{"id":39619,"date":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/alive-in-america\/"},"modified":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","slug":"alive-in-america","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/alive-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Alive In America"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The reunion of Steely Dan in 1994 could be best
\ndescribed as finding a pair of old shoes under your bed that you
\nreally loved because they were so comfortable. What you maybe had
\nforgotten about those shoes was the way they smelled, or that the
\nsoles were nearly worn out.<\/p>\n

Alive In America<\/i>, an admittedly
\nstudio-doctored disc that captured Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
\non the road as Steely Dan for the first time since Countdown To
\nEcstasy<\/i>, was less about setting the world on fire with their
\nrebirth as it was getting comfortable again with the music that
\nmade the band legendary. While the new version of Steely Dan does
\nbring back memories of the old standards, the magic of seeing them
\nlive is definitely lost without the visual images.<\/p>\n

In a sense, Becker and Fagen were fighting a losing
\nbattle with this tour, despite the generally positive press they
\nreceived for it. No matter which songs they selected, there would
\nbe some hardcore fans who would wonder why their particular
\nfavorites weren’t included. (I, myself, longed to hear “Do It
\nAgain,” undoubtedly my favorite Steely Dan track.) Yet if they
\nvaried from the original song even by one note, the same purists
\nwould be up in arms decrying the way the classic was butchered —
\nnever mind the fact that they should be thrilled they were even
\nhearing these cuts performed live.<\/p>\n

Although this disc is a pastiche of Steely Dan’s 1994
\ntour, it does feel like it takes some time for the band to really
\nwarm up and get the excitement level going. I don’t know if
\n“Babylon Sisters” was necessarily the right track to get things
\nmoving — and I’ll admit I don’t really care for the key being
\ndropped a notch, though I understand why it maybe was
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n

But once Becker and Fagen get rolling, Alive In
\nAmerica does seem to come to life. “Green Earrings” may seem like
\nan odd selection, but when paired up with “Bodhisattva,” it’s a
\none-two punch to the sternum that works well. Likewise, “Kid
\nCharlemagne” seems like an odd choice to play live, but they are
\nable to generate more than a little interest in this
\nall-but-forgotten track.<\/p>\n

There are a few missteps along the way, though. While
\nI understand that music must change in order to keep things fresh,
\nI can’t say I like the new take on “Reelin’ In The Years.” I kept
\nhoping to hear that knife-sharp guitar solo that opens up the
\nstudio version, but despite repeated listenings to this album, I
\nrealized it just wasn’t coming. And while I understand the Steely
\nDan reunion came about due to Becker and Fagen’s solo works, the
\ninclusion of “Book Of Liars” seems out of place, despite the fact
\nit’s the first time in Steely Dan’s history that Becker took the
\nrole of lead throat.<\/p>\n

Still, there are some great performances on this disc
\nworth shouting about. “Peg” sounds almost spot-on, despite the
\npassage of over 15 years, while “Sign In Stranger” — one of their
\nbest songs forgotten by commercial radio — loses none of its
\npower. And to hear “Aja” performed live is, pure and simple, a
\ntreat.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, Alive In America<\/i> is not a disc
\nyou’re going to get the first few listens, and it definitely does
\nhelp to have more than a passing knowledge of Steely Dan’s back
\ncatalog before diving into this one. But while I should be thrilled
\nto even have the chance to hear these tracks performed live, I did
\nfind myself longing for the chance to see these performances for
\nmyself. Yeah, I understand that DVDs weren’t in the marketplace
\nback then, but a boy can dream, can’t he?<\/p>\n

Alive In America<\/i> is the kind of album that
\nwill please the diehard Steely Dan fans, but most likely confuse
\nanyone who thinks they know the band because of what they’ve heard
\non the radio. It’s an interesting way to announce to the world
\nyou’ve returned from a decade-plus long vacation.<\/p>\n

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