Can't Buy A Thrill

Fuck I am turning into a dad, I appreciate Steely Dan now

Dan. Dan. Dan. Dan. DAN. DAN. DAN. DAAAN. DAAAAN. DAN! DAN! DAAANN!

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.

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.

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.

Fun album I wouldn’t listen to again.

I fucking hate Steely Dan. I don't know if it's a result of growing up in the 70s and 80s and being subjected to the soft-rock, nouveau jazz part deus sounds of Steely Dan in dentist's offices or elevators but I've never enjoyed them. I am however, cognizant of their impact and contribution to music and knowing how they are reviewers darlings I did listen to this. And while it wasn't as bad of a listen for me as it was, I still don't get it. But this was a big improvement over some of the brit-pop cycle I've been stuck in. 3/5.

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

What a great listen. Strong start and continues through most of the album. Consider me a Steely Fan.

God, this band took any sort of bite out of jazz when they shoved it into their soft rock snoozefest, paving the way for all the Kenny Gs of the world. Do It Again is a good song, but the rest of this album can fuck right off.

Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years are obvious classics, the rest of this album is actually bonkers good too though. There's really no other band that sounds like Steely Dan. This an album that feels like it has everything, yet remains cohesive. I love it.

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 enjoyed this album very much. It was groovy and easy to listen, with multiple great songs. Great background for a scenic drive.

Every time we get a Steely Dan album, I think I don't know any Steely Dan songs and then when I listen, I realize I know many Steely Dan songs.... They're so laid-back in their delivery, they've slipped into my subconscious and their mellow voices hide some incredibly awesome and vicious lyrics. Not to mention the delicious guitar and punchy drums. Hard to believe this is a debut album. Quick takes on my favorite of the new-to-me songs: Kings seems to literally be about kings, and I dig that. Midnite Cruiser seals the deal: no one writes more eloquently about losers than Steely Dan. Only a Fool Would Say That: so nice I listened twice, also not sure I really get it. But even now, writing this, I want to listen to it again. I almost want to downgrade it due to how overplayed "Reelin in the Years" is, but that's not their fault. "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work" were also very familiar, but I actually like those songs.

Probably the best Steely Dan album I've listened to. A handful of songs they everyone knows, and the rest of the album is really nice too.

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.

This is probably the best 4 star album on this list. 4 stars only because their vision wasn't fully realized when they made this debut album and it's fair if you're sick of Do It Again or Reelin' in the Years. But the filler here is quite filling. Perhaps the last couple of tunes aren't on the same level as everything else but Only A Fool Would Say That is my personal go to prescription for bad days. That song turns my frown upside down 100% of the time. 100% OF THE TIME. That song is undefeated against depression and its writers, performers and producers deserve the Nobel Prize for mental health Rx. Brooklyn, Midnite Cruiser, Dirty Work - these would be other bands' best songs. Denny Dias's and Skunk Baxter's guitars are unusual, virtuosic and intense.

The first thought that came to mind when this album came up was "Oh crap...". I've lived almost 53 years without listening to a complete Steely Dan album, and now? Yeah, nope. It's still tedious wank that sets my teeth on edge, though the singles are at least a couple of higher points.

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.

Mashing my soft cock into the anus of a young lady feels like this record sounds. She's not happy, I'm embarrassed, and nobody gets off.

As far back as I can remember, Steely Dan was playing on the radio. I always thought it was great. But I thought Disco was great, so what do I know. The band really gets after it. The musicianship and songwriting is masterful. These guys wrote perfect songs, just brilliant stuff. 5 stars all day.

In contention for the best sounding debut album ever. Almost tips over and becomes too soft rocky for my tastes, but there's always something interesting happening somewhere in the crystal clear soundscape. Just a joyful listening experience.

Can’t Buy a Thrill It's only in the last 10 years or so that I have come to really appreciate Steely Dan. I had Aja on CD back in Durham, but I never really got it, it felt too AOR and Jazzy. But nowadays I can appreciate that no matter how much technical sophistication or jazziness they try to inject, they can’t seem to help but write incredibly catchy and satisfying soft rock. Do It Again is the song that probably made me realise how great they are. I remember hearing it at a party at someone’s flat when I lived in London and thinking it was superb. It’s a great example of their genius as arrangers and producers - it just sounds so right, with nothing extraneous or useless, with everything feeling considered and thought through. They also manage to play and produce with such precision, while maintaining a sense of swing and movement, without it feeling static or dull. That holds true for the rest of the songs on the album too, Dirty Work, Kings and Midnite Cruiser with their very catchy choruses and assured easily melodic verses. Only A Fool Would Say That has some lovely guitar and a slightly more cynical feel compared to the previous songs. Reelin’ in the Years is pretty well known I presume, and is a nice upbeat song for the start of side 2. Fire in Hole is vaguely melancholic, and I like the slightly staccato piano. Not one of the most immediate songs but still very good. I really love the laid back melody and feel of Brooklyn, again with a great, catchy chorus with great backing vocals. Change of the Guard is another solid soft rock pop song, with some nice overdriven guitar back in the mix. Turn that Heartbeat Over Again is a lovely bit of wistful blue eyed soul, rounding things off superbly. This may not be their greatest album, but I do love it, and it kicks off a great run of records up to Katy Lied. They may not veer too far from their catchy jazz-flecked soft rock pop tendencies, but they do it so well it doesn't really matter. Great album, easy 5 🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴 Playlist submission: Do It Again

Easy bangers

Hey little girl, what’s your favorite steely Dan album? What’s that? You don’t know a lot about steely Dan? Do not a lot of you know anything about steely Dan? Like, you’ve heard the name, but nothing specific?

This was a great ass album. Every song rocked.

I think the funniest thing is that there are people who are OBSESSED with Steely Dan. And to me they’re the poster children for music that is perfectly made to be played in the background of a bar scene in a movie. 2.5/5

Steely Dan produces no emotion, feeling, engagement, or enjoyment. Musically, it is just there, like Milton in Office Space—an incredibly overrated band.

OK musicianship, but boring in the long run. This thing about music being all soft, without an edge I never understood. Not for me

they're the best thetre is at what they do, and what they do sucks

Putting aside the fact that this is a very misleading album title (there are, in fact, plenty of thrilling records you can buy - it’s just that none of them are made by Steely Dan), you’d think a band as smug as Steely Dan would at least be capable of making music that has a little bit of emotion or intensity to it. Nope. Instead, they were content to put out the most calculated, anodyne and consistently mid-tempo albums that, at best, might inspire some gentle hip shaking and shuffling-in-place from their listeners. To their credit, this band at least lives up to their namesake…This is dildo rock, made by dildos. Just take a look at this quote from the band, about the recording of this album (from the Apple Music album blurb): As the duo put it in the album’s belated liner notes, Fagen and Becker had arrived in California with a book of songs that had to be “adjusted and refined to take into account the new musical environment in which we found ourselves operating, and also to reflect our belated understanding of the aesthetic shortcomings of some of our less-than-accessible, more doggedly surrealist efforts.” …and you lot have the gall to call Sonic Youth “pretentious”.

Jesus please make them stop

Doesn’t get much better than Steely Dan, this album has some of their most popular songs. Technical execution and production are absolute perfection, and the songs are memorable, well-written and fun

6/5 ich weiß nicht ob es daran liegt, dass mein Vater Steely Dan Fan ist, aber für mich ist fast jeder Song auf diesem Album ein Hit. Das Album fühlt sich an wie ein sonniger Samstagmorgen, wo du dir gerade einen Kaffee machst und weißt, dass du heute absolut nichts zu tun hast! (Genau wie ich heute). Voll mit mellow Gitarrenklängen - wunderbar. Lieblingssong: „Do It Again“, aber eigentlich sind alle großartig!

Stu!! Your boys! LOL.. I wrote to Mike yesterday, saying isn't it funny how what sounds like genius to some is unlistenable to others..I LOVE SD! They are/were like Gods to me. Can't buy a thrill is an album that takes you on a journey, proper 70s - I can't imagine life w/o tracks 1,2,5,6,&10

I think this is a 4.5, as it is great, and there are several really great songs, but it doesn't have the transcendent properties they achieved with later albums like "Aja." Therefore, this albums feels a little more tame than I think it could have. It is still a classic, though, and I can't go down to 4 on this scale.

Loved the 1st album suggestion, I knew of them and knew the 1st song extensively. Thanks Darleen GAC reelin the years is a classic no doubt, (anyone reading this needs to check out the cover by feed me jack and then the rest of the EP, your welcome) 5 Stars from me

Welp we’re back with the Dan and quite possibly their best album. Feels sacrilegious to say but hot damn is this all killer no filler from a band that wasn’t even sure if they could sing on their own songs yet. Sure, Steely Dan would refine their sound and reach absolute pinnacle of production later in the 70s. But this highlights their songwriting on a ton of different levels, and that’s not to mention what a bop all these songs are. And there’s never been an album that captured the malaise of the 70s beyond this one. I have nothing bad to say here. Sheer perfection, even the songs that aren’t the greatest.

Fagen and Becker named the band after a "revolutionary" steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch. ROFL. One of the bands i never listened to before this challenge, what a mistake…

There are two types of people: those who like Steely Dan and those who are wrong. Composition, playing, mix/production are all spot on.

Steely Dan have proven that they never really put out a "bad" album. The perfectionist quality that they wanted was apparrent from the very start, this debut album. It features Jazz and Latin inspired Yacht Rock with chill but interesting arrangements that pull from many influences and ideas to put together an album that within the Steely Dan fanbase is seen as one of their best outputs ever. And while I do like it a lot, they made better projects, especially "Aja" which is one of my all-time favourite albums. The album opens with the classic song 'Do It Again', a classic jazzy Yacht-Rock song with slight influences from Latin Music and Indian Ragas in the bridge which does add an exotic and relaxed feeling to the nearly 6 minute long song which happens to be albums lengthiest piece. It's groovy and the chorus is very memorable as are the verses. The songwriting is absolutely amazing and the song flows from the sitar inspired guitar into the next verses with piano at centre with ease. It is an incredible song but I do think that they streched it a little too long. Don't get me wrong, they did an amazing job making the pretty long bridge interesting and I wasn't turned away a single second but did the song NEED it? I think not. But still, the song is executed masterful and with incredible precission that the song just turns out incredible, even perfect to be honest. David Palmer does the vocals on 'Dirty Work' (and a couple of songs later on) which is a much softer and folkier song by the addition of more present acoustic guitar. The voice itself doesn't really fit in the verses but that's just my personal preference. The chorus though... Wow, it's just so amazing. Absolutely catchy and incredibly memorable. You can't help but sing along to it and it makes you forget that the vocals felt off with the verses and you end the song with the feeling that it's just another perfect song that you just heard. 'Kings' tries to be more Pop and a little progressive with the used styles and how the lyrics are constructed but the result just doesn't work particularly well. The song turns out average without much of a hook that actually hooks you to the song. It feels average and like it just flies past you with pretty much everything that it does. Yes, the song is musically dense and plays with many ideas and styles as well as the use of many different instruments but the result feels not that interesting. I'd say it's a good song but just "okay good" and not "great good". The hook on 'Midnite Cruiser' is much better and it at least hooks you this time but it doesn't do it very well. The song still feels pretty uninspired and plain without many things that it adds to the album or the music of its time. Again, the music itself is complex and dense but the performance of it, the result the listener gets to hear, is rather washed out and just boring. It isn't so boring that you fall asleep or that it hurts your ears but it's not more than an okay listen. Luckily, 'Only a Fool Would Say That' returns to the Latin influences from the start and with it one of the best song the album has to offer. It is groovy, warm and the hook is just executed to perfection. It is a return to the chill but beautiful and energetic sound that made the first songs so great. This song isn't as perfect, mainly because the instrumental bridges would've needed a little more work but it's still absolutely incredible. The albums second side has 'Reelin' in the Years' to start it with a bluesy and progressive Pop song that works so well here. The verses are a little goofy with how fast he's singing them and all I think is: Dude... you do not need to fit 100 words into one bar, this is Steely Dan and not Eminem. But when the chorus starts with the absolute beast that it is, I am once again thrown away. The bridge is a little too long but other than that, the song is pretty much perfect. It feels silly but in a really good way. 'Fire in the Hole' reminds of some late 60's band but I cannot pin down which one it was... Maybe Fairport Convention but I am not sure. Anyway, the song has some really interesting and slightly Avant-Garde piano as the main driver and a really great and playfuk chorus but sadly the song as a whole isn't as interesting as the chorus is. It's got some pretty nice moments which is why I do think that's it's a really solid and good song but sadly not much more. The slight Country influences on 'Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)' might be not a bad idea but Palmer is once again the lead vocalist which ruins it this time. The chorus is weak and just not interesting at all and the song as a whole isn't much better. It's just a boring song and the Country guitar does not save it from being a snoozer. In contrast, 'Change of the Guard' pretty much removes all other influences and gives us pure Steely Dan Pop and Yacht Rock but sadly, it isn't much more interesting because of that. The vocals in the pre-chorus are really well made but the song isn't really that interesting. It's okay, I don't mind it, it doesn't make wanna skip it or fall asleep but I wouldn't put it on out of own choice. The album closes with 'Turn That Heartbeat Over Again' which again, tries to be a little more Progressive Pop but this time, it works better. Not necessarily great but the result is alright. It's a nice closing track and it does have a nice melody but there are too many breaks and "play-arounds" which sometimes just destroys the flow of the song. But other than that, It's alright. favourites: Dirty Work, Do It Again, Reelin' in the Years, Only a Fool Would Say That least favourites: Brooklyn, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, Kings, Midnite Cruiser Rating: strong 7 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

steely dan, the kings of yacht rock. start to finish, a solid outing. highlights: “do it again”, “only a fool would say that”, “reelin’ in the years”.

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.

About 300 albums earlier I got my first Steely Dan album, and I'll stand by what I wrote then: "I've always enjoyed listening to Steely Dan, but I also feel like one album is more than enough to give us a sense of the style and flavor; his music is largely interchangeable, so getting another selection later on would be a bit disappointing." Little did I know that ahead of me there would be 3 more Steely Dan albums and a Donald Fagen thrown in as well. Thankfully, there's only one more Steely Dan for me after this ("Pretzel Logic"), so I will eventually return to simply enjoying it when I hear Steely Dan on the radio or on my shuffle playlist. I *do* appreciate it that this album has several of their radio hits, including two right out of the gate. (Ironically, I'm not sure I ever realized "Dirty work" was a Steely Dan single, as it always made me think it was likely an Eagles or CSNY song, or some group more in that vein with the harmonies.) It was also nice to revisit "Reelin' in the years", but the rest of the album doesn't quite seem as strong as some later albums; they seem to be feeling their way a bit on this debut album, perhaps in part from having David Palmer as lead vocals on several of the songs. I feel a bit badly only giving their debut album three stars, but I can't really justify giving every Steely Dan album four stars, and this one sacrifices quality for variety more than the others.

This album being called "Can't Buy a Thrill" is kind of like a carousel ride being called "Can I get some screaming please?" Only slightly thrilling part is the solo guitar work on Reelin' in the Years

Not bad, but distinctly dated, to my ears at least. I didn't listen that closely to be honest, but nothing really caught me.

I'm not a huge fan of Steely Dan's sound overall, but I have to admit this album has some bangers....

Tog mig 3 forsøg at komme igennem. Selv store datter valgte at sove frem for at høre det færdig.. Kl 14 en søndag.....

Dad-rock for en ældre generation

Music for granddads who like to think they like music. There is no more overrated band than this. Only saving grace is that at least this album has two of their least shitty songs on it. But then 8 other shittier songs.

Pretentious lyrics, bad singing. Complex mixing with interesting choices.

ISteely Dan Band's magnific debut album.

Some of the best songwriting and playing you can find.

I feel like I could go to any song on here and bop to it in some way. Each song is well crafted. Full but not busy. Complete album.

I love this album. I think the incongruity between the rhythm and the lyrics is brilliant and it’s on every song

Awesome Album!

It might be a controversial opinion, but I think this is my favourite Steely Dan album. There is plenty of spontaneity here and some edges to the music. I totally love it, it's a masterpiece. Brilliant songwriting. Yes, it must be your cup of tea, well, it is mine. I mean, the opening of 'Do it again' on itself is enough to secure Steely Dan's place in (modern) music history.

As soon as I hit play, I knew this was going to be a banger. As someone who is late to the game for yacht rock (which I know is a term these guys hate), I’ve been listening to City Pop pretty heavily the past 5 or 6 years, and yacht rock scratches that same itch. So this album was just a lot of fun, and really fit my mood this morning.

Automatic 10/10 for me. Steely Dan can do no wrong.

Listened, liked, LOVED!

I’m a Dan Fan

Pa' vete, Steely Dan. No sé del gusto musical de Carlin pero he shat on you lol 1. Do It Again. Nice intro vale. Hey I like it! Sabrosongo. Calidad. Liked. 2. mmm... 3. Calidad el explote musical. Liked 4. Pretty good Dan! Nice guitar solos! 5. Good! 6. Más boring, good solo pero boring. Skipping after 3:18. 7. FIRE IN THE HOLE. That's what I'm talking about! FUCK yeah con ese pianito, Dan! The fucking ending! Loved it! 8. Ok 9. Aight. 10. Not bad, or memorable. But verga, I liked it. 4.7 pero merece su 5. Good Steely! DOOM was more right than Carlin in this one lol

How have you not already listened to this album?!

153/1089 - Excellent debut for an excellent band. I think Imagine has a stupid message too. Not as big of a fan as the tracks where Fagen isn't the lead vocalist and I'm glad they got Michael McDonald later on in the band.

Fabulous!! A classic

mejor q el otro que ya tocó

Capaz el mejor disco debut de la historia

juju

An awesome classic

já ouvi, sensacional

5 stars Great band and great songs

Perfektion OCH sväng! Trummorna, rytmsektionen! Femma

Ja godsamme wat een weergaloos lekkere plaat is dit toch. De eerste zes tracks zijn stuk voor stuk bangers. De simpele hooks zijn zo effectief, zo catchy. Can't Buy a Thrill kan je altijd opzetten. En niet omdat deze ergens op de achtergrond draait, maar gewoon omdat je er altijd blij van wordt, en overal bij past. Wat ik zeg: effectief. Fire in the Hole is wat rustiger en daarna neemt het effect ietsje af. De laatste nummers slaan wellicht iets minder aan, maar de Dan heeft zich genoeg bewezen voor een mooie score. 9/10 Highlights Dirty Work (hun beste track, love it) Midnite Cruiser Only a Fool Would Say That

Had heard it before. Bad album? Only a fool would say that.

Nature's perfect album

perfect beach album

Didn't look forward to this since I remember his last album I had as a tad dull. But, as always when I'm reluctant for an album, I had a great time. What an opener! Perfect for a sunny morning cycling to work, and I danced my way through the opening round to the rest! Thanks, Mr. Steely

They couldn't perform at the Ziggo Dome last year. Was planning for the show where they would play before The Eagles (who I don't like that much) but sadly they cancelled the show.

Yes!!! I F*CKING LOVE Steely Dan.

Grandios! Ziemlich chillig. Gleich zu den Favoriten hinzugefügt!

Awesome

Love The Dan!

My ‘78 reissue of this slaps so fuckin hard. Well played and still playing well

Seems impossible for me to dislike a Steely Dan song. They knew what the heck they were doing.

So moody and smooth. I miss ‘Ricky don’t loose that number’ but for the rest almost all the greats are here.

One of the best ever debut albums of all time

Una locura

Hmmm let’s see…YUH

Awesome!

Hyper polished but in the best way. The deep cuts are also great here. Not a note out of place.

One of the most important albums of the 70s and not even their best. The hits are the hits, but Kings and Fire In The Hole give you a glimpse of where the band is going.

Love this, has all the Steely Dan bangers!

Probably my favorite Steely Dan album. It’s got a lot more blues and funk to it than some of their later albums.

Album impresionante, los únicos "puntos bajos" son la primera y última canción. Siempre entre canción y canción a la expectativa con que van a entretenerte. Rock con un buen groove bien de los 70s como debería ser

Yeah, I get it.

Wow, I mean they truly are the goats. Unreal album, hit after hit. Such an easy listen and brings me back to the Kano island days. 9.4/10

Not much needed to say. One of the best of all time.

Awesome album so groovy

love