The Individualist

The Individualist

The Individualist was far less thematic than No World Order, with a mixture of more rap (the title track is unfortunately particularly awful)...and conventional songs, a few of which are really good, including:

• the mystical, sublime Beloved Infidel
• the always applicable The Ultimate Crime, a powerful song about avoiding personal responsibility (Todd's puritanical self-flagellating roots have to appear every now and then, you know)  
• the I-dare-you-not-to-hum-this-later Espresso about being on the road, again!
• and the very unusual for Todd, marginally mysoginistic (or perhaps that's just resigned and a little bitter) It's A Woman's World 

However, everything on the album, including all of the songs mentioned above, just go on f-o-r  t-o-o  l-o-n-g!

The Individualist is a dark album and I believe that whatever crisis that was, it resulted in Todd leaving mainland USA, moving to Hawaii and not releasing an album of new songs for ten years!  

"...Water, Water, everywhere
And not a place to stand
My foundation rests on bedrock
But the bedrock rests on s-h-i-f-t-i-n-g sands..."

            Tables Will Turn

Like with No World Order, I intend to do an in-depth review of The Individualist soon but for now, I cautiously recommend that you check it out. 

Todd Rundgren: The Individualist

"...be warned! Todd is outspoken, and pulls no punches. Not for the unenlightened or closed-minded conservative! It is serious, irreverent and sometimes naughty but always to the point! Even if you don't enjoy every song...it is well worth the pittance for what you will receive for your dollar!..." Amazon reviewer yerpoet-suede

"...The Individualist is significant because there is really nothing out there in any form of media that is like this, or done quite so well. After over a decade, even with some of its dated content, The Individualist has endured the years well. If you enjoy collecting music, you MUST track down and buy this CD..." Amazon reviewer Richard D. Lord

"...On first listen, this CD is a jumble of rhythms, noise and reptitions but futher playings reveal the depth, the harmonies and the bold decisions to boldly go where you have not before. Highly recommended!..." Amazon reviewer jck world std

see also:

• The Boston Herald reports on Todd saying that CDs are on the way out
• Wired.com reports that Todd is launching Patronet, a membership site through which fans could download his music, 1998
• Forbes.com report on Todd talking about technology, 1999
• The Guardian chats with Todd about his career, John Lennon & Lennon's killer, 1999