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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
1972
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!Liked it from the first song (the only one I already knew) but it grew on me even more throughout the album. Just enjoyable rock songs on the surface, but very playful and occasionally quite technical instrumentation underneath. Reminds me a lot of a less folky version of America or a more playful version of The Eagles. No idea Why I wasn't more familiar with them before, but I'll definitely listen to more Steely Dan. [Update: spent the next two hours listening to more Steely Dan]
An unsung masterpiece record from The Eagles. The big vocal harmonies shine like they always do, but on this record they're bent around more interesting chord progressions. Since when could they rip guitar solos like this? Who knew a band like The Eagles could write such clever lyrics that aren't about senoritas or driving cars? There's not a single song on this album I would skip. The uptempo numbers cook. The downtempo numbers swagger with LA schmaltz. This could be the high water mark for all 70s soft rock. A+ P.S. The Dan continue to fascinate me. They want to be avant garde. They want to rally against whatever is on trend in music at this moment (probably hard rock?). But they just can't help but write perfect pop hooks. No matter how many jazz chord progressions and flugelhorns they throw in, this is commercial soft rock at its finest. Pointed straight at the center of the American mainstream ear. I suppose its their debut, and on later records they perfected their pompous polish, ditched the conventional vocalist, and lost some of the raw, human feel that makes this album shine brighter than any 10th coat of studio wax could do.
This album will always be special to me. Growing up, my dad didn't listen to ANY music, let alone any albums from previous decades. It wasn't until I moved into the Hamlin and Matt dropped the needle on Can't Buy A Thrill that I first really discovered the world of classic rock. The album's a fuckin banger, and the world it opened the door to for me is equally bangin. Thanks Matt, thanks Hamlin, thanks steam-powered dildo band.
I enjoyed this album very much. It was groovy and easy to listen, with multiple great songs. Great background for a scenic drive.
Cette critique ne sera que partiellement pertinente pour une raison très simple que je vais vous exposer. Lorsque j'aime un album dès la première écoute, il est chez moi d'usage de le jouer une nouvelle fois dans le but d'affiner mon analyse le concernant. Pourtant hier, alors que je venais de relancer la première piste, mon compagnon d'écoute elchavez me somma d'écouter une de ses cochonneries sonores. Vous l'aurez compris, cette chanson coupa mon envie de poursuivre ma deuxième écoute des Steely Dan, tout comme une vision de défections couperait un appétit.
I'm not a huge fan of Steely Dan's sound overall, but I have to admit this album has some bangers....
Not bad, but distinctly dated, to my ears at least. I didn't listen that closely to be honest, but nothing really caught me.
The last thing I wanted it to be a steely Dan guy but this album really worked for me. Was going to give it 4 but I don’t really know where I’d fault it.
Maybe my favorite album since starting this. A couple old favorites and I enjoyed the songs that I have not heard before.
I almost gave this album a four after one listen, but I just had that feeling in my gut - the one that says "give it one more go". Thank God for it, because this is a 5/5. After that second listen, I put "Do It Again", "Midnight Cruiser", and "Reelin' in the Years" on repeat for several hours straight while scrolling through the entire history of the "Good Steely Dan Takes" Twitter account.
With the first notes, you’re fucking in. This album, like all steely Dan albums is instrumental perfection, doesn’t seem to be a misplaced note, and there is not one bad song. This album sounds full and rich, jazz, rock and a little bit of Latin vibes. Easy 5.
Ich kann mich diesen eingängigen Hits nicht entziehen, auch wenn die Latin-Klänge mich zeitweise an die voreingestellten Beats auf dem 80ies-Keyboard erinnern. Schöner Pop-Rock, Sitarklänge und smoother Gesang. Reelin in the years ist mein all time favourite. 5 Sterne Ohrwurmpotenzial für die nächste Fahrt Richtung Urlaub. Irgendwie kommt mir beim Hören Supertramp in den Sinn, auch ne tolle Band.
I really like this album and everything about it. From the vocals, to the instrumental, to the production. Highlights have been Dirty Work, Kings, Reelin' In The Years (yes I know it's their most well known song but it's so good). All in all, a very solid album. 5 stars from me!
Man I love Steely Dan. Dirty Work and Reelin' in the Years were my faves on this album.
laid-back muziek, melodieus, mooi gezongen. Ik kende het niet maar erg leuke verrassing alweer
10/10. You can't buy a thrill, but it would be thrilling to buy this album. I think Do It Again is one of the more overrated Steely Dan songs, but I have no right to be salty that people enjoy this more than I do, and this is still a good tune to have come on at the grocery store. Dirty work is a fairly drastic mood swing from Dirty Work, and this is pretty common for the album which I think is why I rarely listen to it through, even though I listen to all the songs a lot. Kings, then, jumps back into the more energetic, sarcastic mood of the first song. The we get to Midnite Cruiser which is one of my favorites form this album. The chorus is so catchy, and the lyrics so savory, and broken up into these delightful little bite-sized lines when sung. Next, we have Only a Fool Would Say That, which is where we first get to a Steely Dan song with pretty much nonsense lyrics. I'm not sure what "Of salads and sun" is supposed to mean, and thought for the longest time he was singing "Of Saladin's son" which also doesn't make sense. Still a pretty fun little song. Reelin' in the Years is probably what a lot of people would call the most overrated Steely Dan song, but honestly this song is just spectacular. The only reason I can see to resent it's popularity is that it has spawned multiple live versions now, and both of the one's I know of don't sound right. I love how the lyrics just seem to fall, almost jumbled, out of his mouth, as if the narrator's world is rapidly falling apart. Fire in the Hole is my least favorite from this album, but I've been told that I clearly just hate Pianists. Brooklyn still makes very little sense to me lyrically, but it is a real pretty song. Change of the Guard makes a fun change of pace, but isn't really a stand-out song in my opinion. And then Turn That Heartbeat Over Again is a very sporadic, yet extremely catchy song that sort of reflects the album as a whole with its jumps between fast and slow lyrics occurring line-to-line, but still all fitting together real nice.
Absolutely loved this album. A few songs wound up forgettable, but the whole thing was worth a double listen-through.
Prawie 1/4 listy skonczona, a to dopiero pierwszy steely dan na liscie, wiec jeszcze 5 czeka na swoj czas, bo steely dan to jedna z tych band, ktora nie wypuszczala muzyki ktora mozna by nazwac niedorobiona, chociaz samo nazywanie steely dan banda jest niezbyt precyzyjnym okresleniem, bo jak dla mnie jest to projekt duetu Becker-Fagen, czego tak jeszcze nie widac na debiutanckim cant buy a thrill, ale jednak widoczne sa juz tego przeslanki, sama plyta ktorej dane mi bylo posluchac kolejny raz pomimo tego, ze jest teraz klasykiem rocka, brzmieniowo jest blizsza jazzowi niz folk rokowi, bo tak nieraz okreslany jest gatunek tego albumiku, co wyroznia plyte to z pewnoscia cieple brzmienie, zestawione z sardonicznym wokalem i liryka Fagena, chociaz na plycie sa 3 traki na ktroych mozna uslyszec na glownym wokalu Palmera na dirty work i brooklyn, czyli wokaliste steely danow na wystepy live oraz hoddera na midnite cruise, kolejna cecha mocno definiujaca brzmienie grupy sa influencje latino jazzowe, zderzone z poscigiem perfekcjonizmu jaki napedzal duet tegich glow duetu, upbeatowe brzmienie w polaczeniu z sarkastycznyi tekstami, ktorych bohaterami zazwyczaj sa fikcyjne persony przegranych ludzi, czy to mordujacych, zkukowanych, kukujacych, grajacych, włóczykijow, wszystkich laczy to, ze nie sa w stanie kierowac swym przeznaczeniem, wiec idealna moodowa muzyczka, na co jeszcze warto zwrocic uwage podczas odsluchu, to perfekcjonizm jakim ocieka album od strony produkcji, jest to zasluga duetu, ktory pomagal w nagrywaniu wszystkich studyjnych albumikow steely dana, to jest Gary Katz i Roger Nichols, ktory byli w stanie spelnic wygorowane wymagania jakosci fagenowobeckerowej, ktory potrafili nagrywac po 300 tejkow danych partii zeby znalezc to cos w brzmieniu, a jesli chodzi o szukanie brzmienia to trzeba przejsc do kolejnej kwestii definiujacej zwlaszcza pozniejsze projekty danowe, czyli uzycia muzykow studyjnych, o ile na cant buy a thrill pojawia sie ich tylko czterech i trzy wokalistki robiace chorki na kings i brooklyn, to jednak ci muzycy nie tylko sa zapychaczem tam gdzie bylo potrzebny dany instrument, ale stanowia oni jedne z hajlajtow plyty tak jak gitarowe solo Elliotta Randalla na reelin in the years, unialnosc tego albumu zawiera sie w tym jak lekko sie go slucha pomimo tak ciezkiego kontentu lirycznego, ale nie jest to zdecydowanie popowa lekkosc, tylko lekkosc wynikajaca z tego jak wypoliszowane sa te kompozycje, na plejce juz mam dwa traki najbardziej popularne wedlug spotifaja, wiec wrzuce dwa troche bardziej niszowe, bedzie to dirty work z wokalem palmera, ktory nie posiada tego sardonicznego vibe jak u fagena, a brzmi raczej jak cos z niebieskookiego soulu, co idealnie komponuje sie z motywem przewodniem traczka, czyli byciu pionkiem wykorzystywanym przez babe zamezna, kolejnym pickiem bedzie fire in the hole nawiazujacym do dogowania draftu wietnamskiego, co oczywiscie bylo dosc modne wsrod owczesnych muzykantow, a cala plyta juz byla dodana na poleczke albumow must have, a jednak jak odpalilem na spoti, to wygladalo tak jakby jej tam nie bylo, wiec kolejny raz padlem ofiara spotifajowego namieszania zwiaznego z roznymi wersjami tych samych albumow, z profilu bandy jestes w stanie zobaczyc tylko jedna wersje i nie masz dostepu zobaczyc innych ktore jednak istnieja gdzies w bazie albumow i jesli masz jakies kawalki z danego wydania jestes w stanie sie do niego dostac, ale co gorsze mozesz dodac duplikaty na plejliste bez informacji o powielonych trakach, spotify welkam tu
This is one of my all time favorite albums. Every track. My faves, Do It Again and Midnite Cruiser. Love those solos in the latter.
Steely Dan's debut and right from the first moment they have that signature sound. Some real classics on this album: Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years. Do It Again starts the album with a cool groove and how many songs have such a cool sitar solo? Yes, I said that. I really liked some of the less famous songs also, like “Change of the Guard” and “Fire in the Hole.” “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” was probably the weakest track which is kind of a shame that an album that starts so strong ends kind of lame. That’s a real minor complaint though. This is a great album.
I was already familiar with Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years, and to a lesser extent, Dirty Work, but this is the first time I've listened to the full album and it's a great piece of work.
This is a legitimate classic. Even though I'd never heard the entire album before, I knew I'd love it. Steely Dan is one of those groups that hits their mark 80%-90% of the time. In that 10%-20% falls pieces like "Midnight Cruiser", which sound like it was written and performed by The Partridge Family.
Perfect Vietnam war era songs. One of the first albums of Steely Dan. Favs: Do it again, Dirty work, Only a fool would say that, Reelin' in the years, Turn that heartbeat over again Genre: Soft rock, folk rock, pop
An incredibly fun album that has a mixture of classic soft rock hits along with deep cuts that just make you want to dance. Most song have an almost tropical vibe. A couple songs, including the opening track, Do it Again, overuse the organ. Reelin in the Years might be one of the best rock/jazz rock songs of all time. The guitar riff paired with the hook in the vocal harmony is top notch. A classic through and through.
Near perfect album. 2nd/3rd best Steely Dan album. 9-10/10 1. Do It Again 2. Only a Fool Would Say That 3. Kings
I consider Steely Dan to be one of the most exquisite pleasures in all of music. Some of the most intelligent and sophisticated songs you will ever hear. They are in a category of their own. I could listen to their entire discography on an endless loop. Though purists of the Aja/Gaucho camp may scoff at this, I really enjoy this enjoy this early incarnation of the band.
What a solid album. My dad would put this record on sometimes, and Do It Again & Dirty Work must have been his favorites because I don't remember the others as well. Amazing that this is their debut album, I think the songs exemplify what is so great about them - depth of songwriting paired with top notch musicianship.
Great set of songs, all different yet connected in terms of either sound or meaning; highly recommend.
Insert this Steely Dan and let the pleasure take you away… This jazzy, soft rock always hits the spot… What a great fucking album! Top 15 for sure. It’s hard to find a dozen albums I’d rather hear than this one. Reelin’ In The Years and Do It Again are great songs, but Dirty Work is my favorite song on the album. In particular, I love the lyric, “like a castle in it’s corner in a medieval game…I foresee terrible trouble but I stay here just the same…” then the drums lead into the chorus…rat-tat-tat-tat…mmmmmm yeaaaaahhhhh However after listening again today, I prefer side 2 over side 1. The screaming lead guitar on Reelin’ In The Years is classic while Fagen’s piano on Fire In The Hole is outta this world. The last three tracks all have something special too. Interesting fact that I didn’t know before today is that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were in a band with Chevy Chase before Steely Dan.
I love Steely Dan so I'll take any excuse to listen to them. I think they have better albums than this but this is still a great album.
5.5…one of my all time favorites….solid rock and roll…was housesitting on Maui late 70’s and these guys lived next door, came out and played volleyball with us….regular guys, good fun…..but I’ve just always loved their music
I love that Steely Dan sound. Smooth, elegant, barbs in all the right places. The whole thing polished like a disco ball. Do It Again into Dirty Work is a great one two. Reelin' In The Years is another amazing classic. What a collection of great songs on the same sonic effort.
Do it again and Reelin' in the years are just *chef's kiss*. I feel like I should be a bit less shy about handing out 5 star reviews, and you know what, this is a very good start. This album is chill and smooth and versatile and clever and just great.
Lov the build up in “Do it Again” Forgot how much I like this album. Very well written and executed music! Dirty Work was like listening to Chicago, playing so many instruments . Always loved Reeling In the Years- wow what great🎸strumming. well done Steely Dan. .
I've never really listened to Steely Dan outside of their hits, and it looks like I need to take another look. There's not a weak spot on this album. Best track: Do It Again
It's really hard to find any fault with this album. It's just solid. Maybe not the most exciting at times, but not a dud track in the listing. And, honestly, "Reelin' In The Years" is one of the most iconic songs of the 70s for a reason. Super solid entry to the list.
This is probably more like a 3.5. There are definitely some dad rock bangers on here. Guitar solos are kinda goofy.
Classic, Do It Again is a song I heard throughout my childhood. Overall love the album
Classic rock seasoned with Caribbean influences. Warm and uplifting, great for these dark times.
Love the mellow vibe that most of this album puts out, with the exception of a few tracks, but even the non-mellow tracks are great. I've heard Rellin' in the years before, but now I actually know the artist and song name! I'll probably go back and listen to this again.
4.5; I bigly enjoyed this, more than I thought I was going to.. I might be a steely dan fan now
I knew more songs on this album than I thought I was going to, and they are all songs that I like. The album is really consistent throughout 4/5
While everyone will know "Reelin' In the Yearsm" my personal favorite was "Dirty Work," which I feel like I've heard a million times without never actually hearing it before. The bossonova/lounge music seems like it goes well as a background track doing mundane tasks and reminds me of beach resort music. There are def worse ways I can imagine sipping on a drink near a pool.
Na da bin ich ja gespannt, Steely Dan‘s Pretzel Logic war ja für mich DIE Entdeckung schlechthin. Bei 'Do it again' dachte ich mir: ach, das ist von denen! Und: habe ich 'Reelin‘ In the Years' eventuell nicht auch schon mal gehört? Die Platte kommt nicht ganz an Pretzel Logic ran und die Songs zünden insgesamt später, sie zünden aber größtenteils. Ich mag den Stil der Band offenbar einfach. Gute 4 Sterne.
Fun album, steely Dan rips through with guitar sections that take you away on multiple tangents. Always feels like the band is just having fun putting together good music, will listen to again
Great album. Very nostalgic feel. I think my parents listened to this one a lot around me when I was young. Do it Again, Dirty Work, Brooklyn are all great songs. And Reelin' In the Years is easily recognizable and a great song that has lasted for nearly 50 years. Overall a great album to put on in the background and chill out to
YOU GO BACK JACK. DO IT AGAIN. the first track sets high expectations. it sounds like they’re still figuring out what their sound is - some songs just don’t need to be there. but undeniably talented especially the piano and guitar :D
Mange behagelige sanger, med stilig spilling tvers gjennom. Dessverre ikke så mye fancy fusion shit, eller komplekse tromme groover, noe som kommer med de senere albumene. Ellers et ganske fint album. Har hørt og lest mye om hvor heftig produksjonen av alle Steely Dan albumene var, og hvor plettfritt det måtte spilles, og hvor nøye utvalget av mikrofoner og lydutstyr var. De tekniske komponentene i produksjonen er høyt over min egen kompetanse, men det er verd å nevne. Kan ikke gi mindre enn en 4.
Fint album. mange fine sanger etc, men litt enfoldig til tider. Får ikke så mye ut av tekstene, kanskje det svakeste aspektet med albumet. Beste sangen er "only a fool would say", den jeg likte minst var kanskje "Broklyn", var veldig kjedelig og ba ikke på mye som jeg ikke har hørt før. Gir albumet en svak 8/10
Hi: Midnight Cruiser, Fire In The Hole Steely Dan was finding their footing in their debut album, but it was still a strong start...Besides the radio classics Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in The Years (all of which are fantastic), less familiar tracks like Midnight Cruiser and Fire In The Hole really show that Steely Dan were on to and what they would become. It might be unfair to judge an artist against their later work, but this isn't my favorite Steely Dan album (That would be Aja)...It's great musically, just not as crisp and clean as later showings.
Pretty catchy and has a timeless element to it. Nothing stood out for me, but consistently good.
Serious jazz pop music to be enjoyed in so many contexts. They would get better with the years, but their first is still a strong statement.
I mean, the album starts with "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work." Those two songs alone make this one a heavy-hitter. "Reelin' in the Years" anchors the middle - also another Classic Rock radio mainstay. Overall, this album displays tight songcraft, meticulous studio production, crisp orchestration, and some impressive guitar work at certain parts. A band with a deep bag of tricks. One ding from me would be that it definitely sounds like 70s stadium rock, but it's probably among the best I've heard of that genre/era.
Oh brilliant ! A real 70s vibe and two tracks from our teenage years so very nostalgic. Really enjoyed the album ****
This is just class - well written songs, beautiful simple production, little bit Americana, rock, even proggy here and there but not so much of any of the above that it became annoying. 4 well-earned stars.
This has been the third Steely Dan album I get in less than a month (lucky me?), and so a part of me wanted to not like it because I kind of think 4 of their albums on the list is a little too much. But it was still pretty nice.
Wen den ich nicht kannte aber kannte - weißte schon! Gute Popmusik, spannend gemacht. Merke ich mir.
It's a classic, but not every song is a winner. Lots of hits and then misses. I was interested to learn that going mobile wasn't a newer song - I thought they made it in the 90s about getting an RV. The album also lacks cohesion in a lot of ways. If these songs hit the radio, I'll listen, but I never pick up this album and am excited to play it. Definitely second fiddle to the beatles, stones, and led zeps of the era. I give it 7/10.
Le gros problème de cet album, c'est qu'il est excellent, ce qui laisse très peu de place à l'inspiration pour de potentielles moqueries, dégradation de l'image ou encore invectivations envers Robert Dimery.
Fagen and Becker named the band after a "revolutionary" steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch. ROFL
What an awesome album. Lots of really cool sounds all mixed into the one album. The biggest hits in here are ‘Dirty Work’ & ‘Reelin’ In the Years’ but the whole album is great!
Jazzy soft rock typical of the 70s with some Latin twist. I recognize 3 songs (you know which) and they're all amazing songs. My favorite parts are always the solos, but the the vocals are clear and hit you hard. Back vocals also fit nicely. There aren't any particular weak songs, as each song contributes its own unique spin to the overall experience. They're not forgettable either since they each start with an intriguing hook. The 4th star is cemented by that solo in Reelin in the Years, one of the best I've ever heard. Hard to believe this was only their first album, and probably not even their creative peak if you contest Aja.
Felt like I was listening to every song I've ever heard on KQRS. Pretty great album, feels like a "classic" with a lot of iconic songs. Now I know who Steely Dan is!
Fun listen, album has the distinct sound of the stuff I like to hear on classic rock stations while fishing.
Enjoyed it. I'm learning that the 70s is better musically than I thought it was! Fun vibes.
I love the rock/ pop sounds that Steely produces. For a debut, it's extremely experimental. Had a blast playing through this album. Knew a few songs but after this gives me the urge to listen to the rest of his catalogue.
Not a massive Steely Dan fan but I was surprised by the quality of the songs here. Every musician gives something great and contribues to a well-rounded album. Favourite songs: Do It Again, Kings and Reelin In The Years
I enjoyed it. Didn’t really move me, but that might have had more to do with the fact that I wasn’t paying that much attention while I listened to it.
Escuchado domingo en la tarde con mi familia merodeando y sin mucha disponibilidad de poner atención. Jazz rock tranquilo, no vi pretensiones especiales, quizás en las melodías, pero musicalmente lo encontré simple.
Great debut album. The singles are classics but tracks like Kings, Midnite Cruiser, Turn That Heartbreak over Again are strong songs as well.
I don't own this album and never realized that so many good songs were on it. Back when I was a teenager and didn't really know who was who in rock I thought Do it Again was a Santana song. And I loved Dirty Work, though I'm not sure I knew it was Steely Dan either. Reelin' in the Years I had straight - great, great lyrics on that track (and the guitar solo halfway in). I always thought it was dumb that they earned a Grammy in 2001 when if they were going to be recognized it really should've been in the 70's (no matter how good the album in 2001, they were out of place). When you consider this was their debut, wow. For sure a 4, not quite sure it's a 5 - back half of album is not quite as stellar as earlier (though I really like Change of the Guard).
It's weird how we get one album soon after another from bands... Besides the hits, I keep forgetting that "Dirty Work" was also theirs, thanks to David Palmer. "Kings" sounds very much like a Steve Howe guitar solo to me, which was interesting. I liked this album a lot more than the previous Steely Dan album we have heard. I still think there is a better album which, from what I see on the list, we will come to. But the album tracks I liked almost as much as the "hits," so I think that that is something.
The Dan would reach greater heights on successive albums but this is a great debut. Only A Fool Would Say That, Dirty Work and Do It Again (with its electric sitar solo!) are among the highlights and Reelin' In The Years is an all-timer with one of the greatest guitar solos ever.
A very good album, I think it's something that takes time to come around though, so for now I'm leaning on a 3 or a 4. Gives me a great vibe now though, and some of the songs are perfect for an Awesome Mix™, so I think a 4 is in order.
Steely Dan is so classy. This was their first album and they were already a solid band.
Good album, had heard about 4 tracks previously. Others sounded very Steely Dany, would listen again / buy on vinyl to add to the collection at a good price.
Love this album, change of the guard was an absolute highlight for me! Not a 5/5 but a solid 4/5
Still not a massive classic rock fan, but this album was pretty good, start to finish.
Ufff... Recuerdos de ir en el coche con mi familia... No voy a ser objetivo aquí jeje. Personal: 8, por los feelings. Trascendencia: 6? Genero: 8, rollo Eagles pero ellos son mejores
Can’t Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan (1972) This debut album from a group that chose to name itself after a sex simulation device begins with a splash (“Do it Again”) and quickly proceeds to the deep end of the pool, doing synchronized swimming with intricate, acrobatic compositions that are influenced by jazz, country, rock, samba, and God-knows-what-else. Sublimely cool. Steely Dan burst on the scene with highly crafted studio techniques and good musical sense. With some nice vocal ensemble arrangements, and some pathbreaking chord structures, they nevertheless did not wander far too from pop. Lyrically intelligent, if somewhat obscure, the songs provoke thought but not passion. Not without humor (“Only a Fool Would Say This”), these works are engaging, especially for 1972. Compared to later Steely Dan studio albums, Can’t Buy a Thrill has more variety (with its attendant unevenness and weak spots) and thus is not stuck in what would later become a Fagen/Becker compositional rut. This debut collection makes fine use of a full band lineup and a variety of highly competent session musicians. I wish they’d stayed together—in the studio! Guitarists Dias and Baxter and drummer Hodder would leave the group within two years. The guitar solos in “Reelin’ In the Years” are classic. The biggest negative in listening to this record in 2021 is that the three mega hits (“Do It Again”, “Dirty Work”, and “Reelin’ In the Years”) dominate the less familiar material. But if the listener can discipline him/herself to imagine it as an original unity, as an album, the beauty shines through. The less-than-stellar closing track “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” subliminally suggests turning the LP over again, to listen one more time to the opening track “Do It Again”. And again, and . . . Yes, I could listen to this all morning long. I think I’ll wax the car. 4/5
sarah is very excited she loves this. waiting to go to Christmas at her sisters. even tho its not Christmas ok enjoying it xoxo
Loads of great tracks on this. Dirty work will forever remind me of Tony Soprano singing along in his car.
Decently listenable but occasionally lost my interest. Favourite songs: Dirty Work & Change of the Guard
First time I've actually dove into some Steely... fuck it's good. It's painfully good because I always assumed this was some old man yacht rock that was soulless, sun bleached, and moronic. It's pretty much the opposite. The sunshine in this album is making fun of you in the dark hours.
Pretty good album. Had a few of the hit, though not quite as jazzy-prog as I like my Dan.
Can’t buy a thrill was a very interesting album. I had never heard all but one song, reelin’ in the years. Most of the songs were very well written and keep you engaged. One of the main pros of this album is it’s only 40 minutes which leaves you wanting more. Not wishing it was shorter
Really enjoyed it, there's some classics on here that are excellent. I think Aja was a bit more consistent though.
Some catchy rock tunes mixed with a salsa-vibe (a bit reminiscent of Sympathy for the Devil) - and Steely Dan knows how to write catchy choruses!
There's been a bit of a reevaluation of Steely Dan, once maligned for being incredibly uncool, now have younger music fans into them. And I can see why, this is a really good listen. Really slick sounding, listenable pop sensibility, gorgeous vocals, not really any songs I wasn't too keen on. Sunglasses emoji as a band. :cool:
I do like hearing these albums from artists that are now considered a bit cheesy, back before they were officially cheesy, and doing things just as they wanted to, without irony.
Definitely a fun listen. I will need to come back to it since I didn’t listen too closely, but I’m excited to return to it nonetheless. 7/10
Surprisingly good - never listened to the whole album before - very much of its time but gentle on the ear with some truly stand out tracks.
Un groupe ayant en main les ingrédients du prog mais qui choisit de les mettre au service d'une pop ouvragée. L'attention portée à la richesse des textures sonores et de l'enregistrement sont évidentes. Un album qui pave la voie à une certaine "pop intello". On sent quand même l'époque, par exemple dans les choeurs à la CSN&Y dans les refrains.
Entertaining album, very easy listening, whats not to like about catchy pop/rock songs with some jazz influences
Another great great album. Flawless production and simply so east to listen to and enjoy. I am loving the exposure this list has given me to Steely Dan.
Never heard the album before, just a couple of the radio hits. Enjoyed it, overall. The songwriting and musical complexity all to the good that came to be known as the "Steely Dan Sound" were there from the jump, and in an advanced state too. Fav songs were Do It Again, Dirty Work, Midnight Cruiser, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' in the Years, and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me).
Listening to Steely Dan is really difficult because every 30 seconds I have to repress a primal urge to scream 'this groove is so fucking tight' Anyway this has some massive bangers but also not quite their best. Good vibes though
“Do It Again” is a great song to vibe to, got a cool sitar solo; I’ve heard it before somewhere. Cynical message on the inability to give up vice. “Dirty Work” has a sort of soulful feel, quick sax solo reenforces this feel; again a song about the inability to quit something, this time a woman. “Kings” has a really catchy piano/guitar riff, has a slight soul feel as well. Theme of futility shows up again, this time in the idolatry of a powerful man (government?) that gives nothing in return. Instrumental solo stands in contrast to the rest of the song as frantic, disorienting. “Midnite Cruiser” has a vibe of late night music (it’s in the title), but the vocals (different singer) doesn’t quite fit the vibe. Still solid though, theme of lamentation is a little bit different from the past songs. “Only a Fool Would Say That” has the mambo feel that “Do It Again” has, possesses critical lyrics about naïveté with a slightly upbeat tone than the content would suggest, but the futileness is evident. “Reelin’ in the Years” has a really good guitar intro and solo. Upbeat song but with not upbeat lyrics about a toxic and belittling relationship. “Fire in the Hole” has a fierce piano instrumental that conveys the defiance of the singer well. Sick piano solo as well. Criticism against the draft and blind patriotism/order-following surrounding Vietnam is in line with political themes in “Kings” and “Only a Fool Would Say That.” “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)” has a lounge vibe to it, one of the slower songs on the album. Content/themes aren’t as pronounced as on some of the other songs. “Change of the Guard” has an upbeat sound that actually has some upbeat lyrics with it. Either the lyrics are hopeful for the new generation, or it’s ironic. Same with the messaging on adaptation. Pretty bruising guitar solo along with it. “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” seems to tell the story of crime and the disconnect between the criminal about the negative impact of his actions. Maybe more futility in there with the criminal trying to convince himself he’s not to blame for his actions. Slower song, instrumental isn’t as noticeable as other songs’ instrumentals. Overall a pretty good album. I definitely preferred the front half of the album in a musical sense. Lyrically and thematically, the front half of the album was clearer, but themes persisted throughout the second half.
The first album from the soon to be kings of sophisticated rock music. While it's not a wholly Donald Fagen sing-along (some of the vocals are done by other singers), it obtains characteristics that would soon define the Dan as a polarizing band in the decades to come. One shouldn't look at this album and steer clear, it's still worth a listen; just know that the best is yet to come. Favorites: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' in the Years, Changing of the Guard, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.
Oh, here we go. I know the last Steely Dan album was alright, but this one is vibrant and has a lot of hits that I love (and didn't realize were by Steely Dan). I know these guys for making esoteric rock that only a select few weird uncles are into, but I guess at the time of their debut they had other plans. This sound, this style, works a lot better for me and there's plenty on here to enjoy, including the more instrumental-heavy tracks. I really dig this one. Favorite tracks: Reelin' in the Years, Do It Again, Fire in the Hole, Dirty Work. Album art: Haven't seen this one before but I adore it. Colors out the wazoo, loving the pop art style. The shirtless guy standing there for no reason?? The wacky cartoon fonts? I'm all about this. 4/5
A few classics in here that I've heard before like Do It Again. Steely sounds a bit like Thin Lizzy too which isn't a bad thing. Reelin In The Years felt like that opening but then getting to the chorus this is one of those songs I've heard a ton but never knew it was this song. Great album to kickstart the week!
I know Steely Dan is one of the most influential bands of the 1970s but I’ve never actually sat down to listen to an album of theirs. I was impressed. This album features a great blend of jazz and rock with interesting lyrics. The musicianship is top notch and the songwriting was very tight. I was blown away by some of the guitar work and with the complexity of the music in general. There were a few songs that didn’t resonate with me, but overall, this is a phenomenal debut
i liked it, then i didnt like it... so idk what that was about. cool easy listening music though
Very solid pop record, plenty of radio staples included. Never takes off as a project or reaches the level of excellence as a collection of songs. Interesting playing in places, and good lyrical gestures at Vietnam.
'Midnite Cruiser' was EXCELLENT, and I've long been a fan of 'Do It Again'. A great album, although I find 'Reelin' in the Years' to be one of the weaker tracks. 3.5 Stars
On some level, starting this album with "Do It Again" feels like a bait and switch; nothing after can stand against it. But it's a decent album, like most Steely Dan albums
"Dirty Work" -- kept thinking about when you pick up a dog's poop on a walk and they give you that look of "that's right, wench. Pick it up". Girl. I feed you. You should be so lucky that I am not making you do this. "Reelin' In The Years" -- I forgot that this was a song! It is a good song, but I wish it had come earlier in the album. The songs were a slower pace that made me zone out a little. Not a bad thing, but not great if I want to actively listen to music. Overall, it was good. Very much so a good "background music" album (to me).
Fun album that I enjoyed listening to though can't say I'm running to listen anytime soon
www.dadrock.com Are you a dad? Do you know a dad? Then you'll have heard all these songs before and probably have jammed out to them while working on your car or driving your boat around or something.
Do it again was the best song on the album + most familiar. Dirty Work is what Tony sings in that scene of the Sopranos. Reeling in the Years also very popular for classic rock. Whole album is soft rock. 7/10.
I'll be honest I've heard this record before - my Dad is a big Steely Fan and I remember him playing this a lot when I was younger. Midnite Cruiser and Only a fool would say that were my personal highlights.
Overly long intros and solos- sounds like the kind of thing I’d enjoy in snippets while driving around on GTA with a beautiful sunset but a full albums not for me thanks. Pretty catchy choruses, if quite repetitive. All of it Sounds a little bit like that song from that MasterCard advert with the guy on the water slide Like dire straits but better. Enjoyed it more than expected overall. Seems to switch between California style sound to like British “proggy” sound
The instrumentals were 10/10, but most of the song lyrically weren't for me. I liked Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years, and Fire in the Hole!
Dan-Fan here, and Can't Buy a Thrill is definitely in their top 5 best, but for me, I'm more likely to put on Aja, Royal Scam, Countdown to Ecstasy, or even Gaucho, or one of their Greatest Hits (Citizen Steely Dan) before I play this one. Nothing specific I don't like - in fact, I do like it, just not the one I love most of the time. It was good to give it a re-listen here, inclined to rate between 3-4 stars and wish I could go 3.5..
An alright album a few ok songs but others quite forgettable overall above average 3/5
Would probably be more enjoyable sitting on a patio in the hot sun with some scotch and a cigar. Otherwise, I can't think of when I would ever want to hear this whole album again.
Liked it, very 70s vibe, fun and easy to listen to. Would listen again. The style of the songs were different, expected more like Do it again, but changed right after.
Dertien in een dozijn rock. Er staat geen slecht nummer op, maar er waren ook maar weinig uitblinkers. Wel nog een poging waard.
This starts off with two very good tracks, but most of the rest feels pretty hollow in spite of them being the best musicians we have heard so far. It was never a band that I could get into, I recognize they are very talented and in the hall of fame and all that, it's just nothing I would choose to listen to generally. The last track on this album is not good at all. This band is important to a lot of people, but it's not for me.
“Do it again” is a classic track. The rest is sounds like any middle of the road pop from the 70s. Mostly likely used this album as a template.
Like this well better than I thought I was gonna. Had no idea what to expect, recognised a few tracks. All pretty chill and feel good. Easy a 3.
So... I found it moderately pleasant, but not very interesting. A couple of stand-out lyrics, and good musicianship (and backing vocals) but weedy lead vocals and an empty kind of over-production. Not my thing, I guess.
I knew about two songs of the album that play on the classic radio stations every now and then. And while I do like them I would probably not look for them very often. It's a nice and chill sound for a summer evening with some whine and cheese. Similar to the Eagles or Steve Miller band I'd say. - Not my usual cup of tea
Steely Dan isn't an artist I would normally listen too but since it was recommended, I gave it a listen.
Not sure whether to rate this a 3 or a 4, don't think there's any proper big bangers on here but it's very easy to listen to and I've enjoyed the background noise. I apparently accidentally left this on repeat all afternoon, and have been listening to it for 3+hours. Would have given it a 4 for the very enjoyable piano riffs in Fire in the Hole but it's not quite grabbing me enough.
A pleasant, enjoyable, non too thrilling listen which loses a lot of its energy towards the end of the record. The only track I could pick out of a line up would be Fire In The Hole, purely because that piano riff deserves so much better.
starts with some bongos - strong, you love to see it exciting to see this in the rotation cos I love Gaucho and Pretzel Logic, but I don't know this album at all that said, I ended up last night in a pub in West Green listening to a jazz 3-piece and now I'm feeling very recptive to this sort of vibe Brooklyn Owes A Charmer is a standout track for me - feeling cheerful but also a lil bit melancholy on a rainy morning also, that cover! there's a chunky dude with a tiny naked woman on his back! there's a mouth with a giant gummy worm. It's right on the boundary between 60s pyschadelics and 80s horrible colours and framing, and I love it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_(design) I think overall this is unlikely to become my favourite Steely Dan record - I just put Gaucho on and I'm straightaway like 'yes this is the smooth vibe for me'
This is a strange one. It feels a lot like something I should like but I... don't? There's a lot component parts that I enjoy from a rock 'n roll album here but for some reason it's not doing it for me.
I found there to be a few engaging tracks but as a whole it felt unexciting and easily blended into background noise. If it was already on, I wouldn't turn it off but I'm not going to go out of my way for it.
Favorite song: Midnite Cruiser. According to Spotify, the top 2 most listened songs are Do It Again and Reelin' in The Years, two songs I really didn't feel anything about. Bottomline: This is music. It isn't bad. That's all.
It's nice, it's smooth, but generally not my thing. It's good to hear this as "Steely Dan" though since I could not have told you what they sounded like. I can see why people would really like them and I can respect it.
That's one ugly cover. Anyway, polished to the point where you can't embrace it, Can't Buy A Thrill sounds exactly like what it is: a Steely Dan album. A album where the overriding commandment is "Make it smooth," that mantra unfortunately makes the album impossible to love unironically. A lot of the instrumentation has dated despicably, reminding one oddly of Kokomo. But the issue isn't one of age; I suspect many found this grim listening at the time. Rather, what we have is a clearly talented group of musicians making music as a demonstration of their cleverness, instead of in any way engaging the human heart. That said, the odd track has charms; Midnite Cruiser is a perfectly fine bit of 70s classic rock, and Brooklyn is a warm country-twinged number that, shock horror, connects to the listener. Indeed, the album does become more gripping towards the end, when they resist the impulse to dull jazzy noodling, but even that appeal has limitations. A three-starrer, and that's thanks to my generous nature, and the album better be bloody grateful.
Gets a stronger rating for Do It Again, Dirty Work and Reelin' in the Years which are all classics. The rest was fairly forgettable.
Ah, Steely Dan. The "middle of the road/classic rock" band. I've never bothered to listen to their albums in full until today. Album opener 'Do It Again' and 'Reelin' In The Years' are the radio staples I know of off this album and are lifelong ear worms of mine. My attention was held listening to the other songs I was unfamiliar with but they weren't as memorable. You can't fault Steely Dans' musicianship, the band allow room for each musician to be a part of the group without over powering each other - this was an era where bands made a name for being flashy and extravagant in their playing, for Steely Dan to show restraint and still be a successful band of the time is a credit to the group. It's hard to pick their influences, I like that. I wish I could hear 'Reelin' In The Years' without the fadeout during the guitar lead solo, the band sound like they could take off with a lengthy jam if they wanted to. An enjoyable album to listen to from start to finish.
It's always amazed me that a band named after a dildo could be this milquetoast. I mean, it's good, intelligent pop-rock, but with very little of the jazzy weirdness that made Aja/Gaucho era Dan so great.
My Dad’s a huge eagles fan and has played them to death. This album sounds too much like them for me to really enjoy or get into. Can see why it’s on the list and I didn’t not enjoy it, but not an album I’d come back to.
3.4/5 so I will give it the 3 Easy listening no one offended. 70s soft rock or AOR. "reeling in the years" and "do it again" the highlights Glad I heard it but just don't feel after this solid days listening that I will return to it or seek out more Steely Dan. Can't empathise with anything in the lyrics. The cover is an abomination. 1/5
Some of the best songs in Steely Dan's catalogue, but also some pretty weak ones. This album is frustratingly inconsistent. Still overall enjoyable though.
Mellow rock with elements of jazz, latin, and psychedelic mixed in. Despite the light-hearted sound of the tracks, the lyrics all tell fairly sad stories. You can check out 'Dirty Work', 'Midnite Cruiser' and even 'Reelin' In The Years' to hear what I'm talking about. In and amongst the well-known classic rock hits on this album, I think I enjoyed the track "Change of the Guard" the most.
I knew the name Steely Dan, but couldn't have told you any of their songs. I knew "Do It Again," "Dirty Work," and "Reelin' in the Years," but didn't know who sang them (or that they were all the same band). I'm happy to have the connection made. But an even stronger connection to the name Steely Dan has now been made, as I have discovered that there was no band member named Dan who was made of steel. Instead, Steely Dan named themselves after a steam-powered dildo in the novel "Naked Lunch." It's too bad I will now associate these songs with industrial-era sex toys, because the first few tracks on "Can't Buy a Thrill" provide some jammin' classic 70s rock. However, by the time "Only a Fool Would Say That" rolled around the softer side came out and certainly once I got to "Brooklyn" I was sure of it - this was one of the first entries in the yacht rock genre. (If any doubt remained, at the end of the album Amazon auto-played Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together.") Yacht rock is not necessarily a bad thing - there is some very listenable yacht rock. But much of the album doesn't have the same appeal for me as those classic singles. At least "Can't Buy a Thrill" came before Steely Dan worked in more jazz and synthesizer. Maybe I'm just not a yacht kind of guy at heart? Or I prefer my dildos battery-powered?
Just so you know, Donald Faison and Donald Fagen are two different people. This is a silly album and I can't help but think that these guys were always smirking about inside jokes when performing. 'Steely Dan,' the name of a dildo in Naked Lunch is even a joke. Steely Dan, the band, not the plastic penis, fit into that 70's, Dirk Diggler, Boogie Nights category along with ELO, Jackson Browne Supertramp and others. Each of those bands have some excellent stuff, but most is not immediately apparent and substantial time needs to be spent wading through some serious garbage to get to it. Dirty Work perfect example... the silly falsetto singing is overshadowed by the tender organ and soft horns but the product is pure-gold kitsch. That track was worth the work, I cold listen to that 10 times a day. The rest of the album is good and I'm sure with a few additional listens, I'd grow to like it more, but right now, my time is being consumed with reruns of SCRUBS. and... well... I'm no Superman.
The song writing, the production, the musicianship and performances - all excellent, as you would expect from the Dan. However, while objectively very good musically, not sure how likely I would be to revisit much of this. Nice enough as background music.
Lovely bit of yacht rock! Do It Again is just brilliant, love that song. A couple of other really solid tracks (Midnite Cruiser, Reelin' In the Years, and Change of the Guard). Suffers a bit from a few tracks that slightly overstay their welcome (despite not being that long), and is a bit too middle of the road to get a top tier score, but an enjoyable listen nonetheless.
I really liked this, nice easy listening with some great tunes. I especially enjoyed Only a fool and Fire in the hole
1st time ever listening to Steely Dan. Easy to listen to, I want to re-listen to this album and their other work. Ok, so I have heard the Reelin' in the Years song, one of their bigger hits.
Some nice hits and good song writing. A bit too middle of the road and bland for my tastes
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought it would. Nice and mellow with really good melodies and songs. Recognised 'Do It Again' and 'Reeling in the years' (obviously but didn't realise it was them. Would definitely listen to this again - nice as background. Earlier songs in album are stronger than last ones
I know a lot of people really dig Steely Dan's groove. I am not one of those. There's nothing inherently wrong with this album -- I just don't like it. 2 stars.
In jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne; so auch hier. Kaum beginnt eines dieser flockig groovigen Stücke, freu ich mich aufs Neue ehe mir später auffällt, dass ich dem Rest gar nicht mehr aufmerksam zugehört habe, als würde mir jedes Mal die Euphorie für den Buchumschlag in einer einzigen Stichflamme aufgehen und für den Buchinhalt bleibt kein Gran mehr über. Verkohlte 2.4
Oh god. Ok let's see. Two songs in and this is not SO bad, but could do without the sax. Ok yeah this has a bit of a classic rock opera sound to it. I dunno. I'm very ready for this album to finish.
This album sounds typically like something out of the early 70s by way of soft/psych rock. A perfectly ok listen. The album cover is next level crazy though. Best: Reelin' in the Years Worst: Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) 2.5 stars
There were some nice solos, but the lyrics took me out of it. The sound is nice, but it gets monotonous. Reeling In the Years is one of my least favorite songs of all time, so that takes off a whole star.
Only heard it once yesterday. I liked the soft rock or classic rock feel. It was good to have been introduced to Steely Dan.
Cada una de las canciones de este disco podría ser la sintonía de cabecera de alguna serie de televisión de los ochenta. Lo único mínimamente interesante que tiene es el solo de piano de Fire In The Hole.
Yacht rock. Some cool guitar licks and harmonies but this is the kind of rock I hated growing up.
Slow start, and album grew on me with Reelin' in the years. Solid, but the odd track aside, unlikely to revisit
Cursed by its monumentally hideous cover and the fact that it's a Steely Dan album. Two undeniably good singles and one other likeable song, but hell's teeth this is some smug shit.
I think "soft rock" is definitely an accurate descriptor for this. It's relaxing, easy listening type stuff without anything too challenging happening. That's not to say it's not enjoyable, but I think great albums need to make you think. There are elements of various musical styles like Jazz and Latin incorporated here, but I feel like they get washed away in the overall sound instead of being featured. Overall a couple of tracks I enjoy on here, but not enough to give it a solid 3. Fav Tracks: Do It Again, Reelin' In The Years, Fire In The Hole
Sounds good
Awful.
Super great!
Hhu
Never really got into Steely Dan before this. Very catchy band. Very solid album, not a bad song on the record. 9/10.
quite all right, nice for chill music (pero?)