KLAATU : KLAATU / HOPE

    Klaatu
  1. Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
  2. California Jam
  3. Anus of Uranus
  4. Sub-Rosa Subway
  5. True Life Hero
  6. Doctor Marvello
  7. Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III
  8. Little Neutrino
    Hope
  9. We're Off You Know
  10. Madman
  11. Around the Universe in Eighty Days
  12. Long Live Politzania
  13. The Loneliest of Creatures
  14. Prelude
  15. So Said the Lighthouse Keeper
  16. Hope

Label : Collector's Choice Music

Length : 77:38

Released : 1976 (Klaatu) / 1977 (Hope)

Review for Klaatu (AllMusic) : This album was a total enigma when it was first released in 1976. Each song had its own eccentric personality, and the entirety sounded like the concoction of some strange rock orchestra from the netherworld. The Beatles tag nailed to this band may have helped album sales, but in actuality only the song "Sub Rosa Subway" sounded anything like them (it's a convoluted "It's All Too Much" melody with McCartney-esque vocals). The rest of the tunes politely exploited surf music, '70s progressive rock, and children's novelty songs. "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" and "Little Neutrino" are the standout tracks besides "Subway." The former is the band's signature song, later covered by the Carpenters, while "Neutrino" utilizes phase-shifting and vocal effects to help jettison it into deep space. The overall impression left by this curio is that, no, the Fab Four weren't involved, but there was surely a spark of genius (other than George Martin) behind the myriad of instruments and sounds.
Review for Hope (AllMusic) : A somewhat disappointing follow-up to the promise left by the group's inspired debut, Hope was actually recorded just before the first album was released (and prior to the subsequent "Are Klaatu the Beatles?" rumors). The band opted for a more conceptual, rock opera sound, but they ended up sounding pretentious, and in some cases like a rip-off of Queen. If you're into LP sleeve art, though, this one is breathtaking. The artist, Ted Jones, did several of the band's striking album sleeves, but this is certainly the most beautiful. Drummer and band archivist Terry Draper later tried to retrieve the original oil painting from which the cover was shot, but discovered it had been pilfered by an unknown employee of Capitol.