Pretzel Logic

Meh 2/5. Nothing special. Was pretty boring.

probably culturally important or something but not really my type of music. no hate tho just didn't vibe as much as I wanted to

Litt for basic bitch for meg

It was like breathing air.

I struggled with it and did not make it to the end.

Piano with your rock and roll

"Jazz Rock"? Consider me bored.

This is why people hate smooth jazz. 2.8

Not my cup of tea

Side B better than Side A

Not a fan

Didn’t listen to the whole thing… but it was decent. Didn’t love the first two so I just didn’t finish it. The lyrics weren’t the best, but some of the instrumentation was interesting.

6/10. Too many things going on. Each instrument trying to take centre stage makes the melody and lyrics blurry

Was never a big fan of Steely Dan's jazz rock style, but I quite liked "Rikki Don't Lose That Number".

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's still very far from an album anyone needs to hear before they die. Apart from maybe coke heads and they're scum so who cares

interesting take on rock, but not quite groundbreaking or even well mixed

Your Dad’s favourite band. The soundtrack of a Saturday afternoon at your man’s house in the 80s. The Bella Pasta houseband. Either utterly in offensive, or offensively bland. I can’t decide.

Meh

Didn't love it

Wasn’t for me.

"Pretzel Logic" is our 4th and final Steely Dan album, and I wish I could say that I had been won over. But alas, I feel like they are overrepresented on the list. I've learned that I like a handful of Steely Dan songs, but not enough to make an album stand out. Their debut, "Can't Buy a Thrill," was by far the best, and "Aja" by far the worst. "Pretzel Logic" sits somewhere in between. "Rikki Don't Lose My Number" was familiar, and probably the best track, but as the opener allowed for a series of forgettable songs to follow.

The song that got me unconsciously doing a little shimmy was East St. Louis Toodle-Oo. Unfortunately, that is not reflective of the rest of the album.

Opening stretch wasn’t bad but I didn’t really enjoy this despite the jazzy stuff. Corny and kinda dull. Would be willing to try again. Best song: Barrytown?

None of the songs were bad by any means, I just didn't really hear anything that interested me.

I don't really know what to say.

I didn't really enjoy the album but there were some fun jazzy elements and some good solos 4/10

i mean…it’s steely dan…

Not for me

Not interested

Didn’t love

Less singing more guitars than the previous Steely Dan album I got makes this the less sucky Steely Dan album of the two. 🥨🥨

there’s something gross about them

I only liked the one song. The rest I could live without hearing again

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: it was meh for me Favourite song: didn’t have one

It was easy listening - not much to remember for me.

Steely Dan. I just don't know Formula 1 fans. I know they get mixed reactions, with me one of my all time favourite records is Aja, yet none of their other work moves me. What is it? Too formulaic, too try hardy "we are serious musicians"? So is this worthy of being played while they slip you the novocaine for your soul? East St Louis is just plain weird, what the fuck? All the guitar nurdling like on Parker's Band, awful., With a Gun, que? And I hate it when non groovy bands try to get groovy and funky like with Monkey in Your Soul. Rikki and Pretzel are great, fantastic pop tunes where the very best of this band comes out, which points to why Aja is so good. Dimery death freaks, just slide those two tunes into a playlist and ignore the rest.

Eu até gostaria de expressar minha apreciação pela capacidade musical de mais uma bande de folk americano. No entanto, ficou apenas a lembrança de ser mais um disco da lista que não terá muita lembrança.

Nothing special in my opinion.

Pretty chill and decent tracks. Nothing spectacular, but nothing terrible. Furthering my review of Leonard Cohen's perspective further

Immaculately boring.

Ricky, lose the number.

knot my thing

I always found these guys kind of wanky. They wanted to incorporate jazz into their music but they never had the chops. Plus their lyrics were nonsensical and I don't like the vocals.

Still not a Steely Dan fan. It’s just okay.

2.5.

The only Steely Dan album I've listened to completely without stopping. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. A very good album.. for Steely Dan!

Helppo heinikkoistanen seinämaisema boika boika poika hej sieltähön se oike akirjain tulinkuuntele tämö poika..Nakkimies.. Nakkimies ajalee nakkiautolla Nakkiautolla Maan matkaaja tartte aina koko maailmaa riittääkkö maa.. riittää kotimainenn supprtataan omia vehniä ja lehmiä maatalouttaa siis sitä kaivataan suomeen lisää ja yksinkertaisempia aikoja nakkeja suuhun.. Laita suuhun nakkia.. viroksi viineri.. enkuks pretseli.. nakkimies nakkimobiililla.. itsepähän syö jos ei osta kansa............ Siinä mietteitö albumista.... Paskaa oli...

Album of its time. A good reason Rikki Don't Lose That Number is the only "remembered" song from it.

Couple good songs but didn't find anything new that I enjoyed

Miscellaneous 70s noise, wasn’t completely awful but certainly won’t be listening again. Hard to pick a fav tune.

Only the title song has some spirit, not enough for me.

Sounds like the 70s. Not bad just not impressed

Wasn’t bad. Would be great background music for a hot summer day at the pool or beach. Generic dad rock.

not a single thought during this album. only the beggining sounds of the first song were interesting.

Daté, pas grand chose de notable. Quelques orchestrations sympa, mais des morceaux affreusement kitsch, des cuivres, des solos de trop. Mais surtout rien qui ne reste en tête après écoute.

Enjoyed some of the instrumentals but found many of the songs very repetitive. As often with this era of rock, I feel like either a lot of the lyrics aren't really about anything substantial. Not for me but understand why people like the band

Can't deny that Pretzel Logic is a great name for an album. I remember reading that Steely Dan went to all this effort to experiment with new sounds, little used chord progressions and instruments (such as the flapamba) in the intro to this album, but then ending up just making crap anyway. I don't think I agree it's crap - it's alright, but not feeling a huge urge to delve deeper into their back catalogue.

Adult Oriented Rock. Mmm

Meh

Old music Boring

Whenever I go back and listen to Steely Dan it's usually to try to understand the two major schools of thought about them. They're either revered as geniuses of classic 70s rock, or everything that was wrong with the music that punk kicked against. I can sort of understand both, although personally I never have a strong reaction to them either way.

I love love reelin in the years so I was excited to explore this album of songs I hadn’t heard much before but overall was a letdown. Just kind of…boring…

I think I just don't like Steely Dan that much. Given how much I like Reelin' in the Years, I really expected to like other Steely Dan more than I actually do. I can't really explain why, I'm just not that into it. Standouts: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Parker's Band

This one was a chore to get throug. There were a few elements that peaked my interest but they didn't do enough with them to boost the rating much. 3 most tolerable songs (in no particular order): East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, Through With Buzz, With a Gun

Standard AOR MOR. Uninspiring

Its so slight its barely there

Pretzel Logic is decent yet unremarkable, perfectly listenable like radio you don't care for. Title track is great, 2/5.

Pretty bland. At least it was short! Jazzed up rock, easy listening but doesn't really offer anything more than that.

Wasnt doin it for me. Not bad tho

Nicht besonders.

Eh. Forgettable.

spennandi

Enjoyable. Some funky rock songs with country vibes which i surprisingly enjoyed. Could maybe see myself listening to the whole album again, but not very likely. Not really my music taste

Not my vibe

Insipid. More dad rock.

If the Eagles had actual musical talent but didn’t get any chicks this is the album they would have made. Every song on this album has one silly part. Sometimes it’s the piano, or a ragtime horn section. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s jarring.

Had iets meer verwacht van Dan, het vloog wat te gemakkelijk aan mij voorbij...

Wat een ouwe-lullen rock is dit toch. Hier zit werkelijk niks spannends in.

Anders dan de naam van de band doet vermoeden, vind ik dat bepaald niet opwindend. Van dat eerste nummer word ik boos. Rest viel daarbij vergeleken mee.

Honestly? It was kinda bland. I didn’t like the opening song, was kinda a letdown. Any Major Dude, East St. Louis, And Monkey In Your Soul are the highlights. Wouldn’t listen to again.

Listening to this feels like someone trying a little too hard to convince you that everything's going to be ok. Maybe you've had a problem and a friend is consoling you, and you appreciate their company, but... they're overdoing it just a little. Verbally. And if anything it's making you feel slightly worse. A lot of these songs just try to pack too many words in for the length of the vocal phrases, and they do it with a very static rhythm. The effect is like 80s drum machine feel but for vocals. Too static, too on-the-beat-every-time. Like a drummer with no swing. And maybe that would be ok if the vocals weren't mixed like they're meant to be the center of attention. But they are, and it makes it feel like someone is trying to make a logical argument to me, rather than appeal to my emotion like good music should. Vocals aside, there are some great moments. Some of the outros and solos really made me sit up and pay attention. I just could not connect emotionally with any song as a whole.

I found it a bit boring…

Brings back not so fond memories of DLT playing this sort of bland shite on Radio 1

Was better than Shannah expected. Could "bobble" along to it. (2.5/5) Nails on a chalkboard to Bill. (2/5) Conor impressed by the quality of music but not always grabbed by the songs. (2.75/5) Everyone liked the instrumental. (2.4/5)

Some pleasant vocals and musical arrangements with excellent vocal harmonies. The main issue for me is the songwriting; all the songs have a similar lightweight vibe, no tension, just really sterile music. The stand out track is the playful cover 'East Street Louis Toodle-Oo' and this just serves to reinforce that the songwriting is not up to much. End result; pretty wallpaper hiding a plain white wall.

Alright I supose not sure I'd listen again, sounded quite dated

Nothing terrible but not that good either

It's not terrible, I can see why people like it. Some interesting bits in the title track, Monkey In Your Soul and East St. Louis Toodle-Oo cover, but overall I wasn't that into it. 2.5

Boo. If there are somehow two Steely Dan albums on this list, they could have just cut UT down to Can't Buy A Thrill. If there aren't two, this is the album you went with?

Other than the first song, I was not blown away.

I just found this a bit boring. Rikki don’t lose that number is rad though

It's just way too smooth.

not for me

No me ha interesado nada. No digo que sea malo, pero esté fuera de mis gustos y mira que soy ecléctico.

got the 70s singing thing going on. kind of interesting at times, but generally its just that 70s high pitched thing that has the same effect on me as touching a filling with something metal.

I bet the Germans hated this album because; 1. It's fucking BRETZEL innit; 2. It's not a very good album irrespective of the bastardisation of the German language.

1974. Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night By Night

ricky intro sucks

Im losing my review steam, it was ok

OK

I thought it was very entertaining and fun to listen, although It sometimes seems repetitive and self-indulgent

mehh, to bland

Musik zum channeln der in den 80ern vom TV verbrachten Kindheit. Über allem liegt natürlich ein großes Alf-Thema, aber Barrytown versetzt einen gemütlich an die Theke von Cheers. Nur, damit einen das Knoff-Hoff-Orchester mit dem East St. Louis Toodle-Oo von dort unsanft auf die Straße kehrt. Tolle Mucker sind sie ja, heute und auf dieser Platte hauen sie's mir aber echt zu routiniert raus. 2,5

Nothing to it really.

I can do this because it's only just over half an hour. Half an hour later: yeah just easy listening garbage. 2/5.

This is more enjoyable and interesting than the Steely Dan album the list generated for me yesterday (Can't Buy a Thrill). Nice melodies, harmonies, a more varied pace. I liked the Duke Ellington cover (East St-Louis Toodle-Oo). Still basically MOR soft rock though. 2.5/5.

Fuck me I hate them.

Not af bad as I expected but still pretty bad

I don't know how a band so talented at arrangement can make such utterly boring music. This is artisan ear oatmeal.

Just so... ugh

Some nice tracks but so middle of the road it became dull, very fast!

Paljon parempi ku edellinen, mut en mä tälläkään kuuhun päässy. Kuitenkin melko tylsää musaa

didn’t hate it but was nothing special

Oh, Luke Danes. You silly man.

Not my cup of tea. A bit too chaotic and all-over-the-place, although I did enjoy the last track, "Monkey in Your Soul"

And you could have a change of heart Yes, to change a heart to swap it out for another or perhaps for a pretzel or a bag of roasted chestnuts. This heart pumping liquid memory to even the most farflung cul-de-sacs of flesh. I couldn't forget these hot daily joys and sobs if I wanted to. You can't change a heart like a tire, even if it is punctured, deflated, and destroying your miles per gallon.

not my cup of tea

A fine record. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" is a classic, and I liked the title track. On the whole though... this music does not grab me, really.

Steeley Dan kind of wound me up - strained annoying voice. Like Bruce Springsteen does but not good. Not my bag at all

Cosas que sabía de Steely Dan: -Su nombre es por un dildo -Son unos genios musicales -Tocan... como soft rock o clasico así como 70s? Cosas que aprendí de Steely Dan: -Hacen mezclas técnicas de jazz, rock, ritmos latinos, blues en canciones digeribles -No importa que tan genio seas o cuanto sepas de teoría musical al mezclar... tus mezclas suenan a música de elevador. -Hay muchos grupos que prefiero escuchar cuando estoy de humor tanto para rock 70s clásico, rock suave, rock-jazz etc. sin que suenen tan sosos... Puede ser música de elevador brillante pero de elevador al fin.

Music was great. I think Steely Dan and I are on different wavelengths lyrically, but kudos for the champ record.

Not a Steely Dan fan. The mid to late 70s are a hard time for me musically in general and this just feels like it’s so of that time.

not my thing. appreciate the skill and the smoothness, though

Background music

Sweet Rosalie, she's working at the five & dime train back to Hackensack with rosemary wine Yo-deedle doidle dee, cocaine We both like to do cocaine

Opzich wel fijn maar niet echt mijn muzieksmaak

Not as blatantly awful as some Steely Dan, but really not my favorite band...

Its ok

Erg gezellig en zo, maar boeit me niet echt.

Steely Dan was prescient and created the soundtrack to Miami Vice ten years before the show came to be Or Music people go hang gliding to. Or It was 33 minutes.

Full disclosure: I did not finish. I didn’t have an hour to waste on divorced grandad yacht rock. The first song was fine I guess, but also so uninspiring I found myself wanting to do literally anything else than stick with it. If I remember to revisit, I will come back with an update. 1 star but it remains to be seen who is really at fault here- Steely Dan or adult ADHD. Stay tuned.

Not my bag. Don't like this kind of quirky, instrumentally competent but unengaging Americana. Just totally out of sync with my sensibilities.

I’ve never really been a fan of Steely Dan to be honest. Fav song is ‘Barrytown’.

Absolute dull pish

Banal city. The type of music Mike and Carol Brady would play to unwind after a long family day trip in the wood panelled station wagon.

2/10 Not my favorite. Too slow

Live long enough and you get to see everything go in and out of style. In the 90s, you could see Fleetwood Mac play country fairs. If you lived in a small American town. Now, they're every young person's favourite band. Unless the young person is cool. Then they like Steely Dan. Steely Dan are still a closed shop to me. Many acts are closed shops who don't want your custom. Bob Dylan, once hostile to his audience, has been coolly indifferent for most of his career. Steely Dan certainly channel some of Dylan's melodicism on Barrytown, but it is hard to tell if it is parody, tribute, or pure accident because the vocal delivery is so straight. Is there any affection there? Is there any affect at all? Regardless of how Dylan things of his audience, there is no doubt that he has affection for the process and the words. Elsewhere on the record, Fagen - to my surprise - sounds a little like Frank Zappa. And this is, perhaps, a more apt comparison. Zappa does have contempt for the audience and does want to dominate them with noodling. However, Zappa's sadistic glee is always apparent in his performance. He wants you know that he is expressing his sense of humour - which is not exactly the same thing as being funny. Whereas I not entirely sure that Steely Dan want to let on that they're being funny and clever. And that's the funny, clever thing. Exhausting. Without any energy being exerted by any member of the band. At least you get the impression that Zappa would beat you with a guitar lead, if he thought it would get a reaction. Steely Dan try to dominate through negging: you wouldn't get it; I'm not doing anything. I, for one, won't put up with that again. 1.5 Awful. Worthless songs, overdressed and overproduced. The singing is lifeless and the lyrics are something worse. It wouldn’t be so bad if there wasn’t a pervasive sense that the band think they are clever and/or funny. Steely Dan are shit and that’s as clever/funny as I feel like being after listening to Pretzel Logic again this morning. 1/5

Steely Dan sounds like a parody of dad rock; and not even a good one! Lyrics are just cliches and complaining with a set of power chords being repeated. I really don’t get it.

Nope, still don’t get the hype

Yacht rock boredom beyond belief. Never not never!

Wasn’t keen on this the 1st time round, still not changed my mind, listening again

This album made very little impression on me. All the songs sounded the same. I don't like it but I don't hate it. I think I was expecting better.

Instantly recognisable vocals and guitar - instantly forgettable 70s easy listening Radio 2 music .

My god everybody smoked far too much pot in the early 70's if they liked this

not quite my vibe

Did not love it. It tried too hard. Lose the number Rikki, he isn't worth it.

I don't think I like steely Dan much.

Ah not really my thing. Nothing I got in to

Nie mogę codziennie słuchać całego albumu soft folkish poprocka bo po prostu oszaleję. To nie jest wina steely dana że jest zbyt normalny, dlatego dziś zamiast przemyśleń nt płyty klip, który rezonuje ze mną od kiedy pierwszy raz go zobaczyłem - jak villanelle jest niedobodźcowana w muzeum i na całe gardło krzyczy BOOOOOOORIIIIIIIIIIING i tym sposobem sama sobie zapewnia lepszą rozrywkę: https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ

- Another woman beater. - Yeah, I hate this. Forgettable singer over jazz-adjacent soft "rock". The image it brings to mind is white dudes who think they're intellectuals pining for the good old days. - Yes, they are proficient enough with their instruments and the production is clean, but just like with jazz in general, I feel nothing but left cold and irritated when I listen to it.

Oh dear, this band ticks every single box in my List of Irritations: Up Their Own Backsides-Faux-Cleverness, Dad Rock Smoothness, Unnecessary Jazz Syndrome, Smug Punchable Faces... The band that invented FM Rock, FFS. They even managed to annoy me with the novelty tune about East St Louis Street. I love novelty tunes done well with some affection for whatever is being lampooned, but I felt as though they were laughing AT Duke Ellington's composition, not laughing along WITH the country's musical heritage. An insufferable album from a pair of insufferable beardy twats.

Nothing good or interesting here.

The entirety of MAGA.

I only liked one song on this album; East St Louie Toodle-oo- other than that just standard songs.

Steely Dan? more like Really Dan g bad

It's a no from me

Bonjour à vous les masochistes auditifs qui me suivent dans ce périple insensé des "1001 Albums qu'il faut avoir écoutés avant de mourir". Aujourd'hui, je vous écris depuis le fond du gouffre, depuis les tréfonds de la lassitude, une tasse de café froid à la main et le regard vide de celui qui a vu l'abîme et qui a vu l'abîme lui faire un clin d'œil ironique avec une paire de lunettes de soleil teintées. Oui, nous y sommes... Encore. Si vous suivez ce blog, vous connaissez mon passif avec Steely Dan. Vous savez que ce groupe et moi, c'est une histoire de haine qui se bonifie avec le temps, comme un mauvais vinaigre qui deviendrait... un vinaigre encore plus acide et imbuvable. Nous avions déjà abordé le cas clinique de "Aja" (1977), cet album que j'ai disséqué avec la joie d'un légiste sur une scène de crime particulièrement propre (trop propre). Nous avions ensuite subi "Can’t Buy A Thrill" (1972), leur premier méfait, qui avait confirmé mes craintes : ces types sont l'antithèse absolue de ce qui me fait vibrer musicalement. Et aujourd'hui, le destin, ou plutôt cette satanée liste des 1001 albums, place sur ma route "Pretzel Logic", sorti en 1974. Alors, on respire un grand coup, on pense très fort à "Unknown Pleasures" de Joy Division pour se donner du courage, et on y va. Je dois vous avouer quelque chose : il y a une certaine forme de confort dans la détestation. Quand on lance un disque de Steely Dan, on n'a pas peur d'être déçu, parce qu'on sait pertinemment qu'on va passer un mauvais moment. C'est rassurant quelque part, c'est la certitude de l'ennui. Pas de surprise, pas de trahison, juste cette ligne droite, plate et interminable de jazz-rock fusionnel aseptisé. Comme je l'ai dit pour les chroniques précédentes, ma note ne bougera pas d'un iota. On reste sur un 1 sur 5 magistral, un 1 de principe, un 1 de résistance, un 1 qui hurle "Non !" à la tyrannie de la perfection studio. Je reste droit dans mes bottes, ou plutôt dans mes Doc Martens usées par des années de concerts dans des caves humides qui sentaient la bière et la sueur, tout ce que Donald Fagen et Walter Becker semblent détester par-dessus tout. Commençons par le positif, car je suis un critique magnanime et rendons à César ce qui appartient à César : cet album est court. Oh oui, merci mon Dieu, merci les limitations du vinyle de l'époque, merci à la paresse ou à la lucidité des musiciens. 33 minutes c'est la durée de "Pretzel Logic". C'est court, c'est à peu près le temps qu'il faut pour se rendre compte qu'on s'emmerde, mais pas assez pour avoir envie de se jeter par la fenêtre. C'est une durée "sitcom", une durée "trajet de bus", c'est... supportable. Comparé aux interminables solos de certains groupes de prog ou aux jams infernales qui peuvent peupler ce genre de disques, 33 minutes, c'est presque une bénédiction. C'est la seule raison pour laquelle je n'ai pas mis 0, la brièveté est ici la qualité suprême. Parlons du son, puisqu'il le faut. "Pretzel Logic" est souvent cité comme l'album de la transition pour le groupe. C'est le moment où ils ont définitivement arrêté de faire semblant d'être un "groupe" de rock pour devenir ce qu'ils ont toujours rêvé d'être : deux dictateurs de studio embauchant la crème des musiciens de session pour exécuter leurs partitions maniaques. On y trouve "Rikki Don’t Lose That Number". Vous connaissez forcément ce morceau... ttout le monde connaît ce morceau. C'est le genre de truc qui passe dans les supermarchés, dans les salles d'attente des dentistes, dans les ascenseurs des hôtels Ibis. Ça commence par une ligne de piano piquée à Horace Silver (au moins ils ont du goût pour le vol), et ça débouche sur ce soft-rock californien qui me donne des envies de meurtre. C'est techniquement irréprochable et c'est ça le pire, car on ne peut même pas dire "c'est mal joué". Non, c'est trop bien joué. C'est là que réside tout le problème avec Steely Dan, et particulièrement sur cet album. J'ai passé ma jeunesse et ma vie d'adulte à chercher l'émotion, la faille, l'urgence. Quand j'écoute Nick Cave, j'entends un homme qui se bat avec ses démons. Quand j'écoute Godflesh, j'entends le bruit de l'usine et la froideur du métal. Quand j'écoute Sonic Youth, j'entends le chaos structuré. Quand j'écoute "Pretzel Logic", j'entends des chèques signés à des musiciens de session qui regardent leur montre en attendant la pause déjeuner. C'est une musique de technocrates, une musique pour des gens qui trouvent que le rock'n'roll est "un peu trop bruyant" et qui préfèrent analyser la complexité d'un accord de onzième diminuée plutôt que de ressentir un truc dans leurs tripes. C'est de la branlette intellectuelle pour audiophiles qui dépensent 5000 balles dans un câble d'enceinte mais qui n'ont jamais foutu les pieds dans un pogo. Il y a une ambiance "Yacht Rock" avant l'heure qui se dégage de ce disque. On s'imagine sur un voilier, avec un pull en cachemire noué sur les épaules, un cocktail à la main, en train de discuter des taux d'intérêt. C'est l'anti-punk par excellence. Et moi, né en 70, ayant grandi avec le post-punk, ayant bossé chez un disquaire indé où l'on vénérait l'authenticité et l'expérimentation, je suis allergique à ça, physiquement allergique. Même quand ils essaient de faire du blues ou de s'encanailler un peu (la chanson titre "Pretzel Logic"), ça sonne faux. Ça sonne comme des universitaires qui essaient de parler l'argot de la rue. C'est propre, c'est lisse, c'est brillant comme un comptoir de cuisine en formica qui vient d'être passé au Cif. Où est la crasse ? Où est la vie ? Où est le danger ? Nulle part. Tout a été gommé, polissé, compressé, égalisé jusqu'à ce qu'il ne reste plus qu'une surface parfaite sur laquelle rien n'accroche, surtout pas mes oreilles. Si j'étais encore derrière le comptoir de mon magasin de disques indé et qu'un client m'avait ramené ça à la caisse, je l'aurais probablement jugé. Oui, je sais c'est mal, le client est roi, bla bla bla. Mais ce disque est l'ennemi de tout ce que j'aime. Il est l'ennemi du lo-fi, il est l'ennemi de l'improvisation libre (même si ça ressemble à du jazz, c'est cadenassé à double tour). Il est l'ennemi de la passion, c'est de la musique de compétence, pas de la musique d'expression. Alors voilà, 33 minutes plus tard, le disque s'arrête et le silence qui suit est le plus beau son que j'ai entendu depuis une demi-heure. Je peux enfin remettre un truc qui gratte, peut-être un vieux The Cure pour me laver les tympans avec un peu de mélancolie authentique, ou un bon coup de Sunn O))) pour faire vibrer les murs et chasser les fantômes de ce jazz-rock bourgeois. Mais je ne suis pas dupe, je regarde la liste et je sais ce qui m'attend... Il en reste un, un dernier, le Boss final de ce niveau infernal. "Countdown to Ecstasy". Et sauf énorme surprise, sauf intervention divine, sauf si Donald Fagen débarque chez moi avec une batte de baseball pour me forcer à changer d'avis (ce qui serait, pour le coup, assez rock'n'roll), je connais déjà la note. En attendant cette ultime épreuve, je vais aller écouter de la musique faite par des humains pour des humains, et non par des robots de studio pour des chaînes hi-fi de luxe. Note : 1/5 (Pour la brièveté de la torture).

The blandest of bland bands

Eff this website, screw them

I’ve always had an irrational hatred for Steely Dan; it’s bad lounge rock. This album did nothing to change my mind. There aren’t enough Harvey Wallbangers in the world to make me like this.

Boring and repetitive every song sounds exactly the same and the dude is annoying

No

Too intellectual.

The best thing about this album was that it was only 33 minutes long although it felt a lot longer. Tedious, middle-of-the-road dad rock. The penultimate track, Charlie Freak, was the only one worth listening to. My second Steely Dan album in the first 55 days. Can't Buy A Thrill was bad - this was even worse.

You can call it tight harmonies if you like, I guess, but to me the vocals just sound blurry. In fact, the whole sound feels like you're listening to them behind glass at a supper club. There's wood paneling on the walls and everything looks like it was filmed directly onto VHS.

1.5/5 I didn’t think this album was great at all. I thought the lead singer‘s voice was quirky, but not fantastic. The instruments were very tame, and the riffs were very flat. I understood from his topics that he was speaking cryptically as it was the 1970s. I won’t be going back to listen to this or any song on it.

I have a beef with this band for maybe dumb reasons but I don't fuck with them. Old fart music that makes me believe they were weird with young women back in their day. Ricky Don't Lose That Number I'd heard before. This stuff sounds dusty and uninteresting to my ears. The vocals are painful on this Monkey in Your Soul dirge. It's mercifully short but the odor of its pretentious is inescapable. Can't wait to rate this one star.

God DAMN this is the whackest shit. I get they're virtuosos and whatever, but it's just so, so whack. RIP to Steve Albini, whose final post said it all.

Steely Dan makes music for white people who cross the street when they see a black person. This is Jimmy Buffett for people who are just a little ashamed to admit that they really like Jimmy Buffett. The best part of this album is that it's only half an hour long.

A few jams but overall just awful. Yuppie shit at it's worst.

Proficient musicians, but I've never been able to stand their elevator music style of smooth jazz.

Eh wasn’t feeling it, a couple of hits but nothing I would come back to.

1/2

Man, this is such uninspired middle of the road dross. The mid seventies was a great time for music and loads of the people on this being session musicians some of them must have played on some great stuff around this time. They're all clearly very talented musicians, but to me it is just drab. Ah man, even the ending is disappointing. The last track just stops. No grand finale here. Meh.

I tried, I really did but I couldn't finish it. I just do not like Steely Dan.

Steely Dan are absolutely shit.

An album to bond teen girls and middle aged dads - make a reference to this album on a road trip and you will be raised to the highest levels of approval in dad world logic. Didgeridoo kinda beat that makes you wish you owned a boat.

Trashy tunes! 1/5 rubbish bins

Not really a fan and was really glad when this was over.

Meh

These guys suck

Music critics love Steely Dan and I'm paying the price. Rikki Don't Lose That Number is the hit off this album and maybe one of their biggest hits. Night By Night sounds like porn music. Any Major Dude Will Tell You is one of the stupidest titles of a song ever. This album may have launched easy listening as a genre. They say these guys aren't technically "yacht rock" but if that's the case I'm not sure what yacht rock is. These guys make The Eagles look like Megadeth. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo is terrible, Walter Becker and Donald Fagan are the most fart-sniffingly pretentious "rock" musicians ever. They want to travel the Southland in a traveling minstrel show? Maybe they could play East St. Louis Toodle-Oo?!? This album is short and feels like it goes on forever. Rock musicians, but particularly rock musicians I don't like, love cowboy themed music.

Steely Dan appear to be the Black Hole of music. Into the event horizon disappears this bands’ and their merry gathering of session musicians’ credibility, whilst sucking the enjoyment of music out of people. If I was talking literally, that this Black Hole was a real thing, and it were even possible to escape an object like this, Steely Dan and their session musos would be propelled into the far future. This monstrous group would then be able unleash more shit like this on my descendants. In this strange scenario of my own making, before these musicians return, I would now be hoping Earth will be hit by a nine and a half mile wide asteroid* to save others from this beige misery. *An object somewhere between 8-9 miles would be of a sufficient size to destroy all life on Earth, but it is best to make sure there is no margin for error when the stakes are this high.

Not a fan of this music. It really just bores me.

OK? That was really my overriding thought listening to this album; one of the only thoughts I had, actually. I mean, it’s alright. It was what it was. But I instantly forgot it as soon as I listened to it. To summarise, it’s the kind of album you’d see someone’s dad clicking their fingers to and saying “I remember when I was a lad…” and that’s just not my thing. And I love 70’s music. It didn't even have Dirty Work on it, so I couldn't even have my Tony Soprano moment when I listened to it in the car, which left me infinitely more disappointed than I already was with this album.

I tried but only made it to track two.

I hate this

Boring and generic american slop

NO!!! Horrible album. I don’t like their sound or the vocals. Please no more Steely Dan on this

some of the vampires who listen to yesterday's album hated. (⌐■_■)

Not a fan! I don't like Steely Dan and really don't get the appeal at all. - Dwight

The joys of this 1001 albums project are many: First, getting an album you already know and love. "Yes! This is great and I love giving it another listen!" Second, getting an album you have never heard of and finding some joy with it. "This is nice, interesting, new." Third, Getting an album from an artists you are vaguely aware of and finding the good in it. "I didn't think I liked this artist or their genre, but now that I am listening I can see it's value." And finally the ironic joy of being confirmed in your feeling of an artist that you vaguely know. Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan falls into the last category. Prior to this listen if you asked me if I liked Steely Dan I would have told you no, they are boring classic rock that doesn't interest me. But if you followed up by asking me to name a Steely Dan song I would have to admit in embarrassment that I do not know any Steely Dan songs and that my dislike is based on nothing tangible. But, Pretzel Logic starts with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" which I do know. And hey, it's boring classic rock that doesn't interest me. The rest of it is more of the same. So now when asked if I like Steely Dan and can confirm that no, no I do not like Steely Dan.

Not quite sure what this album wants to be. It feels a bit confused and over complicated

meh

Yeah I did not like this at all. I enjoyed exactly zero songs. Why does this man sing like he's on a slow-motion rollercoaster? What I do love is the album art. Hell yeah man sell your pretzels!!

There have been a lot of steely Dan records on here. I’m realizing I’m not a fan. Nothing wrong with it. Just not for me.

This sucks so hard. It's soulless trash Rick for people who think they like music.

Had taken a break from listening to these but I'm back! And this album was a reminder for why I took a break.

I wouldn't listen it again :-/

There are a few good Steely Dan tracks out there. They are not on this album. This sounds like college boys with cable knit sweaters draped over their shoulders.

Not really my thing. Didn’t make it past the end of track two.

First song I was shocked u didn't already have on a playlist or two! Definitely went into this lp with a little controlled excitement as I kinda dig the yacht rock revival era we're living in. But ugh, maybe this album is a perfect example of why one band has one or two songs playing in the YR playlist/radio stations. Not quite one hit wonders, more like one or two hits per lp with loads of filler. This, 95% filler baby

According to every critical source, Steely Dan is that band than you're supposed to appreciate... and "Pretzel Logic" is 5/5, 10/10, A+, among the best albums ever recorded. But, alas, I really, really dislike their music. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" just makes me want to forget everything, EVERYTHING about the early/mid-70s. A kind of creepy vibe moves through me as soon as I hear their melodies and strained vocals. Ugh. Ick. Yuck.

Rikki might not have lost that number, but I lost interest shortly afterwards. Great production and all that, but I had to remind myself a couple of times that it was still playing. As you can guess...this won't be added to my library (particularly as I now know that the baseline from Rikki was lifted from Horace Silver)

Craptastic Boring hippie music

this did nothing for me today. kinda sounded like ragtime piano-y in the middle, which i did not expect

I hate everything about this record. Steely DUMB amirite? Yacht rock and Don Fagan suck and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees. I’m sure he’s an ok guy in general but this asshole has a stranglehold on too many dads. Anyone claiming them in 2024 has a brain disease. FUCK THIS SHIT

I just don't get Steely Dan. This is the 2nd album I've had from them & it's just as bad, if not worse, than the 1st one. Very Seventies, very dated, very dull. It's only 33 minutes long but it felt like a lot more. 1 star.

Dumb

An aptly titled album given the twisted logic it would take to convince me to like this. Better than the Aja album, but still lingers in the WTF category for me.

FUCK THIS BAND. Why do they hate everyone? Hey, at least if you’re having a bad day, you could always make it worse by listening to this shit sandwich.

I can’t decide what’s worse. Smooth Jazz or soft rock. Tempted to rate this higher because it’s better than Aja and the previous album we were forced to listen to. But out of principle…a GFY 1 star.

Idiota

This is a chore to me

Steely Dan are dreadful.

Nope

I’m not much of a Steely Dan fan.

Didn't really listen after the first song or two. Not my thing - too insipid.

Meh. I like their very first album a bit But this is overcooked sheen is pretty much soul-free.

The only steely dan i ever wanna hear is Tony Soprano singing "Dirty Work" This is a big bowl.of suck.

I really don't care for Steely Dan, it is way too much. I listened to this with a just "grin and bear it" attitude and got through the--thankfully--short record quickly. Never again.

Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: The Beach Boys - Sail On Sailor The Allman Brothers - Don't want you no More Joe Jackson - Another World Paul McCartney - Every Night Van Morrison - Domino

yacht rock?

Steely Dan is yacht rock but bad

Not really my type of music. Seemed boring to me but everyone has different tastes.

Jesus Christ I’m losing the will to live here. Awful.

All over the place! Folk, jazz, rock

Don't like steely dan

I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS

I can't stand Steely Dan. I really tried to get through this whole album but I just couldn't.

First instinct, not very excited about this. I don't know much about Steely Dan except what the average Joe knows from the radio hits. It's not really my jam. But it doesn't offend me either, so maybe I will find this more enjoyable than expected. Remains to be seen. 3 tracks in - I'm not impressed. The lyrics are underwhelming and basic. These songs feature some of my least favorite chord progressions, a hallmark of a certain era and genre that always reads as insincere and vapid. The instruments SOUND nice but I don't enjoy the way they are being played. I don't enjoy the vocals, but thankfully they are pretty low in the mix. I am finding this a drag to listen to. Maybe I am just having a bad day, but I feel I'm being actively tortured by "Barrytown." This albums sucks. It swings so confidently but absolutely whiffs it. They sound like they believe in it but I just can't. I took a break and returned seven hours later because I am really not enjoying this. I've got four more songs to go and it feels like an insurmountable burden. "Pretzel Logic" is ok when they're not singing, and it's just vague guitar jamming. Boring, but it's fine. The singing is bad and the lyrics are bad. I don't understand the point of this. This just sounds like something a mediocre but ultimately feckless dad would come up with over a few Michelob Ultras with his fellow middle manager friends from a large auto dealership. I didn't even notice when it fuckin' changed to "With a Gun" because boundaries are meaningless in this musical wasteland. This album IS NOT, but FEELS racist somehow. I'm the last track and I don't even care. I've lost brain cells listening to this. "Money In Your Soul" is probably about somebody's drug addiction but it doesn't move me in any way and doesn't feel sincere. And it's such a weird note to end the album on. What a lazy effort. I don't even know why it's on this list. This was a bad time and I regret it. But at least I can now articulate WHY I don't like it, so, I'm glad I stuck it out. Never again.

yeah na

Yet another album to not like by Steely Dan. I hate this artist.

Not really

1.5

Jazzahtava Hitti nimeltään "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" Instrumentaali nimeltään "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" Hngghh

I've never liked the music from this group.

LOL no thank you

When I was a boy, my sister and I had a record player in the basement and a small selection of records including Pretzel Logic. I thought it was dull then and I haven't changed my mind.

1001 best albums. Seriously???? This was truly dreadful. Everything that was wrong with 70s music.

Not even doing a pun. This is absolute dogshit

couldn't get through the first two songs

Nope. Boring.

Not for me!

The Violins 🎻 in "Through with Buzz" 🥰