Upon its release,Rolling Stonecalled The Ballad of Todd Rundgren "the best albumPaul McCartney" never made, and even if the album doesn't sound particularlyMcCartney-esque, it does share the homespun, melodic charm of the best of his early albums. Arguably, it's better thanPaul's solo work, since it is focused and subtle, never drawing attention to Rundgren's considerable skills asa writer and producer. He tones down the hard rock and his impish wit, lending the album a senseofdirection missing onRunt. That's not to say he abandoned his sense of humor -- as if the cover shot of Rundgren sitting at a piano with a noose around his neck left any doubt. This time around, ittakes some careful listening to hear the jokes, such as the openingFloyd Cramerpiano lick on "Range War." On such clever in-jokes as "Chain Letter," as well as ballads like "Hope I'm Around," the artist reveals himself as an exceptional craftsman and songsmith. In fact, Ballad is considerably more song-oriented than its predecessor, with very little of the jams and instrumental sections that occasionally bogged downRunt. Here, even propulsive pop tunes such as "Bleeding" and "Long Flowing Robe," along with the hard rocker "Parole," are as much about the song as the performance, which is probably appropriate for an album called The Ballad of Todd Rundgren. Another thing about that title -- it may be a joke, but the album inarguably offers a glimpse into Rundgren's inner world through a combination of introspective ballads, off-hand jokes, musical virtuosity, outright weirdness, and unabashed showmanship. And that's the charm of The Ballad -- it's the slyly sardonic masterwork of a loner who may be sensitive, but is certainly not shy.