A Wizard, A True Star

.A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR is not the most humble album title ever, and the album fits it. In the tradition of sprawling pop messes like the Beatles' WHITE ALBUM or Game Theory's LOLITA NATION, a large part of this album's considerable charm is in its "throw it against the wall and see what sticks" construction.After three albums with Philadelphia's psych-pop Nazz and an equal number of exquisitely crafted AM-pop solo records, Rundgren felt the need to stretch. So side one of A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR consists of 12 ultra-brief song fragments and burbling synth solos. From the giggly "Rock and Roll Pussy" to the genuinely experimental finale "La Feel Internationale," variety is the watchword. Side two is only slightly more structured, with a 10-minute medley of '60s R&B hits dominating. Weird but often fascinating.