Album: Utopia by Utopia (1982)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Disco Jets by Utopia (2001)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Record Label: Esoteric Recordings
Format: Album

Description: Disco Jets is a tongue in cheek project organized and recorded by Todd Rundgren and Utopia shortly after recording Rundgren's Faithful LP and including most of the musicians from those sessions. It's an instrumental recording humorously parodying 1976's US Bicentennial celebrations, disco music, science fiction films and the CB radio fads. It was released in 2001, 25 years after its recording, as part of the Todd Archive Series Vol. 4 – "Todd Rundgren Demos and Lost Albums" (Rhino CRCL-7707/08) 2-CD set on Rhino Entertainment/Crown Japan. It was reissued in 2012 as a standalone CD import on Esoteric Recordings and in 2015 on Cherry Red. It was also released as a limited edition vinyl that was manufactured exclusively by Cherry Red for Record Store Day, only appearing in record shops from Saturday 16 April.

The album was the last Utopia project with bassist John Siegler,replaced shortly after by Kasim Sulton. Greg Prato commented on Allmusic that "the album seems to be a bridge of sorts between Utopia's earlier prog rock direction and their forthcoming more 'streamlined' direction

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 2000s, Album, Esoteric Recordings


Disco Jets is a tongue in cheek project organized and recorded by Todd Rundgren and Utopia shortly after recording Rundgren's Faithful LP and including most of the musicians from those sessions. It's an instrumental recording humorously parodying 1976's US Bicentennial celebrations, disco music, science fiction films and the CB radio fads. It was released in 2001, 25 years after its recording, as part of the Todd Archive Series Vol. 4 – "Todd Rundgren Demos and Lost Albums" (Rhino CRCL-7707/08) 2-CD set on Rhino Entertainment/Crown Japan. It was reissued in 2012 as a standalone CD import on Esoteric Recordings and in 2015 on Cherry Red. It was also released as a limited edition vinyl that was manufactured exclusively by Cherry Red for Record Store Day, only appearing in record shops from Saturday 16 April.

The album was the last Utopia project with bassist John Siegler,replaced shortly after by Kasim Sulton. Greg Prato commented on Allmusic that "the album seems to be a bridge of sorts between Utopia's earlier prog rock direction and their forthcoming more 'streamlined' direction

Album: RA by Utopia (1977)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Description: RA found Utopia moving away from the long, experimental instrumental jams that distinguished their first two albums, but what's surprising about it is how the group changed. Sure, the lineup was different but their approach changed on RA, as they moved away from prog rock and toward hard rock. In that regard, it makes sense that Rundgren's possessive has been stripped from Utopia's name, since the band no longer sounds like an indulgent spin-off of his own albums. RA has little to do with either Rundgren album that preceded or succeeded it. In fact, it's an anomaly in both the Utopia and Rundgren catalogs. Never before had Rundgren attempted what appears to be a full-fledged concept album, and never again did Utopia trade in pomp rock and all the grand, "important" themes that go with the territory. RA may not have a genuine narrative through line -- with the exception, that is, of the closing 18-minute epic "Singring and the Glass Guitar," an "electrical fairy tale" Rundgren narrates in the voice of a mischievous elf -- but all seven songs feel connected, largely because they're driven home with pure prog bombast. At times, the album feels like parody, particularly because all the sonic overhauls make Utopia sound like Queen. Despite all the indications that Utopia isn't taking this all that seriously -- nobody could write the chorus of "Hiroshima" without having their tongue somewhat in cheek -- but it's impossible to discern whether RA is satire since the murk of keyboards, guitar solos, and crushing chords is somberly played. Such quandaries and questions make RA intriguing, even if it's not particularly good, or listenable for that matter.

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1970s, Album


RA found Utopia moving away from the long, experimental instrumental jams that distinguished their first two albums, but what's surprising about it is how the group changed. Sure, the lineup was different but their approach changed on RA, as they moved away from prog rock and toward hard rock. In that regard, it makes sense that Rundgren's possessive has been stripped from Utopia's name, since the band no longer sounds like an indulgent spin-off of his own albums. RA has little to do with either Rundgren album that preceded or succeeded it. In fact, it's an anomaly in both the Utopia and Rundgren catalogs. Never before had Rundgren attempted what appears to be a full-fledged concept album, and never again did Utopia trade in pomp rock and all the grand, "important" themes that go with the territory. RA may not have a genuine narrative through line -- with the exception, that is, of the closing 18-minute epic "Singring and the Glass Guitar," an "electrical fairy tale" Rundgren narrates in the voice of a mischievous elf -- but all seven songs feel connected, largely because they're driven home with pure prog bombast. At times, the album feels like parody, particularly because all the sonic overhauls make Utopia sound like Queen. Despite all the indications that Utopia isn't taking this all that seriously -- nobody could write the chorus of "Hiroshima" without having their tongue somewhat in cheek -- but it's impossible to discern whether RA is satire since the murk of keyboards, guitar solos, and crushing chords is somberly played. Such quandaries and questions make RA intriguing, even if it's not particularly good, or listenable for that matter.

Album: Deface the Music by Utopia (1980)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1980s, Album


Album: Oops! Wrong Planet by Utopia (1977)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1970s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Todd Rundgren's Utopia by Utopia (1974)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1970s, Album


Album: POV by Utopia (1985)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Adventures in Utopia by Utopia (1979)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1970s, Album


Album: Oblivion by Utopia (1984)
Genre: Progressive Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Gritty
Format: Album

Artist Background: Utopia is an American rock band. In its initial incarnation, in 1973-75, the group was a progressive rock band with a somewhat fluid membership known as "Todd Rundgren's Utopia". Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Part of the New York City, New York, USA music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Progressive Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Progressive Rock, Rock/Pop, Gritty, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


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