Royal Scam
Outlaw drug designers, neolithic painters, homicidal  maniacs, false prophets, libidinous divorcées: a glance  at the characters confirms it's another tour through the modern  wasteland conceived and vividly realized by Steely Dan. By 1975,  the group was distilled to songwriters Walter Becker and Donald  Fagen, abetted by producer Gary Katz and engineer Roger Nichols  who focused solely on studio recordings with a shifting repertory  of the best musicians they could find.The Royal Scam,  their fifth album, reels smartly from the Owsley-like antihero of  "Kid Charlemagne" to the cornered psychopath of "Don't Take Me  Alive," dissects the American nightmare from the immigrant's  marginalized perspective on the title song, and captures the most  leering guitar solo in history on "Haitian Divorce." As always,  the chaos is harnessed in seductive melodies, shimmering  harmonies, and indelible vocals from Fagen, decorated with stellar  work from the A-team players.--Sam Sutherland