Customer Reviews

Afternoons in Utopia

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Alphaville first rose to prominence with the smash debut "Forever Young" album in 1984. But it was their 1986 release, "Afternoons in Utopia" that really provided one of New Wave's high-water marks.

From the sparkling "Dance With Me", to the haunting "Afternoons in Utopia", to the driving anthem that is "Jerusalem", this CD provides one super track after another.

"Sensations" seems to get better with each listen, the catchy "Red Rose" is a kinetic romp of sound, and of course no one could forget the dance favorite "Universal Daddy".

No real flaws in this album, no filler, just one last blast in the 80s for Alphaville, before switching gears with their next offering "The Breathtaking Blue".

"Afternoons in Utopia" is required listening for all fans of New Wave. Definitely worth the price!

I actually bought this CD in 1986 when I was 17, so it's a bit difficult to give an impartial view without incorporating the powerful emotions invoked by memories of my late teenage years. So what?! To me this is the most musically interesting and engaging album in my collection. Marian's singing is glorious and the lyrics set your imagination on fire, depicting a world of love and fantasy; introducing symbols and characters that often re-appear in later Alphaville songs.

I've heard it said that many talented bands produce their finest work on their second album. Whether or not this is true, I do believe it is the case here that Alphaville's most cohesive collection of musical genius came in the form of Afternoons in Utopia.

I noticed that someone rated this album well and wished the band were still around. THEY ARE!! They have never stopped producing wonderfully evocative music with thoughtful and emotive lyrics for the past 20 years. I have just seen them live again (in Germany) and Marian Gold's voice is just as clear, pure and emotional as it is on this wonderful second album!

This 'Aquarian opera' (as it is known in Alphaville circles) is full of dreamscapes and fantasy, emotion and playfulness. That the album, if played on the loop, comes full circle with the end of the final song being the beginning of the whole album is typical Alphaville art and fun - it gives the album a kind of 'concept album' feel. Indeed, the songs on the album are related and many names and themes pop up from time to time.

Beautiful, floating melodies such as the synthy 'Fantastic Dream' and the title track mingle with the anthemic (Jerusalem), the more dancey (Dance With Me; Sensations), the melancholic and beautiful (Carol Masters) and the truly artful (I.A.O.). All the songs have wonderful melodies that make it easy to sing along to and once you hear this album, you'll want to listen to it forever more. Each song could easily have been a single release!

This is Alphaville doing what they do best - producing catchy tunes with thoughtful, sometimes controversial lyrics, combined with the masterful mixing-ear of Bernhard Lloyd and the perfect and rich voice of Marian Gold (the greatest voice in the world in my opinion, and that of many more people I know!).

Get this album and then explore other albums by Alphaville, including their new 2003 album 'Crazy Show'. Alphaville is one of the most consistant producers of perfect music, and the most sorely underrated, especially in the UK. And if you get to see them live, do! I highly recommend it!

Forever Young was a tough act to follow, but the boys from Munster deliver and then some with "Afternoons." The album combines powerful melody, synthesizer mastery, classical influence, and SOUL -- a combination that blows away all other synth bands, and, for that matter, all other bands. Few albums contain such diversity of styles, yet remain whole throughout.

Run don't walk to purchase what you too will become convinced is the best album ever recorded.

Alphaville is very much a European band for those who appreciate the Euro- techno style. Having penned the classic "Forever Young,(a mainstay at 80's highschool reunions) this album is for the classically inclined. One not need to listen for more than a few minutes through this CD to find Beethoven all over it. Marion Gold calls it a "space opera", so opera is how it should be heard. Each song bleeds into the next with wonderful relation to the following track. This is an album for those who enjoy studying music; the top 40 conoseur will find it boring and drab. If you want a musical challenge, give this album a chance. It certainly goes down as one of my favorite "desert island discs".By far the greatest recording Alphaville ever recorded!

However, I do have a hard time deciding which is better, Prostitute (1994) or AIU (1986). AIU brings back so many great memories and this album has one of their best songs with Dance With Me. This is kind of a "concept", rock opera album. I do like how lyrics from one song refer to lyrics in another song. This is an incredible album and if anyone is looking into Alphaville to see what they sound like, you will not be disappointed with AIU.

While I enjoy all of Alphaville's cd's, this is definitely my favorite. The beautiful melodies and mysterious lyrics of songs like "Lassie Come Home" and "Carol Masters" are simultaneoulsy intriguing and satisfying. And there are plenty of up-tempo songs like "Jerusalem", "Dance with Me", and "Red Rose" that are plain synth-pop fun.

Alphaville's best single song ever is the beautiful ballad »Forever Young«. The German 1980's band's best album , however, is this one, »Afternoons In Utopia«.

It is one of these rare albums telling a story, having a theme all way through. It's kind of cosmic... which is best expressed on the album's best song »Universal Daddy«. That's the most straight ahead song of »Afternoons In Utopia« as well.

Other highlights on this pretty good pop album include the hit »Jerusalem«, the title track and the sensitively fragile »Lassie Come Home«.

"Afternoons in Utopia" is a marvelous work of lyrics and music and vocals that will send your soul soaring. The title track is my favorite off the album, but tracks like "Dance With Me" and "Jerusalem" also shine through. The lyrics on this album connect, like chapters in a book, and they are the most beautiful of any Alphaville album. And Mr. Gold truly brings them to life!

Anyone who listens to this can see the talent these men have!! I have listened to Alphaville since I was younger and many of my friends started listening. Where as many were listening to other trendy songs, I was listening to this group!! It is a must for anyone's CD collection.....I have gotten my 7 & 11 year old brothers into listening to it and they go to school with it blasting in their CDwalkman's!! I intend to buy them a collection of Alphaville of their own, so they will return mine back to me!! Bravo guys!!