Todd Rundgren considered 1966 the beginning of his professional musical career, largely because
the Nazz formed around that time. As a celebration, he recorded
Faithful. Presumably,
Faithful celebrates the past and the future by juxtaposing a side of original pop material with a side of covers. Actually, "covers" isn't accurate -- the six oldies that comprise the entirety of side one are re-creations, with
Rundgren "faithfully" replicating the sound and feel of
the Yardbirds ("Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"),
Bob Dylan ("Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine"),
Jimi Hendrix ("If Six Was Nine"),
the Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations") and
the Beatles "("Rain," "Strawberry Fields Forever"). All of this is entertaining, to a certain extent, especially since it's remarkable how close
Rundgren comes to duplicating the very feel of the originals. Still, it's hard to see it as much more than a flamboyant throwaway, especially when compared with the glorious second side. For the first time since
Something/Anything?,
Rundgren allows himself to write and -- more importantly -- record straight-ahead pop songs. Certainly,
A Wizard, A True Star,
Todd and
Initiation had their share of great songs, but they weren't delivered as pop songs; they were telegraphed as art. Here,
Rundgren delivers pop and rock songs with ease, letting the melodies glide to the forefront. There are embellishments, of course, but the end result is a lushness that's apparent even on the hard rockers. If
Rundgren had made all of
Faithful originals, it would have been a pure pop masterpiece. As it stands, it's essential for the faithful -- not only for hardcore
Toddheads, but for devoted pop fans as well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine