One Long Year

Digitally remastered edition of this 2000 album from the acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer. The record featured material that Todd had previously only made available by his exclusive Patronet internet facility, a groundbreaking means of connecting directly with his global fan base (a service very much ahead of its time). This edition fully restores all original album artwork and features a new essay. Esoteric. 2011.

Todd Rundgren's interests since the 1980s have encompassed a number of cutting-edge technologies, but the one that seems to hold the most revolutionary promise is Patro-Net, an online service that allows Rundgren fans a monthly subscription to his music. This collection represents the service's monthly singles releases for 1999 and it's a refreshing reminder of the restless musical talent that's too often been overshadowed by Rundgren's techno-geek impulses. Though still clearly a child of 1960s Top 40 radio, he's gratifyingly adopted its inclusive sensibility to absorb any number of trends into his work. Careening joyously from alt-rock sass ("I Hate My Frickin' ISP") through '70s rock-star histrionics ("Buffalo Grass," "The Surf Talks") to faux Stax R&B ("Hit Me Like a Train"), with some typical Rundgren loopiness thrown in for good measure ("Bang on the Ukulele Daily," a tongue-in-cheek Hawaiian war-chant take on "Bang on the Drum" that sounds uncannily--and uncomfortably--like Billy Joel). The odes to Rundgren's techno/trance pioneering with Utopia are a decidedly mixed bag, while "Where Does the Time Go" is another seemingly effortless pop ballad in the "Can We Still Be Friends?" mold. All in all, this represents a good year's work from an artist who deserves considerably more than cult status. --Jerry McCulley