GAUCHO

Now! Clearly this is not exactly Prog type of music, although tagging is a way of keeping off some unwanted material it also limits or allows bizarre criteria to measure the borders. Steely Dan as such never cared about sticking to a genre-style " nuisance" . They play what they like and feel and their sources are exactly like that from Brubeck, Phil Woods to "priestess" Aretha, and al that falls in between.

So yes!, This is Jazz anyway it goes. Fusion, Alternative, Modern ( choose your favourite tag, they are for free!) but let´s set it clearly, Steely Dan sounds like Steely Dan, and this album itself is both, their Waterloo and Wellington.

The pinnacle of stylistic self-evolution, stripped to basics without losing a single drop of inspiration by each and every member of their gigantic recording band.

Of course Waterloo because as most musicians in PA, they haven´t been able to come close again to their self-impossed astounding "peak".

Great compositions performed to perfection and a flawless recording studio- session. By the way, this record has its own cruent story of horror-like management deals, disputes and lost or "stolen" material. The now famous (and un-official) but highly recommendable: "The Lost Gaucho" , which strangely enough has some great songs which were not repeated in this "original" one.

So relax, this is the kind of music that will take you into musical perfection, without musical pretentions. Moreover with the always sardonic humor of Donald Fagen´s pen-written aliases and creatures.

So, if "Can´t buy a Thrill" promised the making of a legendary band and "AJA" their fans´ fav album, to me Gaucho is their climax of perfection, The Dan kind, of course!!

A "Masterpiece"! Anyway you look into this phenomenal production.

*****5 PA Stars!