Eminent Hipsters

Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen (2013) Donald Fagen has a particular sensibility that reminds me of a couple of my friends were are about ten years older than me, which he is, so it makes sense I would relate—he's kind of cranky, a little angry, and has a dry sense of humor. If you're not a fan of his music, including his years as the co-leader of Steely Dan, I don't know why you'd read this book—unless you like reading music related essays and memoir—and in either case you'd be in luck. The writing is good and consistently interesting. There are a number of essays on the odd and not so odd cultural influences on his younger self—including The Boswell Sisters , Ray Charles, Ennio Morricone, visiting jazz clubs, and listening to a late-night radio DJ. My favorite chapters, though, are the last two, which are the bulk of the book. One is about his time at a Bard College—which is the most Steely Dan related chapter in the book—and we get a bit of insight about the formation of that band. And then nearly half the book is a fairly contemporary tour diary, while touring with the Dukes of September. I'm just generally a fan of tour diaries, and this is the best one I've read. He manages to sound both totally miserable and like someone relating the excitement of doing exactly what they want to be doing in life—which is what I'd imagine a tour to be like. We also get a really intimate look at Donald Fagen—if you've ever wondered—because you don't necessarily really know anything about him from his lyrics (other than he's a fine lyric writer). This is probably the most personal look we'll ever get at Fagen, unless of course someone makes a full length documentary about him—which, as it seems to be rage lately—might be underway, right now, for all I know.