The Nightfly

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

It's music

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”.

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.

This album gave me both diabetes and high blood pressure.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

So cool so fresh so unnötig - 2

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

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

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 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..

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

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

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.

Just utterly pointless. If this guy wasn’t in Steely Dan no one would care about this.

Fuck me, this is shite. I mean, Steely Dan are wick but this is another level.

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. 🍞

Shit 80s muzak.

Ernsthaft? Dann lieber ne Stunde Helge Schneider Pink Panther Variationen

Comenzó bien y como al segundo 40 ya todo se fue al carajo con el jazz. Es aburrido y tal vez por lo que comenta Vic está en la lista pero fuera de ahí no me aporta nada

As a 20 something in the early 80s, I had a disdain for Steely Dan. My boss told me to just wait awhile and I'll appreciate it. He was right! Love this album by a phenomenal artist.

Was not expecting these jazzy vibes. Expressive, colourful vocals. I love the dissonant harmonies and layered backing vocals. Soulful. Reminds me of a musical and makes me want to dance. The songs are long but not boring.

I love steely dan, and also live this as well.

Now this is more like it! I’ve been listening to and loving this album for decades. My go to if testing out new hi-fi equipment as the sound quality/production are second to none. The first and best of Fagens album triology apparently telling so sort of story only he knows! This is first class and should be on everybodies list

downright saccharine by One Of The Masterminds Behind Steely Dan standards! impartially im fully aware that this probably makes the record less distinct and specific, but to no one's surprise it also makes it a bit more inherently to my own tastes...and honestly knowledge of steely dan writ large doesnt even undercut the sweet uncomplicated optimism, it feels like a conscious break from the norm or even an aspirational character of sorts being played by fagen (esp because he does have some amount of causticness just inherently in the timbre of his voice). i hear some of my own moments of mental and social oasis all thru this uninnovative but very cozy and easily lovable record...im not sure if id end up preferring this to steely dan on the whole, but id likely be in the mood for it more frequently!

Benefitting from a nostalgia bump, but still enjoyed the listen

FUCKKKK YEAAHHHHHHHH

pretty cool right????!!!!!11111111111

This is probably a cringe analogy, but since I don't care about vocals, finding a great pop album is like a legendary gacha pull for me. I find one at a rate of about one a year... and I guess this year is now locked in. When I heard the first track, I thought there was no way any other song here would be on the same level, but then it just kept going. This album could be carried by atmosphere alone. I think it goes for a similar vibe to Japanese city pop, but unlike most city pop, actually achieves it. It's smooth, jazzy, and lush in a best possible way, with even some elements of rock sprinkled in when it's most appropriate. This is not my preferred atmosphere (I like something more heavy or energetic), but the effectiveness of the way this album achieves it deserves praise. And the production is just unmatched. This is one of the most clean and well produced albums I've ever heard, with its incredibly orchestral arrangements and vocals that, instead of overpowering the instruments like it usually is in pop, actually add something to the composition and sound fantastic. 9/10

i like it! kinda groovy, fun, whimsical

As a big Steely Dan fan, this album is right up my listening wheelhouse.

This album feels like how I imagine the 80s want to be remembered, in the future they hoped to have. The production on this album is so incredibly clean, the tracks are fun, and there's a consistent quality throughout. Even the album art is great, and perfectly in keeping with the mood of the songs. I definitely ended up enjoying this one. Favorite track: "New Frontier" (Some of the lyrics are relevant to me, a nice bonus)

A+

Chill vibes, loved it

Still magnificent

This is the 58th album I’m rating. I’ve listened to Steely Dan but never to any of his solo stuff but I think this’ll be great. Adding to my Playlist - I.G.Y., Green Flower Street, Ruby Baby, Maxine, New Frontier, The Nightfly, The Goodbye Look, and Walk Between Raindrops. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 8/8 songs. Very fun and very jazzy. A lot more fun than Hitler.

One of my favorite albums of all time. I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World) was the song that brought most of us to the album. I'm so glad that I liked the song so much that I bought the album... it immediately appealed to me. Favorite tracks: IGY, New Frontier, Maxine, Ruby Baby, Green Flower Street, The Goodbye Look, Walk Between the Raindrops, and The Nightfly. Rating: 5/5 (Brilliant) By the way... I.G.Y. = "International Geophysical Year" July 1957 to December 1958.

What an album this is. A concept album about a teenager in the late fifties/early sixties. Key lyrical themes are the promise of a techno-utopian future with flying cars, space stations and undersea train travel (IGY, the New Frontier), late night radio (the title track), and the opposite sex (Ruby, The Goodbye Look, Walk Between Raindrops). All of this wrapped up in immaculate jazz-tinged pop played by some of the best session musicians to ever walk the earth. One of those few albums that from first note to last unfolds with utter conviction. And fantastically produced. I could go on...oh and Fagan looks utterly cool on the cover.

Heel nice!

Well worthwhile as the eighth Steely Dan album. A difficult concept to pull off, the sound of futuristic ‘60s in the ‘80s? Very clever, but even better execution.

Absolutely superb. Fagen is the sound of Steely Dan with the added ingredient of more buttery jazz mixed in. So laid back it's horizontal. Loved it.

I had to listen to this one twice, back-to-back! The first time purely for a nostalgic trip back to the mid-80's when I had this cassette tape on repeat in my car. The second time to truly listen to the story about youthful optimism, belief in science and technical innovation, and dreaming of how life will be better post the Atomic-age. We'll be eternally free and eternally young... how disappointed the protagonist must be with the US now.

5 stars. that’s it. this ate and left no crumbs. this cooked and served. and i’m only on the 3rd track as i’m writing this

OMG YES YES YES I JUMPED UP IN EXCITEMENT WHEN I SAW THIS ALBUM TODAY YES X Now the very professional review: I love the harmonies and the jazzy sound it’s just magical and groovy and so nice The bass on Green Flower Street and especially New Frontier oh my god The very professional conclusion: this is definitely one of the best 1001 albums out there if not one of the best 100 or 50, cheers people xx

Perfect with headphones

This is the most interesting "smooth" album in existence. If there were a Mount Rushmore of albums that formed my POV on music as a whole, this is George Washington. Jazz and conversation from the foot of Mount Belzoni.

always a fan

Loved it,

It’s basically another Steely Dan album, which is all I could ask for.

Light disco

Groovy. Every part of this music is given love and atention it deserves. Rarely listening to this albums i'm thinking about word perfection but this one made it happen.

5/5

Hadn’t heard this before but it’s as good as a Steely Dan album.

Totally loved!!

Wonderful surprise.

I did not know that Donald Fagan was in Steely Dan. I enjoyed this album.

Great Groove!!

The smoothest polish A jazzy suave atmosphere Unexpected cool

I already knew I.G.Y, New Frontier and The Nightfly. They are great. Most of the rest is great too!

Just wonderful, peaceful, great cooking music.