Todd is God

Ireland's Sunday Independent had a feature this week on artist Jessica Roth, which mentioned that through her first husband, rock photographer Bruce McAuley, "Jessica began working with Todd Rundgren , rock star and then boyfriend of Bebe Buell, the inspiration for Kate Hudson's character in AlmostFamous ... Jessica was involved in making costumes for Rundgren."

According to the New York Times Albert Grossman's widow, Sally, has put Bearsville studio's up for sale at $725,000. Bearsville was where Dylan, Joplin, and of course Todd recorded many a fine album. Hope someone buys it and keeps it going. Albert Grossman - who also manged Todd - died in 1986.

George Lang in the The Daily Oklahoman (20 February ) finished his review ofthe new Norah jones CD, with a little aside: "I have seen the future of rock 'n' roll, and its name is Butterfly Boucher. This Australian singer-songwriter's debut combines Todd Rundgren -style hooks and Aimee Mann's world-weary inflections to create accessible and smart pop music" - Sounds interesting... On the same day, Adam Walton of the Liverpool Daily Post tackled the joys of parenting, and of young childrens musical taste, when decrying his daughters liking for Will Young It is he says "misplaced,anal music snobbery" but more the fact that no matter how many expertly compiled CDs - "featuring the cream of the finest music ever made" he makes "resplendent in tunes fromThe Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren ,XTC etc.etc., Ava still sits down for breakfast and asks for "Will! Yes please!" Finally, the Daily Mirror's Gavin Martin was telling u...

This week's been a bit of a strange one, with Avril wanna-bees getting a spin. Fefe Dobson: Fefe Dobson - Was feeling quite scornful of this just on principle. Cynical black Avril marketing ploy, but ... WAIT. Actually this isn't that bad. In fact there is some finely crafted little pop ditties on this. Added to which Tone Loc has been dragged back out from wherever he's been hiding to add that bit of extra class to 'Rock it til you drop it'. Several other high points include: 'Revolution'; 'Take Me Away' and 'Give it up'. One to watch. Lillix: Falling Uphill - This one from a young girl band is an easier sell to me, but is not as compelling musically, although 'Lost and Confused' and 'Sick' certainly shine through. The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving - Not a teen girl in sight (at least I don't think so?) but this is what a great album SHOULD sound like. I could play 'Aside' all night if need be.. Just...

According to the TR Connection there will be a major announcement this week from the UK promoting the new Todd CD (UK tour dates? PLEASE!) - which comes out 5 April. The Album is apparently " Very spiritual, electronic and is kind of like a full circle to Initiation/Real Man and Todd era ". Sounds interesting.

This week's listening was kicked off by watching 'Lost in Translation' and hearing both 'Just Like Honey' by The Jesus & Mary Chain and 'Sometimes' by My Bloody Valentine , and thinking, I own those albums! My Bloody Valentine - Loveless . I still really love this record, and 'When You Sleep' remains one of my all-time favourite tracks fromthe period. The Jesus & Mary Chain - Psychocandy . You know, they sound a bit like the BRMC ...LOL. The kings of low-fi feedback indie rock. Still a classic. Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions . Came back to Joss this week as a balance to the feedback driven rock of JMC and MBV And the Single: Powder - Up Here. Big on the live scene in LA by all accounts, the video for this is mad, and the lead singer looks like drew barrymore in drag. Actually the song sounds better without the video distraction. I love it.

Both today's Times and Guardian review the new CD by Gary Husband. A very gifted pianist, he is still probably better know - at least in the rock world as the drummer with Level 42. This album is an acoustic jazz leaning record, which features vocalist Christine Tobin on what the Times describe as "an overwrought adaptation" and the Guardian "a rather monochromatic take" on Todd Rundgren's Tiny Demons.

Track Listing as follows: 1 Truth 2 Sweet 3 Happy Anniversary 4 Soul Brother 5 Stood Up 6 Mammon 7 Future 8 Past 9 Wondering 10 Flaw 11 Afterlife 12 Living 13 God Said 14 Liar

Another week and more great listening! Orbital - In Sides: This has been the big listen of the week. Triggered off by hearing "the Box" on TV. Orbital have never been better in my opinion. Kings of Convenience - Quiet is The New Loud: keeping it mellow with the modern day simon and garfunkle sound. FannyPack - So Stylistic : I have no shame, I love this record. Feel good music by daphne and celeste mark II. Johnny Cash - American IV : Hurt still just blows me away and The man comes around isn't far behind. He went out with his head held high. RIP JC.

Wednesday's USA today features a review of a new album by Five for Fighting - The Battle for Everything, by Elysa Gardner. Giving the record 2 stars Gardner, who describes the band as "purveyors of heavy-handed, maudlin guitar-pop" comments that frontman John Ondrasik "aspires to more gracefully lyrical expression on the Todd Rundgren-esque One More for Love". The album she concludes is a "ploddingly earnest ...affair"

Ruby - Salt Peter . 9 years old and still sounds fresh. Lesley Rankine shines in this sort of rock/trip-hop classic [which again influenced Garbage] featuring one of my tracks of the 90's - Paraffin. Splender - Halfway Down the Sky . Some delightful Todd produced pop/rock. Thea Gilmore - The Lipstick Conspiracies . Modern pop/folk at its best, and another of 2003's best releases. Whiskey Mule - Fuel For the Mule . Demo CD bu bunch of 17 year olds, featuring a friend. 70's rock influenced. Lead singer is woeful, but with a little work there is potential there. The Boomtown Rats - Best of . Bob and the boys did crank out some cool tunes Boss Hogg - Whiteout. And the tracks: Curve - Hell Above the Water. Curve really should have been bigger. Garbage essentially ripped off half their sound and made money whilst Curve hardly kept their head abouve the water. This track from the album 'Gift' was proof that they could still crank out a good tune. Iron Ma...

Article in The Boston Globe (30th January) about Boston outfit the Rudds , ahead of gig at Lizard Lounge 31 January, and about singer John Powhida's vocal heroes - Daryl Hall, Todd Rundgren, and Cheap Trick's Robin Zander - who have influenced him since his teenage years growing up in Albany, N.Y. "That's the sound to me," Powhida says. "I liked the freeness and wildness that Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren had. They'd slip into falsetto, take chances, and every time they sang a song it seemed like they were playing with their voices. That's an element of music I like a lot, that experimentation."

In the first of what again will no doubt be a regular feature on the site, we look at Scissor Sisters. In particular we look at their cover of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". Imagine the Bee Gees on hellium, and produced by Giorgio Moroda, and you get an idea of what this sounds like. The original is full of feeling, power, and some quite wonderful guitar playing ... however, in the hands of SS this is really just horrible. Do not encourage them to do anything like this ever again.

Todd Rundgren's concert in Pittsburgh on 18 April has been moved from Rosebud to the Rex Theatre

Ed Bumgardner of the Winston-Salem Journal recommended "Paparazzi" by Jamie Hoover and Bill Lloyd to any Todd, Beatles, Curt Boettcher, or Marshall Crenshaw fans stating of the material "the subject matter - romantic rejection and loneliness, peppered with a hint of retribution and acceptance - is not the stuff of happy endings. Still, Hoover and Lloyd never let woe overwhelm the desire to create masterful pop". Haven't had an opportunity to check it out myself yet.

Todd Rundgren's I Saw The Light was featured in "Venus And Mars", the first in the new series of The Afternoon Play (BBC1) 26th January. The episode starred Robson Green.

1992 - Todd Rundgren's wife, singer Michele Gray, gives birth to son in San Francisco. They name the child Rebop...

The first of a weekly update on what's been playing on the stereo, pc etc this week. Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions. This really is one heck of a record. The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site. Quite possibly THE album of 2003. Still sounding good. Todd Rundgren - Live in NYC '78 Good music to have on whilst working on my latest article.

John T. Siomos, a drummer who performed and recorded with such artists as Todd Rundgren, Carly Simon, Peter Frampton, and many other well-known recording artists has died aged 56.

Liv Tyler told World Entertainment News Network that her "two" dads only met for the first time at her wedding last year. Apparently she made certain both Steven Tyler and Todd Rundgren were present at the wedding to Royston Langdon She said, "My mother, Todd and Steven had never been in a room together before, and Todd and Steven had never met"