Steely Dan - Two Against Nature
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.40 You Save: $9.56 (68%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.03 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Two Against Nature
Free Music Review: Do you get it yet? It always was , always will be 2vN.
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, better put--do you really expect Fagen/Becker to do love songs, given what you know about Steely Dan? I didn't think so. These boys didn't do that pretty boy number even when they did "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number".... but they sure had the chops and the inventiveness. And they honed their craft till when you hear Steely Dan, you want and expect jazz laced musicianship punched with Fagen's trademark bluesy-whiney vocals and lyrics that relate some kinda nefarious scenario that personally you'd probably wouldn't wanna be into, but it sounds kew-ell...true, Fagen/Becker are probably in some arcane quantum pocket filled with literary allusions, rare jazz records of obscure artists, and midnight rides in the desert that we'd never understand, but that's just the point-- we, the listeners, are included in the "Nature" of 2vN...if, for example, you can't understand that 2 guys could go through all the stuff they have and still be friends, and still playing music together...if, for example, you can't understand Don and Walter aren't just in this biz just for the recognition and money (although, I'm sure they help) and it probably wouldn't matter a whit if they had a top 10 album or not...if, for example, you never had to go on any promotional effort for anything, then you will never get it...this is more of an affirmation of the infamous Becker/Fagen collaboration and friendship--an appreciation of each others talents and contributions to Steely Dan, Inc. than it is for us--we're just fortunate to be let in on the jam session. Do you get it yet?Free Music Review: 20 years later... still groovin'
Hit: 5 Stars
As a fan of all the Steely Dan albums from the 70's, as well as the solo projects (that is, what I've heard of them) I can pretty safely say that this is an instant classic among them all.From the infectious, punchy opening notes of "Gaslighting Abbie," I could tell that the Dan had not lost their edge. The slow, but funky "What a Shame About Me," is another worthy addition to the Dan repertoire. The title track is in 6/8, with great bassline and manic piano riffing, is a bit different from the Dan's other stuff in some ways. The chorus is one of the coolest thing they've ever done. Another funky groove with a cheery horn section is found in "Janie Runaway." The swirly, liquid texture of "Almost Gothic" are quite tasty. "Jack of Speed" reminds me very much of "the Royal Scam." A hot beat with attitude, and one of the best tracks on the disc. "Cousin Dupree" is probably the only non-country song about incest ever made, though it has a tongue-in-cheek country feel to it. "Negative Girl" has the same feel as "Almost Gothic" with complex dissonant jazz chords and nice drumming. The 8-minute mini-epic closes the album. 2000's answer to "Aja"? Not really, it's very different, but has it's own charm and points the the future of Steely Dan.
This album goes right up there with "Aja" and "The Royal Scam." The production is crystal-clear, the songwriting is memorable and original and the playing is rock-solid. Waht more could you ask for from these guys? This is it.
Free Music Review: WELL WORTH THE WAIT!
Hit: 5 Stars
After a 20 year absence, the "Dan" is back with their first studio album since "Gaucho", released in 1980. Little has changed in the "Dan" formula and what changes there are, are minor and in the background. The lyrics are still clear and impressionistic with topics ranging from intra-family relationships (Cousin Dupree) to yet another autobiographical song about L.A. (West of Hollywood). The production is purely top notch and polished. Gone, however are the "super session players" of "Dan" albums of the past (with the exception of Hugh McCracken and Dean Parks assisting with guitar duties on "Almost Gothic" and "Negative Girl" respectively). A pleasant surprise on this album is Walter Becker's guitar playing, which now takes center stage with the lack of all of the super-session guitarists of days gone by (IE: Larry Carlton, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter to name two). As for Don Fagen, his keyboard playing is outstanding as always, bouncing between playing a Rhodes, Piano, Wurlitzur and on one occasion, an organ. His style of playing flows between jazz and R & B. Another pleasant surprise is found on the final trak of the CD, entitled "West of Hollywood". Chris Potter's long tenor sax solo is reminiscent of Wayne Shorter's solo on the title track to the 1977 album, "Aja".If you are an old "Danophile" like myself or are thinking about purchasing your first Steely Dan CD, and like jazzed influenced tunes with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, GET THIS CD!
Free Music Review: "...No way back from there to here"
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are reading this, and the other reviews, because you are trying to figure out whether to buy or not (and you're over 20) you probably should just wait. The reason is, that when you do listen to it you will not know if you like it or not. And the reason for that is something I would not feel good telling you about... your best friends may already have done so anyway, sorry. And if you're that person thinking about 'getting into SD'; I would definitely wait a couple years until you can get the compilation retrospective sampler with 'the good stuff'. You'll read about people that are disappointed with it; you'll read here about people who are overwhelmingly happy about this new music. You will read the regularly appearing phrases: 'better than 90-95% of music out today (or ever)'; '...worth (or not worth) the wait.' Who are we kidding?
STEELY DAN, stating the obvious, is a voice in America. Even when not saying something brand new it speaks to us of us. But, when saying something new, we listen; as we would to old friends (though in this case very bad company). As years pass, these songs, as the others have, will slide into our lives as needed filters and fuses for 'That ...hooey' we meet. We will bring even this one with us on our field trips to our worlds. Which of us has not had to smirk through the grocery mart after hearing a SD groove rehashed by MUSAC! Irony within irony.
The truth is: If you are a fan, you already own it. Does a junkie like it? Get real, your hooked. '...there's no way back from there to here.'
Free Music Review: Their best EVER. Period.
Hit: 5 Stars
Would it be going way out on a limb to call this the best Steely Dan album ever? Definitely not: it is. Better than Aja? Amazing, but true: yes.The music is for the most part straight-ahead jazz; engineering, sound & performances are impeccable. Each cut is a carefully crafted gem, with arrangements so complex & deep you can happily drown in them, yet crisp and precise. The melodies (notably on "Almost Gothic," "Negative Girl" and "West of Hollywood") don't end up where they seem at first to be going, so it's a delightful challenge to try and capture them (you probably won't at first hearing). Unbelievably sophisticated and intricate.
OK, so why "the best SD album EVER"? First, because the musical arrangements have grown up with the guys. In the past, it seemed to me that from time to time, some really beautiful SD music was sometimes given short shrift in the orchestrations in favor of a decision to pander to pop dictates or to go for the "jokey": almost as if we were being instructed not to take this music TOO seriously. None of that here; the sound is fuller, richer, with every horn/string/etc. necessary. Truly beautiful music.
Second, because the songs themselves are as wicked and sly lyrically as any classic Dan, but suggest at the same time a certain middle-aged wistfullness and regret which I find quite engaging.
Chris Potter's sax solo on "West of Hollywood" deserves special attention - not that you could HELP hooking into it immediately!