Favorite Steely Dan?

Necromancer · 02-06-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_k

And warhol? I don't know, the Underground made loads of albums without warhol.

I just find Warhol's biography and influence to so many different social aspects that has made such an impact on the modern times of art, music, etc. of today so much more interesting than VU. Velvet Underground may had never existed at all, if it had not been for Andy Warhol. But even still, I do have respect for VU as a band within the history of rock music. I have heard some nice work by the bass player for VU that I liked.

s_k · 02-06-2011, 08:06 PM

I must admit I don't know much about Warhol. He's interesting to say the least, but I never really took time to read some more about him. I just know the standard works.
I love the Underground for their music alone. It is, in my opinion, good stuff. But that's definitely not thanks to Reed's vocals

.

Lisnaholic · 02-06-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_k

Could be, I don't know.
I've heard some of their live recordings and they are pretty good.
But one could say Steely dan is 'Over produced'.
I don't mind though. I like Tool, I like Dream Theater. Same thing.
I should add that Tool live is quite an experience though. Just as tight as it is on their CD's

Yes, I guess Steely Dan worked so hard to create songs that were like perfect jewels that they lost something in terms of spontaneity and roughness.
I`ve never heard of Tool , but it sounds like I should check them out. Thanks.

s_k · 02-06-2011, 08:09 PM

I don't know if you should. Tool is technical (and audiophile) perfection in the shape of metal. If you're not into that, you probably shouldn't. It really has nothing to do with Steely Dan. But when it comes to insane perfection, Tool is the first band I think of.
They actually recorded an album using three different microphones in front of one guitar cabinet, just to create a different sound without having to do all sorts of electronic tweaks. It does sound good, though

Lisnaholic · 02-06-2011, 08:27 PM

^ Thanks, s_k, maybe I`ll put them on my " Check out some other day " list !

Most of what I know about Warhol comes from a wonderful movie about his rise to fame called I Shot Andy Warhol, so I`m no expert either, but I think all he really did was give Velvet Underground a chance when no-one else wanted to book them. He put them in his Factory, where all the New York artists were turning up, so they got a lot of very useful exposure, but the music was all down to the band, wasn`t it ? Warhol just let them do their thing, I think.

Necromancer · 02-06-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

As I understand it they almost never performed live - do you think that`s why "true music enthusiasts" undervalue their material, s_k ?

I read somewhere that one of Steely Dan's latest live performance, a year or so back, they covered their two albums, The Royal Scam and AJA. I don't really see a lot of their music being underrated or as undervalued material by music critics, or as artist that do not perform well live.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_k

But one could say Steely dan is 'Over produced'.

I would say that their albums are some of the best studio produced albums to date. Their quality of musicianship is also just as equal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

they got a lot of very useful exposure, but the music was all down to the band, wasn`t it ? Warhol just let them do their thing, I think.

Warhol insisted once while VU was in the studio recording, that they should just do whatever came to them at that moment, using his philosophy of art without any preparation or rehearsal. The studio music producer said he should just turn the recording equipment on and simply leave the studio to Warhol and VU, since none of his advice was taken in the process of the recording, as which he did, and left the studio.

Lisnaholic · 02-06-2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

I have Steely Dan's albums Gaucho scheduled to listen to next, Donald ***en and Walter Becker spent over a year in the studio, and used 34 different musicians making the album, which includes only seven singles on the album itself. One of the best 2 team songwriters to date, as perfectionist in the studio.

Quote:

Warhol insisted once while VU was in the studio recording, that they should just do whatever came to them at that moment, using his philosophy of art without any preparation or rehearsal. The studio music producer said he should just turn the recording equipment on and simply leave the studio to Warhol and VU, since none of his advice was taken in the process of the recording, as which he did, and left the studio.

So we`ve ended up talking about two bands who had almost opposite approaches to recording, and to using studio time.

Any comments on the Becker and Faygen solo efforts ? I`ve never listened to those albums.

Necromancer · 02-06-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

Any comments on the Becker and Faygen solo efforts ? I`ve never listened to those albums.

No sir, that's my next order on CD's from Amazon. And I just hate the 3 to 5 day wait for delivery

. Already have all of Steely Dan's material, just need to obtain their solo work.

RVCA · 02-06-2011, 10:42 PM

1. Deacon Blues
2. Kid Charlemagne
3. Only A Fool Would Say That
4. Josie
5. Reelin In The Years

But really, I can listen to all of their albums and enjoy every song. They've really got a spotless discography.

s_k · 02-07-2011, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

I would say that their albums are some of the best studio produced albums to date. Their quality of musicianship is also just as equal.

As far as I can say the quality of the recording is good, but not brilliant.
They probably used Yamaha NS10 monitors or something like that. I don't think they had NS10's back then so it probably was some early predecessor of the NS10.
It has a typical sound, especially in the lower frequencies. Once you know what I mean, you will recognize it.
Other Examples are The Eagles' Hotel California and a lot of seventies J. J. Cale stuff.

Quote:

Warhol insisted once while VU was in the studio recording, that they should just do whatever came to them at that moment, using his philosophy of art without any preparation or rehearsal. The studio music producer said he should just turn the recording equipment on and simply leave the studio to Warhol and VU, since none of his advice was taken in the process of the recording, as which he did, and left the studio.

Haha, underproduced?
There's far worse recordings than those. Probably proves that some producers really **** up badly

02-06-2011, 08:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	I must admit I don't know much about Warhol. He's interesting to say the least, but I never really took time to read some more about him. I just know the standard works. I love the Underground for their music alone. It is, in my opinion, good stuff. But that's definitely not thanks to Reed's vocals . __________________ Click here to see my collection

02-06-2011, 08:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	I don't know if you should. Tool is technical (and audiophile) perfection in the shape of metal. If you're not into that, you probably shouldn't. It really has nothing to do with Steely Dan. But when it comes to insane perfection, Tool is the first band I think of. They actually recorded an album using three different microphones in front of one guitar cabinet, just to create a different sound without having to do all sorts of electronic tweaks. It does sound good, though __________________ Click here to see my collection

02-06-2011, 08:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ Thanks, s_k, maybe I`ll put them on my " Check out some other day " list ! Most of what I know about Warhol comes from a wonderful movie about his rise to fame called I Shot Andy Warhol, so I`m no expert either, but I think all he really did was give Velvet Underground a chance when no-one else wanted to book them. He put them in his Factory, where all the New York artists were turning up, so they got a lot of very useful exposure, but the music was all down to the band, wasn`t it ? Warhol just let them do their thing, I think.

02-06-2011, 10:42 PM	#19 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	1. Deacon Blues 2. Kid Charlemagne 3. Only A Fool Would Say That 4. Josie 5. Reelin In The Years But really, I can listen to all of their albums and enjoy every song. They've really got a spotless discography.