Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Great solo album from the Steely Dan man. Continues the Yacht Rock vibe on his own. No need to skip a song, just let it play
Love it
Great album + superb recording for evaluating HiFi stereo equipment
I won't hide it here: this is one of my favorite albums of all time. A genuinely formative listening experience that has been the soundtrack to my journey in the last couple of years. The best thing to arise from the Steely Dan canon and that's saying something. Essential in every aspect, a must listen and one of the most brilliantly human albums ever recorded. Not to mention its incredible ability to test a sound system. A genuine dream production.
Good
Wonderful, I love
Love this sound, it's uplifting and sets positive vibes. Good Sunday listening.
10/10 clean af
Somehow, quality yacht rock almost always is appropriate.
Love this.
Already heard. Fantastic album.
Incredible vibes
Damn smooth
Toll produziertes Album, welches mir nach anfänglicher Skepsis recht gut gefällt.
I think an argument can be made that The Nightfly is a better album than any Steely Dan record, and I’ve developed a taste for the Dan. It’s one of those records that you can have playing in the background or obsess over every detail with high quality headphones. It also has one of the coolest album art covers ever. There are several highlights here: I.G.Y., Maxine (“try to hang on, Maxine” is such a killer moment in this song), New Frontier, and the title track are outstanding tunes surrounded by solid tracks that provide a very cohesive listening experience.
Sounds so chill just really nice
Chilled out, immaculate vibes. This is going into regular rotation.
great
Steely Dan co-founder and vocalist Donald Fagen's first solo album is a stellar blend of sharp and witty songwriting, crisp production and excellent (but not showy) musicianship. The songs on this album often mix upbeat rhythms with harmonically complex chord progressions which keep the music moving forward in interesting directions. In addition, in contrast with the sometime sunny surfaces of these songs, Fagen often ventures into dark and ironic lyrical territory, such as on "New Frontier" (about a party in a bomb shelter) and "The Goodbye Look" (about an expat who was wandered into a perilous situation in some foreign location). Fagen put out numerous other solo albums of varying quality but this is the crown jewel in his discography.
Like Steely Dan, it’s not just the artist but the stellar musicians he brings in.
I listened to it twice, back to back, and then went on to his next solo album. I knew two of the songs from growing up in the 80s but I'm not sure I'd thought about them since. This album is in my permanent list, now.
Sophisticated, beautifully crafted, elegant and swinging
First time hearing this album. His voice took me straight back to my teens when we were into Steely Dan. Love it!
This is a fantastic record. Incredibly well produced, many styles, very tongue in cheek here and there, earnest in others. I loved this album so much that my friends and I named our company after the track "New Frontier".
So this is Yacht Rock? If so, I like it. I just can't figure out why I enjoyed this so much when I really didn't like the Steely Dan album that I got from the project a few months ago.
Truly lovely album, even if this is not your thing can't see how you cannot like it
the most dad of rock to ever exist. side note i think i might have the music taste of a dad bc i fucking loved this
Close to perfection. And one of the best-produced albums in history.
Great album that fans of Steely Dan will love
Pre-listening thoughts: one half of Steely Dan!!! I’ve heard mixed reviews about this so I’m a little nervous but I also don’t think any member of Steely Dan is capable of making bad music. Post/during listening thoughts: well I was right. This is smooth as butter and just fantastically made. Gawd damn I love yacht rock. It’s like a whole album of Steely Dan B sides which is better than most band’s A sides. 9/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: no skips but IGY and New Frontier are BANGERS Least fav tracks: n/a
I think this record really showcases what an incredible musician Donald Fagen is. This was his first musical release without collaboration with Walter Becker, and I think it really proves how much of the magic of Steely Dan was from Fagen’s mind. There just isn’t a bad moment on this record, let alone a song that doesn’t blow me away entirely. The whole album is as groovy as it is precise. It’s jazzy, technical, sarcastic, and fun. There’s really no other artist that can match the magic of Steely Dan, but Donald Fagen’s solo work certainly does. I love this record, and I’ll continue to listen to it relatively regularly. IGY and Ruby Baby stand out as my favourite tracks on this one. 6*
If you like Steely Dan, you're gonna love this record, cuz it feels like a long-lost Dan record that should've come after Gaucho (sorry, Walter Becker, you probably wouldn't like that take). At least, it has the jazz fusion sounds and incredibly tight production that you'd expect from a Steely Dan album, but 'The Nightfly' has some very distinguishing elements as well: it is nostalgic and hopeful and warm in a way that Steely Dan rarely was, instead veering towards cynical and sardonic. On its face, the opening track "I.G.Y." is the most hopeful track on the album by a long shot. It is named for and clearly inspired by the "International Geophysical Year", a collaborative project among scientists around the world running from 1957-1958 designed to see exactly how much we could improve the human experience through modern science. In the song are references to promises that never came to fruition--90 minutes from New York to Paris, the wheel in space, more leisure for artists everywhere--as well as things that have been realized, but hardly delivered on what we were sold. Most presciently, far more true now than at the release of the song, is "a just machine to make big decisions, programmed by fellows with 'compassion' and 'vision'". The song sounds so cheery and optimistic it fills you with a palpable sense of yearning for this vision of a future that clearly never will be, and I get the impression that the painful irony of that misguided optimism is the real "point" of the song. This irony and misguided optimist sentiment comes back in the form of "Cold War bedamned, we'll party in the bunkers if we have to" on "New Frontier". It's a strange sort of optimism, but it's optimism all the same, and it's an absolute banger. The rest of the album feels very nostalgic--the doo-wop of "Ruby Baby" and the bossa nova of "The Goodbye Look" harkens back to ~20 years prior to the album's release, and the rest of the album evokes a tale of a night shift radio DJ broadcasting jazzy lonely grooves out into the ether and reminiscing on high school sweethearts and lost loves along the way. This album is an incredible accomplishment. It feels like there are so many stories wrapped up within just 39 minutes of runtime, and it goes without saying that the music and production is second to none. True excellence.
A just machine to make big decisions Programmed by fellas with compassion and vision We'll be clean when their work is done We'll be eternally free, yes, and eternally young I love the cheesy early digital sound and the lyrics, it's like an East Coast Pet Sounds in how it looks back at teenage delusions. I gave Pretzel Logic a 4 a while ago, I'd give it a 5 now as I've become more Danpilled since then.
5 estrelas , importancia historica tecnologica. E claro, musical.
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
4.5
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.
Absolutely loved this album. Great choral harmonies and island vibes.
This is what I want! Worthy number of songs (no clear filler), good duration and amazing playing. The production is top-notch. The session players are just awesome! Some of these grooves by Ed and Jeff are just amazing. I prefer some Steely Dan albums but this is great! Highlights: “I.G.Y.”, “New Frontier & “The Nightfly”. 4.5 stars.
One of the most immaculately produced albums of all time and also a complete lyrical masterclass. Just a really wry, astute but also loving send up of growing up in 50s surburbia set to the smoothest of 80s sonic landscapes. IGY is one of the most perfect and uplifting yet sharply ironic songs of all time and Walk Between The Raindrops a fabulous and bittersweetly emotional send-off. Title song also another incredible, hook-laden individual highlight. Even if the music is potentially too slick at times, the wonderfully observed themes, lyrics and overarching album concept makes this a record that keeps giving and giving.
This album was awesome. I didn't know that Donald Fagen did solo stuff. I like Steely Dan, but have not ever been a super fan. From the very beginning of this album it was just a groove. I didn't always love the sounds, like the really electric piano etc...but I did love the grooves.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’m going to bump up to a 5 because I just really, really enjoyed this. I have to be honest to myself with these ratings – I really thought about going for a 4 because “well, some of the outros are a little long, and it’s a little cheesy” but I quickly realized that for my listening experience, I didn’t really care about them in the moment that much. I cared enough to notice them, sure, but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the album while I was listening to it. This is just a delight for me – I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because it’s kind of unabashedly cheesy. This is early 80s production at a sort of plateau between the direction of the late 70s and the growing use of synthesizers that would really come to define the mid-80s. This album really tows the line between jazzy soundscapes and some great synth work without overdoing either one. The mixing on this album is as good as audiophiles make it out to be – this is CRISP for 1982, and I guess it’s a testament that the album has never really had to be remastered like that, you know? Those soundscapes are supplemented really well by his vocals – I know Donald Fagen was one of the members of Steely Dan, but I’ve never heard a Steely Dan album. I have to imagine one will come up, because I want to hear more stuff like this. I think I.G.Y. is a fantastic opener, and a great tonesetter for an album that never really loses steam, save for the occasional long outro, or extended periods where the soundscape doesn’t shift as much as it could. This isn’t a flawless album, but I don’t think there’s too much I would tweak here. The variety of styles here is super cool, from the moodier & jazzier stuff that comprises the first few tracks, to the arguably city pop-esque “The Goodbye Look,” and the almost Sinatra-esque “Walk Between Raindrops” – slow that track down a bit and you can hear him crooning out those lyrics. It was just a really fun album for me, I dunno. I could totally see someone getting entirely bored of this and giving it a 2 or a 3, though. It’s gonna be a mixed bag for some people, but it hits on everything I like. Sometimes, when you enjoy an album this much, it’s hard not to go with a 5, and I just feel like I’ve got to give it one. Certainly no less than a 4 for me.
Big Steely Dan fan, so no wonder I like this album. Great stuff
Incredible - its just like another steely dan album
A really good album. Usually when artists from bands put out solo material, it sounds a bit different from their band material, but this is Steely Dan through and through. All the songs had me foot tapping along and the instrumentals were incredible. Proper album, Donald.
This is the album that introduced me to Donald Fagen and Steely Dan, and so has had a huge influence on my musical journey. And in addition to that importance to me personally, I think this is just a fantastic set of songs, all of which sound similar to Steely Dan’s but which lack the level of irony and cynicism. It’s all just great fun, and Walk Between Raindrops is one of the most romantic songs I’ve ever heard in my life
Steely Dan Singer Solo Album.
Absolutely great!
Wish I was born in the 80s
Yacht Rock, but like, REALLY good Yacht Rock
5/5
I have only heard this entire album a few years ago. Though I remember a few tracks from the radio when I was growing up. What a revelation, this whole record is fantastic. I was glad to see it come up today.
Just like Steely Dan, the production here is just next level. It's so clean and perfect. I enjoy how much jazzier this is than some other Steely Dan stuff as well. The lyrics are also a nice change of pace.
Dudeeeee soooo groovy and funky and I just love what Fagen does on here. I mean steely Dan being like the most influential prog jazz band you gotta wonder how they work solo. It’s the vocals that really make this record fagen just has a unique voice like rivers cuomo even and I love it. I will be bumping this for a while and it’s just a great album through and through 10/10 no notes Dan forever
I love Steely Dan, so it's not surprise that I loved this. Only I.G.Y. was familiar to me, but the entire album stank of that wonderful Steely Dan aroma. Excellent album, listened to it twice and would again. Five stars.
Donald loses some cool points due to lack of Walter but totally redeems himself by having Larry Carlton play lead guitar on every song. I am a fan of Steely Dan but this is different, I'd say it has a little less rock and a little more yacht but it is still quality.
I remember hearing this album often when I was younger - it's like a walk down memory lane, and sounds as good as I remember. Much as it's Donald Fagen's first solo album, it absolutely sounds like Steely Dan, which is fine by me. The album just puts me in a good mood and I could listen to it on repeat for hours. Pretty much a perfect album to me. Favorite tracks: I.G.Y (one of those tracks where I see the name and go, "what's that?" and then press play and immediately go, "duh, of course I know this one"), New Frontier, The Nightly, Walk Between Raindrops (again, how can you listen to this album and not smile?).
A meticulously crafted album that strikes a perfect chord with those who appreciate the finer details in musical storytelling. Its sophisticated blend of jazz-pop elements and thoughtful lyricism resonates with my affinity for deep narratives and complex, emotionally charged arrangements. Each track is a reflective journey through Fagen's lyrical dexterity, capturing the vibrant spirit of an idealistic past with a contemporary sonic polish. The album's standout, "The Nightfly," exemplifies this blend, with its introspective exploration of night-time radio broadcasting—a theme that personally resonates due to my own passion for radio and its power to connect and communicate. The Nightfly is a testament to Fagen's artistic genius, presenting a sound that's both timeless and deeply evocative.
4/23/24. Always loved Steely Dan and their evolution, listening to this solo effort continued to expand my love for SD and both their official members. Tight production, not afraid to explore different sounds, and great progressions. Loved this one.
I loved all that clean, flawless, jazzy goodness and clever lyrics. Still great.
Solid late period Steely Dan minus Becker. Some people get turned off by the slick production of Donald Fagen's work, both solo and Steely Dan, and I did at first. But if abandon your preconceptions you will be richly rewarded with mostly excellent songs on this album that feel more personal than Fagen's work w Walter Becker as Steely Dan. Almost sounds like an autobiographical fantasy of a kid growing up in 50s NJ. The production is immaculate - the instruments sound lush richly detailed. I have probably heard this record hundreds of times and I still find it captivating.
Introduction: Released in 1982, Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" marked a turning point. Following the dissolution of Steely Dan, the album showcased Fagen's distinct voice while retaining the duo's penchant for sonic brilliance and intricate arrangements. This review delves into the lyrical themes, musical tapestry, production mastery, and lasting influence of this critically acclaimed work. Lyrical Exploration: A departure from Steely Dan's often cryptic narratives, "The Nightfly" adopts a more personal approach. Fagen paints vivid pictures of a bygone era, drawing inspiration from his teenage years in the late 50s and early 60s. Tracks like "I.G.Y. (What a Beauty)" capture the youthful optimism and fascination with the Space Age, while "The New Frontier" reflects on Cold War anxieties and the ever-present threat of nuclear fallout. However, Fagen doesn't shy away from darker undercurrents. "Ruby Baby" hints at the allure and danger of forbidden love, while "Counterfeit" explores themes of deception and the fleeting nature of fame. This blend of nostalgia, introspection, and subtle societal commentary elevates the album beyond mere reminiscence. Musical Nuance: Fagen's signature songwriting shines through. Intricate melodies intertwine with sophisticated chord progressions, evident in tracks like "Gaucho" (a Steely Dan leftover) and "The Nightfly." The album leans heavily on jazz influences, with prominent use of horns, piano, and dynamic percussion sections. Tracks like "Walk Between the Raindrops" showcase Fagen's playful piano work, while the soulful ballad "Maxine" features a captivating saxophone solo. Production Prowess: The production on "The Nightfly" is nothing short of masterful. Longtime collaborator Gary Katz meticulously crafted a soundscape that is both pristine and warm. Lush layers of instrumentation blend seamlessly, creating a sonic world that perfectly complements the lyrical themes. Every note feels meticulously placed, a testament to Fagen and Katz's shared vision. Enduring Themes and Influence: "The Nightfly" transcends mere nostalgia. It explores universal themes of youthful dreams, societal anxieties, and the complexities of human relationships. The album's influence on various artists is undeniable. Acts like Beck, Radiohead, and even contemporary pop acts like Maroon 5 have cited Fagen's work as a source of inspiration. Strengths: Sophisticated songwriting: Fagen's masterful blend of melody, harmony, and intricate chord progressions creates a unique and engaging listening experience. Vivid lyrical imagery: The album paints a picture of a specific era while exploring timeless themes that resonate with listeners. Production excellence: The meticulous attention to detail in the sonic tapestry elevates the music to a whole new level. Weaknesses: Limited sonic palette: Compared to Steely Dan's broader soundscapes, "The Nightfly" leans more heavily on jazz influences, which might limit the appeal for some listeners. Lyrically opaque moments: While the album offers a glimpse into Fagen's personal world, some listeners might find certain lyrical passages cryptic. Conclusion: "The Nightfly" stands as a testament to Donald Fagen's exceptional songwriting and musical prowess. It seamlessly merges elements of jazz, pop, and rock, resulting in a timeless masterpiece. While minor criticisms exist regarding the sonic scope and occasional lyrical obscurity, the album's strengths far outweigh these aspects. "The Nightfly" continues to captivate listeners with its intricate musicianship, evocative lyrics, and production brilliance. It remains a landmark achievement in Fagen's solo career and a significant influence on the music landscape.
Still a great album after all these years.
Donald Fagen and Steely Dan will always get 5 stars from me. Their music is timeless and brilliant. Jazz, pop, rock all rolled into one.
The Nightfly is an album I unashamedly adore. Where do I start with it? It’s full of layers. It’s shiny, (dad) pop perfection with immaculate playing and lush production, steeped in 50’s nostalgia. It’s warm in tone, but there’s also with a coldness to it, and underneath its bright, shiny, seemingly optimistic veneer, it’s a commentary on post-war middle-class America, with lyrics and stories full of irony, sarcasm and cynicism but wrapped up in a perfect, gleaming, catchy pop album. It’s a subversive masterpiece. Did you expect anything less from one half of Steely Dan?
Nostalgic
Love it. Synth-art-pop goodness. It's amazing and fun
BL: Only knowledge of Fagen is that he was one of the members of Steely Dan, who are a group I've tried to get into a few times, and I haven't ever disliked them but still found them a little bit of a struggle to get into. I'll see how a solo venture fairs. AL: This was an incredibly good album, mixtures of city pop and traditional rock and singer/songwriter chops. A pleasure to listen to, will definitely be listening to again. FT: "I.G.Y", "Ruby Baby", "New Frontier", "The Nightfly", "Walk Between Raindrops" 5/5
I've always loved this album
Love. My first compact disc experience was this album.
i‘ve listened to this one like 100+ times. a classic, i love Donald Fagen
With jazz and conversation From the foot of Mt. Belzoni !!!
Sounded to me like a more whimsical / lighthearted Steely Dan. Really dug it. On Spotify the loudness of the tracks vary so much you have to really adjust your volume. Re-mastering or mastering mistake?
Strong start, feels a bit jazzy and a bit cool, I'm enjoying the range of instruments used. Definitely the kind of thing my dad would play which is a good sign. After a quick google I noted this guy was in Steely Dan, so definitely music I was exposed to growing up!
Listened this so often back when it came out. I haven't listened to it in decades though. Nice to get back to it.
I can't help but love it. And thanks to the album generator I've finally listened to Brubeck.
Loved it
Most 80s thing ever
at first i thought, this sounds just like steely dan! lol. i think this is like 4.5/5 but i am feeling generous. there were a couple songs that felt very "peppy-artificial-80s-beat" but still pretty good.
Sick, classic Fagan with a bit more to it.
Album 166 of 1001 Donald Fagen - The Nightfly Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Tracks : I.G.Y. I look at other reviews for this and wonder what they had against Fagen and/or Steely Dan before they even listened. Seems to be the cool thing to diss them. I couldn't disagree more. This is an awesome album. Even without having those undeniable "hits", I find each song very enjoyable. I could listen to this on repeat for a few hours before I'd notice. Nice songs...nice production...nice vibe.
The best Donald Fagen album in my memory. It could be qualified as some Steely Dan light version, but I like it just as much (apart from Ruby Baby).
Very pleasant listen. Not one bad track on this bad boy
Was very surprised at how much I liked this. Kind of slaps and I'll be a little generous from 4.5
I own this album, and if there's a way to corrode a CD through over-playing I must be close with this one. As expected, it's as smooth and jazzy as Steely Dan; perhaps even schmoover. The production is light, crisp and, although very much of it's time, sounds like brushed silk on a good set of speakers. What sets this aside as truly remarkable is that Fagen has conjured up something like a quasi-concept album centred around the themes and events of his youth - the techno-utopianism of the 1950s, the Cuban Revolution, anxieties around the A-bomb - and it's all done with wit and panache. Less elliptical than the Dan, as a consequence this feels like it is more human and has more heart than anything else Fagen had heretofore. A triumph.
Great album
This is excellent jazzy pop music. Standout: New Frontier. 5/5.
it’s so cool hearing the Steely Dan members’ solo stuff you can really hear what charm they can both individually put into the band that create such a perfect sound and yet they both hold up so well on their own it’s incredible - 10/10
come on man. come ON turn me UP don fagen does not disappoint when given total creative control. he has such a clear vision on this record. the steely dan sound has always been a relaxing one to me, but fagen pulls from some different influences here to bring a bit more intensity in spurts. but, in the end, it’s a steely dan album through and through, with more melodica steely dan did green flower street at their phoenix show this year, and it got me to re-listen to the nightfly. i was sold then, and i’m sold now. what a great record, a great musician, and a perfect body of work
Very fun, wonderful listen
Fantastic Album that’s known as the benchmark for testing out Hi-Fi Systems due to its incredible production and coordinated, tight arrangements.
With the distinctive voice from Steely Dan, you'd think this would be just another Steely Dan album. It's definitely not. There's some sharp commentary in here, along with some very tasty grooves. I love this album. How are things on Mount Belzoni, by the way?
actually super sick, every track slaps
Steely Dan with less guitar and more saxophone. Brilliant, I love Steely Dan.
A relaxing Jazzy R&B Better than casual lofi radio but nothing out of this world 8/10
good album
A warm, polished, feel‑good solo record where Fagen keeps the Steely Dan craft but swaps the cynicism for bright, optimistic grooves.
Really nice to listen to, forgot i liked chiller music. favorite was the opener.
Slick, funky, fun. Amazing production.
I dig this, quite a bit more than I thought I would. The instrumentation and production is particularly standout here, sounding distinctly 70s/80s in the best way. Funky, jazzy, groovy, smooth, all these words apply to this album. And while I'm not totally on board with Fagen's voice, I think it fits with the groove and the lyrics are well done. The title track, The Nightfly, especially is the perfect fit for all the elements coming together on the album.
I realize I really appreciate the consistency of sound and overall vision in this post Steely Dan offering. I have also been swayed to the side that it’s “safe” and leans toward boring. But still- I appreciate it. And I appreciate its optimism over the Steely Dan duo’s cynicism. I would let this soundtrack my train ride into the future… 4 Boolean: True
Nice but no Steely Dan. I added “Maxine” to my playlist.
Sounds just like Steely Dan but with more of an 80's pop feel. Can't imagine that a Steely Dan fan wouldn't enjoy this
(Gaucho + synths) - Walter Becker= The Nightfly
Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: The Nightfly Date listened: 15/06/26 Listen when: Evening listen on record player Not a super popular album but I really love his sound and addition of fun little things like the radio references in the Nightfly. Just the right length and range of sound while keeping the same tone for the album which I appreciate.. It's hard to pick a time to listen to an album which changes vibe so drastically.
heel chill album
I quite enjoyed this musical series of short stories told by drunk uncle Fagan. It was nice.
really good!
A great album I've liked since it came out. Being a big Steely Dan fan, I think the volumes written about this album can be reduced to this: If you like Steely Dan you'll like this one - if you don't, you won't.
Steely Dan lite. Good songs, but feels like they’re missing something.
Really good and smooth, i felt like it started off strong and got progressively weaker to the end
Maybe I was just in the right mood, but this was pretty fun/cool. Probably more of a three, but it hit the spot
Oh, one of the guys from Steely Dan has a solo album? I wonder how different it is than the group stuff... But seriously folks, this is a pretty groovy listen. Fits right in with the Steely Dan discography...so much so, I felt like I've heard all of these songs even though I probably haven't. Would spin again for sure.
Not groundbreaking, a continuation of great work on broken ground.
Alright, 'The Nightfly,' you're not bad. You've got this smooth production, those jazzy quirks, and vocals that'd make Barry White nod in approval. But come on, man, you dragged your feet towards the end. You know what they say about the devil... Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - I.G.Y. - New Frontier - The Nightfly - Walk Between Raindrops
By coincidence, I got last Steely Dan album on this list just a few days a go, and now I am getting an offering from Mr. Fagen from Steely Dan himself. And yeah, this indeed sounds like Dan.
Great album. As usual, stellar production. Liked Fagan more without Becker. Reading about the making of the album, it's no wonder he was burned out for several years after this.
Album #156 Donald Fagen: The Nightfly We get it, you hate Steely Dan; you probably also say that all soft rock is elevator music and claim to prefer genres like punk and alt rock because they are more ‘raw’. Meanwhile, really, you just are uncomfortable with the feeling of comfort and relaxation, probably stemming back to when you got made fun of as a kid for wearing your dad’s hand-me-down shoes that felt better on your feet than any pair of Jordans ever could. God, the only thing more annoying than Steely Dan haters are Steely Dan fans, the type where the second they hear a single note fro Aja they feel the urge to immediately spurt out how great the production is, probably also adding “you know they use this album to test speakers”; they are either a sixty year old retired white man who never liked any actual music until yacht rock appeared in the the 70s, and since then that’s all he’s ever needed, or some teenager that thinks listening to Steely Dan will somehow make them appear more sensitive and enlightened. I don’t know why, but few bands have discourse around them that makes me cringe more than Steely Dan, which sucks because I actually do really like them. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I do think deep down we all like Steely Dan, we just operate on varying degrees of self-acceptance and expression. They are probably the most agreeable band of all-time, soft rock in general is incredibly inoffensive, and those who feel the need to vehemently express their disgust at the idea of it come off as incredibly performative. Steely Dan is kind of the one band that gets a pass from most music fans, which makes sense because they are definitely the cream of the crop, and more forward-thinking than a lot of their contemporaries, mostly due to their focus on jazz-fusion. However, though I agree that Steely Dan are the best of the yacht rockers, I don’t think they’re the be-all-end-all. Half of their albums I consider to be all-timers, and the other half is entirely mood-dependent. Donald Fagen’s solo effort, The Nightfly, dares to lean into the latter category. It possesses some of the finest songs that he ever wrote, specifically I.G.Y. and the title track; some of the other songs pale by comparison and seem to almost blend in with the album. What stops The Nighfly from becoming a bore is the album’s aesthetic. Though it is something which is often looked down upon in music discourse, aesthetics plays a really big part in why we enjoy music, whether subconsciously or consciously. There are albums with an obvious aesthetic, such as Heaven or Las Vegas by the Cocteau Twins or Floating into the Night by Julee Cruise, which attempt to create a dreamscape for the listener with their sound and visuals. Then there are the albums which create an aesthetic with their attitude and lyricism, such as Never Mind The Bollocls by the Sex Pistols or pretty much any goth music, where the enjoyment of the music is enhanced by the idea of being someone who listens to that type of music. The Nightfly’s aesthetic is that of a late evening with a glass of wine, sitting next to your record player, and listening to your favourite album. It sort of romanticizes the average music fan's own existence, of coming home from work and having nothing but the music and your thoughts. In a way, this aesthetic appeals to all of us on this website, since at the end of the day, listening to music is a pragmatically useless activity; the only value that stems from it is the way that it makes us feel. There is no way to bottle up or create a tangible manifestation of our feelings, so they often are fleeting and only exist in the moment. And that’s what The Nightfly represents, the moments of listening, feeling, which makes it seem real and important. So though not every song stands on its own, when in the package of the album, I think it works well, at least if you are in the right mood and environment. Unfortunately, we don’t all look as cool as Donald Fagen when in that environment, however. Best Songs: I.G.Y., The Nightfly, New Frontier Worst Song: The Goodbye Look Score out of 10: 8
This is pretty cool. I think I like Steely Dan better together, but this is still strong.
He’s excellent Titular song and Maxine have been some of my favorites for a while
Cool album
Gaven’s best work is in the jazzy vein, whether he is part of Steely Dan or by himself, as this album proves. Better with each listen.
Wasn’t sure what this would be like but it’s pretty awesome. Kind of reminds me of Steely Dan’s cadence actually
So ... steely dan is my favourite band ......
4/5
Top notch production and some catchy crooning tunes. A nice alternative in the piano-based rock realm.
So smooth. Love a bit of Steely Dan, so this is obviously a CD I own! It's now stuck with the Yacht Rock label, but I don't care....this is a great set of songs with a super smooth production. Just because it's not an aural assault doesn't mean it's not good! 4
# Album Name: Nightfly # Artist: Donald Fagen # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Banging album. Love the feel and rhythm on this thing. # Top Tunes: nightfly / NF / IGY / Green flower street # Would I listen to it again? Yes
A Steely Dan-adjacent solo project, this is Fagen’s debut album. Like most things Steely Dan, this was good; it also helped that most of the recording musicians had worked on Steely Dan projects before. It’s a little more jazz-heavy than I expected, but the grooves are good and there isn’t a bad song in the bunch. I’m torn between a 3 and a 4, I liked it but there isn’t really a standout song. I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll give it the bump to a low 4/5
Samstag 25.04.2026 Im Cafe Tirree draußen auf den Bierbänken in der Sonne, beim kochen abends in der Küche während Apfelpfannkuchen gemacht werden
muy bueno me re gustó
hall n oates style easy listening. sort of american city pop. a pleasant vibe-fest, really catchy stuff. favorite song is probably I.G.Y.
Look more into him
very soothing jazz? idk what genre this album falls under, but it was very calming and easy to multitask with.
Den var bra
I've not heard this before but found it very enjoyable.
GOOD
Good stuff.
Doesn't quite reach the heights of his Steely Dan stuff but still some solid jazz-rock. Still waiting on that 90 minute flight from NYC to Paris to happen.
Excellent album. Highlights: I.G.Y., Green Flower Street, Ruby Baby, New Frontier, The Nightfly and The Goodbye Look. 4.7
Great stuff from one of the Steely Dan fellas. 4.5/5
Actually really enjoyed this. Different, shinier, jazzier vibe from Steely Dan but still has the signature Fagen songwriting, with his chord voicings and layered vocal harmonies. IGY is a great song - the chorus and horn part in particular stuck in my head for days. New Frontier is I think the other "hit" from this album and is also just totally 80s synth fun. Also learned this was one of the first if not the first album to be total digital recording, which is a fun fact. Apparently took them forever to record due to that as well as Fagen's demands for studio perfectionism. This one got some repeat spins for me and I was sort of surprised by that!
I blame weed induced music doc binge sessions for bumping this score to a 4 level. Part of a prodigious music team. Also, warm spring air enlisted this as its background companion.
I’m gonna like anything Steely Dan adjacent and that became abundantly clear upon the first lyric
I was not expecting this to be this good. Def lower than a 4, but so not a 3
very cool aesthetic. Looks like the album cover. I.G.Y. is a fantastic opener
It appears Donald Fagen's solo debut goes in the same category of every Steely Dan album: I have known and kinda fucked with some of these songs for as long as I can remember but I had no idea until just now who the artist was or the name of any of the songs.
Yacht Rock at its finest.
Fagen's time in Steely Dan really shines through this album's tracks. It's the smoother, calmer, classier side of what can be easily glimpsed in Steely Dan songs. Beautiful, calm, and reminds me of walking down NYC streets at 1AM thinking about the one that got away with a slight whiskey buzz. 7/10, it's got me brooding like a burnt-out retired homicide detective.
New Frontier
I’m a huge Steely Dan fan and I like this album, but not sure why this made the list when there’s at least 2 steely Dan albums that I e gotten so far. Still slaps tho
Muito gostoso. Imagino dirigindo a noite e ouvindo.
Good album, I really like the sound that Steely / Donald has. 7.3/10
An interesting listen. I really enjoyed the smooth, jazzy ’80s production and laid-back grooves throughout. It’s a fun album with a slick sound and a sense that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it easy to enjoy.
vibe
Franchement vraiment bon album. Je ne connaissais pas Donald Fagen et le groupe Steely Dan seulement de nom mais là, le projet m'a vraiment plu. Déjà, on sens que la genèse de l'album a des racines très personnelles et à mon sens, ça donne une atmosphère vraiment honnête et une substance beaucoup plus consistante au projet. De plus, je trouve le concept de l'album plutôt réussi avec énormément de sonorités très original tel que le cool jazz ou la pop mélé à des sons de synthétiseurs, c'est vraiment intéressant.
No lo conocía. Me pareció muy bueno. Grandes canciones, y se ve clarito cómo Geordie Greep "toma prestadas" cosas de él para The New Sound. 7/10
Good ole Donald Fagen. This still has that Steely Dan feel (that I unabashedly love) yet unique enough to be different. True to how they used to record albums, he's brought in some truly exceptional musicians to support him. The bass lines so rich you can swim in em. Special shout-out to Green Flower Street and New Frontier.
I.G.Y. is so good, cheesy synths and all. It's tough when one song is head and shoulders above the rest of the album. Not that the rest is bad...the album just peaks on track one. Having Larry Carlton in your pocket is a hell of a not-so-secret weapon.
90 minutes from New York to Paris, well by ‘76 we’ll be A-OK
Before: I think Donald Fagen is one of those artists I dismissed back when he was popular on the radio. My favorite artists back then were groups like XTC, The Pretenders, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, and The Specials. I'm pretty sure I didn't even consider him for my 1982 or any other playlist. Let's try to keep an open mind this time around shall we? During: First up is I.G.Y. It does start off nicely. Of course I remember it now. I have to say I do like this song, it's probably a 4 out of 5, maybe I'll have to add it to my 1982 playlist. I was a huge fan of his band Steely Dan's album Aja that came out in 1977, but that was before I knew about punk, new wave, and associated genres. Next is Green Flower Street. I'm pretty sure I've heard this one too, or is that it sounds just like Aja? Ruby Baby I've heard too, it's nice, sounds like it could have been on Aja. Maxine I don't like at all. New Frontier I like. You know what, I think I had this album on cassette. I definately like this song a lot. Don't like The Nightfly that much. By the time we get to The Goodbye Look I'm losing interest. I mean it's nice but I'm starting to get bored. Walk Between Raindrops does not renew my interest. It does have a little ska thing going on which reminds me I'd rather be listening to The Specials. After : 5 I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) 3 Green Flower Street 4 Ruby Baby 2 Maxine 5 New Frontier 3 The Nightfly 3 The Goodbye Look 3 Walk Between Raindrops ----------------------------------------------- 28 Average = 3.50 So the average is 3.5. I guess I'm going to have to give it a 3. If it had just one more 4 or 5 towards the end, I might give it a 4. I'm gonna try the lower ranked songs one more time (I've already listened to them twice). Almost done with my 3rd listen. This is reminding me a lot of Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen which is one of my all time favorites, Probably in my top 50 at least. So, I changed some song ratings and feel like I can give the album 4 stars. 5 I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) 4 Green Flower Street 4 Ruby Baby 2 Maxine 5 New Frontier 4 The Nightfly 4 The Goodbye Look 3 Walk Between Raindrops ----------------------------------------------- 31 Average = 3.875 So, I don't normally rate the songs individually as the average does not necessarily equate to the rating. I give the album but when I'm on the fence, it is helpful. That being said, I'm a gonna give it a 4.
Very dated, but very fun precisely because it is.
Great solo debut. Sounds like a continuation of Steely Dan
Very good pop album
"The Nightfly" is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Donald Fagen. Jazz pop, pop rock and R&B are the Wiki-listed genres. The album was produced by Greg Katz and was Fagen's first release without longtime collaborator Walter Becker after the Steely Dan split in 1981. The lyrics are highly autobiographical "related to the cautiously optimistic mood of his childhood in the late 50's/early 60's." The album was one of the first fully digital recordings and is still considered one of the best recorded albums. Fagen sang both lead and backing vocals and played the synthesizers and the synth blues harp. 31 additional musicians were also credited on the album. Commercially, the album reached #11 on the Billboard 200 and #44 in the UK and was critically very well-received. The album opens with "I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)." A swirling background synth, electronic piano and synth keys. A smooth jazz guitar and a light beat. Horn fills and lovely backing vocals. Not too far away from a classic Steely Dan sound. Optimistic though as he sings about space stations and solar powered cities. I.G.Y. = International Geophysical Year, an event that happened in the late 50's, of course. Why am I thinking of "My Favorite Martian?" "Ruby Baby" continues in the jazz vein with a sax and flugelhorn. A piano solo and soulful organ. Outstanding production. "New Frontier" has more of a rock beat. A piano melody and melodic bass. Synth harmonica fills recalling Stevie Wonder. A song with an easy-going groove. It was was a matter of time before a cowbell showed up and it does in "The Nightfly." More in the jazzy vibe. An interesting song about a late-night Baton Rouge DJ taking chaotic phone calls and hsi loneliness. One thing for sure is that this is a great sounding album, no doubt about earning its audiophile dream reputation. I typically takes notes when different instruments come in and out of a song. I gave up after awhile since there are all sorts of fills, short solos, layers and underlying instruments. It's no surprise that this album took eight months to record and was considered a difficult album to record. You take the Fagen out of Seely Dan but you can't take the Steely Dan out of Fagen. I think it was worth it. The music is jazzy, funky and soulful. It's much more laid-back than a Steely Dan album but with still has a little bit of an edge. And much more optimistic than a Steel Dan album. Overall, it's a very good and a solid album, well worth giving it a listen.
3.5-4 stars
i really enjoyed it
Omg, l’album caché de Steely Dan! Je comprends mieux les ressemblances de sons entre Donald Fagen et Geordie Greep sur son nouvel album solo The New Sound, très « chanteur bossanova hasbeen un peu trash d’un resort à Punta Cana », mais d’une délicieuse façon
Nice chill vibes
fuck this is smooth
When I saw the album, I thought it was going to be completely new, but I immediately recognized I.G.Y and New Frontier. Nice, mellow & jazzy
Smooooooooth
STEELY DAN MENTIONED!!!!!!! anyways this is another groovy album, very much enjoyed, hopefully i get more, 8/10
Não conhecia, interessante
This could have been an excellent Steely Dan album. Instead, it's an excellent Donald Fagan album. Love his version of Ruby Baby.
This was a pretty good album from half of steely Dan, which just reminded me of steely Dan lol but it was a decent and I enjoyed it!
Steely Dan adjacent.....I am sure he can tell you the very important differences in his solo work, it just sounds like Steely Dan. Which doesn't suck.
New York vibes
very pleasant :)
There are some people that have such unique voices. Not because they are perfect but just because they have a tone or a quirk that makes them instantly recognisable. Donald Fagan is one. I had no idea he had made an album outside of Steely Dan. Some songs on here I recognise but have always thought WERE Steely Dan. As a collection it's quite MOR and an easy listen. Add that voice and it's a 4
Great album, had heard a few of these & always thought they were S.D. tunes. Can’t go wrong with that smooth groove sound. Maybe heard this back in college?
Good album for sure. Like Steely Dan, the songs and the production are pretty much flawless. But, sometimes, the perfect nature ends up sounding sterile.
i like the calm vibe
I'm a little surprised to see this one pop up. It's good, maybe his best solo outing, but I've always thought this was more reserved for the heavy Steely Dan enthusiasts. Hearing this again after a long while, I'm realizing how good it is. I like this more now than before and it really stacks well alongside Aja and Gaucho.
This feels like an album that would receive a rave review from Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (complimentary)
Loved it, easy listening!
post-steely dan donald… fascinating stuff here. same sound but slower and more chill than the band usually does. not a bad listen at all but there were no standouts
Good and fun and chill. 4/5
Really good jazz
Steely Dan minus the smirk. Not quite as clinical but still immaculate in its production. More sincere in its nostalgic view. Will return.
Solid.
I find it to be a pleasant foray into early 80’s pop rock. It’s light and jazzy. It’s fun to listen to and interesting in the layers and textures.
Just like Steely Dan, of which Donald Fagen was a part before this album, this album effortlessly radiates COOL. It's missing many of the sardonic lyrical touches that Walter Becker brought to the mix, but it's still got that smoky, late-night jazz pop sound that makes the best of the best Steely Dan work. Another 9/10 from the Steely Dan sphere!
It's not quite on the level of Aja, but it's got the same jazzy production that got me hooked on Steely Dan (and which was missing from Pretzel Logic). Very fun and layered record that I played twice in succession -- at a tight 38 minutes, it's all gas no filler. Standouts: I.G.Y. • Ruby Baby • New Frontier • The Goodbye Look
those of you who like easy-listening pop and yacht rock might like this album. donald fagen is one half of the iconic soft rock duo steely dan, and this music absolutely has that sleazy, smarmy aesthetic going for it right away. even when working solo, fagen's distinctive songwriting, vocal harmony work and funky-fresh sound remains clear as ever. compared to most steely dan albums, this album has a more contemporary and, well... pop sound to it. this sound i feel like hinders the album a little bit; the clean and modern 80s production work paired with some of the vocal techniques can at times make this album sound a little... cheesy. even i know my limits when it comes to 80s pop sounds... but is this album bad? heavens no. it's a gem, and above all else, it's full of character.
First thought.. this name seems familiar 10 seconds in... Steely Dan And thats a positive because this is great
Feels like Steely Dan is missing a little something.
****A good, easy listening album. Most tracks sounded familiar
A good one that I don't listen to enough.
Really nice. Enjoyed. Sounds great
Steely Dan
Chad Fagen
I do like me some Steely Dan, but I'm not too familiar with Donald Fagen's solo work. You still hear tinges of Steely Dan in this album's production, but the content is more nostalgic and somewhat autobiographical. Fagen definitely leans into the mindset of his younger self, full of hopes and dreams. A great showcase of audio recording as well, as the production is crisp here. I wouldn't call Fagen the greatest vocalist, but jazz/rock always scratches an itch for me and this was a nice & smooth solo effort from Mr. Fagen. "I.G.Y." was the standout highlight.
Dainininkas iš Steely Dan?????? Aš galvoju, iš kur toks girdėtas. Woww
Öpis wo im 2025i gar nüm relevant isch, du musch de donald fragen. Aber he, isch scho es recht smooths album gsi. Kann man losen. Han aber kei track seeehr guet gfunde, und darum fragi mich, langed das für 4 nachtschwärmer? Ja chum maybe scho, na nie vu dem ghört aber chönt mer scho mal ablah
++: Green Flower Street, Ruby Baby, New Frontier, The Nightfly, Walk Between Raindrops +: I.G.Y., Maxine +-: The Goodbye Look 8,8/10
There was a funky vibe to this. I liked the storytelling style used in the lyrics, very vivid and takes you through the writer’s mind and rhythm
Every song on this sounded comfortably familiar, and yet, I’ve never heard of Donald Fagen. A delightful blend of 70s and 80s styles.
Vabbè bello niente da dire, è praticamente un album degli steely dan. Next frontier è la base di un jingle di radio capital (fyi)
It's odd to me. It's Donald Fagen trying to do pop and it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. In the end, I do like it. The vocal harmonies are really nice. Also, I enjoyed the bass throughout the album. Of course the production is stellar. Liked Songs Added I.G.Y. New Frontier
Pre-Steely Dan
kept thinking damn this really sounds like steely dan, and then it was. great album
Really great
Love this album. Loved Steely Dan. I remember when the Nightfly first came out. I thought IGY was OK but didn't pay much attention to the rest. Now that my tastes have matured, this is one of my favourite albums and an absolute classic.
Sounds like Steely Dan in all the best ways. Unsurprisingly.
7/10…jazzy pop
Хороший джаз-поп альбом з парою р'н'б композицій. Звук дуже прикольний та вгадується, що альбом з 80х, бо цю джазову/ф'южн основу щось постійно розбиває: чи якийсь синт цікавий чи луп з драм машини. Я б поставив йому 4.5, якщо б тут можна було половинити зірочки.
Я дуже люблю стілі ден і багато їх слухав, але чомусь сольне Фагена пройшло повз мене взагалі. Стилістично це схоже на стілі ден переіода gaucho, мабуть. Дуже класний джаз-поп, як вміють тільки вони (але у цьому випадку він один). Пишуть що до всієї позитивної атмосфери тут ще додається концепт і певна автобіографічність текстів. Коротше клас, що тут сказати.
Is it must listen? I like it a lot. The live album is incredible at least in terms of its production. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGr1IYuG8Wwu6v46lPvquWKv8bQkCOxvD&si=XEIUupnKcRyh0CyJ But you need to hear the studio album to appreciate the live one. Fagen is a top songwriter and the musicians including personal favourites like Marcus Miller and Larry Carlton are phenomenal. Jeff Porcaro, the Breckers are Just amazing. It’s a 4 star as Walter Becker gave him a balance this doesn’t quite have. Still a great album. But a must listen? Aja is. Maybe can’t buy a thrill. But this, great as it is … maybe. Maybe. 4 stars. Really a 3 for essentially. 4 for it being an excellent album.
I dig how groovy this is. He has a distinct, recognizable sound that feels very of its time, but also weirdly timeless. This is another album where I wasn't in love with individual songs (except maybe I.G.Y), but it's great vibe music, and very tightly produced. Love the jazzy instrumentation, and I'm a fan of his soothing vocals too. The last few songs dragged a bit. I'm more at a 3.5 with this.
Good jazzy vibe. Nice vocal. But nothing really surprises me. Also some pop element (the drums argh, simple chords etc) does weaken the jazzy power. Maxine is my favourite track. It is very tasteful and it’s both jazzy and poppy, 6/8 among all the 4/4 songs is also very refreshing. Overall a pleasant listen, I enjoyed it.
Overall: 8/10 I don't care how cheesy it is, I love Donald and the music he creates. It's like having an extra Steely Dan album to listen to, and I'll be honest...I LOVE STEELY DAN! WOOHOO YEAH STEELY DAN HELL YEAH WOOHOO YEAH Fav Song: Maxine
8/10
Top-shelf yacht jazz/rock. Not exactly my style but he's good at what he does. 3.7
3.5/5
Enjoyable and light. Nothing like it so far on this list which it really needed
Gechillt, sehr hochwertiger Sound
Doesn’t have the texture I look for in a Fagen project but still really good. Seems to be an homage to late night radio which is cool
Pretty good record. Still sounds like a Steely Dan record. I think I'd like to spend some more time with it.
I have never heard of this guy. Nice, groovy album. Sort of Beach Boys meets the easy jazz lounge meets the cookout.
This is technically a debut album, but it’s really a continuation of Steely Dan minus Walter Becker (sorry Walt). Apparently this album was an early example of digital recording, but that doesn’t affect my listening other than I noted that the sound quality is clear and crisp. The tracks are generally jazzy and upbeat.
"its boring and basic" I HAD FUN and I like this a lot. Of course I.G.Y just had me boogying but the rest were the same vibe. I had no complaints abt any songs. I just sadly do agree its a tiny basic and cant give a 5 for that.
Not quite the same without Becker but it still has a lot of what makes Steely Dan great and that decadent late night vibe.
Jazz rock starting the 80s and career off with a bang.
This is my first time hearing of Donald Fagen, who was part of Steely Dan. Overall, I liked this album, but it definitely fits the yacht rock stereotype. That being said, if I ever found myself on a yacht and this was playing, I wouldn’t complain. I’m still getting more familiar with Steely Dan’s music, but this album seems to have some of the same characteristics, except it feels more lounge like and laid back, like something you’d put on while relaxing. I don’t know if Sophisti-Pop had fully developed as a genre when this came out, but the smooth jazz rock sound definitely reminds me of it.
I don't think that this is any better than any of my favourite Steely Dan albums, but it still has the funk and groove that I would expect from a Donald Fagen project, as well as super smooth and polished production.
Slapped, but honestly, I don't know if I would listen to it again...
This was actually pretty good. It has the familiar Steely Dan sound: intelligent, modern, tight, soulful, groovy, jazz, pop. I could picture some of these songs sounding REALLY nice live. "New Frontiers" for example, which is my initial favorite. "Green Flower Street" would be another. Both songs have a nice groove, with percussion I'd love to see set free from the machine. I honestly thought this was going to be a 3/5 for me but the more I sit with it, the more deserving it feels... and sounds... so I'm edging it up to 4/5, and interested to hear more. (Some 1993 tracks the Algorithm sent my way sounded great.) Sit with it and see what you think!
Pleasant and well produced, Donald has a good ear for production
This still really feels like a Steely Dan album, despite being a solo work. I like this album, there are some fun hits here and no track is unpleasant to listen to. The album plays it a bit safe at times though, the divide between campy soft rock and Steely Dan is a bit thin.
Solid. Enjoyable.
Really enjoyed this one! Excited for more steely dan
not a steely Dan album. But it might as well be. I was getting down to this one. I could listen to this all day.
Enjoyed this album a lot, felt like a steely dan album so not blowing me away for a new direction by Fagen
pretty decent album. definitely in the vein of steely dan, but I think i prefer fagen's output with steely dan over this. this album feels less traditional rock-y than his band's output. pretty jazzy, very "yacht rock." it's an interesting album, but it feels like it's lacking something to me. if it was an album by an unrelated artist, i maybe have less to compare it to, but as it stands, i can't help but compare it to steely dan, and this would be towards the bottom of steely dan's albums for me. that being said, i love a lot of steely dan, so despite all that, i still had a good time listening to this one.
high 4, i would give it a five but i know he can do better
Yacht rock gets a bad rap in my view. This is expert musicianship, production and fun, all wrapped up with some interesting lyrics about fallout shelters, among other things.
Great!
Enjoyed this, I like Fagen's vocals in Steely Dan and he sounds good here too, the self-harmonies are nice. Also interesting to read about the production, it's an early example of digital-only recording and sounds pretty great, I'd say. Maybe a bit overly clean and polished if anything, but I'm not massively into lo-fi so I quite like this. I tend to listen with headphones and it sounds good in those. Nice jazzy elements and quite catchy songs, this is quality
Cool
i was lightly listening to the first few song and enjoying myself but finding it all rather familiar. so i stopped putting my clothes away and listened closer finally realizing i thought the vocals sounded super similar to Steely Dan. and as it turns out this guy is a founding member and i assume lead vocalist for Steely Dan! i honesty think i liked this album more than some of the SD stuff ive listened to from this list, felt mainly slightly LESS polished? pretty good overall
Nice upbeat and catchy album! Reminded me a bit of Billy Joel Somehow knew 2 of these songs although the name doesn't ring a bell. Pleasant surprise! 4 ⭐️
Favorite song: I.G.Y. Overall score: 8,1/10
Great album
I figured I would start getting at least one album from Steely Dan on this list. I did not expect that their frontman and keyboardist, Donald Fagen, would also have a solo album on the list. During the group's short breakup in the early 1980s, Fagen pursued a solo career, taking advantage of new-at-the-time digital recording technology and multiple session musicians to carve his path separate from longtime collaborator Walter Becker. The resulting album from those sessions was The Nightfly, a jazz-pop record that's autobiographical, inspired by Fagen's suburban childhood. Now, the shift in style doesn't seem that far removed from what Steely Dan were doing by the end of the previous decade, but it does sound pristine with the multiple instruments arranged and layered neatly through such bolstered production. I get why this album gets used for testing out recording studio equipment; it just sounds that good to begin with. Some personal highlights of mine include "New Frontier" with the shuffle beat led by Fagen's synthesizer play accompanied by the prominent cowbell, the cover of the Drifters' "Ruby Baby" with the busy sway with organ swell, and horn arrangements, and the electric piano swagger of "Green Flower Street". Sure, this album could be approached from the perspective that the stakes are lower with the simpler subject matter in the lyrics and more laid-back arrangements that border on lounge music. But given the amount of intricate detail that can be found in the instrumental compositions, I'd say there's more to The Nightfly such that this album could grow on me. I consider this record a nice surprise to find.
Really liked the sound of this album. So it gets a 4. I hope this pisses off the snobs.
I really liked this album! Not my normal genre, but really great music.
Another album to feed into my little Steely Dan phase. Favorite track: The Nightfly 3.5/5
Not too bad.
Not Steely Dan, but still solid fun
This has a slightly jazzier feel than most Steely Dan music. I think the songs are very good and the muscianship is excellent. Definitely appeals to Steely Dan fans but not sure he expands that audience. High 4 from me.
Yeah this just sounds like Steely Dan but I'm not mad about it! Essential? No but this was a fun and easy listen.