A Wizard, A True Star

My Dad really loved Rundgren so heard bits and pieces. I still struggle to think of him as anything other than "guy who did the motorbike sound on Bat out of Hell" though.

this was a lot but I miss when artists just took drugs and made art and didn’t care about if their songs can be tik tokked into oblivion really liked the medley song

makes me wanna do drugs

Enjoyed the wizard

Whimsey and beauty

It's a fun listen if a wildly all-over-the-place one. He's having so much fun recording and producing!

Slick ride. 3/5

I don't know what this is supposed to be. Acid Rock, Prog, Punk, Funk? Not a fan.

Cover 6 Very rarely, when an artist does "everything" themselves, does it NOT end up being a clearly ego-driven, eye-rolling endeavor. Pretentious theatrics galore. A discovery of the synth, a shallow and simplistic utilization at that. There are sparks of genius here and there, moments of lucidity, but often one must be in a drug induced haze in order truly grasp anything from music (or any art) created in a drug induced haze. Pompous self-absorbed noise coupled with the occasional whisp of actual talent and skill. For the majority there's never any emotional connectedness. That's not what this album is about. And so, who cares. Whatever skill and talent it possesses is hard to differentiate from the absurdity. Is it wobbly and screeching on purpose or was he too out of it and just simply couldn't tell the difference? There are periods (especially during the 60s and 70s) where musicians seemed to be trying to impress each other with how esoteric and bizarre they could be. The more bizarre the more esoteric. But it's not really as esoteric as they thought. People did understand. They understood very clearly. It's not at all deep or remarkable. Going against the grain may have been the point but it's not like a political treatise or moral contemplation. It's sonic. That's it. It's about sound. It's not pop. It's different. That's all that matters here. And that's fine. But it's not good either. One man's treasure is another man's trash. Art is subjective, fine. At least aim for art. This is trash for trash's sake and then using "art is subjective" as an excuse.

This would deserve some of the String Band hate, if not for the Zen Archer

Some good songs but mostly forgettable

Fun 70’s album.

Truly enigmatic. Not sure what to make of it upon first listen, but I’m convinced this is a nut I have to crack. Next time I’m in the mood for a hazy, druggy 70s album, I will likely return to this as it’s a really fun time. 3.5/5

Prog rock is very hit or miss for me and this was more of a miss. Enjoyed a couple of songs but not my favorite overall.

7 - GOOD

My second encounter of Rundgren after Something/Anything, which I really enjoyed. I was surprised to read that this album came after that one as it feels like a more chaotic and less refined selection. That, however, turns out to be a creative decision. A conscious attempt to throw out the accessibility in exchange for more experiments, more risks and frankly, more studio haphazardry. I found roughly the same breed of fun, catchy nuggets of greatness but he obviously wanted to wrap them up in more layers of noise and make us work (and wait) for them a little more. I don't mind that at all and while it took me a few days to digest this one fully and get my head around the songs, it's been well worth the effort. The guy is a genius and it seems he never stopped trying new things or breaking the rules of what music can be. He may have eschewed becoming a Star but he was clearly a True Wizard of the studio.

This album had some tracks i really liked. Some others not so much, overall a solid experience. 3/5

Kod ovog brata su halucinogeni odlično radili. U trenutku kad mi je nestalo interneta čujem da mi se zapravo, na čudan način, donekle sviđa i fali.

Very interesting album. Standout songs: International feel Zen archer When shit hits the fan

Damn not at all what I had in mind for a terminally mundane and chilly Tuesday. Sonically a wall of melody and rich instrumentations, great rythmn section and bright positive vocals. Really cool spin offs into psychedelic tangents. I'm throughly impressed at this. Very much an album though, gotta sit down and commit to it in order to enjoy it fully. Pick and choosing songs wont get you anywhere. I'm gonna spend some time with this one.

4 stars but then again, I am very tired and may have imagined how much I like this album.

It was a bit all over the place, but fine.

It was interesting. I’m willing to bet that my rating would go up on repeat listens.

too rowdy for me

Funny album with the short diverse songs, making the experimentation tolerable. 3.4 stars

Like david bowie. Liked it

Another unknown for me. OK tunes. OK album.

At first listen, this absolutely sounds like a “did drugs to make this album” record: chaotic, colorful, and bursting with ideas that don’t always fit together. Reading about it while listening makes the experience even more fascinating: praised by critics on release but a commercial flop, it’s one of those “music nerds love it, the public does not” albums. It’s clearly a passion project, and as it unfolds, it shifts from acid-fueled experimentation into something surprisingly focused and deliberate. By the end, it’s hard not to admire the ambition. The praise makes sense, even if the lack of mainstream success does too.

Todd Rundgren is not a wizard, nor a true star. This album was way too long and way too similar to other seventies sounds to warrant its placement. A Wizard, A True Star is a throwaway album as it stands, but its length frustrated me as I continually was reminded of other songs or artists during the grueling fifty-six minutes. I just don't get it. An unsympathetic 1.

With a psychedelic sound steered heavily by progressive sounds, this felt like an attempt to evolve on the Beatles' and even the Beach Boys' formula up to this point. But I like progressive pop about as much as I like progressive rock. That is to say, not very much. And this was definitely sprinkled with tons of avant-garde in addition. Damn, this was a slog...and it wasn't even an hour long. But I guess bonus points for "Rock and Roll Pussy" being a low-key diss track about John Lennon?

It really is a great LP.

Kinda weird vibe but I liked it

I like Todd Rundgren’s voice but this is what I want to listen to.

A perfect title: A Wizard high on drugs and weird and annoying and circus music. A True Star who makes awesome music and melodies with a nice voice. Can we have just the True Star?

I bought a "Greatest Hits" album of his in my early 30s, but it was mostly the softer-rock (though well-executed) that he was perhaps more famous for. This album was what I would have appreciated a lot more. It's on my regular playlist, now.

It got better as it went on

Not a fan. Maybe this was precursor to electronic music but it sounds pretty full of itself, and full of deranged circus samples. Just meh.

It's 1973 and your mom orders the new Zappa album for you through TEMU and you get the next Todd Rungren instead. His last album was pop rock this is not quite pop rock but not Zappa either. There's points in this album where Rungren really seems out of his element but he seems to be enjoying making music. It has some high points

Pretty cool. high 3/5

Holy shit! This album kicks ass. Psychedelic, weird, and awesome. Sounds a lot like pink Floyd at moments. Listened to it twice!

I'm glad that I got to listen to this album. I thought that Tod Rundgren was a popish musician. I was not going to give it a fair shake until I read that he decided to go more experimental after taking drugs. Normally an experimental album is an automatic 5 stars from me especially if it scratches all the itches I'm looking for. This one did not, still some pop on there and not totally a fuck you album but close.

Jännä konsepti levy. Paljon lyhyitä kappaleita niin musiikki on aika poukkoilevaa ja psykedeelistä, mutta se on osa levyn viehdätystä. On myös perinteisempiä pidempia kappaleita jotka tuo hiukan ehkä David Bowien mieleen. Mutta on kyllä mielenkiintoisen progista ja psykedeelistä poppia. Parhaat: Zen Archer, I Don't Want to Tie You Down, Just One Victory

It's an interesting album, very experimental but not complete weirdness like other albums can be, some parts couple be way more modern than the 70s. I wouldn't listen to this more however.

Short sketches of songs

266/1089 - What the hell did I just listen to?!

nice album cover

This listen took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, from mild pleasure to sheer awkwardness. Not a repeat listen. Awesome cover, however.

Boring. Long. Just wanted it over with.

I've heard the name Todd Rundgren so much on my favorite local rock station, but I don't know that I could name a single song. Still can't. I don't really love this kind of 70s, falsetto, circus stuff very often, and don't here. T. Rex or Bowie this ain't. It's not, like, Steely Dan bad, but I don't much care for it. Highlights: The medley, which is passable covers of R&B songs that are enjoyable enough, but inferior to the originals. The beginning of "Is it my name?", which I had thought at first was the album flipping over to "Interstellar Overdrive," but which got worse when the vocals kicked in.

High production value, lots of effort put into the music, but it doesn’t feel like a cohesive album. Todd Rundgren mixes and mashes different songs and styles together on this album, and while the songs individually are good, don’t give the album a sense of direction. 3/5

Belle découverte !

I have nothing against Todd Rundgren, he’s obviously talented and creative. Listening to this album made me consider whether the other major fields of artistic expression tolerate experimentation as much as music. This album is well regarded among musicians, but it’s kind of crap to listen to, at least in the sense of consuming music for an emotional experience (relaxation, nostalgia, elation, romance). I remember years ago hearing Trent Reznor once say that he only wanted to release music that people would want to listen to. Who knows if that’s true, but that’s maybe the problem with this.

Pretty mid Very experimental

Never heard of this one. It's kind of weird and maybe experimental or something like that. I can see why I have not heard this before today, because it doesn't really appeal to me. I feel like this is some cutting edge stuff in the 70s that didn't really become anything. It's avant-garde I guess. Kind of nice in some places but didn't really hold my attention. Not terrible but not something I'm going to listen to again.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i don't know. i enjoyed quite a lot of this but as a whole it's maybe just a little bit too wacky for repeated listening, for me. but it's really fun and i'm glad i heard it and i might come back to it one day.

this is so fucking good. side a just being a rapid fire of banger, side b being a lot slower. this is does like everything and it manages to be great all throughout. im so impressed by this. kind of reminds me of a less messy alien lanes by guided by voices (also a great album)

What a bizarrely magical album. Every track transitions into the next seamlessly and takes you on a journey. A lot of varience in this album as well, thoroughly enjoyed it

2-3

I knew his work as a producer, but not a aoli artist. He refused to release any tune as a solo because he wanted the entire album to be considered as a cohesive unit. This mentality is something I'm relearning via this project. This album is what happens when a brilliant artist and producer discovers psychedelics and feels compelled to do something artistic. It isn't avant-garde, it is just a creative album of beautiful music. The ride experiencing the album as it was intended is wild.

I kind of loved this at times. It feels like it has all the talent and resources to do pretty much anything and clearly just does whatever it wants to. The fact that John Lennon called him Turd Runtgreen killed me.

Some of this sounds ahead of it's time. Sounds like this guy is having fun and likes what he is doing. This has a lot. Every listen will give you something different for sure. Just when I could have a chance of getting tired it takes a turn and gives me something different. Really enjoyable consumed as an album. I had fun listening to this.

I lined this more than I thought I would

An incredibly strange album. Bits of Bowie, Zappa, RnB, studio wizardry and abject silliness. Still not sure what I think of it after multiple listens. Too silly to be taken seriously, but too virtuoso to be dismissed as novelty. Unlike so many of the MOR 70s rock albums included here, this one is totally deserving of a listen, even if just to go "What the hell was that?" Going with a low 4.

Pretty wild sounding. I’d like to be on drugs with some headphones listening to this. Feel like the only way to properly enjoy it

So incredibly weird on my first listen but much more cohesive on the second playthrough. One of those that keeps getting better the more you listen. 3/5 for now but I could understand almost any rating 1-5 on any given day!

Interesting and unique, earned an extra star for that alone

Very much psychedelic 70s rock. Not for me and couldn't finish listening to the album.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Great unique talent and sound.

I feel like there is always someone in music circles trying to sell you on Todd Rundgren they way we were led to believe people in trenchcoats in big cities would try to sell you a watch. I don't hate watches, am kinda dazzled by their intricate mechanism sometimes, but I quit wearing them at the advent of cell phones, and feel a same "Impressive, but don't really need it" toward Todd Rundgren. I do love when he produces other people's records (XTC Skylarking, Patti Smith Wave, New York Dolls debut)

It’s not that I have no appetite for out-there freak rock, but this leans way too far into prog, a genre for which I have a very limited patience. Much of this veers into goofy circus territory to my ears. Even some of his more concise songs sound kind of dated and don’t really speak to me.

Super weird!

I've been stuck on this album for a while man. I wasn't that familiar with Rundgren, so this album came out of nowhere for me. Sometimes it feels like a three star record ("I appreciate what he's trying to do, but the execution doesn't match his ambitions"), other times I want to give it five ("this predicted the course of SEVERAL genres of music that I happen to love"). I need to just rate this and move on, so I'm giving it four stars, but TBH I'm not convinced that this is the right rating. However, I can say that I've listened to this a dozen times in the past two weeks, and I haven't done that with a record in a long time.

Like a combo of the Eno Rock Lps (which I love) and Zappa (which I do not love). I'll revisit him because I think he may have some material I would like but this was a bit uneven.

This skirts the grey area between interesting originality and unlistenable shite. Sadly it comes down on the wrong side for me. Like Andrew Lloyd Webber having a bad trip at a Queen concert.

If you are gonna be experimental, make it good, todd made it good Just One Victory is very decent

I haven't heard the previous album, but, from what I read, it seems it was quite mainstream so he made a conscious decision to take drugs and try to sound weirder. Sigh. I'm tempted to comment that men can be very self-indulgent, but I'd better not, so I'll just shake my head fondly and say: Oh, these artistic types! To be fair, he's not exactly the only one to go down that path, and some great art was born in just such a manner. Here, you can hear the "nice" 70s soft rock underlying everything, but the attempts at adding a psychedelic twist don't succeed in elevating that to anything memorable. You've sort of got your normal rock backing (either Billy Joel-ish or Beatles-esque, at different times) with weird shushing noises and some alto sax trying to pep it all up. And occasional "I sound like I'm a crazy man talking down a telephone" vocals. It's reasonably creative, but the songs aren't especially good to begin with in my opinion, and it doesn't become great art. There are decent moments, but I doubt I'll be listening again. PS ironically, I thought the least psychedelic passages were the best bits. Perhaps I should listen to the previous album.

Fun album but absurdly long. Yeah, that's all I have to say.

Decent boomer jams

The proggy psychedelic parts are good; the musical theatre parts are not.

One track was enough, the rest of the album didn’t make it any better

Moments I like. Experimental not so much

Weird. Interesting. Probably groundbreaking at the time. Still have no inclination to ever listen to again

I usually love hearing a band make a departure from their usual sound, and according to the write-up this was markedly different due to the experimentation Todd was doing with psychadelics. Well toss a straitjacket on the guy because this fucking sucked. It was annoying until You Need Your Head and then it became borderline unlistenable. No cohesion, a jumbled mess of sounds, but I suppose I "just dont get it, man." No, dont hide garbage sound behind a guise of experimentation.

I hated this album. Every choice Todd made was grating, irritating and uninteresting. One of the most obnoxious albums we’ve had on this list. I’m utterly baffled by all the high ratings and praise this album has gotten on here. Please remove this one in a future revision and let’s forget it ever happened

The other album I had to listen to on the generator wasn’t great. So I wasn’t sure about this one. But after I listened to it I was quite surprised that it sounded completely different. I really enjoyed listening to it.

If I had to review this in one word it would be
 Cacophony A bit of a tinny sounding mess in places (maybe my speakers? I think not), but tuneful in others. I do like an album where all the tracks merge into the next. So much more preferable to lazy fadeouts.

🗯 Never heard this, mind blown. Is this the first bedroom album? Feels like it. It would be dubbed a mixtape nowadays. Todd locks himself away, clearly high as a kite, and delivers a dizzying, batshit insane collage of styles stitched into one hallucinogenic “flight plan.” Songs crash into each other regardless of mood, like flipping radio stations with a fever in a lucid dream. No singles, just one long trip — the longest single LP ever released at the time. Critics dug it, but fans didn’t buy it. Too weird, too messy. But from today’s distance, it sounds like prophecy: harmonically richer and more ambitiously deranged than The White Album, and — as some have claimed — a decade ahead of Purple Rain. It’s a fascinating, captivating listen that rewires your brain while it plays. I’ve never heard this before, but it’s instantly my kind of unusual. Dizzying, captivating, unforgettable. Off to hunt down a vinyl copy. Verdict: Essential (a psychedelic masterpiece of chaos and vision) For fans of: Prince, The White Album, Frank Zappa, music that feels like drugs without the drugs

Weird for the sake of being weird, a few good snippets mixed in here or there but usually sandwiches into other songs.

it's weird for weirdness sake at times but the seamless transitions between songs is something I wish more artists focused on. An album should be an experience, not a collection of songs. Just wish this execution was more enjoyable. Back half of album was better imo

Psychedelia definitely makes up a respectable chunk of my record collection. I like The Nazz, and, by extension, I don't mind Todd Rundgren - but something about this album just doesn't sit right with me. It's certainly psychedelic, but it's also all a bit silly - too random and proggy for my tastes, and a bit too pretentious. It is inventive and intriguing in fits and starts, but it has a clear "anti-song" agenda to its sprawling, single-free, 55-minute running time. Sadly, songs are, ultimately, what I listen to an album for.

It was just a bit too much to get into.

Sounds like somebody had unlimited studio time.

Very interesting listen that I grew to like more and more as it played through. It's a bit too hippie for me to listen to often but I did enjoy it and will dig through more for Todd's discography.

One of the strangest listening experiences I’ve had in a while. After releasing a classic power pop album, I didn’t expect his follow-up to be so experimental and anti-commercial. Not in love with it on a first listen, but it feels like it could be a GBV situation where its difficult moments are secretly its strengths.

Kinda all over the place. Early prog. Was ok.

10/10 another classic that I’ve already heard but love getting to relisten to; just a masterpiece of gargantuan, extravagant psychedelia

70s psychrock. Inspired by drugs, like all of those albums. Multi-layered. Chaotic, experimental but still quite melodic. Bonkers.

That sure was a whole lot of random noise.

tic tic tic was fire I feel like without context I would give this a 3 but the background of the album and rundgren and process of making it is kinda cool so it’s 4 stars

If I ever do psychedelics I need to listen to this album again

I can see why some would like this but just did nothing for me.

Nope, couldn't make it all the way through. This album is absolutely batshit-mental. It's a long way from the other Todd Rundgren album I'd already listened to on this site. Turns out he was off his tits when he made this album, which goes some way to explaining the resulting output. It's only 1 star from me for the music, but my hats off to him for, essentially, getting paid to take drugs :-)

Some interesting parts but drags

Kinda sounds like a guy heard the back end medley on Abbey Road and said "I can make an album of that".

Unusual album. I had to split it into two parts around track 10 as I didn't have time to listen it as a whole. Definitely a worthwhile listen, enjoyed it.

Awful. A lot of mercifully short songs, a medley which made no sense.

Overall: 8/10 This is a very strange album. I'm honestly surprised I like it as much as I do. A lot of the songs are so short that they feel unfinished, and the soundscapes here can be a bit of a turn off. However, I appreciate that this is an artist expressing themselves with complete freedom and he took that to the next level. Every track flows as one. It's very ahead of it's time, and although I'm not sure how often I'll listen to it, I think it's great. Fav Song: Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel

I'm iffy on it but overall think I like it Will I listen to again: 50%

Felt like he tried way too hard to make a drug influenced masterpiece and it just turned into mash up of genres with no real core.

Maybe I'll like it more on repeat listens but was pretty whelmed by it today. It felt like the weirder sibling of his previous album. Rating: 3.0

No, it doesn't make sense but that is the beauty of this record. It is parts easy listening, parts Weimar-era stomps, parts early computer game music, and parts drugs. When this album is good (like "Zen Archer" holy moly) then it is extraordinary; when this album is bad (like the syrupy "Medley"), then it's a real chore. It'll have to be a midway score but it's a great & interesting midway score.

sprawling and with sufficient variety to just about hold my interest but its sounds are rooted in the decade of its creation and the whole sounds like all the other art rock, prog rock, rock opera cruft from that time. it doesn't generate any buzz or excitement, my steady heart hasn't skipped a beat. it's a 2.0 at best for me

Nothing on this album really stood out to me, but it was still an interesting listen. Todd Rundgren clearly had psychedelics on the brain when he made this, and you can hear that trippy influence all over the place. The album jumps around so much that it sometimes feels more like a sketchbook of ideas than a fully fleshed-out record. That said, the medley of 60s songs was pretty cool. It had a fun, nostalgic vibe and showed off Rundgren’s ability to reinterpret familiar material in his own style. Those moments gave the album some character and broke up the chaos in a good way. Overall, it is a mixed bag. I can respect the ambition and the psychedelic spirit behind it, but as a whole, it just did not grab me. Interesting in parts, forgettable in others.

Really solid effort with enough weirdness to be interesting but not to overshadow the rest

Oh no - another Todd Rundgren album. This was even more hard work to get through than the last one. I know he must be a great musician but I found no merit or enjoyment in any of these songs.

Nothing to see hear. Keep on moving

This sounds like Syd Barret a lot, I like this.

Weird shit

Cava album. Soms misschien iets te raar, maar dat is nu eenmaal normaal in de jaren 70. Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off was wel een cool nummer. 2.9

Multiple songs that have random weird noises, and one that is just dogs barking. Otherwise the songs are really good, but I don't think that they are my favorite as they tend to use noises and sounds that I find less appealing. Definitely psychedelic music, but the genre isn't my favorite.

I had always thought that Todd Rundgren was an 80s rock guitarist and jobbing producer, but it turns out he has a lot of different strings to his bow, including a career that started in the 60s and this wildly ambitious self produced 1973 solo album on which he sings, programs the synths and plays just about everything. Musically this is prog with a sprinkling of 60s psychedelia and experimental electronica. Somehow he also managed to cram 56 minutes of music on to a single vinyl disc. Amazeballs.

It's a bit all over the place, going in all directions at once (for the time of the recording). Lots of psychedelic and progressive elements. Interesting for sure, but not coherent enough to want to listen to it again.

a marvellous, sprawling bundle of prog, pop, soul, rock - another album where the artist's reach exceeds his grasp, and is still a rewarding listen

I just didn't get it. Too cosmic, too far out.

Having come to Todd Rundgren's music through his work with other artists, most notably Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" and XTC's "Skylarking", it's fascinating to finally experience one of his own albums for the first time. The journey begins with the album's stunning artwork, which sets a grand and imaginative tone before the music even starts. The first side of "A Wizard, A True Star" is a compelling listen. It grabs your attention immediately with its fun, oddball, and unconventional style. It’s utter madness, and thoroughly enjoyable in its quirky and experimental nature. The one critique is that the sonic landscape can be overwhelming at times, verging on a bit of a sonic onslaught, which necessitated a break before continuing. Side two presents a different experience. It begins in a surprisingly conventional and soulful manner, a stark and mad contrast to the first side. This soulful, pop-oriented direction continues until the "Medley," with the track "Hungry For Love" serving as a slight call back to the first side's more frenetic energy, albeit in a calmer way. The latter half of the side returns to a more conventional rock sound. Overall, the album is a testament to Rundgren’s talent. The guitar work is great, the production is wonderful, and the arrangements are expertly handled. It displays a grand vision and great imagination, all of which is well performed. The listening experience feels like two distinct albums, but it is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Based on this first listen, it is an easy four-star album. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? Possibly! Side one – "The International Feel (in 8)" 1- "International Feel"- 4 2- "Never Never Land" - 4 3- "Tic Tic Tic It Wears Off"- 4 4- "You Need Your Head"- 4 5- "Rock and Roll Pussy"- 4 6- "Dogfight Giggle"- 4 7- "You Don't Have to Camp Around"- 4 8- "Flamingo"- 4 9- "Zen Archer"- 4 10- "Just Another Onionhead; Da Da Dali"- 3 11- "When the Shit Hits the Fan; Sunset Blvd."- 4 12- "Le Feel Internacionale"- 4 Side two – "A True Star" 1- "Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel"- 4 2- "Does Anybody Love You?"- 3 3- "Medley"- 3 1. "I'm So Proud" (Curtis Mayfield) 2. "Ooh Baby Baby" (Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore) 3. "La La Means I Love You" (William Hart, Thom Bell) 4. "Cool Jerk" (Donald Storball)" 4- "Hungry for Love"- 4 5- "I Don't Want to Tie You Down"- 4 6- "Is It My Name?"- 4 7- "Just One Victory"- 4 Total - 73 Average - 3.8 84/1001

Nope

Mmm it’s kinda nice, the sounds are experimental. Liked it, but not at all

Interesting but unmemorable to me. Would probably like it more with more listens.

This was so good from start to finish. A real interesting album with some incredible sounds and songs on it. Consistently a really diverse listen that was still super engaging. This is the stuff I signed up to this for.

Whimsical pop

I want to bang your bum all day.

Holy crap this album was all over the place. The bouncing between hard (classic) rock, more melodic ballads, show-tuney songs, and just plain weird interludes was enough to send me into fits. The weird '70's "futuristic" sounds really grate on me too. I think this artist had some grand vision for this album, but between being so whacked out on drugs and probably being someone who is completely incapable of communicating with normal people it just comes off as really weird, annoying, and confusing. I'll give it an extra star though because if someone smarter and with an ability to translate an autistic savant's ravings this could have been really cool.

Fascinating album. I was not familiar with the artist, the album or the story. There are a few very skippable tracks, but the majority are well produced and well written.

Meh

Самая эклектично звучащая шиза, услышанная мной за последнее время. Kinda rules!

56/1001 :: Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 4 Fav Tracks: International Feel Listen before you die: No Do people actually like Todd Rundgren? I find it hard to believe they do. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ve listened to Todd Rundgren before and it’s anther artist that I just don’t get. Not really sure why but either way I’m moving on…

Didn't appeal to my younger self and still the same opinion, a small bit proud of my teenage musical filtration system

2 - all over the place. Some super weird songs and then all of a sudden it’s sappy love ballads

Interesting. It isn't quite there yet re: applying actual musical theory to the techniques being tried but you can see how it was a hint of what was to come.

the first half of this album pissed me off. zen archer carried fr 6.5/10

I can’t tell if I like Todd Rundgren or not. This record felt like someone distilled 70s AM Gold and fucked with it enough to make it rock-n-roll. Yeah it’s a weird one. I will say the Motown Covers medley was pretty fun.

Vibrant, psychedelic and experimental. Reminds me of some Beatles tracks at times. It has a very lofty, airy quality to it throughout the record. The harmonies and musicianship is really nice. This is a cool one.

I'm wondering how I could describe this musical style. My appreciation for it varies greatly from song to song.

I like some it a lot, but some of it was fucking annoying

This was a fun listen. It felt like there was good variety on this album. Would recommend at least once.

I've done enough acid to get how this was structured after an acid trip(or whatever psychedelic he was doing). Just not anymore kind of music I would ever want to listen to while tripping. Psychedelic circus music.

1/5

This album was not Todd’s strongest. He reached pretty far out of his comfort zone for some songs, and while it’s good to experiment he should’ve left some of these tracks behind. 6/10

Certainly unique among the myriad of 70's rock record from the book. A sprawling, weird, and ecletic piece. Unfortunately, not much of it stuck with me, although I'll probably give it another listen someday. Key tracks: International Feel

Some Sparks of interesting ideas, but overall execution and productions are disappointing

Some great tracks on this album, and some that are not even good. All in all, an excellent showcase for Todd Rundgren's talent, but it contains a little too much carnival for my liking, hence four stars only.

I asked ChatGPT to write my review: Todd Rundgren’s A Wizard, A True Star is one of those albums that feels like it’s daring you to keep up with it. It’s packed with ideas—sometimes brilliant, sometimes baffling—and while that makes it an interesting listen, it doesn’t always make it a satisfying one. The record bounces all over the place stylistically, jumping from prog-rock flourishes to soul covers to psychedelic experiments, often within a matter of minutes. That unpredictability can be fun in small doses, but over the course of the whole album, it starts to feel more like chaos than genius. There are definitely moments where Rundgren’s talent shines through—tracks like “International Feel” really capture his knack for melody and production—but a lot of the songs feel more like sketches than fully formed pieces. It’s the kind of record that hardcore fans might appreciate for its ambition, but it’s hard to recommend as a go-to listen. You get the sense that Rundgren was more interested in throwing everything at the wall than in making a cohesive album, and the end result is uneven. Overall, it’s fascinating but frustrating—worth checking out once for its sheer audacity, but not something that begs repeat listens. A solid 3 out of 5.

A Wizzard, A True Star I gave Something/Anything? a 5, I thought it was great, a brilliant set of 70s power-pop soft rock. I’m perhaps a little more on the ambivalent side with this one. There are some great 70s soft rock songs, scattered between and sometimes in the middle of all the other stuff going on; International Feel, parts of Tic Tic Tic, Le Feel Internacionale, the excellent Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel and then particularly right at the back end with the run of I Don’t Want to Tie You Down, Is It My Name, Just One Victory, and on the one hand I admire the kitchen sink abandon and idiosyncrasy of it, Rundgren making it all on his own and attempting to create his musical vision of a psychedelic experience happening in his mind, but it does drift a little too often into a Yes-Queen-ELP-10cc-Supertramp cul-de-sac of whimsy and wackiness with the succession of short tracks on side 1. And I don’t think the soul medley on side 2 works particularly well either. That’s not to say it’s not worthwhile or entertaining, and I did find myself enjoying it and getting to grips with it more on repeat listens, maybe as I was able to appreciate the contrast of the snippets of fully formed, conventional pop-rock against the frantic psychedelic miasma* surrounding them. Although sonically it’s very different from Duck Stab, I have a similar feeling of appreciation for its existence - if you are going to throw a few things at the wall you may as well throw a lot of things at the wall - and although it might be a bit too scattergun and schizophrenic to be a truly great, coherent listen. Although I also think if you took away all the whimsy and made it more focused it might lose much of its distinctive charm. All told I think it lands as a high 3, I’ll be keen to revisit at some point in the future where it might push a bit higher. 🧙🧙🧙 Playlist submission: Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel *I actually wrote this last week before I read Dan’s Royksop review, I’m not copying, it’s synergy.

Although it's much like a sketchbook of ideas, themes start emerging like the kinship between 'Flamingo' and the great 'When the Shit Hits the Fan'. 'International Feel' showcases a very Beatlesque melody and overdub approach (sounds quite Sgt Pepper, given some psychedelic treatment) with the soul influences on his vocal. The soul medley is ok. But it feels some judicious editing (is 'Just One Victory' worth it?) would have made this even better. But somehow the sprawling patchwork of ideas comes together under a cohesive aesthetic. It works. In some ways it reminds me of the endless creativity of Beck's Odelay, perhaps with less humour, more LSD and more dated views.

δεν το άκουσα ολο

Well done. Truly different yet similar.

For the first couple of tracks, I wasn’t so sure about if I’d like this album. However, as it continued, I found it growing on me more and more. It’s like other pop rock of its time, except it somehow sounds prettier. The composition generally stays interesting, and the vocals are lovely. The second half is definitely the better half as far as I’m concerned, but overall this was pretty good.

Very fun, some parts were too weird for me though

A trippy album that I wasn't sure of at first but i listened to twice so I think that should say something Fav Tracks:tictic, It Wears Off, Zenith Archer(weird), When The Shit Hits The Fan/Sunset Blvd, Sometimes I don't Know What To Feel, Im so Proud and I Don't Want to Tie You Down

Magical.

Someone had fun in the studio! I'm pretty sure drugs were involved as well. So it's a reach. He was trying for something, I'm not sure what he was trying for but I appreciate the experience. You do need to be in the mindset for experimental music before sitting down with it. I realized I had skipped this because I got it on a day I needed to get things done and I'm glad I waited for a day when I had time to catch up on some albums. It's an adventure for sure. Some songs are really fun and work well, others you can see what he was going for but come out a disjointed wall of noise. Worth a listen unless you hate it when an artist tries something different.

Pretty weird.

I had a hard time finding a groove with this one. It’s kind of all over the place. A little Zappa, a little show tunes, opera, R&B …..not sure what to think other than I won’t be back. I won’t leave it in the basement since it is creative and a little interesting.

It’s as if Frank Zappa and Salvador Dali decided to make a record with Rundgren turning all the knobs in a hallucinogenic drug fantasy world. Just a weird listen overall. And while the creativity here is pretty amazing and should be recognized, it’s not something I’ll return to.

This was all over the place. Hated parts of it, sort of enjoyed other parts.

What a wild listen. At times this felt very mainstream friendly. Other times it was just weird. But it did kind of work for me. Giving it a 3.5 for creativity and musicianship. Rounding down because I’ll probably never listen to it again.

Per Wikipedia: The sound and structure of Wizard was heavily informed by Rundgren's hallucinogenic experiences... you don't say??? Was thinking this album would be a bit too out there to enjoy, but ended up liking it. Yea, some parts were a little ridiculous but as a whole it was an enjoyable listen. 3.25/5

Completamente desordenado, mas de uma boa maneira. Este é um disco difícil de digerir. Todd Rundgren é de fato um músico brilhante, e este disco junto de Something / Anything são toda a prova que você precisa pra perceber o quão magnânimo ele é. Começar falando a respeito do estilo de produção do álbum. Ele é esporádico, especialmente na primeira metade, que é bem mais experimental e progressiva que a segunda. Na segunda metade temos o maravilhoso Medley, que é na minha opinião a melhor parte de todo o disco. Como eu havia dito, é um álbum difícil, assim como grande parte do trabalho de Rundgren. Precisa de um tempo para se acostumar com o estilo dispersado de produção e de escrita dele. Mas eu recomendo muito tanto este álbum quanto o Something. Ele é um ótimo artista e merece mais atenção. Não se acham outros discos tão experimentais, psicodélicos e viajados quanto esse por aí. 4/5

A wizard indeed . . . of music that doesn't hold up all that well.

Psychedelic rambling for the first half and seemingly songs and tunes strung together to form some sort of concept album.

What’s amazing about this is how it challenges the album format and flow. A little wackiness coupled with stellar songwriting.

Surprisingly entertaining! Liked that it seemed not to take itself too seriously. Only thing I can complain about is it being too long for my liking, but I really liked the songwriting on some of the songs

Neat

bunch of one-minute rubbish tracks mixed with pretty good songs

Inventive - always something to listen out for. Didn't like a lot of it, wavered far too much down the psychedelia arm for my tastes but respect the effort.

2/5

Wonderfully weird! Loved the fact all the songs flowed into eachother. That hits the right spot in my brain 4 ⭐️

Not quite my jam, but he sounded like he was having a blast making this album, which always makes it more enjoyable.

Very psychadelic album for sure, which is hinted by the cover art. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It started off with a quite cool intro for 'International Feel'. Generally I think my favourite track was 'Sometimes I don't know what to feel', but the tracks really took turn between being decent and complete circus music. Overall I think it was alright, but no cigar. Weak 3.

Endless solos and odd instrumentals. I didn't like the last Rundgren album we had and I did not like this either. Contemplated a 1 star first but it felt a bit too harsh. Settling for a weak 2.

Frustratingly annoying Best Song: International Feel Rating: 3/10 Stars: 2/5

Nope

Not my type of noice

Ugh another boring album, I am cursed today

A bit soft and slow for me.

Man this album was just all over the place. Just when I thought I liked it I would run into a stretch I really didn’t like and vice versa. 2.5

A vibe and a half

Much more experimental and Zappa-ish than I was expecting. Definitely will check out some more from this guy.

I loved it in the 70s but it's become dated. Still good though. Great cover.

Long album, not really my vibe. Too music/psychedelic heavy for me.

i had never listened through this 🤯

such a fun listen for me. Never heard the whole album before this

vignette-based songwriting like SMiLE + manic studio alchemy + very serious non-seriousness + true REVERENCE for pop music as not only an art form but a mode of achieving transcendence and reaching HEAVEN !!!!! Fav song: Medley OR I Don't Want to Tie You Down OR Just One Victory

I am generally a fan of sprawling ambitious weird albums, but I found precious little to like in this. It was mostly just irritating.

Well, I made it through one listen. This project has introduced me to a lot of prog rock. Some good. Some not so good. Most of this album sounds too much like insane show tunes to me. The last song Just One Victory was worth the struggle of getting through the earlier songs. But, full marks for creativity and doing his own thing and for a crazy cover that perfectly matches the crazy music.

Ok, right off the bat: Song 1 sounds like a sloppy Beatles. It’s catchy and a good starting song Song 2 blends in with international Feel which is something that I like. It’s the small things people. This song is not good. It has spacey keyboard over a love song basically. Song 3 Tic tic tic starts off cool. Let’s keep this going .ok well….I don’t know what to say. It’s odd. It’s a jumbled crashing of sounds with sort of yelling vocals, dueling vocals to be exact. Oh, scratch that. Those were 2 different songs. Song 5 keeps that tradition of sound king like a low rate Beatles knockoff. Low rate might be too insulting as I still find this good. Song 6 it really is what the song title says. Dog fighting…..and giggling. Song 7 bowiesque. It could be the theme song for a dramady in the 80’s Flamingo is song 8 if you’re still following . Sort of a Zappa thing going on Zen Archer? Pass Song 10 another Bowie type song. A bad one Man, this album is really a tough one for me. It has everything it needs to be a 4 star but as the album goes on it really makes me second guess that. The shit song is a big sounding song, like a song that would be used in a celebration but it still is lacking power to it. The next song, the French named one, I can’t really explain it. Most of these songs lack that last little something that would have me remember them over and over again. It’s the same pattern for the remainder of the songs. They are decent but lack something.

Ugly noise rock.

Opel Mokka, HDH - Aalen, Deutschland. weird freakin shit.

So experimental, damn... sounds way too cool for 1973

Rating: 4/10 Starts off horrible and partially redeems itself but was still bad overall.

Psychedelic bullshit

Ome Todd, daar is 'ie weer. Hij heeft weer eens aan de verkeerde kikker gelikt voor hij de studio in dook, als ik de hoes en de Wiki-snippet mag geloven. Als het allemaal niet te ver doorslaat vind ik dat wel geinig hoor, maar de kans dat het zo'n album is dat vooral de maker zelf heel geniaal vind ligt op de loer. Dit album gaat een beetje over het randje voor mij. Te veel gekke geluidjes. Tussendoor zijn er wel wat krenten om uit de pap te vissen hoor, het is echt niet allemaal compleet verschrikkelijk, maar het is zo'n gedoe om bij die krenten te komen. Ik vind dat eerder storend dan geinig. En op het moment dat je het een beetje gezien hebt moet de kant B nog beginnen. Kant B is wel een stuk minder psychedelisch en experimenteel, maar ik vind het er daardoor ook weer niet helemaal bij passen. Of helemaal niet eigenlijk. Ik gaf Todd al een keer twee sterren en ik denk dat ik bij dit album eigenlijk op hetzelfde uit kom. Wat mij betreft geen heel geslaagd experiment. Ik snap gewoon niet zo goed hoe die gast albums samenstelt.

A Brilliant album that has been in my collection since it was released. Ideal for somebody looking to get into TR for the first time. Mad genius!!

Nice, odd, album.

Awful Album.

Some really cool synth moments, but that was about all that interested me on this.

What a hot mess. This, kids, is why you shouldn't use drugs. +1 for "Medley".

genuinely one of my favorite albums of all time. it's very strange, it's very fragmented, sometimes it's a little rough to listen to. but todd rundgren has a knack for a melody and, here, is unabashedly himself. goofy, awkward, and on a lot of drugs. a lot of times it feels kind of zappa-ish, but to me this album is a lot more "poppy" than zappa usually is. the production can be a bit insane, but also extremely ahead of its time. there's nothing else that really sounds like this album. don't let studio fuckery like 'dog fight giggle' become your lasting memory of this album. 'when the shit hits the fan/sunset boulevard' 'zen archer' and 'just one victory' are all what this album can be and should be remembered for.

Overly weird for the sake of it. Ok when he sings like a norm

Could swear that I’ve done this album already. Anyway. Endearingly eccentric. Almost.

This is a weird ass album. Todd was running away from the mainstream with lots of drugs. However, there were several ditties I really liked and it had a lot of short tracks to keep it interesting. Top Tracks: "When the Shit Hits the Fan," "Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off," "You Need Your Head"

I’m not sure who it’s for? Like, I feel like there’s obviously a fandom for this but other than, like, and I mean this, Brad Linville, what is it? What a weirdo. 3 for the effort, 2 for the listen.

--International Feel...we already gettin' weird --Never Never Land...staying weird --Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off...funky instrumental --You Need Your Head...crazy cacophony --Rock & Roll Pussy...What is happening? --Dogfight Giggle....could the next track be an actual song, Todd? --You Don't Have to Camp Around...treacly --Flamingo...jesus, time to come down, Todd --Zen Archer...this music was made for somebody, it's not made for me but somebody --Just Another Onionhead...there are interesting sounds happening but where are the actual songs?! --When the Shit Hits the Fan...an actual song! It's good! --Le Feel Internacionale...a reprise --Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel...Showing that Mr. Rundgren has very good pop sensibilities. I appreciate the psychedelic experimentation but he should stick with what he's good at --Does Anybody Love You...twee bullshit --Medley...I'm not sure why it's on here but it's good --Hungry for Love...shrug --I Don't Want to Tie You Down...schmaltz --Is It My Name?...this one rocks --Just One Victory...another good one. Nice bass groove

Its interesting and I respect the big swing taken here. It does make sense as a whole album how things flow together but I don't think I'll be doing a lot of repeat listens. This is the kind of music for someone who will say "did you hear what they did there with the major 9th". For 1972 it just makes me want to go listen to Big Star

This was jam packed with ideas and fizzed with originality. It sounds 25 years ahead of its time and i can see why he inspired so many musicians. However it needed a good editor and some discipline to elevate it into a great album.

The music isn’t really my thing, but it gets major points for how cohesive the whole album sounds. Despite how many disparate vignettes it has, they all come together into a unified concept.

You can tell he put a lot of work into it. The results just aren't too exciting?

I loved this album when I first heard it, and I still love it. It’s got some glam, some 50s doo wop, some Moog-ly bits, some drama, some silliness. I wish all of his albums were like this (side eye to YOU, Something/Anything). Would 100% revisit. I kinda wanna give it a 5, but feel like maybe it’s not quite a 5? Definitely a solid 4-4.5.

Did not really like this album. No song really stood out to me and everything was just kinda weird. 2/5. Favorite song: Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel Worst song: You Need Your Head

This is a weird experience. Would travel it again.

This just might be the greatest album ever made. I don't make such statements lightly. Unless it's SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE, or ABBEY ROAD, or ALPOCALYPSE, or some other generally agreed upon masterwork, I wouldn't just come out here and claim something like that. But this. This album. Yeah, no. I'm not gonna mince words. This thing floored me. Just straight amazed me. If I may paraphrase Phelous from his first video, this album takes you around and back again. It's to the point where... I'm not even sure what specifics I'd wanna bring up. There is just so much going on here; so many wonderful musical ideas crammed into this thing... I mean, it's bursting at the seams. It is, point of fact, one of the longest running single LPs ever pressed. The first side alone is 26 minutes — the second is **NEARLY 30**. The second side is very nearly album length **by itself**. The scope of this thing... I could just try and describe it to you, but it's nothing next to putting on a pair of headphones and listening to it for yourself. I've described albums before as odysseys — I'm sure I have. Maybe just journeys, at least. If there's any album where that applies, more than any other (and I say this with some 400 albums left on this list), it's this one. It is seriously an odyssey into the wild mind of Todd Rundgren and just every idea he had knockin' around in there. And, yeah, it's a drug trip, too — he **did** come up with a lot of this stuff while on drugs. But he doesn't sacrifice a single ounce of musicality in the process. It's just as wonderfully composed and arranged as SOMETHING/ANYTHING? was. It's just not nearly as commercial. And I really do admire the guts he had to put out a record like this where he just throws down every idea he has, commercial potential be damned. This is the sound he had in his head: take it or leave. And what's even more surprising is just the fact that this could have been released **today** and it wouldn't have sounded any different. In fact, while this was a critically successful record at the time, I can only imagine how much **more** acclaimed it'd be if it'd dropped now. It sounds like it came from out of time. Like... Goodness. It's not an album I expect everyone to get the first go around. Again, there is just a **lot** to digest, in a package much smaller than something with a similar amount of ideas like SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE. Side one alone is like a bizarro (yet still wholly incredible) version of ABBEY ROAD's medley. But unlike something like TROUT MASK REPLICA, I feel like the piece of advice that "you hafta listen to it multiple times before you get it" really should read "give your Stockholm syndrome with this thing," this album has endless treasures to uncover. You might be able to listen to this album for a month straight and still find new things to appreciate about it. If nothing else, this album is a testament. If you have the skills, you do not **need** to make commercially viable music. Sure, yeah, it pays the bills and allows you to make more music, but you don't **need** to. You can just make the sound in your head, the one that makes you happy... And that's all you need. I always held up Zappa as a prime example of doing just that thing, but really, this album is the much better one. I'm not surprised it was apparently such an influence on bedroom pop. I can just imagine all of the people who heard this and got inspired to just let their creativity loose. It sure makes **me** happy imagining all of the wonderful music it must have inspired in its wake. And with skills like this, tunes like these, and a more-than-likely impact like that, how can I not claim it one of the greatest of all time? Even if it exists more on the stranger, somewhat less accessible side of things, it is absolutely not one to be missed. I wish I could write more about this thing, but seriously, you just need to listen to it. By the time you get the triumphant victory lap that is "Just One Victory", you'll believe that if Todd isn't a true star, then at the very least he's a wizard — because this album's truly magic.

Nicely psychedelic. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 10. I’ve got the words this time, thankfully. First and foremost: you *need* headphones for this. It won't hit the same way without them. This is full of little intricacies that might get drowned out otherwise. Talk about a wild fucking departure from “Something/Anything?”, huh? I was expecting much more of the same, but looking at the Wikipedia article for this album before listening to it, it talks about a tonal shift towards more psychedelic-y strange/chaotic stuff brought on by drug use, or at least, a more chaotically structured album than the generally pop-driven tone of “Something/Anything?”. That’s a scary proposition, given that some artists handle drug use as a tool for creation better than others, and to my ears on that last album, I didn’t think he could expand too far out of the box that album provides. Cautious optimism was the vibe going into this. Straight out of the fucking gate with this album, man. I don’t know how the hell you decide to start an album off with a 26-minute fever dream of a suite, but I’m glad Todd Rundgren’s drug use didn’t ruin his sense of musicality. This thing might’ve bounced off of people’s ears in 1973 (save for some of the critical praise this got), but for 2025, this feels right at home to my ears. It’s avant garde as hell, yes, but I’ll be damned if it’s not entertaining as shit. Prog rock sensibilities across the board here, combined with a Frank Zappa-esque sense of “throw shit at the wall and see what works”, and a proper ear for music that doesn’t disdain the Beatles or the Beach Boys or any of the popular bands of the era, but instead, takes the best parts of them and blends it with those other two parts to create the equivalent of the Abbey Road medley on drugs. I loved every single second of it, and I’m surprised it felt as coherent as it did. For 1973, the amount of styles that medley touches, while masterfully transitioning between a lot of the tracks, is stunning to me. It is 12 tracks, it goes 26 minutes, and it’s just a crazy premonition to my brain of where the entire decade would eventually go, crumpled into a ball and without making a mockery of anything within it. I let the whole thing play out in one take, while taking little notes, so here’s some out of context gems: “this feels like 1970s Death Grips”, “what the dogs doing”, & “I guess that evokes a flamingo”. There’s a moment specifically on “Zen Archer” that evoked the sort of crazy transitions that Frank Ocean or Tyler, The Creator might pull off in an album, and that one in particular blew me away. All in all, the entire first half of the album is a ridiculous whirlwind, but one that I was willing to let sweep me away into whatever the hell Todd had next. It did kinda feel like listening to the Abbey Road medley for the first time again, and that’s a big, big plus in my book. So… how about that second half? I suppose we couldn’t leave all of “Something/Anything?”’s sensibilities behind, and what emerges from that is 29 minutes of an extremely focused set of tracks that mostly feel like a prog rock / R&B album, but with a bit of everything sprinkled in, including some Elton John, The Who, & Marvin Gaye. All of the techniques from the first half are here, but distilled back into the very best aspects of “Something/Anything?”. Granted, a third of the 29 minutes is literally from a series of R&B covers from the doowop / Motown era, but they’re brilliantly adapted & performed, in a way that honestly kind of foreshadows the rise of the quiet storm style that would eventually come into vogue down the line. I’m mostly stunned by how much parts of the second half feel like 80s production, albeit with 70s instrumentation. Hell, the start of “Is It My Name?” directly feels like the start to “Enter Sandman”, so this thing is jumping all over the place. I really want to specifically point at “Just One Victory”, because it does feel like the triumphant ending to the general theme of the second half, which is coming to terms with the idea of fame from music, despite the style of music you’re being praised for not exactly vibing with what you want to create. Apparently, that’s the realization Todd had after the critical praise he received on “Something/Anything?” & the subsequent drug use, and it’s what spurred him to get to this album. It is his own victory lap, sure, but the lyricism overall just speaks to a sort of cheesy hopeful vibe that just feels lost nowadays. It is the sort of bombastic album closer that I fuck with, and even the “repeating chorus while it all fades out” thing feels entirely earned here. So, yeah, I’ve got no complaints. That’s a stellar album. It feels like an unrecognized masterpiece of sorts, and I really don’t use that word lightly. “A tour de force”, as the top review for this album says on the site. I loved everything here, and both halves stand on their own merits to create 55 nonstop minutes of brilliance. This coming from the same guy who already made a pretty damn good pop album in “Something/Anything?” is nuts to me. For all I know, this might be your favorite artist’s favorite artist’s favorite album, or however many degrees of “favorite artist’s” it takes to get there. The tree of influence this must have spawned, with iron sharpening iron all the way down, has to be immense. I simply refuse to believe otherwise. It is the type of album that makes people want to make music. It’s an easy 10, if not higher. Unbelievable, truly.

Started out not really liking all the wacky psychedelic sounds that hit my ears, but the deeper into the album I listened, the more I liked it. Not likely something I'll spend much time with going forward, but it was an interesting listen.

Not bad

Didn’t really enjoy this one. Some Ok sounds but overall not my taste. On the three side of a 2.5.

Better than Coldplay

Way too weird!!! Although the B-side has a few o.k. moments he already lost me with the first tracks.

Heard a lot of things that I heard in a lot of other songs in the years since this came out. I think this album is pretty heavily sampled or at least homage. It was pretty good we'll give it another listen another time

Pretty annoying, tbh.

this was outstanding. super weird and poppy and proggy and experimental and fun. different parts made me think of king crimson and then the scissor sisters. very good listen

I did NOT need to listen to this album before I die. 1/5

REALLY experimental and all over the place but somehow still cohesive. i love prog rock! the transitions between songs were seamless and there were so many bangers. standouts include “zen archer” and “i’m so proud/ooh baby baby/la la means i love you/cool jerk” (this one was a masterpiece ngl). didn’t feel like an hour bc it was so enjoyable to listen to. 5/5.

Beatlesque

I couldn’t connect with this and wouldn’t want to hear it again.

An abundance of ideas, a lack of editing or self control. Sonically ambitious but chaotic and scattered.

Some songs I was down with but mostly too psychedelic for me. This is not the Todd Rundgren I was familiar with

Don’t know why but when read the review was expecting to like this and well didn’t. The ‘chaotic ‘ start killed it for me stone dead. Should have paid attention to those liking it to Barrett’s Floyd whimsical nature. I can’t stand drug induced musically whimsy, shit I can’t stand non drug whimsical music shit. think there may be a good album in here but I have no intention to listing multiple times til I get it, I don’t care to get it. 2 Star.

My initial reaction was to dismiss this album out of hand, as I’ve never found a hook in Todd Rungren. I kicked myself for being narrow minded and listened to the album. Still haven’t found the hook, this didn’t catch me.

If you ever need to explain 1973 to someone, play this.

When the production isn’t so smashed together into a colorful, hectic mess this album sounds okay. Particularly on the second half it’s decent, but the first half is just a struggle to get through. 3/10

As another reviewer said - exactly why I'm doing this project and I'm glad to have heard it. I'll be happy to never hear it again though.

Crap

It's an interesting album, there are a few places where it really shines, it's creative and eclectic, although it feels like small random pieces of music instead of a cohesive whole. Personal faves: "Just One Victory", "Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel" and "Does Anybody Love You". I will probably come back to it a few times, and it probably needs a few more litsens, but it's a bit too dated at times. Also sometimes i felt genuine cringe especially at ""There is cause and effect/There's a reason I'm so erect" and "Rock and Roll Pussy"

New to me - really enjoyed. Reminds me of much of the music I listen to in the 90’s.

Since learning the name Todd Rundgren a year ago I've developed a level of respect for the guy: for being a bit of a one-man band/production team; for experimenting with sounds and genres; for treating the album as an art form; for taking a chance on Sparks. But I just can't really connect with his music, beyond the occasional 'that's nice' moment. 2.5

Clearly, Todd Rundgren is a talented guitarist, but this album is an example of why some musicians should not experiment with psychedelic drugs - "Dogfight Giggle" for example. The only track on the album that I was familar with was the opening track, "International Feel", and in places that is on a par with a trip to the dentist - it jars on the nerves.

Unexpectedly nostalgic yet undeniably strange, it is giving a theatrical musical vibe by blending multiple genres into an entertaining experience. With most tracks lasting just around a minute, it unfolds like a series of fast-changing scenes.

Not bed, just that into it. Some songs rocked pretty good for sure. Somewhat pleasantly surprised.

Entirely unexpected and very very cool

This album took an unexpected turn for me. I had no idea it was gonna end as great as it did. I was skeptical when I first hit play because I didn’t know where he was taking us but I’m happy with where it wound up

Crazy.

With Something/Anything?, Todd proved he could write soul pop tunes for weeks while donning a blindfold and having his arms tied behind his back. With A Wizard, A True Star, he proved that any combination of sounds is possible and not only can, but *should* go together. The kaleidoscope that is Side A contains such a multitude of colours, that you can make an entire career just copying his wildly imaginative sonic explorations. Five stars, even if only for inspiring me to be the most creative and relentless version of myself.

I could not listen to this.

A magical journey into the cosmos.

1

I think I'm learning that I'm not a big Rundgren fan. But his genius can't be denied, nor can the beautiful weirdness. 3.7

very enjoyable to listen to, but doesn’t really leave an impression, though it’s not what makes music good.

I'm going with 3 stars, because this was very easy to listen to. But I'm not going with more than 3 stars, because this was probably too far along the spectrum to pop than I would have liked. There was a constant feeling that something was slightly superficial about the entire experience, like someone having fun in the production studio, rather than composing something musically interesting.

Good! Love the first few songs, but it's an album that drags in places. 3.5/5. Highlights: Tic Tic Tic International Feel

Weird

This album was very groovy but also very weird and eccentric. I feel like it’s one of those albums that you need to listen to multiple times because it has many layers. I enjoyed this listen and would pick it up again!

Not giving that guy any stars

this one's a little weird, definitely very 70s. Not the worst but probably wouldn't reach for it on my own.

Incredibly frenetic, and it works more than it doesnt.

Well, this was a fun little surprise. I had never heard this album before and honestly had no idea what style of music to expect going in. What I got was a blend of progressive sunshine pop filtered through the lens of acid and psychedelia. It’s a very artistic album that goes all over the place, some parts are playful and theatrical, almost like something out of a musical, while other sections dive into soulful territory. It’s unpredictable in the best way, constantly shifting moods and styles but still holding your attention the whole time. This one’s definitely going on my list of albums to revisit in the future.

I appreciate it, but I don't quite "get" it.

Wild and fun, even if doesn't always land. Will need to revisit.

This is diarrhea water. There is no getting clean water from this mess. What a load of shit.

I'm not sure how to feel about Todd Rundgren having two albums on this list. On one hand, I'm not entirely convinced that he has enough of an impact on his own to warrant two of his own albums being on a list like this. On the other hand, I quite like what I've heard of both albums. Of course, Todd Rundgren definitely deserves at least one album of his in addition to some of his most iconic productions like Bat Out of Hell and Skylarking, but I'm not sure if two is necessary or if it's a bit redundant. I'm leaning redundant, but I'm also not upset that he has two albums here. A Wizard, A True Star is pretty good. Admittedly, I did like Something/Anything? more, but I think that's just a personal preference. Still, there are quite a few things to like about this album. One thing that this album has above the other one is that it's shorter. This is a good thing because my one real complaint with that other album of his was that it was too long. This one's still on the longer side, but it's not 80-something minutes, so it's more reasonable. However, I do happen to like the musical contents of Something/Anything? more. Of course, there are plenty of shared positive qualities between the two albums. The style is quite unique and I like it. Songs like "International Feel" and "Zen Archer" feel very original and they're great. The album has a few little oddball tracks that make more sense in a full-album listen than anything else, but none of them are painful to listen to. Well, except for maybe "Dogfight Giggle." This is kind of a weird album. I'm not as big on the production as I thought I would be. Maybe it's just the specific master that I listened to, but it didn't feel as balanced as I expected it to. I'm not an expert on this stuff at all though, so take that criticism with a grain of salt. A Wizard, A True Star is a solid album. If you like it more than Something/Anything?, good for you. I disagree, but I get it. Still, this album's alright. Low 4/5.

This feels well done, but incredibly drug induced. A few songs caught my interest, but none felt like they pushed the proverbial envelope, especially in contrast to "Something / Anything?" Still, it felt competently made, with interesting instrumentals and decent vocal work. 'Zen Archer' was my fave from the lot.

First half was strange and fun in places, but not consistently enough for me. Then the second half is okay, but feels all over the place with only half an album left to establish anything. I liked the more melodic parts, however nothing stuck with me.

I liked having listened to first half of this, like an immersive sound bath with all the layers of texture, some nice base and saxophone in places, lots of interesting percussion. I just can't imagine this being something you listen to all the time. The second was nice enough but nothing of note.

Did not click for me 2/5

Crazy first half. Weak side B.

There’s a real sense of journey to this record and I love its warm and open heart, but I can’t pretend I love everywhere that it takes me. It’s certainly interesting, and I can appreciate the freaky qualities which have garnered it a cult audience.

Properly strsnge psychedelia with a soul ending. A bit incoherent for me (or at least i couldn’t keep up with it) but some fantastic sounds and plenty of ideas.

This is a rock-opera style album much like The Wall, Tommy, pretty much begging to be made into a musical or movie. The songs flow into each other, with most of them just around a minute or minute and a half. Definitely that "classic rock" sound throughout the album with a little bit of experimentation to keep things interesting. Not a bad album, but not a great one either in my opinion. The album art is fun though....looks like what they used to help train AI.

I decided, I don't like the guy. Gotta do more LSD for this one. I don't hate it for the most part, but it was pretty annoying at times. I remember liking Something/Anything a bit better than this :(

ok there are some interesting things here, but mainly not listenable as a finished music album

I didn't really like it; just yelling a portion of the time and the production was generally weird. 3/10.

All over the place and if I’m honest, fkn terrible

This is like an outut from Suno when it first launched. Sounds like bad AI - all over the shop. Second track in and you are wailing? No thanks.

Beetje rommelige muziek en gekke geluidjes. Alles bij elkaar zitten er ook wel weer leuke deuntjes bij.

It's kind of a lot... I could see it being cool. But it's all over the place, it's more like a random list of musical ideas than an album of songs. Just One Victory is pretty cool.

This album leans even further into the psychedelic aspects of the previous album which were my favorite part, so I'm a big fan. It's chaotic almost to a fault.

Interesting..

Shocked by how much I liked this.

the original weirdcore

Sorry Todd

why were white guys in the 1970s literally addicted to making carnival music. was this their version of healing their inner child? fav track: zen archer

alright that was fine i guess. not that interesting to me and some of the experimental stuff was like whatever so idk no strong feelings

I had to check twice that this wasn't two albums. Liked to first half. Not so the second.

Some wild lyrics but a good listen

A very odd album but pretty good. My favorite track was "Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel." Overall, it kinda felt middle of the road, so it's getting a three. Worth at least a listen though.

It was okay, very experimental at times 3/5

Incredibly creative musicality that includes a lot of aggressive switches in tone and sound within tracks. Absolutely love the psychedelic mixed with DIY/distortion filters. High energy yet controlled.

I found this a bit out there, particularly when compared to his later work which is much more straightforward and poppy. I liked the Nazz and Utopia decently well when I was a kid. I thought his later solo work was a bit saccharine. I had never heard this particular record, and actually, liked it more than his later solo work. It feels a bit like a record from 1967 with better production values LOL and clearly a lot of psychedelic drug use.

This album is all over the place, but in a good way. Surprisingly enjoyable.

Interesting synth-driven 1973 prog prog album. Almost like old school Steven Wilson. Never never land is a very good song. Some of it is just weird, like You need your head. Rock & Roll Pussy and You Don't have to camp around are good. Flamingo is trippy. Zen Archer is awesome, and has a nice sax solo kick in. Just another onionhead is a trip. Side 2 is still good but much less interesting. I Don't Want to Tie You Down is good.