Customer Reviews

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature - DTS 5.1

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

If you've scrolled down the page this far, it's obvious that you're a Steely Dan fan and you, therefore, don't require a long-winded biography of this most unique band and its principal founders, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker. You already know they write great songs with memorable hooks, fascinating lyrics, and keen, jazz-influenced harmony. And no doubt you know that their latest studio album, "Two Against Nature," is their first in nearly twenty years.

This extraordinary video concert, taped at Sony Studios in New York this past winter and now available on VHS and DVD, was first presented by PBS Television as an installment of its "In The Spotlight" series. I purchased the DVD and it is remarkable in terms of both the performance and the overall production.

If you've seen the PBS version, be advised that the DVD offers essentially the same program, only with few more interview segments, rehearsal footage and short clips of Becker and Fagan humorously interrogating various friends and band members. It also includes an energetic performance of "FM" edited out during my PBS station's pledge week, perhaps to allow more time to pitch tote bags and umbrellas.

The old songs like "Kid Charlemagne," "Pretzel Logic," and "Babylon Sisters" sound better than ever. And the new material is superb as well. Thankfully, the concert is produced without the usual obligatory special effects that so often make concert videos annoying. It simply looks and sounds great.

While you're waiting for the Steely Dan tour to hit your town this summer, this DVD will have to do it the meantime. And it will do just fine.

After the VH-1 "Storytellers" edition featuring Steely Dan, I honestly didn't have too high hopes for this DVD. "Storytellers" left me wanting for better sound (of course...TV, what could one expect? ), and quite frankly, something that didn't smack of simply "PR" for the new disc. This disc, however, laid all fears to rest. From the opening moments of "Green Earrings", I knew this one was a true winner. This disc features "bang-on" performances from the entire ensemble...no slackers in this crew. Where do they find these guys, anyway? Is there some top-secret underground facility that cultivates and raises top-notch session musicians for Becker and Fagan's private stock? Hmmm..... Sound-wise, there are three choices of mix: Dolby Digital 5.1, which seems to be the most balanced; DTS 5.1, which features far better separation of channels, but typical "overdone" bass; and 2- channel PCM Dolby Stereo. The folks at Digital Theatre Systems (DTS) seem hell-bent on demonstrating the extended headroom DTS is touted to offer over Dolby Digital by trying to blast viewers out of the room with bottom end. While it works wonders for movies such as "Saving Private Ryan", it really is overkill here. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is well-balanced, and just about as good as it can get for a live performance. Highly recommended for Dan Fans!

Oh, if only they could have separated the interviews! The music portion of the DVD is great but every song is followed by a goofy interview. I found this very distracting. Also, the video footage of the concert is a bit too "modern" for my tastes. Funky camera angles - in one shot the bottom 1/4th of the screen shows the heads of the background singers will the upper 3/4ths of the screen shows the top of the soundstage! Huh? Also, the lighting is distracting. Fagen's face is usually in shadows. Finally, the dts mix was so heavy on subwoofer, the furniture started to move and my dog barked. Dolby 5.1 sounded much better.

In sum, I'm glad I bought since I have everything Steely Dan, but I wish they spent the time to allow an option to watch the concert straight through.

Steely Dan is on the short list of musical artists who have created a distinctive, textured approach that retains its freshness amid the constant shifts in popular music tastes and styles. The video shows that even after nearly three decades they are able to maintain a creative edge without overhauling the "jazz-rock" blueprint best heard on the albums AJA, THE ROYAL SCAM, and TWO AGAINST NATURE. To my delight, the 5.1 digital mix gives the rhythm section a funk-jazzy wallop ala late-period Miles Davis or Marcus Miller. Yet the subtleties of the lyrics, melodies, harmonies, and clever arrangements aren't sacrificed by the punchier mix.

Fagen and Becker have done an excellent job of selecting musicians who are disciplined in the right way--avoiding superfluous, cliched gestures while maintaining a controlled looseness and vitality. The rhythm section is fluid, the horns tight (and able to contribute worthy solos when called upon), and the backing vocalists able to provide added textures behind Fagen's pleasantly raspy lead vocals.

Equally commendable is their choice of material--a healthy mix of tracks from their new album with some well-chosen classics that continue to inspire the level of performance that made them memorable in the first place. In-between each tune are documentary-like inserts that take the viewer behind-the-scenes. As witty and illuminating as these clips are, the music itself is so impressive that I found myself anxiously waiting for the next tune to begin.

Highly recommended to fans of Steely Dan...or anybody who likes jazz-inflected popular music that combines an rich variety of influences into something that continues to challenge and reward the listener with no end in sight.

First off let me say that I am a huge Steely Dan fan so I really anticipated enjoying this DVD. The song performances are all first rate and some like the final track (Pretzel Logic) are outstanding, but despite this Two Against Nature is not a compelling DVD purchase.

The band does not put on a very visually oriented performance (but I already knew that, I'm more interested in great music anyway) which works against the DVD medium. The problem with this package is that it fails to take advantage of the DVD format. There is no way to eliminate the interviews between cuts without hitting the remote so you're out of luck if you just want to watch the show. Also, there are no lyrics or other added features which frequently enhance DVD's. Other than superior sound and images this could have been released on videotape with little loss of functionality.

Bottom line: When I want to enjoy their music I'm more likely to turn to my CDs than this DVD.

Damn I hate intermixed interviews. I sent this DVD back because there was no way to just listen to the music and ignore all the chatter. After you've heard the chatter once, you never want to hear it again.

I bought this dvd close to when it came out. The band is amazing, including Ricky Lawson on drums, plus backing horns and vocals. Most of the tunes are from 2AN, but there are some great older tunes (Josie, Peg, Babylon Sister, FM) as well.

The audio quality is outstanding, especially the DTS track. I was thoroughly impressed by the improved sound quality when I upgraded my system. The reason is the set was recorded at a sony sound studio in NY, and edited in the studio later. You can tell some things, like some of the drums had been rerecorded, but I don't think this is a bad thing, considering what we are used to from Steely Dan. You won't be dissapointed when you hear how good it sounds. Some of these versions rival the originals.

As far as what I didn't like, this was promotional for 2AN, and there is an accompanying documentary. The problem is that it has been spliced between songs, making the concert less fun to watch. You have to press fwd chapter to get to each next song. Other than that annoyance, this would be 5 stars.

This DVD is for Dan Fans - tracks are...
Green Earings
Cousin Dupree
Bad Sneakers
Janie Runaway
Josie
FM
Gaslighting Abbie
Black Friday
Babylon Sisters
Kid Charlamane
Jack of Speed
Peg
What a shame about Me
Pretzel Logic

The production quality and sound through a good system is superb and if you like the Dan you will truly love this DVD.

They should have cut the DVD to allow the tracks to be played with out the between track dialogue - after a few playings these get tedious.

The Dan are pure technicians and for fans it'll be brain fry stuff, for non fans not so sure.

In addition to the redoubtable Fagen/ Becker duo notable performances are by Cornelius (brain fry) Bumpass on the Sax -, Ricky (in awe) Lawson on the Drums, Jon (pure technician) Harrington all 3 are nothing less than amazing.

If you are reading this the balance of probability is that it will work for you.

Wholeheartedly agree with all the accolades being deservedly heaped onto this DVD. I also agree with some regarding the awkward camera angles and the video presentation in general. I saw SD live on their "2vN" tour this summer, and the ambiance (through the stellar production and lighting) was sadly missing in their performance here on the DVD. The DVD was recorded at Sony Studios NYC, so I imagine they worked with what they had--but couldn't they at least have avoided those shots up Donald's nostrils? (--like the "opposite of an aerial view?")

Quibbles aside though, the incredible SOUND is what I really wanted to comment on here. I can't disagree more with some that have criticized the DTS or even the Dolby 5.1 sound, because on my system especially in DTS it truly sounds as close to a live performance-in-an-intimate-setting as it gets. I was truly blown away by it. When the sizzling, samba beat opening to the title song comes pumping through the speakers my heart starts to soar and then I know I'm in for a real treat. Easily the best sounding music DVD in my collection. Even the Dolby 5.1 sounds great, though not as lush as DTS. I only wish they had done the Aja DVD in digital audio also (btw, a great companion DVD to this one).

Oh yeah, congrats to the boys on the 5 Grammys and the pending R n'R Hall of Fame induction. And all it took was a new millenium and a new album to finally get a little well-deserved recognition!

The Two Against Nature - a video accompaniment to the album of the same name - attempts to be half-documentary-half-live-concert but strangely fails to be either. Documentary-wise Steely Dan fans should check out the slightly better Classic Albums Aja movie, where an animated Dan duo talk us through the making of that seminal recording. The prevailing mood in Two Against Nature is fatigue and lack of inspiration. The live performance is immaculately staged but the sound is thin, the performances lack spark and Donald Fagen is not in good voice. Walter Becker plays some tasty guitar but is not exactly Jimi Hendrix when it comes to showmanship or stage presence. In fact, given that the Dan aren't really a sensational live band at the best of times, putting a made-for-the-studio live performance on the DVD is a questionable move from the start. The camera team shows plenty of enthusiasm for the backing vocalists (girls, attractive), zooming in on them whenever possible, perhaps to add a touch of showbiz glamour that is otherwise conspicuously absent. The documentary footage consists of Fagen and Becker attempting to interview their musicians but doing all the talking, dull-as-dishwater rehearsal footage (in black & white for added `authenticity'). Nothing wrong with the musicianship, however, with the entire ensemble playing with panache and skill to a man. Although not an unmitigated disaster (Fagen and Becker are funny guys in real life), this is a project that could have been so much better. The set list is, unsurprisingly, culled mainly from the Two Against Nature album, with a few oldies thrown in (Babylon Sisters, Peg, Green Onions, Kid Charlemagne) but none surpassing their studio versions. In short, this is a long-overdue DVD but seems to have been be executed by people who have been making too many documentaries about prisons. It's not very rock n' roll in other words. Two Against Nature is unlikely to win the band any new fans, and indeed will probably try the patience of many existing Dan enthusiasts. The ultimate Steely Dan DVD remains to be made.