Who Else Is Like Steely Dan?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Chemically altered, Jun 23, 2022.

  1. Chemically altered

    Chemically altered Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Ukraine in Spirit
    A very unique group and one of my favorites, but are there other artists who are similar?
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2022
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  2. pig bodine

    pig bodine God’s Consolation Prize

    Location:
    Syracuse, NY USA
    You can find groups that have a "sound" like them, but they're lyrically unique. I usually don't pay attention to lyrics unless they're terrible, but I love Steely Dan's lyrics.
     
  3. Chemguy

    Chemguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Western Canada
    Not a one.
     
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  4. TheDailyBuzzherd

    TheDailyBuzzherd Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    Nooobody.

    ( BTW, that’s a BIG wink to a related group. )
     
  5. Swansong

    Swansong From Planet Earth

    Location:
    Idaho
    They are a freak of nature in the best way possible.
     
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  6. Monosterio

    Monosterio Forum Resident

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    South Florida
  7. klaatuhf

    klaatuhf Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
  8. stetsonic

    stetsonic Forum Resident

    Location:
    Finland
    If Steely Dan was a European art movie, Toto would be its Hollywood remake. It can be entertaining but something definitely gets lost in the process...
     
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  9. milankey

    milankey Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kent, Ohio, USA
  10. Sgt. Abbey Road

    Sgt. Abbey Road Forum Resident

    Location:
    Graz, Austria
    Chicago‘s early period is kinda similar.
     
  11. Eric_Generic

    Eric_Generic Enigma

    Location:
    Berkshire
    Nope, none I can think of. Not even the many UK bands in the 80s who had the "Steely Dan influence" mentioned in dispatches.

    EG.
     
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  12. SurrealCereal

    SurrealCereal Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    Some of Destroyer’s work sounds a bit like later Steely Dan. It has the slick, sophisticated sound, jazzy touches, and juxtaposition of catchy melodies with cryptically sardonic lyrics. His album Kaputt is very good.
     
  13. 7solqs4iago

    7solqs4iago Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    haven't come across it yet, maybe they haven't been born yet
     
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  14. Monosterio

    Monosterio Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Florida
    I once suggested to an ex-boss that he check out Steely Dan's music. He replied, "Steely Dan? That's like Toto." So I never brought up the Dan again.
     
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  15. stetsonic

    stetsonic Forum Resident

    Location:
    Finland
    :laugh:
     
  16. 7solqs4iago

    7solqs4iago Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Galeans

    Galeans Forum Resident

    Location:
    Italy
    None that I can think of but you may like this:

     
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  18. pbuzby

    pbuzby Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL, US
    10cc
     
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  19. gregorya

    gregorya I approve of this message

    I believe Steely Dan exists in its own singular category. And even though I thoroughly enjoy Becker and Fagen's solo albums, they are close at times, but never really achieve the same synergy that the Dan produced.

    As was mentioned earlier in the thread, the lyrics are a real differentiator in the equation.
     
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  20. pbuzby

    pbuzby Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL, US
    One act I'll mention although I know most will disagree - Seals & Crofts. Different in that their lyrics had a moralistic tone quite unlike Steely Dan, but they were also more musically skilled than most acts of their time, and used many of the same A-list L.A. studio musicians who played with Steely Dan, including the Toto guys.
     
  21. fishcane

    fishcane Dirt Farmer

    Location:
    Finger Lakes,NY
  22. Roland Stone

    Roland Stone Offending Member

    If a student liked Steely Dan and asked for another somewhat similar artist to explore, I'd probably advise mid-period Joni Mitchell, when she was at her jazziest: COURT & SPARK, HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS, HEJIRA, DON JUAN'S RECKLESS DAUGHTER . . .
     
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  23. 7solqs4iago

    7solqs4iago Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto

    we cannot clone a pair of 60s geeky weirdos (with all due respect) who can ironically crank out song after song with indeterminable meaning, probably something to do with the darkest side of underground, drugs, dangerous babes and that whole 70s vibe.
     
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  24. Greg Carrier

    Greg Carrier Senior Member

    Location:
    Iowa City
    Nobody is much like Steely Dan. Trying to find a similar act is a wild goose chase. You can find some with a few superficial similarities, but in the end there's nobody like Becker and Fagen.

    Fortunately, I've listened to them a LOT over the years (I started by buying the 45 of Do It Again right after I heard it on the radio) and I'm still not tired of them.
     
  25. Snarky Puppy

    David Crosby's work with his son James Raymond
     

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