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here [skip to discography] Combining an interest in all things musically adventurous with a gift for classic pop song craft, Todd Stadtman has dedicated himself to mining for the fresh and unexpected within the limits of the three minute pop single. The results are a body of songs called "graceful and classically structured" by the All Music Guide and a reputation that has lead Spain's aB Magazine to call him a "Genius of timeless pop". Stadtman began his musical career in San Francisco, fronting two popular local bands over a span of several years. The first, the art/punk trio B Team, was one of the top bands during the early days of the SF post punk scene, releasing two critically acclaimed E.P.s that received heavy college airplay across the U.S. and in Europe. He went on to serve as singer and principal song writer for The Naked Into, a moody pop outfit that also featured future American Music Club / Toiling Midgets member Lisa Davis and future Engine 88 drummer David Hawkins.
In the late 90's, Stadtman reunited with Naked Into guitarist David Rubinstein (who was working as an arranger for mainstream artists such as Sophie B. Hawkins and Chantal Kreviazuk) and the duo began recording under the group moniker Zikzak. Zikzak's debut cd "See You There" was released on Bitter Records in 2000. A collection of short, sharp and witty pop tunes, the album won critical praise. Splendid Ezine called it "Great pop music: lush, weird, pretty and sad", while the reviewer for webzine 181.4 DFN described it as "One of the best pure pop albums I've heard in a long time". After releasing a follow-up 7 inch in 2001, Stadtman and Rubinstein parted ways, though Stadtman continued briefly under the Zikzak name.
Stadtman recorded his next set of songs with the assistance of San Francisco soundtrack artists Pray for Rain (known for their work with director Alex Cox on such films as "Sid and Nancy", "Straight to Hell", and, recently, the the cult Japanese TV series, "Mike Yokohama"). Those sessions resulted in 2002's limited release "Anxotica" cd, a collection that included guest performances by American Music Club / Swans guitarist Vudi and Bar None recording artist Hannah Marcus.
In 2004 Stadtman returned to his native San Francisco and began working with Pray For Rain's Dan Wool on a follow up to "Anxotica". The result of their efforts was the 2005 Prix Fixe Records release "Only I Can Save You", an album praised for its unique marriage of classic pop song structures and hyper-modern production techniques.
2007 - eSingles Mouth In My Eye Produced by Todd Stadtman and Dan
Wool Players: Todd Stadtman: vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programming Dan Wool: programming, additional keyboards, vocals
Written by Todd Stadtman ©2006 Mighty Jack Music, BM
2005 - Only
I Can Save You Produced by Todd Stadtman and Dan
Wool Players: Todd Stadtman: vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass Dan Wool: programming, trumpet, additional keyboards
Tracks: 1. Back to Yourself 2. Something Less Than Tenderness 3. Jezebel Jones 4. I am Mr. Green 5. The Clock in My Heart 6. String of Pearls 7. I Don't Know Why She's Here* 8. I'm Good 9. Come Undone 10. Talking Through My Mouth 11. The Life She Dreams 12. I Wish You Were My Skin
*=mp3 available
All songs written by Todd Stadtman ©2004 Mighty Jack Music, BMI
2002 - Anxotica (Full length cd, self-released)
Produced by James Woody with Todd Stadtman Engineered and mixed by Dan Wool Recorded at Pray For Rain Soundtracks and Music Production, San Francisco, CA
Players: Todd Stadtman: vocals, guitars, bass, additional keyboards James Woody: drums & percussion, programming, keyboards, backing vocals, mandolin Dan Wool: programming, digital editing, trumpet, additional percussion Vudi: lead guitar on "Slow Fade" Hannah Marcus: accompanying vocal on "Summer's Gone" Gary Ruschman: backing vocals on "Sever", "This Town is Closed", "Love Gets in the Way" and "Slow Fade"
Tracks: 2. Should I Tell Her You've Gone? 3. Memory Fails Me 4. This Town is Closed 5. Summer's Gone 6. Sever 7. Expert* 8. She'll Pull Me Through 9. Love Gets in the Way 10. As If 11. You Will Obey 12. Slow Fade
*=mp3 available
All songs written by Todd Stadtman ©2001 Mighty Jack Music, BMI
2001 - Zikzak: Anna Li b/w I Lose the Tiny Man (7" single, Bitter Records)
Download "I Lose The Tiny Man"
Produced by Todd Stadtman and David Rubinstein Engineered and mixed by David Rubinstein Recorded at TSH Studios, Los Angeles,CA
Players: Todd Stadtman: vocals, bass, additional keyboards David Rubinstein: guitar, programming, keyboards
All songs written by Todd Stadtman ©1999, 2000 Bitter Twins Music, BMI
(Full length cd, Bitter Records) Produced by Todd Stadtman and David Rubinstein Engineered and mixed by David Rubinstein Recorded at Grubby Studios, Durham, NC and TSH Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Players: Todd Stadtman: lead vocals, bass, additional keyboards David Rubinstein: guitars, programming, keyboards, lead vocal on "You Choose"
Tracks: 1. You Strike Me Down 2. Purgatory in Motion 3. Halfway Down (Stadtman/Rubinstein) 4. Shatterproof 5. Because (Rubinstein) 6. You Choose (Rubinstein) 7. Everybody Look Into the Sun 8. Anna Li* 9. You Say That Love is Everything 10. My Brilliant Angel 11. Everything There is to Have* 11+. Hidden track: Everybody Look Into the Sun (French version)
*=mp3 available
All songs written by Todd Stadtman except where indicated ©1999 Bitter Twins Music, BMI
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