STEELY DAN — Two Against Nature (review)

STEELY DAN — Two Against Nature album cover Album · 2000 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
Matt
How many times do world boxing champions retire undefeated and decide to make that comeback with the usual results of being laid out on the canvas. My thoughts are often this way with the later work of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker which has just become to slick for its original form back in 1972 when they were really a Rock band with a slight Jazz tinge and seem to have metamorphed into a low key Funk band for this production which was actually Steely Dan's first proper studio album in 19 years. Perhaps if Donald and Walter had considered a little more melody which the band had in their songs past not just primarily beat driven which becomes more repititious as the album goes from track to track. Sure there are some great muscians particapating and I will be the first to admit that what would Rock music have been like without the Dan as I have always been a fan from almost day one after the release of their debut "Can't Buy A Thrill". The only band originals are the two main men Donald and Walter and production wise things could not be better with this recording. One thing though there were six different drummers used for the nine tracks contained within the album and the conception I have is there is nothing new to say from the band. If anything although the production is A1 it does at times feel over produced and where is the variety that was in all the past albums which is lacking but the major problem perhaps is the song writing with nothing that seems to grab as I write this Donald Fagen is singing the words "more of the same" towards the end of the 2nd last track "Negative Girl" perhaps she was a little Negative for good reason.

"Gaslighting Abbie" is the album opener and could have nearly made the song list for "Gaucho" and although not to bad a tune the hook is just not there for me and to be honest the constant funk beats used within the album from almost woo to go have robbed it of any freshness. The pick for me is the last song "West of Hollywood" with the saxophone solo. The title "Two Against Nature" even with Latin percussion bringing in the opening and things sounding absolutely on the money with a great guitar lick, the problem here is it is not a good song as nearly all are and no matter how good things sound to my ears if the basic component aka the songwriting is not there it is a bit like a stale cake with the freshest of cream.

For fans only or perhaps fans of this smooth slickness that for me just becomes more bland as the album rolls along. Nineteen years had passed and I have to admit I was disappointed. Still love Steely Dan and would recommmend any album but not this.
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