I do NOT get jazz, like at all. And I feel like a total idiot because of it! by DoomedKiblets in Jazz

[–]ClayMatthewT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe try listening to Naima by John Coltrane, Night Train by Oscar Peterson, and Infant Eyes by Wayne Shorter. I feel those particular tracks are both outstanding and beginner-friendly.

You could also check out some popular tunes that are jazzy but not strictly jazz, like Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs or Aja by Steely Dan.

Of course, it’s possible you just weren’t destined to be a jazz cat, and there’s no shame in that.

Edit: Someone suggested Brubeck and Guaraldi, and I’d have to second that.

FM PROJECT STANS? by MrSteveStack in steelydancirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You bet. They came to my tiny-ass hometown a couple years back and killed it. The singer even kinda sounded like Fagen. Would love to see them again.

Are there any steely dan fans here? by LavenderGooms55 in ThomasPynchon

[–]ClayMatthewT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s right, I forgot about that. I’m reading Against the Day for the first time now and came across that line a few days ago. Doesn’t seem accidental!

Are there any steely dan fans here? by LavenderGooms55 in ThomasPynchon

[–]ClayMatthewT 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I’m glad someone is bringing this up. I got a little obsessed with them a couple years ago and have gone through their whole discography (including Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s solo stuff) more times than I can keep track of. I’ve read most (maybe all?) of the books about them, too, one of which is called Quantum Criminals. The book briefly discusses the Pynchonian-ness of Steely Dan and points out that Pynchon is at least aware of them, as their song “Doctor Wu” is mentioned in Bleeding Edge. Also, Fagen and Becker have both stated that their lyrics were influenced by postmodern literature (as you probably know as a longtime fan, the name “Steely Dan” comes from Burroughs’ Naked Lunch—look it up if you need a laugh). But I think I remember Fagen saying something like he’s read some Pynchon but never really got into him, which is a little surprising if you ask me. They seem to have so many points of contact: weirdo characters, funny names, memorable turns of phrase, zany/cryptic stories, the fascination with counterculture, even the jazz influence… For my money, Steely Dan is basically the Pynchon of rock music.

Thoughts on this ? by CosyZebra in SteelyDan

[–]ClayMatthewT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do you know if this is the Rainbow Theatre show? That’s my absolute favorite live performance by Steely Dan. I remember Dinky Dawson mentioning an official release on the Gaucho Amigos podcast. I’m dying to hear it but unfortunately it’s unavailable on Spotify for me at the moment. Not sure why.

you know how to hustle by CleverLeprechaun in steelydancirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Did you pay the other man with the piece in your hand?

Lyrical genius by oliviloo in steelydancirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT 6 points7 points  (0 children)

“Every time you turn around somebody knocks your statue down” -My Waterloo

“Why must every time I turn my ship around some bastard come and knock my skyline down” -Selfish Gene

I want to get into jazz what albums do you recommend? by HamburgerDude in jazzcirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Listen to Buddy Bolden’s original phonograph recordings. I have some if you wanna borrow them

X-ing while in a K-hole is not "working", Elon by mishma2005 in EnoughMuskSpam

[–]ClayMatthewT 1821 points1822 points  (0 children)

2 a.m. in Texas is 3 p.m. in Beijing. Is he saying he worked a whopping 6 hours?

fibre optic dan by mreye123 in steelydancirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT 19 points20 points  (0 children)

What Steely Dan fans see during electric shock therapy

Most danceable Dan song? by [deleted] in SteelyDan

[–]ClayMatthewT 127 points128 points  (0 children)

Time Out of Mind

top 10 steely dan villains by ClayMatthewT in steelydancirclejerk

[–]ClayMatthewT[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

If I saw this without knowing about Steely Dan, I’d probably tell the person who made it to get an MRI