Todd Rundgren

Although he rarely gets credit for it, Todd Rundgren was one of the early supporters and pioneers of the video format -- filming numerous clips with either his band Utopia or as a solo artist. If you're looking for these early MTV favorites, check out Utopia's Retrospective 1977-1984, but if you want an interesting look into the twisted yet genius mind of Todd Rundgren, hunt down a copy of the DVD/video The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (not to be confused with the album of the same name). Featured throughout this 70-minute video are interviews done in what appears to be Rundgren's New York City apartment, in which Rundgren gives his views (in his trademark deadpan style) on a wide range of subjects -- music, drugs, religion. But the real attraction of TEPTAE is a variety of video collages set to some of Rundgren's best songs, including the humorous "An LP's Worth of Tunes" (which sees Rundgren hawking his records from house to house), a flashback to the early '70s and Rundgren's rejection of the mainstream with "Hello It's Me," a performance of "Real Man" at an outdoor venue with Utopia (the only live performance of the collection), and a strikingly psychedelic sequence in which a naked Rundgren gets caught in a snowstorm. Also featured as a bonus with the DVD version is the long out of print video EP Videosyncracy, which features three Rundgren clips -- "Can We Still Be Friends," "Time Heals," and "Hideaway." ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide