss.

Average customer rating: relaxing

Utopia Manufacturer: Theresa Griffith ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Healing | New Age | Styles | Music Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Spirit Dance Pure Light Somebody Cares Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams Journal of the Unknown Prophet ASIN: B000093I7W Release Date: 1999-03-01

Tracks:

1. Quietude
2. Wilderness
3. Solace
4. Refuge
5. Utopia
6. Jubilation
7. Repose
8. Illumination
9. Reflection
10. Altar
11. Oasis
12. Destiny

Album Description

Very soothing. Stays around 60 beats per minute. C flute and Kiowa Love Flute (Native American Indian). This is serious stress relief. Our best seller.

Harp, piano, guitar & string accomp. 60 minutes of pure peace.

Customer Reviews:

relaxing.......2006-01-25

The tape is very relaxing for me. It is great to use as background music while meditating or praying. I also love to go to sleep by this music. It is very calming

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