Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
Quick Spins
Wednesday, June 11, 2003; Page C05
©2003 The Washington Post Company
Steely Dan has glimpsed the apocalypse just ahead, and of course that puts the guys in a merry mood. "I move to dissolve the corporation / In a pool of margaritas," suggests Donald Fagen on the title track of this new CD. On "Blues Beach," a cheery-sounding boogaloo fit for a frat party, he declares: "Things may get a whole lot worse / Before suddenly falling apart."
Keyboardist-singer Fagen and his copilot, guitarist Walter Becker, are cruising comfily through their fourth decade of Dandom. They're the Coen brothers of rock -- wisenheimer wonder boys who win us over with their complete mastery of craft, even as they keep us at arm's length. This album improves on its immediate predecessor, "Two Against Nature" (2000): It's leaner, lighter on its feet. Lively tempos predominate, the arrangements are soaked in funk, and pleasant harmonic surprises underlie the melodies. As always, the lyrics are packed with vaguely sinister details, but much of the story is tantalizingly withheld. We hear mentions of Gina and Trina and Yvonne, of Abu and Slinky Redfoot and Dave from Acquisitions, but we never quite meet them. Maybe we're better off that way.
"Everything Must Go" displays those smarty-pants Fagen and Becker at the top of their snarky game. Their work may not appeal to the heart, but the brain and the feet love it. Improbably, the Dan abides.
- Peter Kaufman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003; Page C05
©2003 The Washington Post Company
Steely Dan has glimpsed the apocalypse just ahead, and of course that puts the guys in a merry mood. "I move to dissolve the corporation / In a pool of margaritas," suggests Donald Fagen on the title track of this new CD. On "Blues Beach," a cheery-sounding boogaloo fit for a frat party, he declares: "Things may get a whole lot worse / Before suddenly falling apart."
Keyboardist-singer Fagen and his copilot, guitarist Walter Becker, are cruising comfily through their fourth decade of Dandom. They're the Coen brothers of rock -- wisenheimer wonder boys who win us over with their complete mastery of craft, even as they keep us at arm's length. This album improves on its immediate predecessor, "Two Against Nature" (2000): It's leaner, lighter on its feet. Lively tempos predominate, the arrangements are soaked in funk, and pleasant harmonic surprises underlie the melodies. As always, the lyrics are packed with vaguely sinister details, but much of the story is tantalizingly withheld. We hear mentions of Gina and Trina and Yvonne, of Abu and Slinky Redfoot and Dave from Acquisitions, but we never quite meet them. Maybe we're better off that way.
"Everything Must Go" displays those smarty-pants Fagen and Becker at the top of their snarky game. Their work may not appeal to the heart, but the brain and the feet love it. Improbably, the Dan abides.
- Peter Kaufman
20/10: 6:05 outside the stadium
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
This has long been a favourite off Gaucho. This version - while an amateur creation - is notable for the great brass at the beginning - featuring the late Cornelius Bumpus on soprano.....
Glamour Profession
Also of relevance (moderately so) is the content which seems, bearing in mind that imputing stories into Becker Fagan lyrics is obligatory. to focus on drug running out of Bogata into LA. I have just read "Killing Pabl" - a horrific documentary on super criminal Pablo Escobar written by Mark Bowden, which details how "the Glamour Profession" works.
An extract from Wikipedia has Escobar painted thus....
Glamour Profession
Also of relevance (moderately so) is the content which seems, bearing in mind that imputing stories into Becker Fagan lyrics is obligatory. to focus on drug running out of Bogata into LA. I have just read "Killing Pabl" - a horrific documentary on super criminal Pablo Escobar written by Mark Bowden, which details how "the Glamour Profession" works.
An extract from Wikipedia has Escobar painted thus....
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
The latest Downbeat features an extensive article on sax innovator Chris Potter - a musician whose thoughts on music, playing, language and thought itself are both interesting and provocative. Most striking is his ability to grab the melody, harmony and rhythmic principles of a genre (and he does a pile of them) and build great originality into them as he tells his story.
Possibly because of the jazz blues focus of the magazine, Downbeat can be forgiven for missing the following insight into Potter's excellence....
Possibly because of the jazz blues focus of the magazine, Downbeat can be forgiven for missing the following insight into Potter's excellence....
13/11: I'm a Book Keepers Son
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
Superlative Steely Dan - Herrington and the backing vocalists absolutely shine....
Don't Take Me Alive
An old standby from the Baldwin Wheeler days circa 1976. Cook Hotel, Gt King St Dunedin... three days listening to be the only man in town who knew that first chord.
Don't Take Me Alive
An old standby from the Baldwin Wheeler days circa 1976. Cook Hotel, Gt King St Dunedin... three days listening to be the only man in town who knew that first chord.
26/09: Oh no, no hesitation......
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
It was just 35 years since the strains of “Do It Again”, “Dirty Work”, “Reelin’ in the Years and the rest hit the record stores and my ears that we strolled in.....
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
Mark Wilson from Christchurch daily The Press made this of it....
"Bold as brass: with Steely Dan's Walter Becker are Michael Leonhart on trumpet and Jim Pugh on trombone." (Photo: Don Scott)
The headline says plenty - and its been 35 years in the making.......
"Bold as brass: with Steely Dan's Walter Becker are Michael Leonhart on trumpet and Jim Pugh on trombone." (Photo: Don Scott)
The headline says plenty - and its been 35 years in the making.......
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
(Back L-R): Jeff Young, Jim Pugh, Keith Carlock, Jon Herington, Roger Rosenberg, Walt Weiskopf, Freddie Washington (Front L-R) Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery, Michael Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle (Courtesy SteelyDan.com)
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
These notes are from my observation at the the gig plus material from Jon Herington's site.
Herington is the consummate professional. The Q&A on the site is worth reading.
The basic gear set up for the recent tours has been.......
Herington is the consummate professional. The Q&A on the site is worth reading.
The basic gear set up for the recent tours has been.......
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
The toughest part to record....
The personal bit.... "I'll make it this time... I'm ready to walk that fine line...."
The personal bit.... "I'll make it this time... I'm ready to walk that fine line...."
27/05: Steely Dan - Serious Heroes
Category: Steely Dan
Posted by: Admin
Since 1971 - that's 36 years of solid listening. Somewhere in there is a lot of playing too.
Most outstanding feature - every new venture surpasses
Most outstanding feature - every new venture surpasses
