Todd Rundgren - The Desktop Collection & 2nd Wind Live Recording Sessions

Amazon.com

Neither a live recording nor video retrospective--or even biography--this unique package is a combination of all three. The program begins with a set of songs recorded live in San Francisco for 1991's 2nd Wind. Rundgren briefly introduces each number, and interviews with band members, backup singers, and fans are sprinkled in between. It's an illuminating look at Rundgren's creative process, but only snippets of each song are included (presented in a four-camera, split-screen format). The Desktop Collection, on the other hand, consists of complete videos, most incorporating computer graphics. Ironically, the one that works best is "The Want of a Nail" (featuring Bobby Womack), from 1989's Nearly Human, which doesn't feature animation, but is instead a straight studio performance. The program concludes with a short interview with the musician billed as "TR-I" (the I is for interactive), the moniker Rundgren took on for 1993's No World Order. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Once again, rock 'n' roll maverick Todd Rundgren takes us into uncharted musical territory with his far-out experimental arrangements and intriguing music videos. This special double feature includes a live recording session at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts and an assortment of this prolific writer/producer/composer's computer-generated videos which have cultivated a ferociously dedicated cult audience. Each program also includes poignant interviews and insights into this pioneer's eclectic repertoire. Music videos: Change Myself, Theology, Fascist Christ, Property, Our Friend the Brain, Want of a Nail; Live music excerpts: Change Myself, Love Science, Who's Sorry Now, The Smell of Money, If I Have to Be Alone, Love in Disguise, Kindness, Public Servant, Gaya's Eyes, 2nd Wind.

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2004-02-04

If you like Todd, you have to want this. Nothing is better than seeing a live recording. The sound is great and the pictures are even better. If you like the album grab this DVD. I first bought this on VHS and it was borrowed and never returned, so that is the greatness of it. Everyone should see the genious. Get it and enjoy.

worth it for the animations alone.......2004-01-25

I'll admit right up front I am a solid TR fan, and have been for most of his career. His is a unique and rare talent, and this can cause some consternation for people used to the cookie-cutter, assembly-line mindset of most of the music industry. Todd is not afraid to launch off in strange, unusual, and even downright weird directions, and a hardcore fan like myself delights in the surprises and new ideas he tries, whether they work well or not.

Todd's music ranges from Broadway tunes to blazing heavy metal, and genres I can't even stick a name on. His album concepts are all over the place as well, from being virtually self-done, to vocal only, to having a large band. The bottom line with Todd is expect the unexpected. His musical, technical, and producing talent are legendary. He is a modern marvel.

Okay, enough hero worship. The high point of this DVD for me is the set of music video animations. These were produced with the help of an early render farm setup of Amiga 2000 computers with New Tek Video Toasters and Lightwave software. They have some serious historical value in terms of computer animation and computer platform development. (Yeah, I know there a jillions of you out there saying "Amiga? What's that? Look it up on the web. Amiga fanatics are still going strong.) This was groundbreaking animation work, folks. The Amiga and New Tek made a huge jump forward in video production and animation. (Remember Babylon 5? Would not have happened without the Amiga and Lightwave.) Lightwave is still a killer ap, available on other platforms.

Then there is the artistic value, which cannot be measured. I like the animations very much. Being a musician, I am also a big fan of performance music videos, and the full length video in the studio of his song, "Want of a Nail," is great. I would have liked to have seen more of the audience/studio segments go the full length of the song, but if you listen to the commentary, that would be extremely difficult to do, considering the way the pieces were recorded.

Don't buy this thinking you will get a bunch of full-length songs recorded in front of a live audience. (His rare explanations of the meanings of his songs are a cool part of those video segments, however.) Buy it for the animations. It is worth it for those alone.

Desktop Collection is worth the purchase.......2003-01-20

Perhaps some of the other reviewers didn't get far enough to look at the Desktop Collection. 6 full-length videos with great computer animation and a great studio video of "Want of a Nail". I'm just now watching the other section, but already feel like I got my moneys worth. The computer animation was way beyond state-of-the-art for videos from the early 90s - and creative/relevant as well.

Todds Art.......2002-09-26

It's a little too obvious that these other guys that gave this DVD a poor rating didn't get it. All they want is concert footage? I thinks this shows another amazing side of Todd's talent. The computer art is very inspiring, beautiful and challenging. Todd has always been a great computer artist. The clips of the tour band for the Nearly Human/Second Wind tour show them at work on rehearsals for the songs. I found it very interesting and fascinating, even just the brief clips of each song. It is rare that we even get art of this caliber anymore these days on DVD or CD, so I don't understand what they are really complaining about. I am also a Todd fan that has seen nearly every tour the guy has done, and I am completely satisfied with his work.

Is this a Joke?.......2002-07-13

Live?!

Well that's what the packaging says. There is a complete setlist written on the back. The description says its a live performance. But, they failed to tell me there was only 15 seconds of each song. Thats right, 15 SECONDS.

Each track begins with a loose explination of the song by Todd. The band starts to play the song, then, out of nowhere it 'fades' into the next track.

I don't really know the reason for selling a live performance that is missing the performance. I think I just got ripped off, and if I could get my money back, I would.

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