Critic's Review
Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Nazz vs. Toddzila is an interesting addendum to the Nazz story, collecting alternate takes, mixes, and demos into an enhanced package that also includes two videos ("Open My Eyes," "Not Wrong Long") and an extensive photo gallery. Todd Rundgren is the lead singer on most of the songs here, which is why they're worth seeking out. Stewkey (Robert Antoni) handled the lead vocals on the official releases of these tunes, so hearing Rundgren's first fledgling attempts at singing his own songs is revealing, and if things sound a little shaky in spots, the nascent style of the later Todd is definitely in place. Stewkey's amusing remix of "Hello It's Me," here called "Hello It's Crazy Me," is worth the price of admission alone. Nazz vs. Toddzila fits nicely as a third-disc rarities companion to Rhino's definitive Open Our Eyes anthology, and if you own both, you'll have a complete and thorough history of this fascinating band.
