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Steely Dan - Royal Scam (CD)

Royal Scam
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4.9 out of 5.0 stars 11 Ratings (11 Reviews)

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Album Details: Royal Scam

Release Date:11/23/1999
Label:Mca
UPC:076731119328

Track List: Royal Scam

  1. Kid Charlemagne  
  2. The Caves Of Altamira  
  3. Don't Take Me Alive  
  4. Sign In Stranger  
  5. The Fez  
  1. Green Earrings  
  2. Haitian Divorce  
  3. Everything You Did  
  4. The Royal Scam  

Other Available Formats: Royal Scam

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User Reviews: Royal Scam

  • Overall:

    Lyrics:

    Music:

    ... MOST UNDERRATED BAND OF ALL TIME ...

    By Sam  Apr 27, 2007

    Pros: ... Best Steely Dan Album ...

    Cons: ... Least-Lauded Steely Dan Album ...

    ... Of all the albums Steely Dan, my favorite artist PERIOD, has released, The Royal Scam is my favorite ... Unfortunately, the only credit this album seems to reel-in is the amazing guitar solo of "Kid Charlemagne" often cited on top-10 li...sts ... However, this album holds much more for those willing to listen past all the hype ... ... I guess it's the breadth of subject material that amazes me so much; yet even still, they manage to pull-off a cohesive album with ebb & flow; From the historical marveling of "The Caves of Altimira", to the emotional frenzy of "Don't Take Me Alive", to the tounge-in-cheek "The Fez", and the zany "Green Earings" (with that incredible drum-break), into the exotic "Hatian Divorce", onto the hillarious-twist-at-the-e
    nd of "Everything You Did", and the mystic "The Royal Scam": this album has it-all ... And I didn't even mention any lyrics ... ... Lyrical Mastery is what keeps Steely Dan ahead of any artist, any day ... Many of their lyrics are based in historical events and places ... They know how to keep a story open to interpretation without being obvious: making what may be an otherwise dated story immortal ... And if this weren't enough, their musical arrangments and execution are second-to-none ... They've always employed a Jazz-Based chord vocabulary in their writing which seales their lyrics extravagantly for generations to come ... ... In all honesty, I adore all of Steely Dan's Albums; it's just that I think this one exemplifies them at their most diverse and is therefore 'the album' to introduce people to ... ... I believe much of the reason Steely Dan never became the premier pop group of the 70s was in-part due to the vocals of Donald Fagen ... His voice is: say, unique, with raspy overtones ... However, I've always enjoyed it's yearning and wheeling qualities ... Unfortunately many people of my parents' hey-day didn't agree ... ... I can't reccomend this album enough ... It's among the best values in recorded music ...     Read more Less

  • Overall:

    Lyrics:

    Music:

    Deep,Subversive And Deeply Bubbling Dan

    By Yahoo! Shopping User  Jan 3, 2006

    Pros: WILD,WILD Music And Original Lyrical Ideas

    Cons: Slightly Off Putting At First Listen To Some

    'Royal Scam' is Steely Dan's most neglected album.The basic musical style is similar to their big success with'Aja' a year later but is far less polished with a premium on rocking funk.Larry Carlton shines on most of these songs a...nd the arrangements border on the darkly subversive.Lyrically the album explores some tasty (and twisted) themes such as drugs ("Kid Charlemange"),crime ("Don't Take Me Alive") and sex ("The Fezz","Green Earrings" and "Haitain Divorce").Most of the songs here are character sketches however the likability of these characters could stand under some scrutiny.But that and the great clavinet playing throughout are reasons why fans such as myself love 'The Royal Scam' so much to start with. Read more Less

Read all reviews (11) »

Pro Reviews: Royal Scam

  • All Music Guide

    The Royal Scam is the first Steely Dan record that doesn't exhibit significant musical progress from its predecessor, but that doesn't mean the album is any less interesting. The cynicism that was suppressed on Katy Lied comes roaring to the surface on The Royal Scam not only are the lyrics bitter and snide, but the music is terse, broken, and weary. Not so coincidentally, the album is comprised of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's weakest set of songs since Can't Buy a Thrill. Alternating between meanspirited bluesy vamps like "Green Earrings" and "The Fez" and jazzy soft rock numbers like "The Caves of Altamira," there's nothing particularly bad on the album, yet there are fewer standouts than before. Nevertheless, the best songs on The Royal Scam, like the sneering "Kid Charlemagne" and "Sign in Stranger," rank as genuine Steely Dan classics.

    - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Read all reviews (1) »

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Biography

Steely Dan

Most rock roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their music through years of playing in garages and clubs around their hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the vehicle for the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan defied all rock roll conventions. Becker and Fagen never truly enjoyed rock with their ironic humor... Read more
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