Can't Buy A Thrill

I go in phases with Steely Dan. Sometimes I feel meh, sometimes I love them, sometimes I feel annoyed and over them. These lads lucked out and caught me on a love day. There’s something me pretty great songs on here.

5 Another one that has grown on me more and more. Never thought a song about Richard I could be so catchy

ok i did listen to this already but i was snowboarding so i couldnt pay too much attention i love you daniel of steel. starting the album with the classic that is do it again. theres so much going on in these instrumentals but it comes together to sound so simple. they strung together like 3 solos and you hardly even notice because it just sounds natural. thats what they do best, create a vibe back to back classics. such nice vocals on here, especially the harmonies on the chorus. sax solo makes me wish i knew the saxiphone just so i can play this song great great great. its just that steely sound they do so well. it feels like theyre trying to fit in a solo for as many instruments as possible on this album god i love some good piano rock. a steely dan vocal harmony can cure most known ailments. pretty much every chorus this guy sings can make me smile. oh and here comes the classic guitar solo. they really perfected what they did another classic. when i hear the phrase yacht rock, this is exactly what i hear. no one else even comes close to replicating the pure level of vibes that this band can create so many classics fit into such a concise album. perhaps their biggest song of all time, theres definitely a reason it got as massive as it did. solo time yay. sleeper pick for one of the most iconic guitar solos of all time. they really have such a knack for melodies its like a superpower a little bit of a lotta ragtime magic going on right now. damn it feels like any song on this album had the power to become a classic. and what a fitting song for our piano solo of the album. i think a good 30-40% of this album is just solos guitar tone is hella nice. i love the little accents of the mirracas and tamberine that keeps the song moving along. i feel like i gotta take the time on each track to just sit back and appreciate the solo i once asked them if they could tone down the vibes on a couple of songs every once in awhile because i was having too good of a time, but they told me that unfortunately it was impossible for them to do that its hard to believe how little steams this song has, considering the vibes have not dropped one bit. ending this album the same way it started, with lots of fun and feel-good energy i mentioned vibes and solos a whole lot during this review, but thats exactly how i would describe this album. vibes and solos. and no one is able to do that quite in the same way that steely dan can. this music has the ability to lift my mood almost anytime i hear it, and for that reason and just the insane hit ratio i gotta give this album a 9

I know steely Dan is memed upon to hell and back but I simply can’t escape the fact that I enjoy them heavily. Sue me

Just started. Great album. Though not entirely my jam.

This came out during my senior year in high school. First, Do it Again was a Top 10 hit and it felt like nothing else on the radio. Not sure if I bought the album right away or waited until Reelin’ in the Years was released (it made it to #11) a few months later, but once I did I was a fan for life. A few songs have other singers or shared vocals with Donald Fagen which was OK, but they ditched all that after this LP. The songs are varied and some are quite lovely — Kings, Dirty Work, Brooklyn, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again. Listened to the original quadrophonic mix of this for today. As with a number of albums released in quad at this time (e.g., Jethro Tull’s Aqualung), some of the instrumental parts are very different than the normal stereo release, particularly the guitar work (but not the iconic solo) on Reeling in the Years, Probably only the 4th or 5th fave of the SD catalog, but a solid 5 nonetheless. Also, a great cover.

Enjoyment: 10/10 Replayability: 10/10 Cohesion: 9/10 Flow/Pacing: 8/10 Artistic Merit: 10/10 Weighted Average: 9.65/10 Review: The ability to find, craft, then perfect their sound on their debut album is truly a testament to Steely Dan. They have bottled comfort and leisure into an audio elixir that can relax a worried mind like no other. This will be the first album I put on when I'm cruising down PCH at sunset in my convertible coupe on my first night of retirement. But for now, I have to Do It Again and listen to this gem back through. Liked Song(s): Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Midnite Cruiser, Only A Fool Would Say That, Reelin' In The Years, Fire In The Hole, Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me), Change Of The Guard, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? Yes

What a way to rebound from yesterday There’s so many good songs on this one it’s not even funny. Do it Again’s a classic, groovy in the best way and an amazing way to start an album. Midnite Cruiser is just awesome, kinda underrated but I love the vocals and the chorus so much on that one. Only a Fool Would Say that and Change of the Guard just further show their range and keep the album interesting all the way through. Somehow though, none of those tracks are the actual peak of this album. Reelin’ in the Years is almost a perfect song; listen to those guitar riffs and solos and tell me that’s not the coolest shit ever. I really think there’s very few songs that have better riffing than that one, not to mention it’s super easy to sing along to. Throughout the entire album, vocals are awesome (and I like that they change off to keep the sound fresh), variety is great, and instrumentation is just iconic Very few complaints about this one, if I had to come up with something I guess it’d be that the last tracks is just kinda ok instead of amazing like the rest? It would be a totally fine song on another album but the bars sky high here This is without a doubt one of my favorite albums on here, gotta be top 10 so far. The fact that there’s only 1 maybe 2 songs on this that I would have below an 8/10 is just an insane level of consistency, there really isn’t a bad song on this at all. I’d be absolutely shocked if Reelin’ in the Years wasn’t close to the top of my Spotify Wrapped this year, what a song.

Unc Gem!

An iconic album of ‘70s rock, and still my favorite of Steely Dans

Love Steely Dan. Grew up on their music. I went to one of their concerts when I was younger with my parents.

This is my first review and I don't really know how I should go about this but I can say that I understand why this album is on the list. I only knew previously one of the tracks but all of the songs were quite distinct while also being very classic and easy to listen to. All the components (voice, guitars, drums, keys) are very unique and well balanced. I really liked it and it was a very good start to this list.

I'M A FOOOOOOL TO DO YOUR DIRTY WORK

Gran álbum, excelentes canciones.

Lucky enough to have my Dad’s ‘72 pressing of this record. It has some pops but sounds great. Grew up with this stuff because of him. 5/5

Lucky today, my favourite band.

Это было прекрасно. Отличное сочетание рока, джаза, фанка и других многих жанров.

The Dan certainly started off strong. Not a dud on there but I added “Reelin’ in the Years” to my playlist.

Good easy listening, a classic album.

I love Steely Dan. Groovy, sharp, fantastic audio quality, a real craft for melodies. Not their best album but certainly one of the best debuts.

Love it ofc

So many different hits, so many different sounds, very impressive.

Un vrai banger

9/10 Отличный альбом. Не думал что так зайдет фьюжн. Очень классно переплетаются разные виды джаза местами с добавлением фанка и рок-н-ролла. По трекам - Fire In The Hole и Midnite cruiser

De los mejores debut de la historia. Sigue sonando fresco 50 años después.

I suppose soft rock can be their genre, this album reminded me very much of The Eagles. Catchy pop lyrics amongst an array of guitar riffs and jazzy bass to keep the majority of people happy. It does sound very 70s however it feels like it’s stood the test of time! I enjoyed it for all the above reasons but the main reason probably being that I’m a dad of almost 40 and in my opinion this album is the epitome of dad music! Best track- ‘do it again’ purely just for the absolute banging bass just beating ‘reeling in the years’ actually can I pick both please as listening again I can’t decide between them both 😅 Worst track- I honestly didn’t have one. Trying to find a reason to mark it down but honestly I can’t think of a reason too. So it has to score 10/10

Really nice easy listening, recognised more songs that I thought - including 'do it again' and 'dirty work' :)

Pretty fantastic all the way through. 5.0/5.0

Excellent release with one of the great opening tracks to a first album.

Absolutely loved this. Some brilliant melodies and instrumentation. Really recognisable tunes.

Great! I want to hear it again!

Alright, third Steely Dan record on my journey, and this time, it's their debut. I'm familiar with the singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin' in the Years", along with a few album cuts like "Dirty Work" and "Only a Fool Would Say That", and I still enjoy them a fair bit. How does the rest of Can't Buy a Thrill stack up? Well, I'll admit that this is my favorite Steely Dan record thus far. I think it boils down to how much more energetic the overall style of Can't Buy a Thrill is compared to the laid-back, easy-listening jazz rock that I came to expect from Countdown to Ecstasy and Aja. The guitar work of Jeff Baxter and Denny Dias is more involved, and the hooks are prominent and upbeat. Even when the tempo is slowed down for the likes of "Dirty Work" and "Kings", the beat from Jim Hodder is snappy as Donald Fagen and David Palmer traded soulful deliveries over the upward tonal modulation. Hell, even Jim takes lead vocals on "Midnite Cruiser," and he nails it. From an instrumental standpoint, the album is engaging from back to front, with no real lull in between, as Gary Katz's rich production made all the above elements stand out alongside such notable guest contributions like Jerome Richardson's tenor sax solo on "Dirty Work" and Elliott Randall's soaring guitar lead on "Reelin' in the Years". As for the lyrical content, Donald and Walter Becker ran through some biting social commentary. Whether it's the exploration of vices on "Do It Again", the allusions to the Watergate scandal through the tale of Robin Hood on "Kings", the scathing retort to John Lennon's "Imagine" on "Only a Fool Would Say That", or evading the draft on "Fire in the Hole", the two of them brought their game with looking outward at the hell that's brewing in the world. Though that said, they do take the time to develop some genuine character moments, such as the lament over bygone opportunities on "Midnite Cruiser", the yearning over an ex-lover on "Reelin' in the Years", and the cheeky caricature of Donald's fellow apartment tenant on "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)". Plus, it was a nice sentiment ushering in the next generation on "Change of the Guard", followed by begging Michael the Archangel and Jesus Christ for a second chance at life to make things right on "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". It's an unusually optimistic note to end the record on. Overall, I really dug Can't Buy a Thrill. I'm curious about that last Steely Dan record on my journey, but I am firm in my adoration for the band's debut.

My goats for the third time, love to see it. Now i adore this album, but i dont think its as strong as the final 3 albums of the 70’s (The Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho) but this album is unique among its discography as it had the soft rock thing going on where their other stuff is a bit more jazzy, not sure how better to put that. Hard to find a debut album as good as this, Legends of their craft. Standouts are Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only A Fool Would Say That and Reelin’ In The Years. Also in terms of a narrative this being their first album makes the hypothetical protagonist young, wild and “throwin’ away the time.”

A magnificent album. Stunning sound mixing and a seamless blend of styles — truly a landmark masterpiece of the music industry.

I was kinda shocked that this was their debut. Not a bad track on here. Definitely the most classic-rock feel of their albums. I personally like Aja better, but I can see why this ended up being more popular into the present.

I'm an Ajapilled guy; a Countdown To Ecstasyhead; a rare Pretzel Logic respecter. I mention all that because I was excited for our fourth and final Steely Dan project today, and was sadly not as Thrilled with it as I hoped. I can't even make sense of it to be honest. If I had to guess, the plain classic rock sound probably has a lot to do with it since I do love them most when they're pulling off some crazy genre fusions...... but then Countdown To Ecstasy also quite traditional in that respect, and it still instantly hooked me a lot harder. Here, I enjoyed most tracks, and that's about it. There's no Bodhisattva earworm. No East St. Louis Toodle-Oo weirdness. No Peg sax. I'll try revisiting and seeing how much it grows on me, but for now this is just an alright Dan project. :( Standouts: Dirty Work • Only A Fool Would Say That • Fire In The Hole /// Edit, 2 months later: They've done it again. Goddamn it. I'm not even kidding when I say that in the two months that followed the review above, this may actually have become my most played album of the year. Never doubt The Dan.

I fucking love this album. It's so fresh, so intricate, and it perfectly keeps one vibe going without getting stale. The production is immaculate and everything is so crisp that you should reach out and touch it. Just a gorgeous piece of work.

banger after banger

4.5/5

Awesome album

a lot of rock here

I fucking love Steely Dan

This album made me a fan of steely Dan. I regret not knowing this album before. 10/10

Classic. Lyssnat på många gånger men alltid ett stort nöje att lyssna på igen

Masterpiece. Love it. Own it.

Pre Listen: Second Steely Dan album featured on here I've encountered. Unlike the 1st one I got (Pretzel Logic) I actually know this one, and have two songs from it on my playlist already. Looking forward to listening to it again :) Notable Tracks: Do It Again - Now this one's been on my playlist for ages, probably amongst the first 50 songs when I first started building it over a decade ago. Classic :) Kings - I don't remember this one, but man is it good. Adding it to my playlist! Reelin' In The Years - Another certified classic, and the 2nd song I've had on my playlist for ages now. Fire In The Hole - Another song I really dig and forgot about completely? Shit I really didn't recall how much I enjoyed this album. Post Listen: Man I enjoyed this album a lot more than I remembered. For a debut album from a band that remained relevant for quite a while, I think it's impressive that this is probably their best work. Donald's lyrical poetry is superb, being clever, digestible, and full of substance. While I do love his lyrics, his vocal performance itself can get a little old upon repeat listens back to back, but overall it's pretty good. The instrumentation is wonderful as well, one of the few albums that I think does a sort of Jazz-rock fusion really well. The piano and guitar work especially stick out as something special to me. On a thematic level the album's great as well, exploring all sorts of concepts around vice and the consequences that follow, and attempting to turn things around. This album doesn't have any sort of pitfalls or major issues I can think of, no least favorite song either. I think this album is truly Steely Dan at their absolute best, which is a shame since again it was their debut studio album. Regardless, it doesn't get Steelier than this. 5/5

So much good music all packed into their debut album of all things. What legends.

Brilliant

SAVE ME STEELY DAN, STEELY DAN SAVE ME!! chill, vibey, chill, incredible, chill, perfect. 9/10.

It was good, but in the relatively non imposing style of Steely Dan The first track was something In the morning you go gooning Do It Again

Giving this 5 for two reasons. Foremost because I was generally surprised and how much I enjoyed it. The grooves/progressions were really nice. And two (part of one), I couldn’t believe that I recognized like 50%+ of the songs. I couldn’t name a steely dan song to save my life, but clearly I know it. So look forward to becoming more familiar with his hits and the discography.

This is great. Love

Great album listened to it before.

Another great production album!

This is a great album. All the songs are exceptional. There were a few classic hits like Reelin In The Years, Dirty Work, Do It Again and this is a debut album. They went on to create more great songs. It is quite a different genre than what was floating around like David Bowie Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. I think that is their appeal.

Super chill and fun to listen to.

I'm finally mature enough to really dig Steely Dan. Love it!

Quite good. I could listen on repeat all day (and I have)

Such a good vibe

But you can buy perfection?

honestly this is as good as classic rock gets. i used to have adults put on classic rock around me as a kid all the time, and this gives me a nostalgic feeling of a moment of "oh it's rock again..." followed by "oh wait this is the good kind!". it's all just really upbeat and melodic in a way that a lot of stuff of the era isn't. really into it

Reminds me of college! The first two tracks are great and have been heavily soundtracked over the years, so they are very well known. Reelin in the Years was the highlight for me during the rest of the album. That interlude riff is so good!

5 stars and it’s not even their best album. Cool, sophisticated, catchy, intelligent. What a debut.

Masterpiece. Also, it’s fun!

I didn't realize I knew some of these songs, now I'm a Steely Dan fan. They're all so easy to follow and sing along to, a really pleasant listening experience. 5/5 would listen again.

Could listen to this on repeat

Hell yeah

Very big, top 2 of the dans probably. Not a lot to say, frequent listen, lots of moods.

9 - excellent front half of the album but second half is just ok

Can't Buy a Thrill is an amazing debut album and while it lacks the more avant-garde brilliance of their later works, its almost flawlessness makes it an essential piece of classic rock.

Purement cool

Aja gets all the love but this one is great as well. 5/5

Absolute quality, great album.

wow that instrumentals are so good

Another classic. Love some Steely Dan. Great vocals, guitar and keyboards, with some excellent songwriting.

one of the best

OH HELL YEAH YOU ALREADY KNOW. I am a Steely Dan fan. The first (and debut) masterpiece, in a career of masterpieces. Nothing else like it. No skips. A pleasure to listen to with much to ponder and wonder over. 5 stars.

Call me a dad but I freaking love Steely Dan. Dirty Work and Do It Again are top songs of all time for me, but this whole album is a forever save

Me lembra muito um filme dos anos 80-70 dos EUA. Viagem pelo deserto. Podia estar na trilha de breaking bad. Também me lembrou Ariel Pink. Do It Again é bem convidativo pra uma primeira faixa.

Thoroughly enjoyed this album the whole way through. I’d only heard Dirty Work by Steely Dan before this album. Great to listen to, will definitely give it a few more listens

O aš maniau, kad jie nepatenka!!! Labai gerai.

The first time anyone got to commercially hear some Becker & Fagen songs when they were a recording AND touring and band with Denny Dias, Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, Jim Hodder and soon to depart extra vocalist David Palmer (who sings Dirty work and Brooklyn nicely). Any album with Do it again and Reelin' in the years is well endowed, but Midnight Cruiser, only a fool would say that and turn that heartbeat over again were a cut above at the time and their run of albums is one of music's wonders from my perspective. The start of something beautiful.........

I would sell my soul to achieve the levels of groove woven throughout this album. Masterpiece.

Turns out I love Steely Dan

They really hit the ground running with this one. My faves will always be The Royal Scam and Gaucho but every track on this one is a banger.

So glad they kicked Chevy Chase out

Steely Dan, maybe their best album? Toss up between this and Aja. Not a wasted note on this whole record

4 of these songs were on the playlist my dad made for my mum that we often listen to if we are all in my parents’ car together. I hadn’t listened to the album they were from, even though they are some of my favourites on that playlist. I think those 4 songs remain my favourites from the album, part of that is probably nostalgia and part of it is that a lot of my music taste was shaped by my dad so it makes sense for me to like the same songs as him. While the other songs didn’t overtake the ones I was already familiar with, I really enjoyed the experience of listening to the whole album. Fav song: Dirty Work / Reelin' In The Years - depending on my mood. I've put Dirty Work first because it's the one I can't get out of my head today. Least fav: Fire In The Hole

Nostalgic, gorgeous and a little heartbreaking. Favourite song: Reelin' In The Years (but Dirty Work is a very very close second) Least: Fire In The Hole

Steely Dan is always good, this is a great debut album. The hits do a lot of work, but the rest of the album holds up as well.

Steely Dan sets an amazing vibe, my go-to easy listening album Fave track: Reelin' in the Years

Great album. Packed with classics, starts strong, good variety but strong identity. A worthy inclusion. 4.5/5

So this is cool. I only listened to the first song. 9.7/10 Do it again

Classic album through and through

good Classic

The only thing I don't understand about this record is how I haven't heard it before it's frankly amazing

4 or 5 stars I think, I really liked the joyous vibes I got from the album.

I liked this a lot. Very fun, instrumentals are great, lots of iconic songs. Found the last couple of the songs not as good.

10 out of 10 obviously

This is only my 4th-favorite Steely Dan album, yet it's bangers from start to finish. It's the FM radio yacht rock version of the band before they got really into their "tinkering in the studio" phase of the late 70s/early 80s but I still love it. Standouts: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Only A Fool Would Say That

Love this album. Not too upbeat, not too low. Had listened to Dirty Work before, but hadn't explored the album. Definitely gonna be in my top 50.

I loved this one quite a lot!

Do what makes you happy. Listen to what the people want and make it your own. That seems to the mantra at the forefront of Steely Dan’s Can’t buy a Thrill. A perfect sauce to compliment any playlist of jazz rock or pop. It’s so easy listening and so technical. It’s the perfect mix because it feels so soothing and so engaging. Steely Dan glaze is somewhat justified. This is a debut! THIS IS A DEBUT. Chevy chase apparently was part of Steely Dan at the start what hasn’t been said here. Even the deep cuts are amazing some of the greatest songs of the 70s and they have been uplifted from the Gen Z resurge. I love Donald Fagen whatever he does it just really is my cup of tea. I hate calling it dad rock but it really is that. Singing about past love and the years that have passed! Do it again only a fool even midnight cruiser all songs that are just the greatest music ever. Man you can’t hate. It’s been memed to death at this point and yet I still find myself coming back to it. I will be reelin in the years soon.

Album eccellente. Nessuna nota negativa. Ricchezza armonica devastante, assoli di chitarra spettacolari (sia per la melodia sia per il suono), meraviglioso il pianoforte in "Fire in the Hole". Credo che sia il miglior album 'pop' che abbia mai ascoltato. 5 stelle se le merita tutte.

brilliant

It's not their best, but if it was that might well make it the greatest album of all time. A superb album all the same.

Is one of my favorites albums of the duo, it have a special part of my heart

Är väldigt glad för att den här dagen äntligen är här. Vilket band, vilken debut! Jag föredrar när Donald fagen får självförtroende nog att sjunga allt själv, men håller låtarna där han lånar ut micken väldigt högt också. Man kommer inte runt ”dirty work”. ”Brooklyn” rätt mjeh dock. Bra att de fattade att fagens egensinniga stil är ett vinnande koncept, som sagt. Sparar de riktiga överorden till ”aja”, men jättejättestark 4a som avrundas uppåt!

Seaaaan-Kiiiiii. Njuter

Great. Will listen to many times in the future. Idk why it took me until this list to take Steely Dan seriously

Listening to this while walking through a sweltering day, a perfect experience!

Steely Dan's best album is their first

Such easy listening. I could throw this on at just about anytime and it put me in a good mood

I’ve heard of Steely Dan, but never listened to them. And I immediately fell in love with their sound by the opening of the first song!! This stuff is soo good!! I’d have this be playing in the background all day.

pue que sea el que más escucho del sucio dan

Great jazzy rock with classic tunes.

Excellent album from an exceptional band. They are the epitome of greatness

Has Reelin' in the years and Dirty Work. And other bangers.

Hell yea brother

This is one album I wish I could forget and listen to again for the first time.

it's alright

If I was a dad, I would totally get this. 5/5

I’ve listened to this about 5 times cover to cover in the past week. They’re all good. Except for turn that heartbeat over again it’s just alright. And change of the guard. But when your worst 2 songs are still good that speaks volumes.

Dirty Work and Brooklyn my beloveds

So good. Not one bad song 🎶

I probably listen to this album twice a month

while Aja is perhaps a more cohesive document and the high point conceptually in their catalog, Can't Buy.. serves as the best collection of individual tracks from Steely Dan– a landmark achievement in jazz rock bonus note: "Do it Again" was a whole lot of fun to play on Guitar Hero: World Tour especially with the special guitar with the separate touch section on the neck 5/5

Grew up with this album and always a favorite

Only way this wouldn't be 5 stars is if I had to rank it alongside other Dan albums. Shoutout to Midnite Cruiser

strong 4.0. talvez o melhor álbum deles

This album has legit all of the jams. Steely Dan = legendary.

Really good. I would definitely recommend to multiple friends was nice to listen to while waiting for my bus.

Great album - must hear

Peak, listened to the album fully through back-to-back and didn't get tired of hearing anything on there again.

Banger after banger off this album. Even the less popular songs are solid.

Banger album start to finish. I knew the hits (Midnite Cruiser, Dirty Work, Reelin In the Years) which are great but there are no misses on this thing.

One of my fav albums ever. HIlarious that it came up first.

No notes. Perfection.

yepp. great birthday vibe.

BEST OF ALL TIME

10000000/10 for do it again

Heared it for the first time. Haven't heared even Reeling In The Years before. Now I understand why everybody likes this song. This album was amazing

J4ADORE STEELY DAN

Bonus point for the epic pick scrape in 'Change of the Guard'

You can't escape the Dannnnnn, mannnnnnnnn Do yourself a favor and get familiar with Skunk Baxter if you don't know him. Some insanely creative guitar work that really makes certain Steely Dan albums just shine. And Walter Becker's basslines are just nuts. Shame that Fagen/Becker chose to go the session-only route after a few records, because this is a pretty magical lineup. I guess maybe Steely Dan was always a studio band at heart, and this is 70s analog excellence at its finest - it's funky, sounds fantastic and is charmingly cheesy in places. 10/10!

Leuk!

Loved it!

peak

Dit is top!

Love this!

Absolutely zero skips

Tredje gången gillt för Steely Dan! De två tidigare plattorna på listan var men fastnade inte. Denna hade dock vibes i toppklass!

GOD I love Steely Dan. Album speaks for itself, my words aren’t adequate enough praise for this album.

Dirty Work is a favorite! A fun album all the way through

you're joking this is on this list don't even need to listen again. 5/5. but twist my nipple i guess I'll listen to it again so, fire in the hole is actually the monsters inc song, sick. favorite song: reelin in the years

Another gem I've discovered for the first time. So firstly ... what's not to love about a band who named themselves after a steam-powered dildo in a William S Burroughs novel? Ascerbic and multi-layered songwriting. Terrific musicianship. An unusual collection of chords and key progressions. The most incredible guitar solos I've ever heard. Would highly recommend to the uninitiated!

I love it.

Favorite Track: Dirty Work

9/10, groovy, at times very sonically complex, but never difficult to enjoy.

A surprisingly good album with some songs i knew and some that were new. I would say about half of them were saves.

Goodddd

the ultimate dad music, like some of the later stuff more but this owns

lo mejor que escuche hasta ahora, ese estilo clásico y como mantiene esa línea todo el disco 10 de 10

I cannot believe this was their debut, definition of "all killer no filler" every single track rules

This list has exposed me to so much Steely Dan and I couldnt be happier. Easy 5, great songwriting all around. True classic rock.

Oh fuck yeah bud! This album is a delight from top to bottom. The guitar on Do It Again RIPS. The rest of the songs are all unique and interesting in their own way. Change of the Guard stood out this time to me but I’ve been fucking with this album for years. The perfect entry point for Steely Dan

Chill album, nice intro

Steely Dan back at it again

Me encantó

Dammit I love this.

Songs to roll down my car window and aura farm to

My father-in-law is a musician. He is insanely gifted. We were listening to Steely Dan together years ago and I asked him why no one makes music like that anymore. I will never forget his answer... "We can't, we don't know how to do it."

me gustó, muy alegre. me da buenas vibras y lo volvería a escuchar

Making its way to my all time albums list…

One of my top 25 maybe even 20 albums of all time. This was probably my 100th time listening.

Heard

Love every song in it

It has many of their best tracks. It features David Palmer as vocalist on many tracks because they hadn't yet worked out that Donald Fagan's voice was a key distinguishing feature for the band. Musicianship, songwriting and production all top notch.

Jazz rock, pop rock, soft rock.

MUITO BOM

Gran álbum, me encanta las vibras que da y es muy fácil de escuchar

Great first thing to listen to in the morning and coming from work in the afternoon

Doesn’t deserve a 5 but I’m giving is. Peak yacht rock. What a vibe.

Simply some of the best you can listen to.

straight gas cmon

Incredible. Production is beautiful, the songs are impeccably played. "Do It Again" is magical.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good

Je l'ai fait jouer 3x tellement j'ai adoré! Quels musiciens talentueux, les solos sont délirants. En bonus, ça sonne très cinématographique, j'ai l'impression que chaque toune joue dans un film.

Cover 2/5. Quel collage laid. Désolé. Mais l’album wow! Incroyable qu’elle excellents titre, tous des verres d’oreilles. Meilleur que l’autre Steely Dan.

Solide boomermuziek, in de beste traditie van de Eagles en aanverwanten. Een prettig warm geluid dus, onberispelijke samenzang, hier en daar een vakkundige solo, vibes van over stoffige wegen rijden in een brede, ouwe Amerikaanse bak, in de zon. En wat is daar mis mee? Helemaal niks!

In het kader van de Oscars van vorige week zat ik One Battle after Another te kijken. Op een gegeven moment komt er een scene met een heerlijk nummer op de achtergrond. Ik herken het ergens wel, het lijkt op muziek die ik al wel vaker heb gehoord. Maar ik moet het wel even opzoeken, ondanks het herkenbare geluid. Tik Tok Tik. Tingeling! Dirty Work van Steely Dan, de D op 12. En vervolgens krijgen we vandaag het album waar dat nummer op staat. En dat is niet het enige, ook het fijne Do It Again en Reelin in the Years vinden we terug op dit plaatje. Het is zoetgevooisde soft rock, soms ook wel yacht rock genoemd, met wat jazzy elementen erin. Ze zingen graag in harmonie net als de Eagles en strooien met solos, zonder dat overmatig te gebruiken. Het tempo blijft er continu in. Ik zet met alle genoegen nog een keer het album aan, al is het alleen al voor die eerste paar tracks. Top, 5 sterren!

I literally love yacht rock

Not a single skip. Crazy that this is their debut.

i love this

Dad rock (complimentary)

I'll always stop to listen to Steely Dan.

I already knew one of the songs thanks to a friend of a friend. So cool!

Cracking album

Such a nice and chill album with many memorable songs

Gostei muito das guitarras

You can see so many 70s influences here Bowie Kibks Thin Lizzy Springsteen

First five star of this album listening thing. This album was so much fun, it was the first thing I started listening to when I woke up this-morning and it put me in such a great mood. Amazing and catchy choruses, a vocal tone that didn't take itself too seriously, this album was sm fun.

Great, just really fun and pleasant to listen to

I’ve listened to this album plenty before and it’s one of my all time faves. Not a single skip on the record. I haven’t made it though all of Steely Dan’s discography but of what I’ve hear so far, this is the top. Fave songs: Do it Again, Dirty Work, and Midnight Cruiser 5/5

“You guys probably aren’t ready for this. But your kids are going to sample the shit out of this.”

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OH MY GOD

5. Debut album!

Este album me hace vibrar altisimo

One of the best Steely Dan albums ever, which makes it one of the best albums ever

hits and bangers

Easiest 5 on the list so far.

Very good album! Definitely has some of their classics! Perfect balance of keyboard and guitar. Absolutely amazing!

One of the best albums of all time, genuinely have listen 100s of times. I love the funky jazzy fusion and the lyrics are excellent

Do It Again - 5/5 Dirty Work - 5/5 Kings - 5/5 Midnite Cruiser - 4/5 Only a Fool Would Say That - 5/5 Reelin' in the Years - 5/5 Fire in the Hole - 4/5 Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) - 4/5 Change of the Guard - 4/5 Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - 4/5 Average score: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Incredible album. Made me realize I love Steely Dan.

Muy buen álbum, mucho funk y tremendo groove

Sonically floating slowly down a river, catching a beer someone just threw you from the shore.

Great from beginning to end. A brand of rock/ jazz that's never been replicated, with artistic flourishes abounding. Varied structure. Somewhat inconsistent vocal delivery.

Songs like "Do it Again" are well known and started the fame of Steely Dan with its eclectic rock'n'roll sound that's more roll and smooth going than harder rock. A big part plays the electric piano which is at the forefront here mixing wise. I love it. It's just something like an insightful thought on a summer's day. I don't think they were ever as good again.

Steely Dan changed my music listening life. Not because they taught me something about myself or helped me through a tough time, but just that they showed me how richly enjoyable music can be a purely aesthetic level. This music is exceeding NICE to listen to. Gourmet music. An epicurean delight to the ears. Of course part of the magic of Steely Dan (and they are magic) is that this sumptuous sweetness is balanced with the perfect hit of acid in the lyrical themes. All in all the dish that comes together is a perfectly balanced, delectable and morish.

my earliest previous exposure to steely dan was in more of the transitional phase between the more band-oriented period and the fagan/becker art project/dictatorship that followed, so aside from a jolt of recognition hearing some of the more famous songs at work (all total bangers, reelin in the years could kind of annoy me hearing it passively thru fast food speakers but hearing it intently its such a pop masterwork!), this is my first major exposure to Actual Band steely dan and on the whole its probably the very best experience ive ever had listening to them! while the sleazy cynicism of the lyrics is already somewhat present, and in a sense the more antiseptic perfectionist sound later on probably serves that whole Joke better, theres also chemistry here with the fact that musically this is easily the most friendly, warm, and invigorating material ive ever heard from the band. whatever subversion there is in the intentions, theres an earnest understanding here of the full appeal of this poppy, soft rocky, jazzy, cocktail bar-y concoction...as cool as their future Uncanniness is, theres also something to be said for this vibrant Liveliness, how it feels like it was made by Actual People living Actual Lives, having authentic reactions to the world around them instead of fully pastiching it. just so Present in a very comforting way considering the amount of venom seeping through. amazing record!

rare gatekeeping moment for dad culture

Becker & Fagen. Utterly unlikeable yet absolute kings. Total antiheroes. So many smart-arse lyrics, and ultra-crafted tunes that should be utterly hateful, yet hit harder than most. A definite all-killer record, and what a debut!

Great record by truly great musicians. But so 70s I grew bell bottoms just listening to it. Guitar solo on "Reelin'" is an all-time, 11 of 10 classic.

Why yes, I am white and getting into middle age. Thanks for the Steely Dan.

Best intro ever do it again

fuck yeah more steely dan. this album is wall-to-wall bangers. i forgot to review it for two entire months because i was so busy listening to it over and over again. favorites: tracks 1-7, 9

Good overall album! I enjoyed the entire thing. Favorite Songs: Do It Again - I know this one! What a fun song to start the album with. Dirty Work - Another song I know and love! Reelin’ In The Years - Love the guitar intro, and I know this one well! Change Of The Guard - good song! I like the harmonizing during the instrumental parts.

A classic.

Surprisingly good jazzy/pop/easy rock album, the band is on fire and the tracks are all very polished, catchy and well written. You must hate pop with a passion to dislike this one.

I actually enjoyed this whole album

Can’t Buy A Thrill but you can still buy tickets to see Houmous & Chutney live. That’s what Len Houmous famously said to steeley Dan back in 1992. Of course you could still see them live but that didn’t take the sting out of what Len was saying. They idolised Houmous & Chutney 4.5 6/9 Reelin In The Years

I love this album! It is very easy to listen to, it makes for an easy album to listen to in the background, which I personally love. Yay Steely Dan!!!

Lot of songs i knew that id idnt realize were from this album

Love Steely Dan's vibe

Almost the perfect album!

The beginning of the best band of all time!

I don't know why I love Steely Dan but I just do. I really should hate their soft rock feel but they just seem to hit the right amount of cheesiness for me. Their first album is great but I love all of their albums. I'd say Aja or Gaucho are probably my favorites but this still gets a high score for just being super cheesy and smooth.

Was really ready to be a hater bc I’ve always felt they’re overrated…. I was wrong…. I am the gentleman loser….

The best Steely Dan album. This record sounds like cracking open a beer after mowing your lawn on a hot day. Just pure dudes rock vibes. Some of the guitar licks on this just make you wanna go “oh yeah!”

’ve always loved Steely Dan, though I’m more familiar with their later, ultra-polished records like Aja and Gaucho. This debut reminds me why they stand apart. These are great songs first and foremost, but they’re also deceptively complex, played with confidence and clarity rather than showmanship. The singles are deserved classics, but what really stands out is how strong the rest of the album is. There’s no filler here. Every track feels intentional, well-crafted, and musically interesting without being smug about it. The band still sounds like a band at this point, and there’s a looseness and immediacy that later Dan would sand down into perfection. I don’t like this more than Aja, but that’s not the point. This album earns its place as a five on its own terms: memorable, smart, and endlessly listenable. A fantastic start to one of the most consistently interesting catalogs in popular music.

I love Dirty Work

Steely Dan is my dad's favorite band. Aja is his favorite album of all time. For decades, he's been trying to get me into them by listening to this album. I kept trying to get into it, but it just wasn't for me. When I got super involved in jam band music in the early 2000s, more people tried to convince me Aja was one of the best albums of all time. I still just couldn't dig it. My conclusion was I just didn't like Steely Dan. A couple of years ago, I was on a road trip. I booted up Spotify, but I didn't want to overthink what I was going to listen to. Can't Buy a Thrill was listed under "Albums you might like." Steely Dan, eh? Why not check this one out? It was so good, I listened to it not just on the ride there but on the ride back as well. It then kept getting repeat plays. I couldn't get enough of the guitar riffs, the harmonies, the little jam sessions in nearly every song. Plus there were some certified radio hits on this one. Straight bangers in the world of classic rock. Where had THIS Steely Dan been all my life? Surely if Aja is their best album (perhaps one of the greatest of all time), and with me absolutely adoring Can't Buy a Thrill, I had to give it another shot. Turns out, I just don't like Aja. This album is a classic though. Easy 5.

Y encima, bardea a John Lennon. 10/10.

Another debut that feels like a greatest hits album!

It would be easier to highlight the ones who didn't stand-out for me: Kings, Change Of The Guard Not the most innovative or ground-breaking music, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't pleasant to listen to. A lot of the tracks feel like they are following some sort of song writing formula, so they do end up sounding similar in ways and often repetitive, but the formula works so I can't really complain. It is hard to say which tracks are true stand-outs, as even among those there are certainly some I would come back to more often, but all of them are enjoyable to some degree so I decided to just highlight the lesser ones. All in all, I wouldn't call this a perfect album by any means, but it is perfectly enjoyable and hardly any of the tracks could really be considered "bad".

ts peak

felonius my old friend <3333333

Steely Dan's sunniest album, their version of laid back soft 70s rock. Picture someone driving in the California coast while you see a sunset. Each next album gets farther away from this sound, as they become a duo and become the literal definition of perfectionists. high 4.5/5

Love the cover art

Not my favorite Steely Dan record but certainly an amazing way for them to open their career. I tend to give this one some flack because of the numerous vocalists (I've always been a believer that Fagen is the best vocalist for the group and should've been the only one from the start), but all of the Fagen-led songs here except "Dirty Work" tend to be my favorite. Special mention to "Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)" though.

Uff peak

banger after banger & this was their DEBUT ??? run it run it run it !!!

Love Steely Dan, but had never listened to a full album before. This was great!

Absolute classic

It was like music my dad would listen to if he had good taste in music

Great debut album, energetic but not overbearing smooth rock tunes with excellent musicians. Their sound seems a bit ahead of their time. I could’ve easily placed this as an early 80s album. Saving this one for next time I’m flipping burgers on my grill on a sunny day☀️

I FUCKING LOVE THIS RECORD

No notes. I don’t wanna do your dirty work.

Perfect album from a perfect band. All it took was a pandemic and a whole bunch of mushrooms for me to finally “get it”. I’m glad I did. They are brilliant, and this was the beginning of it all.

These guys are so good

Repeat

LOVE STEELY DAN

Everything on this was great. The first half is super strong, it gets a little weaker from there and the last song was a miss for me but the rest was so so good

Definiton of yacht rock. Great first album . As always great session musicians. A few big songs on here and others are good.

so good

This is the good stuff right here. So interesting, so fun and so dang catchy! I could really listen to this album on repeat and it was fun to go beyond just the few hits I already knew. Best Track: Dirty Work

fantastic guitar album

Some of the best pop rock songwriting ever.

Oh THIS is Steely Dan

Driving around in the 90s without a cd player or cassette player, we relied on the radio. This album is the sound of am radio to me. I never realized all these songs were steely dan until a few years ago. So catchy and great!

This album is great and full of classics. What makes this special to me is Steely Dan's ability to paint a picture in your mind with every track. Do It Again is a perfect intro and always nice to have on while relaxing. Dirty Work is forever linked to Tony Soprano singing along in his car, a nice moment in a great series accompanied by a lovely song. Kings also feels like something you hear in a movie but is anyways a cool song that reminds me of good times. Midnite Cruiser is a song I always play in the car when I have to drive for a long time and I can't help myself tapping along to the rhythm on the steering wheel. Only A Fool Would Say That is probably the best song of the album. Great guitar work, uplifting drums and just a chill vibe in general. Reelin' In The Years feels like the most classic song of the album. The awesome solo, oldschool drums and nostalgic piano make this my second favorite track on this record. Fire In The Hole is the least unique song in my opinion but still enjoyable. Brooklyn is always a very relaxing song with the surf guitar, something I enjoy in almost any song. I'd never heard Change of the Guard before but I definitely felt like the main character listening to this while traversing Thailand by train, perfect vibes. The closer Turn That Heartbeat Over Again is great too, all in all a very well rounded album with at least 5 songs that will go down in history as true classics. 4.5/5 stars but rounded up due to the sheer amount of songs that will still be remembered in 100 years

Gran disco

Day 150 Absolutely superb album, only knew Do it Again and Reelin’ in the years previously. Was surprised to see it was their debut album, sounds so polished and confident. Definitely top marks for me Highlights Do it Again Kings Change of the Guard

Great listen from start to finish. Adding to my collection!

2026.01.07.

годнота

I love my yacht rock. Can't lie or hide from it, just need to accept it and move on.

Near perfect album and great timing as I wanted to listen to Steely Dan more. 9/10

One of the First and best albums i’ve purchased🙏

Legend

Classic, have listened to most of this album before, personally prefer Aja but this album has some of Steely Dans best work

No skips

Wieder einmal zeigt sich: Je älter, desto besser. Tolles Album, schon über 50 Jahre alt. Handgemachtes, mit menschlicher Kreativität und im Miteinander entstandenes Werk. Klasse!

One of my favourite acts. Great to listen to.

For me, this album isn’t just great—it’s personal. Steely Dan soundtracked my youth, my friendships, and the kind of musical love that never fades. Timeless, perfect, and forever five stars.

Ayuh, we should be hearin’ some fuckin’ Zeppelin!!!

Strasne vychilleny album, ci uz na spievanie, hmkanie, proste mega albumik a tie melodie...

A very good album. I hear something new and interesting each time I listen to it.

Nice

The boys do it again! Solid listen front to back. Lyrics not quite as obtuse as Donald Fagen likes to get, but there's still some odd words. Musicians are tight, and the tracks themselves are a little more digestible and radio friendly, than the more jazzy odd time signatures of later music.

alr had listened its very good. 10/10 album

Can tell I’ve entered dad mode although I had this album on vinyl anyway. Hard to believe this is a debut - some yacht rock bangers on here.

Only steely Dan can have the first lyric of a song be felonious and it still be a banger

Everything steely Dan does is gold

yes

So good I love the classics

Love steely dan

Steely Dan can do no wrong

Yes yes yes yeah!!!!