And yet, even though I've listened to it hundreds of times, I still don't know what Carousel is about. I think it's more of a song scape. Todd's creating a picture with his words. The lyrics paint a scene, rather than tell a story. And that sound effect near the end you said was a fire? To me, it sounds more like a jet taking off (in reference to the line “We all left town the very next day….”) I think the spookiest part of the song is the slowed down vocal tacked on after the fade out. Todd sings something like “I will tell you of one or two of the funny things in your life you ain't never had a chance to feel” but it is slowed down so it sounds like a huge slug singing. And then it goes straight into the count down for the most optimistic number on the album “Saving Grace”.

I owned the album since 1974 when I found a copy for $1.99 as a cut out at Montgomery Ward's. I already had the single of “Hello, It's Me”, so I figured I would like the album. My 13 year old mind was totally not ready for “I Went To The Mirror”. In fact, I usually just took the needle off the record after “Song of the Viking”. Since “Mirror” was the last song on side 2, it wasn't a big deal to skip it. But now that I'm older, I can appreciate the song's brilliance, as I have often felt the same way looking into the mirror in the morning.

So subjective–and no one's right by the way. Sometimes I come on strong but always remember in the back of my mind I'm thinking something the guy who posts as “MojoHater” once put so eloquently: “Opinions are like a$$holes, everybody's got 'em.”

(a) Double album
(b) All written, arranged, produced and played by the artist (with some exceptions)
(c) Unbelievably diverse musical styles
(d) Possibly the high point of each's careers
(e) Two biggest hit singles are on the first and second half of the work.

If a comparison is going to be made of Stairway & the Cross, though, I'd say Black Maria comes closest on Todd's album.

It's hard to put them in the same ballpark though. In fact, I can't. Prince's own “Stairway to Heaven” was “The Cross.” There's no such something or anything ilke it, here…I mean, “Piss Aaron?” Maybe I just am overvaluing Sign O, I dunno.

Yet, I cannot dispute that Rundgren is/was a genius keyboard player, underappreciated, all that. “I Saw the Light” and “Wolfman Jack” are clearly two of his best cuts, ever, and that's just the kickoff to this record. The “Money/Messin' WIth the Kid” overture vintage recordings on this album show not only that he is willing to put old stuff and show his garage-rock stripes, but his willingness to interrupt his masterwork and show from where he came…and own it. I thought that was ballsy–and a great changeup to the rest of the album. Also earns lots of points among us garage-rock maniacs who feel that perhaps his coolest phase was with The Nazz.

And I did catch your “joy in repetition” Prince quotage…good post