Reviews (page 8 of 15)
This is Steely Dan’s first album, which seems very polished for a debut. Steely Dan is one of those groups that sounds much better on headphones because of their sound mixing. Anyhow, I always enjoyed Steely Dan, although their later albums were better in my opinion. Still this was pretty good, good enough to bump to four stars.
Better than I expected! I don’t know why I don’t listen to Steely Dan more often.. I really like all of their stuff.
So far enjoyed this album the most. Never listened to steely dan before but could see myself listening to this later on too!
Honestly feel like I got this more than ever before! It rules! Maybe I’m cracking into my long-awaited Steely Dan phase
This is my fav band... their music makes so happy and makes me wanna move
no notes
Pet fav songs: The classics Do It Again; Dirty Work; Reelin' in the Years. This was an easy album to listen to. It seemed to breeze by. As a younger person I likely would not be so tolerant, but I'm middle aged and listening to aggressive music constantly is losing its appeal. Sometimes it's just nice to listen to a competently made album. It also reminds me of childhood radio listening because these songs were on a lot even 8 years after the album came out. Good times.
Enjoyable
Good old Steely Dan. I don't know their albums but it's great to listen to.
Studio craftmanship at its finest, almost a perfect record.
Good boomer rock. The highlights are the popular songs though, the rest of the album is good but not amazing. Still a solid 4
Really good debut from Steely Dan. This one competes with Aja for my favorite SD album. Cool easy listening/ jazz instrumentals, with awesome vocal performances. Every song here was at least a 3/5, most were 4/5, and at least 4 songs were 5/5. I will come back to this for sure.
7/10
As a dad who is nearing 40, I am contractually obligated to enjoy Steely Dan. In all seriousness, Steely Dan is always polished and listenable. Nothing ground breaking, but a good time to be had here.
After three steely Dan albums I really think there are few groups with the same level of detail in instrumentation that they have. I loved a lot of this, had some of the hits but felt like they took some songs off too.
Really liked a couple songs on here. Not my all time favorite but I enjoyed it
Very good Steely Dan
An exceptional debut. "Change of the Guard" is a standout but the whole album is quite enjoyable. "Reelin..." and "Do It Again" suffer some from overexposure. Signs of great things to come!
Some of Steely Dan's all-time bops plus a little filler. A solid record.
Don't
They put jazz chords in my pop rock?
джаз фанк рок 70-х, пара довольно хороших песен присутствует
Good listen.. Good album.
Dirty Work is such a banger. And Reelin' in the Years.... the rest were pretty dang enjoyable as well. But those two... genius.
Tunes
Realized while listening to this that I know a lot more steely dan than I realized Solid album, jams all around, light 4 from me
This album ruuuuuuuuuuules. This album is love making music. Even though the solos throughout the album are generally longer that most songs, they fit the vibe so well. I've listened to this album a number of times, so nothing was really surprising. Just a great 70s album. Struggling between a 4 and 5, but I think I'm landing on a strong 4. Besides the obvious great songs (Do it Again, Reelin in the Years, and Dirty Work), I really enjoyed Turn That Heartbeat Over Again and Kings. Thank God we didn't get another electronic album.
These songs are great, not a dud on this record. Close to a 5 on this, but this just isn’t what I’d reach for when I’m putting something on. With enough listens this’ll probably become a 5 for me. Strong 4
A couple of pass over tracks, but the rest are pure greatness. I knew a few tracks beforehand, but the rest were pleasant surprises.
[4]
++: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' In the Years, Fire in the Hole, Change of the Guard, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again +: Midnite Cruiser, Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) 9,1/10
4 solid stars. I’m stingy on giving 5 stars. On such a scale 5 stars is the hall of fame. As awesome of a debut as this album is on the remarkable 10 year arc of this band, I give it a 4. It’s a great album but not hall of fame which is Aja. In 1972 NOBODY sounded like this. They are true American originals. Superb smart songwriting, terrific musicianship and composition. A classic.
Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In the Years...all great songs. I needed the '70s vibe and to be transported to a slower time.
loved the shit out of this. jazz rock might be the best thing ever. First half is so good and then it starts to trail off a bit tbh. Great album regardless, its like a really high 8/10 like 8.99999/10
Loved it.
Timeless, will always be great
Obsessed.
Another steely Dan? This list needs more variety. I’ve listened to this album before, and listening to it again it’s clear it’s so much better than Aja. Some might say Aja is more evolved and sophisticated, but this has tight songs and communicative content. This being Steely Dan’s debut shows that they came in as great musicians and songwriters and then I guess they got bored. I think when they’re at their origins of cool jazzy light rock they make great music. I’m not a fan of the production, which sounds muted and thin, but the songs and musicianship is top notch. This is not really my kind of music but I really appreciate the lead guitar work so this is four stars but whatever I have given to Aja I’m taking it down a notch or two (I don’t see how I can edit reviews here so I’m not actually doing that but I should).
Quality Yacht Rock
This has grown on me. Lots of carefully constructed tracks with interesting guitar parts and a great warm sound. A bit like a more conventional Zappa, which makes sense as they’ve cited him as a big early influence.
This is more what i was expecting from Pretzel Logic. Such amazing pop music on this album. I'll definitely be listening to this again. I fell in love with "Dirty Work" a little while ago and this is just an album packed from start to finish with similar great works.
A fun listen and I'll revisit
Working my way through this list has finally made me appreciate Steely Dan. I resisted as long as possible, but the beer gut, cheesy puns, and cheap sunglasses are officially here to stay.
Major old man. Classic rock vibes but a pleasant album overall with a couple classics. Brings me back to the WZLX days
Liked it
I liked this the instrumental to Kings was very Zappa-esque which I respect
Not bad that, funky
Casual
Great!
86/100. Can't Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan is a great debut album that sets the stage for what’s to come from the band. With its jazz rock/pop rock blend, the record showcases strong storytelling and sophisticated musicianship. It’s an enjoyable listen throughout, offering a glimpse of the signature style they would refine in later albums.
Witty and audacious. Can't Buy A Thrill pieces together multiple genres to create an authentically unique sound. Becker and Fagen's songwriting is daring and flawless, Skunk Baxter and Denny Dias' guitarwork borders on the impossible. One of the best debut albums of all time. Best Tracks: - Do It Again - Dirty Work - Reelin' In The Years - Fire In The Hole Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 9/10
Dennis Dias didn’t have to go that hard with the electric sitar solo on “Do It Again,” but he did—and honestly, we’re all better off because of it. Can’t Buy a Thrill kicks off strong and rarely lets up. “Only a Fool Would Say That” was a surprise standout, and of course, “Reelin’ In The Years” is still an all-time banger with one of the best guitar solos of the '70s. Steely Dan really came out swinging with their debut—smooth, sharp, and way cooler than it has any right to be. Favorite song: Reelin In The Years
Замечательный альбом, поднял настроение на весь день)
This is great for the first 2/3rds and sorted if loses steam a bit at the end
Great album. Love this band.
What a debut. The first three Steely Dan records are pure magic. Listening to this music is always a real treat, like a pleasant day on the porch in the sun.
Greta debut. Really enjoyed that one.
for the production
I like the laid back, almost jazzy vibe of this. I think it would get boring if it were a long album but it doesn't outstay its welcome. Some cool guitar solos also. One I'll probably listen to again some time but not play repeatedly
real good. looks like I've found these guys a bit of a mixed bag but i might have to return to some of the others and check
groovy
top tier Steely Dan songs "Dirty Work," "Only A Fool Would Say That," and "Reelin' In the Years"
I liked this! Chill music. The guitar and the solos is not the best but the overall composition and vocals I like. And the piano is great!
Yeah dat was awesome
The best of the Steely Dan albums so far. I wasn’t such a fan of the others but this is the one that spoke to me. Do It Again is such a good opener.
Pretty great. Some of these songs are obviously classics of the genre, and even the weakest ones are still pretty good. It's definitely for the best that Fagen would take the reins on vocals in the future though, sometimes those other performances get a bit awkward.
this has more classics every time i come back to it. it’s a shame Skunk Baxter is the way that he is because my lord there are some Ripping Guitar Solos to be found on these tracks. blows my mind that this may not even crack my top 3 of theirs
really loved this! very funky and cool. i had definitely hear the jazz influences. not sure it’s something i’d listen to in my free time, but it was worth the listen
Хорошая музыка, забавно контрастирует с текстом. Один классный трек на альбоме есть!
4 чисто за midnite cruiser. А так просто добротный альбом
Can’t deny the technical wizardry this band always seems to convey. Nothin quite like them.
Enjoyed this soft pop Rick album. Favorite songs are… Do It Again, Reelin’ In The Years, Fire In The Hole.
Another album full of songs I knew but didn’t know where from. Wish I could give 4.5.
внезапно прослушано с большим удовольствием
decent?
Would rate this lower if it weren't the ur-album for the yacht rock genre. Lots of smooth hits that were the AM radio soundtrack of my 1970s youth.
This is like if Warren Zevon collaborate with Steve Miller band. The piano on "Reelin in the years" makes me feel like Zevon was sweating bullets as far as copyright laws were concerned. The singing on the verse also feel like something off of Zevon's self titled album. Also beautiful recorded, crazy clean considering it was recorded in the 70s. Overall incredibly enjoyable if you're a fan of that Steve Miller band sound. I mean it's Steely Dan. Also relatively short and sweet, didn't feel bloated, felt nice and clean
I was expecting some mid blowing prog that I'd think was earth shattering or shite. Instead I got MOR, but very good MOR. I probably will be back
Fun album with an energetic and creative vibe, not usually my style of music but I enjoyed this. Favorite song was: Reeling in the years 8/10
Man this is a really good album. "Dirty Work" is an amazing jam. "Midnite Cruiser" has a famous section that I recognized, and is also a great song. Nice guitar sections. "Only A Fool Would Say That" was the first song that bored me a little. Definitely not a bad song though. The second half of this album fell off a little for me. They're all great tracks but the sound starts to get too familiar, and not every song has the wow factor that most in the first half did. I still loved the album as a whole, great stuff. 8/10
Do it Again and Peg
What on earth do I do with Steely Dan? On one level, they're soft rock that would fit in a dentist's waiting room. On another, they're very good musicians and they incorporate a heavy avant garde influence into their songwriting. For the last two albums on this generator, I balanced these out and gave a respectable 3 stars. But Steely Dan is wearing me down and I fear that I'm slowly becoming a fan, despite my instincts that it's too Dad Rock for my taste. Maybe "Can't Buy a Thrill" is just that much better than the others. It's certainly a great debut album. The band has the complexity and polished sound of a group that's been together for years. But if I'm being honest with myself, I've had the creeping sense for a while that maybe Steely Dan is better than I want to admit. It's not a favorite but I can actually really enjoy them. Maybe one day I'll go back to give the other albums another chance. For now, I'm happy enough with "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and "Reelin in the Years". All great songs.
Some classic 70s tunes that are suuuper groovy, reminiscent of Santana at times - but with its own 'steely' sound. It's an album that more or less seems to define the career and works of Dan, and rightly so. It is an ALMOST perfect album in the framework of that genre and time. Really enjoyable, can't wait to be on a beach with a beer in hand whilst handling a Weber BBQ with these tunes on in the background. Love it!
I was surprised how much I liked this. (Tim called it "crazily catchy" and said he'd give it a 5 on vinyl but a 4 digital.) I'd happily listen again.
Groovy
4/5
4/5 Solid album
Steely Dan's mixture of poppy hooks and vocal melodies with interesting chord changes and quite technical instrumentation have always made them an interesting but easy going listen for me. Normally I find 70s soft rock pretty boring but they know how to keep my attention, it slips into my subconscious very easily There's some real highlights on here, like Reelin' in the Years (which is apparently a big hit but I don't think I had heard it until now), which reminds me a lot of Thin Lizzy. Brooklyn's country style lap steel twang also adds a nice bit of variety The album maybe limps over the line a little bit with Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, it's probably my least favourite on the album Highlights: Reelin' in the Years, Fire In The Hole, Midnite Cruiser
My parents turned me onto Steel Dan at a young age. This is a classic of theirs. I do not apologise. This was great.
Light. Listenable. Fun sounds and generally vibes
Cool cats splendid instrumentation I don't get the hate
Excited to listen to Midnite Cruiser in my midlife crisis convertible
My dad, with his uninspired music taste, really liked The Eagles, and my dad’s cooler friend Jim was really into Steely Dan. In retrospect, this makes a lot of sense. I’ve never listened to a ton of Steely Dan, but it reminds me of a superior version of The Eagles. I like it.
Now this is a fine example of great musicianship. Well executed and produced album, with nice themes. Easy to listen to, both casually and with close attention.
Steely Dan seem like the biggest dorks but I’m more endeared to them every time I listen to them Midnite Cruiser rips
Ну норм
Really was surprised how much I liked this. Dirty work is probably my favorite
Really good! Not my interest of choice though
I thought I would be bored by this but it was surprisingly solid
Really great album to have on in background (a little upbeat, but still chill)
Aantal bangers, lekker album. Laatste 4 nummers zijn wat minder dus hou het bij een lage 4*.
Pros: groundbreaking fusion of jazz, R&B, rock, and nihilism. And killer playing throughout. Denny Diaz omg. In addition: the hooks! And it all feels so casual and as if it were just there, all along. Con’s: some weaker songs in the back half. An amazing debut and a point toward the future.
Really enjoyed them!! Good music that I wouldn’t have picked out myself.
In my opinion, what makes this album stand out is the track order. From the slow and lounge-ish start towards the fast-paced and uplifting middle, and back to middle paced jazzy rhythms. Melodies, vocals, especially drum production and very clean and technical guitar solos, all combined into a more than enjoyable whole.
The godfathers of yacht rock. Not unpleasant.
3.6 I've generally liked what I've heard from Steely Dan on this list. This is no different, but I think suffers a bit more from being slightly dull compared to Aja + others. Some songs are instantly forgettable, whilst a few do stand out. Opener, Dirty work and Reelin particularly enjoyable. Some great songs to put on a 'best of' but not enough to make it a really great album. Sneaks into 4* territory by a whisker.
some instant bangers and others that could defo be growers!! really satisfying harmonies and catchy lyrics 8/9 out of 10
The ultimate dad rock jazz nerd classic rock album. These freakin nerds.
Dad music through and through. In a good way.
I guess I'm in my dad rock phase. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
- Neutral after first listen, but then it grew on me - Reelin’ In The Years is catchy, and Dirty Work too, and Do It Again
Two iconic songs, the rest I can listen to easily, if not more than once. If this had been one of the first albums on this list that I rated, I’d have given it a 3, maybe 2. But Ive listened, or not listened, to such much shit, that Im giving it a 4, just in protest.
7/10
Always thought that the guitar solo from Reelin in the years was epic and one of a kind. This was my mom's fav band and we lived on Steely Dan and spaghettios as kids. Silly me always thought Todd Rundgren sang Dirty Work.
Steely Dan is a sound engineers wet dream. Fantastic album, impeccable production. They did all those songs you know but don’t realize you know, and a few more.
Never listened to Steely Dan before, but i've been won over, love it, it's just a fun album to listen to, not to heavy to listen to.
I didn't know I knew so many of these songs. Good album.
I already reluctantly enjoyed Steely Dan more and more every year, but I just watched that Yacht Rock documentary on HBO the other day, so this is like cosmic timing. Now that I have a little more context, yeah. It's good. I don't have to like that I like it, but I like it.
Do It Again is a good song I'm familiar with. Only A Fool Would Say That is also good. Reelin' In The Years is a great song I'm familiar with. Fire In The Hole is good; kind of Elton John-like. Change Of The Guard is good and has one of the better guitar solos. Solid alt/rock album.
Man they seem like they’re having so much fun while performing with such ease. Call me aging, but Do It Again grows on me more and more as the years go by. I went into a convenience store yesterday and it was playing over the speaker, and my mood just got better instantly. Soft 4 here, great week for albums so far it’s been a 5, 4, and today a 4. We’re (I’m) 300 albums in and I don’t know if that’s happened much or at all!
As I enter full adulthood as a white man, universal law dictates I must like Steely Dan. This album is solid. The production and the guitar playing are especially great.
Great sounds. Listened three times. Some nice lyrics too. No examples at this time, I'm very tired.
they have a distinct suaveness to pair with their catchy melodies, this truly is an album with swagger
Nice! The best songs were Reelin' In The Years and Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.
A great album, thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish Time to listen to more steely Dan
This sounds like something The Dude would abide by. Now, just because it makes me feel like a cool stoner doesn't mean it's that good of an album. After all, 'Realing in the Years' is one of the single worst classic rock songs that actually got famous. However, if it's still fun to listen to, I don't see the issue.
Great while high. Really made me think about why weed was so popular and synonymous with hippies in the 60s and 70s. Really relaxing and fun to listen to while high!
Pretty good album had heard one or two of the songs before listening, enjoyed, would listen to again. Some nice chill vibes.
4 maybe 5
29/11/24 I enjoyed listening to this album.
Hell yeah
Very nice.
Very strong album, probably the Dan's best. High 4s
It’s not Aja, but the Steely debut has a lot of great qualities and a plethora of earworms. Things I like include the Latin drum groove intro to the album, the anthemic chorus line of Dirty Work, the jazzy breakdowns on Fire in the Hole, everything about Reelin’, the “oh Michael” hook that is kinda corny but just too catchy. It lacks a certain je ne sais quoi to be a 5 for me, but it’s a great album. Fave Tracks: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Reelin’ in the Years 4.4/5
Really enjoyed this , specially the first lesson was super fun … a lot off adds ,great guitar work and intriguing lyrics … enjoyed the jazz incorporation and clean polished sound , specially impressive for 1972… ultimately just short of a 5, as i felt the last couple of tracks were a letdown and the album sound as a whole lacks long term replay value ( but has great short term one) it’s a very strong 4
Enjoyable. A little bit hit and miss, but some good hits.
Some great hits, and while the rest of the album doesn't quite achieve the highs of the couple of hits, it's really solid and impressive as a debut album. I do think the Fagan vocals are better than Palmer's and I'm glad they shifted to Fagan for subsequent albums. The mix of latin, jazz, and rock comes across as relaxed and confident, and I enjoyed this album, although I only gave it 4 stars because of some of the weaker aspects of this album.
Not sure if I had ever listened to the entire album before. Classic 70s tunes...good stuff.
Did we have a different Steely Dan album already? Either way, I was surprised with the songs I was aware of but never knew it was from SD. This is pure 70s rock and I’m here for it. It’s still a band named after a dildo though right?
Did we have a different Steely Dan album already? Either way, I was surprised with the songs I was aware of but never knew it was from SD. This is pure 70s rock and I’m here for it. It’s still a band named after a dildo though right?
Steely Dan has been mixed into my PLaylist for a long time. I never really knew why. The name meant nothing to me. However, I had heard something about it in the back of my mind that I really liked. So now this album. And then it came back to me. There are some great pieces in there. The style doesn't quite suit my taste. But I always like to hear something from them. 4/5
Just hits!
Solid album wit some very recognizable hits. Well worth the listen.
Good good shit.
Rock n roll. S’écoute de bout en bout
I am not really sure how to take this album. For one, it is nothing what I expected. I was expecting a lot more traditional rock riffs. There was a nice mix of different styles. I definitely need to listen to more of their music
I was familiar with the hits from this album, so I didn't realize what a solid debut this is. Steely Dan has been memed a bit recently (is it the jazz rock?), so I was expecting something sillier. It's a good record boss. Also, the production and engineering sound fantastic. Highlights: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser, Reelin' In The Years, Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)
This was fun
Our lovable weirdos come out the gate fully baked.
I bloody love SD and this debut is great though far from the best. Strong
Is "Dirty Work" the best second song on an album? Ever? Find me a challenger.
Not my favorite Dan album but very solid
I do know of this artist and these songs. This is such classic, stoner rock. So good.
Enjoyed!
Heard this before but it's a pleasure to revisit, even just for the opening song.
So good I listened to it twice! I knew a few singles of theirs but had never listed to a full album. As if this was their first?! Love the mix of Latin, soft rock, white guy RnB, etc. One track even sounded like Thin Lizzy. I’ll be listening to more!
I love Steely Dan. We had one tape in the car with Steely Dan (and Deacon Blue) and it’s cemented in my brain. Really love these songs and this album had some absolute hits. I think there are better SD albums but this really is a fun one. I was surprised that this was 72. Sounds later to me.
As a kid I didn’t really enjoy listening to Steely Dan in the back seat during a car journey. But they really are a grower! Excelllwnt album. Great pop hits and class guitar work! Just a couple songs that I still struggle with at the end!
Thank you Jenny Lloyd for introducing me to this wonderful band a few years ago. Famously amazing sounding records, these guys really know how to produce an album. Best enjoyed on a good stereo or good headphones, they also sound great on a car stereo or a bluetooth speaker on Mersea Island, where i am currently residing with the family. So, I've grown to become a big fan of The Dan, I've seen Nearly Dan, a marvellous steely Dan cover band live, and it was one of the best live gigs I've been to. This is not my favourite album of theirs, Aja and Gaucho I prefer, as there are a few meh songs on there, despite it containing the biggest hits. Fire in the hole and Kings are not fantastic, so hence the 4*
Love this album. Hate the artwork.
More yacht rock. Great stuff really enjoyed it. Great songwriting great musicianship. It will always be “are you reeling in the yeast” to me though.
Infectiously groovy
3 absolute classics on this album. The rest of the album is good...not great.
There are several great songs on here, really good writing and a very nice vibe. Not many flat spots.
If all soft-rock albums were as good as this then I'd probably like the genre. They aren't and I don't. However, Steely Dan are definitely the masters of this type of music, and I don't have too much trouble listening to this. They are notorious for their meticulous production techniques and this really shines through on almost all of their albums, which helps.
Favourites- Do it again and reeling in the years. Easy to listen to. 3-4 stars
Kinda fun!
It's amazing to me that honestly every steely dan song I've ever heard before listening to this one album was on this album. I'm super interested now to listen to their other albums to hear what I've been missing.
Лаунж
Álbum de debut de uno de los grupos de rock más sofisticados y con personalidad más marcada de los años 70 y 80. Es también su disco más pop, con apenas incursiones en el jazz rock que caracterizará toda su obra. La canción inicial, "Do It Again" es magnífica, y en ella si se pueden apreciar ritmos de jazz latino. Es la canción que más me gusta del disco, pero también son remarcables "Reelin' in the Years" (con magníficas armonías de jazz) y la más pop, "Dirty Work".
My ex liked Steely Dan. I always thought they were dorky. It’s been 17 years now. I guess I can look past her love of them, but they’re still dorky.
I LOVED this! So fun and charming. Really reminded me of Billy Joel. Really glad to have found this one, definitely my favourite so far (except for Bowie of course).
Masterfully executed hybrid of rock and jazz with a 70’s flavor. Complicated chords and playing yet super accessible. Clever songwriting.
Very solid album, and a new one to me! First few tracks really good.
The guy in Turin suggested, the songs are very cool, do it again is a banger
Fire in the Hole is great. The piano...chef's kiss. Great album
Love it. Know almost every song.
The album cover makes me want to love this album enough I want the print of the cover on the wall at home. Lets see!! I have not heard much Steely Dan before but this album is a great introduction for me. It has some of their most popular hits and the rest of the album is really good too. The opening three tracks are really good and set the tone for the album. Favourite song: Do it again and reeling in the years. Least favourite: All tracks are great. Album artwork: I love the album cover.
Awesome!
5 star start, but 3 star finish
liked this a lot more than Aja
Cool funky rock. Nice guitars
This was better than the other Steely Dan album on the list. My favorite was “Dirty Work”
Great debut album with several classics, earning the one star bump.
This album challenge has made me realize I’m a big fan of Steely Dan! I love how his music feels nostalgic, but in the best way. 4.8 stars!
Some certified bangers on here, but it's not a 10/10 through the whole album.
I have never felt more 37-years-old than listening to Steely Dan and having the time of my life. I am a fully actualized middle-aged white man now.
This is the second Steely Dan album we've had in a couple of weeks and I continue to quite like it. There's a mixture of cynicism and prog rock musical theatrics that appeals to me. It sort of reminds me of late era "Bobby Brown Goes Down" Frank Zappa (which isn't my favourite Zappa era, to be fair.) Though unfavourably you could say it was "Yacht Rock" perhaps? I'd definitely have to be in the right mood for it. This album starts very strong with the first couple of songs, comes back with a couple more strong ones and then simmers down again. So about half great, half passable. I still can't find it strange that I like this... but I do!
More familiar than I realised and some good Marmite
I really liked it! There wasn’t any song that I particularly liked more than the other but I would certainly listen to it again and enjoy it
The band called their cover for The Royal Scam the ugliest album cover of the 70's except for this one. And this truly is an abomination. I think a lot of Steely Dan fans are not crazy about this album because it is the least Steely Dan-esque Steely Dan album, but I think it is pretty good. I love "Dirty Work" and the other hits are also strong. I think the band was still discovering what it was when this was recorded, but a lot of the elements that would make up peak Steely Dan were here. This is a good record.
An album which scored 6 X 4/5's, 2 X 3/5's and 2 5/5's from me. This is definitely one I'll be revisiting. Really enjoyable.
What a great listen. Strong start and continues through most of the album.
-he’ll yea I love Steely Dan! I’ve listened to a few songs from this album but not the whole thing. The jazz / big band influence is great and gives the whole album a really smooth and cohesive feel. Never a dull moment. 4.5 stars -Favorites are Do It Again, Only A Fool Would Say That, and Reelin’ In The Years
So sophisticated, but not as fully developed as the later albums. Wonderful songs, dynamic arrangements.
Great instrumentation, I feel like yes it’s a very 70s album it’s not something that I would hear everyday. There’s some albums from that decade that I feel that have a more timeless sound due the fact they are more acoustic… or have more aspect of ballad. Overall I feel that this a great project, a lot of folk, jazz, rock combined and again GREAT instrumentation on this record, very tropical summer vibes, I’ll definitely have to search more about but it’s a decent 8 for me, cause it lost me sometimes in some tracks (I usually prefer a more introspective album or more dark/ intense but I don’t mind that was fun and ver pleasant.
cool
"Only a Fool Would Say That" - Loved it & I'm NOT a big Steely Dan fan.
Steely Dan is definitely a niche band with a devoted fan base. I’m not one of them, but where some of their albums feel a little bloated, this album is more straightforward and accessible. Dirty Work and Midnite Cruiser are both great tunes that I wasn’t familiar with. And everyone has heard Reeling and Do it Again. As always, great players and instrumentation. Not a huge fan of some of the drab vocals but with much of Steely Dan’s discography, they’re secondary to the music and serve the songs well. Especially when there’s a strong chorus like several songs here.
Going with a decently solid 3.5 stars on this. For me, the three hits are far and away the standouts, especially the supremely cool "Do It Again". A pretty perfect recording, if you ask me. None of the other seven tracks come close to it, "Dirty Work", or "Reelin' in the Years" for me, though Skunk Baxter's work on "Kings" and "Change of the Guard" is particularly excellent. "Only a Fool Would Say That" and "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" are the only clunkers in my book, and even then, neither are offensively bad by any means. Just not my preferred style. 3.5/5
Overall a pretty solid album. Definitely is a little too heavy, but the music is good. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
nothing but hits on this one
Ancient people would have loved Steely Dan
Good
4/5
My dad was a dentist in the 1970s through the 1990s, so I think this record was obligatory for his work playlist. It’s like the background music to my childhood visits to his office. Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years are well-known classics, but my favorite song is Dirty Work. The rest of this album is actually decent too though. There's really no other band that sounds like Steely Dan. 3.5⭐️ (I’ll round up to 4 for rating)
fun!
The first song is one of the best songs ever.
Correct album in a positive vibe. First song has an amazing well known theme that is very pleasant to the ear.
I'll give it to 'em on this one. Hit city from Steely Dan here.
This is an excellent album. It has the huge hits Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years, but all the other tracks are strong as well. Steely Dan would go on to have a long career with other strong albums, but this one just might be my favorite of all of them.
“Can't Buy A Thrill” é como aqueles personagens de filmes do anos 70 que chega numa festa com uma jaqueta de veludo, um drink na mão, e o sorriso de quem sabe que o rolê vai ser cheio de surpresas. Esse álbum é um portal direto para a era em que bigodes volumosos e solos de guitarras eram reis, e tem refrões tão grudantes que poderiam facilmente ser a cola dos anos 70. As guitarras do álbum são crocantes e douradas, como batatas fritas acabadas de sair do óleo quente—impossível ouvir só uma vez. Você vai querer voltar e repetir, como aquele lanche da madrugada que bate diferente. Steely Dan faz um tour guiado pelo rock 'n roll com paradas estratégicas no soft rock e umas piscadelas para o rock psicodélico que parecem dizer: "Hey, a gente também sabe pirar, tá?". No geral, é um álbum que se ouve em um dia ensolarado: estiloso, leve, e te deixa com aquela vontade de cantar no meio da rua, sem se importar com o que os vizinhos vão pensar. Diversão garantida.
Not bad. A few songs I knew. Very 70’s folk style.
Good style and lyrics. I forgot that I liked their voices a lot. I would say I would listen to them again but I don’t know if I will
Very solid. An enjoyable album that I wouldn't mind if someone put on again. The lyrics are fun and interesting, the sound is great, harmonies are fantastic. The only thing I have (and it's kinda nitpicky) is that the songs kinda blend together to a degree but thats not too bad cause they sound good. Overall really solid album that sounded really nice.
their lyrics are really good-little bit of snark & sarcasm to keep me paying attention. not normally my style, but enjoy the arrangements & tempos.
Still surprised how many hits are on this album. I think it falla off a bit at the end but overall quality
Very enjoyable with good variety and some iconic songs. Never thought of myself as a Steely Dan fan but I added a couple of tracks to my playlist!
Fondly remember staring at this album cover in my dad's record collection as a kid. So many classic songs and a few lesser songs.
excellent
My parents loved Steely Dan and played them a lot as a kid. I can't help but associate it with my childhood, although I readily admit that it isn't to everybody's tastes.
70’s
I'm gonna go buy a yacht now
So good!
Wow holy shit!
This is pretty great
Solid album with a couple absolute classics
Steely fucking Dan.
Nice first album couple of classics and some nice jazzy bits
Fantastic album and a wonderful vibe. I knew quite a few songs on this album and it flowed together incredibly.
I did not imagine steely dan like this, but sounds like it contemporaries. Otherwise, well produced album.
Really enjoyed this. Do it again is a great track to start things off with, and this quality hardly diminished from there. They have their own sound and do it well. Yes I'd listen again and I'd buy it makes it a solid 4
it's literally steely dan, albeit one of their weaker albums. their sound here would later be chiseled into the gemstones that are aja and gaucho but thrill is still very good rock nonetheless. nothing experimental or offensive but just near-perfect execution of a classic style of rock. the pinnacle of easy listening rock. the only downside to this album is that i can't listen to aja while i'm listening to it. i prefer their smoother, funkier tracks, so the higher octane hits of thrill aren't my preferred brand of danrock. top 3 tracks: dirty work, kings, only a fool would say that
Back Jack do it again this Back Jack do it again this Man Shut the fuck up. (Great song) I will only raise time i will raise a drink to royalty is when all those pedos in Buckingham are taken to jail. Midnite Cruiser is definitely about soliciting men at a truck stop. Kinda zoned out to the rest of it but all sounds pretty good 4/5
I need this on vinyl. 4.2
This album goes hard
Good one. I knew several of these tracks but didn't realize they were by Steely Dan. I think I might like this album better than Aja.
Also a risible band. I’m not sure too many 17 year olds were into Steely Dan in the 70s. But any major dude will tell you this band has more musical competence than about anyone else out there. Great stuff for this dad rock fan.
Great - listenable album from start to finish with no real weak songs. Do It Again, Dirty Work and Reelin' In The Years particularly enjoyable from this album.
I don't wanna do your dirty work for you!
Ten songs - nearly all bangers. This slaps. Love you Mr. Dan - keep doing what you're doing. Best Track: Only a Fool Could Say That Worst Track: Fire in the Hole
Another classic album.
I recognized some songs! Do it again Reelin in the Years Dirty work All in all I enjoyed it. Steely Dan is a weird product of 70s rock.
Solid. Cool instrumentation. Catchy. Vibin.
There’s only been a handful of albums we’ve come across so far that have a stronger first two tracks than this one. Even though the rest of the songs, minus Reelin’ In The Years, are lesser known, I still thoroughly enjoyed this album from beginning to end. This would be a nine out of ten on a larger scale, but I feel like I need to round down for this one because of the lack of hits.
I had no idea that "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and "Reelin' In The Years" were all by the same band, much less off the same album! The rest of the album is just as good. Just not as well know.
Some classic songs.
Great band, great music. One of my favorite groups.
Really strong album overall with several classic hits.
These guys are great players and the overall production is sweet. A couple of big 70s hits on here as well. The cover really sucks.
First time I've had a second album from the same artist. Some really good tracks on here! Upbeat and well written. I liked it quite a lot, though slightly less than the previous one I was given, Pretzel Logic. Still very solid and enjoyable. Highlights: Do It Again Only A Fool Would Say That Reelin' In The Years Change Of The Guard
Very very good. 4.5
Solid album.
Interesante. Tienen buenas melodías y la mezcla de sonido queda genial. Lo único que puede no acabar de convencerme son las voces, el tipo de canto, pero la parte instrumental muy chula en ocasiones, con melodías y arreglos bastante guays.
Three absolute bangers on this and the rest ain't bad. Hard to fault
4+/5
Enjoyable soft rock on the surface, complex and sophisticated song crafting below. Steely Dan crushes it with this debut. Between a handful of classics, there's really not a bad song on the set. Uptempo, swaggy, LA vibes throughout. They have such a specific sound, even the songs I'm not familiar with would be easily recognizable as theirs, and they do it really well. I'm a sucker for good yacht rock and this is very strong.
What a debut album from these guys. So well done and skillful with the construction. Right out of the gate you get the complex master work "Do it Again" (listen the the Christian Hand breakdown) and then the softer, underrated "Dirty Work". Another underrated one is "Only a Fool." Side B is much weaker but does have another classic "Reelin in the Years." This one holds as their top album...3.9.
These guys stormed out of the gates. Solid album all the way through with a couple of all-timers that stand the test of time. There was a time in my life where Do It Again was my favorite song of all time. It's a worthy album anyway but that reason alone is enough for me to put it on any list. Keep bringing the Steely. 3.82 stars
Know these songs all too well. No idea why though? Country radio growing up? Triple M Sydney? All of the above? Nice to hear the rest of the album. See - all country needs is a bit of jazz thrown in.
Had heard both Do It Again & Reelin In The years before but for years I wouldnt listen to Steely Dan as they were dad music but now I'm in my 40s I can justify listening to them. This is a great album as most of their albums are it's non offensive rock with nice music and catchy tunes.
Alright, Steely Dan album #2! I really liked Aja, and I think Can't Buy a Thrill is pretty good too. I probably liked Aja a bit more, but this is still some good stuff. The blend of rock, pop, and jazz is probably the most defining aspect of Steely Dan's music. It might be a reason for why some people dislike them so much. The pop elements don't appeal to rock fans, the jazz elements don't appeal to pop fans, and the rock elements don't appeal to jazz fans. However, that blend also happens to be exactly why I do like them so much. The musical talent behind this band is just immense. Songs like "Reelin' In The Years" and "Do It Again" showcase this through things like cool guitar solos and interesting chords. The singing is nice, the sound is pleasant, and the album isn't too repetitive. This is just a very nice album that reaffirms my belief that the Steely Dan hatred is unwarranted. 4/5.
Favorite Tracks: Dirty Work Do It Again Reeling’ In The Years
This is an easy listen. One of my favorite albums from Steely. Although I know most songs on this album I have discovered new songs I love!
I’ve heard of this man before, might be a stand or something. Got some hot as sounding music. And I mean in a desert dying from the heat in Breathe of the wild desert. HEY ITS THE SONG FROM SOPRANOS!! But seriously Dirty Work is a banger. So many songs I’ve heard before, didn’t know it was by this guy. Real in’ in the Years. A TUNE. I’ve also just found out this was his debut I think so… Steely Dan came out swinging with some classic hits that live on. 8/10
Steely Dan's debut "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972) is a strong 4 out of 5 stars, introducing their distinctive jazz-rock fusion and clever songwriting. Hits like "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In The Years" showcase catchy melodies and polished production. The album's mix of accessible pop and complex arrangements appeals to both casual fans and music enthusiasts. While not flawless, it's an impressive start that hints at the band's future greatness. Standout tracks and witty lyrics make this a must-listen, even if it doesn't quite reach the perfection of later Steely Dan albums.
First time listen. I was afraid of certain types of dad rock, like for example Steely Dan, when I was younger, so I never got to sit down and listen to this. But this is really, really good - I am happy I listened to it, and I am going to return to this again!
I liked this album a lot. Great song writing, groovy jams without being overly droning. Good album.
i was already a fan of the song dirty work, so i was excited to hear this album. While it sometimes felt rather repetitive (it really only had one sound imo) i still enjoyed the sound it has
Great some fab tunes
Songs from every hip 70s movie you've ever seen
A classic for sure. Sounds great. Couple good hits. 4/5
More Steely Dan about a week after I got 'Aja' and discovered i really like that album. Turns out this one bangs pretty hard too. It's not as wild and jazzy as 'Aja' which is a bit of a shame, but it makes up for it with infectious hooks and smooth playing. Was enjoying myself for the whole runtime.
Not a bad song on this album. Of course it leads with "Do it Again" and includes "Reeling in the Years". I feel the overlooked song is "Dirty Work." Outstanding album;
Rad
Another very good Steely Dan album
No complaints here. This was nice. I feel like a middle aged white man.
Are those prostitutes on the cover? Is "Dirty Work" really a song about working girls? Or is it a song about a replacement vibrator sung by a band named after a vibrator? Either way, I love "Dirty Work" "Reelin' in the Years" and "Midnight Cruiser."
Nice easy listening pop - album
This album brings me back to my childhood!
If the first song on your debut record is "Do It Again", you know you're doing something right. Steely Dan flits the line between technically impressive, and having an understanding of writing a damn good pop song. The second half of the record is weaker than the first, but it's still solid, and it's difficult to truly shake the desire to purchase a yacht after this record. Favorite tracks: "Do It Again", "Reelin' In the Years", "Midnite Cruiser"
Solid
Steely Dan is the man.
Almost gave it a 5, this is some quintessential soft rock. I could listen to this album all day and not get tired. The guitar licks are awesome throughout, only reason this isn't a five is a few of the songs just aren't very memorable such as "kings", "brooklyn", "change of guard" and "turn heartbeat over" but these aren't bad songs at all just not as great as the rest.
https://youtu.be/DJ5xJH64BR4?feature=shared
A cracking 70’s rock album
Really enjoyed this actually! In a chill way, gave me heavy Thin lizzy vibes on a few songs but on "Reelin' In The Years" mainly!! :D
Quite enjoyable
Good, easy listening.
Solid album with a couple of bangers. Minimal filler. Worth another listen.
There are some bands that I just assume never had debut albums--they just exist (like Springsteen). Imagine my surprise that Steely Dan had a legit first album and it's great with lots of hits. Loved it!
Louter bangers
4/1001
Soft rock, easy listening. Stand-out: Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)
I think it's an almost perfect album for long car trips.
Another station wagon classic.
Three classic songs and the rest of the album didn’t fill me with rage, so maybe I’m grading on a curve now. I can’t tell.
Some good tunes. Could easily listen to again.
Groovey and entertaining.