Typically Todd Rundgren. Just as he had regained some of his credibility with the politically charged album Liars (2004), the eccentric singer / producer has released an album full of pompous stadium rock, appropriately titled Arena. Each song is made up of unwieldy riffs and sealed with overdriven power chords, in which Rundgren sings with sometimes low, overdriven and sometimes high falsetto voice.
For a parody it hasn't gone far enough, rather it seems that Rundgren has wanted to give in to a secret fascination with (now somewhat dated) hair metal from bands like Whitesnake, Twisted Sister and Van Halen. Todd Rundgren wouldn't be Todd Rundgren if he gave the whole thing a different meaning. In that case they are the lyrics that deviate from the boast of the rock genre and testify to self-doubt, genuine anger and frustration. That makes Arena fascinating in the end. (MS)more
