THE ROYAL SCAM

Though I consider the band to be progressing with this album (from 1975's Katy Lied toward 1977's Aja), this album never really connects with me like Can't Buy a Thrill, Pretzel Logic, or Aja--this despite the album's opener, "Kid Charlemagne" its closer, "The Royal Scam," being two of my favorite Dan songs of all-time. The sound here is great, much better than their first three albums, but their reliance on lyrical content is too great and not enough room given to inputs from the amazing lineup of highly-accomplished studio jazz musicians.

Five star songs: "Kid Charlemagne" and "The Royal Scam."

Four star songs: "The Fez"; "The Caves of Altamira"; "Sign in Stranger", and; "Haitian Divorce".

A 3.5 star album rated down for lack of jazzy- or proggy-ness.