If you love Steely Dan, you may also like...?

Does anyone else do jazzypoprocksoul as good as The Dan?

Suggestions please.

 

Insane Clown Posse, Madonna and Bread.

 

Check out this release by a bunch of top notch sessions guys, I always thought they would make a great "Dan" band with the inclusion of Becker/Fagen link-http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist/music/detail.aspx?pid=9447&aid=2788

 

You might check out No-Man's Returning Jesus album. It has some jazzy elements, and that sheen of perfection I asociate with the Dan. I think it is a GREAT album.

 

As good as ' Dan? Good luck finding that.


I sort of like Pablo Cruise, as a poor man's SD.

 

Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees (with members of Toto)

Others may disagree. For me, it occupies a similar musical corner of the universe, albeit with less sophisticated lyrics.

 

Donald Fagen Solo is pretty close to 'Steely Dan'. The Nightfly sounds like classic Steely Dan to me.

 

I agree; if anyone has only heard the radio hits, they are missing out. Lot's of great stuff. I first came to apprecaite his deeper cuts on his 2 disc anthology, then went deeper into his catalog.

 

There just isn't anybody like Steely Dan, in my opinion.

 

Check out Michael Franks - The Art of Tea

Jazzy pop featuring Franks' singing and clever songwriting and played by a stellar cast of musicians including Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Wilton Felder, Michael Brecker and David Sanborn.

 

I agree this is an under-exposed great album. But it sounds nothing like Steely Dan to me, and there's nothing remotely danceable on it.

It is, however, an understated superb music listening experience. Just dim the lights a little and be prepared to sit back for a while.

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree there, HiFi Guy. The use of trumpet and several other elements remind me of SD, especially Gaucho era Dan-though this album definitely has its own thing going on.

I don't consider either SD or No-Man remotely danceable.

Thats the fun of art. Two people can perceive things completely differently...

 

STATE COWS
A swedish band, bent on the sounds of 1978-1982 West Coast pop-jazz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17qt_90Q9c
Not as 'brainy' as SD, but a great sound. Check out a few of their songs if you have time.

 

Well, maybe a Steely Dan tribute band!!!

 

+ 1
They're unique. The problem with being a Steely Dan fan is that the bar has been raised too high. The only other acts you're able to enjoy after that are XTC and Prefab Sprout (Paddy McAloon' music is fantastic but his lyrics are more of a mixed bag to me).

...but let me suggest early High Llamas: I'm probably the only fan of "Santa Barbara" here. IMO Sean O'Hagan has always been at his most convincing when drawing inspiration from "Katy Lied" instead of the more celebrated "Friends"-era Beach Boys leanings (+ late sixties Bacharach and a bit of Morricone), which more than often sounds like lazy mimicking to me (I'll admit there are a few pearls here and there though).



From a strictly sonic point of view, "Gaucho" and "Nightfly"-era can lead to contemporary Michael McDonald and - personal favourite - Bill Labounty's eponymous 1982 album. Additional keywords: Gary Katz, Russ &/or Lenny, Jay Graydon

another +1

 

I have found many compatible artists to Steely Dan, but none that compare equally.

Among the artists I enjoy that, at times, might remind me of the Dan musically if not lyrically:

-- Michael Franks (anything pre-1982)
-- Larsen-Feiten Band
-- Stuff
-- The Bliss Band (the first album, Eating With Raoul)
-- The Crusaders (anything mid-to-late '70s with Larry Carlton (aka Mr. Royal Scam) on guitar)
-- The Doobie Brothers' Livin' On The Fault Line album
-- Boz Scaggs' Down Two Then Left is even MORE Dan-like than Silk Degrees, IMO.

 

What was the name of that Dixie Dregs song that I used to think was Steely Dan?

 

Back in the late 70's, the band Charlie drew some comparisons to Steely Dan but that was pretty much the early Dan sound, not the Aja/Gaucho-era.

 

Montreal's Local Rabbits (defunct).

 

Yes, that one's recommended. There's much more to it than just the well known singles. Other recommended titles:

Laura Nyro - Nested
Laura Nyro - Mother's Spiritual
Laura Nyro - Walk The Dog And Light The Light (produced by Gary Katz)
Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates (Donald Fagen contributes keyboards, Steely Dan session men also appear)
Rickie Lee Jones - Flying Cowboys (Walter Becker produces)

 

Well, if you're a Steely Dan fan. you're probably 40 or better and have absolutely what new music to listen to (we're all there, folks). So I would recommend ...

CAKE

Now Cake isn't as jazz influenced as Steely Dan, they're more rock/pop. So you're looking for borderline SOFT ROCK (as poor Steely Dan have since been pegged), and expansive jazzy solos, look elsewhere. But what they do share are great catchy melodies (dont' forget Becker and Fagan were Tin Pan Alley escapees) and briliant, satrical lyrics. Spiritually, I see CAKE as following in Steely Dan's footsteps - good songwriting with hooks and horns and quirky melodies, but while Becker and Fagan go for obtuse, mad poetry, CAKE's lyrics are more straight forward but tell equally biting and FUNNY tales. Again, don't expect minute long Jeff Skunk Baxter solos, CAKE works more with a straight pop framework. But if you want to listen to music that is actually intelligent, I recommend CAKE. "Motorcade of Generosity" is probably their best album and essential stuff!

 

G'day,

If you love Steely Dan, you may also like ... stroking yer chin and wanking to hi-fi porn

Just jokes ... I love "Gaucho", "Aja", "Nightfly" and most of "Two Against Nature".

What's similar? I dunno ... maybe some later Supertramp? I'm thinking specifically of "Some Things Never Change" ... back in the day that CD haunted the stereo demonstration rooms as much as "Aja" did. And I'm listening to Rickie Lee Jones' self-titled CD right now ... that oughta scratch yer Steely Dan itch pretty well IMHO.

--Geoff

 

Check out Eye to Eye. Not as good as the Dan, sbut similar in style and pretty good. Gary Katz produces and Fagan makes a guest appearence.

 

Oh, you've gotta check out JaR. I'll just refer you to their website:

http://www.jarzone.com

It features Jay Graydon (who did the guitar solo on "Peg") and Randy Goodrum - a great songwriter/singer/musician. Trust me. If you check them out, you won't be sorry. They are very Dan.

Ed