Title: They Haven't Missed A Beat
Product review: The new Steely Dan studio album is in the Aja/Gaucho vein, with nothing to disappoint, and nothing to surprise. If you like Becker and Fagen, you've already placed your order; if you're just curious about them, I'd suggest starting out with more vintage material (recommended: Countdown To Ecstasy and Royal Scam), and work your way to this one. For those of us who've heard it all, we now have nine new songs that haven't yet been absorbed by the Muzak Corporation; most on the strong side (the losers: "Gaslighting Abbie" and "Janie Runaway"), and at least one, the title track, a classic. All the Steely Dan earmarks are here -- subtle hooks, cynical lyrics, tasty guitars and horns -- which will likely lead many to rediscover the best American band of the seventies. I hope I won't have to wait another twenty years to hear new material.A welcome return, unlike most other "reunion" albums that have found release in the past decade. These guys still sound fresh.
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