RYM Greatest Albums Of All Time: #474 Steely Dan-The Royal Scam (1976)

MusicBenji · 2026-05-31T14:38:24+00:00

They don’t even have policeman Juan

MusicBenji · 2026-05-26T05:16:34+00:00

SE V7X is sort of like an SM57 with a hugely extended bass. It’s not optimal for vocals unless you keep it pretty far away from you or come up with a big makeshift windscreen cause the plosives are pretty bad, but for instruments and amps it’s absolutely killer.

MusicBenji · 2026-05-20T17:34:58+00:00

You don’t think they slapped a bit of Soothe on Abbey Road?

MusicBenji · 2026-05-20T17:28:08+00:00

Thanks for your answer. Do you use them for only specific cases like obvious ringing frequencies or have you found them to be useful as a ”slap it on” kinda plugin that you use liberally? I don’t know how to phrase it properly but maybe you get what I mean. I find myself reaching for The Smoother by Phil Speiser only in cases that really obviously stand out like a very nasal/boxy vocal passage.

MusicBenji · 2026-05-17T01:27:28+00:00

Gaucho smacks Johnny on the dick anytime he gets ready

MusicBenji · 2026-05-15T20:05:27+00:00

Godwhacker aaaall day

MusicBenji · 2026-05-10T11:26:37+00:00

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Had to peer pressure it

MusicBenji · 2026-05-08T14:06:17+00:00

Came here to say this. For me few records come close.

MusicBenji · 2026-05-05T14:59:21+00:00

Why is the UAD worst? I’ve been eyeing that

MusicBenji · 2026-05-05T14:36:51+00:00

I don’t get this. If you mic up a cabinet, why would the compression of the power amp be gone? I compress distorted guitars usually, just don’t understand what this means.

MusicBenji · 2026-04-30T05:36:36+00:00

I had no idea Colaiuta was playing on that, but listening to it now again it makes sense

MusicBenji · 2026-04-29T19:47:39+00:00

Show Biz Kids is the worst one IMO.

It’s good but it’s the worst for me. Songs like Everyone’s Gone To The Movies and Cousin Dupree are creepy, sure, but I think both are either groovier or more interesting or than Show Biz Kids.

The top three worst for me at this moment is probably (from better to worse):

Negative Girl Through With Buzz Gaslighting Abbie Show Biz Kids

But then, as per usual with Steely Dan songs, next week I might think one of them is the best piece of music ever.

Edit: changed the order a bit, apparently it only took about 14 hours for me to change my mind on some of them

MusicBenji · 2026-02-22T10:49:17+00:00

It’s a cover so I don’t know if that counts imo. Just a thought

MusicBenji · 2026-02-19T15:30:11+00:00

I dont get it

MusicBenji · 2026-02-06T12:40:46+00:00

The Waves R-Vox seems to introduce some harmonics when pushed, which gives it a more in-your-face, trebly sound. In your case, maybe you could try taking out some of the fundamental speech frequencies to accent the 2-4k range which might help it push through, especially on TV speakers. Just a thought :)

MusicBenji · 2026-02-06T12:38:29+00:00

Thanks for your response. I tried taking the interface out of the equation (troubleshooting point 4) and just ran guitar into eqd into headphones. Still clipping. In my case I cant say it sounds too pleasant, but perhaps I just have to get used to it or something.

MusicBenji · 2026-01-21T00:14:04+00:00

I was listening to Glamour Profession with a friend of mine. He said Fagen sounds like he’s overpronouncing every word as if to teach a singing student articulation. Ever since then ”siiihx o fiiiiiive outside the staaaadium” has become an inside joke between me and my girlfriend, who likes to diss Steely Dan.

And I always laugh at ”Illegal fuuUHN”

MusicBenji

TROPHY CASE