Review Summary: A chocolate orange of an album.
Steely dan are a band like no other, technically they're not even a band. More so primarily composed of two songwriters; Donald (lead singer and keyboardist) and Walter (rhythm guitarist) who like to bring hired guns in to craft their work into luscious jazzy-funky-poppy cocktails. Steely dan have been around for quite some time now, and for well over 3 decades have smothered the air waves with accessible hits, that have enough complex delights in the musicianship to please even the snobbiest.
After a string of successful albums in the 70s, a sub par record, drug problems and ultimately a hiatus, this record would serve as a comeback/return to form plan of attack by the band.
Steely dan - two against nature
1. Gaslighting Abbie
Straight away, you can smell the funk. This track has all the ingredients to make a stinky funk pie. Hip hop drums, a sexy bass line, slick guitar licks and staccato keys. The verse commands toes to tap and heads to bop. Subtle horn lines complement the rhythm section in the right place, which makes you realize, these two song writers are on the top of their game. The vocal melody meanwhile, plays it safe, but then the chorus hits. In the verse you can smell the funk, but the chorus absolutely reeks of the stuff. Unorthodox vocal harmonies catch you off guard while that sexy bass line shifts the key accordingly, making your nostrils burn with the pungent aroma. Batman.
2. What a shame about me
Modal is a word, and It can be used to describe this song. Not quite happy, not quite sad. Hopeful with a pinch of remorse. The pace is a little faster compared to Gaslighting Abbie, but this track still funks like vanilla ice. The lyrics tell an interesting tale of different peoples perspectives of life's that have crashed. But that said, the modal tone of the funk drives the song away from morbidness. Gandalf.
3. Two against nature
As the title track, one would assume that this would be the song two make you puke with ecstasy. Unfortunately this track simply becomes filler, due to the drawn out verses and uninteresting chorus. Very reminiscent of their gaucho album, where the ideas were flawed and the songs weren't executed like a steely dan execution should execute.
Ultimately this track becomes skip able, which is a shame considering the quality of the first two tracks. Simon cowell.
4. Janie runaway
Can you smell that? Smells like the first track. Yes, Janie runaway follows the same suite as Gaslighting abbey, with a smooth verse and an unorthodox chorus but still manages to funk it's way to the finish line without tripping and falling flat on its face. One major difference is the playful and dreamy sound of this chorus, almost childlike but mature juxtaposition. Jackie chan.
5. Almost gothic
So far we've had a track that has funked, a track that has modal-ed and a track that has been auto-skipped. So now it's time for somthing completely different: modal funk. Quite simply, take some funk, give it a wash and you get this lost genre. Almost gothic is almost funky, but it feels like a band that is afraid to funk. All in all though there's enough interesting shenanigans wistfully glued together to complete the canvas. Mr T.
6. Jack of speed
The main problem with steely dan's sub par record gaucho, was that there were overly long songs that felt a bit dead inside. Jack of speed is a longish song at over 6 minutes, but it lives. The keyboard plonks a great riff throughout and the horns breath life into it like a paramedic. Another modal-funkesque tune that could never drag, even on gravel. Nelson Mandela.
7. Cousin Dupree
A controversial song and here's why. It's not the fact that the lyrics suggest incest/infidelity. In fact, this song would be right at home on steely dans other releases. But on this album, it just doesn't work. Cousin Dupree has an uptempo rhythm and a positive tone. The lyrics are straightforward and get their point across well, and it's because of this that it feels out of place. Katie price.
8. Negative girl
A return to the modal feel of previous tracks, but slightly more spacey and experimental. The beat in this song is nearly absent, and the delay is cranked up on the guitar to the point where the notes float into a black hole. An interesting track, although different from the rest but unlike cousin Dupree, it doesn't feel out of place. Sean Connery.
9. West of Hollywood
The only way to describe this track, is it sounds like a runaway train hi-jacked by a modal-jazz pop band. As the closer to the album it is also the longest song, a wise move for some. Delightfully west of Hollywood doesn't faulter. It features a lengthy guitar solo, which isn't overly technical and easy to digest. What is technical though is the virtuosic saxaphone puffer in the closing section of the song. This human being must have a good few sets of lungs as he proceeds to kick the *** out of his brass, turning it into a sex-a-phone to the listeners delight. The bass line is also splendid, as it pops up now and again with a solid groove, like it's saying "hello." Eddie Guerrero.
Conclusion
Steely dan are on it like a gromit with this pudding. The album reeks of funk and drips with jazz, all the while maintaining a sound that won't make hair fall out. 1 or 2 tracks are a little bit underwhelmed by the presence of many flawless compositions, which is a shame but not a major letdown to an enjoyable listen. 4/5
