xtcbackporch

Bimble · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

Jeff Truzzi wrote:

Bimble wrote:

No, indeed Jeff, but this is a thread about Walter Becker on the XTC forum, is it not, old chap? I would hardly beetle off to the Steely Dan thread and say "What's all this about then, I don't get it?" Oh, I dunno, though; people here keep agreeing with me of late and I'm finding it all a bit strange!

Cruising for an argument, eh?
Wink

Bimble wrote:

The idea (at least from my second post) was that people might explain to me why they like all that stuff, and perhaps give me an 'in'. Maybe they could suggest songs that might not be the standard, that might be more accessible for me, perhaps? I don't feel much compatibility between XTC and Steely Dan, at least from the little I've heard.

You might try their first album, with "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In The Years." It's not as slick, jazzy and 'produced' as the others.

Basically, I think you have it nailed by inferring that the reasons other people like Steely Dan are the reasons you don't.

The compatibility between the Dan & XTC isn't in sound - they obviously sound nothing like each other.
It has to do with mindset, where they're coming from in terms of attitude and perspective.

Both groups are harmonically intricate, multi-layered, and multi-leveled, in terms of music, arrangements and lyrics. It takes quite a few listens to grasp everything that is going on, but they are both highly identifiable upon first listen. They both have an off-kilter, wry approach. Their songs and recordings are carefully crafted with subtlety and attention to detail. Their lyrics are well written, erudite, clever, and often quite funny. They never pander to their audience or 'write down' to them. And they both could care less whether anyone likes them or not.

Plus, they both operated as studio only bands for a good deal of their lives. And they are/were duos for much of it.

Other than that, there's not much in common.
Smile

Not cruising for a row for once, mate! Thanks for that, now I'm off to listen to the other stuff you recommended. "Reelin' in the Years" I do like, and I should listen to stuff from the same time, I s'pose.....

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