Can't Buy A Thrill

Clásico.

3.5

I couldn't have named a single Steely Dan song, but recognised several of these regardless. Cosy listening.Nothing earth shattering, but nice easy listening.

Solid album with some of their beat known songs. Not particularly groundbreaking but good music. I don't think I would put the album in again but I know there are songs I will continue to hear.

An ok album mixed with some really good songs. It felt like like a lot of the songs were trying to sound similar, but didn't stick like the hits off this. The last song was by far the worst to me and ended it on a bit of a sour note.

Средний

Starts strong. Many skate video memories. Some kind of fusion sound I can't describe. Latin rock? Cuban? Soft rock with a pop edge and hooks. Dirty work a classic, quite like Kings. They are really TRYING to NOT be pop at points - noodley off kilter solos feel a bit out of place in what probably felt like a contemporary pop banger. yacht rock! 'I am another gentleman loser' All the songs sound pretty similar, not that that's such a bad thing, they work well together on a playthrough - but there doesn't seem to be any thing to wake the listener up a bit. By the time we get to fire in the hole... feels a bit weak, and the jazz piano doesn't work initially. Still bored on 'brooklyn owes'. Change of the guard feels like a naff attempt at a political statement. Would it be better if the band stuck to simpler and less ambiguous song ideas? This album makes me wish I was listening to hall and oates. Some of the writing/lyrics feel very dated. Overall, 3/5 seems fair. The great songs are great, but there are too many forgettable duds in here that just can't match do it again or dirty work. The more I hear Reelin in the years, the less I like it, but that might have more to do with my impending 37th year than the song itself.

Great

Enjoyable listen. Best track is Do It Again 3/5

Back in day, when I was into hard rock, one of my friends raved about Steely Dan, but I never saw the attraction. Having said that, I quite liked the two singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In the Years".

I liked some of the songs, & I might listen to the album again.

Hmmmm

Do there really need to be (at least) three Steely Dan records on this list? Seems to be the best (so far) tho

Surprised, impressed and found it enjoyable. I wasn't looking forward to this album but found myself tapping along. Decent

Smooth. Clever. Polished. I can never figure out I love Steely Dan or hate them. Are they interesting or mundane? The more I think about it the less I want to.

avg

Steely Dan is alright. Always enjoy the guitar work and drums in certain songs. Can’t get my into the writing too much though

An impressive and pleasant debut album. I didn’t look into their history, but these guys obviously had some musical training. The music is very tight and precise. I imagine a live performance would sound almost exactly like the recordings. And the recording quality here is exceptionally good, especially when you compare it to another album from around that time, the Small Faces, which sounded like they recorded it on a cassette player. I would not listen to this by choice….but if it came on while I was on a yacht, then yes. Go back jack, do it again. 3.5

Pretty good. A few big radio hits. Good choruses. Didn't seem inaccessible in the way Steely Dan has been described. Not one I would seek out often, but it may be a good background album. 3.2

Not my favorite genre, but definitely consistent throughout, and some solid hits among the tracks.

Not bad but a little too groovy, sounded like even had some wind chimes on the first track.

Solid debut with lots of radio hits. But it feels like it only has a couple of gears.

High 3. Some good songs on there that I'd never heard.

Steely Dan son sinónimo de calidad, compositiva, lírica, melódica e instrumental. Una banda (dúo casi en realidad: Becker/Fagen) típicamente setentera, lejos del rock duro y estridencias glam, sus producciones son técnicas, limpias y pluscuamperfectas. Encontraron un equilibrio perfecto entre los delirios del rock progresivo (con inacables solos instrumentales para deleite exclusivo de sus interpretes) y el rock suave, cantautores folk o AOR (pianos, saxos, coros...). Lo suyo fue otra cosa, más sencilla pero a su vez más compleja. Lo hacían fácil, pero no lo era en absoluto. Todo estaba detalladamente pensado y estudiado. En cierto modo me recuerda a duos como Tears for fears, con discos de larga gestación en busca de la perfección. De hecho este disco se publicó sin que ellos quedaran satisfechos de la mezcla final, pretendían corregir errores que solo ellos pueden apreciar. Los coros marca de la casa (influenciados por el soul, una de sus pasiones junto con otras más evidentes como el jazz). Para muestra su apertura con Do it again, todo un clásico en su pulido repertorio. La otra canción más conocida es Reelin´ in the years, aunque cualquiera tiene calidad suficiente: Only a fool would say that es un caramelo que no conviene obviar (ácida crítica al sueño hippy y al Imagine de Lennon con la que estoy muy de acuerdo). Dirty work, que estaba prevista como descarte del disco, ha sido también muy reconocida y versionada (incluso por Homer Simpson) además de usada en incontables películas. Kings y Midnight cuiser tienen ecos de Byrds y CSNY... Fire on the hole tiene un piano exquisito... El cierre de Turn that heartbeat over again te deja con ganas de seguir escuchando otra vez este disco. Las referencias al country-rock de los Eagles y los Doobie Brothers, al uso de metales de Blood, Sweat and Tears o Chicago, al mejor Elton John, al detallismo de Todd Rundgren, al jazz-fusion de Chick Corea, Pat Metheny o Weather Report, son justificadas si bien son más que eso: son Steely Dan. Por cierto, la portada (también cuidaban sus cubiertas, la de Aja es estupenda) estuvo censurada, cómo no, en España. Presenta a unas prostitutas en una calle francesa. No es su mejor disco, para mi es Aja (o Pretzel Logic), pero este está a un nivel excelente. Otros discos de 1972 fueron: Debuts, al margen de este de los Steely Dan, los de Roxy Music, Paul Simon, Big Star, Neu¡, ¿Fela Kuti? y Lou Reed (además de su espléndido Transformer ) Discos expecionales como los de David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Todd Rundgren - Something/ Anything?, Stevie Wonder – Talking Book y Music of my mind, Elton John-Honky Château, Nick Drake – Pink Moon, Yes – Close to the Edge, Miles Davis – On the Corner, Neil Young – Harvest, The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St, Curtis Mayfield – Super Fly, Raspberries- Fresh, Genesis – Foxtrot, Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview, Deep Purple- Machine Head y Made in Japan, Joni MIttchell- For the roses, Tangerine Dream - Zeit, T Rex- The slider, Kevin Ayers- Whatevershebringswesing, la banda sonora The harder they come... una cosecha excelente en la que Can´t buy me a thrill no desentona.

Do It Again is fantastic. Dirty Work, and Reelin’ in the Years are solid. The rest bores me. Steely Dan is like someone in your friend group who never causes any drama but never really opens up and is the last person you'd call to hang out with.

the best at their soft/jazz/pop rock blend. The songs are well composed and the instruments are expertly played. A few great songs, like Reelin’ In The Years and Do It Again - but a bunch of the lot aren’t too memorable for me. I think I enjoy a Steely Dan best hits over their individual albums, and I always thought they were better with higher energy/intensity (and a rippin guitar) than the laid back stuff. Overall it’s quality stuff, some of which is great and some fine.

sisi 7/10

I remember hearing Steely Dan on the radio as a kid. This is a decent album but I'll probably never listen to it in its entirety again. 2.5 stars

That didn’t sound like a debut album. That sounded like peak Steely Dan. They’ve always had that chord progression misdirection gear? Wild.

Good album will definitely listen again

Really good, enjoyed it - hadn’t heard this one either but Steely Dan are a great band

Apparently I know a lot more Steely Dan songs than I was aware of — "Do It Again," "Dirty Work," and "Reelin' in the Years" were all familiar. I guess I always assumed they were by some other band. Look, I'm not a yacht rock fan. Never have been, never will be. And I'm from Philly, the home of Hall and Oates. It's just not my thing. That said, I thought I would hate this a lot more than I did. I didn't particularly love it, but I can't deny the musicianship here. There are some crazy guitar solos, and it does have kind of a proggy/funky side to it. Lyrically, some of the songs are deeper than I would have expected from this kind of band. But it also gets really weird, really smooth-jazzy, and boring. "Brooklyn Owes" lost me with the slide guitar. "Change of the Guard" sounds like it's trying to rip off "Dancing in the Street." And the closing track is just bizarre as hell. The singer kind of sounds like Kermit the Frog (and it has an odd Rainbow Connection vibe) but it also sounds like a song Patrick Bateman would play for a woman he was seducing/murdering. 3/5 — not terrible, not great. Probably wouldn't listen again.

- well. it’s steely dan - tres chill.. soundscape of instrumentation moves so smoothly - i do love the harmonization over the chorus of dirty work - wikipedia referred to lyrics as ‘elliptical’ which feels very accurate - again, big fan of guitars in harmony, in reelin in the years - ‘oh michael, oh jesus’ is funny to me - i think there is a niceness and comfort to the repetition in it, makes it very background easy listening. it’s sunny music - idk. it’s nice! i don’t dislike it! i think i’m just not that attached to it. 3/5, did not add but did save turn that heartbeat over again

Yacht rock! Yeah! Some great moments here. My algorithms have started offering me some awful stuff as a result of my lingering on this and Aja. I like a bit of Steely Dan but I don't go in for the wider genre. It becomes tiresome quick. Good album though.

Some track are pretty cool, but it was too boring to listen to whole

whattaya gonna do?

List listening

Not sure if they are genius or cringe. But I was kind of falling asleep towards the end of my listen this morning.

Well I don’t think I will ever be the world’s biggest fan of Mr. Dan in all his steeliness, but I did like this album better than the last one I heard. Pretty cheery and straightforward with some good melodies. Best song: Reelin’ in the Years

Chill, soft, happy music. A bit generic. Good Production. Perfect background music. No instrument pushes to the front. Even the guitar solos are a bit reserved but they fit the mood perfectly.

Fine listening

Mäßiger Jazz Rock.

This album provided a couple of recognizable songs to 70's and early 80's radio. Not really rock, pop, or jazz, but carries influences of each.

Good album. Classic Steely with a few recognizable hits. 3.5/5

Not really my thing, felt pretty listless sometimes, but nice harmonies. Fave: Fire In The Hole

This wasn’t bad, I’m just not a Steely Dan fan.

Mid

I like Reeling In The Years, and Do It Again is pretty good too. The rest of the album is fine but didn't especially grab me.

If I liked the whole album as much as I liked the three singles I was familiar with, I'd have given this a 4.

This is a quintessential 70's album. They have a very unique sound. The recording itself was very "clean". The instrument separation was really good.

Dirty Work is a classic, and this lp aint that bad either.

enjoyable, relaxing, a little boring/repetitive... fades into the background a little too easily

Do It Again, Reelin’ In The Years, and Dirty Work are pretty great song but the rest of the album is just ok. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it outside those three songs. Though I do really like Dirty Work and listen to it more than occasionally. If I could do half stars this would be a solid 3.5

Saai, wel goed gemaakt

Pretty mellow and enjoyable on a weekend morning

A good song or two, solid 3/5.

Great album but i do prefer aja

Breezy album that doesn't take itself too seriously and has some songs that are easy to listen to and fun.

Not bad. Some big hits on it. Certainly got me grooving a bit, but nothing too mind blowing.

tbh i never really wanted to listen to this one in full but reelin in the years and the first two tracks are cool and the rest can’t be that much different can it?

Started off with some bangers, but grew disinterested as the album went on.

Yeah it's a good one and has a lot of hits on it, but it's not my favorite Steely Dan album.

not bad

Best Songs: Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years Listen Again: Probably not

It's pretty much Steely Dan isn't it?

I kind of like Reelin in the Years and Do It Again

captures the sights, the sounds and the smells like the 70s - some in a good way, and some you dont want to scratch the surface of too much

Mischung aus Rock, Pop, Blues und Jazz. Eher Richtung Classic Rock.

Great easy listening album.

Very cool, slick and charming, but no really my type.

Lots of bangers

Not as good as I imagined

v mid

The songs in the album aren't really hitting me or sucking me into a world, unlike other bands/albums like Pink Floyd. Album's enjoyable but not really something I'd enjoy listening over and over for a week.

Unique. Definitely knew a bunch of the songs

Classic easy listening stuff. Steely Dan’s melodies sound so nice that it’s almost artificial

I can't say I love Steely Dan, but this is clearly a great album.

Knew more songs than I thought I would

Are you reeling in the years?

I liked this album, felt good on a Friday. Good vibes. Recognized two songs. I want to check out more Steely Dan now but dont think I'll go crazy for it.

I'm gonna be honest, it's not what I was expecting. But I fucks with it. Also there was Spanish and a maraca?? who in Steely Dan is a latinaaaaa?? Do it again 💜💜 Only a fool would say that 💜💜

Good. Hear most of them on classic rock radio, the deep cuts are deep for a reason.

3 stars. Good for background playing. Not intrusive sound. Electric guitar, piano, country rock kind of sound, neutral to positive vibe.

It starts growing on you in a groovy way. Pretty unique sound. 3.5/5.

Meh

Album fuses a lot of genres together in creative ways. Nice groovy album with some classic "best of" examples from the band.

Upbeat, easy listening.

1. Do It Again- long intro, a vibe but not mine, good song though 2. Dirty Work- I've heard this song before lol it's pretty good 10/10 3. Kings- not really my jam 4. Midnite Cruiser- kinda jammy, wouldn't put it on tho...road trip song?? 5. Only A Fool Would Say That- vibey 6. Reelin' In The Years- ehhhh idk how I feel 7. Fire In The Hole- groovy 8. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)- def a road trip vibe 9. Change Of The Guard- another road trip vibe 10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again- I don't like this one honestly a very nice road trip album very groovy and vibey

Good album. I forgot about many of these songs.

Swingin. I enjoyed this a bunch

There were a couple good songs on it. Overall decent album.

Better than I expected considering I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. It was pleasant considering I listened to it while playing God of War.

this was easy listening, kinda like elevator music i think. i liked the instrumentals, but i think the vocals in some of the songs were jarring and made some of the songs less enjoyable. i was expecting a smoother jazzier voice rather than a more strained somewhat rock-ish voice

Pretty good stuff

Love the 70s sound and some amazing tracks on here but a bit too much pop sounds which makes it a strong 3

Disco muito bom. Todas as músicas possuem ritmo contageante, até me lembrou um pouco algumas músicas do Wishbone Ash. Apos primeira audição, algumas músicas se sobressaem. 1. Do It Again 2. Change of the Guard

Hyvän mielen levy! Ei olis ehkä väärin antaa nelostakaan.

Not my favorite but I see why they are so legendary.

Relaxing

Lots of recognizable songs but it was really nothing too special. I think some of their later albums are just more interesting.

Not my favourite Steely Dan album (Aja being my favourite) but showcases the talent.

I reckon David Palmer should do all the vocals

At the risk of offending some Steely Dan fans, this band does nothing for me that the Eagles don't already do. There's a few big hits on this album (Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years), but push comes to shove it's nothing super special in my book.

It was fine. Although an impressive number of singles for a debut album.

Nice!

De här är inte dåligt. Tror att jag skulle kunna gilla det om jag lyssnade in mig lite mer.

Hade bara hört Do it again sedan tidigare och visste väldigt lite om dem. Blev positivt överraskad - det är väldigt välproducerat rakt igenom, flera bra låtar och hög lägstanivå. Stark trea.

Couple of good songs, fairly middling 70's rock

Decent songs, well done. Just not quite my vibe I don't think.

Steht gur für den Sound der 70er, nicht alle Lieder gefallen mir, aber kann man durchaus anhören

I’m not sure how this compared to Aja, which I listened to a couple years ago but don’t remember much. Along with some other soft rock type bands, the music doesn’t seem to encourage me to notice differences between most of the songs all that much, so it blends into a cohesive vibe that overall is nice but can be forgettable. The record’s biggest hits seem well representative of the rest of the tracks, maybe catchier with better melodies and choruses. The lead singer often has a reverb/layered effect on his vocals that I like now but could get tired of. 6/10

A couple of songs were like songs I’ve heard 1 million times but never listened to. I haven’t looked into their history or philosophies or anything but I kind of feel like they’re all Republicans now I don’t even know if any of them are like. Only a fool would say that my favorite song on the album never heard it before.

This is only my 30th album and yet this is the 3rd time I've gotten Steely Dan... A solid album. Knew about half the songs. 3.5

Zeer groovy jazz album, stem is soms wat saai, maar muzikaal erg goed

Holy mid

Recognizable. Wouldn’t seek out.

Do it again

I automatically dismiss Steely Dan, but this album was not horrible. Solid 3

Quality hippy fun

it is what it is

Classic. Not quite Aja, but brilliant. 3.5/5

Steely Dan 1. Do it again - 4 2. Dirty work - 3 3. Kings - 2 4. Midnite cruiser -3 5. Only a fool - 3 6. Reelin in the years - 4 7. Fire in the hole - 5 8. Brooklyn - 3 9. Change of the guard- 2 10. Turn the heartbeat - 2 3

Thursday 11/9/23, 1:23, office S Tier————————— Do It Again Reeling’ In The Years A Tier————————— Dirty Work Only A Fool Would Say That Fire In The Hall Change Of The Guard B Tier————————— Brooklyn Kings C Tier————————— Midnite Cruiser Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

Very hit or miss for me

I enjoyed this album. It was fun to hear tracks like Dirty Work that I'd definitely heard around before but didn't know where they came from. It's not the type of rock that I typically listen to, but it was all still good. I'd give it a 7/10 if I could. I only got the chance to listen to it once, so it's certainly possible that I'd enjoy it more if I got to listen to it more.

Infectious whether you like it or not

Staple for a feel good playlist. A little hint of throwback which is nice

Great vibes with a couple of bangers

This was better than the last Steely Dan, but still super soft. It's just a disconnect between expectations and what's delivered. Had some solid songs though.

Very Good Album, easy to listen too. Insstumentation is varied and adds depth. Do it Again and Reelin' in the Years are highlights.

Gave it a few listens, and it went from a 2.5 to a 3, to a 3.5. Quit while I was ahead. Some stuff I really like (Reelin' in the Years), some that does less for me (the slight cheesiness of soft rock). But there are tunes, and hooks.

of all the bands that kinda sounded like this from this era, steely dan is pretty decent. yacht rock is not my fav genre tho

Very chill and upbeat. Although not much of my type.

Fine

glad to listen through, but nothing too special to me. 2.5 still listened 2x

Good album, nit my taste in music though

I liked this one

Liked the first track, a couple of others were pretty good as well (like good enough to listen to again) but I wouldn't listen to the album as a whole, I don't think.

Not the most exciting thing out there, but decent catchy music.

Do it again song almost sounds like it was sampling for hot line bling by Drake

Me encanta esta banda. Este disco es de rock más clásico que el anterior. Más coros y guitarras.

Pretty fun, but not all that memorable

Funny how you can know 70% of an album but never have actively listened to the band. Such is the case with Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy A Thrill. Although not to my particular tastes, I can hear the appeal: groovy, well-produced music with enigmatic and witty lyrics.

4 really great songs, the rest was mediocre. Favorite: Dirty Work

Good background album.

Not for me. Just not my type of music

Soft rock, pop. Ni fu ni fa.

just ok

I'm unsure how I dislike this album more then Pretzel Logic, when this one has a bit of a higher average score, but I thinj my issue here was it felt like every track went on too long for its own good. None of the songs are bad, but I cannot deny I wasn't getting annoyed at points when songs felt like they were just repeating stylistic beats. However, none of this is to say that I disliked this album completely, as I think it does well what it is aiming to do, which is soft rock that you put on for background music. This album does feel a step elevated above that, almost being yacht-prog more than anything, and so increased attention is recommended, but definitely not required. A decent first outing, but this band still has yet to truly prove to me why it is something more than other soft rock bands from the era.

Live in California once, but leave before it makes you soft

Did Steely Dan ever reach these heights again? Nope. And this isn't a flawless album by any means. There are a number of tracks that aren't very promising for the first minute or so, but somehow one finds oneself listening to, and quite enjoying, the whole thing (I'm looking at you "Only A Fool Would Say That"). Read the Wiki entry if you want to know the many musical styles on show. Then there's the wonderful "Reelin' In The Years". Do I care if I ever hear the album again though? Not really. Except for "Reelin'..." Steely Dan: the band too dangerous for fans of the Eagles.

Better than the last steely Dan

Pretty surprised I enjoyed this more the other Steely Dan album I got on this project. Seemed a little less self-serious. 3.5/5

Not bad, not necessarily what I’d go for but a decent listen

bass line on the first song.

Beautiful. m

Very solid album! Pretty chill rock

DIdn't stick with me, but it was enjoyable.

Fine. Some good tracks. Some generic 70s.

The whole album has a laid back vibe and there’s some classic cuts. However, I wouldn’t be listening from start to finish very often

“Oh that’s a steely Dan song”

Steely Dan just doesn’t do it for me. This one was ok, I like reelin in the years.

This is the better of the SD albums. There’s a lot less polish on a lot of the song. I like Dirty Work and the verses of Reelin in the Years. Really, really don’t like Change of the Guard.

It was fine.

Technically superb but some how lacking in edge. Something charismatic or soulful to set it apart. A bit bland to my ears.

Quite impressed with this album! It's inventive and a good bit of fun

This is a pretty solid record, with 3 very recognizable radio hits. Not my favorite band by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely worth a full listen.

Perfectly pleasant, perfectly bland AM rock

Much more pleasant than what I had anticipated. It's like yacht rock but with some intricate playing, and I'm down for that.

It was alright, but you don't get more "saturday radio" friendly than this.

When I listen to this album I feel like I'm at a party on a farm where there's a campfire and people are sitting around having a good time. I guess also it's the 70's because no one is looking at their phones, they are just happy with each other's company. Fave tracks: Do It Again, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.

Other than the three classic tracks on this record, many of these songs are fairly average and show Becker and Fagan were still finding their songwriting voice that would make them such masters of the craft on later records. A very good record.

Steely Dan’s first record, and probably their best. The most dad rock of all dad rock.

Some bangers! overall good listen

As far as Steely Dan goes this is one of their best albums. Couple classics in the mix.

Enjoyable enough.

I can't for the life of me understand why Steely Dan is worshipped. But at least this is acceptable, moderately pleasing soft rock before they got too pretentious.

Classic. What more is there to say? Everything slaps, even though there are only one or two songs I'd listen to on repeat. Just a good time.

Met deze rakker onder je arm kun je vol zelfvertrouwen het Top 2000 café binnen wandelen. Dadrock met af en toe een theatraal randje. Dit is zo enorm goed gepolijst en afgewerkt dat het daardoor juist misschien wel wat saai en karakterloos wordt. Ik word er niet super enthousiast van, maar ik kan er ook geen aanstoot aan nemen.

Soft rock, pop. Ni fu ni fa.

3 well known songs that are the only ones really worth remembering. The rest were nothing special and 3 I would class as irritating

major dad vibes and i love it

melodic

Professionally mediocre

Oh god, I try so hard with Steely Dan... lots of people I really respect _love_ Steely Dan, and yet, and yet, it doesn't really move me. Robert Christgau once described Steely Dan as "the Grateful Dead of bad vibes". I think he meant it as a compliment. I think it is apt, in that both bands attract incredibly devoted followings for reasons I don't quite fathom. Christgau reckons this is the Dan album to start with, being the most 'rock' (although we use the term 'rock' in an early 70s 'take it easy' L.A. kind of way, which reminds me of why we needed punk. But don't get me wrong: Do It Again and Reelin' In The Years are terrific singles, and I quite like Dirty Work. They are all songs I would happily listen to any day. But I just can't buy into the cult of Steely Dan.

Soft rock easy going Nice guitar solos/ riffs Personal rate 7/10 Favorite song - Fire in the hole _-___

Easily the most generic of all the classic dad rock that was ever created. Reelin’ in the Years I like, but I do skip it sometimes because it’s been so overplayed by classic rock radio. Do It Again has always bored me as a song, its catchy in an annoying “why is this so catchy?” kind of way. I like this bizarre album cover art a lot more than the actual record itself. This surreal gummy worm penis thing would excite Dalí to no end.

this steely dan is okay

Steely Dan I find quite boring. Nothing good, nothing bad just...meh. If I could give it 2.5 stars I would.

3.3 Some good stuff but kinda forgettable. I like how every song is slightly different genre-wise from the one that came before but it's still well put together and not disjointed. Fave songs: Reelin' in the years, midnite cruiser, fire in the hole

some great songs that I've listened to my whole life. Maybe overheard. Album as a whole was ok.

”Can't Buy a Thrill" is not your average rock album. The intricate guitar work, jazzy piano fills, and Fagen's smooth, captivating vocals add into Steely Dan’s unique musical universe. The songs on this album are meticulously arranged, showcasing the duo's attention to detail. The biggest highlight of the album has to be the guitar solo by Elliott Randall in the song "Reelin' in the Years,". Other tracks like "Dirty Work" and "Kings" demonstrate the band's knack for blending intricate melodies with clever, introspective lyrics. While Steely Dan's music often carries a veneer of smoothness and accessibility, a closer examination of the lyrics reveals a darker and more cynical undercurrent. Tracks like "Midnight Cruiser" and "Only a Fool Would Say That" tackle themes of disillusionment, failed relationships, and the complexities of modern life. This juxtaposition between the breezy musical arrangements and the thought-provoking lyrics adds depth but also doesn’t exactly fit the musical sound. Steely Dan enlisted an impressive roster of session musicians to bring their vision to life, including the legendary drummer Jim Gordon and guitarists Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias. The album is an exercise in attention to detail and I do like it’s place on this list as a truly unique rock release.

Oh. My. God. I am so sick of Steely fucking Dan. I get it, you like jazz and have great production. Jesus. Alright, this one's a little better than the last 2i had to sit through.

Enjoyable rock album, couple singles I’d heard before.

It’s alright, a bit average. 2.5 rounded up to 3.

- soft casual driving listening - very vibey - lots of instruments - sometimes feels like elevator music - while i appreciate the musicianship, its too slow and boring for me. I'm glad I listened but I'd rather some higher octane music. - Or atleast an album with high and low energy tracks. These were all too slow. - Would give it a 7.5/10

-so far its funky dad music and i’m SO into it -controversial take, not a huge fan of reelin in the years -favorites are definitely dirty work and change of the guard -its not super my thing but its good!!!! and i can tell why this was and still is a big deal of an album!!!!! makes me interested in listening to steely dans other albums

Ok.

Ganska schysst platta.

not offensive or special. kings solo

3.5

I listened to this on a previous list. Enjoyed it more this time through.

Definitely one of their weaker albums, 3/5

I do love Steely Dan. I grew up in LA in the 70's & 80's so it seems like most of the songs raise some sort of memory or another. That being said, I do find that most of their albums have some great songs, but filler - except maybe for Aja. Can't Buy A Thrill is no exception, I'll give it a 3/5.

Thank god the producer convinced Fagen to be the singer moving forward because I'm not a fan of Palmer. Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years could have been on any of their other albums. It's a tentative debut, there are glimpses of what would come, but there is a lot that doesn't quite work as well. Not a bad album, but not great.

“I foresee terrible trouble, And I stay here just the same.” Some great tunes, esp ‘Dirty Work’. I love the lyrics of that one. I had never heard ‘Turn That Heartbeat Over Again’ which was my fav so far. Overall it’s very cleverly written, all the parts working together for the impression of a kind of perfect structure to each song, but I do think the harmonic genius of Steely Dan is totally overstated by fans I’ve met. Also I hardly felt a thing listening to it - it felt like a project they did to see if they could write some hits but without any investment at all into the performance. Very “sessiony” in a way that unfortunately became quite normal in the 70s, and which sort of bothers me sometimes in its lack of humanity. I’d say it was nice but I wouldn’t put it on again.

Pretty decent

AM gold yacht dad rock

Ну, я послушал)) Для меня выделился только трек Fire in the hole приятной пианинкой, да и в целом игривостью какой-то. В остальном, ровно, мягко..как-то мимо прошло

Steely Dan, the band I can never quite place. I like "Do It Again" and "Reelin' in the Years," but I always seem to think the former is by Santana and the latter is a Doobie Brothers song. Maybe now I'll remember them correctly. Rounding up from 2.5.

I just never got into Steely Dan.

Lots of these songs were overplayed in my retail days, but they were still okay to listen to.

It above average but not crazy good or anything like that

Great album, perfect old man on a beach vibes

I've already listened to every Steel Dan album for some reason. Did relisten to this one and don't feel too different about it than I did a couple years ago, it's fine.

Really enjoyed some songs but some didnt stick

Bits of this I enjoyed but bits of it I really didn't

Apparently there are somehow two Steely Dan albums on this list. The only reason it's a 3 and not a 2 is that this would be a banger if it was a punk rock album. Speed it up, cut the production, get real with the vocals and bam. Punk album of the decade.

Cet album m'a semblé un peu daté, je n'ai probablement pas les connaissances pour apprécier ce qu'il a apporté

Deze Dan was wat beter dan de vorige, maar het is wel veel Dan achter elkaar.

Leuke plaat. Fijn om naar te luisteren.

Not really for me. I can appreciate the harmonizing and complexity though.

Literally everybody in the early 70s was like "Yo, what if we made our guitar sound like a sitar?" Fire In The Hole is a banger, fuckin' killer piano solo part way through.

Best Song: Reelin' In The Years. Like butter. The chorus kills it, the solos are great. This song is so fun. Worst Song: Fire in the Hole. Musical theatre with an okay piano solo. Overall: Peak smooth Dad Rock. It's not gonna knock anyone off their feet, but damnit it'll get them grooving in their seats.

It’s definitely good but really boring 3/5

It's quite nice. It's not exactly exciting though. Very soft.

Some pretty decent chill rock, enjoyable to listen to on a road trip

good

These guys are really good at doing what they do. It's not very interesting to me, but it's done very well and in service of the songs without ego getting in the way. Dirty Work is excellent

Second album by Steely Dan on this list, this time their debut record "Can't buy a Thrill". After a rather negative review (by me, in general very positive reception by critics) of album "Aja", there is only a little more to look forward to with CBAT. It's a slightly different style between those two records. CBAT is much closer to classic rock, with endless guitar and piano solos. And I have to admit, anytime a new solo came up, the quality of the song was rising exponentially. Very entertaining pieces, great virtuosity by all band members. But otherwise the songs were just bland. I was not the fan of the vocal (again). The melodies weren't interesting or especially inspiring, and the length of the album transformed my listening session into a snoozfest. I'm not looking forward to another album by Steely Dan, hopefully those doors are now closed. I was ready to give a bad rating, but although I didn't like the music in general, the abilities of the band should be rewarded.

Oh baby did this send shivers down my spine. Dirty Work is iconic, Kings and Turn That Heartbeat Over Again are hidden gems, and Do It Again is in my top 50. This was just good. I needed this.

It sounds like walking down a beach on the shore of New Orleans with a bunch of indie kids watching a jimmy buffet concert

I’ve beat this album to death, so I wasn’t happy to return to it. This one sent me spiraling into ignoring the albums for a week or so, but I’m back for good bitch. I tried to go in unbiased, I used to love this album, but idk I’ve just heard it so many times it kind of missed me this time around. It’s groovy no doubt, a few years ago I’d give it a 4 but I’ve since grown- Steely Dan you get a 3 today.

I’ve tried very hard to like Aja, but I just can’t. Hopefully this can be the one that sets me down Steely Dan Blvd. This is tough. It is better than a 2, but not good enough for a 3. If I were Liad “Mr. Round-Up” Zaffrani, I’d give it the 3. But luckily, I’m not. So it’s a 2. Okay, I can’t lie, this is growing on me. I’ve listened about four times straight and I’m starting to really like it. It definitely doesn’t have the panache or consistency of a 4, but I’ve definitely warmed to it. Maybe I’m more similar to Liad “Mr. Round-Up” Zaffrani than I care to admit. This felt like the Oasis album: it was good, but didn’t grab me save for a few tracks. I gave that a 3, so it’s only fair. Hopefully, Liad “Mr. Round-Up” Zaffrani will be proud of me.

I think I like this better than Aja, but it also helped me put my finger on what bothers me about Steely Dan… Donald Fagen over pronounces every word so much that it gives me a weird musical theater vibe. Cannot get into it. I know I owe them more chances, but I just don’t think I’m the right audience.

Ok

I already recognize the first track, funny when that happens when you listen to a band you don't really think you've listened to that much. Decent record, nice songs, definitely a toe tapper.

I'm reading all these immensely positive reviews and calls of 'masterpiece' and I've listened to this album 6 times over 2 days. Apparently I'm missing something. It really is quite pleasant to listen to. The first two tracks really start the album off amazingly but this line is not followed through the rest of the album. I duly recognise how talented the musicianship, how influential and important this album is, but it never really caught me anywhere after a while. Not to say I dislike it and I've become quite curious what their later albums would be like, if they came to perfect their songwriting. I'll start this off as a 3,5*

Good, but not great

Em 2023 prometi a mim mesmo que faria o desafio dos 1001 Álbuns na intenção de entender mais sobre música e conhecer outros gêneros, artistas e histórias. Can't Buy A Thrill foi o primeiro que o gerador me recomendou. Aliás, linda capa. Do It Again foi a primeira impressão que tive do disco. Um sentimento de nostalgia me guiou por toda a faixa. Até Dirty Work aparecer. Ouvia tanto essa música quando adolescente e nunca tinha sequer prestado atenção no nome do artista ou álbum. É uma boa música.

quite samey, 70s vibe is cool.

I did enjoy it but I can't see myself revisiting too often. A decent record.

nothing pops out to me

Some good songs

Angenehm zu hören, aber nicht eindrücklich. Mittelfeld mit 3 Sternen.

I'm a fan of Steely Dan! Mostly I just wanted to write that, but I did enjoy this album. Good hooks and melodies, but it hasn't left me wanting more.

Steely Dan is one of the best of the 1970s! This is a great one. 3.5/5

Great debut

Chillige 80s Sound. Kannte ich an manchen Stellen bereits. Wsl. aus Filmen.

Steely Dan’s come up a few times on the list now, and I have the same issue as always. It’s really close to the kind of thing I like, but it feels empty

Coasting on some nostalgic memories of playing ‘Do It Again’ on Guitar Hero: World Tour all the way back in ‘08. Not every track stands out, but those that do have enough diversity and sheer hooks to make this one more than just a flash in the pan.

Better than I expected, would definitely give it another listen and check out some of their other stuff

I must be getting old. Thought they were shit when I was a kid but it’s not bad

3,5

For a band that doesn't seem to have ever been a huge part of the Zeitgeist, and definitely wasn't at the time this book was first written (late 90s? early 00s?), Steely Dan sure is in here a lot. This is their 4th album so far, and the singer has had a solo album included as well. What's THE DEAL with that? Anyway, this is the album with reelin in the years on it. Much like the rest, it's technically proficient and has a few fun hooks here and there. So inoffensive it almost comes 180 and offends me, but overall that's not a real complaint, is it? At absolute worst it has a few dull moments - most of it was either enjoyable or completely acceptable background music. It's either a 3 or a 4. I'll decide tomorrow.

this is not my cup of tea but I really enjoyed having it on in the background. which essentially is what 1001 has done to me. If it's not objectionable somehow (looking at you pere ubu, being unlikable isn't a likable trait) music outside your wheelhouse can be very pleasant to listen to.

Perfectly reasonable classic rock album. Knew many of the songs, all were fine, in offensive, perfectly listenable.

Good Steely Dan. Dirty work is up there. Could be the quality of the remastered track was lacking but pretzel logic felt sharper. Still a good ride

I’ve heard better Steely Dan albums.

Good

I have this album and one or two other Steely Dan albums on vinyl but never realized they had a second lead singer on this one. Side 1 kicks off with Do it Again which is one of Steely Dans’best songs and has two excellent solos: guitar followed by keyboards. Side 1 kicks off with Reeling in the Years, another excellent song. Aside from these two songs, the album is weak. There are some artists that don’t have an album that’s a game stopper, but the artist is so relevant that they deserve to have an album on the 1001 list. As we have been on the 1001 journey for over a year, I’ve noticed that In such circumstances the authors recognize this and, almost by default, they pick the artist’s first album. Some examples of this are Steve Earl’s and Miriam Makeba’s first albums. I might not think their first album was their best but I get it and will rate generously. If SD didn’t have later albums on the list, I would understand this logic applying to their 1st album Can’t Buy a Thrill and rate it generously. But Aja is on the list so Can’t Buy a Thrill needs to stand on its own merits. On this basis, it has only two good songs. The two are good enough to get to a 3 but I can’t go any higher.

Good

Quite a few hits, so I’ll give them that, but in my opinion: dull.

Three great songs make the album. 3/5

So many bangers

This album doesn't do much for me, if it weren't for two good songs this would be a solid two starts however songs 6-9 really charm me in, and I wish the whole album was like this. 3 stars

a 70's album alright, nothing i could say stuck to me.

Worse than I was expecting. The jumble of instruments is interesting and the band sure can noodle on em pretty well, but often works against itself, and I wasn't a fan of the frequent choice to song in harmony. And in general the vibes just didn't click for me in a way I'm having trouble describing. Like there's awesome 70s rock & folk, and then there's lame... This was lame. Not bad per se, just lame. Like grocery store rock but with better instrumentation. Do It Again is legendary though, and stands head and shoulders above everything else here. Highlights: Do It Again, Only a Fool Would Say That Lowlights: everything else. nothing else stands out as better or worse than the rest.

Incredibly enjoyable, start to finish. Songs carry on to one another seamlessly for me while changing up just enough to make it feel fresh. Very nice as background music and I will save it and listen to it while focusing more on the tracks on their own.

Steely Dan is a band beloved by a paradoxical demographic of music students/theory-heavy musicians and people who don’t really like music at all. Or maybe that’s not so incompatible after all - neither of those groups invest a great deal of genuine sentiment into their enjoyment of art. In some ways Steely Dan are the epitome of this nexus point. There’s a pronounced pop sensibility in their songwriting an an equally pronounced tendency towards virtuosity. On the whole, I didn’t hate this album, largely due to the former characteristic. These guys could write a great song, and the persistent noodling isn’t entirely without purpose (even if it is without subtlety). I will definitely come back to this record for the singles if nothing else. Pleasant surprise.

Classic jams for sure. Steely Dan is a bit much for me. It's good for sure, but just a little too much. Dirty Work is a straight jam though for sure. Pretty good time listening, but I don't love it and couldn't listen to it a ton.

Allegro, simpatico.

Mid?

It's OK, but doesn't blow me away

Couple of good ones on this album

Good jams

Okayish

Come to find out I know more Steely Dan songs than I thought. There are some classics on this album, but that obvious non-disco seventies' sound does not do much for me.

True neutral. I don't mind this playing, but also don't care about any of the songs.

Not my favorite steely Dan record (more pop than rock or jazz) but still so catchy. 3.5/5

Me gustó. Los 2 sencillos son muy buenos.

Vocals, instrumental sounds and grooves typical of AM radio soft rock in the early 70s, pleasant but not that exciting either. Steely Dan are apparently a critics favorite, supposedly for their opaque lyrics and songwriting but to me, they seem bland. On the plus side, there are a few nifty guitar solos scattered throughout and the production is polished. But lets put it this way, I'd sooner listen to 'Do It Again' by the Beach Boys instead of 'Do It Again' by Steely Dan.

Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years were good, the rest is okay. I liked the piano parts on Fire In The Hole. 2.5

The creator of this list has quite a thing for Steely Dan. It's fine but surely there were other artists in the 70s?

i likey

Couple jams on here. The lesser known tracks are lesser known for good reason. Pretty laid back album, and I do enjoy sections of it. However, it is not a record that draws you in and gets you excited about much. You're just showing up to chill and listen to some easy-going jazz rock. Nothing special about it, and there's a time and place to give this one a listen. Not an iconic album in my view. Fave tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years

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

Good quality music

Some nice hits and good song writing. A bit too middle of the road and bland for my tastes

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.

Can't Buy A Thrill is the fourth Steely Dan album recommended to me from this list. I've heard three tracks off of Can't Buy A Thrill on the radio."Dirty Work" is the track I liked the most, followed by "Reelin' in the Years", "Change of the Guard" and "Do It Again". I still wish I could hear what others hear in Steely Dan. I know they're talented, but I don't feel a real desire to hear more. Can't Buy A Thrill, you are officially "okay".

I really liked this, nice easy listening with some great tunes. I especially enjoyed Only a fool and Fire in the hole

decent start, awesome cover art, decent album overaLL 6/10

groovy

70s average album

det ok

ok

Antiseptic pop. Catchy but devoid of personality. Pro

Close to a 4. Could see myself listening to this in the car.

Decent