Two Against Nature

Two Against Nature
Studio album by Steely Dan
Released	February 29, 2000
Recorded	1997-99
Genre	Jazz, rock, pop
Length	51:25
Label	Giant
Producer	Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Steely Dan chronology
Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party (2000) Two Against Nature (2000) Everything Must Go (2003)

Two Against Nature is the eighth album by Steely Dan, released in 2000. The album won the group four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, and marked the first Steely Dan studio album in 20 years, following 1980's Gaucho. It has been certified 2x platinum in the US.

Two Against Nature marked Steely Dan's long-awaited debut for Warner Bros. Records - through a sub-label, Giant Records. They intended to release Gaucho on Warner Bros. after their longtime label ABC Records merged with MCA Records, but MCA claimed ownership of the master recordings. As a result, the band was forced to release Gaucho on MCA (which has since been absorbed into Geffen Records, ironically once associated with Warners). It is also famous for beating The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem and Kid A by Radiohead for Album of the Year at the Grammys, which led to much criticism.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	(A) link
Rolling Stone	link

Track listing

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

1. "Gaslighting Abbie" – 5:53
2. "What a Shame About Me" – 5:17
3. "Two Against Nature" – 6:17
4. "Janie Runaway" – 4:09
5. "Almost Gothic" – 4:09
6. "Jack of Speed" – 6:17
7. "Cousin Dupree" – 5:28
8. "Negative Girl" – 5:34
9. "West of Hollywood" – 8:21

Personnel

• Walter Becker - bass, guitar
• Donald Fagen - organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, vocals

• Tom Barney - bass
• Ted Baker - piano, Fender Rhodes
• Jon Herington - acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar
• Paul Jackson Jr. - guitar
• Hugh McCracken - guitar
• Dean Parks - guitar
• Lawrence Feldman - clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Amy Helm - whistle
• Michael Hitchcock - trumpet
• Michael Leonhart - trumpet, conductor, wurlitzer
• Lou Marini - alto saxophone
• Chris Potter - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Jim Pugh - trombone
• Roger Rosenberg - bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
• David Tofani - saxophone
• Keith Carlock - drums
• Leroy Clouden - drums
• Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
• Sonny Emory - drums
• Ricky Lawson - drums
• Michael White - drums
• Gordon Gottlieb - percussion
• Will Lee - percussion
• Daniel Sadownick - percussion, timbales
• David Shank - vibraphone
• Steve Shapiro - vibraphone
• Cynthia Calhoun - background vocals
• Mike Harvey - background vocals
• Carolyn Leonhart - background vocals

Production

• Producers: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
• Executive engineer: Roger Nichols
• Engineers: Phil Burnett, Per-Christian Nielsen, Johan Edlund, Anthony Gorman, Roger Nichols, Ken Ross, Dave Russell, Jay A. Ryan, Elliot Scheiner, Peta Scriba
• Mixing: Roger Nichols, Dave Russell
• Mastering: Scott Hull
• Assistants: Suzy Barrows, Reaann Zschokke
• Technician: Roger Nichols
• Editing: Jan Folkson
• Horn arrangements: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, Michael Leonhart
• Project Manager: Jill Dell'Abate
• Project Coordinator: Suzana Haugh
• Consultant: Michael Leonhart
• Piano Tuner: Sam Berd
• Design: Carol Bobolts
• Photography: Michael Northrup/Jason Fulford
• Copyist: Michael Leonhart

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
The Billboard 200	6
Top Internet Albums	2

Awards

2001 Grammy Awards

Winner	Category
"Cousin Dupree"	Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Two Against Nature	Album of the Year
Two Against Nature	Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
Two Against Nature	Best Pop Vocal Album

External links

• Official Site
• Complete lyrics