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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
His best yet?, April 19, 2005
"Liars" is, simply, a triumph. After a string of underrated albums in the 90's, an album of bossa nova remixes, and an odds n' ends stopgag, Todd Rundgren has delivered his best album in..well, maybe ever.
This is not a return to the "Something/Anything?" sound. It still retains the industrial, electronic feel of his TR-i stuff, but he adds a heavy dose of soul, making it a sort of hybrid of old Todd and new Todd. It's mostly synthesizer based (although a guitar pops up on a couple songs), so even when Todd dips into sweet blue eyed soul, it's backed with warm electronics.
Also, this is a long, dense concept album. Every song deals with the truth of some sort. Whether it's lies about religion, love, politics, or the future. Songs like "Afterlife" and "God Said" (among others) are absolute pinnacles in Todd's songwriting.
The opener "Truth" (as well as "Living") straddles the line between intense (the thunderous dance beat, intense synthesizers) and hooky (the pop chorus). It's an entrancing, hypnotic opener.
"Sweet", on the other hand, is smooth blue eyed soul. The chorus is great, and the bridge is amazing. "Soul Brother" (the most organic sounding thing on here) is a bitter tirade on how phony and pathetic soul music has become in recent years. Although the bitter tone is overshadowed by the incredible catchiness and pop sensibility of the song.
"Stood Up" is both serious and lighthearted, lyrically; if nothing else, it's 5 minutes of lush, electro-pop bliss (with a colorful, almost psychedelic sheen). The industrial rock of "Mammon" attacks organized religion in a harsh way. And "Past" is a gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad, with Todd's vocals oozing soul throughout.
Like "Truth", "Living" has a pulsating dance beat; it's even more hypnotic than the former, as the chorus hook is to die for (probably the first song on here that really hooked me). All and all, not much else to say but this song ROCKS. There's also a rare guitar solo towards the end!
The aforementioned "God Said" is another epic ballad with a majestic, ambient feel throughout. As I said, one of Todd's all time greatest lyrical compositions. Just beautiful. Same with "Afterlife", which has the most euphoric bridge/middle eight I've ever heard. It's truly affecting, emotionally.
On the closer "Liar", Todd channels Trent Reznor in the abrasive, metal-like screams on the chorus. Easily the most intense song Todd has done. It was absolutely killer when he did it live, too.
Other highlights include the goofy "Happy Anniversary", the Prince-like "Flaw" (melodic MF-bombs and all), and the futuristic [duh] "Future".
Behind "A Wizard, a True Star", this is my favorite Todd album. And I've heard all of his albums. That's an impressive feat, but this album is *that* good. Don't be put off at first - it's an extremely long album (close to 80 minutes), so it'll take at least 5 listens to sink in. It honestly gets better with each listen - songs I didn't care for the first few times would randomly just 'click', until I got to the point where I loved everything on here!
Truly one of Todd's best, if not *the* best. And that's no lie.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A BEAUTIFUL ALBUM ON THE UGLINESS OF LIES, September 1, 2004
AFTER a reviewer on this website had compared Todd Rundgren's "Liars" to sounding like the flip-side of his past classics such as "Initiation" and "Healing"...I was more than optimistic to purchase the album (even if the review seemed to reflect the album in a negative light). Ironically enough..."Liars" does highlight those albums in the fact that they are both thematic--"Healing" dealt with tapping into a means of mind over matter in a search for a cure-all illness resolution, while "Initiation" was more of a transcendental meditation in the quest for the meaning of life, as well as an expedition in finding the right spiritual path. The title of the latest exploration should serve as a hint of what the album is about, but for those who do not get it...Rundgren explains on the inner sleeve: "All of these songs are about a paucity of truth." Yes...Rundgren's latest effort deals not only with the current political situation, but observing a problem everyone is guilty of, that is, lying.
Released during a time of social turmoil when pointing the finger at that the real "evil doers" does more disaster than justice, Rundgren does not mention any names (anyone who purchased the interactive "the Individualist" knows exactly what I mean). But rather than pointing the finger (whatever finger that may be) at the right figure...this album observes the hypocrisy of all humankind. "Happy Anniversary" rings the dummy bell at the sexes and sexists with the brave yet truthful lyrics "men are stupid...women are evil," taking a peek view into the world of gossip and stereotyping heard in the babble of everyday conversation. "Soul Brother" deals with the death of the Motown sound and how soul has lost its spirit, hence: "And if you want to be a star/ Just grab your crotch and squeeze it hard..." Perhaps it's a slam at the "anyone can be rock star" generation of the latest corporate music phase introduced by "American Idol." And in a world of "extreme makeovers," "Flaw" reads beyond the cosmetic means in a man's struggle to find the women of his dreams: "And all my friends, they look at me/ Say 'she's a 10'...I know I should accept it all and overlook the little faults/But this one's a real deal breaker." In picking out the "flaw," the question is raised: "So why do you gotta be such a lyinass motherf***er?"
As for the sound goes..."Liars" is the most soulful album Rundgren has released since "Nearly Human." Yet it brings about some of his best recent efforts such as "Healing" and "Acappella." As with any album with the trademark Alchemedia name goes...has Rundgren ever put out a cheaply produced/engineered album...?
Yes, this album is all there...it is all Rundgren...just a different time in a different phase. Though this album will not get the radio play it deserves...it is perhaps the best album I have heard this year. Rundgren has not sold out, nor has he ignored his most prominent listeners. As in the past, he has remained intact with the recent social issues. He has once again found the most beautiful melodies to relate to the ignorance and greed of mankind. In the end all must remember...their is no guilt in telling the truth. Rundgren gives us "Just one Victory" once again! Thank-you Todd and all those who know!
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Get right with Todd, July 12, 2004
Well, you can't listen to everything, so it's taken me 35 years to "discover" Todd Rundgren as a great musical artist. Of course I was familiar with his radio hits and would buy a used record once in a while, but this is the first Todd album that I've played repeatedly over a period of time. I guess I've got the rest of my life to catch up on his other stuff. When I don't even need all the fingers on one hand to count the Sixties artists who are still making vital, relevant music in 2004, I can't believe some "fans" are carping because this doesn't sound just like something he did three decades ago. The lyrics are meaningful (now there's a twist on today's music) and witty, the production is crisp, and the singing and playing are great. Oh, yeah, and I saw Todd in concert for this first time this year, and he put on a helluva show.
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