Steely Dan - Two Against Nature
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Free Music Notes for Two Against Nature
Free Music Review: Vacation over
Hit: 5 Stars
How exciting was it when you read that Steely Dan was releasing a new recording after twenty years on the shelf? The only problem could be expectations raised to a level that no human could meet them. Oh, yeah, Becker and Fagen run counter to humanity..... they can do it!
There is humanity and more in " Two Against Nature". Always in search of obscure references, the disc begins with a song written as a skeleton of the old Charles Boyet film " Gaslight". " Gaslighting Abby" kicks things off with the quirky tunings we are used to, even some added sass. " What a Shame About Me" should become the official anthem for Yuppies everywhere who didn't quite fulfill their dreams. It's a great piece of music, but it's character is cloying. Perfect.
" Almost Gothic" and " Negative Girl" are both studies in how to become obsessed with obsession. Each portrait is of a female who is bewitching and dangerous. " Cousin Dupree" is so much fun it practically jumps off the disc. This one swings with a withering take on southern mores. " West of Hollywood" contains an extended instrumental exit, but the musicianship makes it welcome.
The vacation worked. Creativity abounds in this fantastic return. Observations are readily available, and these two will always twist them into a delicious musical adventure.
Free Music Review: More great (and hilarious) rock from two masters.
Hit: 5 Stars
The really great thing about this disc is that Fagen/Becker obviously wrote and recorded this material without even so much as a sideways glance at what's happening in the music scene today. This stuff could've just as well come out in 1978, and it would've sounded exactly the same. The bad part is that it'll never ever get any airplay, but I guess that's the loss of the mindless masses of sheep who follow trends.Anyway, most of these tunes are gems and overall this CD can hold it's ground with Aja or Countdown to Ecstacy. The last song, West of Hollywood, is my favorite with beautifully and subtlely shifting key signatures. This song also features a LONG, tasty sax solo by Chris Potter in the outro.
One thing that certainly hasn't changed is Donald Fagen's wierdness in his harmony as well as lyrics (not to mention his voice!). A few of these songs have interludes or bridges that fit the established harmony about as well as your car fits into Park at 75 mph. Also, these lyrics are confusing at very best (check out the demented Negative Girl---what's "chicken water"?!?!?). Don't take me wrong, I LOVE these things about the Dan and would never change them. They provide some comic relief and are an essential part of the strange and wonderful ingredients that make up Steely Dan.
Free Music Review: New Sounds from Pioneers
Hit: 5 Stars
It's no wonder at all this little jewel took home 3 grammies last night. The old team spent 1999 in the studio preparing for a turn-of-the-century comeback; and you've got to admit, they did a great job of it. This album proves what Donald and Walter have always tried to convey, a new fresh cut on modern music. While it would have been undoubtedly easier for Don and Walt to hit the studio and churn out more of their 70's fare; they instead have chosen to spent their nearly 2 decades "off the scene" growing and changing to once again bring the face of music a new set of sounds. So before delving into this album and expecting more of Rikki, Peg, and Josie; be prepared. This album does not have the 70's "Dan" trademark feel. Instead Donald and Walter have chosen to show us another face of music. While the new album has the same universal appeal of tight jazz chop layed onto a perfect rock groove, the sound is much more akin to Donald's 1994 solo album Kamakiriad. If you want to follow steely dan though a natural musical progression, I highly recommend the Citizen Steely Dan box set, followed by Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" and "Kamakiriad". Now you are ready to fully understand where 2vN, as we die hard dan-fans like to call it, fits into the picture.Free Music Review: Excellent
Hit: 5 Stars
The first few times I heard this, I thought it was probably a lesser Steely Dan effort. It isn't as melodic as most (any?) of their earlier albums -- Donald Fagan in fact was recently quoted as saying he no longer cares much about melody -- and the lyrics seemed to have more of a tendency to be mere one-note jokes than usual (Cousin Depree, in particular).
But, as I always do with Steely Dan efforts, I gave it more of a chance, and over time, it began to really glow. The lyrics seem to be less important here, consistent with my original impression. But now I don't see it as a bad thing -- instead, the lyrics often are sort of a rack to hang the hat on. The hat, being, of course, the music.
The music is very harmonically interesting in a way that grows more apparent with repeated listenings. No, it's not as melodic as some of their earlier efforts, but the melodies seem to support other things going on in the music, in the chords, the rhythm and the orchestration.
So, overall, it's hard to explain, but as another reviewer said "the real music is inside the music." I think that's exactly right.
If you've heard it and are thinking of putting it down as not being up to usual Dan quality, I strongly suggest you give it a couple more listens.
Free Music Review: excellent: 4 and 1/2 stars
Hit: 5 Stars
I put on "Aja" directly after playing "Two Against Nature" last night. I'm convinced that "Two Against Nature" is every bit as good and possibly better. Its lyrics are clever and funny (more clever, more funny, and much more mature than the lyrics of the Steely Dan of old). With the addition of clarinet and bass clarinet on most of the songs, these wind arrangements are more supple and compelling than the old ones were. Contrary to what some have said below, the record is very catchy, especially its "Jack of Speed" and its title song with its clever and unusual 4 + 2 beat. My favorite song, though, is "Almost Gothic"--as good as Steely Dan gets, in my opinion. I'm deducting 1/2 star because the sax solo on the last cut goes on about two minutes too long (it's only running the changes, after all--if deftly) and because there are no blistering guitar solos as on "My Old School", "Kid Charlemagne", etc. here.But is this the best pop record of 2000, as the Grammys contend? It's the best I've heard, and certainly much better than the other records nominated. (But then its rare nowadays to encounter pop music that has any music to it at all. "Two Against Nature" is very welcome. Steely Dan: THANK YOU.)