theAudience said:

The only thing i'd do differently is the track sequencing.

Planet D'Rhonda would move up to the 5 spot, after Weather in My Head.

Miss Marlene/Good Stuff is a stronger finish for my tastes.

Think i'll alter my "car copy" that way and see how it plays.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

After listening again, I have to agree with you that Planet d'Rhonda isn't the strongest finish--a rather abrupt ending. Your choices, mentioned above, would prove a stronger finish to an excellent album.

OK, it is time for my song by song review:

Slinky Thing: One of the clear winners on this album. Classic Fagen sound, but modernized in a cool way! I love the horns here, the layered vocals in the chorus, the hiphop-like beat and the guitar work troughout this song. Outstanding song, and clear evidence of Donald’s genius. 10/10

I’m Not The Same Without You: The song is great and very Nightfly-ish, but I have heard it too much for now. There is something about the drumsound that I don’t like so much. But a very neat DF song nevertheless. 8/10

Memorabilia: I didn’t like this one at first, but it has now become a firm favorite. I like the quirky synths, the trumpet, and the theme of the song. I just love it when a song grows on you like that! 9/10

Weather In My Head: I can’t really make up my mind about this one. It is a well written blues song with some nice brass and great guitar work, but a bit too traditional for my taste. Not enough altered blues, no real surprises. It could have been one of Robert Cray’s greatest hits, but I feel it sounds a bit generic for a Donald Fagen song. Still a pleasant one to listen to though. This one will probably do best as a single, it might appeal to people outside of SD/DF’s traditional fanbase, as it is quite catchy and not as quirky as most other SD/DF songs. 7/10

New Breed: An entertaining song, I like it, but it is not the best on the album. I can see myself skipping this one in the nearby future. I like the lyrics though! 7/10

Out Of The Ghetto: I don’t know the original at all, so I am pretty much new to this song. I really enjoy it, and I certainly don’t think he should have left it off the album. Especially now that I’ve read he is using this song as to ‘reclaim’ the term “ghetto” for the Jews! Great stuff… 8/10

Miss Marlene: many have said this already, but this one is probably the killer song on this album. Every part in this song makes sense, it is perfect in its execution. Beautiful propelling bass work, lovely guitar sprinkled throughout the song, excellent background singing. And these beautiful horn arrangements again, they really take this DF record to higher levels! Now if only that snare was a bit deeper in the mix. Still worth a solid 10/10

Good Stuff: If this is “filler” then give me albums full of it, what a badass groove! The verses are a bit repetetive perhaps, but that only serves to make that sweet chorus stand out even more. What a catchy and well arranged one that is, with those horns kicking in halfway! My musical partner started laughing when I let him hear this, he said rightfully that only Donald cn come up with such a smooth, catchy badass chorus. There is a nice “tropical/cocktail/brazil” sounding bridge/intermezzo in there too, I actually like it when he takes a song close to cheesy beaches. One of my favorites! 9.5/10

Planet d’Rhonda: Another track that some have labelled as “filler”, but I seemingly really like filler tracks. As far as production/sound I think this one stands out as the most beautifully recorded song of the album. And that guitar solo by Kurt Rosenthal is just fabulous! 9/10

^Nice review.

First, that's Kurt Rosenwinkel (who's a bad-ass on his own) doing the Planet D'Rhonda guitar solo.

A fine addition to the lineage of SD/DF guitar soloists/players.

That level of musical "cheese" is generally counterbalanced by some musique noir in the lyric department.
Regarding Miss Marlene (which is tied with Good Stuff as my fav cuts), who else could use bowling as the environment for a storyline and make it work so well.

Just noticed yesterday that I had the melody from Memorabilia circling around inside my head for the past few days.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

theAudience said:

^Nice review.

First, that's Kurt Rosenwinkel (who's a bad-ass on his own) doing the Planet D'Rhonda guitar solo.

A fine addition to the lineage of SD/DF guitar soloists/players.

That level of musical "cheese" is generally counterbalanced by some musique noir in the lyric department.
Regarding Miss Marlene (which is tied with Good Stuff as my fav cuts), who else could use bowling as the environment for a storyline and make it work so well.

Just noticed yesterday that I had the melody from Memorabilia circling around inside my head for the past few days.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

You are absolutely right about Kurt Rosenwinkel, my bad. This is actually the second time that I make a mistake with his surname online, it's getting somewhat embarrassing now! I will try to remember his name correctly this time, he certainly deserves it. Gorgeous tone and playing!

I have to say that the level of memorable guitar solos is back to very high standards on Sunken Condos. I am glad that guitars are so prominently featured on this album.

Memorabilia is slowly working its way into your system now, soon you will surrender, tA!!

Who the hell is Harlan Post though, he is credited for playing bass but I can't find anything about him?

funkaholic1972 said:

You are absolutely right about Kurt Rosenwinkel, my bad. This is actually the second time that I make a mistake with his surname online, it's getting somewhat embarrassing now! I will try to remember his name correctly this time, he certainly deserves it. Gorgeous tone and playing!

I have to say that the level of memorable guitar solos is back to very high standards on Sunken Condos. I am glad that guitars are so prominently featured on this album.

Memorabilia is slowly working its way into your system now, soon you will surrender, tA!!

Who the hell is Harlan Post though, he is credited for playing bass but I can't find anything about him?

Since he's not mentioned in the interview Identity posted earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be an equivalent pseudonym to Michael Leonhart's Earl Cooke, Jr..

He did mention in the interview, "I actually played some sort of synthesizer-type bass and so on."

The tracks where only "Harlan" is credited with bass, the parts are not that spectacular.

They work within the context of the song (which is all that really matters), but don't stand out (With the exception of Good Stuff, which is surprising).

Total speculation on my part.

The souvenirs of perfect doom...

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Link

Donald Fagen Talks New Album, Says Steely Dan Are Planning to Record and Tour Again

October 23, 2012

Link

Steely Dan singer/pianist Donald Fagen is back with his fourth solo album, Sunken Condos, now in stores. The multi-talented musician says this record marks something of new beginning for him, since his previously three efforts -- 1983's The Nightfly, 1993's Kamakiriad and 2006's Morph the Cat -- were thematically part of a trilogy.

"I wanted to start out clean and do something different," he explains to ABC News Radio. "I was thinking I'd just write freestanding songs that weren't really a concept or anything like that. So, I just started writing tunes."

However, Fagen admits that the songs he did come up with ended up not veering too far from the subjects and the laid- back jazzy sound, of his previous releases. "The way it turned out, it could almost be another in a series," he maintains, "because [the songs] turned out to be kind of subjective…The characters that narrate the tunes, so to speak, are not that far from myself, I suppose."

Regarding the unusual title of the album, Fagen reveals that it was partly inspired by The Sunken Cathedral, a piece by classical French composer Claude Debussy.

"It kinda works on different levels...sort of sociopolitical, considering the economic situation and so on," he explains. "Also, it's kind of a good metaphor for the way I was feeling at the time. I just had this kind of vision of these condos under water."

In addition to promoting Sunken Condos, Fagen has been busy touring with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs as the super group the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue.

The collective has a few new shows on its schedule, including concerts this Wednesday and Thursday in Hawaii, followed by four shows in Japan. Fagen says the Dukes are also discussing putting a PBS special together, and adds that he may launch a brief solo tour after the Dukes gigs, "if [the album] seems to be doing OK."

As for his day job, Fagen reveals that he and his Steely Dan partner Walter Becker are "talking about doing an album or else probably going on tour next summer."

What might the next Dan record sound like? Fagen says, "Generally speaking, my solo albums, Walter's solo albums and Steely Dan [are] in the same general area." He adds, however, that "lately, we've been talking about doing something different, but I'm not sure what that's gonna be yet."

theAudience said:

funkaholic1972 said:

You are absolutely right about Kurt Rosenwinkel, my bad. This is actually the second time that I make a mistake with his surname online, it's getting somewhat embarrassing now! I will try to remember his name correctly this time, he certainly deserves it. Gorgeous tone and playing!

I have to say that the level of memorable guitar solos is back to very high standards on Sunken Condos. I am glad that guitars are so prominently featured on this album.

Memorabilia is slowly working its way into your system now, soon you will surrender, tA!!

Who the hell is Harlan Post though, he is credited for playing bass but I can't find anything about him?

Since he's not mentioned in the interview Identity posted earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be an equivalent pseudonym to Michael Leonhart's Earl Cooke, Jr..

He did mention in the interview, "I actually played some sort of synthesizer-type bass and so on."

The tracks where only "Harlan" is credited with bass, the parts are not that spectacular.

They work within the context of the song (which is all that really matters), but don't stand out (With the exception of Good Stuff, which is surprising).

Total speculation on my part.

The souvenirs of perfect doom...

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

On another site I found out that ML has posted a video a few years back where a certain Harlan Post was referred to as the "MemoryMan", and you could see a shot of DF with a fez on. So I take it it is Donald on synthbass. He has done a great job at that!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ure=relmfu

[Edited 10/23/12 10:42am]

[Edited 10/23/12 10:43am]

funkaholic1972 said:

theAudience said:

Since he's not mentioned in the interview Identity posted earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be an equivalent pseudonym to Michael Leonhart's Earl Cooke, Jr..

He did mention in the interview, "I actually played some sort of synthesizer-type bass and so on."

The tracks where only "Harlan" is credited with bass, the parts are not that spectacular.

They work within the context of the song (which is all that really matters), but don't stand out (With the exception of Good Stuff, which is surprising).

Total speculation on my part.

The souvenirs of perfect doom...

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

On another site I found out that ML has posted a video a few years back where a certain Harlan Post was referred to as the "MemoryMan", and you could see a shot of DF with a fez on. So I take it it is Donald on synthbass. He has done a great job at that!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ure=relmfu

Cool.

You get the "Columbo Award" for fine detective work.

It's amazing he got him to do that.

Maybe DF's stipulation was, Ain't never gonna do it without the fez on.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Identity said:

Donald Fagen Talks New Album, Says Steely Dan Are Planning to Record and Tour Again

October 23, 2012

Link

Steely Dan singer/pianist Donald Fagen is back with his fourth solo album, Sunken Condos, now in stores. The multi-talented musician says this record marks something of new beginning for him, since his previously three efforts -- 1983's The Nightfly, 1993's Kamakiriad and 2006's Morph the Cat -- were thematically part of a trilogy.

"I wanted to start out clean and do something different," he explains to ABC News Radio. "I was thinking I'd just write freestanding songs that weren't really a concept or anything like that. So, I just started writing tunes."

However, Fagen admits that the songs he did come up with ended up not veering too far from the subjects and the laid- back jazzy sound, of his previous releases. "The way it turned out, it could almost be another in a series," he maintains, "because [the songs] turned out to be kind of subjective…The characters that narrate the tunes, so to speak, are not that far from myself, I suppose."

Regarding the unusual title of the album, Fagen reveals that it was partly inspired by The Sunken Cathedral, a piece by classical French composer Claude Debussy.

"It kinda works on different levels...sort of sociopolitical, considering the economic situation and so on," he explains. "Also, it's kind of a good metaphor for the way I was feeling at the time. I just had this kind of vision of these condos under water."

In addition to promoting Sunken Condos, Fagen has been busy touring with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs as the super group the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue.

The collective has a few new shows on its schedule, including concerts this Wednesday and Thursday in Hawaii, followed by four shows in Japan. Fagen says the Dukes are also discussing putting a PBS special together, and adds that he may launch a brief solo tour after the Dukes gigs, "if [the album] seems to be doing OK."

As for his day job, Fagen reveals that he and his Steely Dan partner Walter Becker are "talking about doing an album or else probably going on tour next summer."

What might the next Dan record sound like? Fagen says, "Generally speaking, my solo albums, Walter's solo albums and Steely Dan [are] in the same general area." He adds, however, that "lately, we've been talking about doing something different, but I'm not sure what that's gonna be yet."

Glad to hear that members of Steely Dan might be doing a new album. As for DF's new album, the more I play it, the more fond of it I'm becoming.A keeper!

Identity said:

Donald Fagen Talks New Album, Says Steely Dan Are Planning to Record and Tour Again

October 23, 2012

Link

Steely Dan singer/pianist Donald Fagen is back with his fourth solo album, Sunken Condos, now in stores. The multi-talented musician says this record marks something of new beginning for him, since his previously three efforts -- 1983's The Nightfly, 1993's Kamakiriad and 2006's Morph the Cat -- were thematically part of a trilogy.

"I wanted to start out clean and do something different," he explains to ABC News Radio. "I was thinking I'd just write freestanding songs that weren't really a concept or anything like that. So, I just started writing tunes."

However, Fagen admits that the songs he did come up with ended up not veering too far from the subjects and the laid- back jazzy sound, of his previous releases. "The way it turned out, it could almost be another in a series," he maintains, "because [the songs] turned out to be kind of subjective…The characters that narrate the tunes, so to speak, are not that far from myself, I suppose."

Regarding the unusual title of the album, Fagen reveals that it was partly inspired by The Sunken Cathedral, a piece by classical French composer Claude Debussy.

"It kinda works on different levels...sort of sociopolitical, considering the economic situation and so on," he explains. "Also, it's kind of a good metaphor for the way I was feeling at the time. I just had this kind of vision of these condos under water."

In addition to promoting Sunken Condos, Fagen has been busy touring with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs as the super group the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue.

The collective has a few new shows on its schedule, including concerts this Wednesday and Thursday in Hawaii, followed by four shows in Japan. Fagen says the Dukes are also discussing putting a PBS special together, and adds that he may launch a brief solo tour after the Dukes gigs, "if [the album] seems to be doing OK."

As for his day job, Fagen reveals that he and his Steely Dan partner Walter Becker are "talking about doing an album or else probably going on tour next summer."

What might the next Dan record sound like? Fagen says, "Generally speaking, my solo albums, Walter's solo albums and Steely Dan [are] in the same general area." He adds, however, that "lately, we've been talking about doing something different, but I'm not sure what that's gonna be yet."

Finally an artist admits that although they intended on going in a new direction with their latest album, when all was said and done it turned out sounding like their previous shit.

Yes, I'm talking about you Beyonce & Usher.

I'm not dissing Donald though, rather complimenting him...this album sounds tight!

After listening to the new album again tonight, I decided to revisit my favorite Steely Dan album Aja--and I am very pleased at the continuity of sound and quality overall from the new to the old...

Man...just feel like saying this tonight...whatever flack I get. Prince needs to do what DF does so well... P needs to get out of his own head and his own immediate life, start collaborating with others of his own musical calibre, and start telling stories again... Just my two cents on the spur of the late hour.

"They got a name for winners in the world/I want a name when I lose..."

[Edited 10/24/12 0:01am]

purplethunder3121 said:

...

It seems like Miss Marlene has been running non-stop through my head for the past two weeks...and it will not leave,

...

paligap said:

He adds, however, that "lately, we've been talking about doing something different, but I'm not sure what that's gonna be yet."

Gangsta rap.

Just kidding

I'm enjoying the new record, my only gripe is with the drumming in parts - but it's a fantastic record.

ForgottenPassword said:

Gangsta rap.

Just kidding

I'm enjoying the new record, my only gripe is with the drumming in parts - but it's a fantastic record.

I thought I was the only one that has problems with the drum sound in some tracks, good to know I am not going crazy! Still a great record...

he is the man

I just can't get enough of Slinky Thing!

Bought it!

..have not listened to it yet.

has anybody got this on vinyl?

it's 2 discs and awful spendy, so i'm assuming it's 45 rpm, heavy-weight vinyl?

peedub said:

has anybody got this on vinyl?

it's 2 discs and awful spendy, so i'm assuming it's 45 rpm, heavy-weight vinyl?

I don't have it yet, but I am planning on getting them coming week. They are 180 gram clear vinyls, audiophile quality apparently...

Yeah, still an awesome record. I love Fagen's story telling - especially on Slinky Thing and Miss Marlene.

ForgottenPassword said:

Yeah, still an awesome record. I love Fagen's story telling - especially on Slinky Thing and Miss Marlene.

Agreed, easily Album Of The Year for me!

funkaholic1972 said:

OK, it is time for my song by song review:

I pretty much agree with all of your review...

I think my top 3 would be:

1) Miss Marlene (boy is this a fantastic track...I've been listening it on repeat all the time)

2) Memorabilia

3) Slinky Thing (the lyrics are hilarious..."hey POPS you better hold on to that slinky thing!")

For me, "Weather In My Head" has a great theme (lyrically) but the song is too much of a generic minor blues for my taste. "New Breed" has great lyrics also, but it's a filler track. "Good Stuff" has a great hook ("better bring out the good stuff, the boss wants to party all night"), but it's not as strong either. And I agree that "Planet d'Rhonda" is a weak closer.

Great to see other Fagen aficionados in here! And thanks for the interview - fascinating stuff, and for once an interviewer who knows his shit.

I was really looking forward to Sunken Condos, and it didn't disappoint. First of all, it sounds gorgeous - warm and dry at the same time. And those horn parts are just pure bliss. Even that short bridge after the guitar solo in "Weather In My Head"...gets me every time.

[Edited 11/14/12 0:29am]

SamSamba said:

funkaholic1972 said:

OK, it is time for my song by song review:

I pretty much agree with all of your review...

I think my top 3 would be:

1) Miss Marlene (boy is this a fantastic track...I've been listening it on repeat all the time)

2) Memorabilia

3) Slinky Thing (the lyrics are hilarious..."hey POPS you better hold on to that slinky thing!")

For me, "Weather In My Head" has a great theme (lyrically) but the song is too much of a generic minor blues for my taste. "New Breed" has great lyrics also, but it's a filler track. "Good Stuff" has a great hook ("better bring out the good stuff, the boss wants to party all night"), but it's not as strong either. And I agree that "Planet d'Rhonda" is a weak closer.

Great to see other Fagen aficionados in here! And thanks for the interview - fascinating stuff, and for once an interviewer who knows his shit.

I was really looking forward to Sunken Condos, and it didn't disappoint. First of all, it sounds gorgeous - warm and dry at the same time. And those horn parts are just pure bliss. Even that short bridge after the guitar solo in "Weather In My Head"...gets me every time.

[Edited 11/14/12 0:29am]

Agreed, somehow they got the arrangements totally spot on.

theAudience said:

theAudience said:

At the moment, Good Stuff would be mine.

Sounds like it could've been written for an episode of Boardwalk Empire.

It's on!!!...

...Miss Marlene & Good Stuff



Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Just listened.

I'm in.