385 - Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

[csberry]

Yippee! My first Steely Dan album on the list!!!

On their third album, Steely Dan took the sound they started refining on Countdown to Ecstasy and condensed those five- and six-minute songs into 3-minute songs (with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Pretzel Logic" being the only tracks stretching out over more than the four minute mark). While jazz made an unmistakable mark on the previous album, "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" is no rock-jazz mesh; it is jazz with a few other influences sprinkled on top. Although I've listened to this album a lot since discovering Steely Dan about 12 years ago, during my listens this weekend "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" seemed like it could have easily have been a Grateful Dead track.

Songs I knew I liked: This album is a fairly common listen to me, so I knew I liked most of the tracks.

Songs I didn't know but now like: No discoveries of newly liked aspects of these songs.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: I wouldn't cry if "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" was automatically skipped whenever I listen to the album.

Comments

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to know that I noticed you had friended me, so I returned the favor. :-)

Kiss the Fagen. Kiss it!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, Steely Dan. You and Joe Jackson have been the soundtrack of many a trashy weekend night. I hope this is not your only appearance on the list.

Re: Kiss the Fagen. Kiss it!

[csberry.livejournal.com]

I'm certain that Katy Lied and Aja made the list but am uncertain about any others. I am annoyed that Joe Jackson's Night and Day doesn't seem to be on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums list. I love that album so much. Great song writing, fun rhythms, and just sounds beautiful.