If Steely Dan had a different vocalist

@soix I'm more of a Pere Ubu and Throbbing Gristle kind of guy but I completely agree with @baylinor's points. Difficult to play does make great or avant garde. I completely understand that some like the music and I respect that, but it is not for me and embodies so much of what I would consider the lack of genuine innovation in mainstream music of that time.

Nice find; listening to their Friday album. I definitely hear strong Steely Dan influence, but not early SD more like 2000s Two Against Nature SD or Gaucho album. Slick and jazzy rock with cool lyrics. Songs play like a cover of "Gaslighting Annie," a Sunday afternoon listen. Almost Michael Franks or Al Jarreau like jazzy vocals.

So this is an LA / Toronto based band that's been around for 13 years? My take is very tight musicians showing off their studio maturity.

Vetsc5, thanks for sharing your story.  Cool to hear stuff like this.

8th-note, 8 will definitely check out China Crisis.  Thanks.

mrfrito, thanks for the invite.

I was listening to one of their albums driving into work this morning and I could almost hear, in my mind, Donald Fagen singing many of the songs. Clearly influenced by SD, for sure.

@baylinor 

"It's funny to hear Steely Dan and avant-garde in the same sentence."

Why?

When "Can't Buy a Thrill" came out, there was like nothing it and they continued to produce a unique blend of jazz, rock and funk until they disbanded.

Monkey House make pretty good music, but it is based around the song catalogue of another band. That is not a positive.

@tony1954 

This has already been answered in the discussion.