Oblivion (Utopia album)
Oblivion is an album by the rock group Utopia, released in January 1984.[1]
| Oblivion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Utopia | ||||
| 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 |    |
The album represents a turning point for the band, stepping away from the relatively stripped down sound of their 1982 self-titled album in favor of a more mainstream, contemporary pop sound, a direction that would continue on the band's following (and final) studio release, POV. This is most notable in the increased use of electronic drum triggers by percussionist John "Willie" Wilcox. In addition, synthesizers and sequencers, common ingredients of Utopia's music dating back to their debut release, feature heavily 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 of 1984.
Three songs off the album 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 singles failed to chart.
Track listing
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
- Todd Rundgren - vocals, guitar
- Kasim Sulton - vocals, bass guitar
- Roger Powell - vocals, keyboards
- John "Willie" Wilcox - vocals, drums
Charts
Album - Billboard
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Pop Albums | 74 |
References
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Oblivion - Utopia | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
External links
- "Utopia (5) - Oblivion (LP, Album) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2009-06-25.