The first thing that struck me about Two Against Nature was that it sounds an awful lot like Donald Fagen's last solo work, Kamikiriad.  Not that that's a bad thing, but I was hoping for a little more Steely-style rock in  the mix.  Those days are apparently gone.  The rhythm tracks are, as  always, well-manicured and dense.  The lyrics are typically smug, and the  musicianship is at the level we've come to know, love and expect from all  Steely-related projects.  There are some good funk licks and a lot of  smooth jazz, just no real show-stopping tracks on the entire disc.  I rate  Almost Gothic as my favorite here; the brass and sax textures and the warm  melody recall Aja-period Steely.  Gaslighting Abbie, which leads off the  set, features great funk basslines and some memorable harmonies.  What a  Shame About Me tells a great story about meeting up with an old flame, and  Cousin Dupree has Fagen drooling over his suddenly grown-up childhood  playmate.  It's nice to have new stuff to listen to.  All in all, not the  best Steely ever, but I'll take it.