Steely Dan - Everything Must Go (CD & DVD)

Our price:	$22.98
Media:	Audio CD
Record label:	Warner Brothers
Release date:	10 June, 2003

Average user rating: Average user rating: 4.5

Everything Must Go.... back in the right direction

For those listeners (like myself) who 'liked' 2 Against Nature, yet were not overjoyed by it's efforts... sit back and prepare for a nice, solid "Steely Dan" product. The reason I highlight "Steely Dan" is because "2AN" sounded more like an album of "Kamakiriad" (Fagen's last solo effort) outtakes than anything else. This album is well written, produced and performed.
While we may never hear the likes of "Aja" again... and gone are the days of Michael McDonald bellowing out layers of harmonies... Steely Dan have managed once again to produce a wonderful blend of jazz musicianship with rock and roll phrasing. Walter still has a tendency to "fill" everywhere he can with little guitar riffs (a pet peeve of mine), however his solo playing/writing is better than that on 2AN. We even get a Steely Dan first.... a harmonica solo. Highlights: The Last Mall, Blues Beach, Lunch With Gina, and Everything Must Go... All in all, a nice progression from the long awaited, and highly-anticipated 2AN.... for those who have a DVD player... don't pass up the CD/DVD combo. The DVD is quite fun.

Always worth the wait!

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have done it again. They have produced a collection of slices of life in their slightly-off-center world, inhabited by losers, lovers, ne'er-do-wells, has-beens and assorted purveyors of ecstatic sadness and resigned joy. This one contains radio-ready singles ('The Last Mall' and 'Blues Beach') and last-call epics (Everything Must Go). There's one about a hit-squad targeting for the Almighty ('Godwhacker') and one about a cyber-heroine ('Pixeleen'). In short, it's everything a Steely Dan album ought to be: surprising, quirky, quixotic and a bit unsettling. The musicianship is top-shelf. There are sounds you've never heard on a Steely Dan album before. Like Walter Becker's lead vocal ('Slang of Ages'). And unlike previous recording where they have favored a track-by-track layered recording approach, this one was recorded 'live' and that lends a warm, cohesive feel to the work.

Packaged with the standard-issue CD is a DVD of 'Steely Dan Confessions'. This follows the dour duo through an aimless cab ride in Las Vegas. They meet a series of fans who seem to have stumbled into their orbit like characters from one of their songs. The twenty-minute video is entertaining and gives fans of the not-as-reclusive-as-they-once-were pair a chance to see them without their instruments, chatting about the new music.

Steely San's fans had to wait close to twenty years for their last release, the Grammy-winning 'Two Against Nature'. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers cranked out this one in just a couple of years, but the quality just shines. Enjoy a rare treat.

Steely Dan "Did it again!"

Since I first heard "Reeling In the Years" way back when it first came out, I've been a huge Steely Dan fan. Up until "Can't Buy A Thrill" came out, there were very few albums around in which I liked every song. I have since worn out many a Steely Dan album. Well, they did it again! "Two Against Nature" is absolutely wonderful as are all of their previous recordings. But, "Everything Must Go" is way beyond. As usual, Fagen's lyrics reflect the times but what a wonderful mix of catchy tunes this recording has! It is a gem and I can't get enough of it! I have yet to hear a song by Steely Dan that I don't like. "Everything Must Go" carries on the Steely Dan tradition with gusto! Also, as an aside, it is refreshing to hear Walter Becker as the lead vocal on "Slang of Ages".