Day 0504 - The Nightfly

Donald Fagen "The Nightfly" (1982)

Following the breakup of Steely Dan, Fagen set out to record this solo album.  The album dabbles in soul, funk and jazz, but the early digital recording equipment used (one of the first albums to be recorded entirely digitally, apparently) combined with its perfectionist engineers seemed to serve to suck out a lot of the spontaneity and humanity that those genres usually embody.

That being said: these do work just nicely as good catchy pop songs.

Day 0379 - Aja

Steely Dan "Aja" (1977)

 
Steely Dan ramp up the 'jazz' part of their 'jazz tinged pop' sound.  As much as I love jazz, and a couple of the other Steely Dan albums, this one didn't quite 'ring my bell'.

I enjoyed the album well enough, but where the "Can't buy a thrill" and "Pretzel logic" were brilliant; this is just alright. The pop moments work well enough, and there is some impressive musicianship in jazzy parts but it just feels too polished... just needs a little more 'edge' for my tastes.