Explain Steely Dan

[Mike Desert]

I don't get it,  I tried briefly a few times in the past 25 years.

Nick Lowe's "So It Goes" is basically a rip off, but I love that song....maybe someone give a 5 song gateway thing. 

[buffcoat]

I recommend watching all of Yacht Rock for an alternate (read: false) history of Steely Dan and other bands of that era. Somehow, thinking of Donald Fagen as speaking in an indecipherable scat-language makes them much more approachable for me.

In seriousness, I more or less like their greatest hits stuff, I more or less can't stand anything else I've heard. I've listened to their last two or three albums once each. Not for me, man.

[mackro]

I didn't like Steely Dan for the longest time.  Granted, being born in the late 60s or early 70s is especially a curse for Steely Dan appreciation, because by the time you're at the age where you really get into music as a kid, which is when disco, punk and new wave have ascended, Steely Dan becomes a cultural joke.  The first time I heard the name Steely Dan was watching a lot of stand-up comedy on TV in the 80s with comedians making jokes about Steely Dan with respect to elevator music.

Sometime in the late 90s, when the Steely Dan reissues on CD came out, I listened to the debut Can't Buy A Thrill, which is probably the best starting point from a classic rock perspective.  I soaked in that album for a while, and I eventually loved it.  I moved forward chronologically slowly and became a fan.   That said, I truly understand why some people never want to open that door and walk in too far.

I'm STILL trying to get into The Grateful Dead, for example... starting with those early albums up until 1970.  I like them a little more now, but they still don't impress me yet.  This is all a personal battle with me.  No one has to try to get into anything just because others are bought into it.

EDIT:

maybe someone give a 5 song gateway thing. 

These songs might be obvious more or less but:
* Dirty Work
* Midnight Cruiser
* Show Biz Kids
* Any Major Dude Will Tell You
* Barrytown

I think Pretzel Logic is the best gateway album actually.. it has the shortest, poppiest songs, and is the best "indie pop" intro to the band -- meaning that it's the mostly jangly, sugary, least showboaty Steely Dan album.

[Mike Desert]

Thanks for the replies.  I'll check out those tunes.  I actually did have Katy Lied in high school because the Minutemen covered Dr Wu, but I remember hating the original

[Mike Desert]

Also, Donald Fagen has never heard Ac/Dc

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/steely-dan-donald-fagen-coachella-tour-diary-part-one-20150407

[Ad]

I recommend watching all of Yacht Rock for an alternate (read: false) history of Steely Dan and other bands of that era. Somehow, thinking of Donald Fagen as speaking in an indecipherable scat-language makes them much more approachable for me.

In seriousness, I more or less like their greatest hits stuff, I more or less can't stand anything else I've heard. I've listened to their last two or three albums once each. Not for me, man.

I still don't like Steely Dan, but Yacht Rock definitely made me see Hall & Oates in a more positive light!

[buffcoat]

I recommend watching all of Yacht Rock for an alternate (read: false) history of Steely Dan and other bands of that era. Somehow, thinking of Donald Fagen as speaking in an indecipherable scat-language makes them much more approachable for me.

In seriousness, I more or less like their greatest hits stuff, I more or less can't stand anything else I've heard. I've listened to their last two or three albums once each. Not for me, man.

I still don't like Steely Dan, but Yacht Rock definitely made me see Hall & Oates in a more positive light!

So pleased! I gained a new respect for Vincent Price, myself.

[nec13]

I recommend watching all of Yacht Rock for an alternate (read: false) history of Steely Dan and other bands of that era. Somehow, thinking of Donald Fagen as speaking in an indecipherable scat-language makes them much more approachable for me.

In seriousness, I more or less like their greatest hits stuff, I more or less can't stand anything else I've heard. I've listened to their last two or three albums once each. Not for me, man.

I still don't like Steely Dan, but Yacht Rock definitely made me see Hall & Oates in a more positive light!

There's no shame in liking Hall & Oates. They made some really solid albums in the 70's and early 80's. Daryl Hall's "Sacred Songs" (made with Robert Fripp) is excellent.

[Carver]

Have no idea in the archives where it is, but one of my favorite Best Show moments is when a caller claims to have gone to "jazz school". He also says that anyone who doesn't like Steely Dan just doesn't understand them.  Tom lets loose on the guy and it's beautiful. 

[Omar]

Have no idea in the archives where it is, but one of my favorite Best Show moments is when a caller claims to have gone to "jazz school". He also says that anyone who doesn't like Steely Dan just doesn't understand them.  Tom lets loose on the guy and it's beautiful.

Not sure of the date of this specific call, but this guy called back on 8/22/06:

- Aaron calls (starts at 58:44) on the worst phone connection of all-time, though he improves it enough to tell Tom that he called a long time ago to argue about Steely Dan, a not-rock band that are currently working as full-time Owen Wilson/Wes Anderson agitators. Tom tells him that they are terrible, and Aaron wonders how he could not like them. Tom wonders how he could like them. Tom determines that there is no chance of a middle ground on the topic, so it's time to move on. Besides the fact that Tom doesn’t like Steely Dan, Aaron thinks he’s funny and enjoys the show. He wishes his friend a Happy Birthday over the airwaves.