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There are tons of people who claim to be musicians, but very few walk the walk like the guys and gals on this album. Stop with the comparisons to Fagen already. Yeah, I said it. Come on, he's got a great voice that has an intriguing timbre going on. The first 5 tracks are like a suite that's at once emotionally devastating yet soulful and vibrant. SD will never be what it was in the 70's, but why would you want that anyways.I say let's celebrate the fact that Becker and Fagen launched Steely Dan 2.0 and are still around making great music today, touring, releasing SD & solo albums, playing with a slammin' band, and generally maintaining a semblence of class in the biz. All the elements are here: the biting, bittersweet musings, the face-melting musicianship, the reference quality audio production, sexy back-up singers, smoky sax solos, Keith Carlock, very expensive single coil pickups going into very expensive amps, etc. But what, you don't like Walter's voice.
Just the fact that Becker sings results in an even deeper and enriching Dan universe to peer into.Some of these songs are achingly beautiful, just give 'em a listen. There's plenty of disposable music out there to get your sugar high on, and musicians who obviously care so deeply about craftsmanship and quality are not a dime a dozen. One could argue that if you don't like this album, you're not a true Dan fan. The Dandom is in full bloom. Never have such tragic characters moved through a smoother soundscape.
Love the music, as with all Becker compositions, but I have to remember next time that he feels the need to sing.oh well.
I really like 11TOW. If anyone is new to Becker, get 11TOW first. I love Steely Dan. But I find this to be a little too slick, and although it is gently funky.it doesn't really move me: no tension, no excitement.
Why do I mention flugelhorn. Of the twelve songs on the album, Somebody's Saturday Night would be a number one hit if the music industry did things right. It's all his, don't get me wrong, but his backbeat hits right on target. The track Selfish Gene has just that. Somebody's Saturday Night is a song laden with sexual references and the music is mind blowing.
come and knock my skyline down) Check out the horns (flugelhorn). Door Number Two has a Dan beat with Walter as the vocalist. Three Picture Show is a super tune that qualifies as Dan again. Darkling Down starts out slow, but the mixed vocals on the chorus are definitely Dan-ish. Song subject, backup vocals and arrangement(guitar work) along with a toe-tapping beat that knocks yer socks off on first listen. (Backup singers: Must everytime i turn my ship around, some[.]. Get Circus Money.
Some of the more interesting early Dan work used creative musical arrangements. throughout the song. I rate this album higher than Whacks.this album qualifies as a Dan album, no doubt about it. There are a couple clunkers.got to fast forward thru Circus Money and God's Eye View. Looking for more Dan songs to add to the pantheon. Add to that that the lyrics include vague lyrics that include many types of references, including drug addiction, a book written in the 70's and a bit of self-deprecation. Downtown Canon is Walter's chance to be Steely Dan cool.
'Paging Audrey' is a favorite but the story lines and the beat are very different from other Steeley Dan offerings. While I'm a real Steely Dan Fan, Walter Becker doesn't have the voice that his partner has but there are some good songs on his album, however these are more of the relaxing type songs that grow on you than the catchy tunes of his collaborator. I would reccommend it for the fans out there, I don't know how other people would like it though.
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