Steely Dan: it means nothing to me
In Word this month Lauren Laverne said her favourite album ever was Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan. She said (something along the lines of) ‘whatever mood you’re in, they’ve got a song for you’.
I took this as an opportunity to have a bit of a reappraisal of a band I’ve never really got. So, the CD arrives. I listen. I listen again. And again. And guess what: I still don’t get it. I means and does nothing to me. It has that rare ability to sound instantly familiar but be completely forgettable at the same time. It’s the musical equivalent of Teflon.
So what is all the fuss about? Why do musos gush about them and treat Donald Fagen like a god? Why are there more than 20 Steely Dan fan sites? What was Lauren Laverne thinking? Am I too old? too young? Oh well, at least I tried.
Anyone want to buy a 2nd hand copy of Pretzel Logic?