Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Any Major Dude with half a heart will surely tell you that this album is pretty good. At 40 mins and 10 tracks, it doesn't overstay its welcome. The opener Do It Again, and track two Dirty Work are stand outs. I think this album could grow on me as time goes on, and I will revisit this one for sure. It's very very easy to listen to, some good choruses, very enjoyable. This album would be easier to rate out of 10 than out of 5. I'm between a very high three and scratching a FOUR. 7.75/10... does that mean 4?
I put off listening to this because I didn't think I would enjoy it, but actually it was pretty good! Solid dad rock. Maybe I'm a dad now?
All my homies love Steely Dan.
I liked it, but not loved it.
Solid Dad rock. I became a Steely Dan fan after listening to this album.
Good debut album that I own.
Really good!
I’m not usually a Steely Dan fan, but this album had too many bangers to deny. Really great album!
Despite using the stage name of Danni Steele with my old bands and in amateur theatre for many years, I’ve never really listened to Steely Dan. You’d think it was a reference to the band, wouldn’t you? It wasn’t. I just thought it sounded cool. Songs I already knew: Do It Again Favourites: Do It Again, Only A Fool Would Say That, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again I found this to be a lot more interesting that I expected. I didn’t realise that I knew any Steely Dan, but I immediately recognised Do It Again when it started. The music is close to jazz, but without all the weird parts and plenty of the pop sensibilities. There was a track (I forget which one) that sounded a little bossa-nova too. It was a quite dynamic album overall and made for a pleasurable listening experience.
Vraiment solide pour un premier album de band. Certainement mieux aimé qu'Aja. Peut-être une ou deux pièces qui m'ont un peu moins impressionné, mais généralement c'est un album avec un très beau son, des compositions intéressantes et une ambiance très agréable. 8/10
strong 7/light 8, white dad swaying with a cold one at the function music. Good listen
Dad rock but if it was performed in a cocktail lounge
I prefer Steely Dan’s more jazzy stuff, such as Aja, but this one’s good, too. ‘Do It Again’ is an absolute classic, and the other two hits, ‘Dirty Work’ and ‘Reelin’ in the Years’ are great, too. Some of the album is less memorable, though, and i don’t know why, but I really hate the song name ‘Brooklyn Owes the Charmer Under Me’. What? Anyway, good. Also the cover is really weird.
Reelin in the years… what a song. Steely Dan gets their first great album. I know that there’ll be some saying this is too slick. But Fagen and Becker are New Yorkers. New York is slick. And they record out of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is slick. You want a bit of rough, go to muscle shoals or stax in the south, or even get out of Manhattan or Bel Air and go to cbgbs. Sure, it’s middle class first world problems, but they deserve their own songs too. Particularly if they’re this well-crafted and played. The edges are hidden under the slick. But the edges are there. Fagan's lyrics are bitter, twisted and cynical. Under some great playing by the band. This is a great album. With better to come.
Among the weaker Steely Dan albums, but still a banger
Maybe the best Steely Dan record and certainly the easiest to listen to. Has a lot of their best songs. Sounded very odd following Method Man, but after a few listens I got into the mood. Would give this a 3.5 if the scale allowed for it, just never fully jived with Steely Dan, maybe it’s because I was never into coke?
Surprisingly good. I should come back.
Good stuff
listened to again this album is like a chicago hot dog
Actually pretty nice throughout! Point off for "Dad-Rockiness" in some spots though. It was interesting to listen to a full Steely Dan album. I also found out that there is no guy called Steely Dan! Some tracks were just "nice", they didn't really stick out, but they were definitely better than other stuff. Standout Tracks - Dirty Work - Kings - Midnite Cruiser Listened 5/28/23 11/1001
I’m reeling in the years alright
Able to finish so not bad.
funky defining album of perfect studio musicians
I was completely unaware that this was Steely Dan's debut, which makes the two singles from this album, "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In The Years" stand out even more to me. Steely Dan hit the floor running with this album, and if I had to choose one more track to highlight it would be "Kings".
Very nice instrumentals
1.) Do It Again: 7.8/10 Already technically listened to this album but I'll listen to it again. I prefer Steve Albini over Steely Dan but I still enjoy some good Steely Dan every now and then. Already pretty funky and groovy. Funk for music nerds/theory teachers. Nicely produced vocals ngl. Nice reverb to em 2.) Dirty Work: 6/10 Nice tender vocals as opposed to Fagen's very powerful vocals. 3.) Kings: 8.6/10 This is one of two songs on this album that I like actively listen to. I know Do It Again and Reelin in the Years because they're hits but this and Fire in the Hole are my two favorites off the record 4.) Midnite Cruiser: 7.4/10 Love the piano and guitar sounds already. Also love the word Felonious. It's too innately unserious to be taken seriously. 5.) Only A Fool Would Say That: 6/10 I looked up the Wikipedia Article for yacht rock and it said that the lyrics of yacht rock are often about sensitive heart broken men which often use the word fool as a prerogative. Fitting. 6.) Reelin in the Years: 7/10 This is the song everyone knows. Like everyone who has ever heard music or of Steely Dan has heard this song. 7.) Fire in the Hole: 9/10 I fucking love this song. This is definitely my favorite Steely Dan song. It's definitely the jazziest song on this record if not all of Steely Dan's discography. And also the piano solo fucking bangs. Very Thelonious Monk-esque in its early dissonance. Sounds like someone slamming on the keys the entire time and it's absolutely great. Not quite as chaotic as the actual Thelonious Monk but it's close enough for a Steely Dan record. 8.) Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me): 7.4/10 Got a nice vibe already. Relaxed but also jazzy which is nice. Nice chord changes too 9.) Change of the Guard: 6.2/10 10.) Turn That Heartbeat Over Again: 6.9/10
More enjoyable than i expected
Very good album. Lots of big hits plus a few surprises. Whole album was really solid and was filled with about half excellent and half pretty good songs. Rating: 4.3
Great album, love the guitars and the harmonies especially. Reelin', Only a Fool, Turn that Hearbeat, and Do it Again are the highlights. 4.5/5
Bonus points for all real instruments and heavy duty jazz influence. Super creative, not quite 5-star material, but almost. 4.5 stars.
Maybe just hit the vibe at that moment
Is it familiarity, or are some of these songs really good? In the 70s and 80s, you listened to a lot of radio, which doesn't really give you a choice, unless you tried your hand at calling the radio station and asking them to play a song... Can you play "Sweet Caroline" and dedicate it to my girlfriend Caroline? Or if someone wasn't your girlfriend, you'd request, "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw". You get the drill. This album is rich in hits.
Fantastic. Dirty Work is my favorite, though there are lots of standouts, and nearly everything is very easy to enjoy. Polished and melodic.
This one was so much more fun than I expected. Light poppy and very 70s, reminds me of Paul McCartney and Paul Simon. Always thought steely Dan was like a rock band.
Ah ouaiiiiis, ça commence bien. La mélodie est clairement le highlight de l’album. En résumé: très chill, si cette album était une chaise, ce serait un futon bien mou don’t t’as pas trop envie de te lever.
p257. 1972. 4 stars. The only Steely Dan album you need. Standout tunes and quality musicianship, and it only occasionally strays into the jazz/rock wankage that they eventually succumbed to. All that is missing is a sense of excitement.
Some of the vocals are very mid 70s but in a good way. I liked "Dirty Work".
4/5 Very good.
очень софтово, приятно, лампово все звучит. Гуляешь летом под солнышком + этот альбом = кайфовое настроение
0 информации о группе и бах: у них 200+ миллионов прослушиваний на самом популярном треке (который к тому же с этого альбома). Альбом светлый по настроению, и судя по текстам - это такой "фотоальбом" с приятными впечатлениями под легкую мажорную ненавязчивую музычку. Может настроение такое, но вообще... альбом мне прям зашёл. В некоторых местах треки слегка перетянуты по длительности ненужными повторениями, но в целом оно звучит прям хорошо. Не идеально, но хорошо. P.S. Название переводится как "нельзя купить острые ощущения": No drugs или что?))
Кайфовый саундтрек для прогулочки
I recognized the first song and was surprised how much I enjoyed the rest of the album. I guess I'm old now. It's like if you took The Eagles and actually made them good and not boring. This is a solid rock album. The piano in Fire In The Hole is fantastic. I was going to give this a 4, but know this is a debut album makes it creep up to a 5.
For a long time I did not like Steely Dan. Big fan now, but this album is low on the list. Pales in comparison to much of their other work.
Chill 70s Dad Rock. The first two songs are my favorites, and I learned they sing Reelin' In The Years. I dig it.
7.5/10. classic for a reason. esta medio (muy) quemado pero es bueno de principio a fin y varia mas de lo q uno esperaria de cancion a cancion.
Meest bekende album van Steely Dan, met o.a. "Do It Again" en"Reelin' In The Years". Mengeling van jazzrock, folk en pop. Lekker album, kan goed naar geluisterd worden. leukste nummer: Do It Again Op de albumhoes staan de hoeren van het red light district van Rouen, een referentie naar de album titel afkomstig uit een Bob Dylan nummer (het zou ook weer niet).
steely dan the steely man
8/10 steely dan make me feel a type of way. not an everyday type of way tho. still very essential 2 me
Usually like modern stuff but overall is a good album. fucking with all the chill songs and even the upbeat ones i can get into if i wanted. Good for like old songs or even just a normal playlist tbh. give it like a 8 or 9 out of 10 ibr
Very pleasantly surprised, had never listened to a Steely Dan track before, but this was great! Personal highlights were ‘Reelin in the years’, ‘Do it Again’, and ‘Midnite Cruiser’. Very catchy album and little to no filler songs
Good jam! Didn’t realize songs I like are by him. Solid hits.
Listened through to it twice and really enjoyed it. I’ve heard a few of these before and they just put me in a good mood. A real 70’s experience
1970s rock hits a bit differently, it is admittedly the best era of the genre. So much competition out there, that to stand out, and to stand the test of time, makes the case for the listening requirement before death. The album is a feel good experience, the kind that makes you want to spend the day in a garage with cold drinks, work on the car, smoke something, etc. There's something really Americana about the whole thing, the sense of freedom, that everything will be fine even when it is not (it was the 70s after all). Maybe it is just that the album was so upbeat without betraying some sense of reality.
interesting 70s song. very good i enjoyed it a lot
There were songs i love that i didnt even know were on this album. Love it
Good 70s rock, I really like that most, if not all, songs were upbeat and easy to bop to
Second favorite steely dan album
With an obligatory shout-out to the Yokohama Rubber Company, I will admit that Steely Dan is a band that I admire more than I enjoy. For me, a little goes a long way, perhaps driven by the overplay of so many of their tracks on a lot of the playlists where I've been delving recently. So a number of the less-familiar songs tended to fade into the background while I was trying to listen, and made it harder to judge each on their own merit. So I made myself give it a second, more active re-listen. Each song is crafted expertly, wonderful production and brilliant musicianship. Maybe that's why it's so exhausting - they stand tall among any of their peers in yacht rock, but the peaks are harder to see against the other peaks of this album (I expect to find the same thing on Aja when I come to it). This is another album which makes me with this exercise ranked on a scale of 1-10 rather than 1-5, since I'd love to give it 9 stars. It's a great album, but it rarely excited me - its sense of cool leaves me a little cold.
I really dig this album. Full of classics from Steely Dan, and the production quality, is, of course incredible.
Bangers & Mash
This a fantastic and fun album. Production, instrumentation, and so on were beautiful. Didn’t get as repetitive as I thought it would, but it’s still not incredibly exciting. 4/5
Dang these are songs I've heard probably hundreds of times but didn't know it was all on one album. Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin In The Years. Crazy production value and just a good solid listen from front to back. I need to keep an eye out for this one on vinyl
I feel like this album isn’t getting enough credit from the rest of y’all. Their first album release and they got three top hits from it? That’s damn impressive. Not to mention, it was one of the fringe era bands, still experimenting with the rock sound and making it their own. I think they did a fantastic job with this album and it deserves a ton of praise. Not the best of the best, but I did like it more than I ever remembered.
The hits pushed it forward a notch
"You've been telling me you're a genius since you were seventeen. In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean." Such a great line. A great debut album with some classic songs. Steely Dan really created a sound that was all their own. 4 stars.
The singles are undeniable. The rest is hit and miss. It might be shrugged off as inoffensive -- or even cheesy -- lounge rock by those less prone to letting their musical guards down, but there's a lot to groove to here.
Love the laid back vibe of Steely Dan. This isn't their best but still has a couple of hits and after all was their first album so they were feeling their way.
Great album, Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years have all stood the test of time if you ask me. I like Steely Dan. I like their brand of rock, I think they showcase a variety of songs, they're talented musicians, and none of their songs just repeat the same stuff without any variation in phrasing or melody. A 4.5
notes - steely dan was my day 1! - debut album - couple of their biggest hits on here - great chord changes, guitar solos, harmonies - all steely dan staples - a bit more rock-oriented than the other album i reviewed - drums sound great! fav - reelin in the years - unforgettable chorus and great solos least fav - brooklyn - pretty meh, not super memorable 4/5 liked it more than pretzel logic
Now that's some dad rock! I liked the first half and the percussion especially, and my top pick is 'Midnite Cruiser'.
I love Steely Dan and have listened to this album a bunch of times
This album may not be the most hard rocking but it still rocks in its own way. The catchy Melodies and choruses make this a great album. Add in some jazzy sax and some smooth guitar playing and you have a great album. Hard to say if this is their best album, I know Aja is very well liked as well but this was first. Either way Steely Dan is essential dad rock and I’m only getting older. 8.5/10
Un descobriment agradable. Rock, jazz, r&b... Em fa gràcia que amb el temps deixessin de tocar en directe i es centressin només en grabar a l'estudi.
Ok, my friend is obsessed with steely dan & I've always maintained that I've never heard them, but when I started this record I recognized almost every song. Good shit.
I love listening to an album I've never heard before, but then recognizing 4-5 songs off of it and just not knowing who the band was who sung them. Another great old album to come back to.
A delightful listen. The substance, craft and attention to detail make it hard to believe that it's a debut.
much better than Aja in that it has some interesting songs with good melodies, and invents Thin Lizzy along the way. Still quite bland and cheesy but also very enjoyable
as my flatemate Brendan points out, the lyrics are cheesy but the instrumentals are too good
This band is polarizing. On one hand, there's a distinct sound, and some songs that really pop. On the other hand, I can only take so much of their sound. Aja was decent, and this one is decent too, but there's something about the that keeps me at arm's length. This album feels less confined than Aja though, but I just can't give them 5 stars even though I enjoy a lot of what's presented here.
Really great album. Great riffs, lyrics and singing. Still paying my penance for decades of not being able to appreciate the music they composed. Great album.
Apex level smooth
I have listened to some select songs from this album before, maybe all of it. Pretty chill album! Added a few of them to my very cool playlist B)))
This is pretty solid. I'm not really a big fan of Steely Dan by any means but I found myself really respecting this album. There's some staples of 70's rock found here. A 3.5 for me.
Some classic songs on this, a debut album. Classy as well as classic. Great stuff
4.75
Okayish
Hell of a debut.
very good, would give 4.5
I did not think I'd like this as much as I did. Solid from start to finish.
Copying and pasting my thoughts from a different listening group having this a week ago: Great grooves 4/5
Another solid album. I love the hits on this album but it felt less cohesive overall than pretzel logic.
Imagine the lead-off track of your debut album being "Do It Again"! The future would look promising. The other massive hit, "Reeling in the Years" I've never been crazy about, but that's because it sounds very un-Steely Dan like, with the rockin' guitar. It reminds me more of a one-hit wonder. Listening to it now, the verses and clever lyrics are still true-to-form. It's interesting that some lead vocals were handled by David Palmer, another curve ball. The rest of the album is still predictable, meaning predictably good, with the above mentioned clever lyrics, catchy choruses and horns. As they progressed they tightened up the sound and showed their jazz routes.
This is a pretty damned good debut album, their top notch song writing skills and musicianship are highly evident here, American easy listening Dad rock at its finest. Their later albums are great also, particularly Royal Scam, Katy Lied and Aja, but this is right up there. It lags a tiny bit for a few songs, eg Change of the guard, Midnite Cruiser and Brooklyn (where Hodder and Palmer do lead vocals instead of Fagen). Also an album of this calibre deserves a much better album cover. Hell even Fagen and Becker called it one of “ the most hideous album cover of the 70’s. But overall this is a strong 4.
I thought I'd like to focus on just one song, Reelin in the Years. Consider a song that really sounds like it was written on, and for, piano. But it starts with a guitar solo?! and the piano just drops out entirely in sections. The vocals are free and "lyrical," with complex and melsimatic harmony. Totally emblematic of a true group effort, not the product of one single creative force. The drums are a little formulaic, but all the other elements on this album are top notch.
Some really great straight up rock songs on this, fun album to listen to but I prefer the later material.
Quality record with tight musicianship and good lyrics.
Solid start. Recognized more songs on this then I expected to. Good listen all the way through. Less jazzy then some of the other Steely Dan records I've listened to.
Incredible debut album. Such classic rock tunes with that nostalgic feel to them. Reeling in the years one of my favorites of all time.
An album I own and have listened to many times. I’m definitely in the pro Steely Dan camp, although I know they don’t do it for everyone. To me this is an outstanding debut. I still love the riffs of Reeling in the Years, even though I’ve heard that song countless times. More recently I’ve become more aware and more awes by the ridiculous guitar solo in Do It Again. Just insane. While the album may not be the complete package that Fagen and Becker would produce later on, the seeds are all planted in this first full album. Funky jazzy riffs, nods to important influences, and cryptic, somewhat darkly themed lyrics. The experiment with David Palmer as vocalist wasn’t a complete failure, but it’s true that his interpretation (based on a tv appearance I saw) lacks the wit and sarcasm that Fagen’s has. So here we have a great start for one of the all-time great powerhouses of 70’s rock and popular music.
The 3rd of 4 (FOUR!!!) Steely Dan albums. This is the one I knew about the most and it's the one I actually enjoy. It's varied enough compared to the other albums it felt like they were actually taking risks before they became bland.
Love the Dan.
great grooves.
great album. one of the first Steely Dan albums I listened to and own. These guys were perfectionist for sure. whole album was put together very well.
This was great! steely Dan has popped up before and I felt like I didn't know it but I knew some of these ones. They were really well put together songs, feel good folky rock goodness. Need to look into Steely Dan to find out more
YOU JUST CAN'T SAY NO TO DAN AND THE STEELYS
Fun and Groovy. Recognized a few songs that I didn't realize were Steely Dan
Makes me feel middle-aged, but in a cool way. I think I like this slightly more than Aja, but still prefer Pretzel Logic although I gotta say that "Do It Again" might be the best Steely Dan song I've heard so far. Album cover is a big "graphic design is my passion" moment.
It's a quick shot, barely ten seconds. "I'm a fool-to-dooo your-dir-ty work, oh yeaaaaah! I don't want-to-dooo your dirty-work, no mo-o-ore." It's nighttime, the radio plays an old Steely Dan hit, and Tony Soprano is singing at the wheel as he drives somewhere. The endearing yet sociopathic mob boss has the same bored, weary eyes as ever, but that scene is probably the closest thing in the whole series to a moment showing him having the time of his life. Tony knows them oldies-but-goldies standards. And he knows it's always deeply pleasurable to sing along to one of those as they pop up between Journey and Cream on the car's radio. Such are the simple kicks most of the great tracks of this album can give any listener interested in early-seventies rock music--even though the Dan had tried to go against the grain from the get-go. Sure, the whole thing may sound a little trite or quaint today, in 2022, but there also lie some of its charms. For those who are not in the known, Steely Dan then went on to create far more intricate songs, at least when it comes to their chord successions and other jazz-inspired shenanigans. Hardcore fans of the band will surely tell you that's when they put out their best albums--with haughty *Aja* reigning above all of them from its high throne. Frankly, I'm not always convinced by this take... Because when it comes to Steely Dan, the line between sophistication and convoluted overthinking has always seemed very thin, in my opinion, and this starting with everything that followed *Countdown To Ecstasy*. Comparatively, what *Can Buy A Thrill* can offer you is the best of both worlds: catchy songs such as "Reelin' In The Years" or "Do It Again" AND incredibly effective arrangements. I fear that after *Pretzel Logic*, catchiness just gave way to something far less dynamic, enhancing the quaint nature of the band's ideas until the latter became totally cheesy or strangely remote. In other words, arrangements and musical prowess can't do everything on their own in that sort of soft-rock genre. You need the tunes you can whistle under the shower, man. But maybe my ears are faulty here. And what I've said up ere is not even a claim I would make for other sorts of rock, indie-rock, or electronic acts. So who knows what I got right or wrong, huh? Another way to say I dread the day I will have to review *Aja*... In the meantime, it's *Can't Buy A Thrill* I have to review, and it's all fine, man. I can pretend I am Tony Soprano singing along to it at the wheel, and everything is peachy. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 813 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 101 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 46 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 41
4.5
F**k. I actually liked this album. What has become of me? Actually, this was very solid. Do it again, reeling, quite a lot of crafted pop.
Easy listening. Amazing musicianship, these guys can flat out play. Surprisingly deep lyrics and themes. I had heard all the hits on the radio and knew they were very talented musicians, but I was never into it enough to actually listen. I have a new appreciation for Steely Dan.
Really good. Do it Again being an absolute highlight. One of the smoothest albums I have listened to, it's just a shame it couldn't keep up the energy of Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years. Most other songs on the album kinda disappeared after I listened to them. 4/5
Mér finnst þetta ekki vera neitt meistaraverk, en ég hef ansi stóran veikan blett fyrir svona jazzskotnu áttunda tugar softrokki. Fjórar stjörnur.
Very nice and chill melodies, especially in the first half of the album.
Solid, fun, rock, no statements, no politics, just rock n roll and it was good
Steely dan, a classic, "Only a Food Would Say That" probs the highlihgt.
this album provided such nice easy listening! it was so smooth. i can hear some yacht rock tendencies in here. it wasn't quite full yacht rock yet and it falls out of the year range, but its soft rock genre is right there. there were some jazzy aspects, too--the sax and horn! (evidently the flugelhorn?!) the sitar on "do it again," which i never noticed before and enjoy very much, is very indicative of the year 1972. i've listened to aja as part of this project, and i can see the evolution between can't buy a thrill and aja. the choruses are still catchy (the chorus of "dirty work" has been permanently stuck in my head for the last 24 hours). the beginnings of incorporating jazz into their music began in can't buy a thrill and jazz is much more prominent in aja.
This album was an excellent listen! I was familiar with a couple of the more iconic songs, but I've definitely been sleeping on Steely Dan overall, as both albums of theirs on this project have been outstanding. It was perfect for active, engaged listening as well as great music to work to. I listened through three times! Steely Dan comes out of the gate with their first album, immediately laying down iconic songs such as "Reelin' in the Years" and "Do It Again". The entire album is full of great vocal work and harmony, as well as exciting and unique guitar and instrumentation work. They do that 70s soft rock sound soooo well, and it's impressive that they got it so very right and left such a mark with their first album. An outstanding debut, for sure; really, there wasn't a bad song on the album.
A great rock album with some classic 70s songs like reeling in the year. I liked it but I didn’t have anything special going for it in my opinion.
Dobar album, nekakav ljetni štih i taman sam na moru pa je dobar tajming. 3.5/5 - RYM, a ovdje - 4.
One of those amazing debut albums - I can't imagine how it would have sounded when it was first released!
guitar hero songs represent. do it again. this song is hard to play on guitar hero, i don't think i've beat it on expert. what genre are they? i also feel like i've gotten a couple of albums from the 70's so far. dude i actually already love the song dirty work and i didn't know it was them. nice. I like reelin in the years. This was a good album I liked it more than I thought I would. unclear on what this bands reputation is generally but I enjoyed it. 4
Pretty good. Classic radio hits, some jazzy EZ listening sort of stuff.
All the Steely Dan trademarks are here - the slick production, the smooth tunes, those smart vocals. I don’t know what it is that elevates Steely Dan from being corny but there is something inspired about the way they do their thing.
Do it again is a classic as is Dirty Work. I love this album!!
There are more great songs on here than I expected. Solid album with smash hits.
One thing this app has done has been to force me to listen to a few Steely Dan albums, and it's actually been pretty fun. I know them mostly from classic rock stations and movie soundtracks, and to hear whole albums has been a good way to show me that I actually generally like the band and can listen to them for some time without getting bored. They require a certain mood and maybe aren't the hipster's choice, but hey, I feel ok liking them.
I’m a Steely Dan fan and I love this album, one of the beloved cassette acquisitions of my youth. Still I waiver between masterpiece and merely great, though I’m not sure why: every song is solid, there’s no real filler. But there are higher heights to come.
Great Album
Steely Dan, particularly in the year 2022. has cemented themselves as the pop-jazz-rock masters. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are the obvious rocks for this band, but I must also give a well-deserved credit to producer Gary Katz, who serves as an unofficial member of the band in a way. It is especially impressive that these singles have stood the test of time, having heard Do It Again, Reelin' In the Years, and Dirty Work prior. Really every song on here is a solid piece of work. Whole album is tight: 5 great songs on side A, 5 more on side B, clocking in 40 minutes total. Perfect blend of jazz and rock to make it pop without watering down anything. They're just damn fine songs; a pinnacle of quality.
I know Steely Dan is one of the most influential bands of the 1970s but I’ve never actually sat down to listen to an album of theirs. I was impressed. This album features a great blend of jazz and rock with interesting lyrics. The musicianship is top notch and the songwriting was very tight. I was blown away by some of the guitar work and with the complexity of the music in general. There were a few songs that didn’t resonate with me, but overall, this is a phenomenal debut
baita som, agradável o rockzinho
Great album in the 70’s…. Easy listening
A few classics in here that I've heard before like Do It Again. Steely sounds a bit like Thin Lizzy too which isn't a bad thing. Reelin In The Years felt like that opening but then getting to the chorus this is one of those songs I've heard a ton but never knew it was this song. Great album to kickstart the week!
Oh, here we go. I know the last Steely Dan album was alright, but this one is vibrant and has a lot of hits that I love (and didn't realize were by Steely Dan). I know these guys for making esoteric rock that only a select few weird uncles are into, but I guess at the time of their debut they had other plans. This sound, this style, works a lot better for me and there's plenty on here to enjoy, including the more instrumental-heavy tracks. I really dig this one. Favorite tracks: Reelin' in the Years, Do It Again, Fire in the Hole, Dirty Work. Album art: Haven't seen this one before but I adore it. Colors out the wazoo, loving the pop art style. The shirtless guy standing there for no reason?? The wacky cartoon fonts? I'm all about this. 4/5
The first album from the soon to be kings of sophisticated rock music. While it's not a wholly Donald Fagen sing-along (some of the vocals are done by other singers), it obtains characteristics that would soon define the Dan as a polarizing band in the decades to come. One shouldn't look at this album and steer clear, it's still worth a listen; just know that the best is yet to come. Favorites: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' in the Years, Changing of the Guard, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.
“Do It Again” is a great song to vibe to, got a cool sitar solo; I’ve heard it before somewhere. Cynical message on the inability to give up vice. “Dirty Work” has a sort of soulful feel, quick sax solo reenforces this feel; again a song about the inability to quit something, this time a woman. “Kings” has a really catchy piano/guitar riff, has a slight soul feel as well. Theme of futility shows up again, this time in the idolatry of a powerful man (government?) that gives nothing in return. Instrumental solo stands in contrast to the rest of the song as frantic, disorienting. “Midnite Cruiser” has a vibe of late night music (it’s in the title), but the vocals (different singer) doesn’t quite fit the vibe. Still solid though, theme of lamentation is a little bit different from the past songs. “Only a Fool Would Say That” has the mambo feel that “Do It Again” has, possesses critical lyrics about naïveté with a slightly upbeat tone than the content would suggest, but the futileness is evident. “Reelin’ in the Years” has a really good guitar intro and solo. Upbeat song but with not upbeat lyrics about a toxic and belittling relationship. “Fire in the Hole” has a fierce piano instrumental that conveys the defiance of the singer well. Sick piano solo as well. Criticism against the draft and blind patriotism/order-following surrounding Vietnam is in line with political themes in “Kings” and “Only a Fool Would Say That.” “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)” has a lounge vibe to it, one of the slower songs on the album. Content/themes aren’t as pronounced as on some of the other songs. “Change of the Guard” has an upbeat sound that actually has some upbeat lyrics with it. Either the lyrics are hopeful for the new generation, or it’s ironic. Same with the messaging on adaptation. Pretty bruising guitar solo along with it. “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” seems to tell the story of crime and the disconnect between the criminal about the negative impact of his actions. Maybe more futility in there with the criminal trying to convince himself he’s not to blame for his actions. Slower song, instrumental isn’t as noticeable as other songs’ instrumentals. Overall a pretty good album. I definitely preferred the front half of the album in a musical sense. Lyrically and thematically, the front half of the album was clearer, but themes persisted throughout the second half.
This has some seriously good bops
Listening to Steely Dan is really difficult because every 30 seconds I have to repress a primal urge to scream 'this groove is so fucking tight' Anyway this has some massive bangers but also not quite their best. Good vibes though
Never heard the album before, just a couple of the radio hits. Enjoyed it, overall. The songwriting and musical complexity all to the good that came to be known as the "Steely Dan Sound" were there from the jump, and in an advanced state too. Fav songs were Do It Again, Dirty Work, Midnight Cruiser, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' in the Years, and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me).
Another great great album. Flawless production and simply so east to listen to and enjoy. I am loving the exposure this list has given me to Steely Dan.
Entertaining album, very easy listening, whats not to like about catchy pop/rock songs with some jazz influences
Like"a rock"n roll
Un groupe ayant en main les ingrédients du prog mais qui choisit de les mettre au service d'une pop ouvragée. L'attention portée à la richesse des textures sonores et de l'enregistrement sont évidentes. Un album qui pave la voie à une certaine "pop intello". On sent quand même l'époque, par exemple dans les choeurs à la CSN&Y dans les refrains.
Good stuff and bad stuff and amazing stuff. Very familiar having a father like mine
Surprisingly good - never listened to the whole album before - very much of its time but gentle on the ear with some truly stand out tracks.
Fængende poprock, opløftende, groovy, kor, lækre soloer
An incredibly solid dad-jazz rock album by a group incapable of paring down their musical whims
Fínasta debut. Steely Dan er mjög svo næs.
Definitely a fun listen. I will need to come back to it since I didn’t listen too closely, but I’m excited to return to it nonetheless. 7/10
What’s not to like?
I do like hearing these albums from artists that are now considered a bit cheesy, back before they were officially cheesy, and doing things just as they wanted to, without irony.
Surprised how many songs I knew on this album. Just a good rack n roll album.
There's been a bit of a reevaluation of Steely Dan, once maligned for being incredibly uncool, now have younger music fans into them. And I can see why, this is a really good listen. Really slick sounding, listenable pop sensibility, gorgeous vocals, not really any songs I wasn't too keen on. Sunglasses emoji as a band. :cool:
So many great songs on this album. 4.5/5 stars
Some catchy rock tunes mixed with a salsa-vibe (a bit reminiscent of Sympathy for the Devil) - and Steely Dan knows how to write catchy choruses!
Really enjoyed it, there's some classics on here that are excellent. I think Aja was a bit more consistent though.
Groovy man
Good
Realised I really like a few songs on this album.
Can’t buy a thrill was a very interesting album. I had never heard all but one song, reelin’ in the years. Most of the songs were very well written and keep you engaged. One of the main pros of this album is it’s only 40 minutes which leaves you wanting more. Not wishing it was shorter
Pretty good album. Had a few of the hit, though not quite as jazzy-prog as I like my Dan.
First time I've actually dove into some Steely... fuck it's good. It's painfully good because I always assumed this was some old man yacht rock that was soulless, sun bleached, and moronic. It's pretty much the opposite. The sunshine in this album is making fun of you in the dark hours.
Great debut album with some great tracks.
Really solid debut album
We love to do ca-caine!!!
Decently listenable but occasionally lost my interest. Favourite songs: Dirty Work & Change of the Guard
Loads of great tracks on this. Dirty work will forever remind me of Tony Soprano singing along in his car.
sarah is very excited she loves this. waiting to go to Christmas at her sisters. even tho its not Christmas ok enjoying it xoxo
Pretty good
Can’t Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan (1972) This debut album from a group that chose to name itself after a sex simulation device begins with a splash (“Do it Again”) and quickly proceeds to the deep end of the pool, doing synchronized swimming with intricate, acrobatic compositions that are influenced by jazz, country, rock, samba, and God-knows-what-else. Sublimely cool. Steely Dan burst on the scene with highly crafted studio techniques and good musical sense. With some nice vocal ensemble arrangements, and some pathbreaking chord structures, they nevertheless did not wander far too from pop. Lyrically intelligent, if somewhat obscure, the songs provoke thought but not passion. Not without humor (“Only a Fool Would Say This”), these works are engaging, especially for 1972. Compared to later Steely Dan studio albums, Can’t Buy a Thrill has more variety (with its attendant unevenness and weak spots) and thus is not stuck in what would later become a Fagen/Becker compositional rut. This debut collection makes fine use of a full band lineup and a variety of highly competent session musicians. I wish they’d stayed together—in the studio! Guitarists Dias and Baxter and drummer Hodder would leave the group within two years. The guitar solos in “Reelin’ In the Years” are classic. The biggest negative in listening to this record in 2021 is that the three mega hits (“Do It Again”, “Dirty Work”, and “Reelin’ In the Years”) dominate the less familiar material. But if the listener can discipline him/herself to imagine it as an original unity, as an album, the beauty shines through. The less-than-stellar closing track “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” subliminally suggests turning the LP over again, to listen one more time to the opening track “Do It Again”. And again, and . . . Yes, I could listen to this all morning long. I think I’ll wax the car. 4/5
Classic chillout
Ufff... Recuerdos de ir en el coche con mi familia... No voy a ser objetivo aquí jeje. Personal: 8, por los feelings. Trascendencia: 6? Genero: 8, rollo Eagles pero ellos son mejores
Still not a massive classic rock fan, but this album was pretty good, start to finish.
Love this album, change of the guard was an absolute highlight for me! Not a 5/5 but a solid 4/5
i enjoyed it. found a few songs that i really like
Love this!
This definitely sounds of a particular time and place.
Good album, had heard about 4 tracks previously. Others sounded very Steely Dany, would listen again / buy on vinyl to add to the collection at a good price.
Awesome band, glad i heard 'em finally
Their best album great!
Ik vind dit wel lekkere muziek. Niks mis mee. ****
it feels like I'm in a movie where the protagonist is a 70s surfer.
Enjoyed this!
Enjoyed this, I'll even forgive the more country-vibe songs.
enjoyed, didn't find it outstanding 3.7
Steely Dan is so classy. This was their first album and they were already a solid band.
Guess I’m a steely Dan man
A very good album, I think it's something that takes time to come around though, so for now I'm leaning on a 3 or a 4. Gives me a great vibe now though, and some of the songs are perfect for an Awesome Mix™, so I think a 4 is in order.
The Dan would reach greater heights on successive albums but this is a great debut. Only A Fool Would Say That, Dirty Work and Do It Again (with its electric sitar solo!) are among the highlights and Reelin' In The Years is an all-timer with one of the greatest guitar solos ever.
It's weird how we get one album soon after another from bands... Besides the hits, I keep forgetting that "Dirty Work" was also theirs, thanks to David Palmer. "Kings" sounds very much like a Steve Howe guitar solo to me, which was interesting. I liked this album a lot more than the previous Steely Dan album we have heard. I still think there is a better album which, from what I see on the list, we will come to. But the album tracks I liked almost as much as the "hits," so I think that that is something.
I don't own this album and never realized that so many good songs were on it. Back when I was a teenager and didn't really know who was who in rock I thought Do it Again was a Santana song. And I loved Dirty Work, though I'm not sure I knew it was Steely Dan either. Reelin' in the Years I had straight - great, great lyrics on that track (and the guitar solo halfway in). I always thought it was dumb that they earned a Grammy in 2001 when if they were going to be recognized it really should've been in the 70's (no matter how good the album in 2001, they were out of place). When you consider this was their debut, wow. For sure a 4, not quite sure it's a 5 - back half of album is not quite as stellar as earlier (though I really like Change of the Guard).
Great debut album. The singles are classics but tracks like Kings, Midnite Cruiser, Turn That Heartbreak over Again are strong songs as well.
Loved this album. It was filled with Steely Dan greats
Perfectly-crafted 70s MOR with a hint of something sinister.
Escuchado domingo en la tarde con mi familia merodeando y sin mucha disponibilidad de poner atención. Jazz rock tranquilo, no vi pretensiones especiales, quizás en las melodías, pero musicalmente lo encontré simple.
I enjoyed it. Didn’t really move me, but that might have had more to do with the fact that I wasn’t paying that much attention while I listened to it.
Ajalas que chabochito.
No pos si aguanta, buen disco
Dad rock vibe
unwillingly catchy. Sigh. 3s?
Rock un tanto psicodélico y un tanto sureño. Muy de la época. Canciones un tanto facilonas y con un buen estilo. Me ha gustado, como álbum y como grupo.
Not a massive Steely Dan fan but I was surprised by the quality of the songs here. Every musician gives something great and contribues to a well-rounded album. Favourite songs: Do It Again, Kings and Reelin In The Years
I love the rock/ pop sounds that Steely produces. For a debut, it's extremely experimental. Had a blast playing through this album. Knew a few songs but after this gives me the urge to listen to the rest of his catalogue.
Solid 70s rock feel. Strong album for a debut. Organ is a nice touch.
Enjoyed it. I'm learning that the 70s is better musically than I thought it was! Fun vibes.
This yacht rock at its best…. GIVE ME MORe!
Fun listen, album has the distinct sound of the stuff I like to hear on classic rock stations while fishing.
Felt like I was listening to every song I've ever heard on KQRS. Pretty great album, feels like a "classic" with a lot of iconic songs. Now I know who Steely Dan is!
Jazzy soft rock typical of the 70s with some Latin twist. I recognize 3 songs (you know which) and they're all amazing songs. My favorite parts are always the solos, but the the vocals are clear and hit you hard. Back vocals also fit nicely. There aren't any particular weak songs, as each song contributes its own unique spin to the overall experience. They're not forgettable either since they each start with an intriguing hook. The 4th star is cemented by that solo in Reelin in the Years, one of the best I've ever heard. Hard to believe this was only their first album, and probably not even their creative peak if you contest Aja.
Would be great if not for "Reelin' in the Years"
I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
A fun album with several hits
Good vibes, nice listen
What an awesome album. Lots of really cool sounds all mixed into the one album. The biggest hits in here are ‘Dirty Work’ & ‘Reelin’ In the Years’ but the whole album is great!
really good
Steely dan
Stacked with hits. Great listen for a Sunday morning.
First two tracks awesome, rest of the album was ok. Probably worth 3.5 stars for me
funny
Loved it
Pretty good
So good.
Le gros problème de cet album, c'est qu'il est excellent, ce qui laisse très peu de place à l'inspiration pour de potentielles moqueries, dégradation de l'image ou encore invectivations envers Robert Dimery.
Rock&Roll album, a combination of slow and fast songs. Not unique but very good.
Some real bangers on this one, overall not too bad.
Great album, would listen to again.
It's a classic, but not every song is a winner. Lots of hits and then misses. I was interested to learn that going mobile wasn't a newer song - I thought they made it in the 90s about getting an RV. The album also lacks cohesion in a lot of ways. If these songs hit the radio, I'll listen, but I never pick up this album and am excited to play it. Definitely second fiddle to the beatles, stones, and led zeps of the era. I give it 7/10.
Some nice soft rock
Wen den ich nicht kannte aber kannte - weißte schon! Gute Popmusik, spannend gemacht. Merke ich mir.
It's a 3.5, and wanting to hear it again (and see what the fuss is about).
This has been the third Steely Dan album I get in less than a month (lucky me?), and so a part of me wanted to not like it because I kind of think 4 of their albums on the list is a little too much. But it was still pretty nice.
Better than expected
A proper classic with some really good songs that still kick inside
- very pleasing - upbeat but latin vibes - paul mccartney meeting elton john?
Sarcastic, slick AOR. BT: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years
I previously only knew "Do it again", but there were many hidden gems to be found
noice
This is just class - well written songs, beautiful simple production, little bit Americana, rock, even proggy here and there but not so much of any of the above that it became annoying. 4 well-earned stars.
I enjoyed it.
Classic SD! lots I've never heard before
Oh brilliant ! A real 70s vibe and two tracks from our teenage years so very nostalgic. Really enjoyed the album ****
I mean, the album starts with "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work." Those two songs alone make this one a heavy-hitter. "Reelin' in the Years" anchors the middle - also another Classic Rock radio mainstay. Overall, this album displays tight songcraft, meticulous studio production, crisp orchestration, and some impressive guitar work at certain parts. A band with a deep bag of tricks. One ding from me would be that it definitely sounds like 70s stadium rock, but it's probably among the best I've heard of that genre/era.
Serious jazz pop music to be enjoyed in so many contexts. They would get better with the years, but their first is still a strong statement.
Pretty catchy and has a timeless element to it. Nothing stood out for me, but consistently good.
Hi: Midnight Cruiser, Fire In The Hole Steely Dan was finding their footing in their debut album, but it was still a strong start...Besides the radio classics Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in The Years (all of which are fantastic), less familiar tracks like Midnight Cruiser and Fire In The Hole really show that Steely Dan were on to and what they would become. It might be unfair to judge an artist against their later work, but this isn't my favorite Steely Dan album (That would be Aja)...It's great musically, just not as crisp and clean as later showings.
Yup, it's Steely Dan. 7/10, I liked Aja more.
Vraiment tre bon, j’adore et je vais assurement reecouter. 4.75
I forgot this album existed ngl, but I enjoyed most of it
Fint album. mange fine sanger etc, men litt enfoldig til tider. Får ikke så mye ut av tekstene, kanskje det svakeste aspektet med albumet. Beste sangen er "only a fool would say", den jeg likte minst var kanskje "Broklyn", var veldig kjedelig og ba ikke på mye som jeg ikke har hørt før. Gir albumet en svak 8/10
Mange behagelige sanger, med stilig spilling tvers gjennom. Dessverre ikke så mye fancy fusion shit, eller komplekse tromme groover, noe som kommer med de senere albumene. Ellers et ganske fint album. Har hørt og lest mye om hvor heftig produksjonen av alle Steely Dan albumene var, og hvor plettfritt det måtte spilles, og hvor nøye utvalget av mikrofoner og lydutstyr var. De tekniske komponentene i produksjonen er høyt over min egen kompetanse, men det er verd å nevne. Kan ikke gi mindre enn en 4.
Reelin in the year Dirty work
I like the singles. Classic for a first album.
This was pleasant to listen to.
A great album with a number of songs I didn't know the origin of
wait i was pleasantly surprised by this, a true feel-good album.
YOU GO BACK JACK. DO IT AGAIN. the first track sets high expectations. it sounds like they’re still figuring out what their sound is - some songs just don’t need to be there. but undeniably talented especially the piano and guitar :D
Great album. Very nostalgic feel. I think my parents listened to this one a lot around me when I was young. Do it Again, Dirty Work, Brooklyn are all great songs. And Reelin' In the Years is easily recognizable and a great song that has lasted for nearly 50 years. Overall a great album to put on in the background and chill out to
Many great songs!
Heard it before. Its a good one
LOVE THIS. Another epic debut album! 4.5 stars.
Cruising on a california highway
Great album, not as good as Pretzel Logic
Surprisingly enjoyable
couldnt get to the end, not my thing. Its pretty good tho
Really did enjoy this album. Wasn't what I expected to hear.
Enjoyable
Fun album, steely Dan rips through with guitar sections that take you away on multiple tangents. Always feels like the band is just having fun putting together good music, will listen to again
Na da bin ich ja gespannt, Steely Dan‘s Pretzel Logic war ja für mich DIE Entdeckung schlechthin. Bei 'Do it again' dachte ich mir: ach, das ist von denen! Und: habe ich 'Reelin‘ In the Years' eventuell nicht auch schon mal gehört? Die Platte kommt nicht ganz an Pretzel Logic ran und die Songs zünden insgesamt später, sie zünden aber größtenteils. Ich mag den Stil der Band offenbar einfach. Gute 4 Sterne.
Surprisingly good
I mean... this album is great. That's all.
While everyone will know "Reelin' In the Yearsm" my personal favorite was "Dirty Work," which I feel like I've heard a million times without never actually hearing it before. The bossonova/lounge music seems like it goes well as a background track doing mundane tasks and reminds me of beach resort music. There are def worse ways I can imagine sipping on a drink near a pool.
Cool, the first part was good
I knew more songs on this album than I thought I was going to, and they are all songs that I like. The album is really consistent throughout 4/5
4.5; I bigly enjoyed this, more than I thought I was going to.. I might be a steely dan fan now
Love the mellow vibe that most of this album puts out, with the exception of a few tracks, but even the non-mellow tracks are great. I've heard Rellin' in the years before, but now I actually know the artist and song name! I'll probably go back and listen to this again.
Classic rock seasoned with Caribbean influences. Warm and uplifting, great for these dark times.
Classic, Do It Again is a song I heard throughout my childhood. Overall love the album
catchy
Great Vibe 4.2/5
Great Songs - but not all of them.
Great album with great classics
Great
Pretty solid, a few singles I recognize from the album.
decent, unique style
This is probably more like a 3.5. There are definitely some dad rock bangers on here. Guitar solos are kinda goofy.
It's really hard to find any fault with this album. It's just solid. Maybe not the most exciting at times, but not a dud track in the listing. And, honestly, "Reelin' In The Years" is one of the most iconic songs of the 70s for a reason. Super solid entry to the list.
I've never really listened to Steely Dan outside of their hits, and it looks like I need to take another look. There's not a weak spot on this album. Best track: Do It Again
Peak dad rock
7.5/10 FT: Do it again
I never really got into Steely Dan and I don't think I ever will. Outside of the big hits, the sound is too safe, too meticulous, too far in the background for me. This isn't to say this album is entirely bad, it's just that I would naturally only be attracted to the bigger songs on this, and there are quite a few of them on this. The music itself is quite technically correct and surprisingly elaborate as well, so I'll give the Dan some credit there, as I will to some of the more obscure lyrical references (what is "Kings" really about...?) That said I don't really understand why there's so much Steely Dan representation when, in my opnion, just including Aja would have been fine enough. Maybe it's the boomer-era critics' legacy hyping this band up as they incorporated a lot of Latin influences, which is very apparent on the songs here. Quite a bit of Latin jazz and mambo-type sounds to be found here, which I suppose lends an "exotic" quality to these cocktail bar anthems. Key Tracks: Do It Again, Reelin' in the Years, Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)
It just feels samey. The sitar intro at the start rips but then it just slows down into that same art rock slump. Please I beg for a new artist/ new genre
It's got good lyrics, and in a different mood I might be convinced it's special. But my mood is foul, so it suffers to be average.
More Steely Dan?! For crying out loud. One was plenty.
3/5
Excellent album
Rate: 7/10.
I do like some Steely Dan. This album cover is too bizarre for me; I'll take the weary attitude of Fagen's "The Nightfly" over this image every time. It's amusing to me that the Wikipedia article suggests that the band members also were't fans of the cover art. I really enjoy the music, although I only really know the hits from this one.
All in all a nice album. Even thow I couldn’t remember the cover, I know a lot of the songs already. So this brought back some memories.
Well written soft rock. Some of the tracks catched my attention but the rest was just enjoyable… not more. Had fun to listen but wouldn’t listen again in near future.