Customer Reviews

Ra

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Preceding Adventures In Utopia, which is perhaps Utopia's most commercially accessible album, Ra is for me the best album the band produced. Todd Rundgren is very creative and playful here, free from the suffering that seems to undermine a lot of his later work. I get the feeling that the band had fun making this record, and it rocks. Todd and Roger Powell create hypnotic synth and guitar interplay, trading licks in Jealousy, Sunburst Finish, Hiroshima and Singring and the Glass Guitar. Utopia's signature four-part vocal harmonies are right on throughout, and Todd, Kasim Sultan, Roger, Pand Willie Wilcox are uniquely showcased both as vocalists and musicians in Singring.

This is one to have... and listen to.

This 1977 follow-up to the great 1974 debut (Todd Rundgren's Utopia) covers somewhat similar ground (American proggy hard rock), although the lineup had been stripped back and there was a higher proportion of shorter pieces. While I do not feel that RA is as consistently good as the debut, there is some excellent musicianship and fantastic melodies that make this album a worthwhile addition to the prog rock collection.

The huge, electric "orchestra" present on the debut had been reduced to a four-piece comprised of Roger Powell (synthesizers, piano, organ, and vocals); Todd Rundgren (electric and acoustic guitars); Kasim Sulton (electric bass guitar and vocals); and John "Willie" Wilcox (drums percussion, and vocals). This lineup was great and there is some impressive proggy ensemble work on RA. The abilities of each member are showcased on the lengthy track Singring and the Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale) - they all get a 1-2 minute unaccompanied solo. Of the solos, I liked Roger's synthesizer workout the best.

The seven tracks on RA range in length from 3'28" to the lengthy 18'24" Singring and the Glass Guitar. The music on RA is very much in the vein of what you might expect from the early Utopia albums: Olympian-scale feats on individual instruments; dense ensemble work; great vocal harmonies; and the occasional pop hook or two...or three. In general, I am fine with the music although I do not think that Singring works very well from a composition perspective: while there are excellent main themes and some great ensemble work at the beginning and end, about half of the piece is comprised of unaccompanied solos, a few of which are just a bit dull. My favorite tracks include Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise/Communion with the Sun along with Sunburst Finish, although all of the pieces have something to offer. The odd track out is Magic Dragon Theatre which merges a scene from an imaginary "play" (complete with dialog), with some good prog. Very interesting overall.

In terms of the concepts on RA, quite literally, everything under the "sun" is taken on. Of these concepts, the one that I latched on to (or at least loosely embraced) is that presented on Singring. There is a narrator on Singring that is supposed to be a Middle Earth dweller (an elf) that narrates the tale of Singring in what sounds like a mock Scottish accent on helium. I have to admit it is actually pretty funny, although I can imagine that most prog fans would raise their eyebrows at this track. As far as the actual concept goes, Singring tells the tale of four brave souls that locate the four keys needed to open up a glass guitar that contains an imprisoned and weeping spirit (Singring). I may be way off here (I am a Biologist), but it seems that Todd may have been bemoaning the loss of urgency and "spiritual vitality" in music in the late 1970's - "if you take a look around, harmony is dying" - and that this was his attempt to "rescue" the vitality and urgency of rock music. If this is what the band was aiming for then hats off to them.

In terms of the CD package, Rhino/Bearsville did a pretty good job and the CD booklet features each of the band members dressed up in Egyptian garb and posed in odd (quasi-ritualistic?) stances - with the exception of the drummer who simply stands with his arms folded over his chest. The lyrics to each of the songs are printed on the inner sleeve. The sound quality is excellent.

All in all, while RA is a good album of interesting prog rock and nice pop tunes, there were aspects of the album that just did not sit too well with me, although I am very forgiving and was able to overlook them. I would recommend this album to hardcore proggers as the last album of its type to be released by Utopia. After RA, the band plunged headlong into pop territory with Oops, Wrong Planet (1977). For those folks that are starting out with Utopia, definitely snag the 1974 debut album - it is a great listen.

As a lot of the other reviews say, yes a lot of this CD from Todd's alter-ego Utopia is somewhat 'dated', but heck, so is a LOT of music from this era that I STILL listen to today because a LOT of today's music is just not 'making the cut'.

Ra is Utopia at their very best - very creative, inventive yet still keeping the pop sensibilities that Todd brings to the show. I always thought that Utopia was Todd's outlet for experimentation, and he always let other members of the band contribute equally to the effort.

If you were to only own 1 Utopia CD, this is IT. Some of the earlier stuff is great but 'out there', and a lot of the later stuff was just too commercial/pop for me. Ra is the perfect mix of great pop (Eternal Love), rockers (Communion with the sun) and a classic prog-rock fairy tale (Singring). To me, this is a must-have for any serious rock music fan that dares to listen to something out of the ordinary.

A masterpiece. Todd takes his spot as only one fourth of Utopia and as a unit they are remarkable. The tour production that accompanied this album was one of the greatest concert events of my lifetime. This album showcases the unique musicianship and vocaL abilities of the entire band. Sadly, most of Utopia's other output pale's in comparison to this masterwork. Fans of progressive pop/rock should make this disk a "must own."

I first heard this piece of work sitting on the patio of a friend shortly after it came out. I was extremely impressed at the time and didn't think that anything Todd Rundgren could do would impress me more than the double album, Todd. This album, however, did just that and if you had the good fortune to see this concert tour then I don't have to tell you anything about this album, you already own it. Seldom do I like every song on an album but Ra is one that I can play and enjoy even now . I'm glad it's now in the CD format but I still have the old album...there's no way a CD cover can compete with "Album Art". If you are a Todd Rundgren fan, old or new, Ra is one of the mandatory albums to own.

I am a huge TR fan, and while most listeners are going after the wizzard of rock's newest album, Liars, I am still searching through my vinyl collections looking for every copy of 'RA' and 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia' that I own. Todd Rundgren has been known as a musical artist, singing in genres everywhere from pop to rap, from latin to progressive, and all the way back again to tech-heavy experimental fusion artist.

What he is least credited for, but SHOULD be best-known for, is his fabulous work in his band Utopia, a group compromised of (at one point) THREE synth players. Todd Rundgren's experimentation with LSD may have played a huge role in his surge in tallent and creativity during these albums, but whatever the cause is, the effect is outstanding. Tales of lone sea creatures and tiny elves, reminesing about history, strange hillbilly voices, and REALLY sweet and progressive music is all found on this album.

'RA' can be considered a "concept album", if you will - setting a similar goal as Yes - Close to the Edge, Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick, and Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. This isn't just a collection of songs, but all having something to do with (and possibly connecting to each other) about THE SUN. Yes, the sun is the only possible way that Japan and tiny elves can possibly relate to one another.

My favorite song on the LP is side two's legendary spectacular called "The Glass Guitar" (An Electrified Fairy Tale). You can tell that TR was on something when he wrote this song - it begins with a minute-long introduction by what sounds like an elf on helium,

"This is an electrified fairy tale. If you've never heard of an electrified fairy tale, just picture tiny elves, with wee-little electric guitars!" :)

The song is about (I think) these four keys located in the "four corners of the earth" which four brave "individuals" rescue from different elements of the earth (mountain, wind, fire, water). Once the keys are rescued, they are joined together to shed "light" on the earth - possibly the sun? I think this is not a mistake! ;)

Not surprisingly, it details these rescues of these keys with a solo from each of the band members (there are only four band members presently when the album is released) - so yes, the lone saviors of the world are also the humble "Utopia"! =)

The epic is 18 minutes long and has some VERY progressive movements. It is both catchy "There's a ru-mor I've heard, that's going a-round", frightening, incredibly passionate, and instrumentally complex. I hate to compare, but think "Close to the Edge" with a more focused story to it. It has all that a good song needs (but with MUCH better drumming than Bill Bruford's chops in Close to the Edge).

Who can I recommend this LP for? Certainly a rock fan with an open mind and a good taste. DEFINITELY Todd Rundgren fans (shame on you if you haven't picked this up already!), and last but not least Progressive Rock fans. I am a gigantic fan of progressive rock, and I'd say without hesitation that Utopia, particularly with this record, ranks up there with the likes of Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, and earlier King Crimson stuff.

This LP is HIGHLY recommended, and I suggest that if you're even VIEWING this review now, that you do not think a second longer about purchasing this record. You will be a better person for not only supporting the all-time most tallented musical hermit to ever exist, but for also enjoying one of the many lost treasures in seventies progressive music.

"Hiroshima" is the reason to get "RA", this Utopia CD. This Japanese remastered version sounds excellent, which is important to me on a "noisy" rock recording with cymbals and loud, continuously maxed-out tracks. Also, "Hiroshima" is important to me for another reason: I get that song out every August in honor of the event. Growing tired of my outdated domestic CD, this year I unconsciously ordered this import remastered CD from musicjapan just at the same time the anniversary happened to be approaching, receiving the CD with a thank-you note on the day. Somewhat ironic, wouldn't you say? Talk about serendipity, or else my 'subconscious' is more conscious than I give it credit for. This song is the single strongest artistic statement that Todd Rundgren ever made, and you talk about chills! I hope you will get to hear this brilliant song sometime, hopefully before next August. Get it and join with me in honoring those who died so tragically and needlessly.

Lord have mercy. I listened to Ra today for the first time in at least 25 years, after watching the Utopia: Live from Columbus Ohio 1980 DVD. Utopia blitzed through Communion With the Sun so tightly in live performance that I had to go back and see what I've been missing. This CD is, like the title of this post says, simply jaw-dropping. From Communion With the Sun, through Jealousy, Sunburst Finish, and the others that were on side 1 of the vinyl version, the energy never flags, the music never fails to surprise and captivate. And then, side 2: Hiroshima, one of the most powerful antiwar songs ever made, and never mentioned when people start running through that category. "Under the rising sun, dirty little children play; and in the red pagoda, Mamma-san is praying." All to a pentatonicism that Puccini could have used in Madama Butterfly. And then the inevitable catastrophe, complete with explicit lyrics that are used not for shock value, but for emphasis. I was exhausted after all this. Finishing up the disc is Singring and the Glass Guitar, excerpts of which were also heard on the Columbus DVD. People always mock the leprechaun voice but it works, at least for me. Utopia maintains the pace of innovative, densely layered music that was its hallmark, finishing the CD in style. Todd Rundgren, of course, was the brains -- and I do mean brains -- behind Utopia, but Kasim Sulton, Willie Wilcox, and Roger Powell provided not only great songs but a modicum of editing and restraint that made Todd's music even greater. This was truly synergy at work. This mp3 download, at $6.93, is the steal of the year at Amazon. If you are at all a fan of Todd Rundgren or music that challenges you instead of panders to you, do yourself a favor and download this album.

This is "some" of the best work from TR and Utopia, Period. But then again, it was the late 70's, and I was dating MaryJane. If your into a progressive/different sound, you will like this album. Although some songs haven't stood the 'test of time' as well as other 70's music. Regardless, RA is ancient worlds apart from anything you've heard. I saw the light.


If anybody knows where to find a poster of the RA CD cover, please let me know

Such a resplendent and creative display of musical virtuosity and unbridled creativity could have only occurred during the 1970's before the age of corporate rock. Every vocal is spot on. Every transition and turnaround is well thought out. Ok so some of the material and its underlying meanings may be lost during the transition of thirty odd years, but the spark is still there. At the time this album was a quintessential musical waypoint in my personal development as a listener.

DON'T YOU EVER F***ING FORGET!