TODD RUNDGREN'S UTOPIA

Utopia´s debut album is a mixed bag. Pop/ rock and progressive rock blended together. When Utopia sounds most proggy I think they sound pretty good, but when the pop elements appear it´s quite annoying but there are also some of the progressive parts that seem to be a bit too much show off for the sake of it, and that is always dangerous.

There are only four songs on the album but three of them are pretty long. The Ikon is 30 minute + long and IMO the best song here. I also like Freak parade, but I find Utopia theme to be too much of a show off song. I think it lacks direction. The short song called Freedom fighters are too poppy for me.

The musicians are very competent and it´s one of the things I like about this album. I don´t care much for Todd Rundgren´s voice though. Very average IMO.

The sound quality is pretty good too.

This is by no means a masterpiece of progressive rock, but I´m glad I listened to it as there are some good moments here. Overall it´s not that exciting to me though, but as the quality is very good I´ll rate it 3 stars. It´s not my style but to a certain degree likable anyway.