Oblivion (Utopia album)
| Oblivion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1984 | |||
| Genre | Rock, new wave | |||
| Length | 41:28 | |||
| Label | Passport | |||
| Producer | Todd Rundgren and Utopia | |||
| Utopia chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Oblivion | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
Oblivion is an album by the rock group Utopia, released in January 1984.[1]
The album represents a turning point for the band, stepping away from the stripped-down sound of their 1982 self-titled album in favor of a fuller, more mainstream contemporary pop sound. This direction was continued on POV, the band's final album released the following year. This shift in sound is most noticeable due to an increased use of electronic drums and triggers by John "Willie" Wilcox. In addition, synthesizers and sequencers, common ingredients of Utopia's music dating back to their debut release, feature more heavily than usual across the album's runtime.
Released by US-based independent label Passport Records in early 1984, the album generated moderate sales, peaking at #74 on the Billboard 200 in March 1984.
Three songs were released as singles: "Crybaby" b/w "Winston Smith Takes It on the Jaw", which peaked at #30 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart in February 1984, becoming their biggest hit on that chart; "Love With a Thinker" b/w "Welcome to My Revolution" (released only in the UK); and "Maybe I Could Change" b/w "Love With a Thinker" (released only in Australia). The latter two failed to chart.
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Utopia
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Itch in My Brain" | Rundgren | 4:30 |
| 2. | "Love with a Thinker" | Sulton | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Bring Me My Longbow" | Rundgren | 3:18 |
| 4. | "If I Didn't Try" | Rundgren | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Too Much Water" | Sulton, Rundgren | 4:47 |
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Maybe I Could Change" | Sulton | 4:08 |
| 7. | "Crybaby" | Rundgren | 4:19 |
| 8. | "Welcome to My Revolution" | Rundgren | 5:01 |
| 9. | "Winston Smith Takes It on the Jaw" | Sulton | 3:17 |
| 10. | "I Will Wait" | Sulton | 4:43 |
Personnel
[edit]- Todd Rundgren - vocals, guitar, saxophone
- Kasim Sulton - vocals, bass guitar
- Roger Powell - vocals, keyboards
- John "Willie" Wilcox - vocals, drums
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Pop Albums | 74 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Oblivion - Utopia | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
External links
[edit]- "Utopia (5) - Oblivion (LP, Album) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
 | This 1980s rock album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |