Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Such a well produced album. My brother got this album when it first was released and I recall not digging it at first. Since, I have grown to love this album and respect the effort put into it's production. All the instruments have great tone and sit perfectly in the mix. It's probably a five but since my brother liked it so much, I had to knock it down a notch.
Here's another that fell into the 3.5 range for me. I'm a sucker for Fagen's studio chops and jazz-infused compositions and stylings. The album sounds great, and Fagen's distinctive voice makes this a bit difficult to tell apart from a Steely Dan album. I'm bumping it to a 4 because I enjoyed the sound and the vibe, and while the songs didn't quite captivate me like the bulk of Steely Dan's repertoire, I was groovin' to this from start to finish.
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. I'm not the biggest Steely Dan fan, but this one worked for me. I particularly liked Maxine, though I found every song hit its mark. I'm between a 3 and a 4 on this, but I'll round up to 4 just 'cause.
This album really brings home that Donald Fagan was the driving sound behind Steely Dan.
Chillin thats what we doing.
steely dan
Nice pop, 4/5
Superb!
Great album especially if you like Fagen's work with Steely Dan. Standout tracks were I.G.Y and New Frontier.
The juice is always worth the squeeze: beneath The Nightfly's manicured production and effortless cool lies a pure heart that defies its meticulous creation.
Another one that reminds me of my Dad.
Almost a seamless continuation from Steely Dan. 4/5
Nice relaxing vibes, quite jazzy 4/5
Really liked this, 4/5.
I knew this was Steely Dan adjacent immediately which is great for me! A really fun album, definitely want to listen to it again.
The Nightfly has a great rock and jazz sound that kept me entertained and eager for more. Truth be told, this album sounds like a bunch of Steely Dan B sides that didn’t make the album cut. Maybe that means the album wasn’t as creative, and I enjoy Steely Dan’s music more on the whole, but I had a good time anyway. Oh and it was way more synth-y than Steely Dan too—I mention this not because I dislike synth but I was very amused. 3.5
Blije relaxte jarentachtigfunk, er wordt vrolijk op los getoeterd zonder al te veel pretentie. Het klinkt me niet al te baanbrekend, maar best leuk en er werd in deze periode wel slechter gemaakt. Ik lees dat het een van 's werelds eerste digitaal geproduceerde albums was, en dat resulteert dan ook in een kraakhelder geluid.
Overly dramatic early 80’s easy listening at its best. Fantastic album for grocery shopping, elevators, and Sunday after church buffets. Vanilla but enjoyable.
Really good. Reminds me of Steely Dan but more jazzy. Fun lyrically and musically.
I had no idea Donald made solo records, but they truly just sound like a slightly slicker Steely Dan record. As expected, I enjoyed most of the songs here.
This sounds great and is relaxing but doesn't make me feel any emotion. It's like 80s lounge music. 4/5
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.
MOlt bon àlbum, jazz-pop-funk dels 80
Upper class cafe music, but I do like it...giving city-pop vibe. It's good to listen to this music for some petty-bourgeois sentimental activity...such a pity I'm not that kind of person. I still like it, you can tell it's influence on modern city pop. Beautiful.
🛥️ rock
A solo album from a Steely Dan member? I really have a lot to listen to... This is a very good album. Nothing compared to the SD classics, but very enjoyable. Makes me think that everything this guy did is worth listening to. I'm giving it 4 stars today.
4.5 stars. Solo Donald Fagen just as groovy and smooth as Steely Dan. Album is short and sweet, great jazz-y take on pop. Clean sound, slick production. Standouts are leadoff "I.G.Y." and groovy "New Frontier"
This is basically Steely Dan. If you like Steely Dan, you'll like this album. Best Songs: I.G.Y., The Nightfly Worst Songs: The Goodbye Look
Good vibes. Would make a great backdrop to the start of a party. Beats are nice, production is very clean. The songwriting is complex and not super catchy but I think this album would reward on multiple listens.
4.25
Love the Dan. Love Donald Fagan. Solid album that holds its own against any contemporary Steely Dan. 4/5
Favorite Track: I.G.Y.
If you like Steely Dan then you will like this because it is basically Steely Dan. Nothing new here. All very pleasant, well produced. 4/5
Good music
The sound of this record and of Steely Dan in general represents the archetype of what I found icky and intolerable about a lot of music when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s. It took me 40-some years, but I can appreciate and like it now. Maybe the people who detest this now will find that it grows on them after a few decades.
First track is hot garbage but the rest of the album is really good yacht rock/lounge jazz.
Holy. My whole life I thought a chunk of these were Steely Dan tunes. Great album.
Typically smooth music - Yacht Rock if you will (Fagen definitely won't). The juxtaposition of the sneering lyrics and the music is quite a highlight. You're either going to love this or hate it. I love it. Best Tracks: I.G.Y.; Ruby Baby; New Frontier
Enjoyed that, a good sound.
groovy
Najlepszy Donald z jakim miałem do czynienia od czasów Kaczora Donalda. Świetny album. Muzycznie niezwykle dopieszczony, mnóstwo groove'u, melodyjności, każdy kawałek fantastycznie buja. Optymizm i pozytywność bijąca z tego albumu są mega przyjemne. Jednocześnie nigdy nie przekraczają granicy takiego amerykańskiego przesadnego optymizmu i pozerstwa. Tak jak napisał Cichy - to taki powojenny optymizm amerykańskiego dobrobytu i dobrego samopoczucia, choć album jest już z wczesnych lat osiemdziesiątych. Bardzo mi się podoba to, jak bardzo jazzowy jest jednocześnie pozostając naprawdę lekki i przystępny. "I.G.Y." swoją treścią przypomina mi te kreskówki Texa Avery'ego z dzieciństwa, które w przerysowany sposób pokazywały życie w przyszłości - robił takie odcinki o domu przyszłości, samochodzie przyszłości i paru innych rzeczach. (Swoją drogą obejrzałem to sobie - nikt by tego dzisiaj nie puścił, są mocno niepoprawne XD). Mega dopieszczony album, super dźwięk, słuchanie tego jest jak jedzenie wykwintnego dania. Bardzo mocne 4,5, nie daję piątki tylko dlatego, że rezerwuję ją dla albumów, które trafiają do mnie na osobistym poziomie. Ale kusi, żeby dać tę maksymalną notę.
CITY MUSIC XD Baaardzo dobrze mi się tego słucha, mega przyjemny soul. Jak mnie ktoś teraz spyta, żebym puścił "jakąś przyjemną muzykę", nie będę miał wątpliwości, żeby grać Donalda. Da się tego nie lubić w ogóle? Imo trzeba być psychopatą XD <modli się, by nie zobaczyć samych 1 i 2 zaraz>. PRZYJEMNE, kosmitom też bym zagrał jako przykład "human music". SILNE 4
Nostalgiczna podróż do idealizowanych lat 50. i 60., pełna ironii i ciepła. "I.G.Y." i "New Frontier" wyróżniają się chwytliwymi melodiami i doskonałą produkcją, która jest krystalicznie czysta. Bogate harmonie, wysublimowane solówki i wyrafinowane syntezatory tworzą ciepłą atmosferę. Czyste brzmienie, inteligentne teksty i jazzowe wpływy tworzą spójny, klimatyczny album. Kocham ten vibe wyznań samotnego radiowca. Mocne 4
80's sound but also smooth jazz
Smoooooth. Sure I know on a lot of levels it’s pretty cheesy but then again just back tf off: this isn't stupid-shit-bon-jovi cheese, it’s light-jazz cheese. More of a hard gouda rather than a processed Velveeta. I wouldn’t put it up with the best of Steely Dan but it’s only a small step down; occasionally suffers from a *little* too-sterile 80s sound (it was one of the first-ever fully digital recordings, wondering if that sterility crept in) but also in a way it seems to be appropriate for this. Definitely a headphones-album. Fave track (as a kid and now): “New Frontiers” - in fact this was probably the first/only Steely-Dan-family track I liked until college, no doubt influenced by early MTV. WJAZ. 7/10 4 stars.
This album was definitely influenced by Steely Dan and it is soooo good. I can definitely seeing myself digging into Donald Fagen's discography some more. There wasn't a song I didn't like, but ironic that I thought the weakest song was the one the album was named after. The vocal harmonies and guitar parts all throughout this album were amazing. "Walk Between Raindrops" was my favorite. Liked Songs: "I.G.Y." , "Ruby Baby" , "New Frontier" , "The Goodbye Look" , "Walk Between Raindrops"
I really enjoyed this but I also love Steely Dan.
Easygoing rock, lidt poppet, lidt jazzet, dejligt nok
A jazz from a very specific time period; very ambient and eerie in a comfortable way
groovy!! 3.5 stars.
For 1982, this sounds like the 70s. I don’t know the name but these songs sound familiar. It’s possible I confuse these with steely Dan. Ok. So it sounds like steely Dan because Donald Fagen is half of steely Dan. 🤣😂
Really liked this. Yes, it sounds exactly like Steely Dan. That's not a bad thing. There's a reason they show up on so many "best of" lists.
Steely Dan but it's Donald Fagen so it's not really Steely Dan anymore but still Steely Dan.
As a big fan of 1970s/early 80s soft rock (often dubbed “yacht rock”) it’s surprising that I haven’t dug into Fagen’s/Steely Dan’s sooner. This is an overall well-crafted and pleasing record on the ears. The musicianship and songwriting are off the charts here. The 8 song, 40-ish minute record makes it a very friendly and accessible listen as well. The most standout tracks to me are “IGY” and the title track. Vibes all around on this record are good. Will listen again and add this to my collection.
He’s got such a unique voice. Completely unmistakable. The way he strings together jazzy melodies into a cohesive song has always impressed me. This album, although not his best work, showcases his multitude of talents. The writing is original, the production is impeccable, the lyrics are thoughtful. He makes a very nice record. His voice can turn some people off, but I don’t mind it too much. Pretty good, although the lettering on the cover art sucks. 4/5
The first track being cod-reggae, I thought this was a Sting / The Police rip-off act initially, but upon hearing more and reading up on the background, it's an extension of Steely Dan's yacht rock, which, it turns out, is something this project has positively inclined me toward... 🛥️ Certainly has its uses, and I can see myself returning to this when I want to invoke a specific mood. Fave tracks - "New Frontier" was the stand out.
This vibe!!! It throws me back into a comfort zone. This isn’t even. That I owned or that I knew anyone who had, but Donald Fagen’s sound is part of the soundtrack of my youth. It still has a sophistication to it that surpasses some of the other typical “80s“ music that I grew up listening to. Just good stuff.
I didn't know what to expect but I like this. The bass is the star of the show. I.G.Y. sets the tone and Green Flower Street leans further into the smooth basslines and R&B vibes. Ruby Baby has pop vocal sensibilities with jazzy backing piano. Neat. Maxine is more emotional and nostalgic sounding. The second half is just as good, The Goodbye Look in particular has a super cool keyboard. It's giving calypso. Jazzy outro. Easy 4 star.
I really liked this. It surprised me, had no idea what to expect. The album cover is dripping in cool. The album itself is really upbeat and interesting. It sounds quite generic at first but I think it's actually quite out there for what it's doing musically. The lyrics to the first track really made me laugh though: Standing tough under stars and stripes We can tell This dream's in sight You've got to admit it At this point in time that it's clear The future looks bright What an opening! I can imagine putting this on at all those suave dinner parties I host.
Donald's voice is aggressively nasally and pretty strained. It definitely ends up taking away from the album. If you can get past that (and in the moments where his voice isn't pushed to the limits), this is an excellent album. As you'd expect from a former Steely Dan member, the band and instrumentation are both pretty incredible. I wish I could call this an all-time great, but vocals are such an important part of an album for me. Favorite Song(s): I.G.Y., The Nightfly
3.5
Donald Fagen - Nightflyer The first two songs on each side have the makings of five star album. "I.G.Y.", "Green Flower Street", "New Frontier", and "The Nightflyer" all have the makings of the perfect follow up to "Aja" (better than *Goucho* at least) The rest... are... I guess fine songs. "Maxine" is the best of the rest, but the Steely Dan-ing of a Drifters/Leiber&Stoller classic is comical at best. This comes close to matching the magic of the classic six run of Dan, but not quite (8.7) ★★★★
Lovely smooth easy-listening deliciousness. 4.5 stars 4 for this project
Me gustó!
Love this album. Super super polished and the harmonies across the board are incredible. Some of the songs go on a tad long.
Nice stuff. Steely Dan keys goodness. Yuh
Det er funky, jazzet og blues’et på en gang. En sjov, hyggelig og overraskende god lytteoplevelse
Good stuff right there.
Pretty solid!
I feel like the older I get the more I like Donald Fagen's work. When I was young I didn't really appreciate how sonically deep it is. There is a lot of interesting stuff that is ear candy. I will probably end up buying this album because I think it is great.
Listening to this, is like revisiting an old friend. The family resemblance to Steely Dan is unmistakable, but The Nightfly is a bit smoother, lacking in any bite. Great background music, tho' that seems to be damning it with faint praise.
I’ve kinda grown a bit tired of 80’s pop-rock records but this one really spices things up. The instrumentals are amazing but not overwhelming, and it truly brings back a classy, blues feel while managing to stay relevant and even cruise forwards. This was genuinely really good.
Lovely composition by the Steely Dan singer after the break in 1981, album nominated for 7 grammy's
One of the best ever, Steely Dan rules
Just some pretty jazzy pop from one of the Steely Dan dudes. Solid 4.
Classic good vibes.
Little funky, little jazzy, altogether nice on the ears. I'm a sucker for those layered vocal harmonies. Some of the songs are freaking long.
Solo work from one half of Steely Dan. There's some great stuff as well as some good stuff. If you like Steely Dan, you'll appreciate this.
I'll take the Dan of Steel any way you can package it and Becker-free Fagen is still offering up a lot of those Danny details. You can clearly hear some departure from 70's Dan in this one, firmly planted in some 1982 aesthetics, allowing Donald to be as smooth as he wants to be. Turns out, he'd like to be real, real smooth, as this album is as sleek and pristine sounding as can be. Still, there's an authenticity in that, just like there is in "raw" sounding music. Like Kraftwerk in the Krautrock genre, for instance, the Dan has made an art form out of the "aesthetic of perfection". Also like Kraftwerk, there's plenty of personality to keep the music from sounding too sterile to enjoy.
Definitely an album that I imagine most Wallstreet yuppies had in their collection back in the day. This album carries a lot of class with it. Although it comes with a few mastering issues. Some songs are just way louder than others. But it was a lovely experience overall. A much more chilled out spin than I'm usually used to.
4/5. This was more enjoyable than a Steely Dan album, felt like jazzy and just more pop, following a pretty straightforward drum machine and playing off of that. It felt like more creativity despite the lack of multiple instruments. Just one dude's vision. Plus the production is incredible and after reading up on it, awesome background to how they got the sounds as a digital recording, one of the first to do so. I can't say it's perfect because there is still some of that pretention in there but it's still very good. Best Song: I.G.Y., The Nightfly, Ruby Baby
Love this album. I’m listening thinking man this sounds like Steely Dan… oh. Anyway, the album is awesome and full of cool progressive yacht rock bangers. A fun album!
Late Steely Dan album missing some charm but still great
Gotcha, Robert! I was listening to this album just yesterday! And I’m not complaining that I get to do it again, such a solid set of songs. Different to Steely Dan’s music in many ways yet similar all the same. Also is The Goodbye Look the best track on here or am I going crazy?
A flawless voice, but not as good as the work he did with his band. Pretty close at times, but just lacking a certain something - perhaps as simple as other voices and musicians to compete/collaborate with him!
IGY got me. 4/5!
Have you even been sitting in your posh vinyl listening room, drinking aged whiskey, listening to Steely Dan, and thought to yourself, “I really wish this Steely Dan record was a little more Steely Dan-y?” Well let me tell you, you’re in luck, because this album is just what you’ve been looking for. Joking aside, I actually like this better than some Steely Dan records. And one of the better sounding albums you’ll here - people criticize it for being overproduced, but I think it sounds incredible.
Smooth and funky. Favourites: i.g.y, green flower street, Maxine, new frontier. Pleasant listen. 4/5
This was actually very nice. Don't have much to say, it was jazzy and melodious and honestly just some feel-good music. Very reasonable length as well. Much better than the last album, didn't have any real favourites because the whole thing was good. Chill 4
There is a fine line between Mr. Fagen solo stuff and his Steely Dan musings.
The music is good, not my style. But I can understand it being on the list.
I hadn’t heard of Donald Fagen before as far as I know, but this music was absolutely delightful. It’s immediately obvious to modern ears that this is 80’s pop music, but it also has some jazzier elements which make it stand out a bit more from similar artists of the time. I’m not usually a fan of jazz at all, but the blend of genres here makes for something really pleasant.
Quite enjoyable!
Missing that Steely Dan something, but still a very good album.
I really liked the album. I like this light, upbeat sound. I find it surprising that this is an album from the 80s. 4/5
As a fan of Japanese City Pop, this had a lot of those vibes. Very chill time.
La producción es típica de los 80's, con sonidos que evocan grabaciones de Stevie Wonder y Gino Vanelli, de la misma época. El álbum contiene muy buenos temas, algunos con armonías interesantes y poco predecibles, que se encadenan agradablemente para crear una atmósfera relajada que colorea entre el blues, el soul y el soft rock.
Slick, lush and interesting, in spite of the weird young conservative lyrics
Nice 80s pop.
Maxine -- CDMX shoutout <3 Overall the album sounds really really fucking good. Good for chilling. Some Hall & Oates vibes with some Jazz, Funk/Soul, maybe even a bit of Daft Punk in there. Donald Fagen --> Steely Dan's lead singer.
The problem with a solo album by the singer in a band is that the songs need to be further away than from what the band creates. It was a little easier for Phil Collins to start, as his solo albums were more pop but had some other influences that were not as proggy as Genesis was. (I know it's hard to think that way, but compare "Duke" to Phil Collins' first solo album.). There was one performance I saw of Genesis AND Phil Collins band somewhere where the announcer said "Phil Collins... Genesis... the Phil Collins band..." and it kinda made me think he was equating all three of them. So that point seems to come up here, with The Nightfly. Listening to most of it, it's hard to separate it from what Steely Dan did only 2 or 3 years earlier. Is that really fair in terms of what Fagen was doing? Steely Dan was only a duo, him and Becker. Obviously a lot of the material on Steely Dan is his. So making a solo album songs will indeed feel like Steely Dan, unless you purposefully make material different than the group sound (no one would say Peter Gabriel's albums sound just like Genesis, even the first album). Even the first song "I.G.Y." I knew and seriously thought it was a Steely Dan song. This is not an indictment, it's a good, catchy song. The next song "Green Flower Street" I had heard before, always a nice track. Ultimately, I get that he couldn't just call the band "Steely Dan", but the album feels so much like it to me. I wished that there was more of a deviation, what is the difference between Fagen and Steely Dan? Where is the line. Maybe I'm nit-picking. The songs themselves I enjoyed. Top tracks: "I.G.Y.," "Green Flower Street:
Listening to this album I can't even remember what Walter Becker sounds like. Donald Fagen feels like the voice of Steely Dan for me. And this feels like Steely Dan. A real upbeat, adult contemporary version of Steely Dan. On one hand, it sounds like muzak or quintessential 80s (blending jazz and synth). But man is it such a positive vibe. If you can get past the eye rolls on the opener I.G.Y. and just listen, the whole album is a nice trip down memory lane. It's Fagen's memories, but it feels like it could be yours. The production quality is off the hook, and that might be one of the reasons the album is on the list; it's so smooth. Some nice jazzy funk on a bunch of songs like Green Flower Street, Ruby Baby, and New Frontier. A different but cool jazzy sound on songs like Maxine and the title track. I dare you not to smile listening to this album.
Ég hafði ekki spáð í hvort einhver úr Steely Dan hefði farið í sólóferil en þarna er hann svo og ég þekkti meira að segja I.G.Y. en hafði aldrei tengt það við Steely Dan. Þetta var bara hin fínasta plata og ég sé alveg fyrir mér að ég setji þessa aftur á fóninn. Pínu djass, pínu (ekki mikið) stuð.
I feel like I've gotten a lot of solo albums from former members of well-known groups lately. Well, okay, maybe it's not "a lot," but with me getting albums like Fishscale, Paris 1919, Graceland, Arc of a Diver, and now this all in the span of two weeks, it's definitely noticeable. Fortunately, none of those other albums were bad, and The Nightfly is not an exception. This is a good album. The sound definitely reminds of Donald Fagen's work with Steely Dan. This is just a feel-good album. I like the singing and the instrumental sound. They're both very pleasant to listen to. This album has a good blend of complexity and simplicity. With only 8 songs, there really isn't a bad one on here. I like the writing. Overall, this is a nice album that I'm happy to have listened to. 4/5.
A very enjoyable, easy to listen to album for me. Slick and cheesy sounding but, as is always the case with Steely Dan and Donald Fagen, there's a strangeness to it too. Fagen's vocals always give the music a sleazy, sinister edge. I love him on the title track where he plays a late-night radio DJ. Some interesting lyrics here too. "I.G.Y." is about a utopian sci-fi future, "The New Frontier" is about surviving the apocalypse and I think "The Goodbye Look" is about a military takeover of a Caribbean island resort?
Lovely discovery. I didn’t know his album except for IGY
Sounds just like Steely Dan. Which is, of course, a wonderful thing.
At first I thought that this is something that would be on in my parents kitchen while they're cooking. Then I saw that Donald Fagen is the lead singer for steely dan and thought it could be on at any point in the house. It sounds like my moms music sung by the lead of one of my dad's favorite bands. But enough about them. Besides Ruby baby and The Nightfly (which I honestly thought were terrible tracks lol), the rest of the album is so smooth and enjoyable. Lot of great jazz and although Donnie sounds a little nasaly at some points, the vocals are there. However, the songwriting leaves a bit to be desired. Favorite song: IGY or New Frontier Weak 4 but it made it there.
This is the kind of album (like many great albums) that's shallow on the surface but infinitely complex if you're willing to spend a little time with it. Sleek and elegant sound with a jazzy vintage vibe. I love the bouncier tracks like "I.G.Y.," "Green Flower Street" and "New Frontier," which I would live in if they were a place. Way too smart and way too deep for the times in which it was made, but it has aged infinitely better than many other albums of the era. Fave Songs: I.G.Y., New Frontier, Green Flower Street, The Nightfly, Walk Between Raindrops
I've under played this. Good album.
You all know I love me some Steely Dan. As someone well versed with their discography, I was surprised to find out I knew little of Donald Fagen’s solo work. But I was definitely excited to dive in. Steely Dan always wore its jazz influences on its sleeves, but as they progressed into later albums they wore those influences more prominently. It’s hard to view Nightfly as a solo album because it could very easily slot into Steely Dan’s body of work. Its sound is very much reminiscent of what you heard on later albums like Aja and Gaucho, but fitted with a slightly poppier sound for the 1980s On here the chord progressions are silky, the harmonies are smooth, and the random improvisational bits of instrumentations make for a dynamic sound. To me, Steely Dan was always best at its jazziest and on this album Fagen certainly is. Light 4 Fav Tracks: I.G.Y. Green Flower Street Ruby Baby New Frontier
Great listening!
It’s albums like this that remind me I’m nowhere near as cool as I think I am. Give me blancmange-soft rock any day of the week. Those twiddly Wurlitzer keyboards. Those swing beats. Loved it when I first heard it and, yep, still love it now. “Walk between raindrops” indeed
This is a surprisingly easy-flowing, pleasing listening experience. I'm not much of a Jazz fan, but this album is really enjoyable. 4/5
Clean production and his voice makes it sound like Steeley Dan still. Not a bad thing.
I prefer Fagen’s more sarcastic work with Steely Dan to his more crushing lyrics here, but it’s hard to deny how good this sounds. Incredible, timeless production and leaning into jazz was a good call. B+
Lille 4'er
Hm, begint in elk geval lekker met I.G.Y! Super vrolijk, beetje jazzy, beetje poppy nummer. Donald, ik hoop ten zeerste dat dit de toon zet voor het hele album ouwes! De nummers zijn echt een beetje jazzy en poppy. Ik vind dit album eigenlijk veel leuker dan ik had verwacht! Misschien komt het door de ontzettend slechte albumweek die ik had, maar ik vind dit echt vermakelijk! Het album en de muziek voelt een beetje alsof ik het al ken. De melodiën enzo komen me super bekend voor en doen me af en toe een beetje denken aan Sting bijvoorbeeld. Ik vind mooi! FAVO: I.G.Y., New Frontier, The Nightfly
I listened to this on my morning bike ride, cloudy over the Williamsburg Bridge, and it really hit. Short and sweet and had never heard any of the songs.
Very nice easy listening music. The album-title describes then content verry well.
Such a clear voice, great rhythm and appealing instruments. Sadly, it is getting repetitive after a few songs.
Glad to know where some of these classics came from.
- this is super groovy I honestly wasn't expecting this - "we got provisions and lots of beer" guy is a genius
4/5
Easy listening is not my thing but this was benign enough.
Das war ein schönes Album mit vielen Musikstilen, tollen Arrangements, angenehmer Stimme und angenehmer Atmosphäre. Ein sehr anspruchsvolles Album , sehr melodisch und harmonisch. Eine für mich großartige Entdeckung. Danke, Donald Fagen
More Dan! Not as good as the main sequence albums though. Seems to incorporate a little bit more jazz? Enjoyable
I think my favorite part of this album is how weird it is while being so technically well executed. It's like a steely dan rock opera where Fagen talks through streams of consciousness at different times in his life, which are sometimes dark and haunting (nuclear war). "The Nightfly", "I.G.Y." and "The New Frontier" are the standouts for me. "Maxine" is an exemplar of the cerebral / complex nature of the songs in Fagen's album which feel like they'll give you more with each subsequent listen. Great engineering leaves all of the tracks sharp / well mixed.
After 1980's Gaucho, Donald Becker started a period of solo work with The Nightfly. This has a similar polished sound to the how the Steely Dan sound evolved over the years, with many of the same elements, horns, electric piano with chorus, slightly jazzy with a tinge of R&B, but moving more to a decidedly soft rock feel. It's still got a sophisticated sound, but it's, more... light, almost vacous. I dig this sound-for me this brings to mind a New York/Manhattan feel from the early 80s, but I could see this being viewed as slightly more glittery elevator music by most who are speeding through these albums and declaring it lame. New Frontier remains my favorite song on the album, but I also like Green Flower Street and Walk Between Raindrops.
Nice to hear with very dynamic sound
Un excelente trabajo por parte de una de las mentes maestras de Steely Dan. Su estilo es sumamente claro a lo largo de todo el LP, el cual cuenta con un toque un tanto más suave que los trabajos de la legendaria agrupación en los '70s. Las letras, sin embargo, cuentan con un toque más autobiográfico y no tanto de revista. Sumamente interesante y recomendado.
Slick, smooth jazz-influenced rock I like his interesting chord changes Not really as good as the best Steely Dan albums but still nice I can see that many would see this as too 80s/cheesy but I think it’s some of the most quality of that type I’ve heard
They have gotten away with murder here. Unbelievable! Total rip off of Steely Dan. Even the vocals are almost identical. Ed Sheeran gets pulled up for one chord - where’s the law suit? Madness! 4.4
Favorite Songs: I.G.Y. (Wax Mustang - Powerball beat) Walk Between Raindrops Quite a funky and interesting album. Gives me some Sting and the police in more jazzy vibes. Very enjoyable!
4/5
Ganske digg ligner på ride like the wind
Goddamn why do I love this so much? I just cannot tell with Fagen if he’s satirical or sincere. Surely a spoof on the bourgeoisie? Production so crisp so clear. Just catchy and entertaining.
Not bad, prefer his stuff with Steely Dan though.
Basically a bonus Steely Dan album
I like Steely Dan, I like half of Steely Dan.
M'ha agradat bastant l'estil. És un tipus de música al que no estic acostumat però he gaudit molt escoltant-lo
Very chill... basically Steely Dan part 2.
From the first song I new this album was going to be a jam. Makes me want to go for a pleasant jog and wave at every single stranger I see like I’m in the happiest mood of my life. I don’t even care if my over the top enthusiasm freaks them out. This is my kind of music I listen to if I want to ensure my day is going to be a good one. Some of the other songs were a bit too sappy for me like you are sitting down at a fancy dinner about to propose with a ring at the bottom of a champagne glass. I didn’t have as much enthusiasm towards the end of the Album but it was still good. 7/10
For those who don't know Donald Fagen he's the lead singer of Steely Dan in case you thought he sounds familiar. Yeah this is what is also called Yacht Rock and I have this genre as my main Playlist. I love how funky and jazzy it can be while still being upbeat and the lyrics come through well with the choruses being the best part. The lead track I.G.Y is by far the best thing on here but that's not to say the other tracks are lacking, just that IGY is fantastic. Almost all of these songs are songs already on my Playlist. 8/10
Very smooth. There is a slight difference between this and Gaucho in its feel, but, and with huge respect to the late great Walter Becker, it does sound like a classic 70s era Steely Dan record. Later Fagen and Dan albums sound less organic and much more synthesized and processed. Still absolutely amazing. Lush, jazzy with light funk. Fun.
Favorite tracks were Green Flower Street and New Frontier
Sounds like steely Dan, but I do like steely Dan. The lyrics are kinda silly, the most soft rock imaginable
This album felt a bit sanitized, likely due to the time it was written and recorded. But it really grew on me by the end. The musicianship was phenomenal, and the use of jazz motifs, chords, and rhythm changes speaks to a deep understanding of how music works. Then album had a great sense of groove and reminded me of some contemporary bands like Vulfpeck that toe that jazz funk rhythm section line.
Day 123 I didn't know anything about Donald Fagen and I learned he was in Steely Dan, another band I know nothing about. I also read that this was the first album completely recorded in digital technology, which probably explains the smooth, slick texture. But jazz-pop or whatever you might call it is not a genre I might be interested in. Not to say it's bad, and it's not that I disliked it either, it's just that I don't really care about it as much; I guess this is one of those that might grow on me given the time and work, but do I need to? Who knows!
Really good album.
Great album. Awesome smooth sound!
Nice album
Nice, smooth album.
Does the same for me as all other Steely Dan stuff
Really catchy, really consistent and a good instrumental with controlled vocals and lyrics. Nice (81%)
quite groovy. got me moving in bed and all
Joyfully jazzy
Steely Dan’s production was always so meticulous and their songs so acerbic, sometimes they lacked the feeling and the heart to truly be an enjoyable listen. Fagen’s solo effort, raises the bar on meticulous by adding in the new capabilities of digital recording, but dials back on the cynical flavor of Dan in exchange for sweet nostalgia. What initially came across on first listen as a more 80s sounding Dan actually revealed itself on a second listen as a modern (at that time “modern”) take on 50s jazz and pop. The second half in particular grooves along, with New Frontier as a joyous take on a party in a fallout shelter. Overall I enjoyed this more than most Dan albums.
The first minute of the the first song instantly says to me that it is a good album. And I was not wrong. Brilliant stuff. Funky. 4.5/5.
BEST SONGS: - I.G.Y. - The Nightfly
i had no idea this was the lead singer of steely dan. needless to say I was pleasantly surprised
Very lovely album. Short. Sweet. And really catchy bass lines. Loved every 39 minutes. 4. Would be 5 if the vocals were a tad better.
Pretty good album with that very clear Donald Fagen style we know so well from Steely Dan. The songs are all solid, but to me they are not as impressive as most SD songs are, and I really don't like the Ruby Baby cover.
Ég elska þetta afskaplega mjúka grúv. Þessi tónlist ætti eiginilega að kallast smúðingur!
Listened Before? No Never knew that any members of Steely Dan had solo work. Starts out with all the trappings of early 80s cheese: smooth sax, crappy synthline, artificially clean bass... Not my favorite era of music. That said, this song does have an undeniable swing to it and I find it hard not to bob along. I almost expected to see Byrne credited on Green Flower Street. The bassline is something straight out of the Talking Heads. Early standout, though I wish they did a bit more with the guitar solo around the 3:20 mark; this groove is ripe for riffing over. Ruby Baby is very jazzy in composition. Opens up through the midsection to allow for an extensive piano solo, followed by some synth / guitar work. Early vocals and the overall progression of Maxine remind me a lot of a slowed-down Thundercat song. Song has a certain groove about it with some pretty guitar licks interspersed. New Frontier is another high quality jazzy jam. And the title track that follows has a sweet bass groove to it. I was suspect at first synth stroke on this album, but it is fire. I can see where Umphs would have pulled Booth Love influence from something like this album. Not my idea of a "perfect" album, but a damned enjoyable listen. Steely Dan rips, but this rips in a very different, more jazzy way. The instrumentals are largely groovy, and the vocals + harmonization are far better than they need to be. This is a solid 4 / 5 for me. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - New Frontier (Driving)
Steely Dan works for me on about every level and so this does, too. It's hard to separate Fagen from Dan and vice versa. I like the 70s soft rock vibe that let's these dark little songs float by you. There's something about it and I like it.
Donald Fagen steps out from Steely Dan and reflects on his early life. Cool and contemplative.
Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan fame) brings us a record that is more poppy than his usual stuff. This came about after contributing some solo efforts to the eccentric animated film Heavy Metal in 1980-81. Fagen brings much of the smooth sounds of Steely Dan to his solo stuff, but eases up on the guitar to give a more well-rounded sound with a variety of keys. This album cements Fagen is a simply phenomenal songwriter. He's so dialed into how every element of his songs work with one another. The result is lush, sophisticated music that is light and easily enjoyable. This is true for the whole album.
Grew up hearinf a couple of these songs via parents, reminds me of party times. So I am biased in this review.
sure was some steely dan
This was great, simple and enjoyable
This is just such a cool album. Lots of unique, jaunty sounds in here. Listened to this one twice. It feels like a 3.5, but I think it has just enough uniqueness and chutzpah to push it into the 4 star realm.
That jaunt groovy as hell. Makes me want to throw on a leather jacket and 2step down Main street. Really like the unique noises that were used to keep the rhythm going. New frontier is a jam
Great album, fits nicely right alongside the Steely Dan discography. 7/10
What a beautiful world this would be
Good. It has a slight taste of Steely Dan, but is definitely it's own thing. Very enjoyable.
Now I know who Donald Fagen is!
Very good album, very similar to later Steely Dan but yet different and a bit unique. New Frontier, Nightfly and IGY are great. Maxine and Ruby Baby I tend to skip. It's a 3.5 for me but it's Fagan so I'll round to 4.
Very cool Jazz, Pop album. The great musicianship is undeniable, and the record doesn't overstay it's welcome. Just a very good album with great musicians! Favorite lyrics: - There where neon bends in daylight sky. - I'd give the world just to set her heart aflame. - I wish I had a heart of ice. Favorite tracks: I.G.Y., Ruby Baby, New Frontier, The Nightfly, Walk Between Raindrops. 8 out of 10
Suave and sophisticated, though just slightly sub-timeless given the particularity (not to say peculiarity) of the keys. It's music for the middle aged, particularly those that like their martinis extra dry.
It's hard not to judge the solo work as a Steely Dan annex, which isn't really fair - though the kinship is unmistakable. I suppose it is subject to the usual complaints - that the music is bloodless, technical jazz-pop. Which I never bought, I like this about as well as any of my second-favorite Steely Dan and I think it has plenty of soul.
Sounds like Steely Dan, could be Steely Dan, is 50% of Steely Dan. Even without his partner, Fagen created a great album that could easily have been a Steely Dan album, both in the way it sounds and how good it is. Only criticism would be the songs dragging on a little bit
Very nice lyrics, the backgrounds are a bit weird but still sound good.
Solid album with some quality hits. Nothing wowed me too much, but no duds either.
“Won’t you pour me a Cuban breeze, Gretchen?” Perfect mellow beach music. Some songs slap more than others, but it’s pretty solid.
Awesome musicians and sounds incredible
I enjoyed this album, although it's Fagen's debut solo album, it's not a big departure from Steely Dan musically. The difference is in the lyrical content, this is more upbeat. Best songs were I.G.Y. and New Frontiers.
I absolutely love Steely Dan, and would be game for a Steely-Dan-like product containing 25% less Dan and 50% more binders and fillers. But this is actually really good. It of course has all the SD tricks - smooth sound, consistently moderate pace with a strong syncopated backbeat, every extension known to man (check where the harmonies end up on that "W-J-A-Z"!). And some of the changes are generally positive - I like adding more female backing vocals, it just makes their already strong backing voice even stronger. It's a little more piano- and synth-heavy vs. Steely Dan, which I guess makes sense if this guy is the keys player. But otherwise very comparable. Apart from the fact that it's super-smooth, two of the things that make this so easy to listen to and enjoy are that (a) it's really short, at under 40 minutes and (b) it's stronger on the back half, with the two strongest tracks ("New Frontier" and "The Nightfly") on the back half. Not game-changing, but I liked it so much I listened to it 2-3 times.
Pretty crazy personnel on this record- Marcus Miller, chuck rainey, Steve gadd, Anthony Jackson, brecker brothers, Larry Carlton. The instrumental and the production are amazing. Donald Fagens voice and songwriting are pretty hit or miss with me. I know a lot of musicians that obsess over all the Steely Dan stuff. I really love a handful of songs off of Aja but rarely can listen to the whole album through. Props for having a totally original style - it’s so slick but also soooo awkward sometimes. 3.5
His first solo effort without Walter Becker. Love his cynical lyrics and jazz like song framing.
Un viaje muy placentero por un jazz/pop ochentoso y suave. Alegró una mañana de oficina sin esfuerzo y podría escucharlo por la noche entre whiskys y vinos también
When you run out of Steely Dan albums, you'll be ecstatic to find Fagen and Becker both made solo albums. Here, Fagen delivers with (almost) everything you'd expect from a Steely Dan album. But since this is the 80s, we also get synths which work surprisingly well with their jazzy yacht rock formula. Suitable for late night listening by the fireplace. Loved them all for different reasons, and it flew by. There are even some dance tracks like "New Frontier" that wouldn't look out of place in a New Wave mix. Can't give a bad score to an album that throws in ska in the closing track as a treat. Only track I wasn't crazy about was "Maxine", but it serves as a nice break. Favorites: I.G.Y, New Frontier, Nightfly
enjoyed, very similar to Steely Dan sound.
Good, I really enjoyed it.
I really liked the sound of this album and given the time, would have listened again. Although it wasn’t mind blowing an average and usual score of 3* seems inadequate so I’m giving 4* . There could be an element of nostalgia influencing me too.
Pretty sure I've heard some of the tracks in stores, maybe they used the album as a benchmark? Exceedingly clear sound. Solid album, liked it.
I had listened to Steely Dan but hadn't ever heard any of their solo work before this very enjoyable throughout
Pretty sweet little record. Definitely is a Steely Dan record but with a bit more pop influence. Some songs didn't quite hit but most were a good time. 7/10
There was something about I.G.Y. and New Frontier that made me inexplicably vaguely uncomfortable in 1982. That seems to have passed. This is nice.
One can't but be delighted by Fagen continuing in fine form after Steely Dan. Nightfly's hearty; The initial sheen is just a bit clinical pop. I shamelessly nod along.
Quite enjoyed this one as background music. If I hadn't read the wiki first I would never have guessed that this was the frontman for Steely Dan. With the versatility of SD it's not that much of a stretch for their frontman to also be convincing in a completely different style of music. To be fair, this is more of a 3.5 and not actually interesting enough for a clean 4 or more. But it's much better than the three other records I listened to today, so I'm rounding up.
Actually loved this. Hidden gem from an era and genre of music I'm less familiar with
I read Jazz Pop and then Steely Dan on the Wikipedia page and immediately rolled my eyes thinking I was going to dislike the album. I however was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. Right off the bat "I.G.Y." hits you with this groovy bass driven, borderline funky jam. I can see why this song is so loved by audiophiles and used as a reference song by so many sound engineers. It has so much to digest and I imagine in many more listens I will only continue to appreciate it. The next three songs are nice easy listens and then "New Frontier" is another fun energy boost right in the middle. The titular track is probably my least favorite on the album, but it still isn't a bad track. The final two tracks are a nice calm, but happy way to end an album. This is the first album I have found on this list that I had no exposure to beforehand and I instantly want to get on vinyl. Right now this is a 4 for me but I need to give it a 5 upon a few more listens.
I.G.Y. doesn't get enough love.
Almost indistinguishable from Steely Dan in musical terms.
Had no idea who this was until he started singing, then I realized he's one half of Steely Dan. A tight set of jazzy numbers, very lively. The almost bossa nova of "The Goodbye Look" is a little jarring. A little yuppie-ish, though I think I'll have the melody from "I.G.Y." stuck in my head for a while. Favorite tracks: "I.G.Y.", "New Frontier"
This was surprisingly funky. Really thoughtful bass lines with tunes that go places you weren't expecting
I love Steely Dan so why wouldn't I like this? A couple of big hits surrounded by effortlessly smooth and well produced tracks. All together great for relaxing and pondering intelligent lyrics. I was into the Jam and New order at the time but now I'm older this appeals to my older bones.......it's upbeat but sooooooothing.
Muito bom.
Jazz-pop-rock. Me ha gustado.
Incomparable! This is such a classic. Love it!
Liked the album and the hits. Smoooth!
Not bad at all
Don Fagan, of Steely Dan fame, cutting tracks on his own. The recording style is T I G H T. I.G.Y feels meticulously crafted, with not a beat out of place. This album is very best of this style of sound. There is something so perfect about it, it feels stripped of its spontaneity.
I confess to hating this album (or at least the singles from it that I heard) upon its release as it fit neither the classic rock mode I was growing out of (but still enjoying and respecting) and the new wave/alt direction I was heading into for college and beyond. Full appreciation for Steely Dan was still quite a few years off, though they were vaguely on the radar, from summer hits heard at the swimming pool. Their breaking up just as I was entering high school didn’t help, but obviously the music is more sophisticated than I could process at the time. I remember hearing about the high-tech recording approach and thinking “yeah, but the music is still lame and wimpy.” I would have guessed the release date of this was later. I can definitely remember hating the annoying, repetitive synths and his strainy-thin-voiced vocal, but now I get their mellowness and love the shapely, unhurried guitar solos over them (“New Frontier”) and the phrasing and dry-martini vocal tone seem one-of-a-kind. The overall mood of this record is just totally up my alley on a snowy Friday afternoon nearly 40 years on. Not only does it hold up well, it’s somehow got a lot better.
Steely Dan legend
Lovely easy listening
Jazz-pop-rock. Me ha gustado.
I love this album, but it is definitely not something you have to hear before you die. Super smooth.
Странноватая музыка
groovy
The fact that I have Steely Dan's Black Cow stuck in my head after listening to this says that this is not substantially different from a Steely Dan album. That's not a bad thing, as I love Steely Dan. It does make me wonder a bit what Walter Becker brought to the table. I liked this a lot, glad I listened to it. 4 stars.
Always loved this album.
Den poppede udgave af Steeæu Dan. Fedt solo album med lækker lækker lyd. Et genlyt værd
From note one you know this dude was Steely Dan. Hell of a song writer. Hell of a musician.
Pretty good
Very cool stuff. An audiophile’s dream.
Yacht rock
pretty sure persona 5 stole concepts from this album And mario sunshine??
I happen to love Steely Dan -- such incredible musicianship, craft, humor, and mind-blowing playing (man, the people they brought in...wow) -- so I also had a couple Donald Fagen albums in my collection at one time, including this one. I think it's great. I think he's a hell of a songwriter, love his dry humor, and even though I don't usually like too much organ playing in songs, it's fine here. Always loved the cover art on this one, too.
I've heard several tracks from Steely Dan, and I knew enough to recognize Donald Fagen's name as a part of the band. As I listened, I would have thought that this album was from Steely Dan, if I hadn't seen the name of the artist. "I.G.Y." sounded familiar to me, and is a track that I'd probably play again. I'm not sure if I'm familiar with "New Frontier" or if the track just sounds like Donald Fagen's work. I'm not a particular fan of Fagen, but I think I enjoyed this listen. Some albums BARELY squeak into the 3 category. I think this one squeaked into a 4.
Never get tired of listening to the musical genius of Donald Fagen - very fresh sounding all these years later!
I'm a big Steely Dan but had never listened to any of Donald's solo stuff, so I was curious what this was sound like. Overall, it was quite pleasing - "I.G.Y" and "The Nightfly" offered a lot of those same great Steely vibes. "Ruby Baby" was kind of annoying, but I can overlook that.
I never realized that Donald Fagen was the Steely Dan guy... wild. Recognize the 1st song, reminds me of when I was a kid. 70's groove songs.
Chill vibes, nice for a calm evening
80's synth pop/jazz pop(?). Good nighttime cooking/chilling album I'd say. Kind of funky as well.
Another steely Dan record
Had some jazz club vibes to it and made me miss going out to nice bars. The music itself was catchy but the lyrics less so.
Obviously similar to Steely Dan, thick harmonic lines, great arrangements.
Ok this first song.... spicy I like this album omg Favorites: I.G.Y Ruby Baby Maxine The Nightfly The Goodbye Look
Couple of tracks were definitely familiar, I had not heard the rest and dang if it isn't a fine album. Steely Dan-ish, of course.
Música siempre agradable de oir
Donald Fagen once took a golden shower on my belly and some of it ricocheted into my mouth. Yummy.
A lovely album to listen to in the sunshine. A cultured performance akin to Deco in his pomp.
really nice tunes
Pretty good
Good vibes
Lo disfruté y tiene ritmos muy pegajosos (¿beats?). La voz muy bien y puse poca atención a las letras, aunque sí escuché eso de "Mexico City" jaja. Me parece un álbum animado y que te pone feliz, en un humor medio bailador, pero tranquilo, a gusto, chill que se diría. La canción que abre me parece muy bien colocada al principio. Mis favs: "Green Flower Street", "New Frontier" y "The Goodbye Look". 8.5/10
Enjoyable. Very different from anything I've heard before.
Big Steely Dan fan. I feel like this is a very natural extension of that sound with alot of the same players. Although I love the character perspectives in Steely Dan songs it is nice to hear something a little more personal.
Nostalgia trip
surprisingly great pop jazz, not a huge fan of the more jazz oriented songs but overall great sound
IGY is great! Very smooth album!
Funky shit
I admittedly don't like jazz, but the jazz influence on this album is sick. It also reminds me of Christmas music, a little bit. I think this one is kind of awesome, not something I'd listen to all the time but I'm gonna save it on Spotify for Christmas vibes. Omg, also a little Vulfpeck-ish! Another surprising four star album!!
This is such a smooth, 80s-sounding album. While listening I felt relaxed and cool — it’s jazzy, groovy, and sometimes even funky in a very laid-back way. Perfect chill music for a summer night. The whole record has that signature Steely Dan sophistication but feels a bit more personal and warm. The production is pristine, the grooves are tight, and Donald Fagen’s voice sits perfectly on top of the lush arrangements. It paints a vivid late-night, city-lights kind of atmosphere — nostalgic, sophisticated, and effortlessly stylish. The Nightfly is one of those albums that just feels good to put on when you want something light but high-quality. Excellent musicianship, great vibes, and easy to listen to from start to finish. A real 80s gem.
I had heard several of these songs before and assumed they were Steely Dan. Decent soft rock album. If you like Steely Dan, you’ll like this. If you don’t, well…
those boomers been putting steely dan related projects into the list like its the air that they depends on innit as always all the steely dan related albums hangs out in this limbo between "haha nice" and "ugh" and that makes it a 3.5.
meh insipido
Weather channel music, not bad
chill rotation album
A little jazzy, a little soft rock, nice, probably won't come back to it
It was good enough. A lot of people have done this sound better and in comparison this doesn’t quite measure up. But I still enjoyed the listen.
First listen
Hee hee
Like a fine Camembert
I found this enjoyable, not sure it rates with some of his Steely Dan work but very slick sounding.
My shorts turned to denim and my socks were halfway up my calves before the second song started. Love yacht rocks
Interesting one. Lots of people hate the slickness of Steely Dan. I do really like them and the level of musicianship. This album was played in my house growing up and so there is an amount of sentimentality to it. There are some great cuts on it. But it is super slick and therefore not doing it for me now particularly as that’s not what ticks boxes for me
Jazz funk yacht rock. I'd understand anyone saying it's gross, but I dig it
A bit of a guilty pleasure
Possibly 80s slop. It is, at least, some of the most well-made 80s slop I’ve ever heard.
Album 214. The Nightfly (https://open.spotify.com/album/5cOS6szqlcoqmiSoVTqqe8?si=463rpNG2TSyIPTScZxfIBA) — Donald Fagen (1982) I listened to this album in early January and I don't remember if I listened to it or not. It's no good. It's a solo album of Donald Fagen after the Steely Dan breakup. And it's very much Steely Dan-sounding. So smooth and jazzy that I want to buy a yacht and go sailing in the Mediterranean Sea or in Tampa — there's Kanye West's concert soon, I can do both. This is so chill that I need a blanket. 3/5 Liked: — I.G.Y. — New Frontier — The Nightfly — Walk Between Raindrops
Okay album, one for the forgettable heap 3/5
Had high expectations for this, as I do like Steely Dan. This however was fairly dull and pedestrian. Nothing really stood out, and I found myself wanting the album over. Shame really.
Sin más, pero es Donald Fagen
Fínt snekkjurokk
Nokkrir góðir partar þarna.
Not too bad.
Never heard of album or band. No expectations. I like the open to the first song. Really good production on this one. The horns and synth🔥🔥. Lyrics are fine. Could be catchier. Solo to close it out is so good too. What a song. Production is awesome again on green flower street. Much catchier on this one too. Cool harmonies. Ruby baby is VERY 80s. Good production again. Good writing not great. Pretty good song. Ironically Maxine is really well written but I don’t like the production as much. Cool piano but a lot going on with it. Sax solo is really good. New frontier is very 80s as well but in a good way. This song is really good. Great production again. Very catchy. Really nice piano/guitar combo. The night fly is fine. Another one that’s very 80s. I like the piano again. Good guitar solo. Nothing special with the lyrics. Similar feeling with goodbye look. This one has some island vibes to it. Pretty cool song. Lackluster final song. It fits the theme but the song is just meh. Overall good album. Great production throughout. Lyrics didn’t kill it. Fun listen. 3.2/5.
I didnt love it but I do love Donald Fagen so it’s a 3 at least
I guess the other dude from Steely Dan was holding back the throttle on the Yacht Rock.
Offensively inoffensive. 2.5.
The production of this album was great and very historical, but the album of self was a little bit too boring and monotonous for me. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Premier album solo d'un ancien de Steely Dan, groupe que j'ai découvert avec cette liste et qui m'indiffère par mal, à vrai dire. Donc lire la description ce matin ne m'a pas plus emballé que ça. Et à l'écoute, je dois bien avouer que je n'ai rien retenu de particulier. Je ne sais pas si c'est parce que je n'étais pas dans le bon état d'esprit pour l'apprécier ou si c'est simplement pas fait pour moi, mais ça ne m'a absolument pas marqué. J'avais trouvé ça suffisamment sympa pour un 3/5, mais guère plus.
This record is not at all what I expected from the album cover. For whatever reason, I had forgotten Fagen was half of Steely Dan, which then reset my expectations accordingly. I think I.G.Y. is my favorite of the bunch. Another record that opens up after doing some additional research and additional listens. 3 stars for now, but I may come back and upgrade it.
A supremely frustrating album. Great vocal melodies weighed down by a single-minded devotion to presenting every other facet of the music in the most boring, middle-of-the-road way possible. Didn't hate it, but wish it was a little rougher.
The jet-age optimism makes for an often difficult listen in this year of our Lord 2026. And the mix is a bit thin and treble-y, which I guess was the style at the time. Still, interesting...
I didn’t hate this but it wasn’t anything amazing. Middle of the road 80’s pop-rock. Unless I’m missing something? Some good playing throughout - Jeff Porcaro, Marcus Miller, the Brecker brothers - not sure it was enough to make me revisit it, but this wasn’t a terrible album.
Non-assuming 80s pop. 5/10
it was a totally nothing about it album, bit bland it just blathered on in the background.
This is just a sneaky way of adding more Steely Dan in, isn't it? Yeah, it's fine, middle of the road. It's something to get dressed for work to, nothing more.
Personally, I enjoyed this one. Enough to classify it as must-hear? God, that's such a moving target. On the surface it has that Steely Dan aesthetic, enough that I wonder what Walter Becker actually contributed to that group. Beneath the surface -- I don't know. Acoustically, it's so damned transparent that I sense nothing to hide, no cryptic elements. But that's not to say it's a superficial record. It's a masterclass in song arrangement, and in studio production, albeit early digital production. If you get off on supreme audio quality, fire this one up and let your Monster cables do the rest. It sounds fantastic, and foreshadows the fidelity that the digital age will bring to music consumption. At the same time, Fagen's obsession with studio perfection robs the material of humanity. Herein lies the double edge to that transparency sword. This thing has been produced to a degree that leaves little room for personal expression on the part of the musicians. If I hop in my deLorean and listen to this in 1982, I probably find this *over*produced, much like AAA pop today. If I unpack what I hear through my own experience as a session musician, I hear a timeless hell of micromanagement and "one more take, we don't have to splice tape to edit it in." To summarize those last two paragraphs, it sounds excessively refined and restrained. ***** Now, a bit where I account for bits about the artist at the time, which, if listening blind, should have no effect on how we rate the "must-listen"-ness of the album. This album represents Donald Fagen's first foray into solo material, and that its creation caused his mental breakdown, his reclusion from live performance, and his years-long writer's block, it seems evident to me that he worked too hard to make too much of this; because this record represents his catharsis, it leaves little wonder that his hyperfixation on every detail left that kind of impact on him. It's a pity that the magnitude of this personal and emotional realization doesn't translate, and simply manifested another well-made jazz-pop album. ***** 3/5, it has something to offer to some listeners, but sounds too sterile to accurately convey the importance the artist places on it.
Decent album, didn't love it
3 Sterne
This is fine, the first track got me excited and then it just kind of become homogeneous the longer the album went on. Pleasant but not impressive.
This one definitely leans yacht rock and can feel a bit soulless and generic. But there are some very good songs on here like "I.G.Y.," "New Frontier," the title track, "The Goodbye Look," enough so that it overcomes its flaws. Fagan is who he is but could really use his counterpart in Walter Becker. The album cover is cool too.
"This sounds exactly like Steely Dan" - Me, stupidly, just before reading who Donald Fagen is
Sounds like a Steely Dan album without the full crew. A fine album, but not distinct enough to be on this list along with a Steely Dan album. This is the same problem with Smiths and Morrisey albums.