[Aquinasfan]

and just think of them like Gertrude Stein poetry: The words as music.

That's the way I've felt about a lot of their songs. But I haven't been able to figure out if I really believe it or if I'm just making excuses for nonsense lyrics. I think I agree with you though.

Take, "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. To me, the lyrics are just pretentious nonsense. But there is something "there" in Steely Dan tunes like "Do it Again," "Black Friday," "Aja," and many others. It's poetry.

Steely Dan stands the test of time very well.

[Illbay]

Agreed, Dan is ageless. It is not "seventies music" as some try to portray it. It is proto-Acid Jazz, it is poetry, it is Big Band, it's fully clever in all respects.

I'm listening to "Pretzel Logic" right now, and it's as fresh today as it was back when I was a high schooler. Can't say that about too many bands that have come and gone (and come again).