Steely Message -- A new album in a different world

National Review Online ^ | 6/16/2003 | Robert J. Toth

[frmrda]

Agreed. Those backup singers on the TvN tour were great. (I can't keep track of all the musicians they've used - although on this one, surprisingly, its the exact same band on every song, which is a first for SD)

Actually though, "Dirty Work" is the one and only Steely Dan song I really hate. "Do It Again" is next. But other than those 2 everything is great, as are Donald's solo albums. Walter Becker would be best serves not putting out any other singles albums, although "Slag of Ages" is a good song.

And let's face it, even SD's mediocre stuff is better than most anything else out there today.

[TLBSHOW]

Here are Steely Dan's tour dates:

July 23: Costa Mesa, Calif. (Orange County Fair) July 24: Paso Robles, Calif. (Mid-State Fair) July 26: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Harbor) July 27: Tahoe, Nev. (Harvey's Outdoors) Aug. 1: Portland, Ore. (Coliseum) Aug. 2: George, Wash. (Gorge Amphitheatre) Aug. 4: Denver (Fiddler's Green) Aug. 7: St. Paul, Minn. (X-Cel Energy Center) Aug. 8: Chicago (United Center) Aug. 9: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center) Aug. 11: Clarkston, Mich. (Pine Knob) Aug. 12: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Blossom Music Center) Aug. 14: Toronto (Molson Ampitheatre) Aug. 16: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center) Aug. 17: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center) Aug. 19: Manchester, N.H. (Verizon Wireless Arena) Aug. 20: Hershey, Pa. (Hershey Park) Aug. 22: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach) Aug. 23: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Center) Aug. 25: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun) Aug. 27: Bristow, Va. (Nissan Pavilion) Aug. 29: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga PAC) Aug. 30: Atlantic City, N.J. (Etess Arena at the Taj Mahal) Aug. 31: Syracuse, N.Y. (New York State Fair)


.....
from the link i gave before

[1Old Pro]

I can't wait for their concert in Saratoga. It sure beats listening to Santana preach about peace and his hatred for republicans.

[frmrda]

Well, SD (especially Becker) are big time liberals. I've heard Walter slam Bush 41 on tour and heard Fagan bad mouth him on TV. But I don't care. These guys could be leaders of the communist party so long as they keep putting out great music.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I'll be honest: If I never heard Walter Becker sing again, I'd be okay with that. (He strikes me as a bit of a wannabe in that regard.) I much prefer Donald Fagen's strained, reaching-for-the-top-of-his-range-with-hardly-any-control thing, for some reason. Maybe it's the tension. Maybe it's the way the delivery sort of betrays the lyrics - you can sort of be sucked in, listening casually along and then you realize later what the subject matter is.

Case in point: The bit about "face time" in the "service elevator". That's a pretty wild lyric but he expresses everything so smoothly, so seemlessly, that I didn't even catch it until the third or fourth listen to "Everything Must Go".

There are a lot of examples like that. There are just so many cool things going on musically...then lyrically, it's like being around somebody with a really dry sense of humor.

Man, I love those guys.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, SD (especially Becker) are big time liberals.

No question about it, unfortunately. They even invited Clinton to sit in with them at one point. (Seriously. So liberal they were willing to tolertate his ninth-grade level sax playing. Gag.)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Carolyn Leonhart here (on the right - LOL):

[jimbo123]

http://www.steelydan.com/yobill.html

An Invitation To Our President


7/9/96
Dear Bill:

It has come to our attention that you will be spending the evening here in Charlotte tonight. Coincidentally our band, Steely Dan, will be performing here at the Blockbuster Pavilion just outside of town. We would like to invite you to come on down to the gig and sit in with the band. Our tunes are pretty simple and all are in easy keys. The other guys in the horn section are eager to have you play, and in fact so is the entire band, as you can see from the personal invitations printed below. So feel free to fall by if you get the urge to blow.

Sincerely,

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker
a.k.a. Steely Dan

P.S. In deference to the strong religious sentiment prevalent here in this part of the state, our talented and lovely female vocalists Carolyn Leonhart and Michelle Wylie have been requested to wear esemble # 3, which is the Catholic Schoolgirl Look, for tomorrow night's show. Just thought you might want to know.



Take a break from your regular gig and come rock with us for a couple of hours - Michael Leonhart (trumpet player, son of Jay Leonhart - Nancy LaMott's bass player)



It's the hottest ticket in Charlotte - and we're pretty sure Bob Dole won't show - Wayne Krantz (Guitar)



We've got a horn section full of Democrats just dyin' for you to join us Mr. President - Michelle Wiley (Backing vocals)



I'm praying for you every day, so to take your mind off your work, come and join us and relax! You are the best President - Ricky Lawson (Drums)




My Dad has performed for you (with Nancy LaMott) and I would love the chance to do the same! If you have trouble getting tickets, I'll be happy to give you my comps! - Carolyn Leonhart (Backing Vocals)




It would be an honor to have you play with us. We're also short one tenor player - Tom Barney (Bass)




President Clinton - My grandfather was the High School Band Director in Hope Ark (Ruel Oliver) and my Uncle Dub went to school with your Mom! Take a break and come up and jam with one of your homeboys - John Beasley (Piano)




Bill - We'd love to have you come down, and don't forget to bring your ax - Ari Ambrose (Sax)




Hi Bill - Keep up the good work. You can take my solo on Hey Nineteen - Cornelious Bumpus (Sax)

[Cboldt]

Holy Cow. I must have been really asleep at the switch.

Steely Dan -BUMPUS-

Sweet start. Glad to see them still at it. Steely Dan is my favorite.

Called the record store, they have it. RUN down, pick it off the rack, it's even on sale. Life is good, today.

[b4its2late]

wrapping Aug. 31 in Syracuse, N.Y.

THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR, I presume......

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Yeah, I saw that a couple of years ago. Thanks for posting it so others could. It says a lot about their music that I still love them after reading all that.

(But I think I'm going to be sick now.)

[jimbo123]

You'd think that for the $85 concert tickets and $35 t-shirts we're buying, they'd show a little more respect to those of us who fund their limousine liberal lifestyle.

[Ferret Fawcet]

Listening now- I'm up to Blues Beach

it's FANTASTIC... as good as anything they've ever done

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, I wish they would too - but like a lot of liberals, they probably don't grasp the idea that not everyone thinks the way they do. Could be the "How did this HAPPEN? I don't know ANYONE who voted for Reagan!!" Syndrome.

Or maybe they just don't care.

(That gig is a dream gig for a female singer, but when I read that stuff about Clinton, my first thought was that I couldn't kiss up to that jerk no matter who wanted me to do it. Even that gig - The Gig of Gigs™ - wouldn't be worth it.)

[IonInsights]

This review now posted on Steely Dan's website.