OK, I'm done with my tour of Steely Dan albums. As I expected, there was a big stylistic gap between the first 7 albums and the last 2. The top 3 or 4 are all nearly tied still, and 5 and 6 are also very close. My final rankings:
Countdown to Ecstasy
Can't Buy a Thrill
The Royal Scam
Aja
Katy Lied
Everything Must Go
Gaucho
Pretzel Logic
Two Against Nature
I was surprised by how much I liked Everything Must Go as an album. It swings throughout, and it has a nice Walter Becker main vocal on "Slang of Ages" that makes me wonder why he didn't sing more - he's got a good blues tone. Two Against Nature was also very much a jazz/jazz-rock album, and "Jack of Speed" is great, but it just doesn't move me overall. The less cohesive but more exciting Pretzel Logic edged past. #SteelyDan#MastoDan
Steely Dan — aka Walter Becker and Donald Fagen — were once considered toxically uncool. Now, they're enjoying a "Danaissance." In a new book of essays, pop-culture critic Alex Pappademas looks into why the band-that-wasn't-really-a-band is having a moment. Is it their themes of wry disillusionment, endless presence in sample-based hip-hop or famously precise approach to making music?
Thelonious, my old friend
Step on in and let me shake your hand
So glad that you're here again
For one more time
Let your madness run with mine
Streets still unseen, we'll find somehow
No time is better than now
Fans of #theBand take note: Levon's barn studio lit up tonight for the 55th birthday of "Music from Big Pink," played live in its entirety by young #SteelyDan guitarist Connor Kennedy and illustrious others. [via IG: connorfkennedy]
Starting a relisten of the Steely Dan discography, and of the first three albums, I'd rank them thusly:
Countdown to Ecstasy
Can't Buy a Thrill
Pretzel Logic
The first two are very close, with not a lemon on them, and they could easily swap places depending on my mood. The full album ranking may have those two still at the top. Pretzel Logic is much more varied; half the songs are among my favorite by anyone, but I don't think "Night by Night" holds up, the title song is boring, and the jazz cover/ jazz tribute twins are not to my taste. #SteelyDan#MastoDan
Gaucho is making a second appearance here, mostly because I broke out a Japanese import. As was typical at the time, it's an immaculate pressing of a great album.
Brilliance or blasphemy? In 2012 Toronto alternative rock duo #TheDarcys reinterpreted one of the greatest albums of all time, #SteelyDan's #Aja. They made a short film. Love it.
And then an old friend from my college radio days who I told about the youngun who didn't know from Frank immediately responded with this song, so now it's on my mental soundtrack as well. TBH I think it's a safe bet the youngun wouldn't know from Steely Dan either. Or maybe even Aretha. Ah well, time flies when you're having. ("Typo" intended.)
Listening to Billy Joel's “52nd Street“ album and suddenly wonder... “what's this Steely Dan track doing here, am I on some weird shuffle? Doesn't really sound like Fagen vocals though…”
Turns out I was listening to track 4, “Zanzibar” - clearly inspired by the west coast dudes 🎹