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Does Steely Dan sound bright to you?

This is going to sound like a somewhat random question but I’m wondering how many of you find Steely Dan’s recordings to sound a bit bright. I’m particularly thinking of Gaucho, and Aja but some other recent recordings, too, such as Fagen’s Nightfly.

My typical media include streaming (CD and HD quality) and CD’s. I have not played my old vinyl because I’m presently without a turntable.

At first I thought it was my system and it was driving me a little bit mental; eventually, I decided it wasn't my stuff, it was their stuff. Because most other recordings on the same system with no other changes don’t typically have the brightness of Steely Dan.

Whether or not you’re a fan (I am) Steely Dan has often been a go-to for testing out equipment, so I imagine there will be experiences people have had about this.

P.S. Any other recordings which, for you are unnaturally bright?


128x128hilde45
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,608 posts
 
YT crud, but anywhere else....*whew*
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
Not bright, but with Gaucho I think Steely crossed a line where there recorded sound became to slick and unnatural. I.e. Pretzel Logig is a much more natural voiced down to earth and fun recording to listen to. Really good. Even streamed from Tidal. may need a better system to appreciate and understand in full than Gaucho which sounds good on anything like a kitchen radio.
thequietracer
3 posts
 
Not at all bright, rather DRY for sure. Still great music for all era.
motown-l
182 posts
 
Steely Dan sounds excellent on my system, through digital or analog sources.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
To be clear -- the effect I'm hearing is on Aja and Gaucho only. On Aja -- especially piano on Home at Last which is a bit shrill and much more on Gaucho, especially Babylon Sisters and other tracks on Gaucho which are bright. Again, mostly these are great sounding tracks but there is a harshness that is not present on other Dan/Fagen/Becker albums.

Other Steely Dan tunes and albums sound fine. Agreed, these are reference discs and that's why I'm raising the issue. Because if anything should sound good, these do.
 
@gosta  I suspect that Gaucho (and possibly Nightfly) crossed a line (accidentally) as the industry moved to digital. My guess is that this was recognized and corrected. There is a comment from their Scheiner or Fagen down below  on this thread (around the time of Morph's release) where they go back to analog recording. I've noticed that the brightness I'm referring to is NOT there on Kamakiriad, Sunken Condos, or Becker's albums. And again, as decooney and others point out, it could be the mastering or release for one medium or another that's at fault.
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