Do you think that Steely Dan are nice people on the inside?

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― man, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 05:21 (twenty-three years ago)

"We're just...worms, I guess" - D Fagen, 1978

― dave q, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 06:41 (twenty-three years ago)

No, they're jerks, and that's why they're great.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:11 (twenty-three years ago)

The concept that they're really nasty, hateful xenophobes is what makes me tolerate their shamelessly jazzbo noodlings.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I think they're hateful and nasty, but xenophobes? C'mon, they project that "we're worldy and world-weary" vibe.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, maybe you're right about that one. I always thought they had no time for anything outside of their LA/NYC axis.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"Bodhissatva, won't you take me by the hand? Won't you show me the thrill of your Japan? The sparkle of your China?"

Okay, so maybe that and "Aja" aren't the best examples, but they're not like Skrewdriver or anything.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:50 (twenty-three years ago)

from what i've seen they are jerks. it would be really intimidating to be in the studio with those guys

― ron (ron), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

arse chomp

― chk chk chk, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 16:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Och! I guess yer right, hstencil. Well, in any case, they're still hateful and filled with contempt for their fellow man.....which makes me respect them. Now, if only their music was more interesting.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 16:02 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

misanthropes alex, misanthropes.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Monday, 31 October 2005 08:08 (twenty years ago)

They seem to have mellowed in person over time. Their lyrics are still mean-spirited as hell, though, which is a good thing.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Monday, 31 October 2005 08:19 (twenty years ago)

actually no nastier than the rest of us at the core, but on the outside they are probably quite a bit nastier (or were..i agree with the above)...which doesn't make me respect them any more or less....well, maybe a little less. d. fagen is a certain kind of eye candy though.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Monday, 31 October 2005 08:25 (twenty years ago)

http://www.hometownfavorites.com/images/items/Large/hfca109.jpg

― when something smacks of something (dave225.3), Monday, 31 October 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

d. fagen is a certain kind of eye candy though

http://www.theoldvillageshop.com/images/shop/products/85.jpg

― Oh No, It's Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 31 October 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

If their music is any reflection, there are howling voids where their souls should be. So they're nice in a completely hollow way that makes you feel vaguely soiled, maybe?

― Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Monday, 31 October 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

If their music is any reflection, there are howling voids where their souls should be.

Motherfuckers, they stole MY idea!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 31 October 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

Steely Dan's Taxicab Confessions is a pretty funny look at Donald and Walter.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 31 October 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

Do you think that Steely Dan are nice people on the inside?

― Confounded (Confounded), Monday, 31 October 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

they are sweethearts.

― howell huser (chaki), Monday, 31 October 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

I could be wrong, but didn't Becker's underage gf OD?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 31 October 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

The real question is; are they pedophiles or do they just enjoy the hot young trim?
(along with the cuervo gold and fine colombian).

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Monday, 31 October 2005 19:53 (twenty years ago)

They're robots!

I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 31 October 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

Trick question: they're marshmallow on the inside.

― jung hova, Monday, 31 October 2005 21:40 (twenty years ago)

i don't know if they are pedophiles, but i always thought damaged and beautiful young women would fit perfectly into their aesthetic which i dream is all that there is in there.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 01:39 (twenty years ago)

I just heard Janie Runaway for the first time - brilliant song, but how could anyone come up with it who ISN'T a pedophile?

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

After Crazy Horse, Royal Trux, Black Sabbath, Drive By Truckers, and possibly Hairy Chapter, best band ever.

They always seemed like nice guys to me, judging by interviews and such.

latter-day Walter Becker looks as much like my father in law as latter-day Fagan looks like Dr Evil. It's uncanny.

― roger, Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

I just heard Janie Runaway for the first time - brilliant song, but how could anyone come up with it who ISN'T a pedophile?

by being a writer

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

I think part of why I don't like them more is that they're so bitter but they never get openly angry. I mean ok, making smooth jazz with a shit-eating grin is original, I guess, but can't they do anything else?

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

I just heard Janie Runaway for the first time - brilliant song, but how could anyone come up with it who ISN'T a pedophile?

by being a writer

Ok, but I guess I'm more wondering *why* than *how*

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

But, I know. I'm not really wondering. It's for effect - it's a great doubletake song - a cheery "you're the cream in my coffee" love song that turns out to be perverse.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 10 November 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

can't they do anything else?

What, do you want a metal album or something?

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 10 November 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

All of a sudden I really want to hear a Steely Dan/Devendra Banhart collaboration.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 10 November 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

"I think part of why I don't like them more is that they're so bitter but they never get openly angry. I mean ok, making smooth jazz with a shit-eating grin is original, I guess, but can't they do anything else?" - i get tired of that shit too. i was going to say that on the janie runaway thread, but you guys seemed so into it.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 10 November 2005 17:59 (twenty years ago)

their first five albums aren't what one would call smooth jazz. the royal scam isn't anything close to smooth.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 10 November 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i was going to say. I would say that "gaucho" and parts of "aja" are the only things that are even close to "smooth jazz". I would say more accurate might be "smoothly arranged"

― b'angelo, Thursday, 10 November 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

And on Countdown to Ecstasythey were rocking as fiercely as Crazy Horse.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 10 November 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)

The Royal Scam is pretty tough, too.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 10 November 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

I think Pretzel Logic, specifically "Rikki," is what sort of made their listenable-smooth-jazzbos-in-a-rock-band rep

― Thomas Tallis (Tommy), Thursday, 10 November 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

smooth jazz or not, its all very controlled. and i think its the content of their songs that is also an issue. how everything is sorta sarcastic and resigned and just wanting to show every dynamic in that way..its totally removed. its like a one-dimensional hollywood character, you know they'll never step out of that mode, you know exactly what to expect. i have at times wanted them to step out but more and more i think there is NOTHING so best not to. i think in the past the music/lyrics were a lot more "edgy" b/c maybe they actually were less resigned.

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 10 November 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

actually they have always been this way and additionally have always loved boilin it down to a handful cliches to describe humans. i don't know why it seems less interesting now. maybe b/c they seem more bitter in reality than ever before...but they are still doing this bullshit. it seems less fun

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 10 November 2005 19:57 (twenty years ago)

Hmmmm, I didn't think their last album seemed more bitter than their earlier stuff. I haven't listened as carefully or exhaustively as most of you, but I didn't get an impression of greater bitterness based on a casual listen to Everything Must Go.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 10 November 2005 20:00 (twenty years ago)

(Oh wait, it looks like they released something since that one and I didn't even notice.)

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Thursday, 10 November 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

AFAIK Everything Must Go is the most recent studio album.

― Brakhage (brakhage), Thursday, 10 November 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

Another question would be, 'Are Steely Dan fans nice people on the inside?'

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 10 November 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

ten years pass...

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen charged with assault on wife

― Anyway, it's not a three, it's a yogh. (Tom D.), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 12:17 (ten years ago)

Lol 2005, probably the last year I still wasn't sure I liked Steely Dan.

― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:49 (ten years ago)

I guess he's going to have to be nice, inside.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 17:14 (ten years ago)

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