The Nightfly

Nice and flowy

The album cover set a bar for coolness that the music couldn’t match. I’m not a yacht rock connoisseur, but that’s what I would call this if I just heard it. It’s decent background and didn’t make me actively angry, so I can’t downvote it too much. It’s just… fine.

Some interesting tunes, i liked the production and uniqueness of these songs. There weren’t any that particularly stood out to me, seemed like generic pop/rock, but it was enjoyable to listen to.

Lyrics awkward. Overall not unpleasant

I had high hopes for The Nightfly. The title track has always been a favourite. The rest of the album is patchy. The production is slick, but the songs can't quite keep up. Another advert for bad drugs.

I've been around some Steely Dan more than I care to be. Didn't know Fagen had some solo work but it sounds exactly the same. You would think having your own chance to make something you would do something a bit different but most of the songs all sound relatively the same.

Smooth

This is a very Dan album. We probably don’t need it. But I quite like it. Fave Tracks: Ruby Baby, The Nightfly 3.4/5

This album started with so much potential, but then it fell into these silly sounds with cheesy vibraphone and synth lines that completely ruined the mood. If Fagen had just leaned into the more minor melodies and darker feel it would have been amazing. But, he didn't, and then he succumbed to lyrics that basically amounted an Ivy League bro chasing rich girls. So much wasted potential...

This album was OK. I didn't particularly like any song, but the sound didn't bother me. It has hints of smooth jazz / funk.

Not a bad album but a little too early 80s for me. I’m a fan of jazz rock, but just a little too 80s.

Very Steely Dan-ish. Liked New Frontier but honestly they all sounded soooo similar to each other….

Another perfectly all-right background-listening one.

I didn't recognize the name Donald Fagan but as soon as I heard the first song I knew this was the guy from Steely Dan. I like Steely Dan and I liked this record. A slightly more funky sound but almost just another Steely Dan record. Not a lot to set it apart. But that is not an awful thing, Steely Dan is good.

The Steely Dan style is certainly evident in the beginning of the album for the first 2/3 tracks. However, Donald then shifts the energy and vibes of the music elsewhere to try make it his own which personally I meshed with less. Otherwise still a good album with not too many songs you'd be encouraged to skip but not quite hitting the consistency of Steely Dan so a 3/5.

pretty okay. super relaxing but nothing special. the instrumentation is where this album shines. very jazzy. you can see how this may have influenced the development of yacht rock as a genre for sure. the one standout on this album is “maxine”. that was PEAK. everything else was meh. my dad probably would have liked this more than i did. 3/5.

Easy listening. 7/10

Not really for me, bit too 80s

Adult Contemporary. Some interesting stuff, but even more sterile than Steely Dan. Exceptions: I.G.Y. wiht it's new-wave tinged funk, "New Frontier" which has a very soothing melodic chord progression - I could listen to this all day - a kind of pulsing 16th note rhythm underneath the signature Fagan smooth vocals. And finally "The Goodbye Look," this pseudo-carribean thing that is just silly. Overall not as awesome as Steely Dan, still pretty good. No rough edges, sometimes you need this. Yacht rock!

Didn't hate it but in no rush for a second listen. Pretty consistent start to finish.

Very easy listening, soft rock vibes, but not in a bad way. Surprised this guy is from Steely Dan, since I’m not a fan of theirs but I didn’t mind this.

somehow it does feel like a Steely Dan album *but at night*. I actually really liked the first song (I.G.Y.)

Altfor glatt pg åttitalls

A pretty nice listen. Sounds pretty similar to Sterly Dan, unsurprisingly I like the little jazzy flourishes and the subtle synths, that gives it a bit more character than other soft rock of this type It doesn't change up that much so it kind of blends together after a point. At least it isn't too long Good, not great Highlights: Green Flower Street, I.G.Y., New Frontier

Definitely different!

El álbum más ochentero que he escuchado en mi vida. Producción impecable, una agrupación de músicos supervirtuosos, y ese organillo típico del pop de su época por doquier. Un pop supersuave, con toques de jazz, unas líneas de bajo que se te calan por todo el cuerpo, y una atmósfera etéreo-sintética (?), por decirlo de alguna manera. Un álbum perfecto para conducir de noche, pero que no arriesga un pelo y que acaba por no decir nada. Me parece muy revelador que su nota en este sitio sea exactamente 3. Es exactamente lo que merece.

Maybe the real steely Dan heads can tell the difference between them and this solo project, but you could’ve fooled me. I always find it funny when an artist leaves a band to do solo stuff that sounds the exact same. Like the other Steely we’ve had, this was fine.

Nem rossz de monoton, chill

Although I found it banal it started off melodically strong and then my interest waned halfway through. I liked it better than I thought. It’s pretty much a 2.5 but heyho!

Not bad. I don’t mind his style and sound in small doses but lose interest over a whole album. Low end of 3 for me.

It’s pretty good

Some decent Yacht Rock here

01) I.G.Y. - 7,5 02) Green Flower Street - 7,5 03) Ruby Baby - 6,5 04) Maxine - 7,0 05) New Frontier - 7,5 06) The Nightfly - 7,5 07) The Goodbye Look - 6,5 08) Walk Between Raindrops - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,13 (71/100) Current ranking: 309/535

Very 80s, I like IGY

Smoother than my brain

I wanted to put 5 just to infuriate you. Lol

Lesser Steely Dan? This was OK but it seems a bit too slick, over-produced and it also has a slight taint of an 80's vibe. Too synth-y and electric.

Steely Don, New Recipe! All the gas, a fraction of the sugar.

Easy listening while working. Didn’t find this to be particularly special or note worthy, but it was nice.

Fav: I.G.Y. Least Fav: Green Flower Street Yeah I’m not surprised this was a Steely Dan solo project

Eh

Basically, it’s Steely Dan. Brilliant musician. Not my thing

Fine album.

Jeez, this is pure 1982. Feels like these sounds were widely emulated in movies and television. It was everywhere. The influence this had was significant. Even if it skews a bit too modern jazz for my taste, the work is clear. I don’t hate this, but I don’t particularly like a lot of it. Kind of wish some of this was just instrumental. IGY is still really good, though.

Peak 80s R&B

3/5

A smooth easy listening jazz rock/ yacht rock project. The super clean, sleek production often veers into over produced but surprisingly it didn’t bother me too much. The tracks are well made and and the performances are super solid, the songs themselves are unfortunately quite forgettable but the album creates a nice vibe. Inoffensive, slightly boring at points but not generally something I’d be disappointed in. 3/5

meio chill e gostosinho de ouvir mas nada não é nada de mais

album bem gostoso de ouvir, não cheguei a prestar muita atenção ent vou ouvir dnv pra ver se gosto, mas não agora quero ganhar dinheiro sem trabalhar 7/10

I like Steely Dan, but not Donald Fagan as a solo artist. Maybe it’s really a 2.

I had never heard any Donald Fagen solo music before, but I went into this pretty excited to hear music from a cofounder of Steely Dan. Once the album started and I heard a somewhat familiar Steely Dan-esque yacht rock sound, I remained hopeful. But man, at the end of the day, this was just okay. Just average. It does still pretty much fit the bill of yacht rock throughout most of the album and was at least baseline enjoyable because of this, but the album is really missing the spark and the magic that makes both yacht rock and Steely Dan so great. So yeah, this was okay. It didn't hit quite like I had hoped it would, but it was a nice listen.

Lekker jaren '80. Wel weer één waar ik mij niet zo aan erger. We zijn er al een paar tegengekomen. De vergeetbare jaren '80 platen. Op zich knap. Maar ik noteer toch gewoon die 3.

Ik vraag me bij het zien van het album of ik hier iets van ga kennen. En dan begint het eerste nummer. Aaah, dit nummer. Ja, dit is alsof Steely Dan in de jaren 80 is beland. En Steely Dan kan ik altijd goed waarderen. Het behoudt dezelfde relaxte vibe, met natuurlijk het karakteristieke Donald Fagen stemgeluid, en nu met jaren 80 synths toegevoegd. Het heeft ook iets weg van Hall & Oates. Ik vind het zoals gewoonlijk weer erg fijn klinken, maar de vraag is wel in hoeverre dit wat toevoegt aan de lijst. Er staan al 4 Steely Dan albums in en om dan ook nog eens een solo-album toe te voegen, lijkt mij weer een gevalletje van de gebruikelijke overkill, die we helaas veel te vaak zien in deze snoblijst. Vier sterretjes voor de kwaliteit, maar helaas een strafpunt voor de overbodigheid. Al luister ik dan wel weer liever 10 overbodige albums van deze kwaliteit dan 1 nieuw slecht album als charlie XCX of die toverkol FKA twigs die we pas geleden hadden.

Hablar de Donad Fagen es hacerlo de Walter Becker, es decir Steely Dan. UN estilo en sí mismo: calidad y perfeccionismo a raudales. Seguro que has escuchado sus discos alguna vez , además sin saberlo. Los ponen los técnicos de sonido en las pruebas de los conciertos. Este debut en solitario sigue los mismo parámetros del duo. IGY es un estupendo inicio. Maxine y The nightfly son otras de las destacadas. ¿Más de lo mismo? Por supuesto.

JCPenney background music is an excellent descriptor.

Nice album. 80s feel with a Steely Dan twist

Sounded like Steely Dan….but wasn’t quite. Missing a certain I don’t know what. Still okay enough.

80s jazz pop is an adequate descriptor

Спокойная нейтральная музыка

Some dece yacht rock

Le petit côté jazz avec des synthétiseurs ne m'a pas tellement interpellée.

Nothing special.

Leuk hoor

Yeah. As you would have guessed, sounds like Steely Dan.

It was a fun surprise that this was Steely Dan

It’s like he wanted to prove he could make a Steely Dan album all by himself.

I.G.Y. // The Nightfly //

I'm sure I've had my haircut to this album. Dad insists he'd gladly have his throat cut to it.

I don’t hate this and I don’t hate steely dan but I can’t see many people jumping up and saying… OH MY GOD DONALD FAGEN FROM STEELY DAN HAS A SOLO CAREER!!! THIS IS A MUST LISTEN!!! The album’s… nice that’s the best way to say it… nice. I can see the appeal but I can’t see any excitement, I’m not sure about this album but I know steely dan had rather strenuous recording sessions for their albums and I can see that being the case again it’s ‘crisp’ but theres no peaks or drops, just left thinking okay 3/5

Okay funky I like Favs: IGY Maxine New frontier The night fly

interessante, a un certo punto diventa anche Sting

Silly smooth and billowy soft - leans hard into 80s production, pushing the sound as far as possible through perfectionist performance and recording, elaborate harmonies and complicated jazzy composition. My taste was formed valuing raw, direct and aggressive music - so polished convoluted and mellow sounds have been a challenge to learn to love. There's a detached wet irony and indulgent technophilia you have to respect if it ends up sounding like supermarket music.

I felt this album was relatively average. No great songs, but no songs I hated. Middle of the pack all around. Solid 2.5 Favorite Song: I.G.Y Least Favorite: The Goodbye Look

drei bis vier

I love Steely Dan but the best song on this album would be the sixth best song on Katy Lied or Pretzel Logic. I’ll take all the Dan I can get but this just isn’t doing it for me.

Es curioso que pese a haber oído dos veces entero el álbum casi no lo recuerde, pero bueno. Entretenido e ya. Canción destacada: I.G.Y.

Hmm. Imagine Steely Dan, but it's just the singer and some extremely over-produced and not particularly good yacht rock. This is that. It's the epitome of style over substance, but the style is stylish enough to make it fun for 39 minutes.

A well-played but ultimately pretty uninteresting album to listen to. I wouldn't be bothered by having the album on in the background, but doubt I'll ever come back to it myself.

Recognised the name, but can't remember what band he was in. No doubt the others in this group will tell me who it was. Though strangely enough though, the album was exactly what I expected it to be. That said, I enjoyed it. Easy listening (very) soft rock done well. Got to be worth a very mediocre 3.

This thing reeked of Steely Dan as soon as I started it. This really is just American City Pop.

Lovely record. Smooth and laid back

we have aja at home

kind of groovy but his voice is offputting

I didn't really realize how much I enjoyed Steely Dan's music before starting this album journey. I've had 3 SD albums before getting Fagen's solo debut. It's unfortunate, but this album lacks what very little edge Steely Dan had in the first place, so it comes across as easy listening. It's well produced, it just comes across as what it is: someone's solo efforts after being a part of a band who's sum is greater than it's parts. As of listening, this album is sitting at a perfectly balanced 3.0 rating. I can't think of any other time in the 500+ albums I've heard so far where I agreed with the consensus so much.

Pretty lame and boring, just listen to steely dan

Fun jazz pop, probably wouldn’t relisten but nice it exists

Dan just isn’t the same without Steely… or is this steely?

Solid album and calm vibes

Mellow.

never listened to any donald fagen on his own but enjoyed this. all new songs to me, new frontier stuck out

This album felt very Donald Fagen-y. In line with other Steely Dan albums, but with a little 80's influence. New Frontier is good. I think I'll need to give it more listens!

Aite but boring

Started strong but tailed off a bit, favourite song by far was I.G.Y, definitely better Steely Dan music though

Reminiscent of the jazzier Steely Dan though I miss Walter Becker’s influence.

2.86

Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 🚬📻👔 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌙🌆🛥️📻🎷🌌 Rating: 👔👔(👔)/5

Good yacht rock Yacht rock is just not my bag, baby

2.8 2x

J'ai bien aimé cet album de jazz vocal, mais sans plus. C'est vraiment le genre qui fait très bonne musique de fond, mais je ne pense pas que j'écouterais ça activement régulièrement. 7/10

If i didn't read this was the Steely Dan guy, i think i would've figured it out from the music. It sounds like what they would've done in the 80s during the synthpop era. It's fun.

3.5

Like Steely Dan-lite.

Walk Between Raindrops down Green Flower Street and you’ll find this album.

can't agree that this is essential listening

.

Kova!

I am a fan of Steely Dan and the debut solo album from Donald Fagen sounds like it could have been the follow-up to the band's last studio album, Gaucho. Personally, Gaucho is my least favourite Steely album, it's the only Dan album I refused to buy, because it's too slick, too commercial sounding, boring and I just didn't like it. The Nightfly doesn't sound too different, but I enjoyed it more and some of the songs I thought were Steely Dan songs. A decent listen, but I'm more than happy to live in the past and listen to Steely Dan's first batch of albums (not Gaucho!) again instead.

What a pleasant listen! It was a bit monotonous, but I really enjoy Donald Fagen’s voice

the three part harmony really reminds me of some other artist; will revisit when I figure it out

that first song was like a nuclear bomb of endorphins and then the rest of the album had no budget left to wow me

Steely Dan's an interesting one. I almost like a lot of their songs. Or do I like the various session musicians parts. Like all of the dan, this is immaculately recorded, ironic lyrics etc. Everything always sounds like its gonna be great, but is only ever good.

Groovy, bouncy, jazzy yacht rock through and through. It's like diet Steely Dan with all the signature taste of Fagen, but zero Becker. That said, I'd rather listen to Steely Dan.

I find Donald Fagen's music boring, it all just blends together.

Surprisingly pretty catchy songs, I wasn't familiar with any of Fagen's solo stuff. Nice to listen to but I probably wouldn't seek it out too often. Solid 6/10

I know it's a solo album, but this is basically Steely Dan. Good album, overall! I'd say 3.5 - I will round down.

Kinda cool style

Definitely ok, some good stuff and some annoying junk

Steely Dan is one of my favourite bands and I’ve always loved each of their albums. I was excited to get a band member but was shocked to find it wasn’t clicking as much as I had thought it would. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun and I did like his voice but I was hoping to be WOWED more.

Rating: 6/10 Choice cuts: I.G.Y., Green Flower Street

pretty much Steely Dan. Not bod but not exciting

When walking through the shire, this is what to listen to on your hobbit walkman.

I dont hate it. I listened to the first 2 tracks and thought it sounded a lot like steely dan before I read the wiki and figured all that out. Its not amazing or profound or anything, but its solidly "OK." 3/5

It's pleasant and contains some interesting structures, but ultimately Donal Fagen seems to be a bit too easy listening for my tastes.

A wonderfully pleasant listen, that ultimately leaves only a little mark.

The definition of easy listening. Very hard to rate for me so let’s go in da middal

Honestly easy listening but was kinda boring.

This soundtrack turned into background music and before I ever realized Spotify was playing an entirely different artist. I did enjoy the New Frontier song.

Did not expect to know this artist but did. But a huge fan of the fake multiple vocals style. Wonder why they would sound like live.

Very silly, but I honestly had fun

What an opening track! But it gets pretty boring towards the tail end of the album. It's an ok album, but I will probably not return to it for anything other than the opener.

“steely dan light” if you will. and as anything steely dan adjacent, of course you have top notch musicianship. not bad, not bad at all.

Steely Dan Light

Cool album, coole cover en na het luisteren werd het nog cooler toen ik te weten kwam via mijn 1001-albumbuddy dat dit het soloproject is van iemand van Steely Dan. 3.4

Fun but kinda lacks the sauce

Eh. Yacht rock I didn’t knoe

Irgendwie ein bisschen „beige“.

Indistinguishable from steely Dan’s discography

igy- 4 green flower street- 5 ruby baby- 4 maxine- 4 new frontier- 4 nightfly- 4 goodbye look- 4 walk between raindrops- the bass is good. 5 elevator music

Chill listen, but it all sounds the same.

This would actually be an ok jazz pop album and is I guess. But the rehashed backing vocals/chorus effects are really annoying after a while...

Definitely liked the first (hit) song of the album. Learned something new!

This certainly feels like an album from a time and place. It's very cruisy late night 80s radio. Faves: New Frontier because it seems to be about finding love in the apocalypse and for rhyming beer with frontier. Walk Between Raindrops a nice feel good closer.

OK

Decent. Cool to hear what came after steely Dan. I do kinda get what people mean when they mention the music is so clean that it’s almost sterile. Still tho I did like it even if I thought the songs tended to drag on Rating: 3.2

This feels quite vintage with strong 80s vibes which I do like. Very bouncy synths and beats which are fun and up-beat. All slightly cringe in quite a fun hilarious way. It almost reminds me of Hall & Oates in places which is a great thing but it's slightly lacking in punch and not quite hitting the mark somehow. I just read that Donald Fagen was the lead singer of Steely Dan (I hadn't heard of him) I can't say I'm a Steely Dan fan... find it wishy washy and perhaps it is actually in large part down to Donald's voice. The vocal feels quite weak to me. It's almost a little bit frustrating but I don't hate it!

Yeah this was quite enjoyable! Wasn't what I expected. Overall inoffensive. Quite good

Bueno

Vekkulia ja funkkista. Jazzpoppia ilmeisesti. Parhaat: Green Flower Street, New Frontier

Well-produced, but too smooth for my taste. 3 stars

Saw it was a guy from Steely Dan so I made sure to listen to it on my proper stereo. Wonderfully recorded. Just not my thing.

Steely Dan with an 80’s flavor

i should definitely like this more, i mean Aja is one of my favorite albums…. maybe i’m not in the right mood today 3.5

Lettere undervældende. Ok til tider, lidt disco vipe over noget af det, lidt blues her, lidt contrey der, kryderet med noget jazz ud over det meste. Det skal nok være et godt album hvis man ikke havde mulighed for at høre andet. For den introducere til meget forskelligt.

Steely Dan without the irony isn't half bad, but it's still not the same. i think The Nightfly is alright, it works as a jazzy exercise of nostalgia and lost dreams for Fagen himself. there's a lot of good things about it ("I.G.Y." and the title track rival the best Steely Dan songs) but i think what keeps it from being on the level of a Gaucho or even a Katy Lied is that cautious optimism. instead of a man selling me moonshine wrapped in studio candy, i'm just getting a nice bowl of candy. i like candy, and some of it tastes like the moonshine, but i can't help but feel a bit let down that i'm JUST getting this. also, "The Goodbye Look" has got to be the snazziest song about a Mafia casino runner getting executed by Castro this side of the trade embargo. if you're in Cuba and using RYM: 1. how 2. why 3. do they have better songs about similar topics on your end? message me if so.

The musical equivalent of conditioner. Bright, shiny and soft.

One of the most mediocre albums yet

К сожалению, хоть альбом и звучит как лёгкий джаз, совсем не запоминается.

Night of September 8, 2024 HL: "Maxine", "I.G.Y." the title track Contrary to my attempts to be open-minded, I decided this was a three star album before listening to it. An 80's solo spinoff from Steely Dan? I enjoy some Steely Dan, and there's enough here to appeal to fans of that band. But it somehow took the slippery smooth production of Aja even further into the clinical jazz we get here. Interestingly, the lyrics themselves are wistful and descriptive; there is soul to be found.

Smooth middle of the road Steely Dan-esque beat

Oh yeah, I remember this one. We'd all be in the van and say, "What? That's not Steely Dan?" Lots of cool sounds on here, but seriously, if you're going to ditch the band, hire studio musicians, and change the name, I feel like you owe me a new sound. Wanker.

I've given this a few spins at this point. I *should* love it! The first track, I.G.Y, is one of my Dad's favorites, and he loves it for its weird, prescient, sly cynicism that feels like it's pulling back the curtain. I love it for that, but also for its alluring cleanliness. It's almost the cleaner than any other Steely Dan record! Which is saying something! This is the era of Ultra Clean. Something so hypnotic for the musician in me, at the utterly, pointlessly perfect sound. There's just something so weird about it, you know? Like, why did they decide to do this? I just think the songs kind of fall off after the first song. I like the more bluesy, open arrangements, but the songs at the heart feel a little less immediate for my taste. Feels like we're laying back in the comfort zone. Which, for Donald Fagan, is still cool. But for me, the listener, I'm waiting a little for stuff to happen. Still, great record. 3/5

послушала в пятницу и забыла, отлично) что-то неинтересное

Except for IGY and New Frontier, I was unfamiliar with the other songs on this album. Donald Fagen certainly has a particular style that is recognizable and perhaps a bit too repetitive. I’d give it another listen.

quiet and old

Yacht Rock: The Album

It

I've listened to this a couple times but I haven't caught onto it yet.

I’m a middle aged man. I recognized more of these songs than I care to admit. It’s also the only album I’ve come across with a perfect 3 ⭐️ rating. I’m not going to mess with that.

lite bumbo soccer men kiva att lyssna på.

This got a bit samey but it was really enjoyable. Very much of its time.

Mildy interesting and easy to listen to but nothing caught my ear to make me want to listen more.

Torn between a 3 and 4 star, I feel like there was just something missing from the album to really make me want to return. Overall great listen, I've found that I really like Steely Dan's first two records (which Donald Fagen was a part of), and this definitely has that Steely vibe. The opener is super catchy and sets a great mood.

Very easy listen. This commercially "jazz" piece can be and is probably a coffee shop staple. I wonder why it reminds me of Steely Dan a lot. It turns out that the guy IS from Steely Dan.

I don't really care for Steely Dan. Donald Fagen's solo album is slightly better. It's still the same type of meh rock.

Steely Dan Jumpscare. I love me some Steely Dan. Which makes me wonder who they put bros solo catalog in here when we have plenty steely albums. It was cool to see the style of Steely Dan move into the 80’s, and while it’s a lot poppier, I’d say Fagen doesn’t stray too far off course compared to some of my other favorite artists in the crazy 80’s. Fav tracks: IGY, green power flower street, new frontier, The Nightfly

It's another Steely Dan album. Amazing musicianship, occasional bangers, all the emotion of a damp tea towel.

Technically is very good and I enjoy it enough Will I listen to again: 25%

No escuchou deu meus

Is 80s music a genre? Because I can't really pin down what is going on with this record. It's like a caricature of cocaine, Reagan, the Cold War and pilates. That doesn't mean it's necessarily bad. It's certainly smoooooth and sexy. It has fun moments, cool guitar solos. Interesting disco inspired harmonies, but I guess I'm only describing what I'm hearing. Which is basically the epitome of 80s trash pop all encompassed into 1 record that is definitely FINE.

3.5 Cheesy but I dig it. Definition of “easy listening.”

I enjoy a lot of Steely Dan, so I was sure I'd enjoy this one, but was surprised to find I didn't as much I wanted to. It's hard to give a 3 vs a 4, because my knock on it is "The Steely Dan sounds like Steely Dan" which is obvious in a solo career, but was hoping for more. It is very reminiscent of Gaucho (release 2 years earlier) and besides I.G.Y and New Frontier sounding semi different I wouldn't be able to tell this was a solo project.

I.G.Y. 2.8 Green Flower Street 3 Ruby Baby 3.1 Maxine 3.3 New Frontier 3.1 The Nightfly 3.4 The Goodbye Look 3.2 Walk Between Raindrops 3 Score: 3.1125

Nothing much seemed to progress or develop enough. Some good lyrics.

A pleasant voice, interesting and fun lyrics, highlights are “the new frontier” and “Maxine” The major issue here is you would struggle to tell any song apart and musically it’s quite dull. The jazz backgrounds almost sent me to sleep and I found many of the songs overly long and a struggle to get through. There’s nothing bad about this but i feel one track would be enough.

Hm. This was fine, but didn't wow me. I feel like most of the songs went on at least a minute too long, too

this was all right, but it's definitely missing that je ne sais quoi (i.e. walter becker) that made steely dan so great. fagen on his own just kinda goes hard on the smooth jazzy soft rock, which is okay but gets dull after a while. the whole time i was listening to this, i was just waiting for a my old school or bodhisattva or a similar jam to come on, but by the end i had just waited 40 minutes for the end of the album. it's also very 80s-sounding, but the album art is pretty cool. good background music but nothing that really grabs me. favorites: i.g.y., new frontier, the nightfly

I like the style but it didn't stand out to me Green Flower Street and The Nightfly were my favorites. Wish it had a little more

This is really well made and it sounds great, but it just doesn’t really have anything to amaze me. My favorite songs were IGY, Green Flower Street, and The Nightfly.

Gentle grooves, kinda jazzy

mellow

Interessante

Wow, The Nightfly! The general consensus around audionerds is that when you get new headphones/speakers, you have to do yourself a favor and test them on two albums: Rage Against the Machine's debut album, and of course Donald Fagen's The Nightfly. This is very funny to me that these two albums are connected somehow when they sound so, so different. I've done this a few times in my life and it's a cool thing to listen to the albums and get an idea in your head for what they SHOULD sound like so that you can use them as a base for testing new music gear. And that consensus is for a good reason, as this album's production is immaculate. It's almost eerie in a way? Because the spacing of the instruments across 3D space is so perfectly produced, and it makes all of the instruments sound so distinct, but still cohesive and tied together. It's a wonder for 1980. He's got a great voice that I think is often overlooked because of the production greatness. It's a little bit Sting without the overacting that Sting sometimes does; he's like a more everyman Sting. It falls as a nice 3/5 for me. It's got great moments but not many big hit memorable ones for me to give it a 4. It's still absolutely enjoyable and listenable in any context (bad day? Put this on. Good day? Put this on.). Great album cover. It's cool, it's mysterious, and the text is perfectly placed.

Solid dad rock

The police but make it like background coffee shop music. It's pleasant background 80s music, maybe this would fit some TV show. Not sure why this had to be called out on this list, but I don't hate it. Beige music.

Well, this was…..neat.

divertido!

Anyone else see this cover and want to hear a great Nick Cave or Tom Waits album? That's not what this is.

Very 80s. I would use this in my neo-old 80s film noir movie

Didn’t like the entire album but overall enjoyed it. Reminds me of the Joe Jackson era

Don’t really see how this is any better than a lot of Steely Dan. It’s okay.

Didn’t realize this was the Steely Dan guy. Album is ok. Very 70s but with a little more smooth jazz/downtown city influence

A good amount of saves. Nothing to write home about but I enjoyed the album. Green Flower Street went pretty hard tbh

both some of the best and worst steely dan songs?

It’s jazzy and chill music. Songs all kind of song the same though. I’ve actually heard some of it on WXPN very recently. I’m always like oh I’ll keep it on, but not my favorite thing.

This is groovy, but the songs aren't quite as strong as the Steely Dan I've listened to. Though it's refreshing to hear an 80s rock album without the gawdy 80s production tropes. Favorite tracks: I.G.Y. Green Flower Street New Frontier

Some silly lyrics and vocal tones, it's giving stardew valley 80s jazz in some songs. Other songs are groovy AND funky. A little elevatory overall. Favorite songs: New Frontier, IGY 7/10

Casual enjoyer of yacht/soft rock but don’t think this will be in the rotation too much. Not the worst but it didn’t really stand out to me.

I liked this, it has a mix of both 80s and 50s vibes, which results in a sort of lo-fi sound. I enjoy the layered vocals and the musical interludes. Reading the bio after listening, didn't know he was part of steely Dan! And we love a jersey boy. Unfortunately I went and listened to a little Steely Dan after and I do think the duo is better, but I'm trying not to let that influence my opinion on this solo work. Top songs: I.G.Y New Frontier Green Flower Street

I tapped my toe but probably won’t add any of these songs to the queue unless I’m on a boat with boomers (possible).

Nice listen, good cover, they all kinda blend together but there are standouts Best Song: Walk between raindrops Worst Song: N/A

I don’t get the hate. I plan to revisit this one. I’m a fan a Steely Dan though so I guess it would make sense that I liked this too.

Ok

It's hard not to hear this as a Steely Dan album, given how distinctive Fagen's voice is, and the music is fairly similar too. A sly way to get more Steely Dan into the 1001 albums project! That said, I'm sorry he decided to go solo in the early 1980s, as this was *not* a very fertile time for distinctive sounding tunes amongst all the backup choruses, poppy synth sounds and the ubiquitous sax solos and drum-machine-sounding beats (even when they're actually drums). I'm kind of reminded of Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" (although I enjoy that album a lot more). It's kind of hard to agree with the critic who called this "one of pop music's sneakiest masterpieces," as I wish it was more distinctive and interesting.

I didn't have much of a reaction to this--I was working as I listened to it and it was pleasant and unobtrusive and there were only a few minutes where I stopped to listen again or to start over--so not much of an impact on me.

signature Steely Dan synthy jazzy semi-ironic tone that leans a bit too much into the muzak to be worthwhile. this jam band can sure play, though

So, this was a decent album; clearly a continuation of the writing he did as part of Steely Dan. However, it does drone on a bit. The grooves here have always been comforting to this Steel Dan fan; but it only ranks at a 3.5 stars overall.

Was all like, ‘who the hell is Donald Fagen’ then the first track plays and I’m all like. Okay, I’ve heard this before.

Just made me want to listen to Steely Dan honestly

Agradable.

Listening to a member of a once famous duo’s solo music can be hit or miss. It would be like if you took one of the members of Daft Punk, and expected their music to be on the same level of quality as what they did with their partner. For some reason the name Donald Fagen didn’t immediately stand out to me. I knew I recognized it, but I had to look it up to realize he was one half of Steely Dan. At this point in time, they had been broken up for a little while. And I was interested to see how the music would sound with only 50% of the powerhouse that is Steely Dan. Fagen is pretty much the lead vocalist of the duo, so this is not lacking in the vocal department. And this sort of gives in to the synth heavy glitz of the early 80’s. But make no mistake, this still has most of the jazzy yacht rock goodness that their main stuff has. But I don’t know. Something about this feels like it’s lacking a lot of the creativity that Steely Dan has. It’s just more traditional and less engaging than their stuff together. Like much of their later work, this is still refined to the highest point an album can be, and has excellent production. They were perfectionists, and it shows. But I just don’t vibe with this as much as I do with their other records. Rating: 6/10

Always like his sound, Steely Dan or solo.

This was alright. I recognized the singer's voice from Steely Dan, and many of the songs were certainly Steely Dan adjacent, with a hint of something that also kind of reminded me of Randy Newman for some reason.

yet another Steely Dan album that didn't do much for me. It's not bad, by any means, but also I don't get it. 2.5/5

Just meh. Not terrible but there wasn’t much to it.

Big 3

7 Igy

Pleasant, jazzy, nice vocal harmonies throughout. I read about the connection to Steely Dan but this feels like a fairly run-of-the-mill album to me. The blog does note there are some interesting tidbits of music theory applied here, I'll take their word for it.

Started listening to this song and immediately thought, "Why does this sound like Steely Dan?" I'm sure others already knew that he was a member but I was just impressed that I recognized his voice immediately since I never knew his name. Turns out I also vaguely know I.G.Y. from childhood.

His songs are so long. Why? The intros go on forever. The music is kinda cool. There’s some jazzy piano riffs throughout that are fun to listen to. Can’t say any song really stood out for me.

made me feel like i was cruising through a fictional city at 1 pm, a little drunk with no cars around and no chance of hurting anybody

Pretty cool

3.3

I read a lot of good things about this album, and even though I'm not a fan of Steely Dan repertoire, I was still hoping for a strong, or interesting, performance. Unfortunately, it seems that "The Nightfly" might have been released by the full band, it just wasn't too far off their style, which once again, isn't to my liking. I just don't find that jazzy rock style appealing. Donald's vocal is pretty good, but his style just grinds my gears for some reason. Very good quality of the album, but I'm not going to enjoy it.

- woah it’s the dude from Steely Dan - cool vibes, enjoyable listen

I love Steely Dan, and obviously Donald Fagan can write some incredible songs. I sometimes have trouble with solo records though, and I can miss the contributions of the other band members instead of appreciating the individual ability of the solo artist. This album has a bit of both, where I am appreciating Fagan's songs half the time and missing Walter Becker the other half. There's some incredible parts here, but I don't think it reaches the heights of Steely Dan as a whole.

Typical 80s

Steely Dan lite lite lite.

I enjoyed this more than Steeley Dan Pretzel Logic but in the same vein it's beautifully produced and impeccable musicianship but lacking something.

In the person the made the full house theme song also made an album inspired by the full house theme song. Wait, did this man write the full house theme song?

Fun and interesting. Not exciting, but not an album I would skip, but also would not search.

Not sure if this is a so bad it's good, or just good with a lot of bad, but then it's good. Gonna settle with OK.

Very fake canned sounding. But some of the songs are catchy.

Sehr gut, etwas steril. Drei Sterne

No quite Dan

While I still enjoy this album, it’s so obviously missing some extra parts that make Steely Dan one of my favourite groups to listen to. There are some highlights in regards to Fagen’s narrative storytelling and, as usual, polished production, but the songs don’t necessarily come together to create something bigger than its parts. Will still put this on occasionally, and honestly this is one of my favourite album artworks ever. Three stars. Fave track: IGY

Smooth operator. Geggjað sound. Steely Dan soundið mjög sterkt en skemmtileg tilraunastarfsemi með. 3.5/5

"fun album, but i felt like some songs dragged a bit and got repetitive - 3 adds"

Jazzy 🎵

Agradable.

Not quite sure about this one :/

Hall and Oates meet Joe Jackson in an Edward Hopper painting of a Disco.

Nice, but a little aged.

Super cheesy 80s

One of the first to meld jazz, blues and rock together. Not a fan but recognize his genius.

A 'lost' jazzy Steely Dan album. This is the release after Gaucho before a long break. Short, but Fagen quality. Not sure how long these notes need to be. This service is interesting, but the delivery is kluge.

It's a steely dan album without the charm of a steely dan album. Very middle of the road for me. Just feels a bit off without Walter Becker.

Just an average sounding album.

Mellowly good.

This album is one of those albums that although it was nice to listen to and fits to whatever you're doing whilst listening, it wasn't anything special or exciting. It felt like it took the 80s electronic hype and ran with it, the lyrics were almost hard to hear over the constant electronic noise. It just felt like a bit of a mess, but did get better as the songs went on.

It might be the tracklist to a guy singing live in a restaurant, it might follow a good melody for a casual 8-bit game, you may also be dancing by snapping your fingers. I can not exactly define it, but Donald Fagen definitely sets the vibes right. Clear and concise, this album is a relaxed listen and will lift you up. There are no great exciting tracks on it, but it is a good wrap in general.

Meh. Love Steely Dan but this is kind of boring

I had to look at the wiki to find out what genre of music this is considered, jazz pop. This music sounds like what would play at the end of an 80s young adult comedy movie to get people out of the theatre but like happily. ‘Green Flower Street’ was almost a banger, at times Fagen tried to hit notes that were a little above his pay grade. Ruby Baby went on way to long and I was waiting for it to end after the first couple minutes. I enjoyed the instrumentals a lot more than the singing. It’s not that his singing is bad in anyway, I just can imagine a different singer really elevating the sound. Why isn’t ‘The Goodbye Look’ the last song on the album?! It’s not that I didn’t like it, it’s that I didn’t like it that much. 5/10

3,5 cool

Not familiar with any Steely Dan albums, but front-man Donald here has some smooth, catchy tunes.

I had basically no reaction to this. I like Steely Dan, but this just seemed to have no point. Musicianship was good though.

Just okay. No stand out tracks, felt like a very mid 80's jazz record. Fagen is not as strong here as he is with Steely Dan

I wish every song on here was as good as I.G.Y., but the whole album has an awesome atmosphere and was a fun time to listen to. Not as many standouts as I would have liked, but a few tracks I will definitely revisit

3 so cheesy

??

Best Song: New Frontier. I think I just liked the bass the best here. Worst Song: Ruby Baby. The instrumentals were fine, but the doo-wop-y vocals killed it for me. Overall: Is it possible for music to be too smooth? Everything in this album feels so polished it's frictionless. Slips one ear and out the other. Music by and for sexy robots.

sounds like steely dan to me. 3.0

Unsurprisingly similar to the Steely Dan mothership, but best judged on its own merit. And merited it is.

It's so much 80s that I almost typed this comment on my electric typewriter.

Boring

Smoooooth

Smooth 80s yacht rock, or something like that. It did sound a lot like Steely Dan to me, for better or for worse. Not bad, didn’t mind it, but probably wouldn’t listen again.

Different to a lot of other stuff that has come on this list. Definitely enjoyed it.

Smooth as.

I know this well. Its kinda a big warm hug but listening objectively it is a bit bland. It doesn't match the best Dan and they are a 4.

Solid

This album is sterile. There is much for character or soul but it is incredibly clean and engineered to sound appealing. I’ve grown up on metal so this really doesn’t sound “fun” it’s something I could put on and no one would have an aversion to it. I wish I hated it, but I can’t.

Lapped up on release due to absence of new Steely Dan material. Thought it was good at the time but listening again nigh on 40 years later there aren't enough strong tracks. Strong musicianship and well produced as to be expected but lacking an additional critical ear to make it great.

Very middle of the road, generic, bland, non-offensive. Starter pack music. I envision myself casually shopping in JCPenney circa 1991 while music from the weather channel plays in the background over the radio. Not too bad, not too good. Adequate.

Quite calming and chill with IGY as a very nice, somewhat popular, opener

I like some Steely Dan. This sounded like some of their smooth, easy listening stuff, which I don't care as much for. Upon first listen, the only song that stood out much was Ruby, and that's only because it's a cover of a song I know well. It's fine for what it is, but I must be missing something considering it's on this list.

Cheesy but fun, lounge lizard jazz kind of thing. I wasn't aware Donald Fagen was of Steely Dan, but it makes perfect sense - the sound of the record firmly brought to mind Steely Dan, and I guess now it make sense. Not my favourite genre, and it's not special enough to make it for regular rotation, but it gets an easy three-star rating.

Yeah, samey, but ever so smooooooth

Similar but overall a bit less exciting than Steely Dan.

Could take it or leave it. I respect it more than I actually like to listen to it.

Chill

Nice

this one after for me similar music, a funky, boring Stevie Wonder album. Donald Fagan sounds fresher, and two killer songs on the album. But again, too perfect for me, no emotion.

first listen definitely the worst steely dan record

Great album cover

Mmmmm jazzy. Initially didn't think I'd like this but it's pretty comforting. Really liked New Frontier

Pretty solid throughout, good energy throughout doesn't live up to I.G.Y afterwards but no huge misses either

Just fine. It's Steely Daniel but Jazzier. Falls into their same victories and defeats. Some jams, some duds... not much to say or stick with me honestly.

6/10

Það er alveg eitthvað þarna, skemmtilegt sound oft og áheyrileg lög. Ég hef ekkert á móti þessari tónlist, en hún talar svo sem ekki mikið til mín heldur.

Listened Before? N Smooth, jazzy, relaxed... very 80's. And the sound quality is amazing from this early digital recording. May revisit this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: New Frontier