TRIVIA

"Trivia" collects material from the band's final three studio albums: UTOPIA, "Oblivion" and "P.O.V." plus some "new" tracks. Designed after the then-popular Trivial Pursuit game, this compilation is itself something of a Trivial pursuit, having gone out of print in the '80s. For their trouble, intrepid hunters will get the latter-day singles like "Feet Don't Fail Me Now", "Crybaby", "Mated" and "Hammer In My Heart." Suffering from the same dull patches that plagued the original albums, "Trivia" is a less effective overview than the career-spanning Anthology. Of the new cuts (and it's unclear if these songs were simply unreleased leftovers from earlier sessions), "Monument" and "Princess of the Universe" are merely okay, the opening "Fix Your Gaze" quite good. Honestly, UTOPIA fans unfamiliar with this period would be better served by picking up the eponymous UTOPIA and passing on "P.O.V." and "Oblivion". Better still, buy "Swing To The Right" (one of my favorite UTOPIA albums).

The trouble with the band's last three albums is an increasingly "processed" sound that often buries good melodies under synthetic arrangements. It was less distracting when the band was tackling social topics, as the mechanized music seemed to make a statement about the world we lived in, but most of the songs here address matters of the heart, and an artifical heart it is. Me, I picked up a cassette version of this for under a dollar, so I can't complain, but I wouldn't spend anywhere near $10 for this compilation (unless you're an avid collector of all things UTOPIAn).

I have never understood the concept behind this album. It's like a Best Of collection from their worst albums with added bonus tracks, but it ignores all of the good songs. Why would anybody pick Crybaby and Too Much Water off of Oblivion? As dreadful as POV was, Stand for Something was still enjoyable, and yet it is missing. Was Todd sabotaging Utopia by trying to make this a failure? The new material obviously is made up of songs that couldn't make the cut for earlier albums as well.

Todd has devolved here. Instead of funny songs, we get "cutesy" songs like 'Bad Little Actress" and "Princess of the Universe." "Mated" is undoubtedly the most shopworn and insipid ballad that Todd has ever penned. Indeed, the only song on here that is really worth your time is "If I Didn't Try." But don't buy this album for it. Get it on Oblivion, where it's in much better company.

One star for this unimaginative rehash of songs that, for the most part, shouldn't have seen the light of day in the first place.

A gathering of tunes from previous albums plus a few new ones. The new tunes are "Princess of the Universe" (nothing special, a rocker with a catchy chorus), "Monument" (ok), and "Fix Your Gaze" (the best). The reruns are popular and well-known songs such as "Hammer in My Heart", "Crybaby", "Mated", and "Play This Game". Basically, this is a greatest hits album from their poppiest period with a few "new" tunes thrown on for interest. But they really add little. Overall, nothing to write home about- typical Utopia of the 80's, power- pop, catchy choruses, perky lyrics, and, fortunately, tight band singing and playing. 1 star is all I can grant to this unneeded collection. If you like their newer sound, just get the albums. Or, better yet, try their live album REDUX, which features much of this collection done better.