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Track Listings
| 1. Mad |
| 2. Afraid |
| 3. Mercenary |
| 4. Gun |
| 5. Courage |
| 6. Weakness |
| 7. Strike |
| 8. Pissin |
| 9. Today |
| 10. Bardo |
| 11. Mountaintop |
| 12. Panic |
| 13. Manup |
Product Description
Review
As every seasoned Todd watcher knows, the man has many sides, and those fond of the proggy, spiritual explorer may be a little shocked by Arena. For, like Peter Finch in Network, it appears that Rundgren is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Whereas on 2000's One Long Year he hated his ''frickin' ISP'', in these serious times things have been upped a notch.
The reasons for his ire are manifold. Current foreign and domestic affairs for starters. Gun is an hilarious boogie that proves once and for all that Todd is not about to become a member of the NRA. Meanwhile Mercenary and Today obviously stem from his disappointment at worldwide hypocrisy and trauma. At other times it's unnamed individuals that get the polymath's goat. Mad and Pissin' both confront people who get too close for comfort and cause him to ponder "How does one vent one's sense of sickness/At skull and skin of such vast thickness?". Turning 60 has not quenched his fire one iota.
After a 'guerrilla' tour of the States with a four-piece guitar outfit he's been inspired to make what the title confirms is widescreen arena rock. Of course this is Todd's version so while there's more metal in the mix than usual (Mercenary is as close to Metallica as he'll ever get, and Strike could actually BE AC/DC) it's still leavened with those swooning, soul-inflected harmonies.
Aside from the anger there's the usual subjects that TR fans will recognise. The constant re-evaluation of what it means to be a modern male (Courage), the belief in the power of love (Weakness) and the constant striving for self-improvement (Afraid Mountaintop). But fans of guitar god-Todd will be most happy. Bardo and Weakness are numbers that approach the bluesy, Hendrix-style lope of classics like Black Maria or Number 1 Lowest Common Denominator, where his axe lazily goes from woozy psychedelia to turned-to-11 histrionics. And just about every other track is riddled with axe frenzy. Hurrah.
If there's a downside it's the lack of a real band. ironically for the man who wrote the book on doing it all yourself (inspiring Prince among others) the modern digital process is slightly too clinical. You long for the glorious imperfections that marked his early work, where ambition overstepped technology.
But this is a minor drawback, and Arena is 13 songs of pepped-up, pop metal: intelligent, masterful and proof positive that age means little to Upper Darby's finest son. Invigorating stuff... --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In 2004, Rundgren impressed fans and critics alike with the mind blowing return-to-form retro modern album "Liars". Expect the unexpected from the Wizard, A True Star. Todd's back, but this time around he hasn't opted for the pop ballad route.
Rundgren's new album, "Arena", is a stripped down, back to basics collection of guitar rock anthems. Nuances and nods to vintage ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, RUSH, Robin Trower and AC/DC are on the menu of the day, but make no mistake, this isn't a thumbs up to AOR radio in the vein of REO Speedwagon, Foreigner and Journey.
Like Neil Young, Rundgren continues to push the envelope. Over a career that spans 40 years, his output is consistent and constantly surprising.
Twenty-eight years later, the former Hermit of Mink Hollow, continues to wave the rock'n'roll rule book in front of the noses of all those cynics who never even knew how to rock in the first place. It's a delightful display of self-recognition and an affirmation that the man is always on the edge.
What you get on the new album is a first class ticket to rock'n'roll salvation. Not only do the new songs display an emotional reaction, but, together, they represent a rock'n'roll mindset that doesn't date.
The album kicks off with the rock humdinger "Mad", followed by the lush mid-tempo power ballad, "Afraid." Make no mistake, on "Arena", Rundgren makes no concessions. This is a guitar rock album, simplified, potent and direct.
Third track in, TR hits the nail on the head with "Mercenary", a song that sounds like it could have stepped out of RUSH's "Moving Pictures" album. "How do you like me now?," screams Todd. No doubt, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson fans will love it.... Read more ›
Rundgren's new album, "Arena", is a stripped down, back to basics collection of guitar rock anthems. Nuances and nods to vintage ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, RUSH, Robin Trower and AC/DC are on the menu of the day, but make no mistake, this isn't a thumbs up to AOR radio in the vein of REO Speedwagon, Foreigner and Journey.
Like Neil Young, Rundgren continues to push the envelope. Over a career that spans 40 years, his output is consistent and constantly surprising.
Twenty-eight years later, the former Hermit of Mink Hollow, continues to wave the rock'n'roll rule book in front of the noses of all those cynics who never even knew how to rock in the first place. It's a delightful display of self-recognition and an affirmation that the man is always on the edge.
What you get on the new album is a first class ticket to rock'n'roll salvation. Not only do the new songs display an emotional reaction, but, together, they represent a rock'n'roll mindset that doesn't date.
The album kicks off with the rock humdinger "Mad", followed by the lush mid-tempo power ballad, "Afraid." Make no mistake, on "Arena", Rundgren makes no concessions. This is a guitar rock album, simplified, potent and direct.
Third track in, TR hits the nail on the head with "Mercenary", a song that sounds like it could have stepped out of RUSH's "Moving Pictures" album. "How do you like me now?," screams Todd. No doubt, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson fans will love it.... Read more ›
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
One of my simple rules of life is this; anyone who doesn't think that seventies Todd Rundgren is a musical genius cannot be trusted on any music related matter. Ever. Now, I'm not going to deny that Mr Rundgren has made life difficult for me from time to time. The late eighties and nineties, in particular, were fairly indefensible, but Liars was a return to form, despite selling about three copies, and when I heard that Arena was going to be a guitar heavy rock album, the anticipation levels went through the roof.
Now I'm sitting here with an advance copy of the nineteenth studio Todd album and it's pretty much everything I could have hoped for. Todd himself said Arena "is a definite return to riff-oriented guitar rock. It's supposed to make you reflexively pump your fist and wave a lighter in the air." Well, not quite, but it is a fabulous return to form and the music that made me swoon for him in the first place. Don't come here if you're looking for his experiments in a cappella, bossa nova, and rapping. This has much more in common with some of his heavier Utopia moments, minus the gibberish, and all the better for it.
The songs are all short, sharp and to the point, with even the titles restricting themselves to a single word. And for a man who has just turned sixty, he performs them with a fire in his belly. At times he even veers surprisingly close to metal as he rocks out hard, with "Gun", in particular, a pounding riff happy tune that should sound even better with a real band on his live dates. However, this is Todd Rundgren, so the album still manages to be a concept album, albeit a loose one about the nature of conflict.... Read more ›
Now I'm sitting here with an advance copy of the nineteenth studio Todd album and it's pretty much everything I could have hoped for. Todd himself said Arena "is a definite return to riff-oriented guitar rock. It's supposed to make you reflexively pump your fist and wave a lighter in the air." Well, not quite, but it is a fabulous return to form and the music that made me swoon for him in the first place. Don't come here if you're looking for his experiments in a cappella, bossa nova, and rapping. This has much more in common with some of his heavier Utopia moments, minus the gibberish, and all the better for it.
The songs are all short, sharp and to the point, with even the titles restricting themselves to a single word. And for a man who has just turned sixty, he performs them with a fire in his belly. At times he even veers surprisingly close to metal as he rocks out hard, with "Gun", in particular, a pounding riff happy tune that should sound even better with a real band on his live dates. However, this is Todd Rundgren, so the album still manages to be a concept album, albeit a loose one about the nature of conflict.... Read more ›
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was fortunate enough to hear a preview of this album and have two words for you..... "buy it!".
It is the best thing he has done in ages. Proper TR songs at last.
It is the best thing he has done in ages. Proper TR songs at last.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By C Smith
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Right.I've had this album for over two years now and played it tonight for the
umpteenth time and just wonder what some people want from a rock album.
It's bloody great.The people on here who want his earlier stuff like
Cliche regurgitated are looking in the wrong place. Todd Rundgren does not replicate
himself.He moves on.We've got to accept that and embrace it because that's what
makes the man he is.
It's exactly why fans like me have been into this fella for decades.
I remember this album getting reviewed in Mojo magazine and the reviewer saying
it's all the same pace.WHAT!Did he not hear the change in tempo from the rockers
to blues to the ballads? Did he listen to it?Probably not it seems.
One day TR will hang his boots up .The world will be a poorer place.
umpteenth time and just wonder what some people want from a rock album.
It's bloody great.The people on here who want his earlier stuff like
Cliche regurgitated are looking in the wrong place. Todd Rundgren does not replicate
himself.He moves on.We've got to accept that and embrace it because that's what
makes the man he is.
It's exactly why fans like me have been into this fella for decades.
I remember this album getting reviewed in Mojo magazine and the reviewer saying
it's all the same pace.WHAT!Did he not hear the change in tempo from the rockers
to blues to the ballads? Did he listen to it?Probably not it seems.
One day TR will hang his boots up .The world will be a poorer place.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By L Thornton
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I hadn't listened to Todd Rundgren in too long, then recently went on a voyage of rediscovery and browsed through some of his works on Amazon. I was intrigued by descriptions of Arena - the price was great so I chanced it. I'm really glad I did because I've had many hours of entertainment from this disc. Whether much of it was tongue in cheek who knows, but for sheer musicianship and entertainment value it's a blast. Yes there are plenty of nods to other bands and their works but it's still all Todd Rundgren and his singing and playing are really on great form - it's so easy to criticise but very very difficult to write songs with his feel for lyrics and melody, especially if there's a sense of humour in there too :)
There aren't many albums I've bought not knowing the songs where I've actually discovered I love most of the tracks, what a catalogue of surprises.
I didn't regret this purchase one bit and would recommend it to anyone who likes well produced rock music that's a bit different but still makes sense!
There aren't many albums I've bought not knowing the songs where I've actually discovered I love most of the tracks, what a catalogue of surprises.
I didn't regret this purchase one bit and would recommend it to anyone who likes well produced rock music that's a bit different but still makes sense!
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
An off day for the great Todd....
I really hoped that Todd would carry on the great work from "Liars" but sadly this album does not play to Todds strengths... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2011 by Ian R
3.0 out of 5 stars
Alright
Haven't listened to the CD much, but not really what I was looking for. Okay I suppose, but his older stuff is better.
Published on 28 May 2009 by C. J. Mclarnon
3.0 out of 5 stars
The sublime and the ridiculous....
Having purchased 'Liars' and found it a mildly intriguing and at times very enjoyable work I was compelled to purchase this latest offering. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by D. L. Young
2.0 out of 5 stars
Todd Rock
As a fan who is almost blind to Todd's faults, I was slightly disappointed by "Arena" While a solid rock album, it lacks the origionality that makes him one of the most inspiring... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by Terry Pike
2.0 out of 5 stars
a poor offering
For quite some time now, every other Todd Rundgren release has seen him delve into new musical territory, whether broadway, hip hop, bossa nova or RnB. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2008 by Alice
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not very good, eh?
It seems to me that people get overexcited when Todd Rundgren releases a "normal" album, so they tend to overrate it. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2008 by Asko
5.0 out of 5 stars
give it a listen
The first time I listened to this I thought ...Oh No !
So I gave it a few more listens.The more I listened the more I liked it. Read more
So I gave it a few more listens.The more I listened the more I liked it. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2008 by Sven Borax
5.0 out of 5 stars
TODD STRIKES BACK
THIS NEW RELEASE FROM TODD RUNDGREN ENCAPULATES ALL THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE GREAT MAN. GREAT GUITAR,CATCHY POP HOOKS AND HIS FAMOUS WALL OF SOUND DYNAMICS. Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2008 by C. Bowers
1.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointment
Having listened to Todd's latest several times I feel saddened that the person who gave us Cliche, Dream Goes on Forever, Heavy Metal Kids, Hurting for you and Love of the Common... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2008 by Mr. John L. Dyble
4.0 out of 5 stars
Todd's Rock Encyclopedia
This is a crazy album to review. You can absolutely love Rundgren for his willingness to write and play whatever he feels like it or be disappointed with his songwriting... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2008 by Juan Mobili
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