RA

As I read through the reviews I didn't notice a great deal of 5's. I am cautious about that last star as it can be too easy to personally like something and not be objective for what the review is supposed to be. That is what was wrong with media reviewers addicted to 3 minute pop songs giving us their grand opinion on prog; their most hated genre. If they all hate it, it must be great! Utopia's first just Utopia album (minus the TR) is their 3rd entry but it the first from this line up and this group would go onto be the lineup for the rest of their career for the most part.

As has been mentioned, Todd is odd as in Odd Todd. He has always been off the wall and never followed the usual dots everyone else did. He was rising to become the "male Carole King" and decided to run away and his next entry, his solo Wizard, A True Star goes down in history as one of the most incredible pro albums of all time. Sadly, his venture into prog would not last all that long. This album marks the end of the prog for the band. I bought this album when it was released in 77 and it was a blow away. To this day when I drop on a mediocre pair of headphones and close me eyes to listen I am taken away into a sonic disaster that somehow all syncs together. I could do without the filler track Eternal Love and maybe even Jealousy, but that track has some solid mean bites in it.

I just listened to this the other day using my Phillips Fedilio headphones and it brought back a flood of audio melodies and newness. I fell in love with the album the first time I heard it and that has never grown cold. So I disagree it has not held up well over time. The beginning instrumental Overture is one of the best prog intros ever recorded. I am not as much of a fan of his production methods though I have to admit it works on this one. I prefer a mix and sound that is crisp, clean and punchy with solid bass. That aside this album is sensational. Apart from the first track, my favs are Sunburst Finish, Hiroshima and of course, Singring. Keeping in mind I was on many of the (ahem) same "medications" he took, that last track was hilarious as well as a sonic collision of sounds in that mood if you will but today long after my haze daze it still is great.

Utopia would go onto depress me with their future releases where aside from an occasional song, they are just another pop new wave entry. The album Deface The music was a good album as a parody of Beatles type tunes (I would recommend for Beatles fans). As prog rockers they were truly unique. This album is a 5 star!