Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/18/1999
Run Time: 34:56
Building from the
jazz fusion foundation of
Pretzel Logic,
Steely Dan created an alluringly sophisticated album of jazzy
pop with
Katy Lied. With this record,
Walter Becker and
Donald Fagen began relying solely on studio musicians, which is evident from the immaculate sound of the album. Usually, such a studied recording method would drain the life out of each song, but that's not the case with
Katy Lied, which actually benefits from the duo's perfectionist tendencies. Each song is given a glossy sheen, one that accentuates not only the stronger
pop hooks, but also the precise technical skill of the professional musicians drafted to play the solos. Essentially,
Katy Lied is a smoother version of
Pretzel Logic, featuring the same cross-section of
jazz-pop and
blues-rock. The lack of innovations doesn't hurt the record, since the songs are uniformly brilliant. Less overtly cynical than previous
Dan albums, the album still has its share of lyrical stingers, but what's really notable are the melodies, from the seductive jazzy
soul of
"Doctor Wu" and the lazy
blues of
"Chain Lightning" to the terse
"Black Friday" and mock
calypso of
"Everyone's Gone to the Movies." It's another excellent record in one of the most distinguished
rock & roll catalogs of the '70s.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
;)
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