Reviews (page 2 of 14)
What in the fucking “yoinky sploink tomfoolery” is East St. Louis Toodle-Oo? This whole record is garbage. Outside of a few tracks, no one can convince me Steely Dan were a good band.
4.5
This is my third favorite steely Dan album. I kind of consider this one the one where Steely Dan really became Steely Dan. Pretty much every track on this album is solid maybe the the exception of the instrumental at the end of side one. But this points directly to where my two favorite albums are of theirs The Royal Scam and Aja (9.8) ★★★★½
I am not a Steely Dan fan, but it is ok. 3.5 stars
This is a good album, but it's pretty frontloaded. I also think this is sort of the beginning of the Steely Dan era I don't really enjoy, where they start to abandon the idea of being a band in favor of crafting kind of soulless jazz-rock with an army of studio musicians. Still there's some good stuff here including "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", and "Barrytown". Those latter two are likely top 10 Steely Dan songs. 3.5 stars.
I'd normally use "easy listening" as a criticism but for an album like this I'd say it's a good thing, the musicianship is so accomplished and the songs so smooth that the end result makes the process all seem so easy. Much easier than it actually was. A bit like a well baked pretzel, I guess
Steely Dan really scratches my brain just right. Easy 5.
erg enjoyable. 3.5
Nice
Elevator music for white men in their fifties.
Pop Rock Favorite Songs: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Night By Night, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic Least Favorite Song: Charlie Freak I mean…the album’s fine, I guess? I’m probably only going to add the songs that I like in my personal music library, but it wasn’t something that I would say that it’s groundbreaking. 7/10
Steely Dan breaking out and having fun.
1. riki - 2 2. night - 2 3. dude - 1 4 barry - 1 5. eazt - 2 6. band - 1 7 buzz - 1 8. logic - 2 9. gun - 1 10. charlie - 0 11. zoul - 1
スティーリー・ダンの3つ目の作品で、このアルバム•ツアーを最後にスティーリー・ダンは、スタジオプロジェクトに移行したらしい。 確かに、aja,gauchoと比べるとAORの雰囲気は薄く、まだロックバンドとしての雰囲気を持っていると感じた。まあそれでも、スティーリー・ダンが良いバンドであることは変わらないし、僕もこの作品をとても良いと思った。1番目の曲が1番良いかなー。
Its some decent solid dad rock.
Meh. Liked 2-3 songs but overall was nothing special.
Ugh
Mucha calidad de producción y groove por parte de la banda, tocan tremendo y te alegran el momento, las letras están buenas y suelen hablar sobre mini historias de la ciudad y su miseria, con tintes comedicos y satíricos.
Ugh. Steeely. My man. He's so bitchin, but for some reason I can't get past the fact that most songs pre 90's are just a bunch of dudes jamming out for their own soul or some crud like that. It's polished, but it isn't. It's got a message, but to me, it didn't come across. Just sounds like some dudes in a living room had access to a bunch of instruments to noodle around with. I do, however, always appreciate Steely's messaging in his music about the strength of kinship. 3 stars for that.
Great album good production
With "Riiki Don't Lose That Number", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo", "Pretzel Logic", and "Monkey in Your Soul", this album just pours it on. Can't forget "Barrytown" either. The whole album is good, a definite 5 star.
B+
3.5
Good but not SD’s best. Slow’s down quite a bit mid album.
Vibey vibes with a hint of vibe. 3,5
Just recently started to listen to these guys a bit more, they are so good. Harmonies, songwriting. so good.
Первые три песни хороши, а остальные просто неплохие. При этом я не уверен, что место этого альбома Steely Dan рейтинге 1000 альбомов
Felt a little disappointed in this band/album. This has around 2 tracks I would come back to but the rest can stay. 6/10
Absolutely great listening
Unreal
Enjoyable, as I like all of Steely Dan's albums, but it does not have a killer song. I enjoyed the different styles and odd lyrics. It's a nice 70's rock change of pace. 4 out of 5.
love it
that is what i want
I enjoyed these songs however not as much as the later album in their discography I have heard to date. Some of these songs had a Beatles-y feel about them. Overall nice but not quite as unique as Aja.
Yes! Das gefällt mir echt gut. Der jazzy bluesy Rockstil beschwingt mich. My preferred songs: Barrytown Night by night Pretzel Logics Monkey in your soul
Nice album!
I do NOT understand why people cream themselves over Steely Dan. They are the definition of safe boomer-rock.
I just canNOT with Steely Dan. This music makes me even more embarrassed to be white.
I just dont care for steely dan I guess. They are totally fine but thats the main problem. They are so fine they are nothing. Maybe I haven't heard the right record yet but this is so boring. Thays my main problem with any of thier records and this might be the most boring. Im so bored I really dont have much else to say. It just happend and thts it. Maybe aja is the one where I see the light but pretzel logic is not the one at all
The only Steely Dan album I had listened to prior to this is “Aja” so I had high hopes. It didn’t disappoint. I like their approach fusing jazz with rock - their sound appeals to me. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” is a stellar way to start things off and it continues in that vein. You have to hand it to them, within the first couple of bars, you are under no illusion as to who you are listening to. Quite the achievement. 4/5
my 100th album! waowaowaooowaowao
I am not the biggest Steely Dan fan however this is great. I don’t like Rikki, because it is mainstream American radio fodder bordering on Yacht Rock which the band hated. So I neither like nor hate this record.
A very good record, but definitely not a masterpiece. I find the production, sonic quality, and variety are top notch. Some of the songs and songwriting are just fine. For me, Steely Dan is always a very high floor but doesn’t have the highest ceiling. Their music is consistently excellently produced, with crazy musicianship, but can be a little unemotional at times. I see how it might not appeal to all, but I’m a big fan. 4/5
Notable Textzeile: I never seen you lookin' so bad, my funky one You tell me that your super fine mind has come undone Any major dude, with half a heart, surely will tell you, my friend Any minor world that breaks apart, falls together again Das ist weniger süß produziert, dafür auch weniger eingängig und eintöniger als "Can't buy a thrill". Ist ehrlich gesagt ziemlich ereignislos an mir vorbei gezogen. Aber auch nicht nervig, ärgerlich oder so. 2,5
Okay, Steelz Dan Feuer geheilt. Gedudel und man, eintönige Songs trotz ganz viel.
In 3 Rutschen über 2 Wochen gehört und alles was hängen geblieben ist war Rikki. The Hit is the hit. The rest is dudel.
Wow. First time I heard a Steely Dan record. Really enjoyed the blends of jazz, r&b, rock, the different instruments etc. Super enjoyable record. After this I listened to Aja and that blew my mind even more.
No, you don't need to listen to this before you die. Average soft rock. I've spent my life avoid Steely Dan for an exciting introduction. This was not the case. Maybe it'll be better in the future.
Not my favorite type of music...
For some reason I had completely written Steely Dan off in my head. Maybe it's a reference I'd heard somewhere affecting my view, maybe it's just the name. But this was not bad really. Maybe it helped that I was in particularly good company when listening to it though...
Suburban dad music is actually hitting?! When I saw the main genres were rock and jazz, I was pretty excited. It's more jazz-y than what I was expecting, but the end product is a smooth and bouncy half-an-hour listen, even if I did want it go in more adventurous directions at times. A 3.5 star record, but since half stars aren't allowed on here, a high 3 it gets.
I'm actually bored with reiterating that I get bored listening to Steely Dan. The music on this album is largely fine but the singing just sucks. For dudes that supposedly needed to have studio perfection they should have fired themselves for singing like absolute shit.
My Tuesday bus journey had that day’s selection Countdown To Ecsatsy for my journey I wrote … I don’t care, Steely Dan, I don’t care. I don’t care about your chops I don’t care about how long it took To find a drum sound that pops I don’t care about the melodic hook I don’t care about you Steely Dan I don’t care about your studious rhymes Of vacant people in empty lands I don’t care so much I wrote these lines Today is Friday and I get this. If Steely Dan are going to turn out the same dull album I’m gonna do the same review. I still don’t care, Steely Dan, I still don’t care. I still don’t care about your chops I still don’t care about how long it took To find a drum sound that pops I still don’t care about the melodic hook I still don’t care about you Steely Dan I still don’t care about your studious rhymes Of vacant people in empty lands I still don’t care so much I wrote these lines
There’s as many styles of music on this album as there are tracks on it, and they’re all good to great. Not unexpected because Steely Dan is a bit of a parlor trick, with a studio line up that is only loosely connected to their touring line up, which is bizarre because their touring line up was rock solid. But of course it is the 1970s so the album is sprinkled with all manner of electronic gizmos and sounds, which again is so bizarre because they demonstrate enough talent without it. Although Steely Dan is “of my generation” I was never more than passingly interested precisely because I never knew what I’d get from them from track to track. I do however have mad respect for them walking away from touring when the fans got weird, because for them it was always about the music and not the adulation. Also, plus one for not be tedious asaholes and keeping the album at 34 minutes. Pure humility. Now if I could only find a Hot Pretzel for .15 cents I’d be a happy man.
Great album that I really enjoyed listening to. I never really get tired of Steely Dan. To me their music seems deeply enjoyable to listen to. It seems "full" to my ears like there is a lot to discover going on there. The vocals and lyrics are great too. I'm sure I will be listening to this one many more times.
4,27 1. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" 2. "Night by Night" 3. "With a Gun"
A lot of good songs in here like barrytown and I love SDs sound!
I don't love his voice and I don't think they are great Melody writers. But there is awesome instrumentation in here and some fun song topics. I liked it just didn't love it.
Pretzel Logic is the worst of the best Steely Dan Albums.
It's a lot more "funky" then I expected. The horns and distortion for the guitar gave the whole album a very smooth vibe
Something really peaceful about that, loved it
Great Steely Dan album.
Que loco, yo solo había escuchado a STEELY DAN por su canción dirty work a raíz del meme que salió en los sopranos jaja.
Steely Dan are shit
i like it
Either I'm getting older, or dad rock is just really hitting today
should be illegal to make music so generic that it stands out
Apparently, timing plays a major role in how you evaluate an album. I more or less enjoy Steely Dan’s jazz- and funk-injected classic rock at any time. However, after spending most of the weekend listening to metalcore, “Pretzel Logic” strikes exactly the right chord for me - one that had been somewhat under-stimulated over the past few days. Unsurprisingly - though this project held very different experiences in the past - the strongest songs are the two singles, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and “Pretzel Logic.” But ultimately, this album is consistently strong throughout. And in fact, for the second day in a row, I’m now about to award five stars to an album I wasn’t really familiar with before. This is exactly how I imagined this project would be! And: Yes, this is an album you should definitely check out!
Surprisingly listenable.
This was fine. I had probably heard Any Major Dude Will Tell You Before, but it had not penetrated. Great title and great song. The guitar lick after the chorus is pretty great. Rikki is pretty decent. I really did not like a few tracks including East St. Louis Toodle-oo.
Given time I could put a 4 or maybe 5-star SD collection together, but like most of their albums this is a 3 for me.
2/5 - Now this is the Steely Dan I know.
This album is very Steely Dan and that's all not exceptional you hear it and go yup that's Steely Dan
I guess I'm just indifferent to Steely Dan. No hate for them, but I'll not be seeking them out.
Really solid back-half of the album. Great production as always with Steely Dan and some real grooves. I think if i went back and relistened to the first half again I'd like it even more the second time. 4/5
i'm so fucking sick of getting Steely Dan for this project. it's all so... fine. unremarkable and lacking in flavor. like eating a bar of soap. they make music for old men to aurafarm to. and i'm rambling a lot about the band as a whole because this one doesn't really stick out compared to the other Steely Dan albums i've heard. i truly, honestly do not get their hype. deserves to be one of the 1001? Steely Dan can have 2. this one is probably not one of the two
2026.08.23.
I really love steely Dan’s style of jazzy dad rock. It’s just very nice to listen to. I’ve listened to all their albums except gaucho and found myself enjoying every one tbh. I would say something about this album but tbh it’s just the same very consistent very good steely Dan style Favorites are Rikki don’t lose that number, Parker’s band, and east Saint Louis to de loo
An unwelcome juxtaposition of 70s jazz and funk folk.
Pretty fun, groovy, solid. Nothing that blows me away though.
Excellent album! Might want to skip "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" but the rest of the songs were all great!
7/10 Best songs: Pretzel Logic, Charlie Freak There are flashes of brilliance on this album - such as the pre-chorus of Night By Night - but every time this occurs the band instantly shies away from really going there or pushing the limits. It makes the music feel neutered in a way, which is quite disappointing. The album overall is fine, but doesn't really have peaks and vallies. I do think the album improves towards the end, which is an interesting change (I find the opposite is more common).
Not the Steely Dan album I listen to the most but it’s still a banger.
Surprised how much I enjoyed this one, and not even just for fun but because I actually just thought some of the songs are good. Maybe even better than "Can't Buy a Thrill."
Classic sound
love Steely Dan, very good, very slay and menacing at the same time
Solid album, much better than the many bands from the era.
We, yes WE are going to war for Steely Dan
Soft/smooth rock with bluesy DNA. It's fine.. East St Louis is a fun instrumental. Bit jazzy, bit country with the slide guitar, a bit caberet/rag. Actually, as it goes on I'm getting into it a bit more I quite like the music but the vocal style (is it two panned overdubs?) always sounds kind of flat to me Oh, and it's done! Very short Best track - East St Louis Toodle-Oo, Pretzel Logic 3 stars, almost 3.5
Idk if I like this or not. This would be 2.5 stars if we could give halves. I like the first song, elements of others, but, I don't know. I don't care for the vocals much
Alright
4/5
This album was just hit after hit for me. There were a few songs I enjoyed less than others, but overall, it was a pretty cohesive project. It has these addictive chord progressions and such interesting song structures that had me bopping my head the whole time. An enjoyable listen from start to finish. Favorites: Night by night Rikki don't lose that number Any major dude will tell you East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
I'm still puzzled why I don't like Steely Dan more. The songs are smart, the music's impeccable, and the whole vibe should be exactly my thing. But maybe they feel too abstract for me? I dunno. Charlie Freak, with its unsettling piano beat, descending scales and one solitary disturbing chime, is probably my favorite track here.
I have never listened to Steely Dan much, but this is actually above-average dad rock. There are a wide variety of sounds on display here in just 34 minutes.
solid album
I know they’re not for everyone but I fucking love steely Dan
It’s amazing that these guys managed to be such snobs and still write such bad lyrics.
3.5 - starts strong then meanders. Round up for Any Major Dude.
Four tracks on this album are burned so deeply into my brain that I will probably remember every bend in every guitar solo long after I have forgotten everything else. The rest I don't ever need to hear again.
Steely Dan is the Doobie Brothers of Bob Seger. In other words...I think they're just awful.
Still no. I believe we still have one to go.
Old school
2.5+/5
This is the last Steely Dan album for me on this list. Their ethos revolves around achieving absolute sonic perfection, which often comes at the cost of truly great songs. And this album sounds pretty much exactly like their other albums. For some inscrutable reason, they tried a blues song with the title track- and Steely Dan are the last band that I'd want to hear blues from. There are some good tracks here, but there's also plenty of mediocre yacht rock(admittedly, that's Steely Dan's bread and butter). Is this essential for this list? I'm going to say no because Steely Dan have better-loved albums that sound pretty much identical to this. This album is ranked #7 of 26 albums for 1974. Other 1974 albums rated by me: Queen II(4/26)-4 Court and Spark(8/26)-4 Grievous Angel(22/26)-4
This is probably the best Steely Dan album yet (still firmly 3 star though.) The album has a very cold and urban sort of feel to it. There's some pretty jazzy and funky parts mixed into rock/pop songs. The vocals still aren't the best, but better than the others I've listened to (Can't Buy A Thrill and Countdown To Ecstasy.) As well I've mentioned in my other Steely Dan reviews, these guys have a real great knack when it comes to production, I feel like they nail everything right on the head. No mistake to be found. All in all, I think this one was an 'okay' album, still nothing crazy. If I were to return to any Steely Dan album (up until now,) it would be this one I'd be the most inclined to. I think this album is a good one on the list, it nails what Steely Dan were doing. Highlight Song/s: "Night by Night" and "Charlie Freak"
Steely Dan, you dad rock genius, I love you
Dildo steam brothers of dan
The end of Steely Dan as a proper touring band. I don’t think I ever listened to this album before. But like much of the Dan I know more than 50% of the tracks just by being present in public spaces. So I am a late… very late Steely Dan convert. And I was converted by an in depth analysis of Aja on a podcast. Once I got into them, well, it’s interesting. What started as a guarded admission of their technical expertise and a skeptical consideration of their craft slowly morphed into an amazement at how simultaneously insidious and subversive they actually are. The very fact that I discovered that I knew them far, far better than I thought I did when I began to explore their discography, blew my mind. Their songs really ARE played EVERYWHERE. Which is what many hate about them, I believe. They’re so - easy listening. But- and here’s the thing: when you really start to listen, you start to see there’s A LOT of weirdness going on. And this is what I have come to love. The layers and layers available to the active listener. It’s almost like there are two Steely Dans. The one most people hear in the grocery store as they select their cabbage. And the one people who are REALLY LISTENING hear. Today, on my first listen of Pretzel Logic, I think it’s a 4. But here’s the thing, it may be a 5 the next time. That’s the power of the Dan. 4 Boolean: True
Gubberock
Денчик слазиет
Really enjoyable album. I didn’t realise I knew so many of these songs, they must appear in films or be stuck in my brain from the days when radio blared out in our house. A pleasant rock and roll listen with a slight hint of psychedelic rock just leaking through. A solid album added to the library.
I don't always feel this way about Steely Dan, but on "Pretzel Logic" I feel like the immaculate production kind of distracted from the dark sarcastic lyrics, leaving the whole feeling a bit too smooth for comfort, dare I say slightly bland?
yeah that’s steely dan
뭐라 쓰지
I’ve heard a few songs by Steely Dan before. I didn’t really want to explore their discography, but they seemed pretty good. When I realised this was my album to listen to today in the 1001 generator, I was disappointed, I’d been getting some really good albums. However, this took me by surprise! It’s an earlier album by them and isn’t quite as overproduced as I was expecting. It was just a pretty fun high-energy and jazzy Soft Rock album. It was very catchy and fun, and, while the quality drops in the second half, there’s the brilliant title track! The first few were also great!
Rock music by people who don’t enjoy rock music is the perfect description for this. They are innovators and trolls and the 70s needed this.
Great AOR album. Only just over 30mins and none of the songs are overly long... I know Aja is the critics choice but some of those 7min songs really drag. PL on the other hand is snappy, rocky and not too self-indulgent
Nope. Quintessential “Venture Music” that reminds me of my first retail job as a teenager in the 90’s. Absolutely not. (2)
Never listened to much Steely Dan before - good stuff.
Pretty good
Don't lose that number or this album, what a great sound all throughout.
"Pretzel Logic" is a good album by Steely Dan. This album started with wonderful song "Rikki Don't Lose That Number". The production level of this album is very linear and precise. I love the mixed of rock with jazz on this album. Some other tracks I like are, "Night by Night", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "Barrytown" and "Pretzel Logic". Besides this other tracks are not enjoyable as most of them are above average like "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" and others. I enjoyed first half of this album than second half as they lose momentum. Overall good album by the band but compared to other albums of their like "Aja" , "Can't Buy a Thrill" it feels big downgrade.
I enjoyed this Steely Dan album. It was the perfect Monday vibe. I like Rikki Don't Lose That Number, but what I liked is that this record had a little bit of everything. I have also found through this 1001 albums adventure that I like Steely Dan more than I thought I did or I used to.
Mid
Really good album. I prefer Aja a little more than this album, but still a really solid album.
Steely Dan’s hits don’t generally do much for me, although sometimes on a closer listen I’ll appreciate the craftsmanship. This song only contains one hit so perhaps that’s helpful for me? The more the album moves away from that polished sound the more I can enjoy it. That would be “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” and Barrytown,” for example. I also really enjoy the groove of the title track. I’m torn between a 3 and 4. My rounding up to 4 is in honor of my friend Blair. (You should meet him he’s a good guy.)
Any Major Dude will enjoy this album. Minor dudes probably will too. Beyond the extremely overplayed Rikki Don't Lose That Number, you get musicianship and artistry on parade across the whole album. Even the understated songs carry a quality that have a jazzy groove to them. Lyrically playful to boot. Enjoy, and know that if you enjoy this, you'll really enjoy Aja!
A very good recording but something I would not listen to often or even on occasion. If one of the songs pops up in a grocery store, elevator, or at a restaurant, I will enjoy the song.
Thought this was an easy listening album, and it’s probably a 3.5 because there are some rhythms and licks that are great but overall doesn’t hit with me. I’ll round up.
ngl it was nice "pretzel logic" was good, "rikki dont lose that number" too
Not his best but still good
This will be my second listen of this album. I've listened to Aja several times. This is a fun album. The sarcasm is wonderful. What a great sounding album.
Bien.
Meh
Kind of annoying
I don't understand the logic, but I understand a beat that moves and lightens the soul. Was my soul lifted into those light, white marshmallows in the sky? No, but I could see the top of my fridge without jumping.
I don’t know how to describe Steely Dan sometimes. They can be rocky, jazzy, sometimes almost funky in a way, but without going too far. They’re always a fun listen, though. I had no idea “Rikki” was spelled that way… mind blown. High 3
Some excellent songs and great arrangements on this album but the production tends to make all tracks feel a bit samey by the end. Solid effort though. 3
Steely Dan is a great band and this is a solid album, even including the oddity cover that is "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo." The Dan makes for fun, easy listening with ear worms that you'll be humming for years to come. Top tracks: "Any Major Dude Will Tell You," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Pretzel Logic"
Great highs, decent lows. It's not Aja or thrill.
--Rikki Don't Lose That Number...sexy --Night by Night...nice 'n' funky --Any Major Dude Will Tell You...love that organ. this is buttery smooth --Barrytown...didn't love the start but it builds to something really enjoyable --East St. Louis Toodle-Oo...the Duke! --Parker's Band...Becker doing great work here --Through with Buzz...oooh, orchestral! --Pretzel Logic...bluesy. a little cheesy. blue cheese. yes, I'm very funny --With a Gun...somethin' a little country 'n' western. I don't completely buy it but it's fun --Charlie Freak...Fagen laying down the keys --Monkey in Your Soul...oh, we got bass! now we bringing in the sax?! funky head-bopper
OBVIOUSLY
It was fine. Some nice tunes, some parts rather dull, but short enough x
5 stars alone for the tuff ass pretzel cart guy on the cover
What has this process done to me? I hated the other two Steely Dan albums when I got them early on but this sounds OK to me. Gah!
SIMPATICO E PER NULLA IMPEGNATIVO. NULLA DI PIU' PER ME, QUINDI RECENSIONE CORTA. MI FA IMPAZZIRE L'UNICA TRACCIA STRUMENTALE "EAST ST LOUIS TOODLE OO" CON LA CHITARRA CHE FA QUAQUAQUAQUAAAA. 3/5
At first didn’t vibe, but second half I had a pep in my step
me aburrió al tercer tema
good album, nice fun tunes
When I was a kleptomaniac teenager, my name should've been Stealin' Dan. Really wish I would've thought of that 34 years ago. Uhhh, you know. STEELY Dan. It's whatever. This album is super-whatever. Like of the SD albums I've reviewed this far, this is the least interesting. East St. loius Toodle-Oo is shit I absolutely do not want to listen to ever. The fuck? And don't ever "Toodle-Oo" anything. My parents played this albumwhen I was growing up, especially during dinner. It never registered significantly with me outside of it being boring. And I wasn't wrong about it being boring, 'cause it is. But like I've already said with other Steely D reviews: excellent nap music. Take a cruise to Snoozeville.
Fun album
Oh god, why? This music is the equivalent of a Wonderbread, Oscar Meyer bologna, and mayonnaise sandwich.
367/1089 liked this one more than can’t buy a thrill. could grow with more listens, my main critique is mainly that it take a lot for this genre to excite me. faves: Rikki dont lose that number, charlie freak 55/100
I like their sound but a lot of the album sounds like the same beat with just different words.
It is repetitive but not too repetitive
Steely Dan just doesn’t do it for me. Not the lyrics, not the music, not the vibes, not the vocals. Just don’t really like it. Kinda underwhelming imo.
Pretty nice, chill listen on an overcast day. Don’t think I’d seek it out again, but would be ok if someone had it on in background
Pretty groovy. I doubt I’ll ever just throw on a Steely Dan album though.
Decent album. Well written, original melodic twists and well sung.
This album was ok, recognise and enjoyed the first track.
Not as good as the last SD album we listened to
This is very bland, nothing stand out. Nothing grabs you
Another "kinda okay" 70s rock album, yay
This was dreadful, much worse than the other SD album we had, “Can’t Buy A Thrill”, which somehow managed to scrape into the bottom of the two stars - please no more RGP!!!!!!!! One star. Tom.
Overall a pretty good album. Better than expected. Starts out with a classic but I thought it was groovy throughout.
Off the beaten path for Steely Dan. Not exactly their radio hits, but solid listen!
damn, Ive been sleeping on Steely. This had everything! Fund songs with great instrumentals
Another really good album from the Dan. Songs are a bit shorter on this one (each verse of "Through With Buzz" is only one line, for example), so they're not longer affairs that you'd get later like on Aja. The title track is probably the best track here, but really, all the tracks are great and pretty diverse sounding. 4.5/5.
Great album with no misses, definitely gonna relisten it a couple of times. Already had listened to a lot of Steely Dan but never really this album. Ended up giving it a 8.1.
Sú tu už druhýkrát a toto je lepšie...
Outstanding as is the case with all of the albums created by Steely Dan.
Groovy, would listen again
1/2
This is a mixed bag of soft rock with lots of variety and the tracks are well written and played. Pleasant listen but I can live without it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Inleder med fyra stark spår. East St. Louis Toodle-oo och Parkers band tycker jag sådär om men därefter är de tillbaka på banan. Varierat album med inslg av jazz, blues, lite country (i With a gun) och rock. Det är väldigt slick och även fast här är en del bluesinslag så är det väldigt "vitt", skulle kunnat vara ett problem för mig men det funkar, kanske pågrund av den starka produktionen. Detta album kan jag tänka mig att lysna på igen, det blir en 4a Bäst är Ricky dont lose that number, Night by night, Any mayor dude will tell you, Barrytown, With a gun, Charlie freak
Sounds like a neater version of the grateful dead.
Good album. I'm still not huge on the Steely Dan sound, but I can appreciate what they were doing and recognize that there are numerous bops on here.
I'm a huge Steely Dan guy but this one doesn't have the yacht rock timelessness of Can't Buy A Thrill or the meticulous obsessive studio tinkering as Aja or Gaucho. Rikki Don't Lose That Number is still a classic.
mid.
I still do not get steely Dan. People love them but why? Average songwriting and decent musicians but that’s about it
Not my favorite steely dan album but I like any major dude and Riki don’t lose that number, and it was good overall.
Steely Dan are just generally ...pretty bland It's all very well-crafted and well-executed, but it's also pretty lifeless and unmemorable
This band doesn't deserve any spots on this list, yet here we are.
I have tried in the past to understand Steely Dan however their appeal still eludes me. Pleasant enough but nothing to warrant another listen. Maybe one day
You know, I wish I lived in a time where pretzels of that size were only 15 cents. All the big pretzels I can find nowadays are like $15-20. A big pretzel's a big pretzel and I'll never complain about it, but damn I wish I could pay that little for one. Anyways, this band is significantly better when they make an album that isn't just "look at how well-produced our music is!" That's what makes Aja such a bad album to me. I swear everyone talks about the production and not about the music itself. I'll take my pop rock with a little personality, at least as much as a Steely Dan album could possibly have. The Duke Ellington cover towards the middle is great by the way, it's like they finally found out how to make their music sound human. Lastly, of course, a huge helping of saxophone bonus points.
What makes Pretzel Logic stand out in Steely Dan's discography is its accessibility. While later albums like Aja or Gaucho are pristine, sprawling masterclasses in studio perfection, Pretzel Logic still has a bit of a raw, rock-and-roll heartbeat. The hooks are instant, the guitar solos (especially Jeff "Skunk" Baxter’s work) are scorching, and the lyricism is as wonderfully cynical and witty as ever. It’s a transitional album, but arguably one of their most cohesive and effortless. If you are looking for an entry point into Steely Dan’s catalog without diving straight into the deep end of heavy jazz fusion, this is the perfect place to start.
Thought it was a great into to the album. I really liked the first two songs. Honestly had not listened much to steely dan and was pleased but i still wouldnt listen to it all the time
Classic. Masterpiece. Love it. Own it.
Music of its time. Can tell it was a hugely influential sound and could pick little bits out that I might hear in music I've liked over the years. Will I listen to it again? No. But, it things me of my childhood, I appreciated the musicality of it, and now I know the sound of Steely Dan. Solid 3 stars.
The sound of a 70s summer, an album that starts out strong before a Dixieland jazz interlude kicks off a weak second half. For Dan fans, this is a strong outing, and it gets an extra point for AM radio nostalgia.
This is a pretty interesting album, because I like it a good amount but I was totally expecting something more like Aja, long form progressive rock. Instead, we have a bunch of quick songs, mostly under 3 mins. There's some great stuff here, like Through With Buzz, With A Gun, East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, and Parker's Band. I just feel it never has the space to flesh out the ideas of these songs. There still is some musical brilliance, but it's never quite as compelling as anything on Aja. Still pretty dang good though.
Smooth, melodic soft rock. An enjoyable listen
Inoffensive. I've been through it several times now and literally nothing has stuck out to me; I did add 3 tracks to my Spotify though, so maybe when I get back to them I'll change my tune. Barrytown is boring as shit. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.... no.... Matthew told me Aja was like *the shit* and that I need to listen to it, but that's a road that we will cross when we get there. Sometimes I think it sounds like early 70's Bowie - Like on Charlie Freak and Rikki. Lol. Everything is sonically pleasing, but I don't find it compelling. I had to go take a break and listen to Joy Division. I need some yacht rock to perk me back up. Any Major Dude is fine... again it's just like all very bleh to me. The songs are well-written but not very interesting. The band is locked in, I will give them that one. Parker's Band is cool I like the piano and the groove of the whole thing. Is it about Charlie Parker? Lol. Oh it is! I'm so smart, look at that. Through With Buzz is fun, although it's too short! I love the inflection of the hook, and the twinkly sounds that come in. Could go either way on the orchestra. Pretzel Logic has great keys, and a great chorus. Charlie Freak is fine, one of the Bowie-esque ones. Monkey In Your Soul is cool too, I like the horn a lot! Like a lot a lot. I'm glad to see the tone of my review lines up with most of the other ones; I saw someone say "low ceiling high floor" which seems pretty accurate. It's consistently pretty damn fine... but it's, for the most part, only ever pretty damn fine. Like something just quite isn't there. I'm excited for more, but not really for more of this album. Guitarist rules, I've heard him do a crazy solo on another album of theirs. Favorite: Through With Buzz, Pretzel Logic Least Favorite: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Shoutout: Parker's Band,
OKAY I FELL BEHIND AGAIN BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALL BEHIND? YEAH, YEAH YOU CATCH UP I STARTED LISTENING TO IT BUT FELL ASLEEP LIKE TWO SONGS IN 😭😭😭 what I listened was a banger tho soooo I'd say 3 UPDATE: I decided I needed to listen to it before rating and I did. Verdict: ehhhhh a 2
I thought I had given up with steely Dan after Aja, but this hits different
Makes sense that the opener is the only single, as there isn't much of a standout among the rest of the album. That said, it was all good listening and not as jarring or avant garde as you might expect their deep cuts to be.
Solid and short
I’ve only been a casual listener of Steely Dan, but this album rips!
It's not bad, I just didn't connect with it
Surprisingly enjoyable. I’m not sure what was expecting but it wasn’t this. Admittedly there were some parts that strayed into noodeling jazz like riffs but it was spaced out enough that it did not become intolerable. A solid c+
A great group. Rikki don’t lose that number: fantastic song with outstanding guitar solo Other good songs: Any major dude will tell you, Pretzel Logic. Lots of variety in songs. A couple of weak songs. A good album. Four stars.
A bland background playing album
Meh, this was okay. I was kind of excited when GPT described this as: "Steely Dan are more like cynical jazz-pop engineers: immaculate playing, strange chords, dark jokes, smooth surfaces, and lyrics full of creeps, losers, scams, nostalgia, and moral rot." But it was just okay 3 stars.
Interesting
I liked it.
Strong album overall.
Dad rock!
Steely Dan have always been a streaming favorite of mine. I like them enough to stream, but not enough to buy all the records. I have Aja, and spun it after listening to confirm what I already thought. Pretzel Logic is a good, not great record from a band with at least two all time classics. While Pretzel Logic may have an all time single from the band, the fantastic Ricky Don’t Lose That Number, I connect with the Steely Dan albums Gaucho and Aja far more. I consider them to be less loose and more tightly conceived records. Even when they hit their groove with tracks like East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, a special one for a Missouri resident, it just doesn’t reach the top of the mountain creatively for what was to come, as to me, the title track plays more like underbaked Allman Brothers-esque southern rock than the tightly conceived harmonic jazz & R&B that Becker and Fagan would become known for.
More honky tonk than I expected
For me personally, you really cannot go wrong with the Dan. Whilst everyone else was playing hard rock and metal, these guys subverted all expectations and created a genre all of their own: Steely Dan music. Not quite yacht rock, not quite easy-listening, just smooth grooves with danceable riffs from Fagen and Becker. I could return to this one again and again, and was captivated by the wry humour on display throughout, as well as the stories being told from song to song. Many may hate them, but I love these lads. Big up the Steely Dan! Favourite track: Parker's Band Least favourite track: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
More funk than i was expecting but still a bit meh
Decent but ploddy
Увлекательные рассказы бездомного. Потрясающий альбом. Далеко не с первого прослушивания я это понял. Очень не вовремя и трудно он был прослушан в первый раз. Но все последующие даже случайные прослушивания отдельных композиций исключительно положительные. Максимально легко текущие мелодии и вокал, несмотря на самом деле сложный инструментал. Сначала может показаться, что это стандартный "рок" 70-х, но потом невооружённым ухом в этом легко разубедиться. Альбом определенно заслуживает внимания, ещё слово которые не покидает при прослушивании - профессионалы. Оценка - 7,5/10
Well played ultimately dull. This is why we needed punk.
As the saying goes, talking about music is like dancing about architecture. It's hard. You are trying to convey the merits of one medium in a semantically very different medium. Sometimes it is very easy to talk about why an album is good or not, but other times it is just really hard. This album is one of those times. Pretzel Logic is a fine album, but it isn't an excellent one. It is hard to explain why without throwing out some vague metaphor about how it just kinda lacks sauce though. It's technically impressive from a band that clearly has a lot of musical chops. The songs build and release in a pleasing way. There are a lot of neat little flourishes, a well placed drum fill here and there and so on. It is stylisticly diverse yet stylisticly coherent, like how East Saint Louis Toodle-Oo has honky tonk vibes while still having the wah-wah guitar of other songs. The songs are kinda catchy. It's not generic, prog soft rock with funk and jazz elements is not exactly a common combination. The music isn't emotionally detached, they are singing with soul, the songs have too much of a groove (even if I would feel like such a dad if I shook my moneymaker to this), and the genre combos are strange enough that the music must come from a place of passion. I don't know why this isn't doing more for me than it is, it just kinda lacks sauce to me.
*1974 *Rikki Don't Lose That Number is the only single here. *Only 33 mins. *This came a couple years after Can’t Buy a Thrill. *Pretty standard Steely Dan. It’s all fine, but not very exciting. I didn’t even realize the album was over… RATING - 6/10
Eg elske steely dan, dette albumet hadde någen interessante sanger, men det var mye meh, og som ein helhet er det ikke i nærheten av «cant buy a thrill» eller «aja»
I love me some Steely Dan
Another good album I suppose, but it didn't grab me.
Underwhelmed a bit, but it's ok. Made me want to listen to something else though.
Awesome album! I want more similar
What can one say about the Dan that hasn't already been said? Awesome band, awesome sound, great tunes.
boring
When to listen: on a really rickety boat. I generally like yacht / dad rock but this lacked, especially the weird little toodle oo ditty.
Feels like one I'm supposed to like. It was ok.
Turns out I’m not a Steely Dan fan and frankly I don’t understand how people find this mid tempo rock enjoyable.
I was dreading the inevitable Steely Dan albums. I've never liked their music. For all the talk of their technical prowess, and studio bravado... it just sounds like dull AM Radio schmaltz to me. Not unlistenable, but not a single song I actually enjoyed.
My first time hearing about Steely Dan. Would listen to it while driving maybe. But didnt find any catchy songs there. Sounded a little bit generic.
Starts off so hot but REALLY drops off, and I actually like Steely Dan
Sex on a record.
I don't know what I thought Steely Dan sounded like but that was nice.
Dan never disappoint. Back with that quirky funky sound. First 3 songs are probably the best. Prefer Can’t Buy a Thrill and Aja but still a great album. They never out stay their welcome.
Classic but not their best. Rikki is amazing. The song pretzel logic is class. WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE SHOES?? I dunno but i wanna know
Fun aren't they steely dan! Very enjoyable album
...And here come the pretzels Didnt like it as much as Aja. Think that was more assured and had more of an identity. Ricky Dont Lose That Number is stand out. Its all listenable. But cant get a 5 this time. I wanna listen to Aja again now.
Love Steely Dan, but fewer stand out tracks on this one compared to Can't Buy a Thrill and Aja.
Pretzel Logic is a good album, but far from great. It reaches its peak on the first track and chases that high to the very end. The Gary Katz production is crystal clear, as usual, but it's not enough to ward off the shrug I feel when I think about whether or not I liked Pretzel Logic. There are definitely better Steely Dan records included in the 1001 (surely), though this is the last they recorded as a full band, and that's worth a historical mention.
Inoffensive. Listened while on vacation so lots of interruptions and chatter in the car. Didn’t really grab me but had a few bright spots. Wouldn’t mind it being on again. 3/5
Brautiful, sensational. Many great songs, and many really great songs.
Nothing says 70's slow rock like Steely Dan. This was such a staple of the era. This is one of those bands that I'm good with just owning a greatest hits CD. But it sure evokes lounge act at the airport Holiday Inn vibes, and not even in a bad way.
The level of Musicianship is incredibly high, the harmonies are goegeous and the production is so smooth it's almost burnished. How much you enjoy the album might depend on how much you need a cover of a 1926 Duke Ellington track or a song about Charlie Parker or need to go down the rabbit hole of deciphering obscure lyrics that might be about time travel or perhaps the pressures of touring. They're possibly the greatest, artiest, Dad rock band ever. Or possibly they're prodigiously talented smart arses. What is clear is that while they were touring for this album, in August 1974, The Ramones debuted at CBGB and this stuff suddenly looked very old.
😴
You can hear bits of Aja and bits of their debut on here but it seems to have its own whimsy in its shorter songs and slight country feel. I really enjoyed this.
Maturing is coming to grips with the fact that Steely Dan might be the greatest band in history. 8/10
Meh.
I usually like my music to have some level of grit (there's exceptions to this rule, see Fleetwood Mac), and you are not going to find that with the music of Steely Dan. The edges have been smoothed over completely by the glossy, pristine production. Don't get me wrong, these guys are very talented. They incorporate jazz into their sound and know their stuff, but I didn't need to hear their overly polished take on Duke Ellington oldie "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo". "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is an enjoyable bit of soft rock cheese, but this record as a whole doesn't speak to me. Whilst I could stomach this style of music if it was quietly playing as I sipped a cocktail in the sun, this ultimately sounds like music that your dad would use to test his new hi-fi.
Obviously
Erg gezellig en zo, maar boeit me niet echt.
rikki don't lose that number night by night
I’m sorry but if you’re on here talking shit about Steely Dan, you don’t know ball.
Can’t believe it, but i enjoyed this from front to back.
This is a great album, it's also probably my least favorite Steely Dan record. Such is life. Enjoyed pulling out the vinyl and giving it a spin.
4 It was a vibe
I love Steely Dan, and this record has 2 of my favorite songs by them, but the whole record is lame.
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.
Very feel good record. They always come through with some breezy melodies and fun instrumentation. Super easy to throw on and vibe to on a summer evening.
Cool record, love the production and short songs from this album, enjoyed it a lot and felt easy to listen to. The most recognizable song is the first one, but the rest of the album doesn't drag and enjoyed it all the way.
This is a pretty chill album. I really liked the solo in the first song, but the rest were just nice for leaving in the background. Also, "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" had a nice guitar moment, and then we went back to just normal stuff. I assume this would've been quite cool back at around the time when it came out.
Two good songs
Not bad, even if i don't really like rock
No, la verdad que no, pero bueno. Un poquito de suciedad viene siempre bien. Nota: 2.65
I like Steely Dan. Four stars.
I did it. I listen to Steeley Dan. I never thought I would. I had some sort of mental block with that band. Meh, but didn’t hate it.
Another Steely Dan I've finally gotten the hang of. I did a down-n-back listen of their first 6 albums and now get a few of them here. Solid album and am starting to get why people said they had 6 straight bangers.
Initial post listing ranking: 7/10 Type of music / Reminds me of: Josh Faye, Takanaka a bit for sure Thoughts: Me likey. Favorite Track: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
Best leuk album
This was ok
Highlights: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic. 3.8
Fun fact: Steely Dan is my dad's favorite band. And ya what's not to like? They're not _amazing_ but I like their music.
Super fun and enjoyable. My son said he liked it, too so a win!
Yesssss I liked it I didn't think I would
I'm learning that I really love Steely Dan. The singing on this album feels worse than the other ones that have come up, though, and I'm not sure if that's because the singing usually gets buried in all of the excellent music going on, or if something else is different about the singing. The great parts of Steely Dan are still there, which is mostly the excellent combo of jazz harmonic structure and instruments in rock music. But it feels like it's missing the excellence that you can hear in the other albums. It's still very good but doesn't compare to the other Steely Dan albums. Favorite Song(s): Night by Night
2/5 Immediately, I don't really know who Steely Dan is and I could not pick a Steely Dan song out of a line-up- so this is something new. This is not resonating with me at all though, maybe I just don't get it. I'm more of a lyrical listener and I feel like this is music for people who listen more to the instruments. Not really feeling like there is anything here for me
I love Steely Dan. And I love this album. So there. I added “Any Major Dude” to my playlist.
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.
Standard Steely
Similar to when the Beatles stopped touring so they got much more creative in the studio, the album represents Steely Dan making a pivot to having the group that recorded records and a group that toured. It meant for a rotating cast of the best musicians coming and going when they were needed. It also meant for some next level sounding music.
Awesome
Generic sounding music from that era
Not the most memorable Steely Dan record I'll admit, but gave us "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" at least. Everything is fairly concise here and doesn't meander too much. Kind of a different sound compared to some of their other records too. Likely due to this being the last record with their original quintet lineup. Still had an enjoyable time however.
Loved a lot of the guitar work but found myself really bored with most of the album
Jazz infused rock -- on paper this should be an album that I really like but... I've never really been a fan of Rikki Don't Lose That Number... I honestly find it kind of irritating. And I found other things on here that kinda bothered me, like the use of jingle bells in Charlie Freak. The song is in a minor key, so it has a dark tone to it... and jingle bells are the opposite of dark... it just comes off weird. There were some cool moments. The title track is probably the one that has the most traction with me. Monkey in Your Soul has a lot of components that I like -- Fender Rhodes piano, horns, nice guitar work... but am I likely to listen to it again after today? Probably not. And that goes for pretty much the rest of the album. There are Steely Dan tunes that I like, but none of them are on here -- perhaps this is just a stepping stone in the bands evolution moving toward better things to come.
I have a soft spot for Steely Dan. They’re bringing their brand of just fun, catchy pop rock here and much of it hits the mark. I wanted to be higher on it but found I was focusing too much on the tracks and moments I did enjoy while ignoring the fact that half of this I had little interest in at all. Some good tracks to pull out but after the first four or so it tailed off a bit. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Night By Night, Title Track
Expectation: -> Steely Dan should be a 3 pushing 4 for me. After listening: -> This is rather middling for me. Did not mind any of it. Did not love any of it. Perfectly adequate. Track ranking: Barrytown Toodle-Oo Dude Parker Rikki Night Charlie Monkey Pretzel Gun Buzz
The album as a whole was good and very much listenable. Some of it was kind of boring but Rikki reminds me of my mom so the album is getting a 4.
I could write this entire review about East St. Louis Toodle-Oo. I am still convinced they got their musical abilities from a genie. The mix of skill and almost an almost pointless sound is so unusual. I like this less than the other albums on the list by them. I'd buy a pretzel from the guy on the cover.
There is room for all kinds of music. The list probably doesn't require this much Steely Dan. This is like music from a slightly altered reality from ours. It's the feeling I got from Bazooka Joe comics. It's packaged with gum, it's colourful, it must be fun, but why isn't it? I want to like it for being annoying. Charlie Freak is sonically cool. "Any Major Dude" would probably be great in the context of The Flight of the Concords. Here it's like an ironic t-shirt.
There are a couple of good songs on here. Is it an album I needed to hear before I die? No.
4/10. Casi ni le di importancia, álbum muy fru
I enjoy this. Nice groove.
It's ok young pup, you just don't get the Dan
I dunno, man, it’s Steely Dan. It’s tight, well recorded, and has some fun guitar stuff going on. But it’s also the third time in like two weeks I’ve gotten either Steely Dan or Donald Fagen. It’s a little much all at once. But the record is decent enough. 7.5/10
It's fine, nothing special
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number is kind of catchy but not great. The rest is pretty forgettable, the few interesting or fun moments (largely coming from occasional colorful instrumentation, like on Through With Buzz, or it leaning harder into that jazz-rock influence on some of the later songs like the titular track) far outweighed by generic and mediocre psuedo-"jazzy" rock that was a bit hard to get through with how boring it could be. I was surprised by the quality of East St. Louis Toodle-Oo only to realize it’s a cover of a much greater artist’s work. Almost a 1-star for me, but had a couple mildly redeeming sections. Some people also just don’t need to be singers, and this Dan guy might fit that bill. Rating: ~3.0-3.5/10 ____ Album 5 / 1001+
Not a bad song on this eclectic jazz rock album.
"Pretzel Logic" is probably the Steely Dan album that I play the least. In fact, I play it even less often than their somewhat uneven debut. It is the final album by Steely Dan, a band that gradually fell apart during the recording sessions. From then on, Becker and Fagen worked on perfecting their sound with a variety of studio musicians. At the same time, it’s an album that looks to the past with tracks such as the Duke Ellington cover ‘East St. Louis Toodle-Oo’ and the re-recorded early Donald Fagen track ‘Barrytown’, and jumps back and forth between genres: Blues, jazz, rock and pop. The best tracks are somewhat hidden on the album. These are certainly not the well-known single 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and the very popular B-side 'Any Major Dude Will Tell You', but rather the deep cuts 'Night by Night' (a blueprint for Toto, featuring a very young Jeff Porcaro on drums), the proggy (!) 'Charlie Freak' and the short and sweet 'Through with Buzz', which, with its string arrangement, almost sounds like an US version of the Electric Light Orchestra. Perhaps the most quintessential Steely Dan track on the album is the walking blues track 'Pretzel Logic', which already hints at the band’s future sound. Interestingly, the predecessor “Countdown to Ecstasy” sounds closer to the future SD sound than this album does. Overall, "Pretzel Logic" was a commercial breakthrough, at least compared to its less successful predecessor, but I just can’t bring myself to love this album unconditionally to the very end. What it has in common with all Dan albums is the perfect sound, the musical mastery, and – which should by no means be overlooked – the fantastic solos by Walter Becker, Jeff Baxter and Denny Dias.
3.5
Rather than what I have done before where I listen to each song, pause, then give my thoughts, Ima just let this one rip till the end and keep a record of my favourite songs to talk about at the end. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Night by Night", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "Parker's Band", "Pretzel Logic" and "Monkey In Your Soul". All of these tracks I loved for pretty much the same set of reasons; interesting guitar riffs, solid arrangements with vocals and instrumental sections and fun lyrics. Sonically groovy yet heartfelt. There were some duds where I got frustrated with it's 'nearly-there-ness', such as "Through with Buzz" and "Charlie Freak", the latter especially, as it's introduction of the sleigh bells was pretty interesting. "Monkey In Your Soul" ended a bit abruptly, making it an odd choice for the last song on the album. All in all, I had a good time with this album. Most if not all of my criticisms feel a little nitpicky on this one; I enjoyed it.
I mean it’s steely Dan of course it’s good. Never listened to this album before, but I like it. Top tracks: Rikki don’t lose that number, toodle-oo, with a gun