My Amazon Reviews: Todd Rudngren "Nearly Human"

[blackleatherbookshelf]

Back to Philadelphia,
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Todd Rundgren went back to his hometown and went for the sound of Philadelphia on "Nearly Human." There's a delightful abundance of Philly White Guy Soul spread across this poppy return to form, as he decided to eschew the gimmicks and just have his band record the album live in the studio. This resulted in two of his best late 80's songs, "The Want of a Nail" with Bobby Womack and the ballad of despairing "Parallel Lines."

His sense of fun is also back, as his spry cover of Elvis Costello's "Two Little Hitlers" indicates. The Tubes join him for a rocking number called "Feel It" (both Prairie Prince and the late Vince Welnick eventually joined Todd in a few of his touring bands). And finally, there's the stunning "Hawking." Todd sings his heart out on one of his most soulful ballads. As usual, "Nearly Human" shares many of the delights of knowing you're not always going to get a standardized album when Rundgren decides to let one out. This remains one of his better 80's albums.

Comments

[progbear.livejournal.com]

This is probably my third or fourth favourite Todd album ever, after AW/ATS, S/A, and maybe The Ballad of Todd Rundgren. The songs are all great and Todd’s singing has never been better. I also love how he went against the grain with full-blown productions at a time when everyone else was going for the mechanical two-man “drum-machine and workstation keyboard” sound. Unfortunately, he tipped over too far into Broadway schmaltz for my liking with 2nd Wind but it was fun while it lasted (and the 2nd Wind tour was incredible!).

“Hawking” never fails to put a lump in my throat. “Can’t Stop Running” is another favourite tune off of this one you didn’t mention. I do have to say, though, as someone who discovered this via the vinyl, the inclusion of the bonus track “Two Little Hitlers” in the middle instead of at the end is an annoyance (a la the original pressings of the XTC CDs). It doesn’t fit in with the other songs and ruins the disc’s flow.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

I like Todd Rundgren.. liked him when he was with the Nazz, too.

Do you remember that group?

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. I have a few Nazz songs in the library!

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

This is my faborite Nazz song:

[sharon-masters.livejournal.com]

i have the Lp with "We gotta get you a woman" on it... still one of the best songs i ever heard.

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

"I thought your post hanging days were through..." :*)