Todd is God

One of my projects for 2010 was to record some more of my music/songs and as a result there are now 12 songs on my MySpace site. It’s a mixed bag musically (including a couple of instrumentals), but it has, for the most part, been fun playing around and putting them online. In the words of a wise man – don’t quit your day job. More songs are planned for 2011 and maybe some better production values as I get a bit more savvy with the software I use. But until then, if you’d like to experience my ‘unique’ vocal styling’s and musicianship, then you can have a listen here . [Oh that’s such a bit of bad Internet-ing there, having a click here link essentially. ]

To be honest, I don’t think 2010 will be remembered as a ‘great’ year music-wise, although some good stuff did get released. It was a year when the hip and happening people told me I should be listening to Tame Impala, Gold Panda, Deerhunter, Beach House and others. And, I did. All were perfectly fine, but none really grabbed me, and I can’t help feeling that tame Impala sounded much better in the context of a Soundtrack album than they did on a full album of their own. So leaving those aside, was there one album that stood head and shoulders above all else this year? Not for me. There were several albums that held my attention at different parts of the year but only a few which didn’t fall away, and less still that made last gasp dashes to improve with time. So, what follows are 20 albums I have enjoyed for various reasons during 2010. If I were doing it another week, maybe O Children, She and Him, Warpaint, Pull in Emergency, Thea Gilmore, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Liz Phair may hav...

This was the fourth time I have seen Jesse live, but the first with a band. Previously it had been acoustic only shows (He excels at this being a natural raconteur and someone who truly engaging with the audience). Whilst the full on band experience meant less chat with the crowd he still found time for repeating a trick I have seen him do before where he jumps down into the crowd mid-song, wanders around, sits down on the floor and gets the rest of those present to follow suit. He then tells a story before heading to the bar, climbing up and finishing off the song. For me he is one of those artists who I'd never tire of seeing live because he is such a natural performer with just natural stage presence and an attitude that means he looks like he is enjoying being on stage (Craig Finn of the Hold Steady has the same thing) The current iteration of the St Marks Social was put together by guitarist Todd Youth – who he played with back in his D-Generation days, and who was also in Agn...

Whether you are veteran player or an avid music consumer, this 5 day inter-disciplinary romp with one of the 'industry's' most notorious survivors will open your mind and prepare you for the future. The man behind the 5th all time best-selling album Bat Out Of Hell, the 8th video played on MTV, the 1st interactive music disk, and predictor of the current demise of the music business has assembled a stellar staff of counselors and guest speakers (see COUNSELORS link above) and a curriculum of activities that will leave you informed and energized to face the challenges of making and consuming music. A typical day at camp includes 3 meals, morning and afternoon counselor-led activities, free time and one-on-one counselor sessions, evening entertainment and late night jams. All this set within the beautiful Catskill Mountains Full Moon Resort grounds, just a stone's throw from Woodstock NY. The curriculum includes not just the mechanics of music making, but the full range ...

Rightly indentified by the BBC as an artist to watch in 2010, I was looking forward to seeing Marina play her debut album – one of the year's best pop records – live. I and her other fans in the audience were not disappointed as she rattled through the album, plus a new tune – Jealousy - (a bit too La Roux for my liking), managing a couple of costume changes along the way. Kicking off with The Family Jewels and The Outsider, and rolling through the show stopper Hollywood 75 minutes later the band: Drummer, bass players and two Keyboard/Synth players immediately rose to the task, as Marina herself strutted the stage like a woman born to perform. Oh, and the voice, just sounded great live, especially in quieter moments – such as first encore song Numb - when she could really showed off her inner Amanda Palmer/Lena Lovich quality. Indeed it all sounded great. An therein lay the problem for me. Maybe it's due to my age, I don't know, but I couldn't help being disappointed...

Have posted another new tune to my Myspace site, called Moon's a Balloon http://www.myspace.com/thevineland

myRecordFantasy with Todd Rundgren January 17-19, 2011 The Track Shack Studios, Sacramento, CA EARLY BIRD PRICING AVAILABLE! LIMITED SEATING SO REGISTER NOW! No Experience Necessary! Up-close, hands-on, behind-the-scenes look into the recording of Todd's new album. Receive credit on his new album. Audition for me Todd expert judges to play and perform on the album. Go out with Todd on outings and "field trips" full of hijinx and fun. Co-star with Todd in a Web-based reality show documenting myRecordFantasy with Todd Rundgren. Enjoy an intimate, exclusive, VIP-only finale concert with the band playing selections from the new album along with classic Rundgren songs. Surprise guest appearances by Todd's rock star friends. Jam with Todd and his rock star friends each night. Meals, drinks, and fun! Swag bag including cool limited-edition, autographed collectables. Top secret surprises that Todd don't even know about! LIMITED SPACE so REGISTER TODAY ! And much, much mor...

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...

Just a week after I posted my last new song, I have been at it again. This side of the Morning is now on my MySpace site. Song dates back to around 1987/88. I liked it back then, and I still do now, so thought why not let it out for people to hear.

When I first heard The Pretty Reckless around 5 months ago, I was not actually aware that singer Taylor Momsen was also an actress (Gossip Girl), I just knew that the song - 'Make me Wanna Die' was rather fine. Anyway was interested to find out if they have any other decent songs and could cut it live. The answer is yes. Their short set demonstrated that Momsen has the voice and the stage presence to carry it off, and Zombie, Miss Nothing, and My Medicine are fine songs. The album could be a pretty decent debut. Also nice to see an acoustic version of Nick Lowe's masterful Peace, Love and Understanding as an encore. SET LIST Light Me Up Since You're Gone Zombie Miss Nothing My Medicine Make Me Wanna Die Factory Girl encore What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding Nothing Left to Lose This clip is not from last nights gig - th quality of which are all poor. This was from 3 months ago, last time they were in London. Taken by KevKevTubes

Almost a year since my last effort, I have posted an all new (rough mix) of a new song 'Forgive and Forget' on my myspace site .

The trailer for the Toddstock film is now out.

The latest offering from guitarist Paul Gilbert, Fuzz Universe has an instrumental cover of Todd's 'Blue Orpheus' (from A Capella album). This is not Gilbert's first piece of Todd action. He has also covered 'Hawking' (from Nearly Human album) on a compliation album Warmth in the Wilderness - A Tribute to Jason Becker In an interview in Ultimate Guitar this is what he had to say about covering Todd Q: ”Blue Orpheus” is Todd Rundgren’s song from A Cappella where Todd uses voices to do all the instruments. What so intrigued you with this Rundgren song? A: I'm a huge Todd Rundgren fan, so I wish I could cover all of his songs. Todd is a master of songwriting and arrangements. I enjoyed playing all his vocal parts on guitar and seeing how so many different parts can fit together. I wish I could write like this. But until I can, I'll have to keep covering Todd songs.

Backstage AXXESS has an interview with Todd

I've been listening the New Liz Phair album – pretty much on a loop this past 24 hours. It is an album that some people online and many critics are already calling the 'worst album ever made', 'career suicide'… yadder yadder yadder. If you've heard that – ignore it. Funstyle (and the clue is in the title here folks) is Phair doing just that – having some fun with a mix of musical styles. On her website (currently the only place you can buy the album – for $5.99 I got it in320k MP3 and raw WAV formats) Phair says "Here is the thing you need to know about these songs and the ones coming next: these are all me. Love them, or hate them, but don't mistake them for anything other than an entirely personal, un-tethered-from-the-machine, free-for-all view of the world, refracted through my own crazy lens." Quite right. This is not a polished collection of songs - and some things definitely sound better produced and arranged that others - but all the thing...

Seems Mr R has yet another new label and the promise of another new album . "Rundgren will be recording a new 15-track album and will invite fans into the studio to participate in the project via Gigatone's myRecordFantasy three-day fantasy camp."

There's a wonderful song on the new Hold Steady album called ' We Can Get Together', which at it's heart is about how powerful music can in our lives, although is also about Mathew Fletcher, the drummer in Oxford band Heavenly, who committed suicide in 1996. In the Guardian last week the band's singer, Craig Finn explained the story behind the song. If you love music this is a must read as it really puts into words what I have always felt about music and the power of music and songs. "It's a song about how fans use songs to communicate with each other. It's about the way a couple, or prospective couple, can build their own little world sitting in front of a turntable, playing their favorite songs for each other. It's about how sometimes the songs we love can often say things so much better that we can. It's about how we can make these songs our own, injecting our own feelings and meanings into words and music played by someone we don't know...

Ed Vigdor, Todd Rundgren’s videographer during the 1988-89 Nearly Human recording sessions, recently posted a rare video edit from the recording of the song “Fidelity”.

Pete and My latest podcast now up. Albums under discussion this month are: Hole - Nobody's Daughter Scouting for Girls - Every Body Wants to be on TV The Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever Paul Weller - Wake up the Nation MGMT - Celebrations Kate Nash - My Best Friend is You We also have music from Paul Micklethwaite in our Undiscovered/Uncovered slot.

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.

I was saddened to read yesterday of the death of Ronnie James Dio, after losing his battle with Cancer. He was a little man – with a big enough sense of humour to call an early band, Elf – with a big and powerful voice. I remember seeing Dio on The Last in Line tour back in 1984. Glasgow Apollo it was – 23rd September. If I remember correctly it also featured Queensryche – with high pitched singer Geoff Tate decked out in white leather – as support, plugging their debut album (they were awful and Geoff picked up the Geoff TiT nick-name among my friends that I still find hard to not revert to – They did eventually make the album Operation Mindcrime, which is really rather good). I remember it being a good gig – probably improved no end in fact by us having to stand through Mr Tate and Co beforehand. The little guy could certainly sing. Rainbow was where he really cut his mustard. He managed to put up with Richie Blackmore for 5 years – no mean feat as anyone who worked with Dame Richie ...

So, I noticed that Todd is out on the road and doing a double bill of Todd/Healing albums for 6 date US tour. That sounds like an interesting mix. The New Hold Steady album ' Heaven is Whenever' is out next week. UK peeps can stream it at The Guardian's website. First impressions is that the progession missing from last album has returned. Seeing them again in June. Will be interesting without Franz Nicolay What I'm listening to: Drive by Truckers - Big To Do; Dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip -Logic of Chance; Paul Weller - Wake Up the Nation; Diane Birch - Bible Belt; Juliana Hatfield _ Peace and Love.

The latest podcast from my mate Pete and I takes a look at AWATS and AWATS live. AS expected I hog the mike on this one.

Uncharacteristically I realised the other day that I had not posted my albums of the year for 2009. Not a bad year 2009 in the end with a number of interesting releases. It also proved hard to pick an overall favourite, so I'm going to jointly award it to The Decemberists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Reginia Spektor. Anyway in no particular order the best 25 albums of 2009 were: 1. The Decemberists – The Hazzards of Love . Never really been convinced by this band until now, but this concept album is a delight. 2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It's Blitz . A band that manage to retain a 'sound' whilst playing around with that sound and the injections of 70s/80s synth (which did seem to be compulsory this year, especially in the UK) suited this album perfectly. 3. The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Duckworth Lewis Method . Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh, of Divine Comedy and Pugwash respectively - deliver a ‘Cricket’ concept album. Madness, but a joy. Fun lyrics combined with the myriad ...

When I first heard that Todd was going to perform his A Wizard A True Star album live, I was both excited and a bit worried. Whilst it is one of my favourite Todd albums, it is also one that was very much about 'The Studio' and not really about 'Live'. I was therefore concerned that certainly chunks of what we - in the olden days - would call side one, might not really work live. Despite these thoughts there was a high level of anticipation as I took my seat at the Hammersmith Apollo. As an appetiser we also had Todd providing the support in the form of a preview of his soon to be released Todd Rundgren's Johnson – a selection of Robert Johnson covers. Todd versions – whilst enjoyable - didn't really break any new ground musically, but it did provide an opportunity for the man to flex his guitar-hero muscles. When this finished we had around 45 minutes to wait until the lights went out again and the opening bars of Feel International blasted out, as the curtain...

I think I have mentioned this before, but I will be blogging more about music - and podcasting - with a friend of mine at our new site Come taste the Band . We've only just started, so not very good yet, but we hope to get better in the next couple of attempts.

BBC radio 6Music broadcast another fine ed of The Record Producers, with Richard Allinson and Steve Levine. This edition profiled the work of Todd Rundgren (if you're in the UK you can listen via iPlayer for limited time here ) This was a wonderful 90 minutes, including interviews with Sparks, Tom Robinson, Andy Partridge, and or course Todd himself, as well as a very close look at how the track Bat out of Hell was put together for Meatloaf. Loved Sparks saying that whether you liked Sparks or didn't like Sparks, the man to blame for their existence is Todd, and Andy Partridge of XTC on why, despite the horror of recording Skylarking with Todd - "one bunker with two Hitlers" - he still thought he should be considered in the top echelon of producers: "not a very good engineer; his people skill are that of a Darlek, but as an arranger he's pretty god-like" If you fancy listening to a selection of Todd tunes and have a Spotify account here is a random play...

A Dream Goes On Forever: The Continuing Story of Todd Rundgren Vol. 2 is now out. Ordering info: http://goldtrespub.gemm.com/q.cgi?for_seller=goldtrespub&wild=Billy+James&image.x=8&image.y=10 FMQB Review