A Wizard, A True Star

Achei chatinho

Pop psicodélico.

Glad Big's dead.

I don't know where to begin. This album is crazy.

I remembered being less warm on Rundgren, but looking back it seems I was about as warm to Something/Anything? If anything, it took me a while to warm to that album; This one, while sprawling, has my favorite bits in the first half. I love the gonzo nature of it, and while it tries a tiny bit too hard it's also plain fun.

Experimental elements mixed with conventional aspects, intriguing listening

Yeah, a bit hippy dippy for my taste. Not bad though.

Wonderful! This is one of my favourite albums ever. The book states that at first listen it could be tiring, but the first time I played it I was amazed: I thought it sounded as if it were made in 1993, not 1973; it really sounds far ahead of its time. The sprawling nature of the record reminds me also of the White Album, another of my favourite ever. I can hear Frank Zappa influences, Beatles, Beach Boys, some prog, gypsy music, and so much more. One of those records where you discover something new at every spin. I don't know if he was a true star, but for sure he is a true genius.

Ayoye!! Jamais entendu parler du dude mais c'était pas plate ça! Je sprint pas chercher le vinyle mais j'ai eu du fun, pas reposant par bout mais la prod est touffue, il se passe des affaires, un peu zappa, un peu beach boys, ça m'a gardé intéressé jusqu'à la fin. Pas certain que je vais le réécouter souvent mais c'est le genre de découverte/expérience que j'espérais avec cette liste

Au moins, c’est différent.

Quelle aventure cet album. On oublie rapidement que c’est sorti en 1973. Un petit bijou psychédélique/pop/rock/soul. Je ne serais pas surpris de retrouver cet album dans la bibliothèque de Kevin Parker de Tame Impala ou des membres d’Animal Collective. Un gros coup de cœur pour moi. Pièce préférée: Le Feel Internacionale, When the shit hits the fan, Just Another Onionhead, International Feel, … ;)

Es brutalmente dispar, recuerdo algunas canciones tras escucharlo una vez, pero sobre todo el medley, es increible Una fumada endefinitiva

Drugs

Started off prog rocky, turned a bit too experimental

This looks like it could be weird. 70s prog? Ok yeah early prog rock, not too bad but also not fantastic. Was a shame I listened to it at 6:30am, before the mushies kicked in. 3/5.

LSD does wonders.

I just love when someone is having fun

Wizard Cowboy Space Travel.

Interesting, compelling and surprisingly listenable - enjoyed this one and it merits more listens - nice discovery

When I first listened to this about 10 years ago I wanted to like it more, but found it too schizophrenic and irritating. On relistening Rundgren's genius really shines through. I love the fact that it doesn't sit still and changes direction so many times, but still manages to work in some decent tunes.

My favorite Todd album.

just weirrrrd man

Diferente e interesante

Cool Album, variety of different sounds and beats

Nuts and good and annoying in places

Rundgren packs a lot into his songs. A lot of the tracks are little over one minute. At one point they would have felt like unfinished demos, but a one minute track fits right in with the modern world of streaming. As does Rundgren never sticking with one genre - sometimes even in one track. He's just having fun and creating an action-packed album in the process.

Was quite surprised by this one. It was experimental and weird but in a way that was interesting enough to keep it going. Wouldn't return to the album though.

I really wanted to like this because the album title is excellent but unfortunately the songs contained on the album are the absolute antithesis of that.

What a journey this album was, I'm going to describe it as going on a waltzer whilst pissed out your skull.

Another very hard to rate album, some of the songs were hard to listen to, others such as Le Feel Internationale were absolute highlights. This is very much on the 3/4 boundary, but the sheer interestingness of the sound has pushed me to the higher edge of that.

Wow! I've never heard of Todd Rundgren before, which is a real shame. What a trip this album has been. It's random and experimental, and then whenever I go 'Well this is a bit too experimental for me' it goes into a more classic rock song. I dig it!

This came out in 1972?! WAAAY ahead of it's time musically. Switching between playful and riffing rock songs effortlesly. I was expecting some boring prog album based on the album cover, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This album was an amazing experience

Experimental, unusual, slightly psychedelic, funky. In all a great experience.

Queen i et gøglermusem med mærkelige idéer og åndssvage numre

Loved this record! Going to listen to it again soon

Not too into this very prog-y but somehow boring psych album and got incensed looking at this busy album art. As one review notes, ""a minor songwriter with major woman problems who's good with the board and has a sense of humor" and that sums it up enough for me.

I digged this. It was chaotic and all over the place yet I liked every moment? Yep.

Never fully got into this record, but it is a solid 70s rock album.

Very seventies sounding. Not bad, but it didn't particularly grab me either.

4 stars a very fun listen lots of stylistic changes. Deserves more attention

I didn't hate it, but I didn't dig it

Not as bad as I feared, but almost... Here's hoping this is the last time Todd Rundgren shows up on this list. PS, a 10 minute song w/ 4 titles is 4 songs.

Bonkers. One song was just dogs growling followed by laughter. Did not enjoy

Truly awful.

had never heard of this album, but was pleasantly surprised by the utterly batshit songs. i also note he's released literally dozens of albums since.... I wonder if they're also as mad as this one?

I've never taken recreational drugs, but based on this album it sounds like it would be fun. It's the sound of a man having a lovely time making weird music, seemingly doing whatever he felt like from one moment to the next. The result is enjoyable chaos. 3.5/5.

Some songs are ok.

There's a category in my mind for this kind of album. An album you have to be a musician to appreciate and I'm no musician.

i so love it

Tell me you have ADHD without telling me you have ADHD. Todd: This album.

Strange psycho rock

weird, not for me

A tour-de-force kaleidoscope of psych folk pop gems

Rundgren is so prolific and productive that you've got to kiss a lot of frogs to get to the gems. And my word, does he splash a lot of paint all over the place here. Rundgren does a Medley containing four of the greatest classic soul songs of all time and goes out of his way to make them all sound like shit. Apparently the joke is that no white man should ever cover these songs. Music history is littered with artists following up a masterpiece by veering completely off the road in a way to prove something. And Rundgren gives off the impression here that he's almost embarrassed for making the pop classics "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw The Light" from his previous album. There's a reason Todd Rundgren was so sought after throughout his career as a producer. His induction in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is long overdue. I just wish he'd not feel guilty about having musical chops and an ear for good pop songs.

Psychedelic and weird. Very happy for the refresher on Rundgren. This will work it’s way into my normal listening.

Really strange but fun and I treating album

Странное и непонятное

Fux

A rich collection of quirky pop songs with a satisfying flow, nice drum sounds too.

Bit glossy and overproduced. Something about it just annoyed me.

A bit wacky but listenable. Sadly not a patch on “I Saw the Light in your Eyes” otherwise it would have scored higher

Very meh. Why is it that people who think they've had some kind of psychedelic break through all end up playing the same music.... Doesn't seem very original.

Nice discovery. This album feels like being on acids, but in a good way (which I think was Todd's goal).

Daft most of the time with a few good tunes.

A really weird album that just kinda works for me. Is it pop? Rock? Psychedelic rock? It's too long, and as a result probably not something I would return to in its entirety very often. But each of my three listens was really enjoyable and I found new elements I liked each time I came back. With half stars, this would probably get a 3.5, but we don't have half stars Saved: Never Never Land, Zen Archer, When the Shit Hits the Fan / Sunset Blvd.*, Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: International Feel; Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off; Rock & Roll Pussy; Flamingo; Zen Archer; Just Another Onionhead / Da Da Dali; Le Feel Internacionale; Is It My Name? Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: This album breaks my grading system by design. I very much enjoyed the listening experience even if I saved less than half of the individual tracks. 19 songs that flow together for just under an hour because the vast majority of them are little sub-2 minute sonic experiments. Fun and fancy free. Definitely an improvement over Something / Anything even if the highs are higher on that previous album.

Not my personal fave album but it's TR 🤷🏻‍♀️

Apparently reviews from the time found the first half too weird for its own good, which is sad, because I feel like the album might be even better if the second half was weirder.

Não funcionou como doses de psicodelia

Bananas. But in a good way

I have his album "Todd" from the next year, but don't remember much about it. I know he has a reputation for being uncompromisingly non-commercial in his approach to pop & rock. Sounds good on paper, but doesn't necessarily lead to good albums... Well, this one is surprisingly enjoyable. I like the aesthetic of short, almost-incomplete songs, which allows a restless switching around of styles. There's a sense of humour throughout, and some earnest emotional content. It's a fun album. 4*

Ehhh, was not a fan of this. Not a big Rundgren fan.

Experimentellt, rockigt, roligt och tokigt! A-sidan består mest av korta låtar på 1-2 minuter som flyter ihop i varandra, med undantag för albumets bästa låtföljd Flamingo -> Zen Archer. Flamingo är för övrigt samplad i Frank Oceans låt Solo. Mängden låtar gör att vissa blir lättare att glömma bort, men en efterhängande känsla av lekfullt kaos finns ändå. B-sidan innehåller bland annat ett 10 minuters medley där Rundgren sjunger fyra av sina favoritsoullåtar, vilket är KUL, ju. Annars är B-sidans bästa spår Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel, Does Anybody Love You?, samt avslutningsspåret Just One Victory. Ibland lite spretigt sound, men annars ett bra psykadeliadoftande album! Albumomslaget är för övrigt 5/5. Bästa låt: Zen Archer.

Not feelin this. Sorry Todd.

I believe Todd tries his best with creating something unique, but A Wizard is not a big success for me. Music is not defined, or perfected, by filling a near hour long record with weird spacey sound effects, confusing distortions and screamy vocals. Dogfight Giggle is 1:05 minute of a duck quacking and people laughing like morons, which I admit made me giggle like a complete moron as well. The jazzy melodies on "Zen Archer", and the ascending vocals on Sometimes I Don't Know are the highlights on here, because they complete enjoyable songs. To conclude, I wish more on here actually resembled music, but for comedic value this album will be worth your time. 2/5.

Incredible album! Cohesive, interesting, and boundary pushing. I can imagine how formative this must have been for experimental musicians. I'm very glad this has been put on my radar.

I made it halfway then skimmed the rest. Found it irritating. Needed editing. Too many different ideas in there so it all sounded like a mess. Not for me.

Weird. Definitely has been mined for some great hip hop samples though. Don't listen on youtube with ads.

This thing is all over the place.

7/10 very experimental and dreamy

Nope, long and didn’t find much.

Just bad. cluttered, no flow in the way the album is presented and half the songs sound like bad intros to a song we will never hear.

WTF this is some crazy experimental stuff from the 70s. The album is made up of quick snippets of unfinished songs and one ten minute journey of a track. Sounds like he was on a ton of psychs when he was recording, makes sense.

reallly weird. i’ve heard some of his mother music is good. but don’t love this album!

Psychedelic rock. I enjoyed the flow from one song to the other. A couple songs I really enjoyed.

It’s creative but a bit too out there to be something I’d regularly listen to.

Doctor Who enters our solar system and clones Carole King and together they bring a home 8 track recorder to Todd Rundgren's house, feed him LSD, and tell him to record an album with no commercial prospects yet must have a steady diet of major 7th chords, catchy melodies, and soaring harmonies. At least 9 of the songs must be under 2 minutes long, but cannot rely on "traditional" rock instrumentation or progressions. Todd responds with A Wizard, A True Star. I'm familiar with Rundgren's "hits" and much of the album "Something/Anything" but had never heard this one. This album is definitely out there but not caustically-weird, just.... more like a weird/interesting aural scrapbook. If you can call it a "flaw" it is apparently preferential and intentional - I know the album was constructed without respect to creating singles (specifically created without regard to complete songs - quote by TR himself - with *notable exception* of the last tune "Just One Victory" which definitely could have been) but that's also making it difficult to sink into so will require multiple listens. These types of albums are really hard to rate if you've (I've) never heard them before so it's likely unfair but I give this a 2; there's a lot of interesting work in here but it's too scattered for me.

Really excellent. I loved this album

Interesting trip man. 🍓

Horrific

Like a bad pastiche of Elton John

esta wea si q es buena ctm

Cooles album

Schmaler grat zwischen gefälligem Pop und ausgefallen schwierigem

As Stu said, definitely not boring. Felt very experimental, I liked some parts, did not like others (the entire onionhead song, for example).

An entertaining listen. Not sure I’ll revisit too often though.

Well, I put off listening to it, so that says a lot. I think what's annoying is there are snippets of great songs / melodies, but he's being wilfully obtuse and messing them up.

i now dread anything that this list throws up from the 70s. its always a combination of intense and drama school crap. fantastic production - the mixing is great, but the music is just annoying.

A bit weird and rambley, mish mash of genres and nothing really stood out

horrible

Discazo de canciones. Del space rock al progresivo, del heavy al pop sofisticado. Muy grande, inabarcable. La esquisitez del rock setentero impecablemente presentado. Genial.

Quite classic psychdelic rock from that era, I liked it.

At time of writing this review I had only listened to the full album of 19 tracks once. I can tell though, it’ll need more than one listen to appreciate the sounds and music in each one. There is enjoyment to be had but it will take time to put all the pieces together. I read that Todd Rundgren intended for this album to be listened to in its entirety from start to finish. I can appreciate this as each track does build on the previous. I’ve also concluded that this is a story of two parts...the first is one of, at times, crazy good times while the second settles into a more reflective life of funk, pop and soulful vocals while including beautiful lyrics such as.. “I don’t want a thing to mar this ever, the picture that we make; the balance of our minds together, the perfect give and take.” This half is also where I found the most enjoyment. I’ll definitely come back to this album and give it the attention it deserves. 3 Stars!

So happy this came up. Spend. More. Time. With. Todd.

Just a big musical album lol

The name screams "prog-rock"... let's find out.... Haha it was confirmed after the first note. Rock n Roll pussy. A colourful clusterfuck.

Hard hard work.

Aika taiteellista ja sekavaa menoa.:) Levyllä on hetkensä, mutta kokonaisuudesta en saa millään kiinni, että mitä tässä oikein tapahtuu. You Need Your Head ja Zen Archer saivat huomion kiinnittymään itseensä molemmilla kuuntelukerroilla. (P.S. Googlauksen perusteella tää oli joku happopäissään tehty levy, ei olis arvannut...)

Really good

This is mental. It's interesting and I'm sure ground breaking at the time. Glad I listened, wouldn't listen again

Pretty weird stuff. Almost good.

A ratos más guitarrero, en otras más templado. Buena voz. Buenos acompañamientos

70s, David Bowie vibes. Nostalgic. Syntetizers

#1

Good, not great - but useful to have heard

Una bogeria de disc d'un dels grans fundadors del rock progress. Fresc, lliure i imprevisible. Les cançons es van encadenant les unes amb les altres, barrejant versions amb originals. El conjunt és complex i té uns quants altibaixos, però les intencions i la llibertat de la proposta acaben decantant favorablement la balança.

Progressive pop. Es como un musical. No me aporta nada.

I wanted to like this but do not.

The sound is way ahead it’s time for 1972. Utterly bonkers in places but strangely enjoyable psychedelic.

I really like the eclectic style of this music.

Really weird album, but really enjoyed it. All over the place, but still coherent enough to be a really fun experience. Favorite tracks: “Zen Archer,” “Onionhead/Da Da Dali,” and “Medley:....”

I'm still not 100% on how I feel about this one, but it was by no stretch bad

Why haven’t I heard of this guy before?

Interesting, but probably wouldn't listen again

Rundgren is another artist I really need to dig into for a longer time. Whenever I listen to his music, I really like it, and then I forget for another year or so. One of my favorite new-ish bands, the Lemon Twigs, cite him as a major influence. I definitely hear that influence on this record. I'll be sure to revisit this one a few more times this next couple weeks as I can tell it's one that keeps on giving new gems over multiple listens.

Not a fan, too "artsy"

Es como si magical mystery tour y a night at the opera tuvieran un hijo deforme.

wasn't great and wasn't bad.

Coolness. But a measured taste.

Too much even for me.

Probably needs a lot of listens and drugs.

Wow, kind of stunned by this. How have I never heard of this guy? Hearing Lemon Twigs in this, and Jack White. If this came out now it would still sound edgy. Getting really yacht rock with the Medley. Second half of the album sounds more dated but I still like it overall.

🧐

interesting

This album blended songs together so seamlessly it was hard to tell where one track finished, and another began.

Boas ideias mas confuso dms pra mim

What the funk?

interessante mas meio confuso

I tried to have an open mind but this is just getting worse and worse every note I hear.

wtf con dogfight gligle...

I hated almost every second of this album. Its psychedelic rock at the worst and threw my anxiety into overdrive. The only time I didn’t want to gouge my ears out was during the medley of covers.

👍🏼 definitely need to listen to more of this guy. he has clear talent and imagination and all of the songs are incredibly varied and cool. the whole album is cohesive without merging too much but still if you listened to the first half of the album not in completion it wouldn’t really work. awesome album cover and i like the song names. come on a 4/named song ?! 👍🏼

Good christ. This is the worst list of albums ever

My stepdad is a Todd Rundgren fan so I heard this one early on. Also a favorite among college friends. I love these kinds of kitchen sink affairs where artists have the freedom/time to really explore possibilities in the studio. I wish more albums flowed like this one. Makes for quite a ride. Love that the ambition is tempered with humor along the way. Definitely his best album. A tour de force.

A name I've never heard before. Surprised to hear synths. Shit for 1973 this is quite modern with it's synth-explorations. Via Wikipedia: "The sound and structure of Wizard was heavily informed by Rundgren's hallucinogenic experiences. It was envisioned as a hallucinogenic-inspired 'flight plan' with all the tracks segueing seamlessly into each other, starting with a 'chaotic' mood and ending with a medley of his favorite soul song". Fascinating. Ok I just looked at the track list and I'm 4 songs in and thought I was still on track 1. Wow. "You Need Your Head" is crazy! I have a feeling I need to listen to this all again. Dogfight Giggle woooow lol. This is like some RCE mandatory overtime shit. This is a perfect follow-up to that Zappa album, there is much more "heart" in here for me, but I'm sure vocals help here. 3.5 to 4.

S'ok-ish. Not something I would be like aww shit put on some Todd Rundgren. But I wouldnt turn it off if it was on shuffle

odd and interesting

Okay, why did nobody tell me about this album until now?! An absolute kaleidoscope of sounds and styles, but all rooted in a really warm-sounding psychedelic pop/rock. I just wish someone had told me "hey, the first half on this album is basically side-B of Abbey Road, but for weirdos, and then it segues into a second half dominated by a medley of playful soul covers and an absolute power pop stomper ("Is It My Name?") Yeah it's weird stuff, which might explain the low rating. But if any of that sounds appealing, give this one a chance.

No nyt on progea. Välillä (aika usein) homma lähtee vähän (ihan täysin) lapasesta, mutta pidin varsinkin levyn rauhallisemmista osuuksista (osuuksista missä oli musiikkia).

Fav Song: Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel

Fun and interesting! Kind of reminds me of some of the Beatles' later songs.

Overblown. Not much to listen to

Felt like he was trying to be like frank zappa. Trying a little too hard to be weird. Musically ok but nothing life changing. Will try again another day

It is chaotic but a very interesting journey. Definitely an album that needs to be played straight through.

Zappa plus ELO. Cool!

Definitely sounded like a trip, and reading up on the background, he was spot on with his work.

Väldigt bra , i like it!

false

Ew

Great surprise this, could be a 5 after repeat listens

Interesting. Haven't listened carefully tho.

3.5-4

Sounds like an album that was written in some dude's bedroom while he was on psychedelics. There are plenty of "Mr. Kite's Glass Walrus" moments (and a John Lennon diss track, apparently), but it also manages the trick of staying down to earth without being particularly dense or impenetrable. Rundgren didn't release any singles because he wanted people to listen to the whole album straight through, which is typically an eyeroll worthy statement, but in this case, I think it's a cohesive enough unit that a straight listen is probably the best route to take. This thing got better as it went. A great listening experience. Best track: Just One Victory

I don’t recall a Wizard. Interesting take on borderline genre bending but nothing blew me away

Incredible album. The flow of the record is immaculate

Full-on space wizard stuff. Schizophrenic at times. A fun listen, but it does drag on a bit near the end. The medleys are super nice, and I appreciate that it gets noisy occasionally. Favorite tracks: "Zen Archer", "You Need Your Head", "Medley: I'm So Proud"

On first listen a brilliant but exhausting single LP (emphasized because of a 55+ minute runtime).

A brilliantly inventive album, and his use of synths as an instrument (as opposed to a shortcut to the sound made by an instrument) was ahead of its time. However, you'd be pressed to say that the songs themselves are his best work.