Sunken Condos

Last updated
Sunken Condos
Donald Fagen - Sunken Condos.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 16, 2012
Recorded2010–2012
StudioCandyland
Hirsch Studios
Sear Sound
Avatar Studios
Audio Paint
Stratosphere Recording
Pat Dillett's Studio (all in New York City)
Genre
Length44:07
Label Reprise
Producer
Donald Fagen chronology
Morph the Cat
(2006)
Sunken Condos
(2012)

Sunken Condos is the fourth and most recent solo album from Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, released in October 2012 through Reprise Records. [1] It contains eight new songs and a cover of Isaac Hayes' "Out of the Ghetto". [2] Fagen began recording the album in 2010 and described it as having a lighter feel than his earlier work, rather than being a continuation of his Nightfly trilogy. [3]

Contents

On September 17, Rolling Stone posted a full-length preview of the song "I'm Not the Same Without You". [4] The song charted at number 28 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in October 2012. [5] The album reached number 23 on the official UK album chart on October 21 and number 12 on the Billboard 200, becoming his highest charting solo album since 1993. [6] [7]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.6/10 [8]
Metacritic 82/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
MSN Music (Expert Witness)A− [14]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Uncut 9/10 [18]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]

The album was listed at No. 25 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012. The magazine stated that "the music is deceitfully lush, a snazzy cascade of rock, R&B and swing, with production as costly as a Santa Monica beach house." [20] They also named the song "Weather in My Head" the 21st best song of 2012. [21]

Fagen appeared on Late Show with David Letterman and performed "Weather in My Head" to promote the album. [22]

Track listing

All songs written by Donald Fagen, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Slinky Thing"5:12
2."I'm Not the Same Without You"4:31
3."Memorabilia"4:14
4."Weather in My Head"5:29
5."The New Breed"4:35
6."Out of the Ghetto" (Isaac Hayes)4:54
7."Miss Marlene"4:43
8."Good Stuff"4:54
9."Planet D'Rhonda"5:35

Personnel

Musicians [23]

Production [23]

Charts

Chart performance for Sunken Condos
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [26] 69
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [27] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [28] 99
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [29] 36
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [30] 13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [31] 46
French Albums (SNEP) [32] 85
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [33] 29
Irish Albums (IRMA) [34] 27
Italian Albums (FIMI) [35] 22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [36] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [37] 10
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [38] 53
UK Albums (OCC) [39] 23
US Billboard 200 [40] 12

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