• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Steve Albini explains why he hates Steely Dan

#262
I've been a fan of Steely Dan for over 40 years, still am, but after watching the referenced video and hearing Chuck Rainey's describing how he had to hide his slap style playing on Peg, it didn't sound like a fun gig. He pretty much summed up the reaction as "that sounded great, don't ever do that again."
Luckily, I doubt I'll ever have to suffer through a Steely Dan recording date.
 
#264
BassBrass said:
As a humor piece this is a throwback and Albini knows it, it's like a roast. But the issue WAS relivant for him and many other people in the late 70s who reacted against the studio slickness of SD and Corporate Rock and that reaction inspired new sounds and an ethic of music that isn't artiface. But again, it's humor.
Click to expand...

No doubt. Was a big deal to be down on slick pop music, also to hate “hippies” and there were even a few Nazi punks. All my friends who went punk mostly just acted like jerks because of it though.

It’s interesting the defenders of Steely Dan. Would there be so much defense of Abba, Supertramp, or Styx?

Anyways in retrospect the old pop is kind of sweet and fun. Except Supertramp is still horribly stomach churning. Steve Buscemi should say bad things about them.
 
#267
Doug4321 said:
No doubt. Was a big deal to be down on slick pop music, also to hate “hippies” and there were even a few Nazi punks. All my friends who went punk mostly just acted like jerks because of it though.

It’s interesting the defenders of Steely Dan. Would there be so much defense of Abba, Supertramp, or Styx?

Anyways in retrospect the old pop is kind of sweet and fun. Except Supertramp is still horribly stomach churning. Steve Buscemi should say bad things about them.
Click to expand...
well no because steely is one of the greatest bands and the stuff you just referenced not so much....
 
#269
My only problem is the premise that there are logical reasons not to (or to) like something. What you like can't be wrong, sorry. If it makes your brain squirt some dopamine, that's all that matters. His reasoning will not change that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arbitrary
#270
jnuts1 said:
well no because steely is one of the greatest bands and the stuff you just referenced not so much....
Click to expand...

Doug4321 said:
No doubt. Was a big deal to be down on slick pop music, also to hate “hippies” and there were even a few Nazi punks. All my friends who went punk mostly just acted like jerks because of it though.

It’s interesting the defenders of Steely Dan. Would there be so much defense of Abba, Supertramp, or Styx?

Anyways in retrospect the old pop is kind of sweet and fun. Except Supertramp is still horribly stomach churning. Steve Buscemi should say bad things about them.
Click to expand...

See, I told you, Doug. You should have gone with Billy Joel on that one.
 
#271
Doug4321 said:
No doubt. Was a big deal to be down on slick pop music, also to hate “hippies” and there were even a few Nazi punks. All my friends who went punk mostly just acted like jerks because of it though.

It’s interesting the defenders of Steely Dan. Would there be so much defense of Abba, Supertramp, or Styx?

Anyways in retrospect the old pop is kind of sweet and fun. Except Supertramp is still horribly stomach churning. Steve Buscemi should say bad things about them.
Click to expand...

I'd rather hear Supertramp than Steely Dan, and I don't even much like Supertramp. I'm not sure I've heard more than five minutes of Styx and that was probably in 1987. I'll gladly listen to Abba.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gasman
#272
KJMO said:
My only problem is the premise that there are logical reasons not to (or to) like something. What you like can't be wrong, sorry. If it makes your brain squirt some dopamine, that's all that matters. His reasoning will not change that.
Click to expand...

Yes. I suspect they would agree with that. He began by making it rather clear that he was essentially speaking for himself.
 
#275
KJMO said:
My only problem is the premise that there are logical reasons not to (or to) like something. What you like can't be wrong, sorry. If it makes your brain squirt some dopamine, that's all that matters. His reasoning will not change that.
Click to expand...

Some people like stuff in general that is objectively bad or immoral, which is how I'd classify the current top 40. Anyway, I'd ask you to get off my lawn if it hadn't been largely killed off by leatherjackets. But if you are not Dale from King of the Hill, please leave.
 
#276
How could somebody Hate Steely Dan?

steelydan~~_ajajapane_101b.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassGuyFL
#277
andare said:
I respect Steely Dan, some great compositions, especially early on, but their music has no balls IMO. Even though they employed some outright funky beasts like Bernard Purdie, their music is too smooth, overproduced and generally soft.
It's great music for learning and there are some total gems in there but it's generally too cheesy for me.

I prefer The Meters, The Replacements, Beefheart etc. Check out this track by Albini's band Shellac. It's so raw, nasty and honest. No mu chords here!

Click to expand...


Sounds like Neil Young on barbiturates.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andare

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back