How would you categorize Steely Dan?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Algo_Rhythm, Aug 2, 2020.

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  1. Diamond Dog

    Diamond Dog Cautionary Example

    Only if the yacht is smuggling drugs and underaged girls.

    D.D.
     
  2. Rich C

    Rich C Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northbrook, IL
    Yes. I think this is correct. The only way to describe them is to use many nouns and adjectives. Some that come to mind include; Perfectionists, Edgy, Trenchant Lyrics in which I still find myself learning some lyrics that I had managed to gloss over while focusing on the layers of instrumentation. They pay homage to jazz musicians both lyrically and musically. East St. Louis Toodle-Doo still knocks me out for being just about the most unique track to end an album side ever. Lastly, they were able to use the studio as another instrument.
     
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  3. Rich C

    Rich C Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northbrook, IL
    Well, you know, he does have a problem with at least one of his ears!

    He may be more of a Mono guy. Which does not fit the Steely Dan bill, IMHO.
     
  4. MikeP5877

    MikeP5877 V/VIII/MCMLXXVII

    Location:
    OH
    They were Major Dudes
     
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  5. Old Zorki II

    Old Zorki II Storm Watcher

    Location:
    near Tampa, FL
    It's not me who categorize them that way. Or did they play for Jeffrey Epstein?
     
  6. Old Zorki II

    Old Zorki II Storm Watcher

    Location:
    near Tampa, FL
    I learned to like "Barclay James Harvest" before I learned that they are "soft rock". But it was too late, nothing I could do about it and I still like them a lot.
     
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  7. Clear-eyed, non-romanticizing decadent Americana.

    Occasionally with a saxophone.
     
    Suncola and smoke like this.
  8. FunkJazz

    FunkJazz Wake up... and smell the Sunflower

    Location:
    The Netherlands
    In my collection Steely Dan are categorised under ‘jazz’.
    Don’t sound like jazz, but certainly feel like jazz.
    But that’s just me...
     
  9. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    Uptown, baby!
     
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  10. Jackson

    Jackson Senior Member

    Location:
    MA, USA
    Some brilliant genius no doubt.:rolleyes:
     
  11. Old Zorki II

    Old Zorki II Storm Watcher

    Location:
    near Tampa, FL
  12. Jackson

    Jackson Senior Member

    Location:
    MA, USA
    I like it, Becker & Fagen would too.
     
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  13. HfxBob

    HfxBob Forum Resident

    Sophisticated, hyper-intelligent jazz-rock.
     
  14. Parachute Woman

    Parachute Woman Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    The sound can be smooth (though not always) but way too harmonically sophisticated to be lite elevator music. The words are sharp as a knife.

    No genre for them. Its just Steely Dan. The music written by those two guys. Purely individual.

    I find most of the best artists defy easy categorization...
     
  15. Deep Cuts

    Deep Cuts Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Rock band with strong Jazz and R&B influence.
     
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  16. bug2362

    bug2362 Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Seattle, WA
    Yep! Just like Joni...
     
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  17. Parachute Woman

    Parachute Woman Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I actually think Joni is the closest contemporary artist to the Dan rather than any rock band--the mid/late 70s stuff especially. The use of jazz, the unusual chords, the intelligent lyrics...even Larry Carlton.. They were fans of each other too.

    I didn't want to bring her up for fear of being accused of crow baring her into every thread. Oh well! ;)
     
  18. x2zero

    x2zero Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn USA
    California sound, eventually became almost jazz-rock
     
  19. Elliottmarx

    Elliottmarx Always in the mood for Burt Bacharach

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I know we debate it often, but for it to be jazz - and not just jazzy, there needs to be an element of improvisation.
    While that happens on stage, their records were pretty scripted and pre-composed.

    Sometimes we call something jazz because of one or more of the following elements: swung 8ths, complex chords, walking bass lines, horns.
    These things feel like jazz, but without periods of improvisation, I wouldn't be so sure it is jazz.

    I would be tempted to think of Steely Dan as music school rock/ conservatory rock.
     
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  20. Recordingpianoman

    Recordingpianoman Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland
    The most subversive band that ever happened (this is a compliment..!). Slick, impeccably performed music with a beautiful surface, but beware the darkness and seamy characters residing beneath...
     
  21. bug2362

    bug2362 Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Seattle, WA
    I put some of The Doobie Brothers with Jeff “Skunk” Baxter in the The same category. There’s some great stuff on Livin on The Fault Line...
     
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  22. The best american songwriting duo
     
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  23. SG47

    SG47 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Like this post, especially the last sentence.
     
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  24. schnitzerphilip

    schnitzerphilip "Modern Dad" Unlocked Award

    Location:
    NJ USA
    [​IMG]

    Steely Dan is the Patron Saint of Yacht Rock.
     
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  25. Dr. Funk

    Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

    Location:
    Fort Worth TX
    I really don't think one can sufficiently categorize them. Attempting to give them a label is a bit like trying to fit David Lynch's Blue Velvet into a movie genre.
     
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