Can't Buy A Thrill

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”

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.

I mean the whole thing is pretty fire. Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' In The Years are on this album and the rest of it is pretty solid too.

Interesting, when Steely Dan comes on the radio I am pretty quick to change it but listening to them in a full album format, it was hard not to enjoy and beebop around while working.

This sounds like easy listening music I would hear while working a shift at Staples in the early 2000s. In a good way of course.

Excellent album!

Amazing chords esp in the verses, most songs are quite super delightful, turns out my dad was onto something with these mfs Fav song: Midnite Cruiser maybe?

Steely Dan ist so eine Band die ich in den 70ern immer nur mit einem halben Ohr gehört habe. Dafür habe ich heute Can't Buy A Thrill 2x gehört und bin positiv überrascht.

hørt mye på - liker veldig bra

A really catchy album, Steely Dan have so many earworms and even their less famous songs will be fun interludes to another banger.

Amazing - have listened many times

*Solid 70s rock album with some good hits. *Really liked the piano/keyboards.

4.5

3.5

I will always stand by the first six Steely Dan albums to the ends of the earth. Unlike most people, however, to me *Can't Buy a Thrill* is the least of the six. I still really enjoy the album, I've just never found that this one fully had the signature Steely Dan quirk that's in full bloom on *Countdown to Ecstasy*. Still, this one has two of the greatest all-time singles! 8.9 ★★★★

I tend to like this early era of Steely Dan, before they went full jazz nerd. I know this album doesn't seem to get as much love among the Steely Dan purists, but I think there's a lot of great tunes here, like "Do it Again", "Only a Fool Would Say That", "Dirty Work", and "Reeling in the Years", which has one of the greatest fuzz tones put to tape. 4 stars.

4.5

Sunny spring Sunday afternoon music (complimentary). This album consists largely of songs I know but didn't know I knew or know who sang them.

I've tried to hear what people love about Steely Dan in the past, but it's mostly left me cold. This album seems to be regarded as lesser work before they took on their final form, but I actually found it more enjoyable than what I've heard of their later work. Maybe I just like things less polished. Bit concerned this is the gateway to being on of those 'The Dan' people, though...

pretty good

Iconic

I enjoy most of it, good jams Will I listen to again: 85%

7.5/10, some good songs but also some filler imo. Production is amazing however

Solid debut by Steely Dan where they were still finding their feet as a band (before they would become a two-piece). But the foundations for their brand of lounge pop, which they’d go on to perfect, are clearly there.

Better than aja!!!

Great album Great arrangement Tight production. Symphony of sounds

Steely Dan may have single handed created and formed my taste for yacht rock and their debut is no exception from that love. From it's cheesy but fun sound to it's jazz rock blend, Can't Buy a Thrill is more then just a throwaway yacht-rock project but a staple of the genre and a hell of a debut. Everything on this project seems simple but so well cordinated to make you want to best the phattest groove anyone's ever seen. I don't get how anyone could hate this project, it's dumb fun in the best way. Steely Dan can really rock my boat.

*1972. *Several big hits - Do it Again, Dirty Work, Reelin in the Years. *Pretty iconic - 41 minutes, 10 songs of pure 1970s vibes. RATING - 8.5/10

Liked it from the first song. This is a really good album. It's a very easy listen.

1/1001~ I recently caught a little "Do It Again" wafting from some random car while stuck in traffic and it made me want to attentively listen to this whole record, and also maybe their whole catalog in order, you know, for kicks! I'll admit I don't know much about "the Dan" aside from songs I know I really like (the first three tracks of Pretzel Logic go insanely hard in my opinion), episodes in my life that are forever tinged with their music (beginning in my early Pizza Hut era with the "Josie" incident), that time Donald Fagan cussed out the Yacht Rock doc, and their penchant for painstakingly pursuing perfection (thanks to the Classic Albums episode on Aja). Which brings to mind the great Steve Albini (requiscat) and one of his many brilliant threads which read like mini episodes of yummy music industry remember-whens, the best served with a tall glass of haterade. An excerpt from his Steely Dan takedown: "Two types of perfectionist: One will prepare, revise and rehearse carefully, with intent, honing an idea to a keen edge, ready to cut the cloth of execution. The other makes other people responsible by saying, 'do it again,' until by chance they are satisfied, then take credit." Anyway, I was one of those hater punks that roundly laughed at how lame this shit sounded c.1996, but I do admit: the hits here do hit hard, and this LP is, overall, as easy to consume as endless sixers of light lager inner-tubing a lazy river on a perfectly sunny, hot Summer afternoon. I appreciate the good, clean, n' complicated grooves all done up with a light touch of studio tubular bells. That's the forty-something me reviewing this. I understand why this LP is included here and I’m kind of delighted it popped up first which, again, feels a little fateful. A case of aces done up loose for dealing...

Love Steely Dan. Aja and Gaucho are better albums but this is great. Don't understand why people don't like them. Funny lyrics.

That was a good surprise. Although I never heard of Steely Dan before, I soon recognised some songs that used to be played in easy listening radios. The album is so nice, I really like the instrumentals and the easy vibe. An easy 4

Un vrai plaisir de pop / rock un peu psyché. Si certaines chansons ressemblent aux Doors de wish (ptn ce synthétique parfois il me casse les oreilles) il y a surtout des masterclass, dans un album varié et assez entraînant !

La musique de Steely dan, je la décrirai comme rafraîchissante. Quand tu l’écoutes tu te prends pas la tête, tu te laisses bercer et tu t’imagines à la barre de ton voilier sous un grand soleil, heureux comme un gardon. Ils arrivent à faire une musique distincte des groupes cultes des années 70 tout en étant parfaitement années 70

Really solid album. Had heard a couple of songs but ended up enjoying the entire album.

Took me by surprise not knowing anything going on, could listen all day to this stuff

I’ve heard this before but really enjoyed it this time. This is one for the wantlist.

BEST SONGS: - Do It Again - Midnite Cruiser - Brooklyn

Good album

I guess the heart in my gen z female body is a dad

Not their best album but a banger nonetheless

Great!

One hit after another

Classics my dad always played. Really cool listening to it through.

Like them or loathe them, since their first release Steely Dan has continually delivered catchy songs. There are lots of different influences that they seem to meld together so easily. There are a handful of Steely Dan tracks that I could listen to on repeat without ever getting bored. However, they also have a lot of tracks that I would happily press skip on. This is a really good album with 3 absolutely sensational tracks, a couple of further good tracks, and some 'skippers'. That makes this a 4 star album for me. Someone else's review of this album was just the word "Dan" repeated multiple times, made me laugh out loud when I saw that. Have you never had a cup of beans? You're in for a treat.

It grew on me, but a little to campy for my taste. 3.5 stars really

Achei realmente interessante, eu nunca tinha ouvido um álbum nesse estilo e os riffs são bem viciantes, fui surpreendido, não sei muito o que comentar pois me falta repertório, além do mais não conheço muitos álbuns então uma comparação agora seria um tanto quanto injusta.

I'm glad I revisited this because it's a whole lot better than I remember. This is a crazy debut with some of the bands biggest songs on it. Like what do you mean "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", "Only A Fool Would Say That" and "Reelin' In The Years" are all on one album!? That's damn impressive. The deep cuts aren't bad either. I don't know if it's they're best album but there's definitely an argument to be made for it. Favorite track: Do It Again

See! Jazz (or at least jazz elements) CAN coexist with melody and chorus! The singles are classics. The rest is an easy enough listen, and nothing ever feels like it overstays its welcome. Good stuff.

I think I like Steely Dan.

This would be an album I would listen to while driving down a beach road in a convertible. I really liked this album. Very mellow and soothing to listen to even when I was listening to it on the hectic train ride back home from campus. Just pop this on and think of a quiet place, you'll thank me later! Favorite Tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser, Only A Fool Would Say That Rating: 4.5/5

For whatever reason, I'm enjoying Steely Dan more than I used to since starting this project.

love it

I'm gonna give this one a light 4. I really enjoyed Reelin' In The Years and I think the entire album is incredibly solid. Probably not as good as my other fours but is still a really fun listen.

These guys can harmonize anything! It's catchy, and most tracks are likeable.

Entire album is a pretty enjoyable listen. About as classic rock as you can get, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Change of the Guard is my favorite from this album, but it's tough because the only song I really didn't like was Turn that Heartbeat Over Again. Not that it's bad but it's easily the weakest song here.

Beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable! Great!

Very good album, no bangers but base line is good

Really good with nice and chill beats. Favourite Song: Do It Again Honourable Mention: Midnite Cruiser, Only a Fool Would Say That

kinda sick, i like this. light 4 to a solid 3, but im leaning towards 4

Oh man I'm on a huge Steely Dan kick at th moment, mainly Aja but I've heard this one too of course Very slick very cool. I just watched their 93 concert this afternoon on YouTube. This one is very cool for guitar and piano which I'm learning at the moment, so rewarding to listen and learn about

Not the best Steely Dan album by a long shot but the album really showed their ability to move in and out of different genres. Some hits on here and a little filler but the filler would be the pinnacle of a lot of other bands

Remember this album playing on FM album radio in the 70’s. It still passes the test with great tunes and lyrics. This album is in my personal collection and I can still see it spinning around the turntable as I browsed the album cover. Going to have to give this a big thumbs up!

Overall, solid sound. Definitely throws one back to the 70s yacht rock era. Great guitar work on these songs, with smooth harmonics. Kings was a personal favorite due to the contrast between a melancholic verse/intro vs the most upbeat sounding chorus. Certainly at least 1-2 songs I’d come back for.

TLDR: Will I listen to the album again? Probably not. Did I enjoy the listen? Yes. My Top Track: Dirty Work My man, Steely Dan! I won’t claim to be a follower, but the opening instrumentals alone were immediately recognized. “You go back, Jack, do it again!” Now let’s see for the rest of the album… This soft rock, folk rock, pop sound is already more my style and reminiscent of what I’ve heard played growing up. I recognized the hits Do It Again and Reelin’ In The Years, but a new one that stuck out to me was Dirty Work. Overall this was an easy/feel good listen!

love it, already listened Aja. This was also great.

like mnight cruiser and dirty work

Can’t go wrong with Steely Dan! This is their most popular album, the debut and my least favorite so far on the list. Possibly for the reason everyone seems to like it? It’s the most accessible straightforward one, but just not as interesting. Still great though!

Nice 7/10

Have I been too hard on Steely Dan? That's the main thought I had run through my head as I listened to this album. After all, for years I only knew them for the way George Carlin said their name in a bit completely unrelated to them, except to imply that they're lame music for lame white people. It's not an impression I was able to throw off, either, once I actually did listen to one of their albums (COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY) and came to the conclusion that they're achingly fine yacht rock that you can only really truly like and enjoy if you're specifically listening for deep music theory nerd shit — and I can't and don't. Looking back on that review, though, I gotta wonder if I was only being harsh on it because I was taking it as an opportunity to try and finally understand Steely Dan. Once I found out and came to the conclusion I wasn't exactly a fan, I took it out on the album. I mean, I'm not someone who hates yacht rock (as I said back then, I've listened to TOTO IV too many times), but I don't exactly have any room for albums where the appeal is seemingly supposed to exist solely in music theory. "So what if the root tonic chord or whatever being used here is, like, a sus 7 B-sharp flat over E-Z? Doesn't matter if the music that chord appears in ain't too terribly interesting if you're not zeroing in on the technique" — that's my line of thought. But, OK, I know what Steely Dan's deal is, and I know it's not for me. Now that I'm not trying to understand them, I can just take the music as it is without using it as a proxy to judge Steely Dan's schtick. Throw out any notions of theory: purely on how my ears take it, how does this stand up as my second Steely Dan album, then? Gawd, it's just such a fuckin' vibe, y'know? Besides the lens I'm understanding this album through, I don't know what's too different about it versus COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY, but goodness, it's just chill as hell. It's incredibly pleasant stuff, where, like... I'unno, the talent and skill is evident, but it doesn't feel at all like I hafta pay too close attention to it. I feel like you could absolutely put it on and just have it there as accompaniment as you lounge around in the sun. Y'know, prime kinda yacht rock shit. Like, even when this album is rocking its hardest on something like "Do It Again", it's never that un-relaxed, and it's hitting me totally right today. I never wanna advocate for not thinking about what you're listening to, but honestly, deciding to not scrutinize this music was probably the best decision I could have made. Jeez, I don't even have any specific notes about particular songs; I was just taking each record side as a block... And, y'know, true, when you take it this way it's far from mind-blowing, and I wouldn't be able to defend against accusations that it's lame... But again, it just hit right today. It's just peppy enough to be engaging, but still a totally chill listen. So... Yeah, I guess I **was** being too hard on Steely Dan. Maybe if I go back and listen to COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY with this in mind I'll like it more. But for the time being, though... Yeah, I can only give a big thumbs up to this album. I'm not over the moon for it, but I had a good time with it, and I'd even happily put it on again when the mood hits. It's just good-ass yacht rock, what more could you want? Still probably won't stop thinking of George Carlin when the name comes up, though — too ingrained in my head, y'understand. "Steely Daaaaaaahn."

The best album I have heard from Steely Dan, featuring some proper classics. This is a time piece that I enjoyed listening to! 4/5 Good album.

"Do it again" was the song that got me hooked on Steely Dan. Granted it's well before my time, but I still gravitated towards it. It helped that my dart team played at a bar still using old-school jukeboxes with their greatest hits on tap, and it would always be in the rotation. As for how this first album of theirs compares to the masterpiece Aja? Nothing hits quite that level, but this one is still a good offering, with jams like, "Dirty Work" and "Reelin' in the years". It's worth a listen. While I give Aja a 5, This one is only worth a 4. Keep em coming!

I don't mind Steely Dan, and this was a decent album.

Sympa, mais pas coup de coeur non plus

Listened on August 7th. Really loved this album. 7.5/10.

this was fine. Nice and melodic not too testosteroney

Dad- 8 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 7 Michael- 7 Miles- 7 Cole- 6.5 Avg- 7.25

Não esperava nada e me entregou tudo. Album maravilhoso de se ouvir

Great album with some iconic bangers.

Listen to this. Then Do It Again.

Well then. Literally 1001 albums after the generator churned out my first Steely Dan record, I finally get a really good one. Do It Again is a fantastic track, and most of the rest of the album does it justice. Seems they nailed their brand of sophisticated soft-rock on album one, then proceeded to become too jazzy for my tastes.

4.3 💅🏼

Great chord progressions. Very musical.

The first Dan I heard was the last one they made for about 20 plus years, Gaucho. Me and my mates were all into our hi-fi systems and the production quality on that album made all our kit sound superb! I subsequently bought all their back catalogue and enjoyed listening to their musical progressive over the years. This is interesting as they were still a “band” when this was recorded not just Becker and Fagen and session musos. I really like it as you can tell I’m a big fan, not my absolute favorite of their earlier stuff but great nonetheless.

When I saw Steely Dan I wasn't happy. 4 songs in and all good so far. Pretty catchy and I'm familiar with a few so far. Guitar on Reelin ' In The Years is sick. Getting a Phil Lynott vibe from the vocal. Thinking Donald Fagens solo record left a bad taste in my mouth. This is a good album. 3.5/5. Raising to a 4.

I knew these songs. These are some good ones.

Some crackin tunes on here

An awesome album that is very interesting and easy to listen to. As Victoria said, an easy cruising album.

I was never a Steely Dan fan, even against all there is to them that makes them excellent. They’re profoundly skilled musicians, who sing on profound themes. Whenever they come on the radio though, I feel this invisible synesthesia tighten around my stomach. They have a vibe that I simply don’t dig. Still, not even a naysayer like I can dog this hit-packed debut. This is Steely Dan at their steeliest. Track after track, it’s banger after banger, classic after classic.

Smooth

Really nice loved the sound and the vibe of this album

It isn't their best album but it's still an amazing album that doesn't really miss on a single track.

Great grooves. Reelin’ in the Years is amazing.

Definitely a 4, not quite a 5. I need more Steely Dan in my library...

This is a funny one. As with many debut albums, you can hear the band experimenting with some sounds that they quickly moved away from. The lack of cohesion here is where the deduction comes, there are songs that are good listens but kind of come out of nowhere. This is more of a 4.5 though

I feel like the storytelling is simultaneously the best and weakest part of the album. On some songs it's great, and on others it's really "you you you you you." Past that, i'm never gonna complain about sax solos, and there are like 3 or 4 on this one.

So slick and easy, impressive for a debut and signs of how good a band they would be.

Two big hits and a handful of solid songs. 7/10

HELL YEAH

8/10 Favorites - Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser, Reelin’ In The Years

first sone good, and good in overall. enjoyed that. jazz rock?

Two things: This is a debut album? I now like Steely Dan?

There are some great songs here, but some of the lesser known ones are a little too cheesy for me. Low 4.

How is probably their best album also their first? I don't know, but you don't mess with The Dan; you just roll with it.

Olipas mainio albumi. Tätä voi kuunnella uudelleenkin.

Steely Dan, at the top of their game. Smoooooth. This is some of the traditional music of my people. I could listen often. Might just go again. Four stars.

fantastic guitar! really fun and relaxing listen as a whole

Good 70s rock

Never listened to Steely Dan before. Took me by surprise. Really really enjoyed it. Just really well written and put together. 4 stars for sure

Smoother than Diddy’s baby oil stash. 4.5⭐️

Helluva debut album....4.5 stars.

ég er tvíbenntur í afstöðu minni til þeirra bræðra. þessi þykir mér feykifín.

I would still struggle to call Steely Dan "good", but I do enjoy some of these beats. FS: Dirty Work

Argh. I can't believe I am giving steely Dan a 4! Am I being brainwashed into loving dad rock by this experience? Is the sheer volume of this genre I have listened to recently giving me a real critic's ear? Or is this genuinely just a great album? I think I gave them 3 last time and this is no doubt a better outing. Perhaps it's a 3.5 but in the absence of a finer grading scale, here, have my 4 and I won't be taking any questions at this time.

Great album, amazing band

Kruttsterk skive. Nydelig satt sammen, med noen skikkelige klassikere i sporlista. Litt for streit, og noen dølle låter trekker litt ned, men er nok den skiva jeg har likt best til nå. Beste låt: Do It Again

Meget koselig plate. God instrumental, behaglige stemmer, fine melodier.

Love em or hate me - its Steely Dan. I love their sound

Wonderful. Perfect vacation pool soundtrack

Dope

Immensely enjoyable. Clever and full of hooks

Her er jeg sent på ballen, for dette er ekte bra papparock! Holder seg veldig godt og svinger godt.

From a production standpoint, Steely Dan were top notch. The songwriting and delivery are as well. If anything, it's the complete lack of humour and a certain too-much-of-polish that leave me with a taste of artificial flavor. I have hard times finding anything beyond craftsmanship.

I mean its

An absolute classic, easy listening and great for the weekend. Good musicianship as well

My favorite steely

Solid album, nothing explicitly standing out personally

The radio hits are not the best songs on this album, low-mid 4

Midnight Cruiser extremely underrated track

Very nice, haven't listened much to Steely Dan. Like the music that you can bob your head to.

Charmingly bonkers cover art, and a title straight from a perfect Dylan song. Plus, I learned that I actually do know a few Steely Dan songs, from listening to too much "classic rock" radio in the late 90s. What's good here is great, and the eclectic virtuosity is a delight. But there's stretches of dad-rock, yacht-rock, soft-rock, whatever. So, dig it, but four stars.

Hm, why do I like this…

Really interested to actually spend some time listening to Steely Dan. Surprised that I know do it again. Such a distinctive sound, I can't figure out quite why. The piano bass and drums seem very tight together despite a lot of fancy rhythmic things happening. Of course there are harmonised guitar solos but also tiny licks and fills that seem to be harmonised too, as well as almost all vocal parts. So many layers and yet it all sounds very together. I kind of feel like a couple of listens today won't be enough to figure out how I feel about this record. Definitely very interesting.

First ballot entry into the vibes hall of fame

Very camp and a lot of fun. I like the sound here and I look forward to hearing more from this artist

Not Steely Dan’s best album or my favorite of theirs but still a stone cold classic. Wild how fully formed they are here, their sound would certainly deepen and evolve over the years but the perfectly crafted melodies, jazz influenced pop rock, weird lyrics, it’s all here.

I can't believe have never listened to the full album before . The singles are classics and well known but it's all killer absolutely loved it

This is the second Steely Dan album I've listened to in the last two weeks and I have to admit that I'm coming around. I was familiar with several songs on this album "Reeling in The Years", "Dirty Work" (shout out Tony Soprano) and "Do it Again." These are, still, the stand out tracks on this album. But every other song is solid. I am becoming a Steely Dan disciple. Perhaps it happens to us all, with enough time and exposure.

"Do it again" is a masterpiece :chef's kiss: but the rest of the album is decidedly ordinary.

love me some steely dan. maybe not my favorite album by them, but still a lovely piece of work especially for their debut

I get it now

Het is goed mogelijk dat dit het 70s album is waar ik het meest bekend mee ben, of waar ik in ieder geval de meeste tijd mee door heb gebracht. Puur omdat hij het epitoom van 'easy going' is, en daardoor in zoveel situaties als muzikaal decor kan dienen. Veel meer heb ik er ook niet aan toe te voegen. Simplisme en eenvoud in zijn effectiefste vorm, met hooks for days. Tegen het einde is die formule wel een beetje uitgewerkt, en kan Steely Dan ook wel een beetje flauw worden, maar dit is wel echt de minst flauwe Steely Dan-plaat uit hun discografie. 8/10 Highlights: Do It Again Kings Dirty Work

very good

Like this far better than I thought I would

Pains me to say Jack is spot on. Brilliant album up to Reelin' in the Years, and then drifts off. Dirty Work, Kings, and Only A Fool Would Say That were the other standouts. I heard lots of Beatles influences, mostly in the narrative-focussed songs. Good stuff. Better than Countdown To Ecstasy because of the heights of the first half of the album. Can't go wrong with jangly guitars.

If this album finished after "Reelin in the years" i would've given it a 5. The opening half is really great and took me by suprise. So smooth, the epitome of soft rock I guess, but its so easy to listen to. Way better than the other steely Dan album we had. 4, even though I lost interest after the first half

Made me happy for 41 minutes. If you don’t like Steely Dan, you will not like this album. I like Steely Dan and thought this was great. Steely Dan manages to make soft rock accessible enough to be easily digested by a general audience, but interesting enough to make for more than just background noise. Great hooks, great instrumentals, great vibes, great album.

yay an oldie that I love!!! 4/5 #musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge

Lots of reviews on here seem to acknowledge that this is pretty good, with the score then depending on how much the listener objects to its general "niceness" as a record and indeed to the whole soft rock genre. I enjoyed it more than I expected to. One or two songs did err a bit too far on the side of dull: unexpected chord progressions can only create so much of a vibe when the overall pace is quite sleepy. But generally, it lifted my spirits and warmed some cockles. Great melodies, too. I really need a 7 out of 10, and haven't quite worked out which way I'll go, up or down, in the morning.

Damn near perfect debut. The musicians are off the charts good and the vocal harmonies delicious. And they only got better

Full disclosure - know this so well from teen years Still loving it on a relisten

Ei kuulanud lõpuni, aga suht nice.

Easy to listen to and the kind of rock that makes you want to sing along, but as the album title implies there are no thrills to be had here. Any song from this album could be played in a bar or airport and nobody would complain, but it's just so unadventurous that I can't give it a 5.

• 4/5 • what a great debut album • multiple memorable singles and the remaining tracks are all accessible (not necessarily true of later albums) if uninspired

Even on Steely Dan's debut album, they were smooth as hell.

After listening to Aja a few months back I thought this would be a bit more jazzy, instead I got a more Southern Rock sound I expected from them originally and they still knocked it out of the park. 8/10

Ovo je vrlo vjerojatno njihova najbolja plča ima par baš baš jebenih pisama i gle čuda album ne zvuči ko da ga je robot na kokainu producirao

1. Do It Again: the chimes in the beginning are so magical. I already liked this song a lot, the chorus is too catchy. The drums feel like the endless cycle of evil that we all commit at some point or another. The verses touch upon the things that bring misery and suffering to all from men. Greed, violence, and women. Kinda reminds me of the story of Sisyphus being doomed to push his rock up. Cyclical destruction of mankind by man. The organ solo is sick, again, love the chimes. 2. Dirty Work: the story of a man and a married woman's love, but she uses him for what she wants. The guitar riff is one of my faves, and the lyrics are sad here. The SAXXXXOPHONE!!!! I LOVE A SAX SOLO. Soulful and catchy. 3. Kings: Robin Hood tale v. American politics. This still holds weight in today's climate. The piano and guitar rock. "Though we sung his fame, we all went hungry just the same" - we are so below the "King," and although we gave that fame, the hunger ensued with the rise of such extreme power. This directly relates to the current cheeto as our president claiming he is the "king." Kinda haunting listening to this over 40 years later, and it's the same old story here in the land of the "free". 4. Midnite Cruiser: the beginning is my fav, so beautiful. Harlem is the birthplace of jazz and a lot of culture, a place that is inspiring to Steely Dan. Reminiscing on lost opportunities and the passing of one's "prime" as a wandering soul. I think there's some fear of being forgotten as a theme here. 5. Only A Fool Would Say That: this song is heavily shading the naive/out of touch political movements, specifically John Lennon. Again, I feel this song relates to today, where people are regurgitating political ideology that their actions don't match, just trying to fit. Especially the upper-class population. Rich men asking for world peace is the craziest thing; it just doesn't make sense. I love how he is calling this bullshit out. Only fools would justify themselves behind a social movement. 6. Reelin' in the Years: this breakup song has always been a fav of mine, very popular for reminiscing - not sure if people have this meaning in mind when it is played lol. The SOLO on this song is so smooth and incredible, it kinda reminds me of the ups and downs of a long-term love. I think this song is reflecting and accepting the ending of something that he put so much effort into trying to understand and work through. Love the guitar and upbeat drums. The guitar is the best on this album thus far, those solos leave NO crumbs. 7. Fire in the Hole: the beginning goes hard, the piano immediately draws me in. The lyrics are about the draft and how they both escaped it during the Vietnam War. There's nothing left to burn because they burned their draft cards, and nowhere to go since they are supposed to be serving in the military or arrested. Also, there's nothing left to burn because the destruction and suffering the U.S. put Vietnam through have been exhausted. The piano/drum break feels like being on the run. 8. Brooklyn (Owns the Charmer Under Me): this more bluesy/jazz energy keeps the flow. I wonder if this is touching on the gentrification of Brooklyn... Maybe not as in the 70s, it wasn't AS desirable as it is today. There was a lot of normalcy and culture in Brooklyn before it was fully torn down by the white man. Maybe Brooklyn had the same effect Harlem had on his inspiration/artistry. 9. Change of the Guard: the guitar is great, the drums build lots of anticipation. The lyrics are describing change and transformation, both internally and as a society. Also, how the different generations change the direction of the waves. There will always be massive change throughout the decades, and in my opinion, this emphasizes living it fully out and transforming yourself to reflect what you want from the world... Which would in turn change the guard. Change the pace and tempo up. The rhythm gets a bit faster as the song proceeds. 10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again: BASS. BASS! The bass and piano hit. I think this is about addiction, redemption, and regret. Morality is a theme here, too, possibly relating to the addiction - asking for another chance, a good man trying to redeem himself despite his criminal and destructive decisions. The yearning for change and growth. I love the chorus here, it is very catchy. This is a great end to the album. LOVE them chimes at the end.

It seems like nowadays listening to Steely Dan equals to having a bad taste. Not sure why. Probably because a random person online said something about it. Anyway, it's a nice album and very of its time.

Good shit, litt funky men på den gammeldagse måten, men hørres isje ud som dt e fra 70-tallet.

Like some others have said, I must be getting older since I'm enjoying this more. There's definitely an element of nostalgia since I often heard my dad playing this.

Great

Do you really want to listen to something like this? Well in this song Doing This Again there are beautiful instruments and the dynamics are good the drums are good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐. Do you want to listen to something that is chill and calming? Well in this song Something Dirty it's chill and calming it has nice instruments and all the instruments sound good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Do you really want to listen to some that has nice instrument's and is chill? Well in this song Realin' It In The Year's it has really nice instruments and it very chill and all the instrument's are good the dynamic's are good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

Do you want to listen to some music that some drums? Well in Do It Again You can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some guitar? Well in Dirty Work you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some guitar? Well in Reelin' in the years you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.

Why is there an undressed woman? "Do It Again" was good. The music was upbeat and the singing sounded good. But it's hard to understand what the singer is saying. "Dirty Work" was cool. The instrumentation was fun. I could hear and understand the lyrics. "Reeling In The Years" was also good. The singing sounded good because of the harmonies. The instrumentation was also cool. I would recommend this album.

the first song is good i like how the instruments sound and i remember hearing this song before in the past when my dad used to play it on the radio in his car, also i just like this song. the next song is also good there is not much to say about it i like the instruments. the last song is also good i like how the instruments sound especially at the beginning of the song. overall this is a really good album i would recommend.

some real bangers on this one 3.5

Hell yeah dude 4/5

OVERALL: I've heard of Steely Dan before, but I haven't heard any of their songs and thought they would be a lot more rock focused. This album is very easy to listen to, and sounds very nice. Great guitars and really good basslines, however the last 4 songs are all pretty boring and forgettable. Every single song has some sort of instrumental section done really well, and are enough to carry every song to at least a 7 (ignore the last song). If the last 4 songs were as good as the first 6, this would probably be a five. Also, I can't really find that much of a connection between the songs, so it's basically a bunch of singles that sound good. The instrumentals easily outclass the vocals and lyrics, the instrumentals are actually peak while the vocals can sometimes sound corny. SONG AVG: 8.125/10 PERSONAL RATING: 8.75/10 Do It Again: Very nice vibe, although the vocals are pretty weird. Pretty simple lyrics, but they're nice. The guitar solo goes so hard for no reason, genuinely one of the most impressive guitar solos I've heard so far. The other instruments are very nice as well, the electric piano is also pretty good. I don't know what else to say other than that it sounds really good. 9.5/10 Dirty Work: I love jazz. I love how it sounds, although the sax is a bit too loud. There's only like 2 verses not counting the chorus, and the lyrics are okay. Pretty catchy and really nice overall. 8.75/10 Kings: I feel like I'm really gonna like this album, especially if the instrumental breaks continue to be as good as they are so far. The instrumental isn't as good as the previous two, but it still sounds very good. The lyrics and vocals make this sound like a campfire song, which I don't really like, but the quality of everything else kinda cancels it out. 8/10 Midnite Cruiser: Another sick guitar solo. Everything else is very catchy, but overall pretty decent. The instrumental is really good but gets pretty repetitive. 8.25/10 Only a Fool Would Say That: It's just so good. The instrumental solo isn't as good, but is still pretty nice. Very good overall, although I guess it doesn't really have a standout part other than the short solo. 9/10 Reelin' in the Years: Incredible guitar, and the solo is really good. Combines the catchiness of the other songs with really good guitar work and instrument usage. The lyrics are pretty basic, but they work. The guitar elevates this song so much, absolutely incredible. 10/10 Fire in the Hole: lobotomy. I either really like this or find it to be okay. I like some of the weirder aspects of it, but the vocals are just kinda mid. The instrumental sounds pretty good I guess, so I'll give it something above average. 7.25/10 Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me): Sounds good, otherwise pretty standard with the rest of the album. Pretty forgettable. 7/10 Change of the Guard: Read the previous review. This is just that but with a better solo and a more interesting guitar. 7.5/10 Turn That Heartbeat Over Again: The chorus is nice, but everything else is pretty boring. Still sounds good. Did not need to be 5 minutes long. 6/10

Probably my least favorite SD album. 4 stars based on the handful of classics on this one.

It is a good album. Mom enjoyed singing it too.

Jamz

Classic 70’s rock album with an eclectic blend of jazz, blues, and pop

Smooth 👌

A few years ago Steely Dan went from cringe to awesome. Turning more into a dad cliché. (33 known/67 new)

It’s an ok album. Easy to listen to, I wouldn’t classify this as a must hear. Thats Aja.

Nostalgic value. Well composed album.

I had this on cassette, taped from my brother's CD back in high school, so it always holds a dear place in my heart. Dirty work is a jam.

goodgood

> The Beatles

Not a big Steely Dan fan but it has two strong singles.

A lot of pleasant songs

I'm so close to the end now, I figured I'd got through all 5 Steely Dan related albums. But wait, is it possible, we've saved the best till last? Do It Again is pretty ace, and that sitar solo is magnificent. Then, Dirty Work, which Spotify insisted on keep playing to me since I got some reason started randomly listening to Steely Dan albums three years ago - and I loved it. Reeling in the Years is also here, the reason I'd heard of them as a teenager when The Chart Show randomly played a video for no apparent reason in the 90s, which I had on a VHS back when I was making my own personally curated MTV of music on television. The descending chords of the verses and the complicated yet poppy solos caught my ear, and that's Steely Dan in a nutshell really, effortlessly complex playing while staying catchy and never really sounding wanky. Scrolling through my reviews, turns out I did actually like the follow up, then everything else is "ah yeah such and such sampled this" followed by a general shrug of the shoulders at everything else. Going to have to revisit Countdown to Ecstacy on the strength of that. EDIT: I did, and I agree with me, it was great again. This doesn't stay 5* throughout but what it does do is stay catchy, musically interesting and generally enjoyable. So, good for you Steely Dan, you made two great albums, and a sprinkling of great tracks through the rest of your career. Not many bands can say that if we are brutally honest.

Only reason this isn’t a 5 is because i gotta save my 5’s for the Goats But i love this shit and listen to it every time i golf or day drinkkk!!!!!

Well, I really like this much to my surprise tbh. Far better than the other offering I have had from them on here. I suspect I dislike them as they got more polished. Still not particularly memorable though

Soft rock? Yacht rock? Nah, I don’t hear it. What comes across instead is some surprisingly funky rhythms with complex yet accessible chord progressions. Throw in some tunes that talk about the grungy side of life and not typical pop topics, and I’m all in.

Seventies Rock / Modern Jazz fusion may not be my “go to” genre, but it’s hard not to enjoy this: good songs, and great musicianship. They find the zone in each song. Favorite deep cuts are “Kings” and “Change of the Guard.”

Album still slaps! For a bands first album it’s solid. Dirty work is a standout.

The yacht is rockin' ladies and gentlemen!

pretty solid rock, enjoyable to the ears Would I listen again: not actively Deserves to be on this list: probably 3.7

great album

Pretty solid with some hits

I was positively surprised

First time to listen to Steely Dan purposely. The only way to listen is in the backyard with the fire going. Perfection.

1. Do It Again - 8/10 2. Dirty Work - 9/10 3. Kings - 8.5/10 4. Midnite Cruiser - 9/10 5. Only A Fool Would Say That - 8.4/10 6. Reelin' In The Years - 8/10 7. Fire in the Hole - 8.2/10 8. Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) - 8/10 9. Change of the Guard - 8/10 10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - 8.5/10 8/10

Didn't know who steely Dan was, not sure I do now but the album was pretty good.

Wouldn't say there are any hidden gems beyond the hits, but it was mostly pleasant to listen to

The first few songs on the album were awesome!

This isn’t dad rock, this is grandpa rock. I have a love/hate relationship with some of the hits from Steely Dan. But I think after hearing this album I get why they were so popular and still are to a degree. Enjoyed more than I expected!

Once again not my favourite Dan album but every time I listen I find more stuff to enjoy, this time I was vibing a lot to Fire in the Hole. Highlight: Reelin in the Years (some genuinely excellent guitar work which you can forget when you hear the song 100 times)

Enjoyable album. Some great songs but occasional forgetable song.

Had no idea I would like this as much as I did. Great listen form start to finish and such a fun album! Side note - didn’t realise I knew so many Steely Dan songs.

I've never actually really LISTENED to Steely Dan. It's always been on in the background. This is a really good and interesting album. Do it again is a classic. King is also a really good track - you can really hear the bongo drums get to it. It has a good groove too. Midnight cruiser? Also an absolute banger which starts slow. Reelin in the years? That distroed guitar at the start? Amazing.

Pas de quoi déchirer sa chemise, mais une bonne musique de fond.

This album is so sick. Everyone knows Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin’ In The Years they are timeless classics. I think Kings is the under appreciated song of the album. Tracks 7-10 not as strong as the first six but still respectable