Todd Rundgren Initiation CD

 I have a favorite album
I like a favorite album is a wizard of a true star, initiation, utopia last of the new wave riders, utopia live in tokyo , TODD cd and back to the bars
Submitted by jel_droopten (san francisco, california, USA)
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 Overlooked Masterpiece
It's just plain & simple, this is one of those records you just "get" or "don't get"! Funny how Todd comically pokes fun at "real" rockers that don't get his synthesized noise. Being a musician and studio owner, it amazes me how this thing still holds up after a quarter of a century. This is "the" record that made me stand up and pay close attention to anuything this guy releases, whether you like it or not, it is always interesting and humourous. To view this as mechanized or lacking emotion is not understanding the complexites of music. To even compare it to Lou Reed's machine noise is ludicrous. It's like comparing the sandy white beaches and clear water of Tahiti to Mississippi mud and muck of the delta below New Orleans. They are both earth & water but as different as night & day. This is a brilliant album, start to finish, check it out, hopefully, you'll "get it".
Submitted by Mark (Charlotte NC)
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 An oft-overlooked Todd MASTERPIECE
Initiation is easily one of Todd Rundgren's greatest musical accomplishments of all time. It's sad that such a beautiful musical statement is so often overlooked or bashed by impatient/ignorant listeners. Everything on this album (including Treatise on Cosmic Fire) is brilliantly written, flawlessly arranged and performed, and immaculately produced. From the synth pop-soul of "Real Man" to melodic rock (Death of Rock n' Roll) to lush ballads (Fair Warning), it's all covered here, and Todd was at the top of his game throughout. Don't pay heed to the negative reviews here! Buy this album pronto!!
Submitted by Jesse (Westland, MI, USA)
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 Half OK - Half Unlistenable
The thing to remember about experimentation, particularly in music, is that sometimes the experiement goes bad...don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE Todd-Head - but "Initiation" is annoying - big on technical show but too incohesive and self indulgent to really be enjoyed as an "album". Although the computer programming is impressive for being ahead of it's time on "Treatise..." ; it's also indicative of a cold machine-like indifference that only leaves one wondering why they are listening to it in the first place.(re: Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music) Although "Initiation" contains a few well known Todd standards, it still seems as though a different album should have been made with these tracks along side the second half of "Faithful" instead. What we have here is a shizophrenic menagerie that continues on that subsequent release. "Initiation" is not for the casual Todd listener, and one indeed has to be intiated in order to endure it.
Submitted by raqvb (washDC)
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