This one goes out to all the Steely Dan freaks, nerds and weirdos out there — you know who you are, and to the haters as well (you, too, know who you are). My friend and fellow Dan advocate, T. Law, put this comp together about nine years ago when we were both knee-deep in our excitement over the release of Fagen and Becker’s first studio LP in 20 years, Two Against Nature (preceded by 1980′s Gaucho). Consisting of live, radio/tv sessions, the disc served as a bit of a primer for seeing the Dan live, for the first time, in the summer of 2000.
So, here is my question: In the ’00s, who is our Steely Dan? Is there one? By the way, this is not a query aimed at those only familiar with their classic rock radio “hits,” nor those with some sort of misplaced ironic appreciation.
Download:
MP3: Steely Dan :: Show Opener (Royal Scam–>Bad Sneakers–>Aja)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Kid Charlemagne (Storytellers)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Green Earrings (Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Pretzel Logic (PBS Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Midnight Cruiser (Manassas, VA)
MP3: Steely Dan :: FM (PBS Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Your Gold Teeth II – instrumental (Live ’74)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Any Major Dude Will Tell You (Live ’88)
MP3: Steely Dan :: The Boston Rag (Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: This All Too Mobile Home (Live ’74)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Jack of Speed (PBS Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Bad Sneakers (Live)
MP3: Steely Dan :: Home At Last (Live ’94)
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As a long time Dan fan, I salute you for this!
1 | Bruce February 19th, 2009 at 10:25 pmIn the ’00s, who is our Steely Dan? Is there one?
i’m gonna have to think about this one awhile…
2 | theMike February 19th, 2009 at 11:57 pmMy Morning Jacket.
3 | carmalito February 20th, 2009 at 12:21 am[...] New Dans of Steel? Tonight Aquarium Drunkard poses the question, “In the ’00s, who is our Steely Dan?” I couldn’t think of [...]
4 | The New Dans of Steel? « The Muse In Music February 20th, 2009 at 1:09 amThis is beautiful. Please also reload the Gaucho outtakes!!!
5 | andres February 20th, 2009 at 3:23 amI hate to admit liking Steely Dan (ok, if it’s not shameful to like Boz Scaggs, then it’s not shameful to like Steely Dan), but their music has an incredibly distinct feeling (they are indeed the pioneers of jazz-rock – everyone who attempted jazz-rock post-Dan was either delusional or incredibly lame) that makes it impossible to dislike (in certain aspects). When I still had Aja on my iPod it was one of my most listened-to albums. Accolades to Steely Dan, and a repost of the Gaucho outtakes would be phenomenal (my incessant rambling makes evident my inner music writer – wish I was one).
6 | Funky Rutabaga February 20th, 2009 at 8:35 amI love the Dan and would love to admit it. Killer mix, I’m just getting deeper and this is perfect timing. Wish I could help out on the Steely-Dans-of-today question.
7 | Brendan February 20th, 2009 at 9:25 amwhat about The Books?
8 | Brendan February 20th, 2009 at 9:26 amI take it back- I am NOT afraid to admit I love Steely Dan.
Sounds like a title for a Yo La Tengo album.
9 | Funky Rutabaga February 20th, 2009 at 11:06 amUntitled instrumental = Your Gold Teeth II (sans vocals).
not ashamed to love the Dan.
10 | ES February 20th, 2009 at 11:53 amWhat about the Beta Band?
11 | ES February 20th, 2009 at 11:55 amI’m happy to admit that I love Steely Dan (and Boz Scaggs, Funky Rutabaga!). Thank you so much for this.
12 | barbara February 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm@ es, thx for the remider – i forgot to change the titles form the cd rip.
13 | Satisfied '75 February 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pmSteely Dan is the Steely Dan of the 00′s. Ween is great too!
14 | josh February 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm[...] Aquarium Drunkard: MP3 Blog, Music Blog » Steely Dan :: Live … [...]
15 | Work The Cube » Blog Archive » How to solve a Rubik’s Cube (Part One) February 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pmWhen Aja came out I was too young to appreciate them. Later on in High School, my girlfriend played me their earlier albums and I was hooked. I considered them up there with Zappa, Dylan and the Beatles in terms of songwriting muscle. However, back when Goucho came out, Rolling Stone gave it one star, and I have to agree. Goucho turned so people off of Steely Dan, it hurt their reputation for years to come. Thank God for Two Against Nature — which ranks as one of their best. When I first heard Jack of Speed, I thought, yes, they’re back! Thanks for posting these tracks! Long live the Dan.
16 | Ralph February 21st, 2009 at 1:10 amHey my man. Very nice throwing in ‘Your Gold Teeth II’ & ‘This All Too Mobile Home’. Actually, very similar to my own Dan comp. Keep up the good work
17 | RCS February 21st, 2009 at 1:10 amI never seemed to be sold on Gaucho (similar to comment #16). Aja, though, is (personally) one of my favorite albums from the late 70s. Steely Dan hit their creative peak between 1974-1977, when their best albums were produced.
With the obvious professed love of Steely Dan, I am not afraid to admit being a “Dan fan”. Guess I was over influenced by some music connoseiurs I know – great people (they introduced me to, amongst other things, Aquarium Drunkard) – who are not “Dan fans”. Thank you for realigning my perspective on Steely Dan.
18 | Funky Rutabaga February 21st, 2009 at 9:35 amI love Steely Dan, and I love 90% of the music posted here.
I’d put up Wilco as our Steely Dan. Especially with Sky Blue Sky. Rock music played a mix of country, jazz and rock musicians and great, pointed lyrics.
19 | Stephen February 21st, 2009 at 11:44 amin a weird way, Karate is like a raw simplified version of Steely Dan.
Whitest Boy Alive is good jazz rock too:
20 | craigertiger February 21st, 2009 at 2:53 pmhttp://craigertiger.tumblr.com/post/72840981/intentions-by-whitest-boy-alive-i-was-really
RE: gaucho outtakes. label wasnt happy, had to remove them.
21 | Satisfied '75 February 21st, 2009 at 7:27 pm[...] Click here to go to AD to check a nice collection of live cuts from Steely Dan “FM (Live PBS Version)”, “Kid Charlemagne (StorytellersVersion)”, “Any Major Dude Will Tell You (Live 88)”, “Jack of Speed (PBS Live)…plus many more. Great post by the Aquarium Drunkard. [...]
22 | Lots of Steely Dan Goodies…Including “FM (PBS Live Version)” « Rock God Cred February 23rd, 2009 at 6:51 amOddly enough, I think it could have been Axl Rose.
Chinese democracy tries to synthesize a lot of musical elements in a traditional rock and certainly he spends lots of time in the studio with expensive studio musicians and it’s not cool to like him. But then nobody really likes the album that much and I don’t hear a Peg on that album or even a Fez.
Vote two is for Beck, because he fits many of the above requirements, he understand irony as well… but is it still cool to like Beck?
23 | gorilla February 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 amLove the interview about the cab driver and the “stupidest lyric” in New York City. “Is there gas in the car? Yes there’s gas in the car.” LOL.
Becker and Fagan are some interesting dudes. They sure knew how to pick players and get good performances from them.
24 | DPZ February 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm[...] always fantastic Aquarium Drunkard featured some live Dan tracks last week and I’ve spent all morning geeking out on [...]
25 | Dorking Out On Dan – music : food : travel : culture February 25th, 2009 at 2:33 pmSteely Dan is back on my iPod (Aja – I’ll have to get these tracks too). I just listened to it (I have been all day) and am mesmerized. Thanks again for altering my view on Steely Dan for the better
26 | Funky Rutabaga February 25th, 2009 at 4:15 pmWho is the 21st Century Steely Dan? Man, that is so so tough. The Dan is really, truly like no one else. And then they’re like many many other sounds at the same time. They have such a very very strong sound. I feel like you can’t listen to their music with a bunch of other people that you don’t know well because – very often – people have a such a strong reaction to it; positive or negative. I never really considered them until I was 25 years old and I lived with a couple guys who were Dan FREEKS. They were super intelligent, hard-core, studious musicians and they “showed me the light.”
27 | Jimmy February 26th, 2009 at 7:04 pmSo: Beck, Wilco, Beta Band, Axl Rose? (mentioned above). I don’t know. I would say nobody is today’s Dan. Nobody appreciates both the groove and the complications that the Dan embrace. I mean, you could throw Black Dice or Battles or RJD2 into the equation. Couldn’t you?
Check out Steely Dan’s 1976 album The Royal Scam. The whole album is phenomenal, but the best tracks are two immensely underappreciated ones; The Caves of Altamira and The Fez. Funky stuff.
28 | Funky Rutabaga February 27th, 2009 at 8:47 amwow!!
this has really made my day…Thankyou!
Ive not found anyone that I can compare adequately with Steely Dan. The last Gonzales album (Soft Power) had a couple of early dan sounding tracks but can’t be considered a true contender in the 00s comparison.
Don’t feel like i’m desparate to find a comparison really…Steely Dan’s albums have amazing longevity… well, i’m not bored yet anyway and i’ve been listening since my parents AJA to me in the womb!
29 | jema February 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pmIt’s a complicated question, the who-is-the-Dan-of the new century. Let’s ask Fagen and Becker. No?
I must confess I’ve posed it to myself on more than one occasion. It depends on how philosopcal one wants to get I guess. Are we talking about a one to one musical comparison or are we talking about an apprach to recording and prehaps music in general that is uniquley Steely Dan? Or the whole package?
I’ve not heard anyone yet who has really figured it out. Not to say I haven’t been waiting.
I will say this. There was a few moments in Early 2000 that I believed there might be a contender. A French band (gasp i know) by the name of Phoenix on their debut record United managed a very diamond edged, studio honed, heady concoction of sophisticated rowdiness that, right of the gate with the ‘Schools Rules” had me counting down to ecstasy if you know what I’m saying. I highly recommend it. Criminally overlooked record. Subsequent offerings have been wonderfully enjoyable and still sprinkled with Steely moments — but nothing that would allow me to confer upon them the title Dan mantle takers.
30 | william February 27th, 2009 at 2:04 pmPrefer the old stuff–Countdown to Ecstasy, The Royal Scam, Katy Lied, Pretzel Logic, Can’t Buy a Thrill.
31 | Morty February 27th, 2009 at 5:40 pmBack when they rocked it.
I lost it at Aja. Probably cause I heard it like a million times on the classic rock station on my youth.
I disagree with others above re: Two against Nature. That was a crime against nature.
My Old School is awesome. Still love hearing the line California tumbles into the sea…
The Caves of Altamira is amazing. about 1997 someone gave me a cassette of what is now commonly labeled “Android Warehouse”. it is IMHO one of the best outtake tapes ever. so raw. “the caves”on there is amazing. it’s like hearing the newley released “sugar mountain” neil young release. listening to something at it’s genesis. check it out.
as for today’s dan? my vote goes to tv on the radio
32 | patrad March 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm[...] Aquarium Drunkard: MP3 Blog, Music Blog » Steely Dan :: Live … [...]
33 | Work The Cube » How to solve a 4×4×4 Rubik’s Cube (Part Two) March 6th, 2009 at 4:14 am[...] Located this blog yesterday for you Steely Dan Fans, Live/Radio sessions from 1974- 2000. Interesting versions of old favorites: http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2009…nsradio-74-00/ [...]
34 | Steely Dan Radio Sessions Downloads April 25th, 2009 at 1:00 amI don’t want to pee on anyone’s parade but there is no 00 Dan equivalent, can never be & will never be! Why do I say this so rigidly, well The Dan were/are quite musically unique. Why re-make something musically that’d be a complete waste of time, Suede tried and failed miserably (although they were ace) to re-make ziggy/bowie/the thin white duke and the nearest a group has ever gotten to kind of sounding like The Dan were Samuel Purdie back in the 90′s but they were a one off from a group of guys horsing around, check them out on Youtube. One could cite The Doobie Brothers but I hate to say it I can’t see any band touch on The Dan’s style and musical panache, I think it best that we leave it to Becker & Fagen to play it out.
35 | Tonedef September 21st, 2009 at 4:11 pmnew steely dan contenders:
ryan power
chris weisman
look them up….
36 | gd September 29th, 2010 at 8:37 pm