This album is simply excellent - everything Steely Dan fans could have hoped for and then some. It's been my soundtrack for the new Millenium (so far). Hardly formulaic and predictable, this is intricate, complex music  that is both immediate and takes a while to sink in. Quite a neat trick  actually. Listen carefully and you will hear some new subtle jazz nuance  that you didn't hear on the previous listening. Two months constantly on my  CD changer and I haven't "memorized" these songs yet - they  continue to surprise and reward. No, it's not the Steely Dan of  "Bodhisattva" or "My Old School" (or even  "Aja") but, as Donald and Walter would probably tell you, those  days are gone forever. It's still miles ahead of their last album,  "Gaucho". The lyrics also show a lot of growth. While they can be  obscure as ever ("Gaslighting Abbie") there's a new  straightforward approach elsewhere ("What A Shame About Me",  "Almost Gothic").