Reviews (page 13 of 15)
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
Off to a great start, and then, I don’t know, a bit meh again
If you're going to enjoy one Steely Dan album then it's going to be this one. Has some iconic tracks, a cool vibe, underscored by the majestic Do It Again opening up. Dirty Work follows it with a different sound but it's just as good, Reelin' In The Years is a proper groove, and those three tracks alone get you to a high 3. The rest of the album is fine but unspectacular and maybe doesn't elevate to a 4. The weird thing about Steely Dan, though, is if you didn't know it was them and you weren't really a fan, you'd say someone else performed all of those songs.
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.
3/5 interesting but not memorable
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.
It was good. Three recognized songs
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.
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?
pretty chill feels like it would be more fun to listen to live at a bar 3.5
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.
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.
This is one band I always miss the bus on...
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
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.
Some good tracks on here but most of it is a bit generic
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.
Very original albu.m
Gentle blues rock, somewhat of it’s time, but a fun listen
7/10
It's fine for what it is
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.
Gets a stronger rating for Do It Again, Dirty Work and Reelin' in the Years which are all classics. The rest was fairly forgettable.
youtu.be/9Me-PbVJ-_A
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.
Very up and down
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.
I had heard "Dirty Work" before. Everything else is new to me.
Light and easy with some good songs and no really bad ones.
Kann man mal hören. Nichts besonderes.
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.
Liked it :) good Songs and sound
Yawn - didn't do it for me at all.
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.
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.
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'
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.
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.
3.5
Hippy Jack Johnson
Steely Dan isn't an artist I would normally listen too but since it was recommended, I gave it a listen.
Very nice fusion of styles, some funky jams. Liked it
7/10
ok
Best Steely Dan album we’ve had thus far
A good album but quite steady and one paced
Pretty chill.
Reelin in the years and Do it again. Classics. Yacht rock.
Yes! 70s soft rock 👍
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
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.
non affatto male! si fa ascoltare facile
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.
“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.
я такую дрянь не слушаю принципиально, мусор ...
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.
Dertien in een dozijn rock. Er staat geen slecht nummer op, maar er waren ook maar weinig uitblinkers. Wel nog een poging waard.
// Favs: – Score: Light 3
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.
We enjoyed it well enough. A good album for a sunny May evening.
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.
An alright album a few ok songs but others quite forgettable overall above average 3/5
Ok lounge BG music with some nice jazzy songs.
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..
Chill hippie album. Best songs: Reelin in the years and fire in the hole. Rating 3/5
lame nothing remarkable
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!
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
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.
First song was good, others didn't stand out
Some classics on there
Alright. Not overly memorable.
6
Viel besser als das erste. Mache ich gern mal im Garten an. 3.5
More of the same. Immer noch sehr gefällig und schlau. 3,3.
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.
Ok
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.
Rock suave, melódico, interesante. Alegre.
It's fine.
A couple bangers (like A Fool), but the rest of the album isn't worth a second listen
Fun album that I enjoyed listening to though can't say I'm running to listen anytime soon
classic
Not my kind of music but competent
Great album, classic songs!
Great album. Fun songs. Enjoyed it.
Lidt hillbilly, men fin nok
Middle of the road, but fine
"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).
Every Old White person music Bible. This is the quintessential white person album
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
'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
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.
i liked it, then i didnt like it... so idk what that was about. cool easy listening music though
Never been into steely. I bet you a steely Dan fan would say don’t start with this record… so I won’t… Idk it just sounds like not much of anything to me. Fav track: fire in the hole
4/10
Last one... it's done! No more Steely Dan. I have experienced them, and confirmed that they do not float my boat. I was hoping to be suprised by them... but no. They just do sound like Waitrose's idea of rock, with all edge and interestingness sanded off.
It was fine. Not good not bad just fine
Soft rock "clássico". Pra quem gosta do gênero, mas nem de longe um disco indispensável.
very chill but too old for me
The softest of soft dad rock. Nothing bad, just nothing good. Overall I felt bored. 2.5* rounded down to 2*
More Steely Dan?? Oh, "Reelin In The Years" is this song!
This shit sucks. Sanded down jazz pop with the most annoying parts elevated. Played well and technically it sounds good so I can't give it 1 star. Catchy enough that this crap is gonna be stuck in my head. Fuck Steely Dan.
Lyrically this is pretty interesting but albums start with tunes, not lyrics, and this is cursed with some of the most anodyne pop-rock it's been my mistfortune to hear, powered by beats that wouldn't sound out of place on the cheapest of Bontempi organs.
This felt like lounge music, poor lounge music. Just no bite or interest in any of their tunes, even with the well known pair of songs on here or wasn't elevated to anything beyond "meh". Sparing it from one star because at least it wasn't turgid.
This is a band that are are great at what they do.
Meh
Fuck hvor jeg hader slide-guitar. Der er simpelthen ikke et nummer i musikhistorien, der er blevet bedre af at få mast en slide-guitar ind. Hader egentlig også soft rock. Og alligevel er der faktisk meget her jeg godt kan lide. de første 2 numre er ret fede, og det er i det hele taget meget lækkert. Men på den sidste halvdel går der lidt for meget yahoo i den. Det sidste nummer lyder nærmest som noget shubidua kunne have lavet, og der er altså ikke noget der trækker op
i didn’t like
i have listened to three Steely Dan albums and Do It Again is finally a song of theirs that i really like. took long enough! rest is not really great and has a lot of the elements i don't like about this band, but it deserves some credit as the best album i've heard from them. deserves to be one of the 1001? this and Aja do but the others don't
Maybe I’d enjoy this more another time but wasn’t feeling it
4/10 - better than the Countdown album by Steely Dan but still another generic 60s/70s album. Honestly why is this list so saturated with these albums, even crazier is that Steely Dan has 4 albums on this list!
started off strong, but i got bored of his voice very quickly
initial reaction to the album (before listening) is that i don't want to listen to it. let's hope i'm wrong. couple of other initial impressions - reminds me of euphoria (dirty work blew up on the internet after euphoria season 2) - on the surface, the whole album feels like a Tommy Bahama golf resort country club... is this what they call Yacht Rock? a closer listen to the lyrics reveals a more cynical take on the world we live in, which is refreshing and a nice contrast to the easy breezy riffs and rhythms first track- impressive guitar break,reminds me of something i'd hear on catalina island. on that little resorty beach with the brunch buffet second track - dirty work - this is a good song third track- didn't despise, but didn't feel this one. wanted to change the albums a couple of times during. this album is a bit theatrical for me. fourth track- midnight cruiser- i like this one actually, the guitar breaks are redeeming and i like the lyric "i am another gentleman loser" six track - i like the lyrics here. supposedly this is Jimmy Page's favorite guitar solo of all time ?! and it's about an ex apparaently, but i could also see it relating to just growing up. seven track - i like the opening of this song but the rest is meh. the piano break is a highlight break final track- sexy little riff at the end of this one- really nice Overall, i'm not mad about this album. would i listen to it again? not my first choice but i also wouldn't be mad if i had to.
Partially known. The hits are the hits.
Ehh was kinda of bored. Definitely a soft rock or road trip album your dad would play. Probably would never listen to it again, but it was fine. Very summery too. Wouldn’t recommend overall, unless that was your vibe or you’re my dad.
Not for me
Uu groovy pt2
meh
I don't understand Steely Dan. There are some clever lyrics, but this isn't something I need to hear again.
I don't mind this album but the sound leaves some to be desired. I liked the guitar on songs like reeling in the years, and I appreciate the drums a lot but the vocals leave a lot to be desired. It has a little bit of swing to it on alot of these songs as well which I just dont like. A lot of early rock sounds are just very under developed in my opinion as the time period only allowed for so much pushing of the boundaries.
Meh...
I just don't get Steely Dan. So bland, so lounge, so jazz light so lacking joy / energy/ so clinical.