Steely Dan

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were the core of Steely Dan. Together they wrote the songs—literate, caustic, often very catchy—that comprise a set of albums revered for their sound as well as for the music. Both jazz lovers, Fagen and Becker brought aspects of the music they enjoyed into their own work. Even the lyrics were influenced by Beat poetry and jazz cadence: cool, wry, louche. Steely Dan songs often tell stories, tiny musical novellas crafted just as meticulously as the instrumental sound. Abandoning live performance in the mid-70s, Becker and Fagen transformed Steely Dan into a studio band, using session musicians to create their vision. That goal was most perfectly realised on the peerless Aja, though fans would argue none of the original albums deserves less than five stars.

More at the Discrepancy blog

Read a review of the Dan's comeback album, Two Against Nature.