Customer Reviews

Everything Must Go (CD & Dvd)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After a relatively short wait since their grammy-winning "Two Against Nature," the new Steely Dan release is exactly what we have come to expect the Dan duo of Donald Fagen & Walter Becker; clean and sonically perfect arrangements with stellar musicianship, clever tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and music that keeps sounding better with each listen. There are several gems that I am apt to skip to, the most of which being the second track entitled, "The Things I Miss The Most," which features what I believe to be Fagen's best vocals among the last two albums. "Slang of Ages" is a tight little tune that features a lead vocal by Walter Becker, while sung competently, leaves the listener wondering how Donald would have handled the lead....

The most interesting track is a catchy song called "Godwhacker," that I have no idea what is about. The most I can decipher is that this Godwhacker character is one bad dude. There are no weak tracks on Everything Must Go; each entry on the album is compelling in its own way. In many ways this album seems more immediately accessible than Two Against Nature. The shame of it is that the music may not fit within the framework of most radio stations. It isn't classic rock, it doesn't quite fit in Top 40 pop, and it is likely to be seen as just outside of most jazz station playlists. This is too bad, because there hasn't been a smarter, more interesting album since, well, the last Steely Dan record...

For those listeners (like myself) who 'liked' 2 Against Nature, yet were not overjoyed by it's efforts... sit back and prepare for a nice, solid "Steely Dan" product. The reason I highlight "Steely Dan" is because "2AN" sounded more like an album of "Kamakiriad" (Fagen's last solo effort) outtakes than anything else. This album is well written, produced and performed.
While we may never hear the likes of "Aja" again... and gone are the days of Michael McDonald bellowing out layers of harmonies... Steely Dan have managed once again to produce a wonderful blend of jazz musicianship with rock and roll phrasing. Walter still has a tendency to "fill" everywhere he can with little guitar riffs (a pet peeve of mine), however his solo playing/writing is better than that on 2AN. We even get a Steely Dan first.... a harmonica solo. Highlights: The Last Mall, Blues Beach, Lunch With Gina, and Everything Must Go... All in all, a nice progression from the long awaited, and highly-anticipated 2AN.... for those who have a DVD player... don't pass up the CD/DVD combo. The DVD is quite fun.

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have done it again. They have produced a collection of slices of life in their slightly-off-center world, inhabited by losers, lovers, ne'er-do-wells, has-beens and assorted purveyors of ecstatic sadness and resigned joy. This one contains radio-ready singles ('The Last Mall' and 'Blues Beach') and last-call epics (Everything Must Go). There's one about a hit-squad targeting for the Almighty ('Godwhacker') and one about a cyber-heroine ('Pixeleen'). In short, it's everything a Steely Dan album ought to be: surprising, quirky, quixotic and a bit unsettling. The musicianship is top-shelf. There are sounds you've never heard on a Steely Dan album before. Like Walter Becker's lead vocal ('Slang of Ages'). And unlike previous recording where they have favored a track-by-track layered recording approach, this one was recorded 'live' and that lends a warm, cohesive feel to the work.

Packaged with the standard-issue CD is a DVD of 'Steely Dan Confessions'. This follows the dour duo through an aimless cab ride in Las Vegas. They meet a series of fans who seem to have stumbled into their orbit like characters from one of their songs. The twenty-minute video is entertaining and gives fans of the not-as-reclusive-as-they-once-were pair a chance to see them without their instruments, chatting about the new music.

Steely San's fans had to wait close to twenty years for their last release, the Grammy-winning 'Two Against Nature'. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers cranked out this one in just a couple of years, but the quality just shines. Enjoy a rare treat.

Attention Dan fans: the music is as wonderful as ever. The DVD is a waste of time and money. There's no "performance" music on the DVD, just Walter, Don and a selection of ladies, ostensibly kidnapped to sit between them and talk. That's not worth the 8, 9 or 10 dollars extra. (Besides, you can see all that nonsense on their web site).

Is the music their best? Well, these days, there's no such thing with them because it's all so good. And it takes a season of stereo time to be able to place "Everything Must Go" in its correct position within their repertoire.

Buy the CD, forget the DVD. That's why it's 4 stars, not 5. The DVD should have just been included at no extra charge.

PROS: smooth & warmer than 2AN, seamless, no skippers, you'll likely play it from beginning to end without picking tracks; sharp cynical lyrics glazed in comfortably-numb beats.

CONS: you've already heard this music; cleverly melded but it's low-energy and frustratingly homogenous: no stand-out tracks whatsoever, with the exception of Becker's vocals on "Slang of Ages" - ultimately a distraction, not a contribution; sax & vocal backups are the same from track to track, just crutches. Peculiar lack of dynamism - at a skimpy 42 mins.

BOTTOM LINE: will probably improve with age, if only for its nostalgic value: sounds like a ghost of what SD used to be... if that was their intention, it succeeds.

I bought this, thinking it was a dvd-a (dvd-audio), playable in 5.1 surround.
While this album DOES come in that format, this particular Amazon product is NOT the one you want, if you're looking for DVD-AUDIO!! I already own the regular CD (great album)... what I wanted was the DVD-AUDIO.
I have to return it now.

To hear Everything Must Go, I would not have believed this was Steely Dan's second album after such a long hiatus. Only a few factors, in my opinion, distinguish EMG from their earlier albums--fantastic modern sound production, more appearances by the Hammond organ than in earlier works, and lyrics applicable to the current cultural and economic situation. Otherwise, EMG is eerily evocative of their earlier works. Somehow, Steely Dan has found a formula that works and has stuck with it--they still have that classic sound, yet manage not to sound dated or uninspired. It's rather a relief, given the mediocrity that dominates the airwaves, to hear this classic band alive and well.

To me, the most immediately startling thing about Everything Must Go was the crystal clear sound production. Although their previous efforts were very nice for the era in which they were produced, never have I been able to feel that I am *surrounded* by Steely Dan, awash in their arrangements. To hear EMG on headphones is a wonderfully intimate music-listening experience. Although I love his work on prior records such as The Royal Scam, Donald Fagen's voice has less of that tinny, thin, faraway aspect. And, all of the musicians were in fine form.

Now for the album's standout tracks. Lyrically, I enjoyed "Things I Miss the Most", even though I don't think it had the most interesting music of the album. Probably one of the strongest songs of all was "Godwhacker" (which Steely Dan makes clear is not meant in attacking fashion), which benefits from both some striking riffs and solos and lyrics that make a point about hypocrisy. Musically the most entrancing for me was "Green Book", which has an absolutely fascinating chord progression--I'm not even sure what the lyrics are on this track, because I was too busy paying attention to what was going on with the music. "Pixeleen" also had amusing lyrics--but I have one very minor quibble with Mr. Fagen's delivery: I would've liked to hear him mock the "Valley Girl" inflection he's written into the lyrics a little more than he did. I also get a kick out of the title track's take on the recent corporate scandals. This is still very minor, and certainly doesn't affect the rating. There is no song I can point to as a weak track.

Lyrically, it was a wonderful experience to hear Steely Dan's talents turned towards our current society. Cynically, devastatingly entertaining as usual, they manage to lampoon some of modern society's pitfalls--but *without* engaging in personal slams as some might be tempted to do. In the current climate, I think that's quite important considering that we need go no further than the major news networks if we want to hear that kind of pitched rhetoric and mudslinging. While truthful enough, Steely Dan still gives the listener an enjoyable break from all of that.

I must admit that with the DVD, while it was extremely funny in many places, I had been hoping for something a bit more informative and perhaps a bit longer. I suggest checking out the recent article in Uncut Magazine if you are looking for something of a more informative nature. The DVD is probably worth collecting and watching a few times, but it's not something I'd bring out frequently. Because of this, I consider the CD/DVD version of EMG a 4.5, but since I think it would be extremely unfair to diminish Steely Dan's musical accomplishment (easily the more important factor), I still round up to a 5-star rating.

This album has really grown on me in the last day or so. This is an incredible effort by two of the best songwriters alive. I love the tasteful production, the tight rhythm section and re-inventions of trademark SD melodies.

It also sounds like there's more of a "band" feel on this one - more affinity between the musicians, as opposed to merely the best that money could buy. I think they've really benefited from their touring. They were fantastic in 2000, I'll bet they'll smoke on this tour. Jon Herrington is excellent - I would like to hear more of him on their studio recordings, although I like Walter's playing more on this album than Two Against Nature.

First off...I'm a big SD fan (if not the biggest). However I think that the group's latest collection of tracks failed to live up to its trademark sound of complex-yet-clever pop which blended jazz/funks rhythms with delightfully quirky lyrics. SD's music has always been somewhat of an acquired taste. As their music is generally not instantaneously accessible to everyone, it is through repeated listening that one gets to fully appreciate the distinctiveness and the engrossing nature of their music.

...which is my big problem with EMG. None of the tracks contain the unique qualities that separated SD's music from the rest. Gone are the jazzy and funky rhythms, replaced with what sounded to me like adult contemporary pop. Though I liked the song "My Cousin Dupree" from SD's previous album (I thought it nicely complemented the overall jazzy nature of the album) I feel as if EMG has been filled with 9 "My Cousin Dupree" tracks.

Every element you might expect from Steely Dan is contained in this masterpiece. Cool Jazz, vibrant blues and wonderful harmonies highlight this new offering. D.F. and W.B. surround themselves with some of the best studio musicians on the planet, all more than able to deliver Fagan and Becker's vision on this, their latest creation. It seems a little sad to me though as the message here on track 1, "The Last Mall" and track 9, "Everything Must Go" seems to have our duo saying goodbye. Is Steely Dan retiring after this new tour? I hope not? W.B.'s vocals on Slang Of Ages takes some getting used to(sounds like Lou Reed). He is good, however the song itself is so strong one has to think how Fagen would have sounded here? Becker does display his strengths in his bass playing and guitar solos. Excellent! Fagen's voice is well, classic Fagen. Awesome puctuation in "The Last Mall". I hope he hits these at Universal Amphitheatre on Oct. 1. How is the rest of the album? Buy it and listen for yourself. 5 Stars ***** Excellent. Also the DVD is a must see. "Steely Dan Confessions" is a take-off of HBO's "Taxicab Confessions" and includes one of the taxi drivers from the HBO show. Includes various women sitting in between D.F. and W.B. in the back seat of the cab as they are driven around Las Vegas. Running time is a little over 20 minutes.