It's so incredible to me how they just walked in the studio after all those years and just started right back up like their previous album was last week. Juat Amazing!! And don't even get me started on how they can write a song over a synchopated jazz groove in 6!
The track Two Against Nature is different timewise because it's in 6/8 time(count to 6 in each measure). The snare drum and emphasis is on the '2' '5' and '6'. It is the phunkiest 6 you'll ever hear. There are about 39 different layers going on. Straight musical genius. Prince knew what was up.
I have loved taking this journey with you. Steely Dan has been a part of my life since high school in the 70's and they still are my favorite band. I can listen to them over and over. I look forward to seeing you react to their music because it makes me hear it in different ways. This album and the next are both superb! Of course, they all are...
There is a huge swathe of massive Steely Dan aficionados who think they did nothing worthwhile post 1980. There's a number (probably a subset) who think Gaucho was sterile and overproduced. Personally I've liked everything they made. I'm pleased you haven't curtailed your journey.
The initial instrumental opening really has an awesome fusion jazz vibe! Missing your unicorn being told by the psychiatrist that he has to believe in himself... Be safe my man and have a great week!
How many bands 30 years later are still putting out great music? These guys never got lazy or complacent and just kept it coming. Their second to last album is as good as their first. The incredibly awesome men of the never-ending groove. Two Against Nature is thick!
2 against is a filthy dirty slice of Creole voodoo funk. The thing that makes it so different is its underpinnings. It's in 6/8 time. Roughly each syllable of the chorus "Two(1) against(2) na-ture(3 & 4) stand(5) a-lone(6 & 1 of the next measure)..." get a beat in the 6 beat measure. Hope this helps the non-musician out there.
I always get delightfully lost listening to all the layers of intertwined polyrhythms in Two Against Nature ... and then when the soloists start in on top of all that OMG. Definitely one of the highlights of the album. And the lyrics on What a Shame About Me are worth checking out - razor-sharp.
First tune is indeed a Blues Form w/ some altered and substituted chords and a little Bridge @ 4:10 leading into the guitar solo. But the basic core song form is a Blues, you can feel it, hear it. And I reckon the title track also has a Blues-based form/vamp too. And like you said @ 17:14 , not only Prince likely was influenced by Steely Dan, but Donald Fagen was also likely influenced by Price. You'll hear that as you move on to some of Fagen's solo tracks like 'Trans Island Skyway' (from his second solo album, 1993's 'Kamakiriad') as well as 'Bright Nightgown' (from his 3rd album, 2006's 'Morph The Cat). not just the grooves, but also the falsetto-like vocals are reminiscent of Prince's.
Nice insight about Prince and SD common influences. Steely Dan IMO is often mislabelled as a "classic rock" band. They are more like a jazz/R&B/funk fusion - sometimes played on rock instruments on the first 2-3 albums.
....so happy this album/song gets SOME notice.......amazing to me how even Danatics are so dismissive of this production...........thank you for the post...........
I think this album is a bit more jazz than some of their previous stuff. It's not poppy fluff, it's serious jazz set to an unconventional beat. If you were to take the individual tracks : bass, vocals, drums, sax, and listen to them individually, you'd never even think they were from the same song, yet put them together and they somehow work. I think of Steely Dan as metropolitan music...it brings visions of chrome and glass and steel under bright lights at night. It somehow always make me feel like I am slightly underdressed to be listening to it.
Do check out Dave Weckl’s music if you haven’t before by the way. It’s Two Against Nature minus vocals. He’s in my top 2 drummers on the planet and his creations are incredible! He’s THE Jazz Fusion drummer!
Nothing will ever compare to the classic records, but I love the newer stuff just as much because they take the jazz influence a bit further with the harmonies and voicings and especially the players. The chorus on What A SHame has got some really strange harmonies going on underneath that bluesy melody and 2VN is like SD fusion replete with odd time sig (6/4) haha
Donald Fagen did a solo album back in 1982 that went platinum. The two big hits from it were IGY and New Frontier, both of which were absolutely disgrosting.
The great Wayne Shorter again on Sax. I get a very heavy John Coltrane vibe in Two Against Natuture. And the funk in What a Shame About Me, cmon now. For anyone who thought after a 20 year hiatus that SD was done you are presented with exhibit A in this album. Case dismissed. Great breakdown of the songs, especially the first one Drama. 💯🔥💯💯💯
They love to pen songs about damaged people. I love Shame About Me. And wait a minute, how did someone tie racism to the term 'groove'? I'm a bass player, I've used that term forever. It has NOTHING to do with race.
Please please please react to 38 Special - Bring It On. It is the southern rock gritty side of 38 Special with Donnie Van Zant on vocals ruclips.net/video/7f1t1SjoUbQ/видео.html This is 38 Special in pure kicking your butt mode, very Skynyrd like
It's so incredible to me how they just walked in the studio after all those years and just started right back up like their previous album was last week. Juat Amazing!! And don't even get me started on how they can write a song over a synchopated jazz groove in 6!
Solo albums, loads of touring, producing gigs. These 2 blokes were musos to their socks.
Thanks, glad you liked it. My favorite song on this album is the last one “West of Hollywood”. It’s a great driving tune.
This album came out of nowhere to win the Grammy award. But for some reason it isn't mentioned with the others. I get it, and it seems you do too.
The track Two Against Nature is different timewise because it's in 6/8 time(count to 6 in each measure). The snare drum and emphasis is on the '2' '5' and '6'. It is the phunkiest 6 you'll ever hear. There are about 39 different layers going on. Straight musical genius. Prince knew what was up.
Don’t forget to check out the 2 songs that weren’t released on a studio albums. They were “FM” and “Here at the Western World”.
will do bro!!!
FM is an all-time groover....
Western World is gorgeous.
Also True Companion / Donald Fagen / soundtrack Heavy Metal👍
I have loved taking this journey with you. Steely Dan has been a part of my life since high school in the 70's and they still are my favorite band. I can listen to them over and over. I look forward to seeing you react to their music because it makes me hear it in different ways. This album and the next are both superb! Of course, they all are...
There is a huge swathe of massive Steely Dan aficionados who think they did nothing worthwhile post 1980. There's a number (probably a subset) who think Gaucho was sterile and overproduced. Personally I've liked everything they made. I'm pleased you haven't curtailed your journey.
Steely Dan is amazing, never disappointed with any of their songs. Thanks for continuing to react! 😊
Soooo enjoying this journey through the discography of my favorite band right along with you. I'm here for it. ❤✌🔥
What A Shame About Me is my favorite song on Two Against Nature.
Prince was a master of music and huge FAN of music - especially jazz. There's no doubt he loved SD.
The initial instrumental opening really has an awesome fusion jazz vibe! Missing your unicorn being told by the psychiatrist that he has to believe in himself... Be safe my man and have a great week!
that's funny, I got a lot of hate for that poster lol, it's still around though, Have a good one bro!!!!
The groove on the title track is so deep and so wide. You could drive 5 tanks side by side through it.
How many bands 30 years later are still putting out great music? These guys never got lazy or complacent and just kept it coming. Their second to last album is as good as their first. The incredibly awesome men of the never-ending groove. Two Against Nature is thick!
Steely Dan a whole bunch of great music 🎶
yes!!!
The Bridge on What a Shame About Me is to die for.
What A Shame is a fantastic song
Two Against Nature is a 🔥 track! Steely Dan doing what they do best! The instrumentation and arrangement is phenomenal
2 against is a filthy dirty slice of Creole voodoo funk. The thing that makes it so different is its underpinnings. It's in 6/8 time. Roughly each syllable of the chorus "Two(1) against(2) na-ture(3 & 4) stand(5) a-lone(6 & 1 of the next measure)..." get a beat in the 6 beat measure. Hope this helps the non-musician out there.
The title track and West Of Hollywood are my two favorite Dan tunes. The title track is absolutely profane!
Thou shalt have no other band before Dan.
You said it best, “....they stay through to their nature...EXCELLENCE”. Enough said...😃🤘🏼
Another great Steely Dan album they never miss negative girl and almost gothic are my favourites thanks Michael great review !!
Thank you for keeping it honest and genuine, love your reactions.
I appreciate that
I always get delightfully lost listening to all the layers of intertwined polyrhythms in Two Against Nature ... and then when the soloists start in on top of all that OMG. Definitely one of the highlights of the album. And the lyrics on What a Shame About Me are worth checking out - razor-sharp.
First tune is indeed a Blues Form w/ some altered and substituted chords and a little Bridge @ 4:10 leading into the guitar solo. But the basic core song form is a Blues, you can feel it, hear it. And I reckon the title track also has a Blues-based form/vamp too. And like you said @ 17:14 , not only Prince likely was influenced by Steely Dan, but Donald Fagen was also likely influenced by Price. You'll hear that as you move on to some of Fagen's solo tracks like 'Trans Island Skyway' (from his second solo album, 1993's 'Kamakiriad') as well as 'Bright Nightgown' (from his 3rd album, 2006's 'Morph The Cat). not just the grooves, but also the falsetto-like vocals are reminiscent of Prince's.
Nobody else sounded like SD and SD sounded like nobody else. That's genius.
I like that too. My other darlings are instantly recognisable and unique and unmistakeable as well.
The title track is other worldly.
If there's perfection in music, you just heard it...again. Best dam duo and solo artist ever.
Always first CLASS..
Nice insight about Prince and SD common influences. Steely Dan IMO is often mislabelled as a "classic rock" band. They are more like a jazz/R&B/funk fusion - sometimes played on rock instruments on the first 2-3 albums.
....so happy this album/song gets SOME notice.......amazing to me how even Danatics are so dismissive of this production...........thank you for the post...........
The formula is called excellence...I love it!
I think this album is a bit more jazz than some of their previous stuff. It's not poppy fluff, it's serious jazz set to an unconventional beat. If you were to take the individual tracks : bass, vocals, drums, sax, and listen to them individually, you'd never even think they were from the same song, yet put them together and they somehow work. I think of Steely Dan as metropolitan music...it brings visions of chrome and glass and steel under bright lights at night. It somehow always make me feel like I am slightly underdressed to be listening to it.
Definitely has a groove with the bluesy feel. Just ignore those that are just plan ignorant!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻☮️🎤🎼🎹🎸
There the best band ever.
You are ot the only one I have heard this from out Steely Dan. They just don't miss.
Question...did they ever make a bad song? Holy Black Cow!! So funky, crisp, and clean!
I'm thinking no
Check out the Making Ofs videos where Donald and Walter breakdown several songs like Peg and a couple others.
Prince - Money don’t matter 2 night
…also has a SD vibe to it I think
Great stuff. No bullshit
The `Dan strikes again...as usual, just tasty!
Do check out Dave Weckl’s music if you haven’t before by the way. It’s Two Against Nature minus vocals. He’s in my top 2 drummers on the planet and his creations are incredible! He’s THE Jazz Fusion drummer!
Nothing will ever compare to the classic records, but I love the newer stuff just as much because they take the jazz influence a bit further with the harmonies and voicings and especially the players. The chorus on What A SHame has got some really strange harmonies going on underneath that bluesy melody and 2VN is like SD fusion replete with odd time sig (6/4) haha
When you Get to Everything Must Go album, seriously play the tracks in reverse order! It works much better!!
agreed
"Shut the hell up with that bullshit" subscribed.
🔥🔥❤️❤️
Donald Fagen did a solo album back in 1982 that went platinum. The two big hits from it were IGY and New Frontier, both of which were absolutely disgrosting.
Chris Potter on the Sax.
“The coldest water” Undertow by Tool
Dan = the Houdini's of music .
Predictably 6 star .
The great Wayne Shorter again on Sax. I get a very heavy John Coltrane vibe in Two Against Natuture. And the funk in What a Shame About Me, cmon now. For anyone who thought after a 20 year hiatus that SD was done you are presented with exhibit A in this album. Case dismissed. Great breakdown of the songs, especially the first one Drama. 💯🔥💯💯💯
Wayne Shorter didn't play the sax on TAN. The credits show the sax players were Dave Tofani and Lawrence Feldman.
WS only plays on the song AJA
Adult music, for Adults
They love to pen songs about damaged people. I love Shame About Me. And wait a minute, how did someone tie racism to the term 'groove'? I'm a bass player, I've used that term forever. It has NOTHING to do with race.
Everything is about race nowadays
Doesn't groove refer to the grooves on records? Groovey, I'm 68 and did nothing but groove in the 60s and 70s
Please please please react to 38 Special - Bring It On. It is the southern rock gritty side of 38 Special with Donnie Van Zant on vocals ruclips.net/video/7f1t1SjoUbQ/видео.html
This is 38 Special in pure kicking your butt mode, very Skynyrd like