Well, I’ve got to say, that is quite impressive! I threw a few songs at it and it was pretty-much 100%. I like how it gives you different voicings for each chord and for me, I have found an instant use for it with my students - sight reading! Not in the traditional sense of reading the dots but… One of the sections in the LCM acoustic guitar grade exams asks the student to accompany, from a chord sequence, a melody played by the examiner. Straight away I have a tool that will help them do that and save me time preparing. Plug in the song and get them to follow along with the chords. It’ll also keep me on my toes too. Great stuff!
This is the full EP from the concert film, Alive in the Catacombs which is an live acoustic set by Queens of the Stone Age recorded in the Paris Catacombs (the first ever concert allowed there).
It came into my head earlier that I needed to revisit this incredible album, of which this is the title track. They definitely don’t write ‘em like this anymore. I believe this is a live performance synchronised to the original studio production. Anyway, mix yourself a beverage of your choice, apply your best headphones, and listen in wonder at the perfect fusion of jazz and rock brilliance.
Aja is my second favourite Steely Dan album but not by much, that is the magnificent Pretzel Logic, but the truth is that they never released a duff song let alone album, they are all interesting, intelligent and supremely crafted both musically and lyrically. This song could've been written about Portsmouth!...
Just listened to the album myself and it doesn't seem like a Monday anymore. Always loved it but haven't listened in full for a while. Favourite track is Deacon Blues (love it all though). Thanks for the reminder!
Been listening to a lot of Steven Wilson recently. This is one of my favourites, featuring the excellent Ninet Tayeb. Incredibly evocative.
Not heard much Steely Dan but always bemused by their recording of Duke Ellington's 1927 composition .'East St Louis Toodle-oo' - this being his break out recording. Steely Dan have always been on the fringes of jazz. They were involved in a plagiarism case brought by Keith Jarrett which they lost when the clearly stole one if his compositions. I quite like their music. They learn more towards jazz than rock to my ears but I also think they are demonstrative of the period in 1970s when song writing had it's last great flowering. Incidentally, Steely Dan's music frequently gets covered by jazz musicians and there is an excellent version of 'Barry Town' by Kate McGarry I would single out. I like her records as they offer original takes on a lot of pop repertoire. Thanks fir posting
I think they settled out of court, and added Jarret’s name as a songwriter of “Gaucho”, acknowledging their influence by, and admiration of his work.
