Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book
Review: "Steely Dan : Reelin' In The Years" by Brian Sweet is absolutely PERFECT, regardless of what any critic has written. It provides an extremely detailed look into the many ups and downs the band has endured, including plenty of rare photos not seen anywhere before, and gives us an essential, behind the scenes look at the admirable, perfectionistic recording habits of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, unquestionably two of the most intelligent recording artists ever to survive into the new millenium. I can't believe that the author is being criticized for not interviewing Becker and Fagen for the book. He explains that he tried to get their input. HE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE FACT THAT THEY WOULDN'T TALK, AND HE PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL BOOK REGARDLESS!! THAT IS WHAT I CALL A DEDICATED AUTHOR! Do yourself a favor and get this book while it is still available!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sue me if I write too long!
Review: A fascinating insight into the minds of two of America's finest songwriters. With tips and insights into how they created such marvelous music. You can visualise their studio techniques and tricks used in classic songs like Showbiz Kids and Babylon Sisters. Read the book then listen to their songs and you will hear them differently. Knowing the pain and hard work that went into creating make the songs even more special.If you are into steely dan you will love this. If you are not into them or have never heard them, you don't know what you are missing. This is the place to start. GET INTO SOME DAN NOW!
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed, but interesting nonetheless
Review: A mishmash of speculation, hearsay and interviews taken from uncredited sources, Sweet's book will probably still find a fascinated audience among most hardcore Danfans. Those who are well-read in the interviews of ex-band members and related studio guys will instantly recognize many of the quotes in this work, however Sweet does not credit any of the actual sources of these quotes and would lead the less investigative reader to believe he spoke with many of these musicians himself (instead of simply culling the quotes from Modern Drummer or Guitar Player). In that regard it is somewhat of a hack job. The writing style itself is somewhat poor, and there are some embarassing factual errors. All this said, I'll admit I gobbled it up, simply because I was it does provide a hearty dose of Dan information and folklore in one convenient package.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book
Review: Do you want to know everything there is to know about Steely Dan short of kidnapping Becker and Fagen, putting a gun to their heads and forcing them to talk? Then get this book. As you might expect, Becker and Fagen (B&F) refused to talk to the author, Brian Sweet. To put together this history of Steely Dan, he ransacked every published interview and magazine article, and interviewed many of the musicians and recording personnel that worked with B&F. He then wrote everything out in chronological order in a prose style that is barely above "workmanlike." This book seems to describe everything that is known about B&F. He has little insight into the jealously guarded minds of B&F and he does not speculate. The bottom line is that we are all forced by the consistent and long-term strategies of B&F to confront the carefully crafted music they have recorded without insight into the motivations and personal lives that brought that music into existence. This focus on the art and not the artists must be seen as a positive by Steely Dan fans or else the frustrations become overwhelming. And for me, the tremendous music they recorded is enough, but I admit, I really enjoyed learning the history that Brian Sweet had to tell. Perhaps someday we will get an in-depth, authorized biography of B&F. Until then, this book will have to do.
Rating: 
Summary: "Reelin' in where Real isn't: The Mystery of Steely Dan"
Review: Guessing a book's ambitions for itself typically is a matter of reading its forward. Despite his catchy title, Brian Sweet's forward does and, alas, MUST stipulate that he could not convince Steely Dan's key members to participate in the the production of "Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years." As we are soon to learn, the characteristic retiscence with, occasional manipulation of, and general disdain for popular media by Mr.s Fagen and Becker are an essential part of the exposition of this "band." If J.D. Salinger has a musical counterpart, it is Donald Fagen, and perhaps Walter Becker is a psychedelic Hemingway. In either case, the deliberate, if uncalculated, mystery of Steely Dan is Sweet's most obvious "take" on the Fagen/Becker collaboration. Anyone who has an abiding interest in the work of either of these figures knows this full well, but one cannot blame Sweet for thematizing it. As a result, Sweet must rely on an assemblage of extant press accounts and interviews, which really turns the book into a second order cut and paste job. This said, however, what "Reelin' in the Years" does successfully is lay out some basic facts about the band in chronological order, using an apt phrase or song title to characterize each period. This presentation is satisfactory, but perhaps avoids the most difficult interpretive work to be done here: Namely, to do some enjoyable figuring on just what the hell is going on with the music. It is true that "Only a Fool" would pretend to get at anything like an "essence" here, if for no other reason than there ain't one to get. Nevertheless, as unprecendently postmodern and ironist as Steely Dan was (and, incidentally, the solo Donald Fagen of "Nightfly" and "Kamakiriad" was certainly not), there are chunks of coherency and discernible irreverency in the lyrics and particularly the music of Steely Dan that is there for the taking, the surface of which Sweet really does not limn. Incidentally, if you want a coherent, third order, take on the history of the band, listen to "Kamakiriad" with Sweet's account in mind--the clues are everywhere--Fagen denials notwithstanding. For example, the fact that Becker lives in Hawaii and Fagen in NYC is not entirely inconsistent with "Kamakiriad's" first cut about a "Trans-Island Skyway." But even though it is intriguing to think about "Kamakiriad" as a Freudian prelude to Steely Dan's "rebirth," this is not an objective exam and will not be graded. This is another way of saying that I wish Sweet had done less to try to "find" a coherency in what were highly contingent, accident-ridden, and thoroughly brilliant years of songwriting and studio sessions. Instead, I'd like to see what he makes of what Becker and Fagen assembled. This said, I think Sweet has skillfully begun excavation on a site where the artifacts are never quite stable in shape or location. "Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years" whets the appetite and makes me look forward to the next dig.
Rating:
Summary: "Reelin' in where Real isn't: The Mystery of Steely Dan"
Review: Guessing a book's ambitions for itself typically is a matter of reading its forward. Despite his catchy title, Brian Sweet's forward does and, alas, MUST stipulate that he could not convince Steely Dan's key members to participate in the the production of "Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years." As we
are soon to learn, the characteristic retiscence with, occasional manipulation of, and general disdain for popular media by Mr.s Fagen and Becker are an essential part of the exposition of this "band." If J.D. Salinger has a musical counterpart, it is Donald Fagen, and perhaps Walter Becker is
a psychedelic Hemingway. In either case, the deliberate, if uncalculated, mystery of Steely Dan is Sweet's most obvious "take" on the Fagen/Becker collaboration. Anyone who has an abiding interest in the work of either of these figures knows
this full well, but one cannot blame Sweet for thematizing it.
As a result, Sweet must rely on an assemblage of extant press
accounts and interviews, which really turns the book into a second order cut and paste job. This said, however, what "Reelin' in the Years" does successfully is lay out some
basic facts about the band in chronological order, using an
apt phrase or song title to characterize each period. This presentation is satisfactory, but perhaps avoids the most
difficult interpretive work to be done here: Namely, to do some enjoyable figuring on just what the hell is going on with
the music. It is true that "Only a Fool" would pretend to get
at anything like an "essence" here, if for no other reason than there ain't one to get. Nevertheless, as unprecendently postmodern and ironist as Steely Dan was (and, incidentally, the solo Donald Fagen of "Nightfly" and "Kamakiriad" was certainly not), there are chunks of coherency and discernible
irreverency in the lyrics and particularly the music of Steely
Dan that is there for the taking, the surface of which Sweet
really does not limn. Incidentally, if you want a coherent, third order, take on the history of the band, listen to "Kamakiriad" with Sweet's account in mind--the clues are everywhere--Fagen denials notwithstanding. For example, the fact that Becker lives in Hawaii and Fagen in NYC is not
entirely inconsistent with "Kamakiriad's" first cut about a "Trans-Island Skyway." But even though it is intriguing to think about "Kamakiriad" as a Freudian prelude to Steely Dan's
"rebirth," this is not an objective exam and will not be graded. This is another way of saying that I wish Sweet had done less to try to "find" a coherency in what were highly contingent, accident-ridden, and thoroughly brilliant years of
songwriting and studio sessions. Instead, I'd like to see
what he makes of what Becker and Fagen assembled. This said, I think Sweet has skillfully begun excavation on a site where
the artifacts are never quite stable in shape or location. "Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years" whets the appetite and
makes me look forward to the next dig.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: I can not understand why everyone is complaining about the writing style of this book. I think it is presented quite well. I would like a little more information on certain songs. However, any reader can really get a good feel that Becker and Fagen are two quirky individuals who can really write great music. The reader gets a good background of the original band members without becomming overly detailed. Whereas the writing style is not down right exciting, it matter of factly presents Becker and Fagen as the two talented but oddball musicians that they are. Well done Mr. Sweet.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: I can not understand why everyone is complaining about the writing style of this book. I think it is presented quite well. I would like a little more information on certain songs. However, any reader can really get a good feel that Becker and Fagen are two quirky individuals who can really write great music. The reader gets a good background of the original band members without becomming overly detailed. Whereas the writing style is not down right exciting, it matter of factly presents Becker and Fagen as the two talented but oddball musicians that they are. Well done Mr. Sweet.
Rating:
Summary: From a musicians perspective
Review: If genius is infinite attention to detail then Fagan and Becker approach the mark. Even though the book is not up to literary snuff it provides insight into the technique's and attention of which "Dan" songs are infused. The constant striving for new sounds and the exhausting "takes" from different artists suggests why intelligent fans remain a constant in the band's orbit. We continue to look forward to new revelations about the awkward duo, the posterboys for workaholic musicians anonymous.
Rating:
Summary: From a musicians perspective
Review: If genius is infinite attention to detail then Fagan and Becker approach the mark. Even though the book is not up to literary snuff it provides insight into the technique's and attention of which "Dan" songs are infused. The constant striving for new sounds and the exhausting "takes" from different artists suggests why intelligent fans remain a constant in the band's orbit. We continue to look forward to new revelations about the awkward duo, the posterboys for workaholic musicians anonymous.
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