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Steely Dan is quite a lot more than just a rock band. It was more like a pop band with formidable song-writing. Both founders were very well versed in the tradition of Jazz and the harmonic development that you can find on a ton of steely dan's songs is way, way beyond what you'll find on traditional rock legend bands (Beatles, Zeppelin, etc.)

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> Steely Dan is quite a lot more than just a rock band. It was more like a pop band with formidable song-writing.

They're hard to place, that is certain. But you are completely right, their melodic and harmonic content (and famously their anal-retentive perfectionism) was far, far beyond anything else. There's a reason they're held in such high regard in the industry.

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