That whole album is a masterpiece and won many Grammys that year. This particular song is so driven by that wonderful snare. All of the songs are great, with great grooves and interesting/funny lyrics. Listen to Cousin Dupree! Creepy lyrics, but great groove!
Despite multiple Grammy wins, this album, and Steely Dan's swansong successor, Everything Must Go, are considered by many to be the "ugly stepchildren" in SD's catalog. I couldn't disagree more. Musically, they are at the height of their creativity here, with songs containing multiple clever key changes, amazing chord structures featuring Fagan's liberal use of his "mu-major" chord voicings, top shelf musicians, and their usual dark, snarky, insider lyrics. Add to that the stunning engineering and sound quality, and the result is amazing jazz-funk-pop music which invites repeated listening. I think many people are drawn to their earlier, more rock-inspired songs simply because they are more musically accessible. Subsequent to their previous studio album, Gaucho, which was released in 1980, the music industry went through various eras, including, to name only a few, New Wave, Post-Punk, Hair Bands, Power Ballads, Techno, Grunge, Alt Rock, and the troubling growth of the inscrutable Smooth Jazz infestation. Released in 2000, this album dropped in the middle of Power-Pop, Modern Country, and various Rap and Hip-Hop variants. In fact, it beat out Eminem's mega-popular "The Marshall Mathers LP" for the 2001 Album of the Year Grammy to the astonishment of anyone under 40 years old at the time. Anyway, given the music landscape in the early 2000's, this was an unusual release - but to many SD fans who enjoy the Aja and Gaucho albums, it was like going home to eat mom's cooking. To others, it was a reminder that SD had matured into something less interesting for them.
Becker and Fagan are the only two originals left from when the band stopped touring and just concentrated on making albums circa 74 or 75. Fagan is the singer and these two were the main creative and song writers.
Two Against Nature saves the best till last in "West of Hollywood". And title track TAN is an underrated bayou blast in 6/8 time. The horn section shine here too. Keep up the good work John.
Another great steely dan lyric, where the protagnosists are losers or outlaws , think Deacon Blues for example. Most likely this is a Becker writing this, he has that snarky style.
Very interesting chorus indeed. So glad you noticed it! Those weird chromatic descending voicings, the jazzy phrasing of the vocal melody, a little bit of dissonance...brilliant stuff
"It's been broken for a month now And the F key doesn't work And I just lost the adapter So like don't make me a jerk In a month I'll write two songs or threeee...." Sorry couldn't resist!
That whole album is a masterpiece and won many Grammys that year. This particular song is so driven by that wonderful snare. All of the songs are great, with great grooves and interesting/funny lyrics. Listen to Cousin Dupree! Creepy lyrics, but great groove!
Negative girl and Almost Gothic are the jewels of the album production wise top notch !
Despite multiple Grammy wins, this album, and Steely Dan's swansong successor, Everything Must Go, are considered by many to be the "ugly stepchildren" in SD's catalog. I couldn't disagree more. Musically, they are at the height of their creativity here, with songs containing multiple clever key changes, amazing chord structures featuring Fagan's liberal use of his "mu-major" chord voicings, top shelf musicians, and their usual dark, snarky, insider lyrics. Add to that the stunning engineering and sound quality, and the result is amazing jazz-funk-pop music which invites repeated listening. I think many people are drawn to their earlier, more rock-inspired songs simply because they are more musically accessible. Subsequent to their previous studio album, Gaucho, which was released in 1980, the music industry went through various eras, including, to name only a few, New Wave, Post-Punk, Hair Bands, Power Ballads, Techno, Grunge, Alt Rock, and the troubling growth of the inscrutable Smooth Jazz infestation. Released in 2000, this album dropped in the middle of Power-Pop, Modern Country, and various Rap and Hip-Hop variants. In fact, it beat out Eminem's mega-popular "The Marshall Mathers LP" for the 2001 Album of the Year Grammy to the astonishment of anyone under 40 years old at the time. Anyway, given the music landscape in the early 2000's, this was an unusual release - but to many SD fans who enjoy the Aja and Gaucho albums, it was like going home to eat mom's cooking. To others, it was a reminder that SD had matured into something less interesting for them.
Becker and Fagan are the only two originals left from when the band stopped touring and just concentrated on making albums circa 74 or 75. Fagan is the singer and these two were the main creative and song writers.
Two Against Nature saves the best till last in "West of Hollywood". And title track TAN is an underrated bayou blast in 6/8 time. The horn section shine here too. Keep up the good work John.
Another great steely dan lyric, where the protagnosists are losers or outlaws , think Deacon Blues for example. Most likely this is a Becker writing this, he has that snarky style.
Very interesting chorus indeed. So glad you noticed it!
Those weird chromatic descending voicings, the jazzy phrasing of the vocal melody, a little bit of dissonance...brilliant stuff
World weary, but nice that Walter was making a comebck.
Good God. Good luck.
He should have went for it. It is depressing how he says I’m a ghost etc
Pick up that keyboard behind you. Write something.
"It's been broken for a month now
And the F key doesn't work
And I just lost the adapter
So like don't make me a jerk
In a month I'll write two songs or threeee...."
Sorry couldn't resist!
"Yo!!" just no. Quit saying "yo". PLEEEEEEZE. I ain't a dumb*ss. PLEASE.