Skip to main content

Jill, Stephen, and Bjork

New York Times had a piece on the wonderful Jill Sobule (25th Sept) mentioning Todd, who produced her excellent debut ''Things Here Are Different,'' who proclaimed her ''a Joni Mitchell for the 90's.'' Lofty and flattering as such comparisons were, the album sold poorly (If you don't have it, shame on you - find a copy and buy it, you wont be disappointed). MCA rejected her follow-up and then released her from her contract.

Former Pavement front-man Stephen Malkmus mentioned Todd on Billboard whilst describing making his latest solo album: "I did more of it myself, a little bit like the old Pavement records," Malkmus reveals. "Because the studio was in my basement, I took the helm. I pretty much engineered it myself; punching in with my toe, Todd Rundgren-style. I think it has come out pretty good, but I'm looking for some extra ears to make sure it's as good as I think it is."

John Soeder of the The Plain Dealer (26th Sept) reviews Bjork's "Medulla" saying "Of course "Medulla" is weird. We're talking about a woman who wears egg-laying swan dresses, remember? There are almost no instruments on Bjork's new album. Instead, her beguiling voice is accompanied primarily by choirs and human beatboxes. The results are magical enough on "Pleasure Is All Mine" and "Who Is It." But Todd Rundgren did this sort of thing first and did it better on his 1985 album "A Cappella."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pop Hall of Fame

“It’s not rock ‘n’ roll anymore anyway,’’ he said. “What we used to call rock ‘n’ roll – the original term, defined by DJ Alan Freed – meant to refer to a certain kind of music that Chuck Berry and Little Richard and Elvis [Presley] were playing, and it was distinguishable from ‘popular music’ at that time ...What you have now is a pop music hall of fame, and I don’t care if I’m in the Pop Music Hall of Fame or not’’  Todd on why he's not especially a fan of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as told to the  Plain Dealer
3 comments
Read more

Pull in Emergency @ Camden Barfly 23/07/10

I like to get out and see new and up and coming bands and last night I went along to the album launch for a Band called Pull in Emergency. As is the case most times for these types of gigs, there were also 3 other bands on the bill, and I have to say that all had something to offer. Hella Better Dancer http://www.myspace.com/hellabetterdancer The night began with a bunch of 16 year olds, fronted by Tilly Scantlebury. They are a band that mange to fuse elements of early Cure, and PJ Harvey in a pleasing manor. I really liked the guitar work by Soph Nathan. Like all good guitarist she adds colour where it is needed without over powering the songs. Of the songs they played I really liked 'The City Sea' and new rocky song 'Say it' ? This is certainly a group worth keeping an eye on. They don't quite have the stage presence mastered yet, but time will bring that, and I'm already looking forward to what they'll sound like in a few years, but don't wait until t...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Wizard , a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio

New book due out later this year by Paul Myers, looking at Todd the Producer. Includes exclusive new interviews with Robbie Robertson, Patti Smith, XTC, Sparks, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Cheap Trick, Grand Funk, The Psychedelic Furs, The Tubes, Steve Hillage, all members of Rundgren's legendary band, Utopia, and many other key Rundgren associates.
4 comments
Read more