Music Babble

I've dabbled in Camper Van Beethoven occasionally but the only song of theirs that sticks in my memory is "Take the Skinheads Bowling" (memorably used in Bowling For Columbine, albeit that was a cover by I think Teenage Fanclub). I occasionally feel like I should listen to their album where they cover Tusk in its entirety, and then I don't.

Don't besmirch Courtney Love in your Sonic Youth writeup - she could at least write hooks.

I like Todd okay, but it's definitely lacking in really memorable songs compared to his earlier few albums. I have it on a playlist that combines 10 of its 17 tracks with 11 of A Wizard/A True Star's 19, and it works fine there, but looking at the playlist I only remember a couple songs. "A Dream Goes On Forever" is nice, but you're right it's pretty generic (it also reminds me of Carole King's "So Far Away" in the chord sequence). My favorite part of it is side 4 - I like both "In and Out the Chakras We Go" and "Don't You Ever Learn", and "Sons of 1984" is a suitable closer even if it feels a little bit like a retread of "Just One Victory" from the prior album.

My own personal listen through Rundgren's discography stalled in the mid-90s a while back. I'm sure I'll eventually revisit them. But don't sleep on Healing, my favorite album of his, which I think does tread new ground. While there's the obligatory novelty song, it's otherwise very consistent.