The Nightfly

I quite enjoyed this musical series of short stories told by drunk uncle Fagan. It was nice.

After Steely Dan effectively split up, Donald Fagen released his solo debut album, The Nightfly, in 1982. He collaborated with Gary Katz, who had produced several classic Steely Dan albums. Fagen was also supported by many of the same studio musicians he had worked with during his time with Steely Dan. Musically, Fagen maintained the same high standards of perfection that characterised Steely Dan, yet compositionally he adopted a different approach, rebalancing the elements. The Nightfly is more jazzy than any Steely Dan album, while simultaneously featuring numerous references to the early rock 'n' roll of Fagen's youth. The result is every bit as timeless as the Steely Dan catalogue and his subsequent solo albums. Unlike Steely Dan's bitterly ironic, sombre lyrics, this autobiographical album reflects the optimism and sense of new beginnings of Fagen's childhood and youth. As one would expect from Donald Fagen, the 1982 album contains no references to contemporary music, drum machines, samples or obtrusive keyboard sounds. Even in the 1970s, Fagen and Becker weren't interested in the 'sound of the moment' and always did their own thing. This is what makes the album so timeless and so good, despite its unmistakable references to the past. It is another perfect gem in Donald Fagen’s impressive discography.

This album is so corny. Disco and Funk influence mixed with 80's jazz is not my thing.

A bit of a guilty pleasure

By coincidence, I got last Steely Dan album on this list just a few days a go, and now I am getting an offering from Mr. Fagen from Steely Dan himself. And yeah, this indeed sounds like Dan.

Ok, I'm a little scared of this one. Steely Dan are kind of boring, and this is just one of the guys from Steely Dan doing a solo album. Lo and behold, it sounds pretty much exactly like Steely Dan. Smooth, polished, overproduced rock with all the emotion smoothed out of it. The lyrics aren't very good, and the instrumentals are competent if bland. This is the definition of "muzak": music that is made by committee to be unhateable and inoffensive. Yet, at the same time, it is these very qualities that keep it from being good. It's not going to have any bearing on your life whether you hear this(or really any Steely Dan-related anything) because it's just so polished. It has no grit, no soul, no passion; just ennui for the masses. This should not be on the list, and really it belongs in a landfill with the rest of the era's soft rock bands.

So smooth. Love a bit of Steely Dan, so this is obviously a CD I own!

It's now stuck with the Yacht Rock label, but I don't care....this is a great set of songs with a super smooth production. Just because it's not an aural assault doesn't mean it's not good!

4

po nekoj logici stvari trebalo bi mi se sviđati, al nije toliko. počelo jako i krenulo slabjeti. u principu steely dan al uronjen u osamdesete. na kraju završi a da se čovjek baš i ne sjeća šta je točno slušao, premda načelno jest pristojno, solidno.

nevezano za glazbu: odličan omot

I was not expecting this to be this good. Def lower than a 4, but so not a 3

The production is mindblowing, the actual substance of the record is weak in comparison. Mid 3

I had not listen to his solo career and I must admin the album sounds very good but despite that, I would rather have most of Steely Dan's discography before this.

7/10 [DROP]

Begins and I thought it’s got a nice smooth sound. By the end the absence of sharp edges meant I barely noticed it was on. I guess it has succeeded on its own terms.

This guy's name is offensive, it should be censored! In all seriousness, this album is so sterile you could bring it into a heart surgery. Dull.

Great solo debut. Sounds like a continuation of Steely Dan

Another agreeable enough listen, but one that leaves next to no lasting impression.

A slightly jazzy soft rock type of album, there were occasional bouts of instrumentation that did pique my interest, owing to the crystal clear production allowing them to pop. Otherwise, I'm struggling to note down much else.

There are some people that have such unique voices. Not because they are perfect but just because they have a tone or a quirk that makes them instantly recognisable. Donald Fagan is one.
I had no idea he had made an album outside of Steely Dan. Some songs on here I recognise but have always thought WERE Steely Dan.
As a collection it's quite MOR and an easy listen. Add that voice and it's a 4

Way too smooth. This is background music in a shopping mall.

It's not quite on the level of Aja, but it's got the same jazzy production that got me hooked on Steely Dan (and which was missing from Pretzel Logic). Very fun and layered record that I played twice in succession -- at a tight 38 minutes, it's all gas no filler.

Standouts: I.G.Y. • Ruby Baby • New Frontier • The Goodbye Look

Feels like Steely Dan is missing a little something.

Steely Dan