Haven’t seen anyone posting about this. Not everyday two of my heroes work together, and it has added political piquancy. This, from a recent interview in a Variety:
Variety – Donald Fagen sings lead on the anti-Trump song “Man in the Tin Foil Hat,” but it’s hard to tell who wrote what in the tune, because the chord progressions and biting humor both sound like both of you.
TR – That was one of the more interesting collaborations on the record, because it’s the only one in which me and my collaborator were in the same physical place at the same time. I’ve known Donald since he spent some time living out at Kauai, where I still live, and he just happened to be on vacation on the island in January. We went out to dinner, and I thought, well, geez, why don’t I just spring it on him? The song was primarily driven by our common frustration with what happened in the recent election. It was still pretty fresh, and we were still pretty mad about it, so it happened pretty organically. So who knows? If I’m actually in the room with a collaborator, a lot of things can happen. But I think the process of doing it remotely, where you sent the files to somebody else and give them the time they need to get comfortable and into the project, is actually an advantage. Because often if I’m in the same room with someone, I might be expressing an opinion that potentially could be useful, but it could also potentially stop any sort of creativity from happening. Because you start micromanaging things. As a producer, you kind of can’t help it.
Variety – The anti-Trump song you did with Fagen reminded me of when I saw you perform in Los Angeles last year, and right after you made some remarks about your feelings about Trump, the couple next to me angrily walked out. You left the impression that doesn’t bother you.
TR – No. If I had the power, I’d say: If you’re a Trump supporter, don’t come to my show, because you won’t have a good time. And also, I don’t understand your frickin’ values. Because I’m not singing about that. If you don’t understand that basic thing, you’re just fooling yourself. I guarantee that in this show, if you’re a Trump supporter, you will likely be offended. Let the buyer beware! I mean, if you can’t take a joke, or you can’t admit that you’ve made a mistake, you don’t belong with the rest of us. [Laughs]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GknsBhsYiL0
Thanks! That is an interesting combination: two idols for the price of one!
The new album got a strong review in The Times, yesterday. “Best since Nearly Human,” was the line, which will do for me.
So, best in nearly 30 years?! I’d agree with that, even if it’s a shock. I love Nearly Human but TR’s alarming lack of quality control makes me highly wary of any new material.
I’m sure this album will be okay. I’m kind of imagining something like his Re-Production album, which, although hardly a career highlight, was more entertaining and re-playable than his last two albums which I suspected were, for him, more about the technology he was noodling with than they were about the music. The last time he collaborated it was a tour with Joe Jackson which I had high hopes for as both are favourites of mine but the Hammersmith Apollo show I attended came over more like an unrehearsed pub gig with neither star shining brightly.
If you’ve been a Todd fan for any length of time, you’ll have had your share of disappointments. I gave up going to see him live after the Liars tour. But I admire him for sticking to his principles and he still has the ability to surprise on the upside.
I’ve listened. I can’t see me buying it in any hurry or playing it again. Shame as I’ve played many of his albums hundreds of times. I wish he’d make a proper album and use instruments instead of showing off how he can ‘make a whole album on his iPhone’ all the time.
I listened to Hermit of Mink Hollow again the other day and it’s still a fine record, full of great songs.
Recently I’ve been listening to and watching the “Todd Rundgren Live at the BBC 1972-1982” 3 CD + 1 DVD box. You can tell by the dates there that it’s going to be a cracking set full of top tunes from the golden era of Todd, and indeed that’s exactly what it is. It’s simply Todd-tastic. If you’re a Rundgren fan and you haven’t acquired this set, I’d recommend that you rectify that state of affairs straight away.
I have an old cassette copy of the 1975 BBC In Concert and versions of the Utopia material from other gigs around that time, but the ’72 material looks interesting. I might have to invest in this.