Everything Must Go

Released in 2003, Everything Must Go serves as the ninth and final studio album by Steely Dan. Following the massive success of their 2000 comeback Two Against Nature, this record represents a significant stylistic pivot. For the first time since their early 70s work, the duo utilized a more consistent core band rather than an endless rotation of session players, resulting in a 'live' feel that contrasts with the surgical precision of Aja or Gaucho. Walter Becker takes a more prominent role here, playing bass on every track and contributing lead vocals on 'Slang of Ages.' Thematically, the album is preoccupied with obsolescence and decay, using metaphors of corporate liquidation and societal collapse. While it received a more muted critical reception than its predecessor, it is highly regarded by audiophiles for its naturalistic, dry production and by fans for its thematic closure. It remains the only Steely Dan studio album not to achieve gold status, marking the quiet end of one of rock's most singular discographies.