Reviews (page 6 of 15)
The bass lines are awesome
How dare this list challenge my preconceived notions about Steely Dan
Reminded me of War which was surprising. Super bright and fun, glad I finally went beyond Dirty Work.
I listened to it while assembling furniture, so I was partially distracted but I feel as if that's kind of the best way to listen to the album. I'm not familiar with the tracks because of it, and most of the vocals went through me, but the instrumentation was good and the vibes were immaculate.
good, better than last time, 3 songs very nice
fortissimo e ti mette di buon umore
Diciamo che loro sono abbastanza una garanzia e forse mi è piaciuto anche di più del precedente
honestly surprised that i recognized a few songs and that there was quite a bit of latin inspiration in the music. enjoyed a walk down memory lane as it reminded me of my grandfather.
I think I’m more of a small doses Steely Dan listener but still a worthy classic. The playful instrumentation in the background gets me every time. Fav tracks: Do it Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years. RYM: Y (#536) Saved a song: Y
Favorite songs: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin’ In The Years
I liked this more than I thought I would. It's fun. It's easy. Not my usual, and not something I would seek out, but it was pretty good. 4 stars
Becoming my father
Even teruglezen naar mijn eerdere opmerkingen over Steely Dan. Nauwelijks samengevat waren dat: saai en kwalitatief sterk. Ja, dat herken ik nu ook wel. Het is maar net de jaren '60 ontsnapt. Als we het over saai hebben, dan is dit zeker nog niet vergelijkbaar met hun album Aja. Ik heb ook weer geen wegzakkers gehad. Maar of ik dit nu nog eens opzet? Ik laat het denk ik bij een los nummer af en toe. 3,5 sterren.
classic. only a couple goofy tracks
Por la razón que sea, escuchando este disco me viene a la mente la música de Carole King. Ambas beben de las mismas influencias y se comprometen con una etiqueta de easy listening/soft rock de la cual son ambos claros exponentes. “Do It Again” es un bombazo que ha tenido decenas de versiones por razones obvias. Más allá de la placidez con la que se escucha, la banda se muestra versátil y en estado de gracia compositiva. Merecen más reconocimiento popular, sin duda.
Fav song- Midnite Cruiser
Steely Dan! KTR
Can’t Buy a Thrill is very easy to listen to, yet never simplistic. Some moments feel slightly Beatles-like, and I really love that sound. I tend to prefer the more rock-oriented tracks over the jazz-leaning ones, especially Reelin’ In the Years, Fire in the Hole, and Change of the Guard.
Enjoyable.
8 - GOOD
The first thing I noticed on Steely Dan's debut album is that both core members (Donald Fagan & Walter Becker) sound like old men longing for the past- both were in their early twenties! The same can be said about the lyrics! It's a solid debut with some brilliant songs (Reelin' in the Years, Do It Again, Fire in the Hole) and a lot of songs that sound somewhere between brilliant and competent B sides. The album cover art is great and fits the music as well as any album cover ever has. It looks like what the music sounds like. Neat stuff! While far from essential I enjoyed 'Can't Buy A Thrill' is a very good debut that sounds like music from a couple of man who have being doing this stuff for decades and decades. The album cover art is great and fits the music as well as any album cover ever has. It looks like what the music sounds like. Neat stuff! While far from essential I enjoyed 'Can't Buy A Thrill' a solid debut that sounds like music from a couple of man who have being doing this stuff for decades and decades.
steely dan they could never make me hate you
Groovy
Listening while doing unimportant things, background music, good weather, a pinch of fantasy, good mood and motivation, going on a walk :)
Non-offensive soft rock. Personally a little too jazzy for me to really get into, but not bad. 4/5
Only a fool would rate it lower
Not my cup of tea, pero... por fin lo escuché completo y entiendo el porqué de su fama. Todo muy bien tocado e interpretado.
Super et tellement groovy
A strong debut from a band that would eventually become great, but hadn’t yet. In the meantime, they really liked Eagles and Grateful Dead.
Really great album, with several bangers and musical excellence.
Like.
It’s a good job I am a Dad as this is as Dad Rock as it gets and I really liked it. I knew a couple of the songs from the album and while the rest of the songs didn’t quite reach these in terms of hook overall I thought it was good and will definitely be listening to this again.
Lovely jazzy tunes Ideal length
Compared to the last Steely Dan album I reviewed, I really liked this one. I added two of its songs to my personal collection.
I really enjoyed this album. The sound of soft rock is great allowing it to be an enjoyable, but also a great listen while working. Glad I can appreciate Steely Dan more than when I was younger.
slayed, really enjoyed. knew a few of these already, really didnt know much about this band’s sound prior, had a great time with this
I’ve suddenly got the urge to drink some beers in my garage
Great vibes but heavily influenced by the fact it was one of the first sunny days of the year yesterday
tbh at first was ready to write it off as dad rock but somewhere around the middle of the album i changed my mind. guitar solos are just FILTHY, lyrics are tight, and the jazz elements are the icing on the cake
Iconic from the first note. Groovy and easy to listen to. Keys and guitars go hard and the vocals are pretty smooth. Overall, it's a fantastic album that's only flaw is its greatest strength... it's almost too laid back!
80
Great band, great album, and of course I do.
was pleasantly surprised eh
Not really my genre exactly but I can't deny the artistry and skill on display here, and it made really good background music.
Groovy, i like it, ademas tiene la canción q sale en the sopranos Grata sorpresa
Pleasantly surprised by this album definitely has potential to return Steely Dan. You might have gotten a new fan. I knew some of these songs from friends definitely a solid album.
Loved this album. Has some rlly good songs, heard some new ones that were good.
es muy bueno bro
I'm afraid I have been sleeping on the Dan. I sincerely apologize. Kings, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years are insanely good. 8/10
I fully enjoyed this. And I knew far more of the songs than I thought I would. 4.5/5
Don't think I enjoyed it as much as the last Steely Dan album I got, but it's still pretty damn good.
Very much enjoyed. Great opening few songs in particular.
Album 117. Can't Buy A Thrill — Steely Dan (1972) If it's dad rock, then I'm a dad, okay. I'm a fooool to do your dirty work, oh yeeeeeah It's their debut and probably their best album. Greatness. I love this jazzy soft rock so much. I can't give it the highest rating. It has 4 classic bangers, but other songs are pretty weak. My favorite from the album at the moment - Only A Fool Would Say That 4/5 Liked songs: — Do It Again — Dirty Work — Only A Fool Would Say That — Reelin' In The Years
8.50, demasiado tranquilo para un domingo
It’s a good set of songs, but I just can’t do it with those Steely Dan resurgence.
Nicely thought provoking. I only enjoyed it because I've played guitar
Didn't realize I already knew a lot of these songs. It's a nice listen.
Väldigt bra! Goa låtar gång på gång. Favoriter: Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years och Fire in the hole Hade koll på Steely Dan sen innan men aldrig lyssnat albumet
Iconic! Such a great album
i AM reeling in the years, how did you know??
I really struggled rating this one. Clearly it's not a Thriller or a Sgt. Pepper, but damn, this is a great album. It's getting a 4 but it's a 5 in my heart.
So gas I started mowing my lawn after tripping on some acid
4/5. Some really great songs here, even the ones I wasn't a massive fan of still had me tapping my feet. Always interesting hearing songs that I have heard in the wild and putting them to an album. Favourite Track - Change Of The Guard
Cool to listen to
Classic and always a great listen.
Only a fool wouldn't like this album
I am in love with the sonical aspect of this album. It was just MWAH, chef's kiss! Will definitely revisit this album soon.
Nice yacht rock sounds.
I liked it. Steely Dan produced a couple real classics on this album.
I'm not familiar with Steely Dan, I have passively heard of the classics but I enjoyed what I heard here.
Good to set an happy/active mood in the morning
I love Steely Dan. There, I said it. Until fairly recently, I'd have filed them under 'guilty pleasures', but as you get older, you realise there should be no such thing. To paraphrase Cardiacs' Tim Smith, it's all just tunes. And these are great tunes - the whole record just feels great to spend a bit of time with. Is it essential to hear this record before the Grim Reaper comes for you? Possibly not, but it might put a smile on your face.
This album has a really cool and jazzy vibe.
Great debut album!
Love some Steely Dan. So well produced.
i think i liked this, but i can't be sure. 3.5/5
Maybe not their best album, but still a good one
Oh, the infamous Dan. Very divisive it’s seems. I’ve never done a deep dive, but very familiar with the radio plays and it never really grabbed my attention. But, this project is forcing me to do deeper dives, which is why I love it. Very good and considering buying on vinyl!
This is easily my favorite Steely Dan album. Hard to believe this came out in 1972. The recording, production, and performance technique on this album is simply top shelf. Don Fagan's, as always is the big weird thing that sticks out. I can see why they initially wanted to sell their songs to more talented singers. Their sound for this album, while gathering and re-synthesizing genres from the past (rock, soul, and country infused with jazz chording), is very forward looking for 1972. It was also a nice counterpoint to the boredom of the singer/songwriter/folk rock Laurel Canyon scene that was dominating. Imagine how downbeat a scene has got to be if Steely Dan and Jackson Browne are the artists who are bringing the heat. Favorites: "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", "Kings", and "Reelin' In The Years" I agree with those who say that the first 6 songs are more rock solid than the remaining 4 songs on the album. Having said all that, I think that having at least 4 albums from Steely Dan on this list is a bit ridiculous. Their sound and approach did not vary enough over the 4 albums to deserve occupying that many spots. Frankly, that also goes for Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Crosby+Stills+Nash as well. I would argue that the number of artists that made legendary albums that vary enough in style and substance from one another enough that they truly deserve to be on here more than 2 times, 3 at absolute max (David Bowie, being the first to come to mind) is even smaller than this list suggests. Eliminating those excesses would offer opportunities for a far more inclusive list.
LIVELY
7/10
Listened Before? Partially! I already had Only a Fool Would Say That saved and I knew Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin in the Years Pros: A wonderful classic folk rock album. Love it Cons: None! Songs Added to Playlist: Do It Again, Only a Fool Would Say That, Change of the Guard
luv it
No cóż, to jest muzyka niskich lotów, nie ma w niej nic wyjątkowego, ale po ostatnim okresie posuchy zaczynam doceniać proste i chwytliwe melodie. Hity są hitami nie bez powodu. 7/10.
Highlights: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Reelin' In the Years Nice and chill record. Definitely liked the first side way more than the second side. I believe that isn't quite a hot take given the available streaming numbers... Was already familiar with a good number of the songs on the record since they are pretty famous. I believe this is their most popular record, but I personally liked Aja a bit more. I really didn't like some stylistic choices - for instance I don't see the point of the backing vocals on Kings. It didn't ruin the song for me, but that's the kind of thing that makes me respect the minimalism of Aja or even tracks from this record like Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years. Fire In the Hole was lyrically interesting and musically minimalist as well, but it didn't stand out to me for some reason. Change of the Guard was also a close contender, but I'm not a boomer so I wasn't struck by any "rose-tinted glasses" idealism while listening to it. Overall this does seem like a good listen as a whole, but only half of the tracks can properly stand on their own. I can see myself revisiting it even though the second half wasn't up my alley, so I guess it can't be that bad. I guess I got used to listening to Aja a bit too much, so this didn't feel right because of that fact.
YAHOOOOO!
Frábær plata. 4-5 lög sem eru classics og smá filler en fílingurinn er alltaf góður.
Vandað eins og SD er von og vísa. Góðir hittarar, b hliðin aðeins slappari.
A few good tunes and nice to hear again
How old am I? I’m I like Steely Dan years of age. It comes to us all, the love of harmonies, complex time signatures and pop that sits right on the acceptable side of jazz. Whilst this isn’t my favourite- that falls to the ferociously self indulgent Aja. There’s much to love here as these songs probably sit more on the side of pop. Lovely choruses and Dirty Work feels like it could have been written yesterday apart from the very 70’s sax
groovy way to start my morning
Loved this
yea thought this was as solid as an album as it is... it's just actually half decent rock (which is a compliment in my books) cause it's just got so much going on and more then normal.
This album is a class above all of their other albums on the list. It creates great variance and musicianship while delivering chill soft rock. I just learnt that this is their debut album, I guess some artists peak at the start of their career.
I actually already listened to this back when it gave me pretzel logic. This definitely feels more special than pretzel logic and has some major hits and in general more poppy and fun than their other records....but I'm always gonna be an aja guy at heart .
This went so much harder than I expected
An unexpectedly great listen
Esta bueno, muy bien de soundtrack, merece reescucha
W porzo
Brooklyn
Wasn't really my thing when I was younger and it was getting heavy radio play, but I've really come to enjoy a great many songs on here.
yippee
Soft rock que disfruto bastante
Classy album. This is American, middle of the road, inoffensive radio rock. But I don't mind. It contains a couple of absolute classics tracks but none of the others are bad, in particular the Donald Fagen sung tracks (which are most of them).
Didn’t know what genre this album was going in but was pleasantly surprised by the first track Favourite tracks: Do it Again, Only a Fool Would Say That
It's a shame the rest of the album doesn't hit the high of Do It Again or Reelin' in the Years, but I still very much enjoyed this
As someone who mostly knows Steely Dan from Do It Again, the rest of the album was a tonal whiplash for me. Not a bad one really, jist wasn't prepared for the rest of the album to sound so chill? Anyway I probably enjoyed this more than I should.
Speaking of Cocaine Music... Not to punish a great album for being a hat on a hat, but this is redundant to this list. The mighty Steely Dan made lots of worthy albums, but you really only need to listen to one of them to get the gist.
What's this? I actually enjoyed a Steely Dan album? Don't tell anyone.
Good
3.8 Musicalmente bastante bueno. Me ha alegrado la mañana
Vibes
Enjoyable easy listening rock. Never heard of them before. Good find
Dei quatro estrelas pq n escutei o álbum inteiro,mas posso dizer q n me arrependo de ter escutando três ou mais músicas.E um álbum muito bom de escutar,as músicas são muito boas de cantar e com certeza eu vou me aventura nesse estilo do steely dan
Good
Undeniably solid album which has quite a few songs I’ve liked on it. Revolution in the hands of yacht-rockers which I personally love
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected. 70s has historically not been my favorite decade, but this album was filled with several songs that I found myself really liking. I also recognized a lot of the songs from my childhood, adding to my enjoyment. Overall a nice, chill but still more upbeat set of tunes for my day. Rating:
Loved it!
I never really know whether I get Steely Dan or not - and I quite like that. If the songs were more obvious or less interesting then it'd all be a bit too slick but as it is I keep going back every once in a while.
A three or a four - enjoyed it a lot.
Wow that was a solid album. It had a lot of variety within the album and incorporated 70s rock feels excellently. Definitely an album I will be visiting in the future. 4.5/5
Fun record
Can't afford a yacht. Quite the debut.
My first impression was that this album is just fire driving songs. I like it, but I can't really set my mind on what I'm listening to exactly. It's like rock, but kind of folk-y and mellow.
Strong start before tapering off somewhat.
Just great vibes this. Best Steely Dan yet. Simpsons: Yes
Está muy bueno, seguramente vuelva a escucharlo, entero o canciones sueltas, es re para escuchar y mover la cabeza.
NK
Bra album, gillade särskilt ”Fire in the hole”, men kanske var för att jag lyssnade på den först då jag lyssnade på det annat i morse.
Well this is a well known album so nothing new to me. I am more familiar with some other titles from SD though like Aja, Gaucho and Katy Lied. As always a solid classic rock listen, SD are accomplished, polished musicians with their own sound and excellent studio work. The hits on the album I know much more then the other tracks so it was a good chance to hear them again. Probably won't be one I buy but an excellent album.
"Reelin' In The Years" - Peak Guitar Solo "Fire In The Hole" - Great Instrumentals Beautiful Vocals
I guess that I LOVE Steely Dan!
You can debate whether Dan is Yacht Rock or not, but if you have to, it means it at least sounds an awful lot like yacht rock, which is good enough for me.
this group combine jazz, soft rock and latina in a really interesting way!! not exactly my stile but the process of listening is very spectacular. also i have an interesting association - this music can help to focus on studying. not really energetic and instrumental enough - perfect option i suppose moreover, i really appreciate the amount of different instruments in every songs. it hit me!
Liked it!! Out of my usual music taste so i was a little surprised. I rlly like Only A Fool Would Say That!
What a great surprise!
I liked it a lot , it was very chill vibes and something I would listen to at the end of the day while cooking dinner. I’ll def listen to this again.
Lots of guitar 🎸┌(・。・)┘♪
Favorite track: do it again Least favorite track: I’m so pissed all my notes while I was listening to this live DELETED. Anyways this is an absolute banger album, no skips, thoroughly enjoyed.
i really liked the album. good songs for work, and also it's very dad-ish. i think my dad will love it
love steely dan but not my favorite album of theirs
Album No. 0115 on my list. Wow, I didn't expect this! I had been aware of Steely Dan's existence and had a rough idea of their music, but this was a surprisingly good album! It's kind of a "dad rock" album - cool, chill stuff, something that makes you imagine yourself on a yacht. Something that would play during a barbecue or while working in the garage. I liked the album vibe, I liked the sound, the atmosphere, the simplicity. Will add "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", "Only A Fool Would Say That", and "Reelin' In The Years" to my playlist. 4/5 stars!
Det va aldeles generisk ok? Æ hørte det ferdig for en drøy time siden og huske ingenting, men det va i hvert fall ikke dårlig, det skal det ha.
No conocía todas las canciones de este álbum hasta hoy y la verdad me gustaron mucho. Son muy pegadizas y suenan excelente.
So many hit songs to come off this album. Feeling like Tony Soprano singing along to Dirty Work.
good music to listen to, maybe wouldn't just throw on a song
Easy listening, my Dad likes them so I have heard a bunch of these songs before.
Great time. Seems more like pop rock than jazz rock, though. Also, the shirtless guy on the cover is so distracting!!!
Lots of instrumental guitar riffs. Really enjoyed the classic rock feel.
Still not a Steely Dan fan but the album was good
Great album with quite a few yacht rock staples.
I was already somewhat familiar with this album, having already known and loved 3 of these songs (Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reeling in the Years) - which are all great classic rock songs. I also know and like over 30 Steely Dan songs across all their releases. Upon revisiting it after a very long time, and listening to it 3 times in a row, I discovered that there are many additional great deep cuts on this - and so I "liked" 5 more songs while listening to it. If you're familiar with Steely Dan you can see them already embracing their sound right out of the gate with their first album - combined with the sarcastic/cynical/humorous lyrics they are famous for. Glad this site got me to relook at this one. Liked songs on Spotify: 8/10 Rating: 4/5
I thought I didn’t like Steely Dan, but then I hear this album and the yacht rock vibes wash over me like jorts, a pair of grass stained new balances, the aroma of gasoline and a freshly manicured lawn. TL;DR? The Dad vibes are strong.
Esse álbum é uma bela jóia. Ótima experiência. TRI x HBB Kai.
I’m usually not a fan of Steely Dan but this one is actually very good
Just banger after banger!
Heel funky soul, chil om te luisteren tijdens chille zondag. Ze leven nog lijkt me leuk ze ooit live te zien!
Onverwachts nice, chille vibe
3.65
4/5 — anyone who likes smart jazzy rock will likely enjoy this album. It's a phenomenal debut for one of the most talented bands of the time. It has a lot to recommend it, and though most will only know "Do It Again," and "Reelin' in the Years," I'm most drawn to "Kings," "Only a Fool Would Say That," and the sickly sinister "Fire in the Hole." On the flip side, the other songs on the album don't capture me as much. "Dirty Work" is pretty but forgettable. "Brooklyn," "Changing," and "Heartbeat" all fit that bill as well. They're not necessarily bad, but feel like filler compared to the five other stellar songs. Overall, a truly excellent album.
Love them
Eh
I love this album but it's not important enough to me to give it 5 stars
So close to perfect
Enjoyable listen.
- already knew a few songs mais c’est cool de plonger dans l’album complet - j’adore le soft rock comme ça avec des riff de guitares super groovy - lyrical genius - je recommanderais cet album à toute personne qui aime Fleetwood Mac - meilleure chanson: midnite cruiser, reelin in the years
I listened while shoveling snow and pretended it was the soundtrack to a movie montage. It helped.
(83/100)
Really great album. Not their best though.
Oooh - I like this... Never listened to them before...
Very fun album and I liked almost all of the songs. My favorite kind of rock music.
Their other albums on the list are so perfect it's boring. This sounds the most human. They have too many albums on the list, but this one definitely belongs on it. Especially Reelin' in the Years is a great song.
like the production and the whole vibe of the song its classy and sounds timeless, excellent album
8/10 good for journeys and when making dinner
Absolutely stunning of an album. I found myself being interested in re-listening to it! Just fun cool Dad vibes through and through. The music and the singing flowed from song to song and I recognized a lot of these songs from growing up and listening to the radio and from playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero. I could see myself putting it on in the background while cooking or during a BBQ.
Liked it lots
So far probably my favorite album I’ve listened to during this project. A very unique blend of soft melodies with wild lyrics. Very soothing and fun, definitely a record I will look to relisten at some point, but so far it’s been the best suggestion and the most surprising as well.
I've been listening to this album as long as I can remember, starting with hearing it on 8 track in the 70s. A stone classic. Do It Again, Reelin', and Dirty Work all bang. Starts strong but feels same-y and starts to drag after Fire in the Hole. Closer to 4.5.
8/10
Wow
I got this one almost exactly 2 years ago. Here is my review: “ I had it in my head that I didn't like Steely Dan, but this album slaps! Super creative, unique, and honestly fun to listen to. Love the genre bending of blues, rock and jazz. “
Cholón!
Love this album already!
8/10
A massive thanks to this website for making me aware of Steely Dan
do it again - is that a theremin? synth? in the 70s? - cool soundscape - theme of being in a vicious cycle dirty work - the theremin/synth continues - continues the theme of continuing to do something even though it hurts and you should probably stop - being in love with someone who does not love you back - i like this one kings - i can really hear the bass in this one - critiques the idea of remembering a person who has done bad deeds as good after their life has ended ("and though we sung his fame / we all went hungry just the same") - changing a terrible leader for another midnite cruiser - nice chords and bass sound. - past glory and current loser. - this is gonna sound crazy but follows the medieval topic of ubi sunt. ("where is your bounty of fortune and fame? i am another gentleman loser") only a fool would say that - nice bass. really liking the sound on this album - the complete loss of hope and that anyone who has it is a fool or a grifter - i like this one reelin' in the years - i think i've heard this one before - nice guitar and bass - a relationship where they both hated each other but still stayed together. fire in the hole - nice piano - the moment of realisation that everything is shit, actually ("fire in the hole / and nothing left to burn") but there's nothing that can be done ("i'd love to run out now / there's nowhere left to turn") - emotional turning point of the album? brooklyn (owes the charmer under me) - i like the sound - apparently about their downstairs neighbour that felt the world owed him something - checks out with the general theme about frustration change of the guard - again, i like the bass - the REAL turning point of the album. hope is back. turn that heartbeat over again - even though the last track was hopeful, the closing track is back to continue the vicious cycle - talks about drug addiction ("i'll keep my promise when you turn that heartbeat over again") - the vocals pan from side to side in an interesting way - the crystal/bell sounds from the first song are back
Um ótimo discos com composições inspiradas e arranjos elaborados.
Pretty good. the initial riff really got me into what i like to call the dan zone that causes people to buy 50k floor speakers but then settled into cozy yacht rock. some of the lyrics are pretty corny.
Nice album! Tive um bom momento escutando
I can’t believe that this is Steely Dan‘s first album. It sounds like a greatest hits collection. I am,of course, way too familiar with these songs so I don’t welcome so much the ones I don’t know. However, I was pleasantly reacquainted with midnight cruiser, which I had forgotten about. I recommend “reeling in the years” for a great 40th birthday party theme.:)
Album’s so nice I listened twice! Nostalgia! Reminds me of riding around in my dad’s car when I was a kid. They have such a distinct sound. Impossible not to bop your head along to these songs.
not my cup of tea but good nontheless
Me gustó la rememoracion, recuerdos, buena musica
One of the most Steely Dan albums of all time
Ah the album they made right after they met that genie who gave them their musical ability. This joins the list of "unreasonably good for a debut album". Great playing, interesting soundwork. It's truly weird to review these guys since they are so mellow despite being very solid. I'm still convinced the only way to be that combination is if your skill came from a genie versus hardwork.
I was excited to see that this is the debut album after already listening to a few. I figured this is what got them in the door. This has a couple of songs that I recognize. A handful of the songs fade to the background on first listen. I imagine with time this one could grow.
psychedelic, groovy skate times, faves: midnit cruiser, reeling in the years
Dad album. 37 year old dad of 2 here. So, guess what? I like it. Cracker for a debut.
I have to take back what I said about Yes yesterday: they can have the best British nerd rock title. Steely's the best American nerd rock. Reelin in the years: one of the best guitar solos ever.
8/10 A very fine debut, with some great tunes. It's all a bit too polished, maybe - makes me think of Keen Bruce and Radio 2, but a lot to enjoy
Generally solid album, with no bad songs really. A couple big hits, but not perfect either. Very easy listening
Lots of popular songs on here, didn't realize this was so packed. I do like this, and have some of these saved.
Listening to this while cruising on a boat produces some of the greatest vibes known to mankind.
Along with the Pretenders, Steely Dan was an artist I had on my iPod and listened to all the time as a youngster. I can probably still recite all the words to "Kid Charlemagne." I think its easy to say 'The Royal Scam' or 'Aja' are better, but 'Can't Buy A Thrill' holds its own against them. To have such an iconic lead track on your debut album is unheard of. And then "Dirty Work" right after? One-two punches as good as they come.
This was a great listen!
One of the classic artists of the Yacht Rock era. There's a special place for Steely Dan in my heart since my dad is a big fan. Lots of good stuff on this album and it opens with an absolute gem in 'Do It Again'. Light and airy throughout with great and catchy melodies. Favorite Track: Do It Again Least Favorite Track: Change of the Guard
One I wasn't expecting to like. That is some chilled out vibes right there.
Not quite at the level of Aja I think, but still really excellent Steely Dan. Dirty Work and Reelin in The Years are such bops and marry the funk and fun of the band with songs that actually make you feel something (occasionally something they can't quite do). It flies along really nicely as a record, and although it never hits the highest height, it's very consistently good.
3.5
INCREIBLE
Me alegró mucho ver este album en la lista, el cual contiene una de mis canciones favoritas "Do It Again", no puedo describir el buen animo que me pone esta cancion, pero hay que ser honestos y el resto del album, quitando dos o tres, es bastante normalito.
Not a 5, but a stellar album. Changes styles while remaining thematically intact. Lots of great standalone tracks. Excellent muaicianship. Just shy of hitting 5-star status.
Steely Dan two days in a row? From what I have gotten the first 200+ days doing this, I could do a lot worse. I have always loved Do It Again. Really listened to Dirty Work, like it even more now. Smooth rhythms and nice horns. I might have to go back jack, and listen again. 4.00
I just don’t like yacht rock. This is great album of good songwriting and musicianship. The style is just not for me.
Very familiar and refreshing. A nice listen
okok zumindest uf spotify ihres beliebtiste album? sooo stählerner daniel nach atari teenage riot isch das soo schön ruhige musig hahaha do it again uf spotify grösste song! UHH HOTS SOLO de rest cheggi wiso s guet ahchunnt aber het jz nöd sooo vill mit mier gmacht AHH nöd cheggt, dass es s debutalbum isch uppsi ich stosse wieder chli ufs gliche problem wie scho bi countdown to ecstasy: mega schön und smooth, sanfti stimmt aber chli z wenig dreck? MIDNITW CRUIIISER only a fool would say that het so es insane hots solo wowi leider findi d perkussion ener langwilig aber jo hmm jaa fühlmi ähnlich wie bi ecstasy, au wennmer jz can't buy a thrill chli weniger guet gfalle het. chan aber schlecht es 3 geh? will es ISCH guet?
Specifično poređenje, kao kad bi obrade na naxi cafe radiju bili lijep rock fazon. Lijepo vozi, stvoreno za finu pozadinsku buku, prijatno i univerzalno dopadljivo. Živ bio ko god je napisao Alan Partridge review.
Kleiner Dip in der Mitte, aber ne starke 4 kann man hier schon zücken. Gerade der Einstieg ist schon ne Bombe.
Ne sehr starke 4.
Steely Dan klingen nicht wie die Bluegrass Band die man beim Namen Steely Dan erwartet und der mich bislang trotz Legendenstatus davon abgehalten hat reinzuhören. Ein Glück klingen sie nicht so!
Godtgodtgodt!!!
I feel like despite this being at times amazing it also has a couple duds that seem maybe worse given the greatness of the standouts. Fire in the Hole was the one new song for me that I want to listen to again a nice piano part in that song.
Recht schön, Soft Rock
Geht gut rein
Ok so I know WAY more of these tunes that I want to admit. Like I have to have an intervention for the Dad rock I think. I didn't even realize I knew this much Steely Dan. Dad rock aside isn't a pretty good album. Musically and lyrically it's solid, if a bit dated. It has a nice flow to the album and was great to, yes I'm serious, grill dinner to. I bet it would be a great album to mow the lawn to as well. Maybe put it on the speaker and wash the car. Decent album. God I feel old.
Better than what I was expecting. Not really a fan of Steely Dan but this was a good album.
This is an excellent album - front to back. Dirty Work is my favourite SD jam. I should give it a five but there’s no heart in my appreciation for it.
This is not the best SD but it does feature Jimmy Page's favourite guitar solo in Reeling In The Years...
bom álbum, muito instrumentos de jazz, sonoridade boa, melhor do album: Only a Foll Would Say That
Such a pleasant listen
It has some pretty good songs, but I've got to admit that it can be kinda repetitive, specially because the instrumentals feel the same throughout the album. Best track: "Do it again". Worst track: "Change of the guard"
Steely Dan is always a strange listen for me but this had more than enough good songs to keep my interest, making this an excellent album. First, I’ve always loved Do It Again. It’s far and away my favorite SD song. Like many, I had heard Reelin’ In The Years and Dirty Work before, though the former is much preferred to the latter. Both are good tunes though. What surprised me is how much more I would like on here. Of the songs I hadn’t heard before, Midnight Cruiser was definitely my favorite, but Kings and Change of the Guard were also good. They are an offbeat band, I almost think of them in the same way as I do Weezer from the 90s / early 2000s. Talented band, some interesting song writing, but neither are my favorite. Regardless, this was fun to go back to listen to. 4 stars.
Really pushing the boundaries to make the safest music possible
Good solid rock. Enjoyed
Топ
You're out of bed a little early for a Sunday so you head upstairs, make yourself a coffee, turn on one of those fishing shows that are on TV at this hour, and listen to Dirty Work while the sun rises.
Yeah wasn't bad
Good tunes, the instruments are the main highlight for me. Will listen avain
Great album!
Pretty good, enjoyed most of it
Knew more tracks than I realised. Some classics on here that I guess I didn't realise were Steely Dan as they've never been a band on my radar.
I love the smooth rock, and there's some awesome songs on this album.
Another one in which it wasn’t bad, but just wasn’t anything that’d I really enjoyed. Tutti frutti is the first song and probably the best, which is not a good sign.
Great, heard it before
Fair play, love this album. Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only A Fool Would Say That, Reelin' In The Years - bangers.
Steely Dan takes a lot of shit, but they're actually a great band... and this record is a really good listen.
Je ne misais pas forcément sur cet album de prime abord, et finalement j’ai beaucoup aimé!
Papa roche sur une chaloupe
Y'a une touche d'humour, un peu comme Zappa ou 10cc. 2-3 tounes un peu ordinaires mais qui ont quand même des moments intéressants musicalement. On dirait qu'ils font du classic rock en étant conscients que c'est ça qu'ils font. 3.75 étoiles
Def some classic jams on this one
I love Steely Dan. I'm cruising in a Porsche alone a California coastline lol.
Qué buenarda racha llevamos. Sonido impecable y atemporal, le pongo un 4.5 porque me da rabia incluso que sea tan estable todo el disco. Eso sí, cada canción es tan pero tan memorable, qué locura, he metido en likes casi todas. Las que más me gustaron: Do It Again, Kings, Midnite Cruiser, Brooklyn
Un montón de canciones en este álbum a las que nunca les había puesto ni autor ni título. Escucharlas fue una sorpresa y que me gustasen tanto, más todavía. Como con tantos otros artistas de los 70s / 80s, este es mi primer contacto con su discografía y aunque muchos exponentes de los primeros coletazos de subgéneros del rock de aquella época no me llaman, puedo decir que Steely Dan tiene algo que me atrapa, por lo menos en este álbum. Supongo que saber de antemano que muchas de estas canciones son icónicas ayuda a que les atribuya el valor que realmente tienen, pero más allá de eso, genuinamente me gustó la instrumentación, las lyrics desenfadadas y el paisaje sonoro en general que se montan en este álbum. Muy muy fan. Favs: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years, Fire in the Hole (el piano en esta va durísimo)
"Can't Buy a Thrill" is the debut studio album by American rock band Steely Dan. Wiki had a good description of the album as "one of Steely Dan's most stylistically eclectic albums encompassing sounds of jazz rock, pop rock and soft rock alongside philosophical and elliptical lyrics." The songs were written by bandmembers Walter Becker and Donald Fagan and were produced by Greg Katz. The bandmembers included Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitars, pedal steel guitar), Walter Becker (bass, vocals), Dennis Dias (guitar, electric sitar), Donald Fagan (vocals, pianos, organ), Jeff Hodder (drums, percussion, vocals) and David Palmer (vocals). The album was a commercial success reaching #17 on the US Billboard Top LP and Tape Chart and #37 in the UK. It also had positive reviews. "Do It Again" was the first single and opens the album with a mambo jazz beat and dreamy guitar strings. Fagan with forceful vocals as he sounds like he's talking about a friend who's s compulsive loser and has major issues with anger, sex and gambling. A song with a great groove and a searing guitar solo and an organ solo. David Palmer takes over lead vocals in "Dirty Work." Soulfully tinged with the organ. Good contrasting vocals and harmonies in another song about a "loser" dude who's in an affair with a married women and can't get out of it. Jerome Richardson steals the song with his sax solo. The third lead singer on the album, Jim Hodder, appears on "Midnite Cruiser." Melancholy with the piano and lyrics with a theme of lost opportunities. Great harmonies and a singalong chorus. Excellent guitar by Skunk. The signature fuzzy guitar riff opens side two and the other single "Reelin' in the Years." More of a rock beat. Another catchy chorus and standout guitar and drum fills. Fagan sarcastically sings about an ex-lover wasting away her life. The closing song "Turn the Heart Beat Over Again" might have the most daring and original lyrics as a man on the brink of death from an overdose pleads with Jesus and Archangel Michael for a second chance. The lyrics are backed against more subdued, soft rock music and a jazzy guitar and organ. The music style in a lot of these of songs is a fusion of rock, pop, Latin beats and jazz. There's a high degree of musical technicality and meticulous playing of instruments and placements of fills. All of this can end up in dull music but what what separates this album are the catchy melodies, singalong choruses and interesting and dark lyrics. I did find the second side to drag a bit but overall, there a number of high quality songs. A strong recommendation.
Lots of good/decent popular songs on here, but I will never be going back to this most likely. Gets an extra star for tony soprano
Not their best but absolutely phenomenal
Love a bit of steely
Some timeless hits, but not every song is a banger
Steely Dan rammer ret godt når jeg er i det rigtige humør til det
One of the best debut albums of the decade. "Do It Again", "Dirty Work" and "Reelin' in the Years" are almost overly familiar to anyone who has listened to more than an hour's worth of classic rock radio. Staples for a reason. Very well played, very well produced. I still think Steely Dan's later albums are a bit stronger, as some of the album tracks are a bit weaker and just kinda soft-rock jazzily wander. Though I will point "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)" as a highlight, a track or two before the album peters out disappointingly with "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again".
What a pleasant ride this classic rock album was. Dad rock at its best. Do it again, dirty work and reelin in the years are bangers.
Great album
4 A feel good 70’s sounding album with somewhat heavy lyrics.
Didn't realize so many of their hits were off of one album. Really impressive production. Favorite new-to-me song: Fire In The Hole.
This has some of my favorite Steely Dan songs on it. I'll never get tired of Reelin' in the Years, Do It Again, and Dirty Work. Great album, will listen to again many times I'm sure. 4.25/5
I didn't know a ton of these songs were Steely Dan. Everyone raves about Aja and I can't really get into that. This, however, is my jam. 4.25/5
Of the Steely Dan albums I've heard, their debut is the best because it best combines their meticulous songwriting and arrangements with pop hooks. The band gets associated a lot with dads and yachts, but that's mostly for their later albums. These songs are tighter, and feel more similar to an earlier, more laid back version of The Cars. The choruses on "Midnite Cruiser" and "Reelin' in the Years" are huge, some of the best pop hooks of the 70s. Even the more subtle songs like "Brooklyn" have hooks that worm into your brain. At the same time, the music is layered and jazzy, with a lot of small details to get lost in. "Do It Again" is a great example of this with its shuffling rhythm and guitar solo. The Dan may have gotten a bit more ambitious after this one, but if you're looking for slightly out-of-the-ordinary pop rock it's hard to beat this.
Oh look, the Steely Dan songs I know!
this album made me realize that everyone who seems like they're saying steely dan rules as a bit might not be doing a bit and might be right (excluding, of course, rock n roll circus organ)
A summer day + this album?? Chef's kiss!!
some enjoyable tunes and some solid tracks. had countdown to ecstasy beforehand and i think i like that more than their debut, but both albums land at around a 4 for me - i'd have no problem putting this on and having a good time. special shoutout to do it again as one of those special, enchanting tracks that make me wanna get up and dance. highlights - do it again, reelin' in the years, midnite cruiser
Nice sound. I should probably relisten, it might become a five stars but four for now. Resembles Santana quite a bit
4/5
Almost from the first note this is a classic. Lyrical mastery and tuneful turns of phrase are the order of the day. Hard to pick an outstanding track when they are all exquisite. As with a lot of the steely dan albums they can be in danger of wandering up their own backside but this is just fine.
The exact kind of 1970s vibe that I really like
This is Steely Dan at their most accessible, and it's great! I really enjoyed these songs, and they are much more "poppy" than some of their later work. Best Songs: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Reelin' In The Years, Fire In The Hole Worst Songs: Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
Yeah pretty good, nice groove. Don’t have much to say about it, 4 stars
I'm ashamed to say I really liked this Yacht rock masterpiece.
This is Steely Dan before their identity had fully solidified into the jazz / pop fusion best exemplified by the album “Aja”. If you love that style, you might find this album a bit transitional or underdeveloped, but for me it is an interesting alternative universe where soft rock and pop take center stage and the jazz accessorizes the sound. Because of this and depending on your taste, you could make a reasonable case that this is the Dan’s best album. I will not make that case, but I do think this is a fun record because of its distinctiveness in their catalog. An early 70s Laurel Canyon style classic.
those melodies
Any time I listen to Steely Dan I can’t help but think of a quote I read several years ago, I think from musician Kurt Vile: “Everyone on their musical journey at some point realizes that Steely Dan is badass as shit” Or something like that. This is a killer debut, and if you look a step beyond the “yacht rock-ness” of SD you realize that there is some serious skill and complexity to their arrangements and playing. They were amazing, and Can’t Buy A Thrill is excellent. Dirty Work, Do It Again, and of course Reelin In The Years are highlights.
Pretty great. Classic sound.
I was literally singing Dirty Work in my head when this came up! I think because of One Battle After Another. Not a hard album to love if you like this sort of thing, and my word do I like THIS sort of thing.
I think this perfectly describes how I felt about this album “Fuck I am turning into a dad, I appreciate Steely Dan now”
Just great songwriting, what can I say
Really nice, feel good 70s vibe. Great album cover
Massive hits, solid B side. The disparity between the sides is significant and why I. Think this album falls short of later efforts which are fully polished and balanced. Regardless, this album is a classic. The production value and talent are top. Notch.
Great album
Day 4 and finally a stone cold banger. Great contrast to the REM album. Hangs together as a piece. Genius tracks. Only one or two less than stellar tracks so marked to 4 (unless I can give a half?)
This is an excellent debut from the genre bending duo of Fagan and Becker here on Can’t Buy A Thrill. Opening said debut with such a jam with, Do it Again. It’s got the psychedelic sounds of The Doors but it’s something different and it’s awesome. They follow that with another great one with Dirty Work. It’s a really great album that rocks but stays within their chill limits. Midnite Cruiser kinda sounds like a Neil Young track right? The guitar on display here is excellent too, at times making me think of the Dire Straits. While all tracks aren’t 5’s there really isn’t a dud on this album. Even the album art, weird as it is, is kinda perfect for what this is. I really enjoyed this a lot. 4 stars
Hard to believe this is their debut, it’s so polished and groovy. It’s Steely Dan, so you’re going to get clever and philosophical lyrics, guitar and piano solos, interesting chord progressions, catchy hooks and melodies that will definitely put you in a good mood. This is surely a classic debut from a fun, interesting band with a very solid discography.
I think I mostly like Steely Dan because my mate Jordan likes them. They’ve always got a great road trip vibe, or barbecues, or rambling walks around the countryside. (3.5 stars)
Fun, upbeat album. It falls off a little at the end, but I enjoyed my listen. 4/5.
It's Steely Dan! What's there to not like?? A little same-y for a full album but smooth and fun through and through.
Cole
Some cool tunes
I knew a couple of songs before hand, but I still enjoyed listening to it
7/10 The quality of the musicianship and production on this album is outstanding. Things are super clean and you can hear every part occupying its own space, which is great for noticing all of the little bits of flair within the playing. They are also just super tight and in the pocket together, writing some great hooks and some solid grooves. When all of that comes together, there are some truly great moments on the album, but I did find the standout moments to be a little fleeting. There were times when some of the tracks lost sight of the actual song part of it all and get a bit lost in the noodling. When they allowed the song to take centre stage and the rest of the musicianship to work around that, things were great. To my ears, the David Palmer led songs didn’t really grab me as much as the Donald Fagen ones. Fagen has a bit more swagger and edge to his delivery and it just gives a bit more feel to the tracks and I felt that was lacking a little on some of the others. The first time I listened to this, it kind of washed over me, but I got a lot more feel out of it the second time. By the third time, the wash maybe returned a little, because there isn’t a great deal of stylistic variety. But overall, it was a solid, enjoyable listen and I’m looking forward to their other albums as we come across them further down the list. Do It Again - A nice percussion infused drum beat to kick us off. There’s a lot of feel to this, and some really nice hooks. The vocal line on the chorus, brief as it is, just oozes smooth quality. Some of the solo bits are a little self indulgent, but when they drop back into the chorus, all is forgiven. Really great stuff. Dirty Work - This drops back the pace and swings a bit more. It doesn’t offer as much range as the opener, but it’s still a smooth little track. Kings - Again, there’s a nice groove to this and the blend of lead and backing vocals in the chorus is great. Quality musicianship again and I can just imagine the guitar face going on during the solo. They throw some really nice rhythmic variety into some of the lines that sit further back in the mix and it adds a good deal of flavour. Midnite Cruiser - This is pretty nice too, although I could do with something to lift things soon, as it’s starting to feel a bit too stuck in a soft-rock rut. On its own, this is a decent enough song, but it just lacks a bit of grit. Only A Fool Would Say that - The vocal delivery here gives things the lift they needed. The band grooves really well again, and the vocal takes us along with a bit of swagger and drive. Everything’s so tight and smooth and we get some more quality playing, but things don’t overshadow the actual song. Reelin’ In The Years - There’s a bit of a change to the feel here. It’s got an insistent, driving rhythm, and the cadence of some of the chord changes are really nice, but they keep bringing things back together into an engaging, memorable chorus. And they make sure everyone gets to have their fun with some noodling. Fire In The Hole - Oooh, a nice bit of piano taking the lead. Some of the chord changes are unexpected, which I often appreciate, but the chord sequences do perhaps get a little lost in places. When they settle again for more piano soloing, it’s solid. There are some really solid moments and the groove when the guitar solos come in has got so much feel. Unfortunately, I don’t think the song part is as string here, so the core of the track feels a little weak. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me) - This is more mellow. It has its moments, and it grooves along nicely enough, but it doesn’t really kick into a higher gear and doesn’t do much to hold interest beyond being pretty nice. Change Of The Guard - The rhythm section struts along nicely here. The bass line in particular is great. I think the stops in the groove going into the ‘change of the guard’ vocal are top notch and break things up well. Again, this is super tight, well played and produced. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - This is a bit meandering. Can’t deny the quality of the musicianship, but it just feels like they wander about too much and nothing really sticks in the mind. There are some really decent bits, but they kind of feel a bit disconnected, which is a shame.
Love this album
Got to admit, this Steely Dan stuff is pretty good. I even recognized a couple I didn’t know were Steely Dan.