Sunken Condos
by Donald Fagen
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Oct 16, 2012
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
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  1. sunkendreams
    Nov 3, 2012
    2
    @awdiocritik
    Spot on run through the Dan catalogue and bar the latter years I could not agree more.
    However, I think it was Picasso who said something like: 'To copy others is inevitable - to copy yourself is inexcusable' and that pretty much is my point - I greatly admire Donald and Walter - their body of work speaks for itself - I just get the feeling that since Gaucho they've been    @awdiocritik
    Spot on run through the Dan catalogue and bar the latter years I could not agree more.
    However, I think it was Picasso who said something like: 'To copy others is inevitable - to copy yourself is inexcusable' and that pretty much is my point - I greatly admire Donald and Walter - their body of work speaks for itself - I just get the feeling that since Gaucho they've been going through the motions - obviously I still kept buying their albums - shell seeking for a gem ... and there have been a few: 'Things I miss the most'/''Dark Horse Dub' to name just two. 'Sunken Condos' however is bland, it's Teflon music - shiny and pasteurised. You are of course right - the chaps are settling into the autumn of life - as is their right. Maybe they did set the bar too high, too early - Katy Lied/Aja .... and it was going to be downhill from there on in. (I see that with another great artist: Van Morrison...the guy who crafted two seminal albums Astral Weeks/Veedon Fleece - and has since produced pretty much nothing but boring ersatz R&B). I reckon it's a case of knowing when to stop. Off on a tangent 'Fawlty Towers' is probably the funniest thing on TV ever - they did 12 episodes I believe - and stopped. Still a classic - always a classic. Donald and Walter can of course carry on until doomsday doing what they feel like doing, but if I want happy, clappy - sundrenchend music - I turn to Michael Franks - beautifully produced too/easy on the ear stuff - I always had **** in a much higher league - artists instead of craftsmen - on recent showing I shall have to manage my expectations.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Mojo
    Nov 21, 2012
    80
    Sunken Condos is a slyer, slow-burning pleasure. [Dec 2012, p.89]
  2. Q Magazine
    Nov 21, 2012
    80
    Fagen's fourth albums is as airtight as his others. [Dec 2012, p.104]
  3. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Nov 13, 2012
    91
    You'll grow to love the queen of Bowlmor Lanes, the Jazz Age gangster who takes pride in his work, the souvenirs of dooms past rusting in the back of the sci-fi shop.
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