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Cleopatra Records [Release date 14.10.22]
For the next twelve months or so we will be celebrating 20 years of GRTR! During the past two decades Todd Rundgren is one of those artists who has raised his profile in the UK. This started in 2004 with the release of ‘Liars’ and a corresponding tour which brought him back in front of his loyal fans in Blighty.
Rundgren followed this with ‘Arena’ and further UK tours, demonstrating that he was still relevant in the millennium and arguably at the top of his game always combining high production, musicianship and songwriting values whilst remaining eclectic and individual. And, in 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Like ‘White Knight’ before it, this latest offering brings together a number of fellow musos in what, stylistically, is all over the place. It is the diversity that may confuse the casual listener but to Todd fans it will come as little surprise. They’ve loved him for at least forty years, maybe more. They get it.
By way of example, opener ‘Puzzle’ combines Rundgren and Adrian Belew’s vocals against an attractive synth-propelled rhythm then we’re straight into the reggae/ska-based ‘Down With The Ship’ with Rivers Cuomo (Weezer). Neil Finn (Crowded House/Split Enz) appears for the more conventional pop song ‘Artist In Residence’.
One of the highlights ‘Godiva Girl’ is more typical Todd with a Marvin Gaye-patented backbeat and soulful groove plus typically quirky lyrics. Assistance comes from The Roots, a hip hop band.
You would expect Sparks to inject a little more quirkiness and essentially ‘Your Fandango’ revolves around a simple chant and frankly is a bit banal. But, hey, it’s Todd! Similarly ‘STFU’ revolves around a punk inflected expletive and is somewhat throwaway (with help from Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen).
It’s when Rundgren is given free rein on vocals that things shine such as his collaboration with Davey Lane on ‘Someday’. He’s always been a master of the killer vocal melody and the unexpected mid-flight twist that elevates the song into something stellar.
Thomas Dolby provides an electronic rock groove on ‘I’m Not Your Dog’ whilst ‘Espionage’ enlists rapper Narcy. Steve Vai arrives for the more straight-ahead album closure ‘Eco Warrior Goddess’. Personally I could listen to a whole album of ‘Head In the Ocean’ stylings (with singer Alfie Templemen) but there you go.
Selfishly, also, there will be some listeners who just want a Rundgren solo album without the collaboration and any attendant confusion. He is perfectly able to look after himself. But then this is where he is at – over fifty years on – and he still sounds relevant. ***1/2
Review by David Randall
Album review (White Knight, 2017)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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