Todd is God

Yes, it's back. Part 3 (parts 1 and 2 ) of my list of 99 albums you should own by female artists/fronted bands. 21.Shelby Lynne – I am Shelby Lynne . Seriously, how GOOD is this record? I remember first hearing it and being totally bowled over by her voice and the range of songs on it. Your Lies , Easier, Black Light Blue, Leavin, Why Can't You Be ... Not a dud on the whole record. Would feature in a list of the best 25 albums ever made for me. A true classic. 22. Veruca Salt – American Thighs . Back in the days when Nina Gordon and Louise Post were still on speaking terms. A nice nod to AC/DC in the album title, and this was indeed a straight ahead rock album. I listened to this again recently and was amazed how well it stands up. Get Back, All Hail Me, Number one Blind, Victrola, and the marvellous Seether all mean this album rocks. 23. Nina Gordon - Tonight and the Rest of My Life , Somehow seemed right to follow up VS with one of Nina's solo albums. More pop/ro...

What was very apparent, very quickly, when I say down to make this list was how much of a 'ladies' year this has been. My favourite single of the year? Probably either Pearl Jam, Taylor Swift or Yeah Yeah Yeahs. But what follows in no particular order are my Top 20 (or at least as I remember them – no doubt, as per usual I have left out one or two records I really loved but have forgotten about!) 1. Pearl Jam – The Fixer (Short, sharp, sweet – a cracking song) 2. Taylor Swift – Love Story (Yes it's cheesy, but I loved this record. Catchy like all great pop) 3. Nell Bryden – Second Time Around (proof that you can say it all on just over 2 mins) 4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (because was trying to limit to one per artist had to choose this over equally excellent Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero ) 5. Placebo - For What It's Worth - ( Battle for Sun also great though ) 6. Kelly Clarkson – I don't hook up (Just a great pop song) 7. The Veronicas – Untouched ...

This was the second time Jen and I had seen Miss Michaelson this year. Things this time did not get off to a good start as we made the cardinal error of leaving the pub too early to go to the Venue. Schoolboy error really. We hung our heads in shame. The problem was that the ticket said ‘Doors 7pm’. Now we took this to mean the doors of the venue would open then, and not that the remaining members of the band The Doors would be onstage riding a storm at 7pm. As I was interested in catching some of the support act – Greg Laswell, we left the pub just after 7.30 and walked to the venue. We were there by 7.40. Unfortunately there was a queue. A LARGE queue. [For those familiar with the venue and the area it was around the block and up almost as far as the Water Rats Theatre. No, really.] I think the last time I was in a queue this long was back in Glasgow when the Apollo was still open – quite a while ago. As a result it was 8:20ish before we made it into the venue, by which time Greg Las...

Podcast 1 - Part 1: Album Reviews . Listen as we tell you what’s to like and not to like with: Echo and the Bunnymen - Fountain The Faming Lips - Embryonic The Editors - In This Light And On This Evening Shaikira - She Wolf Kris Kristofferson - Closer to the Bone Share our views? Let us know at the Come Taste the Band Blog

A friend and I have started a new blog Come Taste the Band which we hope to use to support our attempts at podcasting - first not very good effort coming soon. [also follow us on Twitter ] We are currently looking for views on the best albums of the decade. If you have any views on what should be the top 10, let us know via email ps.cometastetheband (AT) googlemail.com

I know I've been lax in not completing this list so more coming in the next week

Lightspeed Champion (Dev Hynes) has a new album out in Feb 2010 -Life is Sweet! Nice To Meet You. Produced by Ben Allen, who is known for his work with Animal Collective and Gnarls Barkley, it draws from a broad range of influences, including “joltingly 70’s guitar and synth sounds, classical piano, Serge Gainsbourg, Greek choruses shouting reprisals, [and] Todd Rundgren.” Meanwhile the delectable Susanna Hoffs reveals some todd on her ipod/phone – iPod Shuffle

My girlfriend's sister, Linda, who is Librarian/Library Manager at Peckham Library in London, now has a music video claim to fame. Around 1min and 20 seconds into this Newton Faulkner video for his new single - Over and Out , Linda is seen in the library serving Newton, and showing some good back acting action.

Last night I got the pleasure of catching twins Jess and Lisa Origliasso (aka The Veronicas) live. The Australian pop duo had returned to UK shores to play a couple of dates this week in support of their last album finally getting an official UK release (next month). Making the, perhaps, unusual move of kicking off their 70min set with their recent (and first UK hit) 'Untouched', the girls and their band launched into an entertaining set showcasing some of the stronger material from their two albums to date. The heavy keyboard presence from the albums is eschewed in favour of a more straight ahead rock delivery live with the girls backed by a band featuring guitar, bass and drums (with Jess providing back up guitars where needed). The set rattled along and was broken up nicely by a 3 song acoustic based section in the middle of the set featuring, 'Don't Say Goodbye' 'This Love' and 'Heavily Broken'. Set highlights? For me 'This Love', ...

The Live from Daryl's (Daryl Hall) House featuring Todd is now up and it ir really rather fine. Wonderful stuff.

Almost ten months since I last saw the guys, but it was great to get to see them in a smaller venue again. Hot as hell, but hey. What's more we got a few new songs dropped into the set,including one that name dropped 'Utopia' and 'Love in the Answer'. Yes, THS mention Todd! New tunes fitted in well. Nothing outstanding on first listen ('Going on a Hike'? embedded below, as recorded by someone at gig) but solid stuff. Craig's singing was not his best this time around, but the overall sound of the band more than made up for this, with the mix getting the right balance between the instruments. Not much more to say to be honest. Highlights? (beside the Utopia mention): - Multitude Of Casualties, Slapped Actress and Stuck Between Stations. Set list - Not in order and I may have misremembered some. One thing I can say was there was no room in set for Chips Ahoy, Lord, I'm Discouraged, or Ask her for Adderall. Constructive Summer Sequestered in Memphis The...

I write about music a lot, but my secret is that I have been know to write things every now and again. After ot of the harranging by a couple of friends I've posted a couple of rough demos of songs I have wrote - maybe more to come from the back catalogue, if I force myself to sit down and do so.

Hole – Live Through This. JR asked on the comment to part one of this list if Hole's Celebrity Skin was going to make an appearance. It almost did, as I think it is a underrated record, and I probably listen to the title track more than any other Hole song. However, if we turn back the clock further. Kurt's dead, Courtney's alive. She's annoying, she can't really sing very well, and despite all this, she produces LTT, which remains is a superb rock record. Download: Miss World , Doll Parts Pat Benatar – Precious Time For a good many years female pop/rock essentially meant Pat. There are several albums you could pick, but Precious Time is one I bought on a trip to Birmingham with my mom when I was about 12. I loved it then, and still love it now. All the elements that made Benatar great are on this album – the pop fun of 'Take It Any Way You Want It', Slow building rocker, 'Promises in the Dark', and overloooked surprise - 'Evil Genius'. Als...

Back in May 2006, I did a post that was 101 tracks - classic tracks - that don't get played endlessly on the radio, MTV, and the like, but in my mind should do. Anyway, I decided it was about time for another list, so I give you Scott's Guide to 99 albums you should own by female artists/fronted bands. I have allowed only one album per artist/band, so there could be 99 new people to add to your collection. Anyway here is part one. 1-10 Curve – Doppelgänger. Long before Garbage there was Curve. The pairing of Dean Garcia and Toni Holiday were an indie boy dream, and I must admit I had a major crush on Toni Halliday around the time this album came out. Later outings never really matched the quality and consistency of the material on this debut record. Download: Fait Accompli PJ Harvey – Dry . Could almost be called Raw. This was my introduction – via John Peel – to Polly Harvey, and I loved its stripped down sound and the pain, anger and simplicity of it. Download: Sheela-na-...

Todd will be appearing on 'Live From Daryl's House' Daryl Hall's online TV jamming show. It is apparently being taped tomorrow - on my Dad's birthday, July 8 - but wont go up on the web until 15th August (just 2 days before my Mom's birthday) Paste Magazine has an Interview with Patterson Hood of Drive By Truckers, where Todd is mentioned. Paste: What are some of your favorite tracks on Murdering Oscar? Hood: I like the title cut, and “Pollyanna” which I think will probably be the single. [But] I might be too close to it to even pick. [The album is] pretty concise; it’s like 45-minutes long. I really just like the back and forth of the points of view—I love dualities, and a little whiplash. And I cover a Todd Rundgren song on it [“The Range War”]. Before I made [the record], I referred to it as my Todd Rundgren project. My vision was to make this kind of attempt at a Something/Anything? kind of thing, but it’s not at all. Even the Todd Rundgren song on there...

Guardian Music Weekly's podcast 'Feature With No Name' section this week has the Observer's Paul Simon waxing lyrical about just why he and you should love Todd. He identifies 3 types of Todd: - Pop/Ballad Todd Rock Todd Prog Rock Todd Give him a go, see the light :-)

Todd played the Norwegian Wood Festival in Norway this year. Norwegian TV recorded it, and Todd's whole set is here The Pretenders were also there this year, and their set is here Also, Paramore's set from last year isn't bad - it is here

An ex work-mate now. All hail Nick Elverston (the guy on bass) I do like this, and YES, it was a while ago!

Ok, my friend Mats has been recording some music, and you know what, it aint bad at all. Check him out at Myspace , and get a taste below.

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...