New Donald Fagen Solo Album!

[My Rantz]

"For those of you who disliked "The Night Belongs to Mona", what exactly makes you dislike it?"

Well, I for one didn't dislike it. It was my least favourite after listening to the album only once. On my second listen last evening I found my least favourite was the title track, "Morph The Cat" - however, whether it becomes a legendary album like Kamikiriad and Nightfly (and other Dan material), time and countless playbacks will tell. Steely Dan/Fagen have always used strong bass lines in their music, but this one really impresses in that regard.

 

[Gov]

"H Gang"
"Mary shut the garden door"

My favs for now

BTW, the DTS 96/24 track sounds as good as the DVD-A track!

 

[shokhead]

Just so everyone knows,i just got it and put in the DD disc. It has DD Stereo,DD Surround and DTS 5.1 surround,all tracks has this and to my supprise and it doesnt happen very ofter,96/24 showed up on my Denon in DTS. Hope this clears anything up and BTW,it sounds fricken hot.

 

[sivadselim]

BTW, the DTS 96/24 track sounds as good as the DVD-A track!

Hey, thanks for the heads-up! I overlooked this.

Once I finally FOUND the DTS tracks, as shokhead says, they do show up as 96kHz.

This gives us hirez player owners a super opportunity to pass the 96/24DTS tracks digitally and bass manage (or not!) these 96/24DTS tracks with our receiver/pre/pros.

I'm using these tracks and my receiver's pure direct mode (with the sub's trim level set to "off")to listen to these 96/24 tracks as simple, un-bass-managed 2-channel stereo; the same way I listen to my redbook CDs in 2-channel. Normally, I'd have to go into my universal player's setup menus to change the bass management settings from SMALL (which I prefer when using a sub) to LARGE to listen to a SACD or DVD-A this way given the limitation of not being to pass and bass manage the hirez at my receiver.

 

[Gov]

I prefer to listen to the DTS 96/24 track with my speakers set to "small" sub "on" XO on receiver at 80hz since I am using Ascend bookshelf's. I like the bass out put much better using the receivers bass management, since I am limited on DVD-A bass management (Denon DVD-1600) in my set up.

 

[hopjohn]

Just bought Morph the Cat today, and it sounds WONDERFUL.

Just to clarify. The CD + DVD-A version includes 2 discs. One CD & one DVD-A. The DVD-A disc includes 2 ch. & 5.1 ch. MLP mixes, 2 ch. and 5.1 ch. DD mixes, and a 5.1 dts mix each in 96/24.

The DD and dts mixes are only available when you load the disc as a dvd. The MLP mixes are only available when you load the disc as a DVD-A.

 

[Geno]

I bought the DVD-A version, and am on about my 12th listen. My favorite is "Brite Nitegown" and "Security Joan" Of course, I drink a lot, and I'm old, so I'm always tryin' to fight with the fella in the brite nitegown.

 

[shokhead]

There is some serious bass going on in most the songs. Really giving my SVS a nice workout. Even the CD does in my car.

 

[BostonMark]

Morph the Cat

I got the album almost when it came out. I wrote up a review for epinions, including a discussion of all the tracks (i.e. Dolby Digital, Advanced Resolution stereo etc.)

Donald Fagen Morph the Cat

Let me know what you think of my review!
Thanks!

 

[shokhead]

I dont have DVD-A but i bought it just for the DTS. Not sure where the muddy sound comes from but i think its just as sharp as Nightfly. Maybe yhe killer bass is the mud your hearing. Like i said,it really works out my sub.

 

[jaxvon]

I got the album almost when it came out. I wrote up a review for epinions, including a discussion of all the tracks (i.e. Dolby Digital, Advanced Resolution stereo etc.)

Donald Fagen Morph the Cat

Let me know what you think of my review!
Thanks!

I read your review. Well-written, but some bad assumptions/claims are present. As far as hearing Fagen breath before he sings vocal lines (like in Morph the Cat, I can hear those very plainly on some 192AAC files I have.

 

[Sheep]

The worst song on this CD has to be "The Great Pagoda of Funn". Talk about blurting out obscure notes randomly that are off key.

Edit: That, and Brite Nitegown, BAH, what an awful song.

SheepStar

 

[shokhead]

I got the album almost when it came out. I wrote up a review for epinions, including a discussion of all the tracks (i.e. Dolby Digital, Advanced Resolution stereo etc.)

Donald Fagen Morph the Cat

Let me know what you think of my review!
Thanks!

If you dont have a DVD-A player as i dont, you can still use DTS instead of the cd.

 

[jaxvon]

The worst song on this CD has to be "The Great Pagoda of Funn". Talk about blurting out obscure notes randomly that are off key.

Edit: That, and Brite Nitegown, BAH, what an awful song.

SheepStar

Obscure notes off key? Someone needs some music theory!

 

[MacManNM2]

I think it's a wonderful CD. It sounds great on my old Scott Tube amp and KLH speakers.

 

[RMK!]

Based upon the review here and against my better judgment, I purchased this CD. I suppose if you like Steely Dan, then you will like this Fagan CD. I do not and do not. Gave it to my neighbor with the proviso that he not play it when I'm around.

 

[shokhead]

If i didnt like SD then i wouldnt get DF. Seems like a bad buy.

 

[Gov]

Based upon the review here and against my better judgment, I purchased this CD. I suppose if you like Steely Dan, then you will like this Fagan CD. I do not and do not. Gave it to my neighbor with the proviso that he not play it when I'm around.

So I take it you like Fagen's other solo offerings?

 

[RMK!]

So I take it you like Fagen's other solo offerings?

I have not heard any other of his solo efforts. This was a filer as I'm always looking for good quality recordings. I purchased this with the new David Gilmore CD. I'm keeping that one.

 

[JaceTheAce]

I have the new Donald Fagen album and don't like it as much as the other two albums (Nightfly being my personal favourite), but let me highlight my favourite tracks (as well as the ones I did not like). First off, I believe we need to understand and appreciate the complexity of Donald Fagen and Steely Dan's music, including the lyrics. Donald Fagen's music is a complex structure of harmonies and background vocals that overlap seemlessly with changing musical transitions (measure to measure). It's always been that way. I find that Steely Dan is liked among great musicians who appreciate good music.

1) Morph The Cat: I found it hard to like this song. I just do not like the bass line that is played throughout the song. I think it's out of place, but who knows - maybe I'll grow to like it.

2) H Gang: Lyrics are reminiscent of older Donald Fagen and Steely Dan albums. Very cleverly put together.

3) What I Do: Love the laid back groove with the Rhodes keyboard and ride cymbal. Blues harmonies are found throughout the song, including the harmonica solo. One of my fav's on this album.

4) Brite Nitegown: Very nice funky groove with Hammond B3 organ (or something similar) playing in the background. This song deserves to be felt and played loud.

5) The Great Pagoda of Fun: Nice slow ballad with complex harmonies (especially from background vocals), vibes played in the background gives a great jazz feel, nice solo by the trumpet with the wow-wow mute.

6) Security Joan: One of my favourites on the album - subtle piano chord strikes highlight the harmonies. Organ plays in the background brings funky flavor to the song.

7) The Night Belongs to Mona: Rhodes keyboard, guitar, and piano is more of a percussive role than harmonic - I like this.

8) Mary Shut The Garden Door: I can't say much for this song. I'll let someone else comment on it. I'll keep listening to it to develop an opinion.

9) Morph The Cat (Reprise): Again, I do not like this song. Nice background vocals though - that's all I can say.

Overall, very well recorded and put together album. Can anyone else offer input?