Todd Rundgren - WHITE KNIGHT ((Vinyl))

Todd Rundgren prides himself in defying easy categorization and while that restlessness has resulted in brilliant work, it's also led him to cut confounding records. White Knight belongs to the latter category. A star-studded affair -- 12 of the 15 songs feature a collaborator -- White Knight covers a lot of stylistic ground (as would be fitting on a record that features Daryl Hall, Joe Walsh, Trent Reznor, and Robyn), but it's constricted by its chintzy production. A master of the studio, Rundgren jettisons any semblance of warmth for a crisp, clean computerized sound -- an aesthetic that has been common for Todd in the 21st century. Happily, every one of the featured musicians is game to play along with Rundgren. Reznor and his partner Atticus Ross give "Deaf Ears" some chilly dissonance, Daryl Hall brings soul to "Chance for Us," Moe Berg's turn on "Let's Do This" is buoyant power pop, Robyn is an ideal counterpoint on the AOR ballad "That Could Have Been Me," and you can hear Donald Fagen grin on the anti-Trump groover "Tin Foil Hat." All these prove that White Knight has a strong song foundation. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• RSD Release Date: DDD
• Genre: Pop