Fagan & Becker have always defied expectations and gone their own way. With 2 Against Nature they continue to do so. It's interesting to note that some of the most negative reactions have come from long time fans. Perhaps  they expected something radically different. The jazz overtones and  flourishes that decorate 2AN are exactly what most fans have come to expect  from Steely Dan. What's different? The lyrical sophistication and nonsense  word play are still here but the undercurrent from Gaucho that dealt with  aging has been replaced. Instead, there is a tact admission that time has  passed them by and a hint of compassion that rarely appeared beneath the  glacial surface of their music.