Despite the gentle, lilting, calm nature of this music, I can't help but get excited as I listen to it.  It has been such a long wait for this record--a dangerous situation, since expectations can run so high.  Amazingly, though, Walter and Donald did everything right.  The songwriting  is right on (it's amazing how well these two complement each other, whereas  I tend not to like the songwriting on their respective solo material).  The  playing is right on.  The sound and the mood are just what you're looking  for in a Steely Dan record.