Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Donald s'est pris pour Stevie Wonder sur tout l'album et ça a très bien marché sur moi. Coup dur pour Stevie qui après avoir été enfermé dans la cave de Robert pendant des années est aujourd'hui enfermé dans son studio dont la seule issue est bloquée par les griffes d'Eddie Mitchell.
Je suis en train de préparer une attaque informatique de très haut niveau afin de pousser les serveurs du générateur au crash. Je suis prêt à tout pour me débarasser de ces 1001 albums qui me pourrissent la vie.
If that album had to be summarized into one little thing, it would be the chorus of the title-track, a parody of the sort of jingle you often hear in soft-rock / lounge pop radio stations. The effect of such a trick is unmistakably evocative for the listener. Yet at the same time, the line between earnestness and postmodernist irony is somewhat blurred: it all comes from the *pitch-perfect* manner the recreation of that sort of jingle sounds, as if Fagen was here patenting the template of all the other cheesy jingles of soft-rock radio stations that would grace the airwaves for many years to come. The thing is, where is the line between "functional" and sincere music when you do something like that? Donald Fagen, having just decided with Walter Becker to call it quits regarding Steely Dan, was in a decidedly strange place in 1982. The neurotic perfectionism that had mired the sessions for *Gaucho* had taken its toll on him, and yet here he was, being *even more* perfectionist for his first solo LP (see that Wikipedia article about how complex those sessions recorded through nascent digital technology were). The end result of this neurosis would be a long-lasting depression that would see Fagen sit out the rest of the eighties. Quite ironical given how Steely Dan had anticipated some of that decade's most striking musical aesthetics, for better or for worse. Likewise, the intent behind the songs' themes and lyrics on *The Nightfly* is rather ambiguous. Fagen said he used as little irony as he could for the lyrics of this record. But the former Steely Dan just can't help blurring that other line, it's a second nature for him. When the lonesome protagonist of the title-track, so aptly represented through the record's wonderful cover, takes calls from lunatics in the middle of the night, the irony of the situation quickly catches up with him: "Thanks for calling / I wait all night for calls like this". Tell me that's not *irony* about the modern means of communication, Donald, even if said irony is not used for cynicism's sake, and only to depict a very personal take on the looniest examples of the "American" mindset, which actually hearkens back as far as to the singer-songwriter's childhood, when he felt as isolated as that grown-up, titular "Nightfly". Those themes may be loosely considered as "autobiographical", it's true (Donald listened to those sorts of radio shows as a teenager). Yet the way they're handled here does not suggest the mood of a *confessional* record. It's first and foremost "biting", to use the effect that Fagen wanted to avoid when writing those songs. Speaking of that thin line between confession and the irony that might prevent it from happening, the true heart of the title-track is not its chorus, by the way: it's its bridge, where Fagen enters the mind of the titular "nightfly" the tune is about, delving into that late night radio host's dejected thoughts about how lonely and depressed he feels. A lot of the album is actually about that: loneliness and feelings of alienation. At first glance, the opener "I.G.Y." may sound like an optimistic prediction of what the future would look like from the fifties' vantage point, but the fact that this dreamland future filled with space stations and express shuttles under the Atlantic never came to pass brings another layer to those lyrics. The song references '76 as the year all those things should have happened happen--but by 1982 you knew there was no way that future could occur in the short-term run. As a result of this discrepancy between dream and reality, it's the alienation and self-delusion of the song's narrator, here feeling way too optimistic, that ends up striking the listener. And just as other reviewers pointed out, such discrepancy is cruelly underlined by how crisp and glossy the digitally-recorded music sounds. That track, just like the rest of the album, sounds nothing like the fifties. And as a consequence, the nostalgia that is diplayed here sounds like a simulacrum of sorts. Rarely elevator music has been so "weighted" by so many contradictory affects. Except in a Steely Dan record, of course. Alienation is also a theme that runs throughout "New Frontier", whose protagonist attempts to seduce a girl in a fallout shelter, of all places. See also "The Goodbye Look", about an American expatriate living in a foreign seaside resort who realizes he's not relevant there anymore. And irony is strong in "Walk Between Raindrops", Fagen's version of "We'll Meet Again". When you're done listening to the album, the conflation of those picturesque vignettes is nothing short of bitter. This would not neccesarily be a problem had it been Fagen's original plan. But when you read that said plan was to record an album that would be both more "innocent" and straightforward than the LPs Steely Dan had released so far, one wonders if Fagen didn't botch the whole thing somehow. And if this is the reason why "The Nightfly" sounds so unsure in its overall intentions... What about the music, then? Well, just like for most Steely Dan albums, it took me a few listens to go beyond the layers of cheese, and so appreciate how affecting some of the vocal parts, arrangements, instrumentations and jazzy chord successions can be sometimes. Not that those flourishes always work for the best, though. As a matter of fact, and apart from opener "I.G.Y.", the first side of this record still sounds like a huge borefest to me, and I don't even really have the energy to quote the names of those duds--I just know there's an inconsequential cover of a Leiber/Stoller-penned song, plus that oh-so-terribly lethargic ballad, "Maxine", whose jazzy modulations sound so forced and "calculated" that the whole thing comes up as a void and uninteresting *exercice de style* (a threat that looms over all Steely Dan's albums, to be honest--but here exacerbated to the umpteenth degree). Side two, with all those other tracks I've already mentioned in my review, fares musically better in comparison--from the New Wave-influenced (?) synth rhythm patterns of "New Frontier" to the enticing marimbas of "The Goodbye Look"-- even if the record's glossy production values and pristine multi-tracked performances have a potentially "stifling" effect as well, even on the good songs (once again, a potential drawback for all Steely Dan LPs). So here we go. I like the overall "concept" of this record, as ambiguous as it is. I love the cover. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the album works, and that everything in it is "essential", far from it. I'm not gonna echo Steve Albini's harsh words against Steely Dan. But I can understand why someone like him, with very different requisistes when it comes to musical aesthetics, can feel so much contempt for this type of music. My position towards the Dan and Fagen is far more benevolent, I imagine. But it's not because I try to keep an open mind that I'm gonna be sold on *everything* those guys ever did. Thanks for listening to me here. I know you don't necessarily "wait all night" to hear stuff like this. But I appreciate you took the time to listen, though. 😉 We're all "alienated" to some sort of degree. Yet even when you're tackling those topics, the best you can do is to say something that can feel honest, lively or interesting about it. I don't know if I succeeded here. All I know is that, *to me* Fagen only succeeded doing this in *discrete* part of this LP, and not during the whole thing. 3/5 for the purposes of this list (8/10 for more general and "objective" purposes: 5 + 3). Number of albums left to review: 567 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 209 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 102 (including this one--even though I doubt there will be any room left for it at the end). Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 126
Interesting sound, but kind of forgettable.
One of the plenty go-to albums for audiophile geeks, The Nightfly represents something new for one-half of one of the more divisive duos in music. Using his childhood as inspiration, Donald Fagen explores new terrain whilst keeping a grip on his perfectionist tendencies and mostly succeeds in that regard. Like most of the Dan's material, whatever opinions come which way, it is streamlined and handed with a delicacy and finesse that only Fagen has and this album deserves whatever praise it can gather. Favorites: I.G.Y., Ruby Baby, New Frontier, The Goodbye Look.
J'ai liké la première
encore un album qui se demande ce qu’il fait la
Straight forward Fagen, not great and not horrible... 🤷
Feels like I'm just listening to more Steely Dan, which isn't necessarily a bad thing or a good thing. I guess I wanted something more than what I got. This was fine and easy enough listening, but nothing was striking about it.
There are differences in this music and that of Steely Dan, but I can't imagine they are notable enough for a casual fan who hasn't heard this album and would need to hear it may notice. Like Steely Dan albums, this is not a bad album and is perfectly constructed with nary a missed note in the studio. The lyrics are slightly less obtuse than those on Steely Dan albums yet are wry enough to make legions of money managers chuckle silently as they are reminded of how smart this music makes them feel because they get the reference. Every bit of feeling has been wrung out of the music in an effort to ensure the perfect sound has been achieved. I enjoyed the back half of this album more than the front half, as it seems like it is the less sterile side. While I do like Steely Dan, I can't seem to figure out why this album would need to be heard by music listeners. It's well done. It also doesn't feel like as much of a departure from Steely Dan's superior music as it claims to be.
Sounds just like steely Dan!
There are a couple good tunes on here, but generally feels like hollow Steely Dan.
This is as good as any of the other Steely Dan records we've listened to. I was surprised again by how many songs i recognized.
I didn't like this nearly as much as I like the Steely Dan albums I've heard and have rated here. It was fine, but I don't see a time I would choose to listen to this over one of the better options.
This album was like a bias test for me because I’m not sure if I went from “this is bland, inoffensive yacht rock” to “this is pretty mellow and fun” because the tracks started to get better or because I realized that this guy was one of the founders of steely Dan after about 3-4 tracks. Looking back though I still found it somewhat bland the same way some people (losers) critics actual steely Dan music.
Smooooooooth
Part of the Wikipedia article describes this as among the best-recorded albums of all time. This seems like such a backhanded compliment - like saying your ugly house is made of great materials, or that your new partner has a "fantastic personality." It all feels slightly like what Patrick Bateman would play after Huey Lewis & the News. Nothing to complain about but not much for me to sink my teeth into.
Some cool stuff (New Frontier is fun) but lots that was too meh
Steely Dan singer attempts a Jazz album
Nice album but not a stand out. Very smooth. Not as edgy as the cover. Dinner party music.
Jazzy, poppy, pleasant enough, and honestly a bit boring. It was like a jazz album with a dull and cheesy 80's pop beat underneath it, and I think that kinda ruined the whole thing a bit. If it had stuck to its roots and just tried to be a jazz album I might have enjoyed it a bit more. And yet in this form it manages to be overproduced and still quite dull. It's not exactly bad though, just didn't blow me away. Favourite: The Nightfly
It's cheese. Total cheese. But it's tasty, stinky, mature cheese
Very smooth, jazz infused solo album, which also bears the imprint of Steely Dan. Some good tracks, particuarly I.G.Y and New Frontier, but many of the songs border on the bland and too smooth
Mid....as I think the kids say now
Nice cover, good background music to work by
Quite enjoyable
ótima vibe, gostoso e fácil de escutar. Não é bem minha vibe, mas realmente curti a audição. Pontos altos pra "Maxine" 3/5
Fails to provide a meaningful impression.
Nice
Perfectly pleasant, but not exciting yacht rock. 3/5
easy listening artist
I wanted to like it but I’m not absorbing anything. It’s the feeling where I enjoy parts during the listening process but after it’s all done it’s gone. Highlights: -
Weder sneaky noch ein Masterpiece, wie der Kritiker vom Wall Street Journal meint, für Fagansche Verhältnisse überraschend uninteressant sogar. Gnädige drei Sterne.
It was fine
The Nightfly is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Donald Fagen - at the time a past member of the group Steely Dan. This successful jazzy pop rock album was certified platinum in both the US and the UK. It is a classic pop album from the 80's with hints of nostalgia for the late 50's when jazz was more popular. I enjoyed this album, but it didn't blow me away. However, it does have me interested in listening to Steely Dan albums.
I was kind of shocked to see the global rating on this one cause it's honestly not even bad. It's mostly calming and the instrumentals on some of the songs are pretty fun. The album cover doesn't really accurately represent the music, though. Fave track(s): Maxine, The Nightfly
Jazz pop
Nice Album but nothing special bar one song
A decent album that felt like a cookie cutter version of steely Dan given he is on half of them. Usually when people make solo stuff their music sounds a little different but Fagen stayed true to the steely Dan style which isn’t a bad thing since I like them but I found it similar to their music but not as good. 6.9/10
A personal favorite. Sounds a lot like Steely Dan, of course. New Frontier was always one of my favorites on this album, but Ruby Baby sticks with me a lot.
Yeah, not bad.
Isto jedna laganica od albuma, al de zamisli stavit takav font na album cover. Nisam znao, a i kako ću znat kad nisam previše upučen u taj bend, ali je bio član Steely Dan-a. Zapravo glavni? Ali da je prva stvar s albuma banger? To jeste tačno. Općenito zabavan, ritmičan album s premazima jazza. 3.5.
I've never listened to any of Donald Fagen's solo stuff, but am familiar with his work with Steely Dan. This is his first solo album, which was made after Steely Dan broke up. It has a lot of the same characteristics as a Steely Dan record, but doesn't have as much of the "rock" sensibilities. This record is heavier to the funky/jazzy pop rock sound, sometimes termed "yacht rock". Heavy to piano and synth as well as brass instruments. It has the ability to make the listener bob their head to the beat. Donald Fagen's vocals are smooth and layered perfectly with the funky music backing. Overall, this is a good record, not phenomenal or anything, but I didn't mind listening to it, just wouldn't rush out to buy it (I have the same feelings towards Steely Dan records... They're good, just not phenomenal). Favourite songs: I.G.Y., Green Flower Street, Ruby Baby, New Frontier Least favourite songs: The Nightfly, Maxine, 3/5
I enjoyed a lot of this. A lot of the writing reminded me of Billy Joel.
Hints of Stevie Wonder, The Police, Sheena Easton and some surprising funky bass made this an unexpected listen.
Reminds me of billy Joel, somehow has the same style and similar voice. The album is quitte easygoing and enjoyable. Nothing special but I enjoyed it. Favourite songs: - I.G.Y. - New frontier
Not a huge Steely Dan fan and this was alright; sounds very similar to Fagen's band work for obvious reasons. I recognize "New Frontier" and hadn't heard it in many years; love that this 1001 list sometimes gives you little nuggets every now and then of songs you haven't heard in forever. Very easily listen and kinda reminds me of music you'd hear in a department store. 6/10.
Some tracks worked, some didn't for me. The first few sounded almost too pretentious and corny, but I liked the last 3 or so ones
Fun little album but don't think it should be on the list. Thought it was going to be jazz but not at all.
Quirky album. Jazzy and poppy, reminds me of that "Pazz and Jop" annual poll just for the weird blend of genres. Never heard of Mr. Fagen, but he's quite alright. A few tracks on here that I dug, but nothing worth screaming about. Favorite tracks: Ruby Baby, New Frontier. Album art: Really like this picture, nails the '50s nighthawk aesthetic (better than the recent Tom Waits album I might add). Got my hopes up a little too high, but still a cool one. 3/5
Heel oud, beetje saai, 3*
3/8, 38%
Weinig opmerkingen over dit album. Was oké
It's good. Very laid back
Cool!
Not great but something a bit different.
Not bad actually, a weird vibe that I'm not particularly familiar with. Wouldn't add it to my person playlists but fine to have on in the background.
I'm not that into Steely Dan, but this album feels like the best elements of their sound and style. I guess Fagen is 99% of Steely's essence? Huh, kinda seems like why even bother going solo? This is just a Steely Dan album with only Fagen's name on it. I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would though, and that's probably because these songs are all brand new to me and haven't been played to death by classic rock radio, unlike Ricki Don't Lose The Number or Reeling in the Years have. I love this album cover, it's a spectacular photograph, it evokes a mood perfectly fitting the album title.
Soft and warm easy listening. Pop with groovy jazz elements here and there. Kind of ok, but also a bit boring
Opening song, fuck yeah! You got me, I love this sound. The 80s were the best Era. You can fight me on that. This just makes me happy!
IGY and New Frontier stand out as obviously catchy and enjoyable examples of Fagen's pop-jazz sound. Though they are definitely strong, the rest of the album blends together... nothing great but nothing bad either. Feels like background music at that point.
Strange, different, interesting, otherworldly. A true jazz-pop album - I'm not sure how to feel. Very slickly produced. There is some funk involved but sometimes it comes off a bit like smooth-jazzy "elevator music" nonetheless. Perhaps I should listen to his latest album, where after three albums he changes to a yatch-rock/R&B style. Wow that was bizarre, sometimes the vocals are like a barbershop quartet idk
Kinda groovy. Good rhythm. 3.5
Smooth and plesant but nothing amazing.
Genre: Sophisti-Pop 3/5 Donald Fagen's post-lounge epic The Nightfly, one of the first fully digitally recorded albums ever, is a perfectionist's wet dream. Sophisti-Pop, essentially a snootier take on Jazz Pop and Pop Soul, is the perfect lane for a guy like Donald Fagen to find a niche in. His earlier forays with Steely Dan had the same markings of perfectionism, but this album here doesn't have a single click out of place. Its crunchy, dissonant chord progressions, its aggressive use of double- or triple-tracking vocals, and its penchant for full, heavy arrangements, make this an interesting listen. Unfortunately, it sits in the same sonic drivers' seat for the entire project, and doesn't step outside of its neatly constructed comfort zone at all. The strenuous effort which was poured into the record is not lost. Hours of overdubbing and mixing are quite evident in the final product. The album sounds great, mixed and engineered flawlessly by the ex-Steely Dan-ites, but it doesn't make the music itself that much more interesting. Songs like I.G.Y. and the title track are both decent examples of what the genre is capable of, but is dripping in too much of itself, never becoming an engaging experience and only sounding of how proud of itself it is. The layers are each so thick and produced that it almost serves better as an example of what good production can sound like in a digital setting, but never quite reaches the "very-enjoyable album" mark. Incredibly slick, and annoyingly so, but not very exciting. Should interest those who are looking for what it sounds like to be this far up your own ass.
This album sounds good, but it doesn't feel like there's a lot to it as far as groundbreaking music goes. It definitely has some of the Steely Dan sound that Fagen was instrumental in forming. Overall, it comes off more as an easy-listening album than an album that pushed the boundaries of music in its time. It's not bad at all, in fact it's quite pleasant, but I don't see much else here. I'm on the third song and I'm already bored (update: as of song 5 I am still bored and about to give up on this album). As always, it's a super bad sign when the coolest thing about an album is its cover 3/5
Smooth and nostalgic for me.
Nightfly is a pleasant and soulful collection of intimate music. The only weaknesses are Fagen's vocals (rather unoriginal and often stretched) and the melodies (rather derivative). (6/10) FT: I.G.Y.
Not really for me but I get it.
Ah miten miellyttävä jazzahtava poppis-avausraita! Sen sijaan ainakin Ruby Baby aika itseään toistava. Sanoisin 3/5, vähän epätasainen kokonaisuus.
Agradable.
Alez wylosowalo zagadke, pierwszy solowy krazek pana Fagena, ktorego zna sie glownie z duetu steely danowego, plyta z 82, wiec rok po pierwszym rozejsciu sie w rozne strony bandy, wiec muzycznie przypomina to tworczosc grupowa, zwlaszcza ze wzgledu na to, ze wiekszosc muzykow zangazowanych w projekt the nighfly byla juz slyszana na poprzednich materialach danowych, wiec pomimo tego, ze sluchalem pierwszy raz odczuwalem lekkie deja vu, ktore sa tylko potegowane przez Fagenowe wokale, nie zabraklo takze doszlifowania, bo album ma 38 minut, a nagrania trwaly 8 miesiecy, wiec tutaj rowniez po staremu, wiec czemu nie oczarowala tak samo jak starsze wydania steely dana, zaznaczam starsze, bo reunionowe juz nie brzmia tak samo jak te z lat 70, o ile o tamtych reunionowych myslalem, ze brzmia jak taki zdziadzialy kombak z tym samym brzmieniem 20 lat pozniej, tak lirycznie to zdziadzienie juz slychac na nightflyu, ktory poza openingowym I.G.Y nie ma w sobie czegos do zapamietania, niby koncept calego krazka jako powrotu do czasow mlodosci i sielankowego zycia hamerykanskiego w cieniu zimnej wojny brzmi calkiem ciekawie, ale jego przelozenie na album nudzi, bo ilez mozna sluchac o pieknych dziewczynach w schronach i radiowcach puszczajacych jazzy po nocach, wiec nie ma tutaj typowej dla duetu aronii i przegranych opowiesci, jak teraz slucham to nawet same melodie wydaja sie byc o wiele bardziej popowo jazzowe, odchodzace od rokowo gitarowych brzmien, ktore wnosil Becker, bo The Nightfly jest wyprodukowany przez pana odpowiedzialnego za reszte dyskografii duetu, pana Katza, wiec nawet tutaj roznic nie widac, chyba ze wziac pod uwage, ze jest to jeden z pierwszych w pelni digitalowo masterowanych albumow, co pewnie tez mialo jakis wplyw na finalne brzmienie przy takim dazeniu do perfekcji dzwieku jakie Fagen zawsze idealizowal, zatem dowiedzialem sie, ze ten duet dzialal dobrze za sprawa obu panow i nikt tu nikogo nie prowadzil za nos, na plejke leci openingowy I.G.Y
Better than Steely Dan
Bouncy, inoffensive pop, just not quick got the hook to be catchy
just more steely dan tho
Slick pop. 6/10
Prefs: I.G.Y., New Frontier, The Goodbye Look Moins pref: Ruby Baby
At night I fly by albums like these
I always used to think this wasn't as good as any of the Steely Dan albums owing to its absence of extremely tasteful guitar playing. I like it more these days (and picked it up cheap on vinyl in Tokyo) but it still doesn't have enough guitars. (3.5 stars)
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, in a kind of ironic cheesy nostalgic 80s vibe.
Pop tranquilo. No destacando especialmente
Alright, very 80's American soul wallpaper.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: The gash
Very chill laid back style but it brought back memories of that time.
I didn’t mind it, I thought it was pretty pleasant listening. But I felt like it was a poor man’s Steely Dan or Hall & Oates so I was left wanting to listen to them instead.
3.5, extremely enjoyable
Mix of old skat style with 80s synth and piano
Agradable.
Completely new to me. Might be more to it on repeat listens, and I enjoyed it enough that I will give that a go, but seemed more “blandly pleasant” than “essential”?
Jazz rock que segueix la ruta dels últims àlbums d'Steely Dan, tot i que jo crec que sense la solvència que en aquells es mostrava. Un disc duret, on costa entrar, i que no sempre està a l'alçada de les expectatives
A bit too 80's but otherwise solid
Perfectly average. Good morning album, but that’s about it.
Well…. I really tried on this one. There’s only a few songs on the album and I literally listened to it 3 times today. I’ll try and give it another listen tomorrow but I just can’t seem to gel with this album. I know this is good music but I can't see me heading back to this album in a hurry.
Standards para audição única.
tämä on aight
So. Very. 80's. The fact that this came out in 82 and is so full of the sounds that defined the decade suggests a sense of prescience. The saxophone alone locks this record in time. The jazzy vocals and drums, aligned with the pop rock rhythms scream "easy listening" and "background music" in 2021. Nothing here really feels especially interesting in a modern context. I.G.Y. may be the only song that has had a broader appeal in a way that I've heard it out in the wild. However, the sound has become cliche enough for the decade that I don't know that this is a record of extreme importance. The Nightfly is where it feels like this album actually opens up. The rest of the songs are soft, subtle, and easy to hear. While The Nightly is certainly all that as well, it takes a rounder dimension and seems to fill out a bit more.
On first listen - music to be heard in elevators and whilst on hold. After listening again I am beginning to see the appeal. Still, it's too smooth and overproduced for me.
Of its time
3.8 not bad but also not quite there yet
Oh, el bass line, qué maravilla.
Had some hits and misses, decent album for the most part with some songs rating higher than others.
War bestimmt in den 80er Jahren wahnsinnig cool. Musikalische Ansätze Vorhanden
The Nightfly is lush and shimmering, produced with cinematic flair by Gary Katz; romanticized but never sentimental, the songs are slices of suburbanite soap opera, tales of space-age hopes (the hit "I.G.Y.") and Cold War fears (the wonderful "The New Frontier," a memoir of fallout-shelter love) crafted with impeccable style and sophistication.
Me sonó un poco cñores románticos. Ok el sax
It's hard not to compare this to Steely Dan which isn't fair. Good luck if your first LP has to look good compared to Aja. For the first solo album to really be a home run it should validate why you needed to leave. The music fan should see something really different in the sound (like Sting's first solo album added many instruments and a completely different sound) or should understand that you wanted to write songs that would have been out of the old band's capabilities / comfort zone (I can't imagine Roger Daltrey singing songs about Ecclesiastes in Empty Glass or I am an Animal). This album sounds like SD w/o Becker. To be sure, it's quite good but imo Fagen missed an opportunity to tap his potential in a ground breaking way - like he did with SD when they fused jazz and R&R . (Perhaps he did this lyrically and I missed it.) I'm stuck comparing this to Aja.
Silky smooth and easy on the ear (eye) if a bit saccharine and meh at times. Kai Havertz.
Vähän rennompaa menoa vaihteeksi. Ei ehkä ihan lounge musaa, mutta jotain siihen suuntaan. Ruby Baby jäi mieleen. Ihan okei, mutta ei aiheuttanut suurempia riemunkiljahduksia.
Måtte google Donald Fagen. Ikke rart siden jeg ikke akkurat er noen Steely Dan-fan heller. Skikkelige 80 tallsvibes. Kan jo være artig det, men ble litt slitsomt i lengden.
Bon jazz pop. On reconnait steely dan 3*
some great sounds by Donal Fagen here. jazz vibes and interesting lyrics. 3.4/5 for me
This was pretty cool actually
its alright
bem anos 80 the police tendo um filho com phil collins
Kind of jazzy 80's music
La música de este disco está agradable: rock-pop de los 80's con toques de Jazz, lo cual es notable en algunas canciones más que en otras. No soy particularmente fan del rock-pop de los 80's, y tampoco del jazz, pero lo volvería a escuchar sin problema y guardé la canción de "Green Flower Street", por eso es que dejo la calificación en tres. Dejando de lado la parte musical, la historia este disco me pareció muy interesante. Para aquellos que no hayan leído la historia, este fue de los primeros discos en tener un master 100% digital, utilizando algo llamado '1978 3M digital audio mastering system', es decir, una grabadora multitrack digital del tamaño de un congelador. Si hay algo por lo que este disco merezca ser recordado, sin duda es eso.
Good old Donald Fagen. Some good stuff here, sounds a lot like Steely Dan of course
Real smooth, solid listen
This was a pleasant listen. Not what I expected but I still enjoyed it - 3.5
скукотища. Как выяснилось это вокалист такой же супер скучной Steely Dan, которой тут уже послушал 2 альбома.
Unfortunately extremely boring
I sometimes felt like he just threw words together.
1) New Frontier 2) I.G.Y 3) Ruby Baby Least Favourite: The Goodbye Look
Steely Dan stripped of its good parts.
Didn’t feel this. Lots of early 80s white guy funk vibes going on. Felt like didn’t age very well.
80’s meh.
Fantastic album cover. Wish the music was this cool. Steely Dan is one of those bands I wish I could get into. I just don't get it...and this is just more of the same.
Makes me think of 80s wine bars and cocktail joints. In a bad way.
puh dunno
About as good as Coldplay
Smooth, jazzy, soft rock, with impeccable attention to detail. I happened to listen to this one on my best headphones and that was the right decision as there are guitar licks and bass riffs creeping around in the shadows that deserve to be picked out. It's not really my cup of tea in terms of style, and it faded pretty quickly into very generic 80s/90s background-to-a-sitcom type soundtrack, but an interesting listen at points.
Meh
As you’d expect from half of Steely Dan, this is great musically, with some of the best session musicians of probably all time playing on the album (Greg Phillinganes, Jeff Porcaro). But it’s just a bit dull and uninspiring. Probably a 2.5*, but I don’t think worthy of 3*.
I've not had a stellar track record with Steely Dan so far during this project, so lets see what happens when there's only one of them. A stray thoughts review: - It certainly sounds like a pop album made at the beginning of the 80's, that's for sure. - He sounds like he has a heavy head cold. - The first song being nearly 6 minutes did not please me. - This was nominated for seven Grammys?! Bloody hell. - I bet my Mum likes this. - Half way through Maxine I realised I'd stop listening because I was thinking about the Clacton by-election and how well Count Binface was going to do. - I really don't like the nasally singing. - Is that a cowbell during New Frontier? It sounds a bit like a dripping tap in my right ear. - "She loves to limbo, that much is clear" - amazing lyric. - The Nightfly - more cowbell! - The Goodbye Look sounds like elevator music at the beginning and reminded me of the Four Rooms main theme tune by Combustible Edison. It's scraping a 2/5
This is doing nothing for me. Sorry Donald
It’s just not hitting the vibe benchmark
First listen. This album is ok. There is a fine line with smooth jazz and jazz fusion that I just do not care for. This album falls just on the less desirable side of that line.
leaning further into pop than anything i've heard from Steely Dan, which could have been a good sign wrt my enjoyment of it. still doesn't do much for me after all that, though. it's too slick. i could make an omelette on this album. deserves to be one of the 1001? ehhh no
Completely meh
Going into this, the only song I knew here was IGY. And then I got a whole album of IGY.
More meh. I like Steely Dan, I like Donald Fagan, but this album did nothing for me again. Maybe this is saying more about me than the list, but I didn't find anything spectacular about this album.
.....The opener "I.G.Y." and "New Frontier" are pretty good songs. That's about all I can say about this album. This is the third time this list has given me something from the Steely Dan realm, and only Aja was really worth it. 2 to 3 good songs in a sea of beige, flavourless tracks does not a seminal album make. Sure, everything is prim and polished and every note is in the right place, but it's the insipid combination of proto-Kenny G smooth jazz and middle-of-the-road pop rock that grinds me down. I feel like I'm constantly teleporting between a waiting room and some rich snob's yacht listening to this. There are some occasional fun moments on this album, but nothing truly sticks, so most of the songs end up disappearing from my memory the instant they're done (barring the 2 big singles of course, those are, again, the only worthwhile tunes here.) This is definitely an album for the Steely Dan diehards - casual listeners can leave this one alone and just listen to "I.G.Y." and "New Frontier." However, it seems the critics from whom this list was compiled were Steely Dan diehards.... Key Tracks: I.G.Y., New Frontier, The Nightfly
This was fine. Eady listening but nothing to write home about.
2 stars only because there are worse albums on the list
Took me too long before I realized that this is the dude behind Steely Dan - which also made me realize (though I now I recall that I must have read it somewhere) that Steely Dan is not just A Dude but a band. In any case, prime example of the ract that an artist can sound like a chesp knockoff of themselves, though those are overly harsh words for a perfectly tepid fine album.
Inoffensive - but nothing particularly inspiring - not clear to me what makes this a great album
Slightly better than elevator music.
If this night flies away, I won't miss it. ★★
Pretty decent
Nobody makes this kind of soft-rock, easy-listening music anymore. That's a good thing.
As much as I like Steely Dan, this one wasn't really for me. Overproduced & without the swag that SD has. Plus, we already had the core SD discography to enjoy before this came out, and I don't think we needed virtually the same thing as a solo version. The album cover is way more interesting than any song contained within it. At least it was on the shorter side! (Also...how many girlfriends does this guy have? Two songs back-to-back about two different girls is kinda wild.) Favorite tracks: The Nightfly
Didn't do anything for me. Gave up on it.
Every friend and acquaintance that is a musician respects and likes (or loves) Steely Dan. They rave about the “production” and “arrangements” I can certainly hear the crispness here, but it just does nothing for me. I know this isn’t Steely Dan, but if this is what I’m in for, I am not looking forward to it
Mweh
flaccid
My God I hated this at the start. It started to grow on me after a few tracks but it’s not one I’ll rush to revisit. Top Track - The Goodbye Look
Album 100, and I'm treated to B grade Steely Dan leftovers (and sadly it's the best thing the generators fed me today). I have heard this album probably dozens of times, but it's been a while, so I'll give it one more fair spin. The title track takes a chorus that feels like a station tag from an old radio station: “WJAZ, with jazz and conversation from the foot of Mt. Belzoni”. To some degree this is a framework in which the whole album fits. In others it's a framework in which Donald Fagen's entire oeuvre fits. There may not be a better way to explain Steely Dan, and especially this album, than that it sounds like the station tag for some independent smooth jazz radio from the 80s. How you feel about an entire album or catalog of songs that sound like the interstitials where you learn the call letters of your local station is obviously gonna be your feeling about Fagen's output. Donny has never felt smarmier to me than on the Nightfly. You can almost smell the ashtrays and the hair oil. If you didn't know this is technically what all of his work sounds like, you'd be tempted to think it was a parody. What the title track does for radio, IGY does for sitcom intros. It's the sort of music that makes people think they hate jazz, and without Becker there to tear a proper solo here and there, that smooth banality is something the tracks really lean into. The slickness is almost all there is. Empty though that leaves the songs, it is simply too composed to be rated too poorly. It continues to leave me cold, but there's no blatant misstep, except for not liking Fagen's songwriting, his vibe, his everything. So do I rate from an unbiased place, or do I give this a 2 and move on? I think it gets the 2*. I can be more generous with the more nimble and diversified Steely Dan stuff, but this just feels like citypop without the charm and then the sludgy sleepy chord changes of Maxine. The least generous I'm apt to be is with albums that don't deserve their place here.
I’ve never really liked Steely Dan, but some of it’s not bad. This however is. It’s cheesy easy-listening jazz hands stuff. Fagen’s vocals aren’t bad. But I just think this annoying as hell. Sorry.
Yawn rock.
This cover art is so cool. This album is anything but…it’s Yacht rock at its worst.
A bit more Jazz than Steely Dan. Pleasant enough but a bit meh.
Couldn't get into this. It was soft, but felt like elevator music to me.
I could never get into Steely Dan, regardless of talent. Looks like the same goes for part of Steely Dan. I think I just really don’t like yacht rock.
Man wow not that good. I don't really understand how this could have made it on the list. I tried to have my partner end the album early and she was like 'it's only 8 songs' and for me, that is 8 songs too many.
It reminds me of the music I would skip when I was a rebelling teenager. But I’m a responsible man in the middle of my fourties now, so it’s kind of nice to listen to. Buuuut I am not able to listen throughout without the need to listen to something with an edge. This really does not have any edges
I tried. I'm not sure why I tried so hard, but I just don't get it.
This album is so corny. Disco and Funk influence mixed with 80's jazz is not my thing.
Listening too easy. Far too easy. Not what I want when I want energy. Not what I want when I want mellow.
A solid 3 I guess. Some Songs I knew so that helped. Not really my thing but wouldn't walk out of a restaurant if this was what was playing!!
Tried to get into this but ultimately found it boring. Just not my thing. Didn’t hate it though. 2/5
Rough listen for me. So goddamn boring. Like Steely Dan without the hooks and great instrumentals that make the Dan good. Just hits me as soulless and too smooth. Music for comatose suburbanites.
I forgot to wrote a review and when I came back to write it I forgot what the album sounded like.
Musically this lacks diversity.
Sometimes when an artist goes solo, it’s to pursue a sound different from what they were doing with their band. Such is the case with the likes of John Lennon and Peter Gabriel, for example. Then there’s this guy. More Steely Dan. Maybe his bandmates were tired of his direction?
It was ok. Nothing bad, but nothing that really interested me Standout song New Frontier
"What if we did Steely Dan without anything that makes Steely Dan good" - Donald Fagen probably. Fagen commits the cardinal sin of many bad albums on this list, he is incredibly boring. Getting through this album was a slog, which is extra surprising considering its 39 minute runtime. 2/5
Flauwe koffie op een nuchtere maag.
1,6/5
So smooth nothing stuck to the brain
Pound shop Stevie Wonder.
2 stars Competent lounge music I’d never listen to on my own.
Didn't get it, kinda boring.
Rating: 3/10 Feels inoffensive and also mildly insufferable at the same time to me. Technically well made but I will never remember I listened to this
Best Song: Ruby Baby "You know what is missing in this world, 1980s smooth jazz and pop music," said no one ever. This is over produced and obnoxious. I only gave it a 2/5 because it isn't musically bad, just the concept and production are terrible. 2/5.
Ah, I thought it sounded familiar but didn’t realise Don was part of Steely Dan until I read his bio. Not terrible for its time but not going to be added to my regular rotation
Прослушал и забыл. Это было похоже на рок?
It's over produced and bland throughout. It sounds pleasant enough, but there's nothing which really speaks to me on any level. The last track did actually annoy me though, on a fundamental level.
Bland
Dynamic 80s American pop that appeals primarily to psychopaths I think. The bouncy inoffensive sound just feels a bit fake and sinister. Really wants to be known as jazz pop but there aren't any interesting ideas here. Does sound like the sort of thing the guy from Steely Dan would think is a bold solo record.
This is fine I suppose, plods along, nothing outright bad about it, just really not very exciting. Shan't remember it. 2.5
Boring. People who like this probably think mayo is spicy.
Not for me.
I respect donald fagan but I cannot stand this hyperglossy and overproduced type of 70s and 80s whatever it is. Ive already had 3 other steely dan records. Whats the point of this. We get it.
I think I just gave this album the Goodbye Look!
Tylsää, mutta harmittoman kevyttä hissimusiikkia. Ei tämä varsinaisesti huono ollut, mutta en minä saanut tästä yhtään mitään irti.
I am not quite as scruffy as I used to be, but this sound is still too squeaky clean for me
Another questionable 80s album that sounds like the flurry of 80s albums
Also very generic 80s sounding.
Man I really hated this album. It had brief moments where I didn't absolutely hate it, but man, they were few and far between.
..
Not for me.
There are some nice melodies on the album, but because of the dominant 80s sound, the music doesn't really grab me. I'd much rather listen to the old Steely Dan albums.
Meh. This Jazz-pop album from 50% of the brains behind Steely Dan sounds just as I’d expect. In a vacuum, it could pass for Dan because of Fagen’s distinctive vocals (sound, phrasing, and writing) and overall musical tone - but it’s all around just not quite as good. The highs aren’t as stunning (though there are some good melodies and musical moments), and the rest just kinda fades into the background.
Not bad, but kinda grating
Kinda torn with this album. I like jazz a lot, but The Nightfly is kinda missing like… some sauce. Some parts really hit. Most of it is just kinda.. milk toast. *Coming back to this review as I make my rating in the evening* I've learned that this is genre is called Yacht Rock. It feels like it's missing something. I'm not into it.
I like Steely Dan, and I also like some of his solo stuff. This, however, seemed to be the same song on repeat.
I had not listen to his solo career and I must admin the album sounds very good but despite that, I would rather have most of Steely Dan's discography before this. 7/10 [DROP]
This was painful
Boring soft rock that can be played in the background at a store or restaurant but not actually enjoyed.
Back in 1915, Malevich painted something called Black Square. Which is a highly respected piece of art that had deep meaning, but visually was literally just a black square. This is so polished and intending to have meaning, but it is as musically interesting to look at as Black Square. Which I suppose is high cultural praise, but still is bland to observe.
Soft rock, gross
Dated. And too much “talking” singing. Not for me
You can't fool me! This is just more Steely Dan!!
Begins and I thought it’s got a nice smooth sound. By the end the absence of sharp edges meant I barely noticed it was on. I guess it has succeeded on its own terms.
Not bad, but boring and forgettable
Stereo flop
I liked this, enjoyable jazzy pop vibes. Just somewhat forgettable? Wont necessarily listen more than twice
Immaculate, dead inside
This is Wii Sports music. Favorite track was The Nightfly. I almost like it but it’s just short.
This guy's name is offensive, it should be censored! In all seriousness, this album is so sterile you could bring it into a heart surgery. Dull.
Debut solo album. Rock / Pop. Whilst there isn't really much wrong with this album in many ways it's still as middle of the road and safe as can be. There's no edge and not much depth with some pretty standard tropes and themes.
Pretty bland overall. I enjoyed the opening track but the rest seemed to all blend into one big ball of 'meh'.
Easy listening instantly forgettable 80s-by-numbers. A bit of brass, smooth vocals, falsetto harmony backing vocals, some oohs, some ahs, plinky keyboard, funky bass lines, cheesy lyrics. Winebar muzak. Manhattan Transfer but even less interesting.
2/5 for sounding like it came from the early 80s, because it does. I really don't enjoy stuff like this.
For some reason I had assumed from the cover that this was like Donald Fagen going post-punk or something? Unfortunately, it's literally just more Steely Dan, and that's not something I really need in my life.
This is not a top anything it was just another album on its era. Nothing really pops out sounds like all the groups from those years.
Boring lowk but the album cover got aura
Ihan ok. En tainnut kyllä huomata kun levy loppui ja satunnaissoitto meni päälle. 2,25/5.
Kinda meh
This was pretty soulless lounge swing music. Not awful but did absolutely nothing for me.
Another agreeable enough listen, but one that leaves next to no lasting impression. A slightly jazzy soft rock type of album, there were occasional bouts of instrumentation that did pique my interest, owing to the crystal clear production allowing them to pop. Otherwise, I'm struggling to note down much else.
Never heard of the guy , soft non descriptive pop to me and leaves me a little cold unfortunately,
It's alright. Nothing groundbreaking, standard yacht rock. I didn't hate it.
Fagan on his solo career here ain't bad but The Nightfly is lacking something...probably Walter Becker. "New Frontier" is top track although a little long. "I.G.Y." is pretty good too. Not sure the song holds up though with the current world status and future outlook. I'll stick to the Steely Dan years...2.17 stars.
Way too smooth. This is background music in a shopping mall.
Boring
Started strong with I.G.Y and then turned into elevator music Fav song: I.G.Y
This was pretty bad I think. Excellently performed, mixed, and mastered, but it's really just Steely Dan without any of the really impressive instrumental bits and songwriting. I think maybe the most "innovative" part of it is the chord progression in "New Frontier", but even that is fundamentally simple, just gussied up with suspended chords and a couple of off beat jumps. It'd be sort of embarrassing being caught listening to this because it's fundamentally really cheesy stuff. I'm too young (wow!) to have been around when this was pop music and it all sounds like an 80s cocaine binge before that was really out in the open. Like some wall street criminals just hitting their first big score and partying on the yacht one of them just bought.
Never heard any of these songs before. Pretty corny sounding style of yacht rock/jazz rock but interesting lyrics and subjects. It was fine background music and catchy at times, not hard to listen to but easy to tune out of, for me. Nothing made it onto the playlist and I wouldn’t revisit it.
Just tremendously boring. It's tightly played and well-produced, but that's like saying someone expertly cooked plain chicken and rice with no seasoning. I wouldn't think to turn it off in the background, but if I wanted to actually listen to music, I would never leave it on.
Technically it sounds good I just didn’t vibe with it as much as I thought I would after the first song
Audio nerds will tell you it's amazing
This is the kind of music for people who want others to think they like music, but really they don't.
I could see myself liking this album one day. It has a fun groove to it, but as of listening to it today it isn’t an album I see myself intentionally putting back on to listen to. The track Nightfly is a pretty fun song that is emblematic of the album as a whole.
Surely, there’s got to be better music out there? It just exists, nothing sticks out in any way
dude come on
2 cheesy 4 me
This brings me no joy
Why is it I always think of Oliver Twist when I hear this name? Can’t get ‘Gotta pick a pocket or two’ out of my head now thanks to this selection. Thing is I prefer that than most of what’s served up on this album. 2/5 20/11/25
This sounds like a Sting impersonator singing b side Huey Lewis and the News songs. With this, I just can’t. What is this? Why is it here with the likes of Dark Side of the Moon and the White Album? I’m glad it’s only 8 songs. What’s not a glad moment is moving onto the next song before the previous one is over. It’s that bad. Like, ok, as an album separate from great albums it’s not horribly produced. It’s musically inclined. The vocals are just ok The lyrics are weak but probably suitable for an 80’s album. You could have sex to this music as long as the lady you are talking it doesn’t pay much attention to it. If she does, that’s on you Mr. Boring Pants.
[rupaul voice] WHO CARES???
Damn that kinda sucked. Just shmaltzy and stupid sounding.
Man I realized I was barely four songs in and i needed another 4 to go. I guess this isn’t for me because man it felt like a chore and a drag getting through 4 songs
I used to like this. I used to like Steely Dan, too. Now, not so much. With Steely it may be over exposure on all the radio stations. This one just didn't age well.
Starting from song #1: oh, that’s where half those songs came from when I was working at Rite Aid!
Not really my thing. How did this get on the list? Pretty forgettable.
Fine to have on in the background but this one didn’t grab me in any way
Pretty cheesy soft rock. Banal. A frankly generous 2 stars.
maybe an album you need to hear before you die if you’ve never heard yacht rock?
idk who did it first, donald or steely dan, but i don’t care
Naja
Would enjoy more on a summers day!
Noodling along
one of the worst parts of growing up is watching your friends become steely dan fans
meh...
There’s something about this era/style that just is so hokey to me. The keyboards and synths just make it hard to take it seriously.
Not my vibe. Lots of soft rock, synth piano, and sax sounds. Oh. It's the Steely Dan guy - no wonder I didn't like it.
This was interesting, very 80s, really liked one track. Late 2s.
This grew on me like a tumor. I started feeling nothing, but over time I really hated it. Close to a 1. I see this is the singer from Steely Dan, who I usually don't mind, but man I didn't enjoy this
You can really see who contributed 'that' Steely Dan sound. However, unlike Steely Dan, there's really no spark to any of these songs. No magic. Kinda forgettable.
meh, not my vibe
Very easy listening, inoffensive album. Not much really to note though and not any reason to listen to again. Briefly delves into some blues-esque riffs at points but never at length. Nothing to hate but nothing to love. Can definitely hear the Steely Dan in here. 4.75/10 (2.375/5)
Liked it in the beginning but then it turned into a Dad fest
It’s nice he could make this passion project, but sadly I don’t share his passion for mediocre jazz easy listening
These songs all sound the same. Technically good, but meh.
Soooooooft
"Dit is alsof Steely Dan in de jaren 80 is beland" zegt iemand die er verstand van heeft. Steely Dan gaf ik hier wel redelijk hoog (één keer een 5 zelfs), de 80's geef ik hier meestal vrij laag. Dit is niet echt een album waar ik van zit te smullen. Het is geen ramp om een keer aan te hebben staan maar ik vind het allemaal toch wat nietszeggend. Veel nunmmers lijken wel heel erg op elkaar. Achtergrondmuziek voor in een bepaald type kroeg. Een soort nietszeggende jazz. Lelijke 80's, maar wel vroege eighties, wat weer net wat minder lelijk is dan midden tot late 80's. Dit houdt voor mij echt het midden tussen een 2 en 3. Welke van die twee ik hier morgen ook voor uitdeel, ik zal het idee hebben dat ik fout zit.
Good yacht rock music
I've struggled to find words to properly describe my feelings about Steely Dan in three album reviews. But I think I kind of understand now. It's not just dad rock. For reasons I don't understand, it's like hearing rock from *your* dad. It's particularly embarrassing to listen to. And somehow it's actually more embarrassing when the music is kind of good. You want to try to enjoy it and be sort of proud but you wouldn't dare risk your friends catching you listen to it. What if your dad gets a fanbase and some radio play? Oh god, your friends will find out about this, won't they? Oh what now? Your dad is making a *solo* album?? Please let it not be too awful. But also, please don't let it be good either. Oh no, "The New Frontier" is actually pretty catchy but the rest is cringeworthy. Maybe he'll get bored soon and move on to some other mid-life crisis project... That about sums up my reaction to Steely Dan and Donald Fagen. It's sort of good and I'm tempted to enjoy it a little. But it's there's just something too embarrassing about liking it.
Why does this sound like if Bill Wurst made an album?
Not my jam.
I don't like this.
Too much Steely, not enough Dan. There’s just none of the lyrical punch and energy that came from Steely Dan’s work, and instead it just drifts into nondescript soft jazz territory. Fahey can’t turn the same phrases that hit so hard on their classic songs. Even if you see this as a follow-up to Gaucho, it still can’t get anywhere close to some of the skewering wit of that album’s work. A flawed, tired effort from an otherwise great songwriter.
relajado
It's okay, but not really my thing. 80's smooth jazz.
There wasn’t anything “wrong” with it, per se. it’s just that as soon as a song ended, I forgot it. Nothing about it stuck in my head.
Somehow, somewhere in a child's mind, "I.G.Y." is lodged in memory. Or rather, it was until today's 1001 Albums generator dropped. It has to be from some hazy radio airplay or maybe a dentist's office or a supermarket, as this album was never in the house. What a time to be alive. I was too young to clock that this was the man from The Dan, despite the immediately recognizable voice and an album so slickly produced the rest of it can slide right by if you're not careful. On a single listen, I'd say that'd be okay by today's standards. Maybe we should let this record recede into the past and give up a slot in the next edition of the book — or maybe it should stick around as a signpost in time, a guy remembering the optimism of his own youth before the disappointments of his later years. Time, like an LP, is a flat circle after all.
This didn't make me angry, my requirement to give a one, but it was very dull.
I recognise the cover art here. What have I heard before? It's been on my "to listen" list for years, but I hadn't got very far because I didn't like this. So thanks again to this project for getting me to take action and listen all the way through. Unfortauntely I still think this sucks. Overly clean, artificial synthesised tunes that don't really go anywhere. The title track is the best of a bad bunch by quite some margin, and it's not even good.
Did not recognize this album or artist right away, which is always fun because I have no pre-conceived notions going into it. I read that this is one of the dudes from Steely Dan, which I've never gotten into, but I know he is highly regarded. The first few seconds of IGY are very nice, and then........it just goes downhill from there. I have two major gripes with this thing and they are 1) the sound and 2) the songs. While I'm sure this record appeals to all the poor souls who can't stand an iota of noise in their music, it is way too clean for me. The sound of this record is so sterile you can eat off it. Donald Fagen must have the kind of OCD where you have to wash your hands 17 times before you know you're clean. There is not a dust mote living within 10 miles of this dude's house. I'm assuming every instrument on this record is electronic, which makes it sound like a well programmed preset on a Yamaha. And while that may work for Wesley Willis it does not work for Donald Fagen. Some songs (like dare I say it, those penned by WW) are so bad they're good. These songs are just bad, and it's because there is not an authentic note in The Nightfly's entire 39 minutes. And while I don't hate it, it is the antithesis of every strongly held musical opinion I've had since I could push a cassette into a tape deck. TWO STARS
Funk-rock oriented jazz. Layered vocals. Distinctly 80's. Not quite my style.
Didn’t hate it. Slick sound verging on sterile. Tracks blend into one another with little variation. Fagen’s voice is pretty weak and irritatingly nasal. Anodyne background music that never really engages on a deeper level. Music that arrives dressed in shoulder pads and a pair of aviator shades.
Lift music for an aging corporate bank that’s seen better days. Uses a lot of sounds that have aged poorly and haven’t retained their nostalgia factor. I don’t suspect it was particularly innovative at the time either. I’m only happy I listened to this as I was able to finally identify ‘I.G.Y’ as the track used at the beginning of Wardown’s isolated mix 119 (would recommend!) which has been bugging me for ages.
Boring
Elevator music in its purest form.
I liked the opening track, but the rest was too smooth for me, though I appreciate the musicianship. A high two.
Alternative
Hay una razón por la que no me gusta el Yacht Rock y toda esa onda suave que mezcla rock, jazz y pop. Hay otros artistas que logran esa mezcla sin hacerla aburrida. Pieso en, por ejemplo, The Sea an Cake y su disco Oui. ¿Saben qué? Mejor me voy a escuchar eso.
It feels like the kind of music that'd play in the waiting room of a therapist's office or a cheesy 80s movie intro. It's polished almost to the point of feeling sterile and there's something off about the vocals that hardly makes them sound human. The #1 word that comes to mind is "Inoffensive," and that's just not where good music comes from.
As expected the production is high on this one, a mix of soft-rock, jazz and pop. But unlike some of the Steely Dan albums this one just didn't excite me, felt very sophisticated but also just a bit too boring.
Meh