STEELY DAN Two Against
Nature
hails from 2000 and is a 9-track CD (cut spine). Notorious for shunning concert performances,
Steely Dan's improbable live reunion in the mid-'90s eventually turned into a
full-fledged reunion album. Since Steely Dan fans went two decades without even
the hope of a new record, the very prospect was a delight, but it was also a
little worrying, since a botched comeback would tarnish the band's legacy.
Fortunately, Two Against Nature is as seductive and alluring as the best of
Steely Dan's later work, with a similar emphasis on classy atmosphere and
groove. Pitched halfway between Gaucho and the immaculate
production of Fagen's solo album Kamakiriad, it's a graceful, intricate
record that works its subtle charms at its own pace. While that means it isn't
a knockout on the first listen, it's a real grower -- a quietly addicting album
that slowly works its way into the subconscious. It's also an uncannily natural
extension of the duo's previous work, but surprisingly, it never sounds
nostalgic or dated. It's clear that Becker and Fagen re-teamed because they simply
enjoy working together: crafting the songs and arrangements, designing the
production, shoehorning in-jokes into the lyrics, finding the exact
performances that fit their specifications. In this sense, Two Against Nature
is no different than any past Steely Dan effort; that's exactly why it's
welcome, since they find nearly endless permutations within their signature
sound. Lyrically, the album isn't quite as malicious as their '70s work, but
they haven't lost their sharp humor, even on some mere throwaway lines. The
real payoff, however, is musical. Each song gradually reveals its own identity
through small, thrilling touches, giving the record depth and character, and
fitting it comfortably into Steely Dan's acclaimed body of work. And that's as
delightfully unexpected and peculiarly beautiful as anything else in their
career.
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1.
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gaslighting
abbie
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2.
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what
a shame about me
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3.
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two
against nature
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4.
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janie
runaway
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5.
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almost
gothic
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6.
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jack
of speed
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7.
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cousin
dupree
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8.
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negative
girl
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9.
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west
of hollywood
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