Todd is God

A guy called Gavin Bond has created a mini-documentary about Todd , a man who Bond describes as “criminally underrated.” Hopefully it will be made available elsewhere/online soon.

Have started the year with two music memoirs / autobiographies: -  Horace Panter's - Ska'd for Life and Neil Young's - Waging Heavy Peace Panter's book tells of how he became the bass player in The Specials . It is very good on the UK music scene in the late 70s and early 80s, and on the little niggles that can cause bands to split up. Here's the masterful, Ghost Town Young's book is an odd beast. It is almost compulsivley digressive and thus, at times, infuriating. The structure being more a 'stream of consciousness, what shall I write today'. This makes it engaging and infuriating in equal measure. But there are enough heartfelt nuggets and insights within its pages to make it all worthwhile in the end. It is also strangley compelling. From the album Landing on Water   - his first after he settled the case brought against by Geffen Records for submitting albums that were non-commercial and 'musically uncharacteristic' - Here is ...

American Songwriter has an interview with Jonatha Brooke formerly of The Story, about her new album, My Mother Has Four Noses, and about other things such as: What do you consider to be the perfect song, and why? (With the caveat that this changes pretty frequently….) Today? “Pretending to Care” by Todd Rundgren. It rips my heart out every time. The a cappella arrangement is crazy and powerful. I love how his voice is on the edge in the chorus. All the things I crave are there.   [I have to say I agree. Beautiful song]

Yes, an excuse to waffle about some of the records that came out in 2013. Best and wost gigs and albums, best song, and more.  Check out this episode!

2013 was the best year for new music in a long time. The general quality of records released was at a level not seen for many a year, so much so that just picking 20 albums proved quite difficult, and picking a top 5 almost imposssible (and the order of my top 3 changes depending on what time of day you ask me). This year I discoverd the music of John Grant, Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Speedy Ortiz, Chvrches and Laura Mvula, and saw the return of two greats after a long absesne - Bowie and Sabbath. The Bowie album was, of course, the most unexpected. It is still amazing (considering the world we live in) that he managed to keep not only the album a secret but also the fact that he was even MAKING an album secret. That, when it arrived, it was also very good was a bonus. It is the album I have listened to most in 2013 - which is why it eventually won out over Musgraves and Grant. It plays like a best of album, taking as it does elements of 70s, 80s and 90s bowie in its arrang...

Here it is, a podcast with more ho's than an average rap song. Sit back for this surpringly short festive review where we set our sights on: Gary Barlow - Since I last saw You Robbie Williams - Swings both Ways Mary J Blige - A Mary Christmas Kelly Clarkson - Wraped in Red Jewel - Let it Snow - A Holiday Collection Erasure - Snow Globe Check out this episode!

Made it to less than 20 gigs this year, which seems like a poor showing. Despite that the ones I did get to were mostly very good. 1. Rick Springfield @ Shepherds Bush Empire. 4 June 2013: First time in the UK for over 30 years and whilst the set was far too short, considering that was the case, this was my most enjoyable and happy concert experience of the year and the one at which I sang virtually every line. Hope you come back again Rick, but if not, pleased finally got to see you live. 2. John Grant @ Shepherds Bush Empire. 15 May 2013: Released one of the records of the year and didn't disappoint live. Great songs, great voice and a great sense of humour. 3. Aimee Mann @Union Chapel. 17 November 2013. Essentially an intimate acoustic set. Relaxed, funny, and a set packed full of quality songs. 4. Loudon Wainwright III @ Royal Festival Hall. 3 May 2013: A set about looking back and looking forward. A mix of readings from the works of his father and new and old so...

As I start to put some thought to my albums of the year,   it is interesting to see where the music press are going with their opinions so far. Bowie and the Arctic Monkey's certainly making more of an impression with the British based publications and Kayne more with the US based ones. Also fun to note that Rolling Stone seem to be the only publication NOT hugely disappointed with the Arcade Fire album. And, of course, Paste have to be too cool for school with their choices.   My list is still a couple of weeks away, but thought I'd share these anyway just to get you thinking ...   ROLLING STONE http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2013-20131202 1.   Vampire Weekend   - Modern Day Vampires of the City 2. Kanye West - Yeezus 3. Daft Punk – RAM 4. Paul McCartney - New   5. Arcade Fire – Reflektor   SPIN http://www.spin.com/articles/best-albums-2013 1. Kayne – Yeezus 2. Chance the Rapper...

Foundation website Facebook page Todd sets out to help bring music to Schools. Alway support people who do this. Big fan of Music for Youth and Youth Music in the UK

Remember, remember the podcast from November. Yes, more rambling and waffling from your friends at CTTB Music. This month: - Arcarde Fire - Reflector Lady GaGa - Artpop Lorde - Pure Heroine Brandy Clark - 12 Stories Midlake - Antiphon M otorhead - Aftershock Check out this episode!

THE POCKET: ESSENTIAL SONGS OF PHILADELPHIA. Follow project creator, David Uosikkinen of The Hooters’ as he records the seventh song in his singles series. “I Saw The Light” was originally written and recorded by Philadelphian, Todd Rundgren.

I think 2013 has been a pretty good year for quality country music, especially as produced by talented women. Great albums from Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe and by Brandy Clark.

I KNOW all best of/greatest lists are link bait, and they are meant to be a bit divisive but shall we take a look at NME's latest top 500 albums of all time . Let's start with the top 20 … 20. Radiohead – OK Computer 19. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 18. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless 17. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back 16. Joy Division – Closer 15. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake 14. David Bowie – Low 13. Arcade Fire – Funeral 12. Patti Smith – Horses 11. Nirvana – Nevermind 10. Oasis – Definitely Maybe 09. The Beatles – The Beatles 08. Pixies – Doolittle 07. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses 06. Pulp – Different Class 05. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico 04. The Strokes – Is This It 03. David Bowie – Hunky Dory 02. The Beatles – Revolver 01. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead I'm sorry but in which parallel universe is the Strokes - Is This It the 4th best album ever made...

You shall have a fishy on a little dishy... Hello again music lovers. What a treat we have for you this month. Get ready for our reviews of: Dan Le Sac v Scoobios Pip - Repent, Replenish, Repeat Haim - Days are Gone Sting - The Last Ship Lissie - Back to Forever Pearl Jam - Lightening Bolt Sleigh Bells - Bitter Rivals

 I have always had a bit of a soft spot, both for country music and for female singer-songwriters so an opportunity to catch one of Country music's up and coming stars could not be passed up. Kacey Musgraves arrived on our shores in support of her 4th album (first on a major label) Same Trailer Different Park. An album I fell in love with immediately on its release and as we approach the year's end it still remains one of the best records released this year in my view. The evenings set-list was a mix of tracks from this album and a selection of interesting covers which highlight her own varied tastes in music, so we got covers of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You, Bob Marley's Three Little Birds, Weezer's Islands in the Sun and The Cardigans' Love Fool It was a great night and held together by strong song writing and Musgraves' undoubted charm. A very enjoyable gig.   Set List The Trailer Song Stupid Silver Lining Island In T...

Siobhán Murphy of Ireland's Metro Herald made an interesting comment a month ago when reviewing the fourth studio album from John Legend, which she described as being mostly pedestrian contemporary r'n'b. She noted "one gets the distinct impression John Legend would rather be making records that sound like mid-1970s Stevie Wonder or Todd Rundgren."

Went to see Evarose last night at The Barfly. This is their first headline tour and the second time I have seen the band. They have had a bit of shit week as someone walked off with all the money they'd made from the tour thus far in Birmingham on Weds night, but they didn't let that hold them back last night. Musically they owe a lot to the likes of Paramore and Funeral for a Friend, but that is not necessarily  a bad thing, although I am hoping that as they further develop that they will develop a sound that is more 'their own'.  As it is, they have a handful of quality tunes which certainly make me hopeful for their future: Vice, We can Pretend Anyway, Best Left Alone. The audience too was a nice mix of mother and fathers with their young daughters, cool student types, and the more mature [OLD]  muso types like myself. What I do like is  their energy. Lead singer Dannika is a natural performer, and I have to admit I am a little bit in love with Conni...

Hollywood Reporter talk to TR about the use of the Badfinger song at end of Breaking Bad.  Having only just watched the first three episodes of Season one of BB, I'm a long way from this moment. 

As Autumn kicks in, why not hold onto summer with these six new releases: Arctic Monkeys - AM The 1975 - 1975 Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire - Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire Rizzle Kicks - Roaring 20s Summer Camp - Summer camp Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks  

Now he has started, it seem you can't stop him - here is Todd doing a re-mix of Aussie Andy Bull's ‘Baby I Am Nobody Now’. Here is the original