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March 30, 2006
Donald Fagen, "Morph the Cat" (Reprise)

By Martin Bandyke
Detroit Free Press

Steely Dan co-conspirator Fagen is often in an autumnal mood on his third solo effort, putting aside his usually caustic and cynical lyrics in favor of more reflective themes.

Musically, everything sounds like a typical Steely Dan album, with the dense, jazzy chords as smooth and creamy as always.

Don't think that the Dan's better half has gone all soft and mushy, however.

"Security Joan," the nutty story of love that blossoms between an airport security guard and the man she's wanding, shows that one of the smartest figures in pop music has definitely not lost his twisted sense of humor.

The imagined dialogue between Fagen and Ray Charles on "What I Do" is also pretty funny, but sweet and tender, too, and features an astounding harmonica solo from Howard Levy, formerly of the Flecktones.