The Nightfly

Over produced, yacht rock that appeals to a very generic, "beige" set of people

I'm not sure how to describe this album. Like there's nothing technically wrong with it, but it still sucks and I hate it. The combination of smooth jazz and standard pop music just grates on me in the weirdest way. Like it's made to be as inoffensive as possible, and that fact just offends me deeply.

Occasionally, I am reminded of how much a product of my environment I am; that teenage years really are more formative than you realize. You can try to distance yourself from them, but that seed is always there, lying dormant and ready for the right glimpse of sunlight in order to bloom again. I was a teenager in the early 90’s. Alternative rock was at peak popularity. Our guitars were fuzzy, aggressive and screaming out the arrival of a new way forward. There was a new world order and what had been the status quo a few years earlier had become painfully uncool. High atop the Mountain of Uncool was soft rock, the kind of stuff you’d hear at JC Penny while shopping with your mom. Intolerable blandness, so inoffensive that you could play it almost anywhere, with the exception of maybe a convent, and not get the side-eye from anyone. As kids, we used to laugh at the Time-Life infomercials schilling 2 and 3 CD collections of “Soft Rock Super Hits of the 70’s”: These collections typically featured bands like Air Supply, The Doobie Brothers, Bread, Steely Dan…and many more! All yours for the low price of $19.99! I always thought Steely Dan was lame. 30 years on, that hasn’t changed. They’ve never been for me and god help me if they ever are. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried: I know plenty of people who love them, I’ve got younger friends and co-workers who extol their virtues. My own brother is a fan. But the second a Steely Dan track comes on, I’m transported back to 1993 and the aforementioned seed begins to sprout: this is everything that was wrong with music; perfection for the sake of perfection, emotionless music masquerading as having soul. Even though the Alternative-era of the early 90’s soon gave way to a similar by-the-numbers alt-rock soullessness and awful nu-metal, there were at least a few years where the sky was the limit. The formula had been broken and it didn’t matter how weird you were, you could get radio play and/or a major label deal: bands like sonic youth, pavement, the butthole surfers and ween had radio and MTV playing their songs. These bands would be less likely to find “mainstream” success today, but for a brief window of time, the rules no longer applied. Maybe I’ve been looking at the music of Steely Dan (and their ilk) from the wrong perspective this whole time. If wasn’t for their rigid, schlocky compositions, there wouldn’t have been a backlash towards authenticity and uniqueness that lead me to the music that I love… Newton’s third law and all that.

Very middle of the road for me. A nice morning listen. The cover is definitely better than the album.

May induce a face-palming epidemic among first-timers in the present day. I get that. It incorporates most of the "oh, that's so 80s" sounds received wisdom says we should avoid: a faux fur bed of cool swing, shamelessly smoothed-out jazz, criminally toothsome hooks, synthesisers, conga(!) But I say this face-palmers: seriously, are those bad things? Especially when they accompany satire so arch you can walk under it without noticing (consider Fagen's sincerity on the opener - "The future looks bright" - or how the line "Ruby Baby, how I want you / Like a ghost I'm gonna haunt you" flips that one into an artlessly creepy song that ends oddly with a super fun coda and fake jazz-club applause). And technical virtuosity that's not only impressive for what it does (like play every modulation known to man) but how accessibly it does it. And the crystalline rhythms that playfully evolve from start to finish without letting a speck of dust settle. And stories about lonely disc jockeys, using your dad's nuclear bunker as a sex den and being ominously stuck in Cuba in guessing). And also remember that received wisdom calls Meatloaf a camp hack but Springsteen a butch genius, immortalises Radiohead and Pink Floyd and celebrates everything that's "oh, so 80s" about Prince.

This has been one of my favorite albums since it was new and I.G.Y. was on the radio and the video for "New Frontier" was on MTV. Although I was a young teen at the time, I still really connected with the nostalgic themes and optimism for the future. This is an album that shines best as the whole album, as each song is a vignette that continues the theme. This is one of the few in this project that I've listened to so many times over the past 40 years that I can play it in my head (well, the line, "Won't you pour me a Cuban breeze, Gretchen?" is one that I hadn't remembered but love love love.) This is smooth and jazzy and wonderful. One of the best.

It's music

Smooth and jazzy - like being on a monorail to the future.

A well crafted album with lots of Donald Fagan charms, with his dry, witty, intelligent lyrics and expressive voice. Some nostalgic value for me too - this album slowly became a family favorite starting sometime in my teenage years.

I can’t stand music like this. The harmony and arrangements are so convoluted just for the sake of dick-swinging and maybe to mask the shitty songwriting. It tries to be “funky” but without an ounce of soul or feeling. The vocals and lyrics are horrible. Every song was worse than the last. I hope I never have to hear this again.

It was initially nice to hear the light rock 80s sound of Steely Dan's Fagen because just about any music from that era takes me back to fuzzy places. However, I quickly realized that the only thing I like about The Nightfly was the album cover.

Fell in love with this album when I got it back in 1982. I loved the sound of the song, IGY and quickly the rest of this album became a classic to me. I am grateful that the extended version contains True Companion from Heavy Metal (Soundtrack) and Century's End from the Bright Lights, Big City Soundtrack were included. I really think these two songs complete the album quite well. This is a rare 5/5 from me.

If this was 1001 albums to listen to drinking champagne on a yacht and checking your stock portfolio then this would be 5 stars all the way. It's slick, well played, tightly produced but I'm left cold by it. Chilled even.

This is one of those rare albums, where the music is so bland that I would rather eat the CD than listen to it again. I'm sure the plastic crunching between my teeth will sound better too. I give this the only possible score it can get, one slice of plain white bread out of 5. 🍞

A masterpiece fusion of pop, R&B, jazz, and rock, this album is smooth ride through the threat of nuclear Armageddon. Each instrument is a masterclass in taste, pushing out of the mix for ad-libs and solos, then pulling back to blend seamlessly with the track. Fagen’s lyrics and melodies inspire visions of mid-century optimism and Cold War nihilism, all backed by an absolutely airtight band. This album can be enjoyed by a casual listen or hyper-analyzed by the nerdiest music freak. Stand out tracks include “I.G.Y.”, “Green Flower Street”, “The Nightfly”, and “The Goodbye Look”.

I really dug this, it sounds amazing and the songs have just the right amount of cheese to balance out how smooth they are

I love Steely Dan, but had never listened to any of Donald Fagen's solo work without Walter Becker. Can I describe it as "too smooth" or "too upbeat"? I must miss the more biting aspect to the lyrics and music that were Beckers influence. Maybe 3.4/5? Then I listened to it some more, and its really growing on me due to the jazzy music. Solid 4.

I like some Steely Dan songs, but this is Steely Dan but worse. It's got no bite, it's too yacht rock.

You can listen to this endless times and it never gets boring

Like listening to paint dry. So full. 80s Soft jazz rock? I’m alright thanks. 2/5 as it’s inoffensive to listen to but so, so boring.

Can you imagine going to a dinner party hosted by Donald Fagen? “ I remember a line of women all in white The laughter and the steel bands at night” “Christ Donald, we’ve heard this one before, move on munch munch munch glug glug.” This is clearly exactly what it wants to be, a digitally-recorded Faberge egg, curiosity flat and toy-like in sound, curious but of debatable utility. “Maxine” is music for rich people with horrific taste to make out to.

I don't like Steely Dan, therefore I don't like The Nightfly. It does nothing for me, it isn't horrible and we've had considerably worse, we've just had many, many, many better. A quick and forgettable 2, although I will say Ruby Baby was decent enough until he started singing.

This album gave me both diabetes and high blood pressure.

One of my favorites. 5/5 I love every song. The extended version has a couple of extras that were included on soundtrack albums (Heavy Metal and Bright Lights Big City).

Oh yeah. Funky, smooth, slick...great rhythm, great piano. This is my jam.

Opening notes - I knew it was going to be great. Smooth, melodic, lyrically wonderful from end-to-end.

I absolutely LOVE this album. It's Steely Dan-esque with a kinda Frank Zappa vibe?

Five Stars Standouts: IGY, The Nightfly, New Frontier, Maxine, Green Flower Street

Real gem this one. Never listened to any Steely Dan, but this solo album was smooth, catchy, full of jazzy tunes and beautiful Rhodes sounds. Really loved it.

Beautiful sound. Upbeat yet mellow jazzy sound.

The style...the musicianship...the vocals...immaculate. Wondering why this is not on my iPod already.

Amazing album, love the vibes

The Nightfly and I go a long way together! I remember it from when it was first introduced in Ad Pop by Ehud Manor as a new album. Love it, and regularly listen to it.

Love this!

So chill! Great lyrics! 9/10 for the vibes, would want to relisten for a better appreciation

10. Considered a 9, because Donald Fagen really is only half the man Steely Dan is

What did you expect? 10

10

I'm in a lift

Another one from my Dad's record collection with a memorable front cover - this time redolent of a Twilight Zone episode. Who knew, it sounds just like Steely Dan?! I like it quite a bit better than Aja, although it's still over-polished yacht silliness, perhaps taking itself less seriously here - like a self-aware Barry Manilow record. The more I listened to it, the more I liked it but 4* is too much, so..

It’s still very Steely Dan sounding. Pretty good background music but no one track was particularly ear-catching to me. Deserving of its place slightly above centre score.

I've not had a stellar track record with Steely Dan so far during this project, so lets see what happens when there's only one of them. A stray thoughts review: - It certainly sounds like a pop album made at the beginning of the 80's, that's for sure. - He sounds like he has a heavy head cold. - The first song being nearly 6 minutes did not please me. - This was nominated for seven Grammys?! Bloody hell. - I bet my Mum likes this. - Half way through Maxine I realised I'd stop listening because I was thinking about the Clacton by-election and how well Count Binface was going to do. - I really don't like the nasally singing. - Is that a cowbell during New Frontier? It sounds a bit like a dripping tap in my right ear. - "She loves to limbo, that much is clear" - amazing lyric. - The Nightfly - more cowbell! - The Goodbye Look sounds like elevator music at the beginning and reminded me of the Four Rooms main theme tune by Combustible Edison. It's scraping a 2/5

Donald Fagen is not half as cool as the album cover would have you believe. He evidently spent his teenage years as a dorky kid, stuck in his room listening to fusty old jazz stations instead of that scary rock n roll and pining after unattainable girls. After a spell with yacht rockers and steam powered dildo enthusiasts Steely Dan, he put out this album that can charitably be described as easy listening. It was recorded and produced entirely digitally, and hence has that bland and soulless feel of the early 80s. Purely for this reason it was popular with audiophiles and cd bores who wanted to show off the quality of their hi-fi setups without caring much about the actual music.

So cool so fresh so unnötig - 2

WTAF. Bouncy jazz pop made on a Casio keyboard with the drums supplied by the same crappy keyboard. Meanwhile the singer is reciting the weekly shopping list with a voice that sounds like he's crooning to a bunch of coffin dodgers on a geriatric cruise round the Mediterranean. Why, oh why would anyone think this is a good idea?!? And why would anyone then (quite cruelly) follow this up by suggesting it's an album I must go hear before I die. Unless it's a "hey mate, listen to this shit album and have a real good laugh at it". Honestly. The only thing worth doing with this is gathering every single last copy (CD, cassette and vinyl) in the trash, before sending it into outer space and hope that the rocket explodes en route (with a certain POTUS on board as a added bonus). Absolutely dismal, almost hilariously so. Ps sorry for this not-so-passive aggressive rant, but I'm really enraged : This morning, walking to school, saw this bloke casually drop some litter on the ground. Meanwhile his kids are chomping on their breakfast, this being a highly nutritious packet of quavers. Seriously, what is wrong with people?

music for vampires to bore other vampires with. despised. (⌐■_■)

Reading up on the production of this album, the 8 months of recording that were spent on getting the perfect drum sounds by using the high-hat sounds of one drummer, the kick-drum and tom sound from another on the same track, how a whole bunch of session musicians of the highest caliber are credited on this album, to create the sound that was needed for this album to be perfect. Reading on the switch between analog and digital recordings. On the songs that are stitched together from multiple takes. To make this production sound that has been revered by audiophiles across the globe. What makes me so upset about that is that the end result is an overproduced, uninspired smooth-pop-jazz album, that could've been given a bit of leeway if it also didn't include a song like Ruby Baby, which really is an atrocity to make it to an album after 8 months or recording.

518/1089 - I'm so sick of seeing all the fucking people complain that music like this isn't "vibey" or "emotional" enough. Music like this and Classical is, to me, equivalent to a fascination with trains or computers, the fact that humans are capable of something so close to perfection is remarkable. Emotions can go fuck off a cliff for all I care! Give me the expertly crafted textures and counterpoint. I.G.Y. is so clear sounding, but it's also a cool song with great keyboard parts and surprising harmony. If the song was on solo piano it'd still work, it's just elevated by the perfection seeking arrangement. Also Ruby Baby has one of the best piano solos in all of pop music maybe only behind Uncertain Smile by The The.

Well, this is one of the best Steely Dan solo albums the first that Donald Fagan did, and it is a classic. So similar but totally different from the work he did with Walter. A treat! Based upon his early years as a DJ and such in the early 60's, the songs offer a variety of musical styles. Hits you will know, and some hidden gems; like the samba-esque stylings in " The Good Bye Look" and "Walk Between the Raindrops". played this 100 times, will play another 100 more. Thank me later

Really good choice! This is an excellent recording, especially for Steely Dan fans.

Music for white guys who ask "who's ready to rock and roll" when they want to leave somewhere. It's me. i'm that guy. 5 Stars

Good stuff. Easy listening but layered with interesting stuff.

Perfect mood, can always listen to this.

Una locura este disco. LOCURA.

5/5 - Reminds me of a pre-Sting/The Police

Great little jam

Me ha encantado!!

this is a really great album, theres a couple tracks i don't like as much that make it 9/10

Had me from the hop! Jazzy, poppy, post steely dan yacht rocky. Good vibes all around.

Brilliant, love this album. Better without Becker IMO. Such a cool retro/futuristic vibe to it

First time I’ve listened to a solo from either one of the Dan’s. Solid stuff

its a little cheesy but i like. fagen is a very unfortunate last name i know he had a rough time growing up

Just straight up a Steely Dan album. You can't even tell that only one of the guys is on here. Maybe the rumors are true and the titular "Steely Dan" (Daniel of Steel) truly is a secret third guy that they keep under the floorboards and steal all their material from. It's good. I like it. I like Steely Dan. Dogshit font choice on the album cover though, my guy.

Another artist to add to the pile of gazillions I don’t know a damn about. Guess there’s no way to introduce my review, so I’m gonna jump right into the music. Oh, wait. It’s the Steely Dan guy. Surprised I didn’t notice earlier. Can’t Buy a Thrill was pretty alright, though I haven’t revisited it in the time since my first listen. In any case, I’m keen to explore more of the Steely Dan discography. This is a good in-between before I clear out the second half of their included albums. A competent album, but one that blends together. The sound is polished almost to a fault. It’s good for some background listening, but whenever I lean in with a more discerning ear I can’t help but feel that there’s little going on. In any case, I can’t complain. The album has a pretty strong second half. I like the cowbell on New Frontier. Title track is my favourite of the album. The radio concept is neat and the funky instrumental gets me bobbing in all directions. The Goodbye Look has a unique and pleasing sound, whatever the lead percussive instrument may be. Donald Fagen is prolific and acclaimed, but is this album distinct enough to warrant a spot on the list? I’m unsure. The book says this album is built around an idealised 60s California and is heavily influenced by Fagen’s childhood. It also says that this album is more “modern” than any of Steely Dan’s output and was the first mainstream album to be recorded entirely with digital equipment. Eh, I’m willing to trim this one. Steely Dan are already well-represented, and I don’t think this album does enough to differentiate itself from the rest of their inclusions. In place of this album, I humbly submit Emergency & I by The Dismemberment Plan for inclusion on the list.

Low 3. This just felt like the off-brand cereal of early 80s music, where it mainly reminded me of better things I could be enjoying.

This sounds like every other song playing at Walgreens.

Ok so I think this album is kind of mediocre, but a consistent theme is how he hated living in the suburbs and was desperate to move to New York. Respect honestly, I can get behind that. Fagen's Wikipedia page says this: "When he was ten years old, he moved with his parents and younger sister to Kendall Park, a newly constructed suburban section of South Brunswick, New Jersey. The transition upset him. He detested living in the suburbs. He later recalled that it "was like a prison. I think I lost faith in [my parents'] judgment... It was probably the first time I realized I had my own view of life." His life in Kendall Park, including his teenage love of late-night radio, inspired his later album The Nightfly. "New Frontier" has the line "Well I can't wait till I move to the city". He isn't beating around the bush here. While I respect that part, I really was kind of meh on this overall. This was Fagen's first solo album after he split with Walter Becker in Steely Dan, but it's more of the same vibe. If you're into jazz-rock the Steely Dan crew are your guys. I can see the appeal, but it just always ends up sounding a bit boring to me (though nice enough overall). Beyond the subtle urbanism, the lyrics are ok. It's autobiographical in nature, so lots of general nostalgia about 50s and 60s suburbia, unimportant romances and whatnot. A love for late night radio. Again, fine but a little uninspiring. This is just ok. I had a brief moment where I was tempted to give it a 2, but it's not bad, just fine enough to slide in at a 3. Falls below Can't Buy a Thrill and Aja for me in the broader Steely Dan discography though. I also learned that "wingding" means "a lively event or party". That was a new one for me. Favorite song: I.G.V. Other: Maxine, New Frontier, The Nightfly 7/6/24

I like how the top review refers to this as over produced beige yacht rock, like that’s a bad thing!

On my first listen to Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly, I thought it was okay, maybe even quite good, but I couldn’t really work out why. So I gave it another listen to try and form a proper opinion. There’s no doubt this is a well-made album. In fact, it might be a little too well made for me. Everything is incredibly polished and slick, but there’s absolutely nothing raw about it. It feels overproduced and almost too clean, as though it’s trying to appeal to everyone without ever really landing with me. It gives me the same sort of feeling I get from modern Coldplay. Technically there’s very little wrong with it, but it all feels a bit safe and generic. I’m also not a massive fan of mixing jazz with polished pop like this. Rather than making the music more interesting, for me it gives the album a sound that has dated quite quickly. There are nice melodies and some excellent musicianship, but very little that makes me want to come back for another listen. That said, I didn’t dislike The Nightfly. It’s perfectly enjoyable while it’s playing and there isn’t a bad song here. I can understand why people love it, but it’s just a little too polished and clinical for my tastes. Favourite track: “New Frontier” was probably the track that stood out most for me. Least favourite track: Nothing was horrible. Every track was worth a listen, even if nothing really blew me away. Album artwork: Cool album cover. Simple, stylish and probably more memorable to me than the music.

I had no idea that Donald Fagan was a member of Steely Dan, and now I understand why I hate this album so much. Everything Steely Dan touches is garbage.

скукотища. Как выяснилось это вокалист такой же супер скучной Steely Dan, которой тут уже послушал 2 альбома.

Unfortunately extremely boring

I sometimes felt like he just threw words together.

1) New Frontier 2) I.G.Y 3) Ruby Baby Least Favourite: The Goodbye Look

Steely Dan stripped of its good parts.

Didn’t feel this. Lots of early 80s white guy funk vibes going on. Felt like didn’t age very well.

80’s meh.

Fantastic album cover. Wish the music was this cool. Steely Dan is one of those bands I wish I could get into. I just don't get it...and this is just more of the same.

Makes me think of 80s wine bars and cocktail joints. In a bad way.

Two Steely Dan records in the last two weeks, and now Donald Fagen…which is like listening to skillfully done elevator music. It’s not the worst thing presented on this list, but it’s a chore to get through. 5/10

In the case I’m building called “Donald Fagen (and the rest of Steely Dan except Michael McDonald) Has Never Been Laid," this album is Exhibit A. This is what the opposite of sex appeal sounds like.

Just too clever clogs for me. I know it is not peak jazz-bo Steely Dan, but it is still pretty self-consciously clever and smooth and ultra-polished which is just not a thing for me. I don't really get the obsession with Steely Dan. I understand the inclusion of this solo album on the 1001 list even less, burdened as it is with Donald Fagan's singing. This seems like completely inessential listening. More power to ya, if this floats your boat, but I don't know why _I_ have to listen to it.

What a misdirect. The cover makes you think, 'Oh, maybe this'll be some Beat revival spoken-word type thing. Or a Leonard Cohen homage? Something like that, right?' & then every song literally sounds like the backing track to a scene in Moonlighting. WTF.

This album is like a musical sleep aid that combines the most boring aspects of jazz, weak pop, and all the dullness of rock music into one unexciting package. Whether you’re listening in lossless format or as background noise on a distorted phone line, the result is the same: you’re just wishing it would end soon while your mind begs for something, anything, more stimulating.

Id had 4 hours sleep and was in pieces when I put this on, but it just sounded like a terrible Sting tribute act. I'm sure it's not but I couldn't stomach it.

Where's the fingerless gloves Fagan? No ideas here. 80s so I'm guessing soft rock/singer with world music influences. ------------------------------------------------------ Music constructed and constricted by a strive for perfection that is clinical and soulless. It's soft jazz of the kind you'd hear on hold across the land with the nauseating vocal harmonies of the era. It's not technically bad - actually that's the problem. There's no nuance, no ugly, no edge and no character. It just keeps getting worse and worse as it goes on. Think this is the first album I'm not even going to commit a song to the playlist. The neutral carpet of music. 1* (0)

Unfathomably shite. If Fagen hadn’t been in Steely Dan, this basic, artless borefest is quickly forgotten, certainly not making it to a list like this.

Nothing to tell home about. Nice pitch for the main singer but that's it.

Didn't finish. Whoops. I don't want to either.

The worst kind of 80s music. Utter dross, but the guy was in Steely Dan so that explains it as they are dross too.

Bag o shite

#457/1001. Muzak for robots? Too clean, perfect production, 80s sound world coming from a bad retro future film. Nothing for me here.

Terrible- and cheesy. Unclear what genre this was even… jazzy show tunes?

Like if Steely Dan was worse, and I say this as someone who already doesn't like Steely Dan

The music on this album gives me the ick and makes me uncomfortable. Considering how bland and insipid it is you'd think it would leave me indifferent, but I'm repulsed by this album.

This is so inoffensive that it's actually offensive. Plodding baselines with soft jazz overtones. Just screams late night Magic radio music

Donald Faggot

- Another assaulter (DV). Also, I dislike Steely Dan, so I don't have high hopes for this. - The tone of the keys and other instruments sounds so dated a lot of the time. It sounds like they compressed and filtered a bunch of the instruments so that they sound like a kazoo. - The lyrics are forgettable, and his voice sounds strained and reedy. - Yeah, I really don't enjoy this. Sounds like jazzy easy listening - two of the genres I dislike most. Sorry, but I can't find anything positive to say about it other than that the cover is kind of cool (but is that ever false advertising!).

Offensively boring easy listening pap. Clunky, not funky.

⛓️ 🍆 - 1 = 💩