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Steely Dan — Deacon Blues
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mapman
(East Coast USA)
Posted: Feb 01, 2011 - 14:10
 
Wow, not so much love for Steely Dan!

I am generally ambivalent on the topic.

Aja is a classic album with great sound though.  Gaucho is in the same vein.

ziggytrix
(Dallas, TX)
Posted: Feb 01, 2011 - 14:07
 
 dvwtwo wrote:

 vesta0424 wrote:
Every time I hear a Steely Dan song, I get depressed.
 
+1

 
You guys are like Steve Martin's character in The Jerk: "There's something about those songs... they depress me." {#Lol}

le_colonel
Posted: Jan 01, 2011 - 06:36
 
A generous 2.

zaknafein
(Kansas City, MO)
Posted: Nov 30, 2010 - 15:34
 
Reminds me of the waiting room at my dentist's office.

Rooney
(Near Paradise)
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 08:27
 
They will always get a10 from me.  an 11 or 12 if it were possible.  Hell, I'll give 'em an 11 anyway.  Thanks for the memories, Dan, and I have nearly all their songs on my MP3.  {#Clap}   {#Music}

tbor79
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:51
 
Steely Dan makes me think think that i'm listening to a lounge act in a hotel bar by an airport somewhere. where's my scotch and soda?

dvwtwo
(Woodbury, CT)
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:51
 
 vesta0424 wrote:
Every time I hear a Steely Dan song, I get depressed.
 
+1


drews
(London, Blighty)
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:50
 

"This is the night of the expanding".... pants


sirdroseph
(Yes)
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:48
 
 vesta0424 wrote:
Every time I hear a Steely Dan song, I  reach sublime happinessget depressed.
 

Fixed it fer ya.{#Meditate}

oilydwarf
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:47
 
If I never heard this, or any other, steely dan song again it would be too soon, far too soon.  Absolute bloody torture! The emporer's new band, imho.

Dinges,_the_Dude
(under sea-level, N52°22', E4°52')
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:47
 
It's only yesterday I drove my car for a long trip and I played the entire AJA album as well as the GAUCHO album and it was a very relaxed en joyfull ride!!!

vesta0424
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 07:46
 
Every time I hear a Steely Dan song, I get depressed.

peter_james_bond
(West Of The Burg)
Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 08:05
 
 Akaiila wrote:
Oh wow - that's like someone pouring icewater down the back of your neck after a beautiful massage. All that beautiful Zero 7 calm and groove just drowned in a schlocky, kitsch 70s bad taste-erama. No amount of irony could salvage this train-wreck.
 
{#Eh} But this song also has a calm groove. It's not like your suddenly jarred out of your reverie by a heavy metal song. Bill programs songs that fit together well and I'd say with Zero 7 and Steely Dan he succeeded yet again. The 70's produced some bad music but Steely Dan does not fit in that category, imo.


h8rhater
Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 08:03
 
 rdo wrote:



 
If the door opens and the car is not there... please take a step in.


ick
(S.E. La Jolla)
Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 07:56
 
 greyfin10 wrote:

You know, there are many criticisms of Steely Dan that I will argue with.  The creepy bit I can't argue with though.  There's always been something a bit seedy about them... The good news is that it's never negatively impacted their genius :)

Two Against Nature had at least three dirty old man songs on it.  Great music all in all though.
 
Well, I reckon that a group that takes their name from a dildo just might be thought of as "seedy".  To me, the '70s era was all a bit seedy...


Akaiila
(London, UK)
Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 07:55
 
Oh wow - that's like someone pouring icewater down the back of your neck after a beautiful massage. All that beautiful Zero 7 calm and groove just drowned in a schlocky, kitschy 70's-like bad taste-erama. No amount of irony could salvage this train-wreck. 

Puke. 


sirdroseph
(Yes)
Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 07:53
 
 reindeer wrote:
Great song from great artists, but...
It's been played to death already, sadly. 
 

This song is so sublime it holds absolute immunity to overplay, absolute!!!!!{#Meditate}

evansdad
(CT)
Posted: Jul 26, 2010 - 07:39
 
Love the whole album.

greyfin10
(Panama City, FL)
Posted: Jun 24, 2010 - 10:39
 
 amb599 wrote:
This was long before my time.  I find it creepy and repetitive...
 
You know, there are many criticisms of Steely Dan that I will argue with.  The creepy bit I can't argue with though.  There's always been something a bit seedy about them... The good news is that it's never negatively impacted their genius :)

Two Against Nature had at least three dirty old man songs on it.  Great music all in all though.



cc_rider
(Austin Texas. Y'all.)
Posted: Jun 24, 2010 - 10:36
 
 Ndugu wrote:
Colleges alluded to in this song:
Alabama
Wake Forest

Alabama was (and still is) a football powerhouse, with the pretentious nickname "The Crimson Tide". I'm guessing that Becker and Fagan relate more to Wake Forest, which lost a lot of football games at that time. Perhaps they were like the marching band ("learn to play the saxophone..."), working behind the scenes, cleverly amused by bizarre rituals of American football.

We talked to a guy named Kenny Vance, who worked with what would become Steely Dan when he was with Jay & The Americans. He confirmed what we suspected: they are weird.

  You haven't been to the beach when there's a red tide, have you? Nasty stuff: I'm not sure I'd like to be called that.

Disclaimer: I grew up in Montgomery, but cared little about Alabama or Auburn.



govna
(beantown)
Posted: Jun 24, 2010 - 10:33
 
 amb599 wrote:
This was long before my time.  I find it creepy and repetitive.

Nevertheless, I'm shaking my booty a little in my chair and am embarrassed about it.  Also I'd like some scotch whiskey. 
 
same sentiment, except with ice cream.  THEN whiskey.


amb599
(New York, NY)
Posted: May 23, 2010 - 14:45
 
This was long before my time.  I find it creepy and repetitive.

Nevertheless, I'm shaking my booty a little in my chair and am embarrassed about it.  Also I'd like some scotch whiskey. 

jimbaca
(Albuquerque)
Posted: Mar 21, 2010 - 07:12
 
If I take the Beatles out of the mix, Aja is quite possibly my favorite album.


tompoll
(Seattle WA USA)
Posted: Feb 17, 2010 - 16:52
 
We saw these guys recently. Keith Carlock on drums. In-friggin-credible.

k_trout
(Dream State)
Posted: Feb 17, 2010 - 16:51
 
love this band

Alpine
(N39d39mW121d30m)
Posted: Feb 17, 2010 - 16:51
 
Under the definition of "Cool Music For My Chic San Francisco Apartment" is a picture of Steely Dan.

reindeer
(Pandora)
Posted: Jan 17, 2010 - 07:10
 
Great song from great artists, but...
It's been played to death already, sadly. 

rdo
(DC)
Posted: Jan 17, 2010 - 07:05
 




Misterfixit
(Nashville)
Posted: Dec 05, 2009 - 14:01
 
 kcar wrote:
 Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
what's a brush pass?
(song's an 8 from me)

Did this person have enough time to enjoy the SD concert between spying? 
 

Brush pass: 

http://www.spytrainer.com/Articles/Tradecraft_exchanges.htm

" - Brush Pass:  This technique requires practice and coordination, but is the easiest method of transfer.  Simply stated, the two agents literally "brush" past one another, passing the item from hand to hand as they go by.  This may be done any number of places; however, it is most securely done in very busy areas, with a thick crowd of people.  The busier it is, the more difficult it would be for any surveillance teams to see the item being passed.  Variations include standing together on a busy train or passing documents between bathroom stalls in a busy public washroom.  The options are unlimited."

MfS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi

The Ministry for State Security, (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, commonly known as the Stasi <ˈʃtazi> (abbreviation German: Staatssicherheit, literally State Security), was the official secret police of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered in East Berlin, with an extensive complex in Berlin-Lichtenberg and several smaller facilities throughout the city. It was widely regarded as one of the most effective and repressive intelligence and secret police agencies in the world. The MfS motto was "Schild und Schwert der Partei"(Shield and Sword of the Party), showing its connections to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), the equivalent to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.


 
Thank you for your posting.

Read a book by my old boss Stuart Herrington: "Traitors Among Us".   Clever those Commies .. but just not clever enough.  Finis.


On_The_Beach
(Vancouver BC, Bud)
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 00:48
 
 TravelRat wrote:
Wow, a blast from the past..."Drink scotch whiskey, all night long..."{#Devil_pimp}
 
. . . and die behind the wheel!


nigelr
(Coffs Harbour, Australia)
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 00:23
 
A plethora of progressions........

justlistening
(So. California)
Posted: Sep 13, 2009 - 11:13
 
Saw these guys in L.A. in August.  Fantastic show.  They did Gaucho in its entirety and then played a great selection of other songs.  As smooth and subdued as their music can be the show was very energizing.

(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: Sep 13, 2009 - 11:11
 


The music is fantastic smooth jazz, and the lyrics are pure poetry...  this really is a great song...



Ndugu
Posted: Jul 28, 2009 - 09:50
 
Colleges alluded to in this song:
Alabama
Wake Forest

Alabama was (and still is) a football powerhouse, with the pretentious nickname "The Crimson Tide". I'm guessing that Becker and Fagan relate more to Wake Forest, which lost a lot of football games at that time. Perhaps they were like the marching band ("learn to play the saxophone..."), working behind the scenes, cleverly amused by bizarre rituals of American football.

We talked to a guy named Kenny Vance, who worked with what would become Steely Dan when he was with Jay & The Americans. He confirmed what we suspected: they are weird.


drjcreative
(Nashville)
Posted: Jul 12, 2009 - 07:59
 
Well said, Lisa. Well said.  LisaF wrote:
I think the music-listening world can be neatly divided into two camps, those who listen to lyrics and those who don't. This is not my favorite song by the Dan, but I'm an aficionado (got everything they've ever done). However, if you belong to the camp that DOES listen to lyrics, you have to doff your cap to this one. I mean, come on "I crawl like a viper through these suburban streets, make love to these women, languid and bittersweet" and " I take one last drag, as I approach the stand". Lyrics just don't come a lot better than that (unless it's another Steely Dan song song, such as "Throw Back the Little Ones". You can say what you want about the music, the style might be your cup of tea, might not, but the musicianship is, like all Dan songs, impeccable. Humbly submitted...
 



Lupitadise
(Algarve, Portugal)
Posted: Jul 12, 2009 - 07:42
 
               Donald Fagen & co - I have not heard them in a long while
Niiiiiiiiiice {#Smile}

cmrump
(Flatland)
Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 13:50
 
 kcar wrote:

It took me a long time to appreciate SD. For a long time their sound was too close to easy jazz—especially this song—but I guess my tastes grew up. There aren't many bands with their sound, sophistication and intelligent lyrics.

Thanks, Idylwild, for the tip about the origin of the band name...I'd forgotten that. 

 
I'm 42 and still waiting for SD to grow on me. and the Doors.  


peter_james_bond
(Lunenburg, NS)
Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 12:31
 
As someone said, Smoooth Jazz. One of my favorite Steely Dan songs, with fine lyrics such as these:

I cried when I wrote this song
Sue me if I play too long
This brother is free
I'll be what I want to be

They got a name for the winners in the world
I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the crimson tide
Call me deacon blues

mandolin
(...drifting...)
Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 12:25
 
...if you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain...

JoBo
(California)
Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 12:25
 
Friend, I could not agree any more with you.  Outstanding tune!!!   {#Yes}


sirdroseph wrote:
Another one of the greatest songs in recorded history!!!!{#Yes}
 



sirdroseph
(Outer Mongolia)
Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 12:23
 
Another one of the greatest songs in recorded history!!!!{#Yes}

kcar
Posted: May 09, 2009 - 21:33
 
 Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
what's a brush pass?
(song's an 8 from me)

Did this person have enough time to enjoy the SD concert between spying? 
 

Brush pass: 

http://www.spytrainer.com/Articles/Tradecraft_exchanges.htm

" - Brush Pass:  This technique requires practice and coordination, but is the easiest method of transfer.  Simply stated, the two agents literally "brush" past one another, passing the item from hand to hand as they go by.  This may be done any number of places; however, it is most securely done in very busy areas, with a thick crowd of people.  The busier it is, the more difficult it would be for any surveillance teams to see the item being passed.  Variations include standing together on a busy train or passing documents between bathroom stalls in a busy public washroom.  The options are unlimited."

MfS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi

The Ministry for State Security, (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, commonly known as the Stasi <ˈʃtazi> (abbreviation German: Staatssicherheit, literally State Security), was the official secret police of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered in East Berlin, with an extensive complex in Berlin-Lichtenberg and several smaller facilities throughout the city. It was widely regarded as one of the most effective and repressive intelligence and secret police agencies in the world. The MfS motto was "Schild und Schwert der Partei"(Shield and Sword of the Party), showing its connections to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), the equivalent to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.





Wizzuvvoz
(Land of Nod. East of Eden on Route 66.)
Posted: May 09, 2009 - 19:13
 
 lophrequa wrote:

what's a MfS guy?
 what's a brush pass?
(song's an 8 from me)



youngers
(Seattle, WA)
Posted: May 09, 2009 - 19:01
 
I don't know why but Steve Gadd's drums on this song kills me.

kcar
Posted: May 09, 2009 - 19:01
 

It took me a long time to appreciate SD. For a long time their sound was too close to easy jazz—especially this song—but I guess my tastes grew up. There aren't many bands with their sound, sophistication and intelligent lyrics.

Thanks, Idylwild, for the tip about the origin of the band name...I'd forgotten that. 


lophrequa
(the very edge of the land)
Posted: May 09, 2009 - 19:00
 
 Misterfixit wrote:

Wow Small World!   I was there too, doing a brush pass to pick up some cool secrets from a disaffected MfS guy who was Illegal in the British Sector.  Great concert too!  Ah, Berlin-Zehlendorf, what a place!

Gruess und Spass mit Fass ....

 
what's a MfS guy?


Misterfixit
(Nashville)
Posted: Apr 08, 2009 - 05:17
 
 von_Hayek wrote:
Heard this the first time in 1983, it was a cold and windy November day in Berlin and I immediately fell in love with SD. Thanks Bill!
 
Wow Small World!   I was there too, doing a brush pass to pick up some cool secrets from a disaffected MfS guy who was Illegal in the British Sector.  Great concert too!  Ah, Berlin-Zehlendorf, what a place!

Gruess und Spass mit Fass ....


Darlington
(Columbia, South Carolina)
Posted: Apr 08, 2009 - 05:17
 

Great, great song. Aja remains one of my all time favorite albums...



haretic
(Vancouver Island)
Posted: Mar 07, 2009 - 16:25
 
I love Steely Dan.  Thank you for playing this song, with it's great cutting lyrics and smooth music.  {#Meditate}
That being said, I don't see any mention in the comments for this song of the origin of the band's name.  So, with reckless disregard for the ammunition said origin will provide Steely Dan haters:
Steely Dan III was the name of a dildo in the 1959 novel Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs.  I believe the story was that Steely Dan the first and second perished in performance of their, er, "duties."{#Cowboy}

dedawson
(You never know where you're going til you get there (TOaks, CA))
Posted: Mar 07, 2009 - 16:13
 
 spindrift wrote:
Becker and Fagen can do no wrong.{#Notworthy}
 
Doesn't boring me silly count as wrong. {#Sleep}Too much of their stuff sounds like too much of their stuff.