TWO AGAINST NATURE

After a twenty year hiatus (which included a few solo albums and occasional reunion shows and tours), Steely Dan finally released a new album. And, surprisingly enough, the album continues exactly as they left off. Where the first bunch of Steely Dan albums had a wide array of song styles, some unexpected, "Aja" and "Gaucho" settled into predictable jazz influenced pop music, heavily laced with electric piano, and some fine guitar and sax solos.

Here we get nine songs of the same. Really. Exactly the same. All of the songs have that "Hey, look at me. I'm from New York." poser sort of cool. All of them make good background music. But not one of them is a standout song that grabs your attention. No Bodhisattva, no Kid Charlemagne, not even a Do It Again. I know Cousin Dupree got some airplay when this was released, but I challenge you to find someone who remembers any song from this album.

2.5 stars.