The Independent on Sunday kept up the Todd mentions with a review of the Live in Japan DVD. Laurie Staff wrote "Pop genius to some, pretentious geek to others, Rundgren continues to plough his own wildly unfashionable furrow with an eclecticism that guarantees cult status, never stardom. For those that belong to the "Todd Is God" camp, Christmas has come early with the UK release of The Desktop Collection/2nd Wind Live Recording Session, Live In San Francisco and this live performance from 1990. Songs from the then-current Nearly Human album sit alongside classics to joyous effect, showcasing one of the most important songwriters of our time" [Yes Indeed]
Whilst the Decemberists have been around for a number of years, and a friend of mine is a big fan, I have to confess - a few tunes aside - they have never really made much of a splash with me. With their fifth album - 'The Hazards of Love' - a 17-track concept album that sort of tells a story about a fair maiden ravished by a shape-shifting demon (no, really) - however, I am suddenly find myself surprisingly won over. On some levels - like most concept albums - it is utter tosh, but with its repeating musical motifs and reprises, making you quickly think that actually there are only about five actual songs on the album - a clever trick. Like with all good concept albums this makes listening on shuffle not the ideal way to digest this album - especially as their are short 'interlude' pieces joining all the songs too. Added to all this the fact that the band seem to have a love for early 70's British folk/prog/heavy metal and this walks right up my street - and will ...
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