I've been a long-time major Todd fan-- indeed (and Hersh probably doesn't
want this out) I co-mod the largest Todd list, Beyond Awizard, with him.

Me, I couldn't stand Second Wind when it came out.  No specific reason-- 
maybe the absence of TR on guitar-- I just couldn't abide the thing,
couldn't get through it.

Now there are a couple of songs on it that I don't hate.  In fact I
discovered in the late 90s I like the title track; it is last in running
order and I hadn't ever made it to the end of the album before.  But it is
still my least favorite of his actual proper albums.  For others, it is
their favorite.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hersh Forman" <hiforman@yahoo.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: New Todd/LA Shows


> Kerry: re Second Wind
>
> Agree with your assessment.
>
> This album (and the prior one, Nearly Human) contain
> Todd at his strongest vocal, soulful self.  However,
> Second Wind elicits very polarized opinions from fans
> due to the inclusion of several songs from the Joe
> Orton "almost broadway" play "Up Against It" that Todd
> wrote the music for.
>
> If you're a fan of "Broadway Todd" (as I am), you
> loved Second Wind.  If not, you hated it.
>
> In my opinion, it contains one of Todd's top 3 vocal
> performances of all time on "If I Have TO Be Alone" --
> one of the Up Against It tunes.  This song gives me
> goosebumps every time.
>
> Carry on....and don't leave Anna.
>
> --- Kerry Kompost <kerry_kompost@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I've heard the new Todd album (thanks, Gary "Pig"
> > Gold", for the heads-up) and I think it's awesome.
> > Incredibly soulful. Billy Spradlin: "Stood Up" is an
> > incredible track, my instant favorite on the album
> > --
> > you're probably gonna love it, it was the first song
> > to really hook me in. Fantastic shimmering Todd
> > guitars!
> >
> > That said, if you're one of those music fans who'll
> > hear a drum sample, or a 'canned' synthesizer sound,
> > and immediately dismiss the actual MUSIC -- the
> > COMPOSITIONS -- then you'll probably hate this
> > album.
> > Hey, your loss. :)
> >
> > I just wanna go off on a rant here, briefly.
> >
> > I once played Todd Rundgren's "Second Wind" for a
> > musician I deeply admire and respect. This musician
> > immediately exclaimed "Gawd, listen to that cheesey
> > synth patch" and proceeded to dismiss the entire
> > album. Imagine that: dismissing an ENTIRE ALBUM
> > based
> > on the artist's choice of a synthesizer sound.
> > Nevermind that the songs comprising "Second Wind"
> > are
> > among the most melodically unique, rhythmically
> > challenging, and lyrically illiminating Todd (or any
> > other rock musician, for that matter) has ever
> > written. No, the album 'sucked' because Todd used a
> > certain synth tone.
> >
> > Needless to say, after this experience, my opinion
> > of
> > this musician slipped a notch or twelve.
> >
> > Rant over!
> >
> > As far as LA-area shows go, I'd like to plug a gig,
> > if
> > I may, even though I realize this is really short
> > notice. The Abe Lincoln Story -- a 10-piece
> > swing-punk-soul revue -- will be playing Spaceland
> > tonight at 10:00PM, opening for buzz-band Dengue
> > Fever. I'm playing guitar in the band and, if all
> > goes
> > according to plan, this show is going to be
> > ultra-freaky. It's FREE, and, hey, who knows, maybe
> > Prince and his band will drop by after their show
> > for
> > a jam. It's LA -- anything can happen. Please, let
> > me
> > see you there!
> >
> > Anna, don't go...
> >
> > kErrY kOMpOsT
> >
> > www.abelincolnstory.com (swing-punk-soul project)
> > www.kompost.blogspot.com (weekly message)
> > www.soundclick.com/kompost (solo project)
> > www.tribecamusic.net (pop-jazz project)
> >
> > NP: Brian Wilson - SMiLE (original session boots
> > lovingly hand-assembled by a Brian FANATIC in the
> > order of the London sets -- I must say, this holds
> > together amazingly well. It's Brian's "Rhapsody in
> > Blue", if I may dare say. Progressive in every sense
> > of the word -- almost 40 years later.)
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on
> > time.
> > http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.
> http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html