Customer Reviews

Oblivion Pov & Some Trivia

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I bought the original "Oblivian" record and fell in love with several of the tracks. I am still in awe of the power pop of "Crybaby". But my record was destroyed in an unfortunate house fire. Years later comes the compilation cd and I jump for joy and buy a copy. The best of the best. I do disagree with the other reviewers in their assessment of the first cd. I can find much to love about POV, but nothing will beat my favorite Utopia album, "Oblivion".

Now I am a Todd fanatic, and a member of the glorious Todd is Godd crew. I am also a professional musician whos played with countless recording acts. So back to the point I think that POV is the most concise and brilliant work in the Utopia catalouge. Yes I know RA is astonishing piece of Progressive Rock, as well as the debut album (and I should know, I am also a huge prog head). Oops is fantastic, and so on and so on. But POV stands the test of time.
Play this game- Great rocker, with a great chorus
Style- Check out the guitar breakdowns, and Kazs voice is perfect, very New Wave
Stand for Something- Powerful
Secret Society- My favorite song, great guitar, memorable chorus, Todd's Nearly Human/2nd wind band tore this song up!!
Zen Machine- Rogers Cosmic pop
Mated- Beautiful Ballad, the bossa nova version is amazing too
Wildlife- Great song Willie and Todd together
Mimi gets Mad- another great Kasim pop song
Mystified- Dirty blues from Todd
More Light- a great return to the sort of Fusion/Prog sound of the seventies, great solos, and singing from Kaz, second best tune on the record
Man of action- ends well
and I am gonna add one of my favorite Utopia songs from the Trivia record (which is added to this collection!!)
Fix your gaze- BRILLIANT pop song
Monument- dito

so all I'm saying is you'll love it

I have a long list and library that starts with Todd Rundgren and Utopia. This particular CD brings back wonderful memories of their process of excellant Rock N Roll. Roger Powell:keyboards,vocals. Todd Rundgren:guitars, vocals. Kasim Sulton:bass, vocals. Willie Wilcox:drums, vocals. From Play This Game to Monument all selections are unique and the vocals are superb. One of their best albums by far. Zen Macine,Mimi Gets Mad,More Light,Man Of Action take your pick all selecions are unique. What a chemistry for 4 unique musicians. Buy it, won't regret it!!!

This re-issue represents the compilation of two of Todd Rundgren and Utopia's best later-period recordings (early-to-mid '80s). I especially liked the 2nd of these, "POV," as one of the bands most creative and heavy-duty recordings. The songs are rich in thought and angst for the most part - try "Zen Machine" on for size for a good headrush!

A bargain at twice the price. The repackage has great songs, production, and enough lyrical content to give one serious pause. And like the majority of Rundgren's best work, he absolutely tears it up on guitar. If you like sophisticated-yet-accessible rock music, then Dawn Atom says 'check this out!'

But when I played the snippets on Amazon it reminded me...and thankfully I was able to get a used copy less than the current low of 94 bucks!!! ( Sorry Utopia, if it was still in print I would have bought new so you would all get royalties, I do believe in supporting the artists!)
I Will Wait
I Will Wait
I Will Wait
HOW many times can I play that one song over and over and over? I will see how many times, I have been playing it in the car, on my ipod, on my itunes, singing it to myself or to my cats....and it has only been 2 days ... that song , so deceptive, so rich, so emotional, captures the Utopians' abilities so well... these guys could craft not just beautiful meaningful lyrics, hard enough to do, but to enrobe then in luscious unique often hummable catchy melodies! And their way with building a song ...WHO can do that today??? Ryan Adams is fntastic and gifted, I would put him "up there" but, as a band? As a Utopia type thing? There is no one that compares. If you can, get this wonderful compilation. Todd, Kasim, Roger, Willie, they shine. I want to thank them so much for what they have added to my life.

hey,great album cover guys!this set opens with itch in my brain,geat song.cool guitar.although some of this first cd of the set is not as strong as the rest there are some really great songs.if i didn't try,maybe i could change,crybaby,i will wait ,fix your gaze are some of my favorites.POV (the great cover art)is a lost masterpiece!!what a swan song,this is power pop.todd and crew have it fine tuned.great songs great singing,great musicianship!unfotunately this wasnt what people were buying in the 80's.this is a great cd!!!buy it!!!!

Oblivion was the follow up to Swing To the Right and embodies much of the angry/cynical anti Reagan sentiment but with the pre apocolyptic "1984" themes running through the album. Most notably Winston Smith Takes It On the Jaw is taken directly form George Orwell's 1984. Itch In My Brain seems to be an angry reaction to the conservative 80's that Todd clearly detested. It is a great rocker with a brilliant Roger Powell synth solo directly into a barn burning shred session by Todd with an angry wah pedal distorted guitar solo. The next tune is Kasim's Love With A Thinker, a playful humorous take on a relationship with a mensa woman who is intimidating with her brilliance. Other standouts include If I didn't Try, an angst ridden love song that Todd always seemed to nail, Maybe I Can Change, a lush piano driven piece that mimics some of Hall and Oates early 80's work in a very flattering way, and the showstopper Crybaby that is a Power Pop sensation with all of the elements including: Great hooks,a beautiful chorus with great harmony vocals and excellent guitar work, a tour de force! Lastly I Will Wait is an incredible pop ballad that embodies all of the excellence that was Utopia. I was fortunate enough to see them on the Oblivion tour and became a huge fan instantly, not something that typically happens for most concert performances.

Most of the reviewers are more taken with POV and I enjoy that album as well, but I don't agree that it stacks up with Oblivion. Mated is one of Todd's best pop ballads ever and can make you cry, but overall I felt POV was merely a good effort and not worthy of the praise seen by many others in these preceding reviews. oblivion is a home run album and sounds as good today as it did in 1983! This collection is a must for any serious Utopia fan!

i have the three albums on vinyl - plus pov cassette (for extra track)
now the convenience of having this period of todd/utopia all in one place - two discs -cd heaven!

I ordered this recently because I didn't know about it in the eighties. It must have had a limited release. I'm loving it. It's like a gift of 23 new Utopia songs to me. It has the classic sound and is lots of fun. I highly recommend it.