Circus Money * by Walter Becker (CD, Jun-2008, Mailboat Records)

Walter Becker’s brand new CD, Circus Money, is somewhat different from his previous CD 11 Tracks of Whack. But I am still whacked by it nonetheless. Unlike 11 Tracks of Whack, Circus Money more closely resembles a Steely Dan record but has a different feeling to it, and a smattering of what feels like autobiographical content. Mr. Becker must have lived an interesting life or at the very least is tuned in to some very interesting characters that make up the subject of these songs. Many of the tracks have a reggae beat that is artfully arranged into the lyrical content. I laughed myself silly at the antics of Selfish Gene, and wondered about the circumstances of Paging Audrey, which is another brilliant track on this wonderful CD. I loved 11 Tracks of Whack, but for those of you that did not, I would recommend Circus Money highly as I think it has all the things you were looking for that you couldn't find on 11 Tracks of Whack. Circus Money grabs you right from the first listen, and stays with you. It also unfolds itself more intensely at each listen, and in that respect, it is very much like 11 Tracks of Whack only you "get it" much sooner. So get out there and GET IT!