SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TODD RUNDGREN – GLOBAL (REISSUE)

TODD RUNDGREN
GLOBAL (REISSUE)
CLEOPATRA RECORDS

Global was originally released in 2015 and was Todd Rundgren’s 25th studio album. This was a particularly prolific time for Rundgren, who released two albums that year. This re-release, on Cleopatra Records, is very synth and techno-based.

Rundgren creates some interesting sound tracks (“Earth Mother” and “Fate”) and he seems to be having fun. However, Rundgren always returns to the melody and makes the music accessible. A song like “Terra Firma” is classic Rundgren, featuring outstanding vocals. Then there are songs like “Holyland” that are very bouncing and poppy. “Holyland” is a bit of an earworm, but with a very powerful and empowering message.

Once again, with a couple of exceptions, Rundgren played all the instruments, produced, and mixed the album. And, again, he designed the sleeve. He also wrote all the songs, with the exception of the bonus tracks. However, there are some guests on this album, which contributes to the album being more interesting and diverse. Kasim Sulton contributed to “Skyscraper” while Jill Sobule, Tal Wikenfeld, Rachel Haden, Janet Kirker and Rundgren’s wife, Michele Rundgren can be heard on “Earth Mother”).

The bonus tracks are covers, such as Badfinger/Harry Nilsson’s “Without You”, which he recorded with Joey Molland of Badfinger, Yes’s “Roundabout” (featuring Tony Kaye), “Alabama Song” (with Whiskey Bar) and “Flappe”, a very amusing but dark  cover of a Dutch Christmas song by Dutch comedian Youp van ‘t Hek.

Global is an interesting album from a very distinct era of Rundgren. By the 2000s and 2010s, Rundgren abandoned all ideas of writing ‘hit’ music and decided to do as he pleased. The end result is this great album, full of great songs and electronic sounds. Rundgren is obviously entertaining himself, but in doing so, he created an album that would please many others.

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