Those Days Are Gone Forever: Steely Dan’s ‘Pretzel Logic’ at 50
Steely Dan’s 50-year-old third album, Pretzel Logic, conceals its dark satirical vision of modern society beneath immaculate studio production.
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The 30 Best Album Re-Issues of 2023
The year’s best album re-issues include rock legends, essential R&B/soul artists, classic pop, jazz, alternative rock, global beats and so much more.
Just Growing Old? Steely Dan’s ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’ at 50
Steely Dan’s Countdown to Ecstasy reveals a progression toward ever more sheen and polish on a smooth shell, the source of the “yacht rock” label that defined them.
That Stank Attitude: Steely Dan’s Final Albums Two Decades Later
The last album by the rock/jazz phenoms Steely Dan was released 20 years ago. This is a look back at why their last two records deserve reconsideration.
Band Out of Time: Barney Hoskyns on Steely Dan: ‘Major Dudes’
Barney Hoskyns assembles a thoughtful, loving, and thorough portrait of the meticulously creative men behind Steely Dan.
Walter Becker, the Cayenne in the Steely Dan Recipe
Steely Dan's Becker and Fagen were storytellers who invented characters whose odd, off-putting circumstances commented on the world as incisively as any Bob Dylan lyrics.
Not Everything’s Been Said: Remembering the City Featuring Carole King
It's hard to predict why some records fail and others succeed. One of the lyricists behind a beautiful failure, the City's Now That Everything's Been Said (which in many ways serves as Carole King's debut album), David Palmer, remembers the road to the City and back.
Walt Weiskopf: Overdrive
An under-heard but top-notch tenor player, leading a sharp band through excellent tunes. Vibes, guitar, driving rhythm, all right here.
The Darcys: Warring
No doubt they have talent and ambition, but most of this album ends up feeling forced and a little bloated.