This is one super album by the better half of the duo that is (was?) Steely Dan. Everything is there - the brainy cryptic lyrics, the infectious soothing tunes and the immaculate sounds. One of the best albums ever!
It's the culmination of Fagen's trilogy of concept albums about youth (Nightfly 1982), about middle age (Kamakiriad 1993) and this, about old age.
Tracks:
1. "Morph the Cat" – 6:49 - about mind-death brought about by the pervasive brain-washing of modern life.
2. "H Gang" – 5:15 - about the reminiscences of an old band that had long broken up.
3. "What I Do" – 6:01 - about the imaginary dialogue between Fagen and Ray Charles.
4. "Brite Nitegown" – 7:16 - about one's inevitable encounter with the grim reaper.
5. "The Great Pagoda of Funn" – 7:39 - about a pair of lovers trying to shut out the harsh world.
6. "Security Joan" – 6:09 - about a man falling for an airport security guard in the midst of terrorism fears.
7. "The Night Belongs to Mona" – 4:18 - about a suicidal young woman in a highrise apartment in the shadow of 9/11.
8. "Mary Shut the Garden Door" – 6:29 - about the invasion of politics into our private lives.
9. "Morph the Cat (Reprise)" – 2:53 - Fagen urged in his last line: "All watch the skies for Morph the Cat", as he reflected on the the political and cultural tragedies of his country.
Truly, an inspirational album!
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