Getting to this album. The album is divided into four distinct halves, and Todd plays all of the instruments, and provides all of the vocals for the first three halves of the album. The first half (Disc 1, Tracks 1-6) is called "A Bouquet of Ear-Catching Melodies," and is comprised of mostly catchy, melodic pop tunes. "I Saw The Light" has been compared to Carole King. While his vocals seem like Carole King, the music on this track is much more upbeat and energetic than any typical King song. "Wolfman Jack" makes me wonder if it was inspired by the television host of the same name throughout the 70s. A fun, catchy, 50s-like track. "Cold Morning Light" is probably my favorite from this half. A lovely, airy, melancholic R&B ballad featuring Todd performing some wispy, poignant vocals.

The second half (Disc 1, Tracks 7-13) is called "The Cerebral Side," and is comprised of cerebral, experimental and/or psychedelicesque tracks. The Intro is Todd giving the listener a tour on studio functions. Quite a fun and interesting listen, while "Breathless" is a indescribable instrumental blending psychedelic, symphonic, R&B and dance flavors filtered through electronics. "Song of The Viking" seems like a tribute to Gilbert & Sullivan, as it's a quirky, show tunes-rock track. Todd doesn't have a British accent, so it's interesting hearing his voice backed up by a mostly British style of music. Fans of Queen, Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa and selected others will be especially fond of this track. Listen to this track, as well as many others on this album, on a good pair of headphones to catch many of the subtleties that may otherwise be missed.

The third half (Disc 2, Tracks 1-5) is called "The Kid Gets Heavy" and shows a more rocking side to Todd Rundgren. "Black Maria" is a slow rocker, while "One More Day" is a tasteful, soulful number. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" is unbelievably tasty and infectious - so much so, it hurts to listen to this at times. It's that good. The vocals, guitar strumming - everything here is excellent, while "Little Red Lights" is a scorching rocker, featuring roaring distortion to resemble that of Jimi Hendrix. The fourth half (Disc 2, Tracks 6-12) is called "Baby Needs A New Pair of Snakeskin Boots," which is a live in-studio recording featuring a full band, and is supposed to be a rock operetta. Each track features silly, funny comments and shenanigans at the end and beginning of each track by band members, which are made to look like dialogue, and are reprinted as such in the sleeve. "Dust In The Wind" is a poignant ballad with some tasteful, R&B-esque guitar, sax and lovely vocals, while "Piss Aaron" is an hilarious song dealing with a person who has trouble with his bladder. "Hello It's Me" is the elegant Philly Soul/jazzy ballad that everyone probably knows Todd Rundgren by. However, when hearing this song in the context of the rest of the album, one will have the right perspective regarding Todd's musical personality, as the dialogue heard before and after the song ends was never heard on the radio. This offers an interesting perspective. "You Left Me Sore" is also somewhat hilarious, at least when hearing the dialogue. This song is something of a double-entendre: it can mean that the protagonist was left sore due to his love leaving him, or it could mean he was left sore - literally, after contracting a venereal disease. You decide. While "Slut" is a Rolling Stonesesque rocker to close out this juggernaut.

This album is definitely the recommended place to start as you get the essence - the closest you'll get to the FULL essence - of Todd Rundgren's creativity, and arguably at it's most accessible. The album is infectious, diverse, cerebral, intelligent and utterly moving. Don't believe the idea of Todd being just a ballad writer, as his styles run the gamut.


The Todd Rundgren Experiment   May 22, 2001
 16 out of 19 found this review helpful

Upon the initial complete first listening of "Something/Anything", perhaps the conclusion you just might come to is that it's two albums in one - in that one, it gives you the feel of what a recording session sounds like. Two, with so many different musical styles displayed here, "Something/Anything" sounds like the ultimate concept album, which, in a way, it is. Todd Rundgren puts his all both musically and creatively into this double-CD of songs that range from the sublime ["Wolfman Jack", "It Takes Two To Tango (This Is For The Girls)" and "The Night The Carousel Burnt Down"], to the ridiculous ("Intro", "Saving Grace", [with its bizarre, Satanic-like intro], "Song Of The Viking", "I Went To The Mirror" [with its warped, psychedelic-etched vocalization done by TR], "Piss Aaron" [join Todd as he takes you on a guided tour through high school life, with the adventures of three misguided, aimless lads named "Piss Aaron", "Dumb Larry" and "Chuck Biscuits"] and "Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me". If its sensible tunes you're looking for here, don't despair, 'cause TR aims to please with "I Saw The Light" and "Hello It's Me", both of which made the Billboard Top 20 charts in 1972 and 1973, respectively. Can't get enough of those sensible, heart warming ballads? To wet your appetite, there's "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference". This Rundgren composition was also recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Tom Middleton, whose version of this tune was out at the same time Todd's version was. But, unlike Rundgren's original rendition, which didn't chart, Middleton's version latched onto the Canadian music charts. "Cold Morning Light", "Sweeter Memories" and "Marlene" are the other somber, heart-achy ballads that'll possibly have you weeping a tear or two as soon as you've finished listening to them. The dialogue that takes place between certain tracks is quite innovative, yet unusual. Speaking of innovations, it's a shame TR's patented guitar voice box device (which has been used by the likes of Peter Frampton, among others) isn't featured here, for Todd most likely invented that sometime after "Something/Anything" was released. For those of you looking to discover the unique, highly intellectual sounds of Todd Rundgren for the very first time, but you're not sure where to begin, I would suggest starting with this double-CD masterpiece, since there's an entire potpourri of various musical styles featured here. That should give you all the information you need to know about the man known affectionately as Todd Rundgren, and his music. I would advise that you not wait too long in purchasing "Something/Anything", 'cause there's only so much physical material made available that's used to manufacture a CD. In other words, nothing in this world lasts forever, so make that all-important purchase today, before it's too late!


Runt's Magnum Opus   July 16, 2001
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Something/Anything? is a sprawling, ambitious double album from studio wiz Todd Rundgren. For the first three quarters of the album, Mr. Rundgren plays all the instruments, sings all the parts and produces. It was a pattern that Prince would follow for much of his essential work. The last side of the original album was a live in studio song suite that he recorded with a full band. The album touches on numerous musical styles for power pop to rock to soul to jazz and everything in between. But it doesn't matter what the musical style is or method of recording, the effort is the strongest of his career. The album's opening track, "I Saw The Light", is an amazing piece of music. It has a glossy, Wall of Sound style with a multi-layered and textured vocal. It is one of the ten best songs from the 70's and a classic. "The Night They Burned The Carousel Down" is an ambitious effort, "Black Maria" has a gothic feel, "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" has a soulful style, "Piss Aaron" is a humorous song about a kid who can't control his bowel movements and "Slut" is a blaring rocker with a glam rock feel. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" is a great, fast paced song with a great acoustic guitar riff. "Hello, It's Me" was originally recorded with his first band the Nazz back in 1968. Mr. Rundgren didn't not sing lead on the Nazz version, but he provides a Philly soul inspired effort that propelled the song up to number five making it his only top ten hit. Something/Anything? is often overlooked and rarely mentioned when discussing the all-time great records, but it a great effort that stands toe to toe with just about any record released in the 70's.


The Kid takes one out of the park   November 16, 1998
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The poignancy and bittersweetness of so many of the songs on this, arguably the greatest pop album since the Fab Four went their separate ways, only becomes more pronounced as the years pass and Rundgren's self-imposed exile from the pop firmament seems final. Never has an artist thrown so much talent and charm on the table in a single sitting, which makes Todd's subsequent meanderings all the more frustrating. Still, Something/Anything? stands as the tastiest collection of tunes you'll ever be lucky enough to hear in one place. Buy a copy today. Listen to "I Saw the Light." And wonder why a hack like Billy Joel has sold 100 million records while most of your friends never heard of Todd Rundgren.


I (Finally) Saw The Light   May 14, 1999
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

My boyfriend recently purchased "Something/Anything?" for me and it has rarely left my stereo since. In 1972 I was around four years old, and I never really paid any attention to Rundgren, spending my formative years listening to Bowie and Costello, oblivious to what would years later become one of my favourite CD's. I haven't been this charmed since first hearing Phil Seymour. This is what bliss sounds like, unadulterated joy and catchy pop sensibilty, at times almost painful in it's sincerity. All too wonderful.