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First a comment on the other negative reviews you'll find here. I say, "Throw this fish back." What I ask you to do is not appreciate my review, but please appreciate the other reviews which are trying to save you your hard earned cash. I too am a fan of Steely Dan, but I can hardly stomach the sometimes nauseating sound here.
However, sometimes those reviews have saved me from wasting my money. Yep, that's what you get here and nothing more; an attempt. I'd be the first to admit that when I like a musical artist or group, I very much dislike finding negative reviews about them.
At times, he seems to shift the melody lines of both instruments and vocals to a calculated destination that purposefully causes unrest in the listener, as if to scrape fingernails on a chalkboard, resulting in at least this listener's questions, "Isn't that note out of tune." and "Wasn't that vocal note flat." One of the definitions of the word "whack" is: 'a trial or attempt'. When I see the collection of negative reviews here, and then find that many of the readers voted that these reviews were NOT very helpful, I have to ask were these readers simply do-or-die fans and therefore, if the reviews aren't positive, the reader wouldn't like them. I found the negative reviews here very helpful, especially in that they matched my sense of reality concerning the quality (or lack of it) of the music found in this (Walter Becker) effort.
I agree with the reviewer that stated his shelf doesn't have room for less than average recordings. Spend it elsewhere.
Just what I was hoping for from this man with the wonderful sense of humor and exquisite musical distinction. I enjoy this album whether I'm doing the dishes or going on a road trip. I'm proud to have it as part of my collection.
I have no clue as to what was going on in Becker's life when he made this CD, but the lyrics point to devastating emotional losses, deep depression and general misery. At times his inflection and phrasing remind me of Jimi Hendrix, who was undoubtedly Becker's guru in the olden days. OK, now I'm comparing. Maybe that was a reflection of Becker's emotional state, and if so, at least he succeeded in communicating that effectively.On the plus side, there are many funny, ironic lyrics (Cringemaker; Girlfriend) and some great hooks (Lucky Henry; Junkie Girl; Hard Up Case). Becker is a very good poet, albeit a cynical and angry one on this record, but he is not much of a composer. His songs lack the harmonic sophistication we expect from Steely Dan. I made every effort to listen to this as a Walter Becker project rather than a Steely Dan project, in order to give the man an objective appraisal based on his own merits. There's also an unusually atonal feeling to the songs, as if they're hovering somewhere between keys, so I couldn't get a clear bearing.
At least with respect to his son, he gives it some breathing room.In the time I've owned this CD it's grown on me a bit. But the melodies are short-range, monotonous ditties that repeat in a loop (hence, my anxiety). If "Whack" has anything going for it, it's funk. Unlike some who have criticized his singing, I don't mind Becker's voice. He brings these feelings in full force to an odd and intermittently successful set of tunes that had the overall effect of giving me an anxiety attack with a funky undertone (if that makes any sense). Surf and/or Die appears to be a true tale about the death of someone close, and it knocked me out.
It's hard not to. In fact, if he weren't so whiny and sad, it would be a very good voice. Perhaps the most emotionally pure song is Little Kawai, a sweet window into Becker's soft side. It's not Steely Dan (there I go again), and it's not something I play often or even all the way through in one sitting, but it's worth a listen.
If you love Steely Dan than this CD is a must for your collection. The songs "Junkie Girl" and "Book of Liars" each offer a slice of that classic sound as well. Starting off with "Down in the Bottom" you'll hear the classic Steely Dan sound. "Lucky Henry" is a fast paced Jazz romp that will be sure to set the mood. Though Donald Fagen is more well known and has come out with more solo work than Walter Becker, I can't wait until Becker comes out with another CD. FIVE ***** STARS.
Most of it is not bad, but not particularly good. I am a die-hard Steely Dan fan and love most of the solo work I have heard. And even though I am more of a "Walt" guy than a "Don" guy, I found this CD lacking the phenomonal production and performance standards Becker has previously set for himself. It just is. And I don't have room on the shelf for anything average or below.
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