*** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX ***
Metaphors, sarcasm, downright snarkiness are but a few of the characteristics of a Steely Dan song. The song ”Things I Miss The Most” doesn’t have these telltale Steely Dan signs yet still ranks among their best because of what it does contain.
Unlike what we’ve come to expect from this bunch, the song is an almost straightforward tale of woe about the aftermath of the break up. Many Dan watchers assumed it’s the tale of Walter Becker’s break up from his ex-wife Elinor, but it could be the tale of any well-heeled man having to divide his life with an ex.
Who would of thought that Becker and Fagen could be such softies (a topic Becker hits on even in more detail on his Circus Money album)? Of course it would not be Steely Dan without sly humor with a pinch of earnestness. The protagonist confesses his longing for talk, sex and his beloved Audi TT among other things. How many pop songs mentioned the famed and doomed liner, Andrea Doria and balsa wood in the same sentence?
How many pop songs give you a beautifully simplistic guitar solo (presumably not on a ’54 Strat) and an elegant Ted Baker piano track? The first two songs on Everything Must Go, set a high bar of the album. Too bad they don’t keep it up…
Ed. note: …and when was the last time you’ve heard of porn referred to as a “girlie magazine”? If you’re under the age of 45 or so, possibly never.
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Excellent observation, Preston. This is fairly straight forward lyric wise rather than complex metaphors and other figures of speech that causes numerous explanations. I do love their approach; however, that makes one think!
Thanks Louis
Forbodeing reviews to come? Personally, I prefer the second half of EMG with Greenbook, Pixeleen, Lunch with Gina, and the title track building to a crescendo…with Donald regaining his songwriting swag…something well honed on his last 2 and magnificent solo albums.
I like TIMTM as a minor key combination of film noir and comedy. Baker sounds great. Although tracked live, there’s something about the rhythm section on the Last Mall and this recording that sounds stiff…can’t quite put my finger on it.
I agree Dr. I believe The Last Mall was the only song not recorded live ( but the band to a click track with Carlock dubbed later). Still the cd has a great feel.
I continue to enjoy your observations. You rekindle my enjoyment for the music of these two geniuses. I will be sad when you’ve run out of songs to blog about.
Thanks,
Glen
Thanks for nice comment, Glen. We might keep this series going a little longer with some other SD topics once we run out of songs but fortunately, there are still 2 solo Fagens and a solo Becker to go after this album.
There are 4 Fagan albums unless one has already been done –
The Nightfly
Kamakiriad
Morph the Cat
Sunken Condos
I apologize if I am outta the loop!
Glen, thanks for the note. Rumor has it that they are writing a new Steely Dan album. Even if that doesn’t happen we still have two solo CD’s left and a bunch of unreleased gems…
My bad! I clicked the index which I should have done first, lol!
No problem! Go back and check out what we said about the first two Fagens when you get a chance 🙂