World Famous Comics: Steely Dan - Two Against Nature - DTS 5.1
Steely Dan - Two Against Nature - DTS 5.1
Starring: Steely Dan Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Image Entertainment Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 13, 2000 Running Time: 102 minutes Theatrical Release Date: June 13, 2000
Description: Steely Dan has not had a new studio album in twenty years--"Two Against Nature" was worth the wait! This concert, recorded live in New York at the Sony Studios, contains new songs as well as classic hits from the minds of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Together, they deliver a unique music experience that is truly unforgettable. Songs: Green Earrings, Cousin Dupree, Bad Sneakers, Janie Runaway, Josie, FM, Gaslighting Abbie, Black Friday, Babylon Sisters, Kid Charlemagne, Jack of Speed, Peg, What a Shame About Me, Pretzel Logic.
Full Frame - Color - English - 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 DTS
Amazon.com: Having discreetly disbanded at the dawn of the MTV era, the 1970s' most stubbornly faceless pop subversives returned after 19 years with their first new studio album, followed in short order by this stunning long-form video project. Part concert, part documentary, Steely Dan: Two Against Nature offers a savvy cross-section of both old and new material performed by the latest incarnation of the formidable stage bands that founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have assembled for the periodic tours unleashed since their early '90s concert reunion. True to form, they preside over immaculately arranged, flawlessly executed performances that confirm the Dan's state-of-the-art standards, then undercut that achievement with devilish audience sound bites and their own faux cable-access interviews, as if to debunk their artistry with a blast of anticelebrity.
For hardcore Dan fans (including this reviewer), Becker and Fagen long ago distanced themselves from rock culture, their music steeped more in '50s jazz and rhythm & blues, and their lyrics pitched to a darker, funnier world-view divorced from youth culture and self-congratulatory rock personae. Fagen, with his close-cropped hair, austere beard, tinted glasses, and prominent incisors resembles a pale, vampiric Ray Charles as he huddles over his keyboards and croons those dangerous lyrics. His partner's longer locks and steel-rimmed glasses reinforce the spectre of a postbop Franz Schubert who's traded clavichords for custom electric guitars--a studious image reinforced by his dry, articulate gibes in the interviews, if undercut by the twisted imagery and shadowy, second-person perspectives pervasive in the band's lyrics (like the music, written by both men, but conspicuously shaped by Becker).
The material hews to the group's later albums recorded after they downsized the band into a de facto studio laboratory and dialed up the jazz accents, with understandable showcases for the sneaky new songs on the Two Against Nature album: sleek, seductive songs about incest, midlife crises, pyromania, designer drugs, and other fun stuff. Sonically, the performances are as meticulously recorded and mixed as the duo's albums, with the performance footage beautifully shot and edited. We'd knock director Earle Sebastian for a few too many tilted camera angles, but then we might have to wait another 19 years for the next one. --Sam Sutherland
Laid back perfection Walter Becker and Donald Fagan have a certain charm that pervades not only their music but the dialogue that is strewn throughout this DVD performance. Here are two slightly nerdy, intellectual guys who because of their ability to write and play cool hit songs, have had the trappings of pop stardom bestowed upon them for most of their lives - e.g. surrounded by pretty backing singers who they covet from the younger and better looking members of the band. They treat the whole thing as a bit of a spoof and are more intent on doing a Seinfeld-like routine with other members of the band than talking about the songs. However when they do get around to playing, no-one comes close to them when they deliver wonderfully crafted songs - lyrics and music with such precision. The combination of an unmistakable voice, (Fagan) with syncopated Rhodes piano (Fagan again) and beautifully understated modal guitar lines (Becker) are the backbone of what has become one of the most recognisable sounds in pop music. After decades of hit songs, this DVD summarises where Fagan and Becker have been and where they are now. I saw their live show in Australia in 2007 and this DVD serves as a reminder of that show which was perfect. But what else would you expect from these guys?
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! A great concert from a fantastic bunch of musicians, and edited in just the goofy quirky way Don and Walt make me feel with their music. Very well done! And the little conversation in the limo at the end of the credits is just one example of why you have to see this! Priceless! My kids always make me slo-mo the part at the end of Pretzel Logic, where Don is nodding violently and his glasses fly off! Don't pass it up!
A fine recording I agree with what some of the previous reviewers have said. The interviews are rather pointless, and I would rather have had a few extra songs instead of these. As far as the picture is concerned, yes it is a bit dark but I found some of the camera angles to be quite interesting. There were some very good close-ups of the musicians, which is great if you are a musician yourself.
As you would expect from Steely Dan the music is just perfect. The muscianship is of the highest quality and the selection of songs is fairly representative of their career at that point. The sound quality is high (Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS) and I can't see how anybody who likes Steely Dan can fail to enjoy this.
It's Steely Dan. Enough said. The quality of the music is outstanding. The concert performance and footage itself is nothing special but it is always nice to see them perform. There are bits of band interviews between songs that are slightly amusing at best. There is nothing that gives you any insight to the music or quality 'behind-the-scenes' look. If you like Steely Dan you'll enjoy the DVD. If you are new to them you may want to start elsewhere I think.
Great For Dan Fans If you are a Dan Fan, this is a must have, especially since it won the Big Music Award the year it came out. Walter and Donald are just great..no other words can describe their talents.
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