Todd Rundgren

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The Ever Popular

Tortured Artist Effect

Todd Rundgren The Tortured Artist Effect

Todd Rundgren: The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect

There is a delicious irony that The Tortured Artist Effect, Todd Rundgren's last album for his long-time record company, Bearsville, and one that he's supposed to have put the least care into, should provide him with the most famous song of his career, Bang On The Drum All Day.

The funny thing is, The Tortured Artist Effect, while never scaling any great heights, is a really enjoyable album, probably the easiest listening since The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren, 11 years previously...and let me say, it's nice to not have to work so hard with a Todd album.

Yes most of the tracks go on too long (Todd was pushing to get it album length), the cover version of The Small Faces Tin Soldier is a waste of time and I always felt the second last song, Drive was a dirge...but The Tortured Artist Effect also delivers some top quality synth-pop with:

Hideaway, a great song about attracting Love through the Aether

"...Are you trying to get a message
Through the air to me?
Get me on your wavelength
And tell me which way to go
To your hideaway..."

Hideaway

"...(Hideaway)...just blows me away...a fantastic pop song with Todd on the top of his game in all forms. Great melody, great hook, great vocals...(proving)...that a pop song can be reflective and serious, yet blissfully catchy at the same time. Todd's a master at it!..." Amazon reviewer B

Todd Rundgren: Hidaway

Influenza, a fine bossa-nova addition to Rundgren's catalogue of mystical rock

"...If I were someone else
I wouldn't disagree
But it's always hard to see
When something's controlling me

I can feel my will slip away
From a strange influenza..."

Influenza

Don't Hurt Yourself a rare Rundgren comment on the inevitabilities of friction between two lovers:

"...I've done some bad things
This I know
If I can't change things
Tell me so
It does no good to break your toe on the wall

I know you're angry
That's alright
I said 'I don't care'
Well, I lied
But I don't care who wins the fight after all

As long as you don't hurt yourself
It's bad enough, don't hurt yourself
I wouldn't want to see you hurt
Over my mistake..."

Don't Hurt Yourself

There Goes Your Baybay, is another rare Rundgren comment on being dumped and has some neat stacatto verses counterpointed by a smooth, almost inane chorus, making the song a fascinating juxtaposition of two very different tempos!

"...Your ship is sinking in a swirling sea
The water's rising up around your knees
Let's pop the question: 'Is it time to leave?'
You say 'Maybe'

You're at the bottom of an avalanche
A swift departure is your only chance
You say it doesn't make a difference 'cause
There goes your baybay...

...You never thought you'd see her walking away..."

There Goes Your Baybay

Emperor Of The Highway is a hilarious Gilbert & Sullivan romp about meeting a pig driver that I'm not quoting, simply because these particular lyrics should be heard, not read.

Bang On The Drum All Day, the ska ditty that you all know and er...love &

Chant, another great piece of mystical rock preumably about the benefits of mantra.

"...We can't turn back the clock
But we can chant for Love
Let's cut the idle talk
So we can chant for Love...

...I am not pushing some religion
Don't get me wrong
I never mess with such things
Just be true to your own vision
This is your personal decision...

...Chant..."

Chant

Tortured Artist may not beone of Todd's great album but it's surprising fun and well worth checking out. There really are some nuggets, here!

Todd Rundgren: The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect

"...If Todd was just goofing around here, it sure sounds like he takes his goofing around seriously...I would recommend this one..." Amazon reviewer B Mistele

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