Todd is God

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...