A straight rock album? Not quite...
Waiting for a new Todd Rundgren album is a strange experience, because you’re never sure what you’re going to get. Rundgren only makes an album when he’s got something to say, and he’s one hundred percent sure of how to say it. But that doesn’t mean he ever sticks to one genre. 'Arena' does exactly what it says on the cover, contains thirteen arena-rock songs. “Old-school guitar-rock” in Rundgren’s own words.
‘Mad’ and ‘Afraid’ are slow-burn rockers with thoughtful lyrics and decent riffs. The heavy rock kicks off with ‘Mercenary’ and its screamed “How do you like me now?” which is guaranteed to stick in your head. ‘Gun’ is interesting, because it sounds like it could have easily been written by Alice Cooper: “I’m young, dumb, and I’ve got a gun”. By this point you’re pretty sure Rundgren has a few issues with modern life. But the thrill of this track comes from the guitar work, particularly the solo, which could have come off a Wishbone Ash song.
What makes this record stand out from the average heavy rock offerings is that Rundgren will always include swirling harmonies and keyboards that offer a solid background for the riffs. So it sounds like him. Especially on slower tracks like ‘Courage’, where he ponders his worth as a man, and ‘Weakness’, a heart-wrenching love song. Suddenly gone is the anger at society, hangers-on, and the NRA. It’s like listening to a massive mood swing, without ever hitting a depressive low.
There’s a heavier reliance on blues than you’d expect, in the guitar work. The Zeppelin-meets-AC/DC stomp of ‘Strike’ showcases fantastic guitar work, as does the echoed haze of ‘Bardo’ and fuzzy chug of ‘Mountaintop’. But somewhere in the back of your mind you’re very aware that Rundgren is the pioneer of solo working, rather than having the back-up dynamic of a band playing together.
All of the songs here have a sharpness of perception and sense of humour in the lyrics that mean Rundgren can swing from being totally serious to riff-heavy gonzo rock without ever compromising the intelligence or value of his work. There’s a lot more studio wizardry here than you’d find on your average rock album, but what did you expect?
At an age where most artists would consider moving into crooner territory, it’s fantastic to find an album full of heavy-rock gems. Quick, someone do something to piss him off again…