Katy Lied - STEELY DAN*****

Black Friday/Bad Sneakers/Rose Darling/Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More/Doctor Wu/Everyone's Gone To The Movies/Your Gold Teeth II/Chain Lightning/Any World/Throw Back The Little Ones

By the time of the release of Katy Lied Steely Dan were restricted to the songwriting duo of Becker and Fagen, although they still used backing vocalists such as the somewhat divisive Michael McDonald. (US:13 UK:13)

“Perfectly produced and beautifully performed pop jazz-rock, with razor-sharp lyrics and finely-polished compositions. These are what you want when you hear a Steely Dan album, and that's what Katy Lied delivers in spades.”

“Though it takes some time to sink in, Katy Lied is a great listen from start to finish. Tracks range from the serious, to the disturbing, to the unknown, but they are all done with a degree of musicianship that makes them not only respectable, but utterly habit forming.”

“Becker and Fagen ease up a bit on the eclecticism of their previous album, and seem to fall back a bit on their usual tendencies. But it's an exquisite refinement of those tendencies. Their familiar styles are as well written as always, and sound super enhanced musically with a production sheen that advanced even their own slick standards.”

“Katy Lied marked the critical turning point at which Becker and Fagen decided to quit touring and make Steely Dan into strictly a studio outfit. It is also introduced the talents of backup singer extraordinaire Michael McDonald, whose presence lifted several songs to dizzying new heights. He was one of many hired musicians carefully selected to make the songs as flawless as possible, a brand of meticulous studio perfectionism that would become synonymous with the Steely Dan sound.”

“Katy Lied is a supremely sophisticated and successful record with some of the band's best songwriting and most intriguing numbers. The jazz influences of bloom here, and there is more of a cohesive and consistent quality to the material.”

“The lyrics are just as clever as one might expect, but there is an easy accessibility that can be missing when Becker and Fagen get too clever for their own good. From the wildly prophetic Black Friday through the catchy Bad Sneakers, the gorgeous but silly Doctor Wu, and one of my personal all time favourites in Any World. I have only one minor quibble, not being a fan of Michael Macdonald I find his backing vocals intrusive, given his distinctive voice.”