Donald Fagen "Eminent Hipsters"

I picked up an autographed copy of this today because there was a pile of them in Barnes and Noble. I figured what the heck, would be nice to have. Anyone read it? The reviews on Amazon seem to be very mixed - they either think it's a complete load of tosh and a waste of money, or they think it's great and that everyone else just "doesn't get it." 
 
It certainly seems short anyway. Maybe it's short and sweet. Oh well, if it's crap then at least I have DF's signature. 

Hi,
 
As much as I liked Steely Dan and their music, I don't have them on my collection ... it's over played to the point where I can't even enjoy it anymore!
 
All in all, I did not think, or find, that Steely Dan and Donald's work was that great, though one should/could easily say that it was magnific, specially considering the commercialization of music at the time, and it became just another pop band out there. Lyrically it's nothing to write home to mom about!
 
But it has some very nice music! No doubt about it.

yorolpal
You sound like someone who hasn't really read or studied all of Don's and Walt's lyrical output.  Some are very well done.  Gaslighting Abby, Two Against Nature and even a hit like Ricki Don't Lose That Number come easily to mind.  But then I'm a huge fan.  Their music and chord structures too while occasionally seeming quaintly simple, on futher study, are subtly complex, interesting and, many times, hold hidden "inside baseball" doffs of the hat to the Duke, the Count and other earlier jazz luminaries.  Plus the tide your choosing to swim against is just about tsunami sized.  But swim on, ol pal.

Couldn't have said it better 'Olpal. The Dan's lyrics have always been superb. 'Gaslighting Abby' is a very dark song..(no pun intended) 'Cousin Dupree' also, that one always brings a smile.

I think one of my favorite Dan songs at the moment is Almost Gothic. Musically, this is classic SD. The horn section is sublime. I'm also a big fan of Fagen's solo stuff. The Nightfly obviously, but also Morph The Cat. Haven't had the chance to sit down and listen to his latest yet but will do soon.

I took to Steely Dan when I was 3 years old in 1977 and I've listened to them almost every day since. I don't know what it is but I never get bored of those songs.

yorolpal
You sound like someone who hasn't really read or studied all of Don's and Walt's lyrical output.  Some are very well done.  Gaslighting Abby, Two Against Nature and even a hit like Ricki Don't Lose That Number come easily to mind.  But then I'm a huge fan.  Their music and chord structures too while occasionally seeming quaintly simple, on futher study, are subtly complex, interesting and, many times, hold hidden "inside baseball" doffs of the hat to the Duke, the Count and other earlier jazz luminaries.  Plus the tide your choosing to swim against is just about tsunami sized.  But swim on, ol pal.

No. I come from a literary family, and quasi-literature is boring, and too many times a copy of the original.
 
You you wanna get a taste of the real thing, go read Naked Lunch, but telling me that Steely Dan is that great is boring. It's just WAYYYYYYY better than the majority of CRAP out there on the radio at the time and today, and in that sense yes it is better, but it does not compare to the best.
 
Kinda weird that you can defend their words, but you won't read other's to find out what this is all about. Even the Bonzo Dog Band was more important lyrically, and way more literary!
 
It's VERY GOOD work, no doubt about it. But it's pop music, and nothing else! On top of it worshipping a dildo! Oh ... do you remember that little pipe that said "Steely Dan" on it, and the end that you smoked from was ... yep! You got it. You should have seen the girls laughing at the guys!