TODD RUNDGREN'S UTOPIA

This record is one of the biggest surprises I found here on PA. Todd Rundgren... I had no idea he released an album as huge as this one!! When I say huge I mean it in all senses: Huge duration ( 60 minutes long in one vinyl) and a huge band ( 3 synths!!!)

This record has only 4 tracks and just one of them has a single length which is Freedom Fighters. The three remaining are epics ranging from ten to thirty minutes long. The record starts with a like track called Utopia Theme that is really energetic. It has a great intro that reminds me of the Overture from Rush's 2112. It also features exellent drumming and anthemic guitar solos by Rundgren.It's an exellent way to start an album.

The following track is called Freak Parade , this one is a bit different from the opener since it features hints of Zappa and jazz fusion that although not bad , sometimes it feel's like the band it's trying too hard to do prog. The third song is the single Freedom Fighters , a prog pop song with good vocals and a catchy chorus , Rundgren knows how to do that for sure.

Well the last one is the 30 minute monster epic called The Ikon , basically this song will guide you through lots of the genres described on PA. As simple as that. As a note , there's an amazing synth solo at 7:40 mins.

Overall , this is a very good album that suffers of a somewhat bad production and sounding and lack of cohesion between the ideas which were a lot. However I think this is one of the best prog albums ever released in the land of the free.