A Wizard, A True Star

Artist	Todd Rundgren
Producer	Todd Rundgren
Label Name	Bearsville/Rhino
Song List	1: International Feel (2:50) 2: Never Never Land (1:34) 3: Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off (1:14) 4: You Need Your Head (1:02) 5: Rock & Roll Pussy (1:08) 6: Dogfight Giggle (1:05) 7: You Don't Have to Camp Around (1:03) 8: Flamingo (2:34) 9: Zen Archer (5:35) 10: Just Another Onionhead; da da Dali (2:23) 11: When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd. (4:02) 12: Le Feel Internacionale (1:51) 13: Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel (4:16) 14: Does Anybody Love You? (1:31) 15: I'm So Proud: Ooh Baby Baby/La la Means I Love You/Cool Jerk [Medley] (10:34) 16: Hungry for Love (2:18) 17: I Don't Want to Tie You Down (1:56) 18: Is It My Name? (4:01) 19: Just One Victory (4:59)
Format	CD
Run Time	55:56
Release Date	1990 10 25
Genre	Rock
Style.Categories	Album Rock, Proto-Punk, Pop/Rock, Power Pop, Psychedelic, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Hard Rock

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Something/Anything? proved that Todd Rundgren could write a pop classic as gracefully as any of his peers, but buried beneath the surface were signs that he would never be satisfied as merely a pop singer/songwriter. A close listen to the album reveals the eccentricities and restless spirit that surges to the forefront on its follow-up, A Wizard, a True Star. Anyone expecting the third record of Something/Anything?, filled with variations on "I Saw the Light" and "Hello It's Me," will be shocked by A Wizard. As much a mind-f*ck as an album, A Wizard, a True Star rarely breaks down to full-fledged songs, especially on the first side, where songs and melodies float in and out of a hazy post-psychedelic mist. Stylistically, there may not be much new -- he touched on so many different bases on Something/Anything? that it's hard to expand to new territory -- but it's all synthesized and assembled in fresh, strange ways. Often, it's a jarring, disturbing listen, especially since Rundgren's humor has turned bizarre and insular. It truly takes a concerted effort on the part of the listener to unravel the record, since Rundgren makes no concessions -- not only does the soul medley jerk in unpredictable ways, but the anthemic closer, "Just One Victory," is layered with so many overdubs that it's hard to hear its moving melody unless you pay attention. And that's the key to understanding A Wizard, a True Star -- it's one of those rare rock albums that demands full attention and, depending on your own vantage, it may even reward such close listening. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide