Steely Dan - Two Against Nature (DVD Audio) [Enhanced]

Track Listings

1. Gaslighting Abbie

2. What a Shame About Me

3. Two Against Nature

4. Janie Runaway

5. Almost Gothic

6. Jack of Speed

7. Cousin Dupree

8. Negative Girl

9. West of Hollywood

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Never so much a band as the slyly crafted specter of one, Steely Dan's mid-1990s "return" to live performance was as surprising as it was perverse. They'd previously toured only once, round about the era of Watergate, pet rocks, and Shaft. A half-decade after their concert comeback and a mere 19 years after Gaucho seemingly closed out their recording career, the jazz-pop conceit of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen deliberately dropped back into a recording landscape where they weren't so much seasoned vets as alien ambassadors. Two Against Nature, indeed. The tack is instantly familiar: a musical/lyrical reconciliation of Monk and Newman, with familiar harmonic flourishes, nimble studio chops, and an icy, world-class cool, as willfully insulated from hip-hop and techno as it was from disco and Top 40. Less concerned with melodic hooks than a canny sophistication of mood and manner, Becker and Fagen never let a trite melody get in the way of a good story, whether their protagonists are plotting some nefarious obliquity ("Gaslighting Abby"), Southern-fried incest (the deliciously funky "Cousin DuPree"), or bleakly confronting dashed expectations ("What a Shame About Me"). A little more musically languorous perhaps, its trademark cynicism now undercut by hints of sadness and regret, this is nonetheless a Steely Dan album worthy of the name, and like the best of them, one whose subtle charms reveal themselves in surprising ways. -Jerry McCulley --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Gaslighting Abbie
What A Shame About Me
Two Against Nature
Janie Runaway
Almost Gothic
Jack Of Speed
Cousin Dupree
Negative Girl
West Of Hollywood

Amazon.com essential recording

Never so much a band as the slyly crafted specter of one, Steely Dan's mid-1990s "return" to live performance was as surprising as it was perverse. They'd previously toured only once, round about the era of Watergate, pet rocks, and Shaft. A half-decade after their concert comeback and a mere 19 years after Gaucho seemingly closed out their recording career, the jazz-pop conceit of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen deliberately dropped back into a recording landscape where they weren't so much seasoned vets as alien ambassadors. Two Against Nature, indeed. The tack is instantly familiar: a musical/lyrical reconciliation of Monk and Newman, with familiar harmonic flourishes, nimble studio chops, and an icy, world-class cool, as willfully insulated from hip-hop and techno as it was from disco and Top 40. Less concerned with melodic hooks than a canny sophistication of mood and manner, Becker and Fagen never let a trite melody get in the way of a good story, whether their protagonists are plotting some nefarious obliquity ("Gaslighting Abby"), Southern-fried incest (the deliciously funky "Cousin DuPree"), or bleakly confronting dashed expectations ("What a Shame About Me"). A little more musically languorous perhaps, its trademark cynicism now undercut by hints of sadness and regret, this is nonetheless a Steely Dan album worthy of the name, and like the best of them, one whose subtle charms reveal themselves in surprising ways. -Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good stuff (but check out the followup).......2007-06-14

As we all know, Steely Dan is one of just a few really legendary bands in music history. As such, no matter what they release, fans will grab it up, and most critics will praise. Yes, this is a very good Steely Dan album, winner of the 2000 Best Album Of the Year at the Grammy's. Maybe partly because it was so long awaited and highly anticipated. It's deviation in sound from classic Steely Dan is a welcome new experiment. While it still retains that cool jazzy funk, it takes on a more modern sound in keeping with the times, all the while compromising nothing, which shows character. I can't nor will not say that it is an overrated album, but I will say that Steely Dan's followup "Everything Must Go" is better. It shows more maturity. I listen to both regularly, and this album has a greener character, a Summertime kind of quality. You could almost say that this one is more fun that the followup, especially with the 5 star track "Cousin Dupree". If any of these songs were to be offered as a single, they would either be this one or title track "Two Against Nature". Two of the best we have here.

"What a Shame About Me" pulls weight too, getting back to the roots of Steely Dan, telling suburban tales the way "The Caves Of Altamira" and "Everything You Did" used to, while resembling "Hey Nineteen" slightly. "Almost Gothic" is one of my other favorite tracks here, smooth and cool, the way alot of their material is these days. But it doesn't slide into the category of filler material. Old Steely Dan fans will feel right at home when the recognize the familiar saxaphone, ever present in the classic stuff. Following is "Jack Of Speed", also to be recognized. The last highlight is 8 and 1/2 minute track "West Of Hollywood". You remember how good the old songs that were this long were, like "Bodhisattva" or "Time Out Of Mind"? Well this is a repeat. It took me a few listens to appreciate it and understand it for what it is, but it soon became a favorite. The lyrics end about half way through the song and the rest is just the signature Steely Dan beat with the long saxaphone solo we've come to love, so its a good listen.

I wouldn't offer this to those not familiar with Steely Dan as there is better stuff out there. Afterall this is a 4 star album compared to Steely's usual 5 star sound, but it is not to be overlooked. Worth the buy for those of us who love Steely Dan.

But do check out "Everything Must Go".

one of best.......2007-05-25

this cd is one of the best by steely,great grooves,lyrics,what the hell took so long

The changing of the guard redux.......2007-04-18

This is one of the most amazingly disappointing cds I have ever bought.I have been a Dan fan almost since the inception. While the sound of this anemic collection of tunes is Steely Dan, all the wit and brilliance that once gave this band its unique appeal is gone. There are no soaring insturmental solos, no polished satiric lyrics. While the additude of ripe debauchery that this band espoused in ts early work appears rakish on one still in youth, the very over indulgent lifestyle celibrated by this band has dulled the razor sharp neural edge that made them so outstanding. The cd is dull and witless, not quite a stinker but almost.

Vacation over .......2007-03-05

How exciting was it when you read that Steely Dan was releasing a new recording after twenty years on the shelf? The only problem could be expectations raised to a level that no human could meet them. Oh, yeah, Becker and Fagen run counter to humanity..... they can do it!

There is humanity and more in " Two Against Nature". Always in search of obscure references, the disc begins with a song written as a skeleton of the old Charles Boyet film " Gaslight". " Gaslighting Abby" kicks things off with the quirky tunings we are used to, even some added sass. " What a Shame About Me" should become the official anthem for Yuppies everywhere who didn't quite fulfill their dreams. It's a great piece of music, but it's character is cloying. Perfect.

" Almost Gothic" and " Negative Girl" are both studies in how to become obsessed with obsession. Each portrait is of a female who is bewitching and dangerous. " Cousin Dupree" is so much fun it practically jumps off the disc. This one swings with a withering take on southern mores. " West of Hollywood" contains an extended instrumental exit, but the musicianship makes it welcome.

The vacation worked. Creativity abounds in this fantastic return. Observations are readily available, and these two will always twist them into a delicious musical adventure.

Some Bands Age well some don't..........2007-02-23

Steely Dan has maintained their creativity over the years. Some of the reviewers appear to have just gotten old. The - they don't make em like they used to mentality.. Its Sad really...This CD is everything you could want in a Steely Dan record - One of the reviewers cites many of its strengths and then says don't expect another Katy Lied! The only Album Becker and Fagan can't listen to due to the way it got screwed up by faulty DBX Noise reduction! Skewering them for being boring...or for lyrics that are sleazy? Listen to I got the news or Josie - talk about sleazy lyrics - and they were great songs. My only complaint about this album is that some of the instrumentals were a little too safe. But - that can be forgiven since the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. and Chris Potter's solo in west of Hollywood is one of the best horn solos since Wayne Shorter in Aja. Please ignore any advice to skip this album and make your own judgements it is terrific stuff (I'd rank it up with countdown and the Royal Scam (bested only by Aja and Nightfly)

Average customer rating:

Two Against Nature

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000EMH61K
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. Gaslighting Abbie
2. What a Shame About Me
3. Two Against Nature
4. Janie Runaway
5. Almost Gothic
6. Jack of Speed
7. Cousin Dupree
8. Negative Girl
9. West of Hollywood