Donald Fagan; Kamakiriad; Reprise

Do you remember when you first discovered Steely Dan? You were probably drunk, laid out on the floor of your best friend's house, a teenager discovering the wonders of tequila. "Rikki don't lose that number'' so on and so forth. The music probably spoke to you because no red-blooded American can resist a great chorus, a drink in every song, melodic background vocals and an undercurrent of grisly death and melancholy. Apple pie stuff.

Well, Donald Fagen has returned. The mastermind of Steely Dan, along with former partner and current producer Walter Becker, is in search of a larger bank account. Who can blame him really? His songs have always spoken to the human condition, expressing our desire to self-destruct and have fun doing it. Unfortunately, Fagen has hit upon less creative times. His latest solo album (he's cut a few good, unnoticed non-Steely works) Kama-kiriad attempts deliberately to pawn off the distinctive, near-Muzak sound of Steely Dan as a cutting edge revelation. Fagen might be hoping for a generation gap, abandoning his older fans for a group of fresh ears. No such luck. The bottom line: it's time for Fagen to either overdose or make a White Album. He's done neither.

Kamakiriad is a valient effort. It's a great Steely Dan: The Missing Tapes album. Unlucky for Donald, it's 1993 and most sharp ears expect evolution. "Trans-Island Skyway,'' "Springtime'' and "Snowbound,'' all on Side One (remember album sides?) provide admirable cheap thrills, milking nostalgic imagery and ethereal seventies keyboard grooves.

Apparently, though, Fagen's patent androgynous backround singers are now cyborgs, postmodern record company slaves. Fagen claims the album is a continuing theme thang (a la The Wall?). The "narrator'' is driving a futuristic car replete with a hydroponic vegetable garden. Whatever, dude. So you read High Times. Don't we all? In any event, if you are only in search of a little more Dan-esque Velveeta, this is the album for you. Donald Fagen can still make music. The question is, can he still make drinking and driving sound fun? I think not.