EVERYTHING MUST GO

I could not believe it when hearing in 2003 that Steely Dan had another studio album on the way. Three years after the hugely successful Two Against Nature, they released this unusual hard to define album, Everything Must Go. If anything to this reviewer it sounds more like a solo album Fagen released in the 90's called Karmakiriad. It is just as well crafted as previous SD albums, all the trappings on show like great vocals and backing harmonies, horns, the guitar licks not to mention the ever present Fagen on the Rhodes and organ. Just something is missing and I cannot for the life of it put my finger on it other than it has a more bland feel to it. As if the guys are just going through the motions perhaps. Nevertheless an enjoyable album if you are an SD completionist. The strongest songs would have to be the clever ' Godwhacker', Green Book, which sounds more like the SD of old and Pixeleen. It is also great to see Walter Becker singing lead vocal on Slang of Ages'. The album is a good one just a tad bit too clinical and sterile compared to previous releases. I have been listening to it for five years now, maybe it needs another five to grow on me.