The AGE has a review of the Czars new album - Goodbye (****) Sophie Best says: "From the soap-opera prelude - a melodramatic piano intro to the title track, which lurches from trip-hop poise to drama-charged, Todd Rundgren-esque epic and back again - Goodbye is a strange, surprising and lovely trip. There's something decidedly old-fashioned about this album, for all its modernity. In its grandiosity and passionate romanticism, Goodbye is akin to Rufus Wainwright and Richard Hawley's work, with echoes of Roy Orbison, ELO, the Flaming Lips and Grandaddy"
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...
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Have you heard about any new production work he's doing lately?
I was curious what you think of him as a producer. Do you have a favorite he's done for other folks?
I loved the 12 Rods cd and actually thought it might
be a hit but that wasn't to be...
He's quiet on that front at moment - and has been since 12 Rods/Splender/Bad Religon burst of activity - due to doing his own thing again.
Going further back I also really liked "Guitars and Women" by Rick Derringer. Some songs almost sound like they came straight off a Utopia album.