I have never cared much for later Steely Dan (SD), and certainly not for Fagen & Nightfly. Earlier stuff is to my liking, as they were more of a band. For me, later SD was not a band, it was a conglomerate. This is classic Type A listening - listening for the sonics, not as much as the music.
Much the same for the highly and widely aclaimed Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. The Beach Boys were not a band at the time, they were a ton of session musicians creating a soundscape.
This is why I love LIVE music and LIVE Recordings. By and Large they are bands playing as bands. Some did lots of overdubs (Zappa anyone), but these is where music is really made, Live and in person.
If you are into music creating complex soundscapes, whether digital or analog, by overlapping instrumental passages, cool. There is a place for that. Hell, who could deny Bitches Brew, Tribute To Jack Johnson, or In A Silent Way. I own multiple copies of those but Miles did have a BAND that he worked with.
Enough of my Bias!
I do own a SACD copy of Aja just for testing systems, and I don't find it bright, but it ain't like a good blues band either.
Much the same for the highly and widely aclaimed Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. The Beach Boys were not a band at the time, they were a ton of session musicians creating a soundscape.
This is why I love LIVE music and LIVE Recordings. By and Large they are bands playing as bands. Some did lots of overdubs (Zappa anyone), but these is where music is really made, Live and in person.
If you are into music creating complex soundscapes, whether digital or analog, by overlapping instrumental passages, cool. There is a place for that. Hell, who could deny Bitches Brew, Tribute To Jack Johnson, or In A Silent Way. I own multiple copies of those but Miles did have a BAND that he worked with.
Enough of my Bias!
I do own a SACD copy of Aja just for testing systems, and I don't find it bright, but it ain't like a good blues band either.