Todd is God

As we approach the halfway point in the year, it si time to look at the best singles and albums of 2009, thus far. Singles this week. So in no particular order and just down to what I can remember ... Top 20 Singles 1. La Roux – In for the Kill 2. La Roux - Bulletproof 3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll 4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero 5. Taylor Swift – Love Story 6. Kelly Clarkson – I don't hook up 7. The Veronicas – Untouched 8. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die 9. Florence & The Machine – Rabbitt Heart 10. Depeche Mode – Wrong 11. The Decemberists - The Rake’s Song 12. Bonnie “Prince” Billy - I Am Goodbye 13. Pet Shop Boys - Love etc 14. Steel Panther - Death To All But Metal 15. Peaches – Talk to Me 16. Kings of Leon – Use Somebody 17. Bat For Lashes – Daniel 18. Lily Allen – It's Not Fair 19. Seether – Careless Whisper 20. Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream

It has been a while since I last saw Fishbone, and a couple of years ago I would have been unsure as to whether the band could still cut it, after a couple of quite disappointing album releases, but last year's 'Still Stuck in Your Throat' was the best record that had made since 'Reality' in my view (although I do still like the raw rock of 'Monkey'). The first time I saw them - October 1991 (I think?) – at Brixton(?) (one of the best gigs I have ever been to) , they filmed the promo video for the song 'Fight the Youth' off The Reality of my Surroundings album Back then they still have their optimum line up (inc Kendall Jones, JB Bigham, Walter Kibby) but even with the current line up I am pleased to say that Fishbone still know how to put on a show. Angelo Moore still like to throw himself into the crowd at any and every opportunity (Dre Gipson – a welcome addition on Keys and vocals is also keen), and Angelo still enjoys taking his clothes off, al...

Been a bit slow in mentioning that I have tickets for Todd doing this in London next Feb. LONG way off, but looking forward to seeing if he can pull performing one of the bext albums of the 70s live.

I first heard of Australian duo, The Veronicas at the end of last year, when I caught a few seconds of the title track of their current album. It stuck in my head, but the band's name didn't until the beginning of this year when I remembered and downloaded the album. I then forgot about it again, until a month ago, when I decided to give it a spin, and found that I loved it. The band comprise Lisa and Jess Origliasso, 22 year old identical twin sisters. Their debut album was a pop/rock affair in the style of Avril lavigne /Ashlee Simpson et al. Whilst it showed hints of the twins' ability to pen catchy pop tunes it never really delivered on its initial promise. Move forward a few years and they have now delivered that promise in Spades with 'Hook Me Up' – a collection of infectious 80s influenced (Flashdance, Boys of summer as well as nods to Prince/Shelia E) synth pop/rock tunes. The Video for Hook me up , with the whole schoolgirl uniform thing going on reminds yo...

David Johansen explains to Pop Matters why the New York Dolls reunited with Todd Rundgren to make their new album. He also explains why they are happy with the results: "You go [into the studio] and play the songs and go back into the other room and listen to them on these little speakers and you think, 'Okay, that's a good song.' But then [Todd] gets finished mixing the thing and you're like, 'Oh man. That sounds great.' So I don't know how he does it, but he's got ears where he can hone in on each instrument and, whatever you call it, tweak it to make it sound distinct from all the other sounds and it comes out really great." http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/92565-infectious-love-an-interview-with-david-johansen-of-the-new-york-doll

It's not very often I go to gigs and feel like an old man, but last night was certainly one of them. The majority of those present for Miss Swift's second visit to the UK were teenage girls, who all came armed with the kind of photographic memory knowledge of all the lyrics you have at that age, and with that ability to cheer/scream at the same time. Kind of what you'd have expected a Spice Girls audience to have been like. By the time Swift had left the stage after her encore all said girls were going home happy. She may be the biggest selling artist in the US over the past 18 months, and that doesn't always mean a guarantee of success in the UK, but on the evidence of tonight and the fact of 2 back to back sell out nights at the Empire, it will not be long before Swift is likely to be playing much bigger venues - maybe even Wembley or 02 within the year - the girl is going to be Huge. The question then is, is she actually any good? I must confess to thinking her curre...

You can stream the first 6 tracks off the new, Todd produced, New York Dolls album at 411mania.com site.

Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com spoke to Todd, and asked what was next: 'Another visitation from Rundgren's pop past wrapped in today's headlines, perhaps?' "I don't know exactly. Liars and Arena, despite being very different records, were pretty close to what I was going for. So I have no complaints there. "I guess I may run into a wall if I devise some challenge for myself that I can't meet. But I wouldn't let anybody know about it if that happened. I would just fail quietly and then move on to something else."

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 ...

This week, Todd has been featured on Ken Bruce's show on BBC Radio 2. The show has a regular feature called Tracks of My Years where people come on and talk about songs that have made an impression on them over the years for whatever reason. Todd has been on this week talking about why he has chosen the following songs Monday Monday ~ Mamas And Papas Wrapped Around Your Finger ~ The Police Accidents Will Happen ~ Elvis Costello & The Attractions A House Is Not A Home ~ Dionne Warwick All The Young Dudes ~ Mott The Hoople Hyperactive ~ Thomas Dolby Wouldn’t It Be Nice ~ The Beach Boys Beds Are Burning ~ Midnight Oil Tired Of Waiting ~ The Kinks Itchycoo Park ~ The Small Faces

One on my favourite discoveries of last year were the band Tom McKean & the Emperors . Managed to catch them 4 or 5 times in 2008, and last night provided the first opportunity to catch them in 2009 - fresh from recording thier debut album in Texas. I was a little disappointed that they were not going to be out on their own, but would instead be supporting Nell Bryden , but figued I'd go along anyway. It was great to have the band back and once again they delivered at great set, including - what are now firm fan favourites: 'This is the Year'; 'A Little Something'; and the Jolie Holland Classic 'Old Fashioned Morphine', in addition to some newer songs, that were either getting their first outing or their first outling in a while. I'm looking forward to the album coming out. Should be a good one. Now, Di and I had gone along to this just to see Tom and the Boys, and only I had even bothered to check out Nell Bryden's work. I had listened to...

It's tempting to say that Bruce should have worked a bit harder on that dream, as his new album whilst perfectly fine, lacks - dare I say it - a certain 'magic'. The problem with the album is unfortunately highlighted by the decision to include a couple of bonus tracks - one of which 'The Wrestler' ( from the film of the same name) is so street ahead quality-wise of anything else on the album it is worrying. Now, I should clarify, that I think this song ranks up there with Springsteen's best, so I am not dismissing out of hand the quality of the rest of the record, some of which I like a great deal: "What Love can do", My Lucky Day”, “Working On a Dream”, and "Life Itself", for example; but it is hard to come away from this record not feeling slightly disappointed. I need to give a quick mention to the first track - Outlaw Pete. Now, it is perfectly ok, but every time it starts I have a blend of the Rolling Stone's - 'Paint it Black...

I was sitting earlier with a bit of time to kill so checked out a random selection of new releases/hits fron Virgin's music on demand. Here are my thoughts. Beck - 'Youthless' : - Not one of my favourite tracks off the latest album (a record that I have come to like a lot in the past few weeks - it should have been in my top 25 for 2008) but still a goood tune. Cancer Bats – ‘Hail Destroyer’ : - Here’s a band who have listened to too many Slipknot records. Sadly they came away learning nothing on the evidence of this dirge. Shouty vocals.Poor. Municipal Waste – ' Magician' : - Unlike Cancer Bats, this band not only know their old school thrash/speed metal, but they know that even in this genre a sense of melody is important. Not the greatest record ever, but it’s not bad. Prodigy – ‘Invaders Must Die’ : - A return to (mostly) instrumental dance rock by the band. They are not doing anything they have not done before, but this is still an enjoyable few minutes, ...

Yes, I know the year is ony a couple of weeks old, but I have spent it with one song continuously going through my head, and it is probably the last kind of thing I would have expected to just have fallen in love with. What is my January guilty pleasure? Taylor Swift - 'Love Story'. I think this came out in the states in October, but it has only just got a release in the UK. I keep sitting thinking that I should be finding the lyrics twee and so packed full of sugar that it makes me want to throw up - "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.' - but every time I hear this song I end up grinning like and idiot and feel happy and uplifted. I may need help. The track is off Swift's second album - which I believe is perched atop the US album charts, and is set to outsell her debut album, which itself shifted quite...

And so it comes to my top 25 albums of 2008. This was quite hard, as outside of the top half dozen or so there were a lot of good solid records that could have made up the numbers. Also there were several albums that may well belong on the list but, I just have not given a good enough listen too to include, so, sorry: Elbow, Glasvegas, Kings of Leon, Amanda Palmer and others. So, the question is, was there one album that stood out from the crowd? For me, yes, and for the second year running it came from Nick Cave. Dig Lazarus Dig continued a rich vein of form that Nick has been minning for the past few years, and so was the record I have returned to most often in 2008. 1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig! Lazarus Dig!!: - From the opening bars of the title track this is a wonderful record. 2. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive : Some people have were not as keen on this album as they were with Boys & Girls in America. It was true that this album was less of a progression than they ha...

Unlike last year, where Gig of the year was an easy task - Prince at the 02 - this year was not so clear cut, but if I was pushed to choose a personal favourite it would have to have been The Weakerthans gig. They were on top form, the sound was great, the view was great. Magic stuff. Close but no cigar would have to be Todd Rundgren and Shelby Lynne. Todd was in town to rock, and rock he surely did delivering a stellar performance, as did Lynne on her long awaited return to the UK's shores. A terrific voice and just a natural class performer. The rest were, well, the rest really. 1. The Weakerthans @ Scala 02/06/2008 2. Shelby Lynne @ Royal Festival Hall 19/10/2008 3. Todd Rundgren @ The Forum 23/11/2008 4. Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band @ Emirates Stadium 30/05/2008 5. Steve Earle @ Roundhouse 18/02/2008 6. CCamille @ Camden Roundhouse 19/10/2008 7. Thea Gilmore @ Bloomsbury Theatre 09/06/2008 8. Ryan Adams and the Cardinal @ Brixton Academy - 20/11/2007 9. Scorpions ...

I know they hardly exist at these days, but here at least are the 25 standout singles (that I can remember - which prob means overlooked something really obviously good) from 2008. So, in no order: 1. Teddy Thompson - In my Arms 2. Metallica - The Day that Never Comes 3. Christina Aquilera - Keeps Gettin' Better . 4. 3 Doors Down - It's Not My Time 5. Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone . 6. Laura Marling - Cross your Fingers . 7. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire . 8. Gabriella Clili - Sweet about Me . 9. Ting Tings - That's Not my Name 10. Duffy - Warwick Avenue 11. Bon Iver - Skinny Lov e 12. Weezer - Pork and Beans 13. Amanda Palmer - Oasis . 14. Noah and the Whale - Five Years Time . 15. R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious 16. The Hold Steady - Sequestered in Memphis 17. Aimee Mann - Freeway 18. Nick Cave & Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig 19. Gutter Twins - Idle Hands 20. Sons & Daughters - Gilt Complex 21. Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal 22. The Wedding Present - Santa Ana...

I think this was Todd's first appearance at the Forum since he recorded a live album there back in 1994 on the No World Order tour. He was all alone for that one. Tonight, things could not have been more different as Todd brought the Arena tour to London. What can I say. It rocked. Playing the same set that he has been doing for the whole tour - opening with Love in Action, Open my Eyes, Black Maria, I Saw the Light etc, before playing Arena in its entirety - this was guitar rock heaven (and let's face it, probably the last time you'll see Todd doing this kind of tour in the UK). The band were tight, the backing vocals near perfection, and a few ropey moments aside, Todd's vocals strong and good. It was a real joy to see him playing so much lead guitar, after recent years of being more of the 'singer in the band'. There were a few technically issues near the start, when Todd couldn't get the clean guitar sound he wanted, and one amusing moment when he manag...

According to NME Todd is about to head back into the studio with the New York Dolls to produce their new album. "We're really excited to be working with Todd again," frontman Johansen said in a statement. "We're hoping to recapture the same magic on the forthcoming album [that was on the debut]."

Came across this interesting 2003 Playgirl interview with Todd.