As Walter Becker and Donald Fagen get older and more relaxed, Steely Dan's music turns even more jazzier. There's nothing groundbreaking or innovative here and that's just how I like it. Entertainment Weekly claimed that this album is full of "tunes that are 30 years old at this point." But when you're my age, you can't take those words pejoratively. The group's characteristic lush harmonies, sonic textures, and intricate arrangements are all present which should make old SD fans happy but won't grab any new fans. The band is tight, but I sure wouldn't have minded if the band had brought back some old friends (Steve Gadd, Jay Graydon, Wayne Shorter, etc) for this one. I think I like this album because (for the most part) it sounds more like The Nightfly than any subsequent Fagen solo album. As of this writing, this is Steely Dan's most recent release; Fagen has released two solo albums since 2003.
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #9 (June 28, 2003)
Tracks: The better tracks are The Last Mall, Blues Beach, and Lunch With Gina. I'm not wild about Green Book or Becker's vocals on Slang Of Ages.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
Two Against Nature (2000)
Alive In America (1995)
A Decade of Steely Dan (1985)
Aja (1977)
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