TS: Steely Dan v. Belle and Sebastian

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Here's a comparison I've not yet seen (here, anyway). But I've been listening to Steely Dan a bit lately, and I think it's somewhat apt.

Compare: undergrads from an artsy-fartsy, upstate New York limousine liberal school who rag on their classmates both at school (i.e., "Reelin' in the Years") and then as said classmates get on with their lives (i.e., "Haitian Divorce," "Peg") and even cast a lecherous eye at their Scarsdale-bred brats ("Hey Nineteen"). Contrast: Scottish undergrads who rag on their classmates both at school (i.e., "Stars of Track and Field") and then as said classmates get on with their lives ("Brilliant Career"), even casting a lecherous eye on one or two of same ("Lazy Line Painter Jane").

Westchester County Marriott lounge jazz, as conceived by a bunch of smart-asses with jazzy chops. Versus Glasgow chamber-pop, as conceived by a smart-ass who's overly fond of Bryter Layter-type production values and Velvet Underground III dynamics. In both cases, led by anal-retentive studio impressarios who apparently don't like playing live all that much.

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:12 (twenty-three years ago)

FWIW, my vote will go to Steely Dan, not the least bit because at least Donald Fagen and Walter Becker didn't let Skunk Baxter write the lyrics to any songs!

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:13 (twenty-three years ago)

upstate New York limousine liberal school

Hahahahahahaha! Bard is in Dutchess County, though.

The Dan, hands down.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Steely Dan are great. Belle and Sebastian... are not.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah obv the Dan; they're just a much more professional outfit. If B+S were REALLY serious abt their 'craft' they wld happily pay through the nose for the finest session musos that money can buy - sod the indie aesthetic, get Wayne Shorter in today!

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Steeley Dan is correct - better lyrics, better tunes, plus a constant taking-the-piss-out-of-ourselves attitude

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

artsy-fartsy, upstate New York limousine liberal school

I went there, btw! Although I grew up in Darien, not Scarsdale (same thing).

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Andrew L writes:
If B+S were REALLY serious abt their 'craft' they wld happily pay through the nose for the finest session musos that money can buy - sod the indie aesthetic, get Wayne Shorter in today!

soo.... have you heard the new plush album?

― gygax!, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 00:28 (twenty-three years ago)

plus a constant taking-the-piss-out-of-ourselves attitude

You've not seen the cover art for "I'm Waking Up To Us" then?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 00:44 (twenty-three years ago)

I think on average, Steely Dan fans probably get laid a whole lot more often than Belle & Sebastian fans.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 01:14 (twenty-three years ago)

wow, like being asked to choose between two types of tofu...

― angelo (angelo), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 01:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Steely Dan fans are also undoubtedly less likely to be straightedge and celibate indie kid undergrads looking down on those who sully themselves over the tops of their thick black-rimmed glasses and tugging nervously on their thrift-shop v-necks while they gather together to ironically watch 1980's films together.

― webcrack (music=crack), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 02:01 (twenty-three years ago)

i thought all B&S fans were rutting madly thanks to Sinister

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 02:04 (twenty-three years ago)

belle and sebastian win because they have never won a grammy.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 05:23 (twenty-three years ago)

But they have won a Brit Award.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 05:29 (twenty-three years ago)

The Dan win for not suking

― tigerclawskank, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 09:20 (twenty-three years ago)

b & s are brilliant... beautiful arrangements, good lyrics, broad range... i love 90% of their stuff...

whereas steely dan are boring... and i can't think of a single song of theirs that i like

― ko hsüan, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 09:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Steely Dan:
-for slagging the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during their own induction.
-for Aja, which B&S can't approach.
-for being the only band of the two that the Minutemen covered.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 12:50 (twenty-three years ago)

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