Pretzel Logic

Overall Rating - 4.09/5 (8.18/10). I consider this one of the weaker Classic Steely Dan (up to Gaucho) albums. That said, it's exactly the kind of tight, jazzy, slick rock music with nothing out of place that you expect from The Dan.

I've obviously heard "Rikki Don't Loose That Number" before. Growing up the 2000s my parents had the oldies station on while getting ready for school and that played often on it so it's a bit nostalgic. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" is a fun, chill one. "With a Gun" has no right to be as jovial and fun as it is. Overall, actually pretty good. Compared to some of the albums on this list it'd be a 5, but for within my own personal taste it's about a 3.5 or 4

Sin duda no es mi favorito pero sigue siendo un gran álbum

I LOVE STEELY DAN.

love steely dan

PBS rock.

Easy listening, good background music

Захотелось брецель

My notes deleted… Loved the sound and the album as a whole.

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Sehr schönes Album.

3.8/5

Pretty cool, short and sweet listen (kind of surprised by the shortness as they strike me a longer album type of band)

Nice old blues poppy

Perfect album to listen to sitting on a dock and having no idea what time it is

What do they excel in? Nothing really, but they do everything right and made an album which is very pleasant to listen to. 4/5

Enjoyed this album - great production, smooth tracks and a couple of standout hits. Not as many blow-you-away songs as Cant Buy Me a Thrill, but this album was another Steely Dan win from this project. 8/10

listened to this one thousands of times. we all hate that one song

I am a massive fan of Steely Dan and I’d say this is my second favorite album of theirs after Aja. During my sophomore year of high school Ricky Don’t Lose That Number was very popular with the kegger crowd. The first side of the album was flawless except for a weird little todo loo thing at the end.

Muy buen álbum, se te hace cero pesado escucharlo

I expected to hate it, but that never happened. While it’s not my style of music, it was better than I thought. I appreciated the short runtime too.

Listened to this 3 times now, so good, love the vocals but the solos are also outstanding!! Dan is the man.

How have I never heard of this band before. Super funky and flowy(?) rock which I love. A couple just ok songs but they don't detract from the rest of the album.

You seriously cant go wrong with Steely Dan, though this might be weaker than Can't Buy A Thrill, but still, 8/10

Kulare enn eg synest då eg var ung

Steely-muthafuggin-Dan. Im biased. Theyre just too good. Catchy innuendo songs, who doesnt like that?

Pretzel Logic is my fourth Steely Dan album, and this is another catchy album that I can’t seem to turn off. Yet it sounds similar to their other albums on this list. I am not complaining, because what Steely Dan did worked for them. Like “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” has such a good beat, and I found myself bopping along to that and the rest of the album. One song in particular struck me: “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” is jazz instrumental that has a sinister undertone that has me obsessed. It sounds so different from Steely Dan’s other work.

In my opinion, another stellar album from Steely Dan! A lot of people in this day and age know a couple of Steely Dan songs, but one thing that this project has revealed to me is that these guys put out great albums at best, decent albums at worst, all throughout the 70s. And their sound is quintessential 70s perfection. These guys really aren't talked about nearly enough today in comparison to other 70s giants. But make no mistake, they're part of the giants club. This album is short and sweet at 34 minutes, and it doesn't waste a single moment of that time. The mix between jazz and rock here is juuuust right, and Steely Dan showcases a lot of variety in that short time.

like, jazzy, lindo lindas voces linda musica

Very nice

Gostei bastante da vibe desse álbum. Não conhecia a banda.

regrese, mi comeback btw me gustaria q me pusieran mas musica de mujeres pagina escuchame porfa :'p track 1: me gusta el intro ya con eso m compro, me encanta la parte instrumental y la tranquilidad q transmite ?? pero no soy muy fan de la voz del vocalista llore, el piano me recuerda de alguna extraña manera al bossa nova. track 2: muejeje me gusta la guitarra en el fondo muejejej, el precoro slayy, sigo resaltando la guitarra carrea la cancion muchas gracias, aca si me gusta la voz del vocalista, tmb me gusta cmo suena la trompeta, el solo de la guitarra gracias por el desayuno, naiiii bai naiiii. best one i think uwu track 3: no soy muy fanatica de las canciones ¿lentas? ns ok, vuelvo y le echo flores al de la guitarra, when the demon is at your door, in the morning it wont be downn nooo moreee, you can run but you cant hide whats inside of you, no le tenia tanta fe a que me gustara pero si me gusto, no era tan lenta como pense. track 4: 1:47 min, me recuerda a las canciones de las romcoms, buen bridge. track 5: uAuauaUAUuaauuauUauAUuau, me gusta demasiado el inicio, ns me acuerda a bob esponja, no me cansaré de hablar del guitarrista, jazz y swing, funciona cmo interlude me encantaaaa, pinche cancion espectacular. track 6: CON AUDIFONOSS AAA, increible q sean 2 bateristas, puaah puaah soy la guitarra ok track 7: q era ese maravilloso intro, EL VIOLIN DIOSAKOLSKALMKALNK ame ame, AAA SUENA PRECIOSO, maybee hes a fairyyy track 8: bingo para el del bajo, sin bajo y piano no funciona, EL SOLO ???, ou yeeh, no tengo nada mas para decir q no haya dicho anteriormente este album es increible wtf, LA PARTE INSTRUMENTAL FINAL AAAAAAAA. track 9: ya me gusta la voz del vocalista no habia dicho eso, with a gunn track 10: q es lo q suena en el coro q me encanta, es una armonica ??, NO ES UNA ARMONICA ES UNA GUITARRA, LAS CAMPANASS ???, is this christmas, the piano brings dramaaa to the christmas table. track 11: y me caso con el guitarrista ok, I FEEL THE MONKEEYY IN YOUR SOUULLL, el guitarrista carrea el album uwu mezclaron en este album hasta lo q no tenian (en el buen sentido) me gusta cuando hay 2 voces shout out al guitarrista again metian todos los instrumentos existentes y si no se los inventaban la vdd no puedo creer q este album sea de los 70s ya habia dicho esto en otras reseñas pero me gusta mucho cuando el nivel instrumental y vocal es completamente parejo ACABO DE DESCUBRIR Q SOLO SON 2 PERSONAS ???? que amo las mentes creativas la vdd no crei q me fuera a gustar tanto

A somewhat of a Steely Dan hater (purely to antagonize Luke), I was grooving and jamming to the album. Listening to the whole thing all the way through was too much for me though tbh. Also I've hear all of these songs separately at some point because Luke is a certified member of the Dandom. Great album name. Luke don't read this!

Very easy listenin, and it turns out my mom is a big fan of Rikki Don't Lose That Number Favorites: Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Good vibes

yes i like

I had not heard this Steely Dan album; it was great. I have really come to appreciate them this past year.

I’ll preface this by saying that I’m partial to Steely Dan as it’s one of the primary bands my father in law played in the house while my wife was a kid. They tend to get dismissed as ground zero of cheesy dad rock but I actually think there’s so much to admire in their work. Donald Fagen was a master of jazzy keyboard harmonies turned into rock structure, and most of their compositions are so lushly and interestingly orchestrated (and sound great on record through nice speakers). Starts with an absolute classic and doesn’t lose too much steam by the end.

very good I liked it a lot more than expected! I liked the jazzy aspect and its very fresh sounds 8/10

i quite liked it tbh

Great sneaky funkiness.

Fun rhythms, great 70s harmonies and some supremely catchy hooks. 4/5

Call me a Steely Fan because I am a fan of Steely Dan

Great Album

The epitome of dad rock. Still pretty good though.

more country vibes, soviet, 50/60’, really nice but no outstanding ones

Progy jazzy goodness in pop record clothing. There is so much going on and yet it feels so smooth. The technical execution is so impressive. You kind of miss how extraordinary they playing is at times because it's so clean and natural sounding in the ensemble. Such a strong start, I do feel like it slightly looses steam on the b side, but maybe those are the growers

Album Review: Pretzel Logic – Steely Dan Rating: 72/100 The Vibe: A mix of sophisticated instrumentation and confusing storytelling. While the bass lines and production shine, some tracks veer too far into "bland yacht rock" territory to make a lasting impact. The Highlights: Grooves and Instrumentation The album opens strong with distinct musicianship. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" sets a high bar immediately with that driving bass line and a satisfying guitar finish. This momentum carries into "Night by Night," which delivers a fun, funk-inspired bass that keeps the energy high. The title track, "Pretzel Logic," is a standout centerpiece. It features a haunting opening and a driving rhythm section that anchors the song, complemented by a tight mini-guitar solo and well-placed trumpets. The instrumentation is also playful on "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," where the "Peter Frampton" talk-box effect creates a fun, ragtime instrumental break. The Critiques: Lyrics and Tone Despite the musical proficiency, the album struggles with consistency. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" feels like basic yacht rock; the lyrics come across as bland rather than profound. Similarly, "Barrytown" has a solid beat, but the lyrics are difficult to parse, feeling like a generic upbeat '60s rock track rather than a cohesive story. "Charlie Freak" is the biggest point of contention. While Steely Dan is known for their ironic juxtaposition of dark lyrics with bright melodies (similar to Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" or The Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville"), this track misses the mark. The storytelling is there, but the sound doesn't land, making the irony feel less effective than their contemporaries. Track-by-Track Breakdown | Track | Song Title | User Notes | |---|---|---| | 1 | Rikki Don't Lose That Number | Nice bass line. Nice guitar toward the end. | | 2 | Night by Night | Fun funk bass line. | | 3 | Any Major Dude Will Tell You | Very basic yacht rock. Lyrics just feel bland. | | 4 | Barrytown | Liked the beat, but struggled to make sense of the lyrics. Feels like upbeat 60s rock. | | 5 | East St. Louis Toodle-Oo | Fun instrumental. Ragtime feel with "Peter Frampton FX" (Talk box). | | 6 | Parker's Band | Straightforward uptempo rock with a fun sax solo. (Note: This is a tribute to Charlie Parker, rather than a cover). | | 7 | Through With Buzz | Feels very Elton John. | | 8 | Pretzel Logic | Haunting opening, driving bass. Nice mini guitar solo and trumpets. | | 9 | With a Gun | Fun upbeat tempo. Engaging lyrical storytelling. | | 10 | Charlie Freak | Good storytelling, but the sound didn't click. The "happy sound/dark lyrics" irony wasn't executed as well as other classics. | | 11 | Monkey in Your Soul | A nice, fun, non-serious palette cleanser. Liked the horns. | Final Verdict Pretzel Logic is a technically proficient album with undeniable grooves, particularly in the low end. However, the varying quality of the lyrics and some stylistic choices prevent it from being a masterpiece. It’s a solid listen, but not without its skippable moments.

Any major dude will tell you is a classic.

People may think Steely Dan is lame but their music is so layered and sonically rich, so full of harmonic complexity it elevates it from rock to jazz. The irony-tinged lyrics add to the fun. Fagen and Becker are undoubtedly geniuses. I don't think this is their best album but it's still pretty damn good.

4.5 war echt gut, vor allem barrytown. der rest war auch gut, manches hat sich zwar ähnlich angehört, aber das ist ja eigentlich auch unvermeidlich.

I love steely dan! This one’s got Rikki dont lose this number

332/1089 - Not their best for sure. The 1001 list has weird picks for Steely Dan. I think Countdown and Pretzel could be swapped for Royal Scam and Gaucho. Or better yet, swap them out for some Doobie Brothers albums so there's some more Michael McDonald on the list than just Aja background vocals and that one corny Berkleecore Thundercat song

More eclectic than Aja

I recognize it

Not my favorite steely dan album but still pretty damn good

Easily on par with the other Steely Dan albums in the list. Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night by Night, With A Gun, and Charlie Freak were the best tracks. Generally jolly classic rock. Surprised me how mild it all was - but in a good way. Listened twice, I'm a man of steel.

Definite sound from the 70s. And that's not a bad thing.

Day706 - i didn’t like it as much as can’t by a thrill and aja but still very good

I love Steely Dan and I won't apologize for that. You're probably thinking that I'm a white suburban dad because of that, right. Well, yeah, I am. Whatever. Think of me what you want; I'll be listening to some white suburban dad rock with my headphones and I'll never hear you talking that shit ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25

This felt a little different than the “reelin in the years” steely Dan. I liked it.

Very chill album, definitely would listen again. Added a lot to my playlist, very calm.

Dope

contexto: desde que salio Can't Buy a Thrill que fisicamente no puedo parar de escuchar Steely Dan, genere una obsesión al punto que me se todas las canciones del album y me escuche otros, entre esos Pretzel Logic, asi que let me say: Mi segunda vez escuchando este album, tiene canciones buenisimas con un estilo mas desarrollado y estable que el que vemos en el debut. Ya no lo dejan cantar tanto al otro del duo asi que la voz es también mas monotona. Extraño igual los solos instrumentales y las canciones donde se grita un poquito mas. No creo que sea tan bueno como el primero, pero igual lo disfruto mucho y me alegra que haya salido. Favs: Night By Night, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Barrytown

Ist ne gute Platte, aber der Vorgänger konnte mehr, gerade was die Hits angeht.

Der Dan gefällt mir echt gut. Geht sehr schön ins Ohr!

Schönes Album.

Jetzt wo ich weiß was ich von der Band zu erwarten habe überrascht der Sound nicht mehr so ganz, aber das macht trotzdem richtig viel Spaß. Tolles Album, leider mMn zu kurz geraten

REALLY Short, added a couple of songs to my mega playlist as a part of the project but some of these are really good. Some of them are limited to the fact they are like 1 minute long.

Great album very good albums very calming what can i say more

Steely Dan é uma grande banda, que ajudou a definir o som do rock anos 70. Esse álbum é um clássico. Apesar de ser curto, com apenas 33 minutos, é uma obra densa, com muita qualidade e dinâmica. Não é perfeito, mas a maioria das músicas são muito interessantes, principalmente as que contam com linhas de baixo mais presentes. Melhor do álbum: "Night by Night". Pior do álbum: "Barrytown".

Not quite as consistently excellent as Can't Buy a Thrill but still a great album with that classic Steely Dan sound. Favorites: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night by Night, Pretzel Logic

Don’t know much about Steely Dan, but this album started off incredibly strong. A gentle song, followed by a funky track, then moving into soft rock, it impressed me right from the beginning. I just love groovy songs. It’s a smooth blend of jazz and rock with a laid back style. It feels warm, groovy, and classy all at once. The first half stood out the most for me, those opening tracks really set the bar. The instrumental sections with guitar and the voice box solos were a really cool touch. Lyrically and stylistically, it’s smooth and quirky, which is exactly why people love Steely Dan. The production is also seriously impressive for a record made in the 1970s. And at just around 30 minutes long, it’s an easy, enjoyable listen. My favourite tracks are Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night By Night, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Easy St. Louis Toodle-Oo, Parker's Band, Through With Buzz, Pretzel Logic, With A Gun, Charlie Freak

A good album, I liked Night By Night and Any Major Dude Will Tell You the most.

Some tunes are unfamiliar to me, but it's Steely Dan.

Psychedelic: really intriguing

Pretty good. I liked the arrangements and the playing on the album. All the songs are good, even something with as stupid a title as “Any Major Dude Will Tell You”. I love the grooviness. The vocal harmonies have this unique sound to them that I really like. 4/5

191121 17:30 3.5

"Any Major Dude" sounds like the poster child for 70s mellow ballads, and I'm all here for it.

Enjoyed!!!!

It’s so technically perfect that it almost feels weird to me. I love it, but it also is like scarily well made if that makes sense. Highly enjoyed it nonetheless LOL

High 3? Not a huge steely dan fan but a couple solid tracks

The instrumentals are lush, funky, and burst with life. Steely Dan’s music may be labeled “soft rock,” but their finesse cuts through. There is a coolness to this record that I can’t get enough of. From the punchy piano playing to the often cryptic lyrics, this album won me over.

Yes

In this house we love the dan

7/10 Solid smooth rock. A bit too polished - could do with a few rough edges.

Love it

Just GOOD music. Love the flawless infusion of jazz, pop, and rock!! This was a great vibe that made me love music more. I need more Steely Dan in my life.

Contrary to what pre-40s me might've said, Steely Dan is good. Again this app makes a "not their most popular album" choice. Any major dude will tell you.

I’m not willing to reopen the Steely Dan Debate, but I enjoyed this.

oh fuck yes

I have become such a steely dan fan!

I love the Dan. This isn't quite their best, but it's still better than 80% of the random, forgettable Britain-centric garbage on this list.

Really good. Uplifting.

Rikki and Any Major Dude are excellent. The rest could grow on me - it took a few listens to those two in the past. A bit naff in places.

A sneaky album but in the best intentions. Through with buzz is funny and melodic, any major dude will tell you is snidey but also has a message. As with most steely dan albums it likes itself a little too much. This is a tremendous collection though and their 2nd best album.

Lots of great songs on this album, highlights like Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and Any Major Dude Will Tell You. Didn’t think there were any weak songs or skips.

Like a bit of Dan

Great jams

Not really a huge fan of yacht rock, but this album has a ton of good songs. Maybe it’s growing on me.

Enjoyed this much more than Aja

Sure it's the kind of music your Dad listens to and you probably hated it growing up because everything they listened to sounded the same, but becoming an adult is recognising that you might also like Dad rock because this is pretty damn good.

My exploration of the 1001 Albums list is currently being guided by artists like Steely Dan, those I've somehow managed to skip over until now. The question with "Pretzel Logic" is whether it qualifies as a five-star omission from my album collection. My conclusion: no! It just earns a rating of four stars. While the opening track, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", is a familiar radio staple from my youth, at that time it didn't resonate as strongly with me as other acts of the day such as Bowie, Elton John, or the UK Glam Rock scene. The album truly shines on two tracks: the irresistible groove of "Night by Night" and the title track, both highlighted by exceptional lead guitar. Outside of those moments, "Pretzel Logic" remains firmly in the realm of pleasant, safe soft rock, characterized by crisp production, subtle jazz influences, and capable vocals, but ultimately too reserved to leave a lasting mark. Side one 1 "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (3/5) 2 "Night by Night" (5/5) 3 "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" (3/5) 4 "Barrytown" (4/5) 5 "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" (3/5) Side two 6 "Parker's Band" (3/5) 7 "Through with Buzz" (3/5) 8 "Pretzel Logic" (5/5) 9 "With a Gun" (4/5) 10 "Charlie Freak" (3/5) 11 "Monkey in Your Soul" (4/5) Total - 40 Average - 3.64 151/1001 81/151 albums reviewed were new to me.

Fantastic album. Top notch technical playing. Certainly underrated drumming and time signatures. The first three songs are undoubtedly the highlight then starts to tail off a bit after that. Love his voice. Love the lyrics. Great album. I agree should be in the top 1001.

Smooth listening. Too many sound the same. Enjoyed Night by Night most for its funk and Monkey in Your Soul for their change in style.

Excellent album but not great. I would definitely download the record but wouldn't classify it as a must have or classic. However, there are classic songs on it.

Flew by so quickly. Super smooth. Nearly a 5

Yes but without prog. That's pretty much 80s Yes though... Nevermind then. It sounds like if 70s Yes didn't have prog.

Reminds me of the kind of music I was deeply obsessed with a few years ago. Still my style, but I’m trying to expand. Interestingly, although I’ve listened to tracks here before, never the full album:

This to me sounds like the most accessible Steely Dan has ever been. A more "traditional" pop song structure. Short, Catchy and not as much time devoted to solos. The solo work is always what I appreciated about the band, so maybe this one isn't my favorite, but their skilled musicians and I'll listen to them any way I can get them.

Parasta Steely Dania mitä itse olen kuullut, mutta mihin se sitten riittää. Tosi puhdasta ja viimeisen päälle hiottua, ei paljon "Oho"-hetkiä ole levyllä. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo oli ihan hauska välipala, kun taas nimibiisin synariffista tuli tosi vahvasti Tom Robinson Band mieleen. Ollaan kyllä varmaan jossain Radio Nova -ystävällisen musan rootseilla tämän kanssa. Eikä siinä siis mitään väärää ole, itsehän olen setämiehistyttyäni uskaltanut ihan antaa luvan itselleni diggailla ihan avoimesti tämmöisestä aor-kamasta. Hyviä biisejä, virheetöntä meininkiä ja sopivan mittainen levy. Helppo nelonen.

Great recording, super groovy with a lot of interesting sounds. Super consistent, every song is equally good

Erittäin onnistunut! Sanat, sovitukset, stemmat kaikki kohdillaan. Tätä tulee kuunneltua jatkossakin!

Standout Tracks: Rikki Don't Lose That Number Any Major Dude Will Tell You Barrytown But it's all good.

Really enjoyed this one

I really really like this album it reminded me of David Bowie and had super cool guitar my favorite song was pretzel logic kinda sounded like Led Zeppelin. Such an amazing album!!!

It's good

I quite liked this album

Definitely a classic, but a little dated at times

- Ist mal wieder ein gutes klassisches Rockalbum - Würde ich wahrscheinlich nochmal hören aber fast eher im Hintergrund - Ich kannte sogar einen Song welcher auch der Topsong des Albums für mich ist Topsong: Rikki don’t lose that number

This was another good album from Steely Dan and I know the main single but I hadn't heard anything else from this album and I quite enjoyed it!

dosta dobro, između trojke i četvorke, mislio sam da će mi se više svidjeti. ajde četiri, neka

There’s plenty of speculation kicking about at the moment regarding artificial intelligence. The race to be the first to crack artificial general intelligence – and with it, the right to dictate what the future of humanity looks like, I suppose – is on. Consultants and commentators swarm: “will the workforce be ready?”, “should AGI be free for all?”, “what’s the future of the future of ecommerce look like?”. Anyway, if you’re reading this – and you will be – then listen up. We made this. Well, I didn’t, but don’t be obtuse. Steely Fuckin’ Dan, man. Prodigious postmodernist pop perfection fuckin’ Dan. They weave, duck and dive. They make the most ridiculous choices and then hammer them home with such conviction that you sort of just totally forget how lame you thought it was going to be seconds earlier. They start songs as if they’re already halfway through them, putting you on the back foot in a way that ultimately becomes rewarding somehow. They’re fucking jerks, obviously, god can you imagine? But they’re Dan. They’re only human. Anyway, if it’s peace out to all soul owners then this shall exist only to show pixel posterity that I tried. But if it goes like I hope it will, then AGI’s going to go deep and come back up grinning. Success will write “Any major dude will tell you” across the sky.

Great album. Love it. My favorite Steely Dan, but not their best. Has some "meh" songs (Garrytown, and Through with Buzz). Not their finest work

It’s Steely Dan. I’m a middle aged man. It’s fine.

Easy listening Top tier production. Nothing really stands out as spectacular but definitely not disappointed at any point. 3.5 outta 5

The better end of stuff from “classic rock” radio stations. Very consistent in quality, and enjoyed the jazzy instrumental. Solid but not nothing that stands out too much.

i didnt think id like it but its actually pretty good. jeff porcaro gives these tracks a lot of energy and really pushes through.

The harmonies- the organ- the chill, jammy guitar solos. the HITS. Cheers to Steely Dan!

Decent album with one song that's for the ages.

It’s just a great rock album. More bluesy and soft than anything to be honest, but fantastic song craft throughout. A great entry and exit song in this album too. Said it before and I’ll say it again, but it’s one of the things that makes a great album. Maybe I’m biased but this album is just a great listen. Doesn’t have enough hits to justify a perfect score, but a great listen nonetheless

The more I listen to Steely Dan the more I just get it. This stuff just rules. It's such a great vibe, the perfect blend of funky rock and jazzy blues. Favorite tracks were East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, and Charlie Freak. 8/10, 4 stars.

Essential Steely Dan. Brilliant album with a wide palette of musical ideas executed flawlessly.

3.5

Sounds better than most things. Fun, jumpy jazz/rock thing with plenty of variance while remaining on theme. Album’s shorter than usual and this is one of those rare times where I wish there was more.

🗯 Music for people who iron their jeans and alphabetise their vinyl a bit too closely Steely Dan’s third album, and the last before Becker & Fagen locked themselves away as full-time studio scientists, is basically flawless. They take their jazz fixation and polish it into something radio-friendly without dumbing it down. ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’ is the obvious entry point, but the real magic is all over: the title track’s sly piano sway, harmonies layered like a smug grin, songs so sharp they make you double-check your hi-fi setup. Fifty years on, this still sounds crisp and modern — meticulous without being sterile, nerdy without being dull. It’s like they coded grooves in Fortran but somehow made them funky. That’s the Dan paradox: dad rock that’s somehow still aspirational. Verdict: Essential (for the musos, the hipsters, and the dads ironing their Levi’s on Sunday) For fans of: Doobie Brothers, Toto, Hall & Oates, music that makes you want to buy a better turntable

This most definitely fucks, absolutely loved this. Never listened to a full Steely Dan album before and this has turned me into a fan. Can't wait to hear more. I ordered this on vinyl, easy 4

Funky yet not defined by the funk. A solid album of songs I have never heard before and probably won’t ever hear again. 8/10

(4) ok this is awesome

Pretty fun album! Has some more variety and/or personally interesting tracks to me than Aja, while still being pretty nicely short.

Another great album from Steely Dan! We got Aja early on in this challenge, and while I don't like this as much as that one, it has been steadily rising my Dan rankings for a while now, so it entered this challenge at the perfect time. Much more grounded in earlier forms of rock than Aja, and much less influenced by jazz fusion, it still captures that breezy, self-loathing spirit of the Dan's best.

This is one of those flawed albums I can't help but love. I don't think anything here is as technically impressive as Aja, and it does hit a bit of a slump in the back half. Despite that, the high points more than make for it with how fun they are. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo stood out as a shining highlight, haters be damned -- Steely Dan is based as hell for the Duke Ellington nod there. Standouts: Night By Night • Any Major Dude Will Tell You • Barrytown • East St. Louis Toodle-Oo • Monkey In Your Soul

Was not thrilled on this on my first listen because it seemed a little meandering and pointless, but I spent more time on a second listen enjoying the piano in the background and the song structure. Willing to call this a tentative low 4 because it kept my ear interested.

not bad, pretty groovy

4/5

Pretty cool.

Задорный и чрезвычайно мелодичный альбом. Особенно начало понравилось, потом немножко поостыло впечатление (может ещё потому, что слушал после великолепного альбома Стиви Уандера). 7 из 10.

Clean.

Not suprised that its another really good album like pretty much all killer no filler. Not as good as other steely dan albums but still great. 8/10 Favourite: Rikki Don't Lose That Number Least Favourite: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

Day 31 A new one for me and I was really impressed. Looking forward to listening to the other Steely Dan albums 8/10 Highlights Night by Night Pretzel Logic With a Gun

I have never met Napoleon, but I plan to find the time

Not the Dan's best, some 5/5 songs, some lacking

good background music, couple of familiar hits on this album

Standout Songs: Rikki Don't Lose That Number Any Major Dude Will Tell You Barrytown Parker's Band With A Gun Charlie Freak Really solid album that was fun to listen to. Even the slower songs still had a cheerful vibe. Very pleasant

Its good. 82/100

Very focused album that while the production level is high and musicianship is strong the overall range of songs seems scattered.

Rikki Dont Lose that number. Marimba at the beginning? Id forgottwn about it. What is it. Like an album overture - hey everyone come in and sit down, the album is about to start. Mariba over i love the intro to this. Bam bum bum. Bam bum bum. Simple, clean, bit most of all beautiful tone then into the melody. Love the drums over all on this song. The overall groove is so laid back, deceptively casual, but the the drum fills crack and so precise. I bet they ALWAYS use a click track. Such a nice mix if constraint (guitar, drums) and passion (piano) to bring texture. Night by night. Synchopation (?) of the organ gives this such a funk feel. A few wackachicka guitars over this wouldnt be out of place. But there’s a real rock feel to the lead. Can imagine a Dread Zep cover of this. Any major dude will tell. How do they get that close your in the recording booth with them, but back of the hall feel to this? Drums different feel in this song. Very sparse on the fills, toms not as prominent in the mix. Feels less driven, more relaxed. Barrytown. These lyrics make a song whose time has come again! Can imagine this as a song in a musical. Something odd about the notes in thw guitar at the outro bit. Slightly flat maybe (almost a beep boop computer type feel) leading into a country vibe riff (which fits the song). East St Louise. Intermission? Off you go. Have a toilet break. The record will recommence shortly. Its fine an all but id like my ragtime(?new orleans jazz?) with a little less click track. A bit dirtier. Parkers band. Lovely guitar in the early part, around and playing. It gave me the bit of dirty i was missing the previous track. Through with buzz. Orchestral! Theres quite a mix of styles on this album but it remains very much a Dan sound. Pretzel Logic. Another sweet groove to this song, almost a blues groove to the bass in this. I like the Dan songs with a funk or swing or groove to them like this the best i think. I think it is the balance against the metronome feel and shows their craft well. Guitar bit at end sounded like they didnt know how to end it. With a gun. Great track. I could never sing this (yes cant sing at the beat of times, but the key changes, slides up and down - it rarely seems to rest on a note long before hitting another). Charlie Freak. Another favorite om this album. Love the kind of walking bass lines through this, the tick tock feel, the layering of violin??? Bringing in the intensity. Dark lyrics. Beautifully crafted. Monkey in your soul. The dirty bass!!! Such a good sound. Another great groove, bright horns, the guitar solo - reminds me of aomwthing but cant think what. Quick listen - as in not a drag to listen to. They dont fuck around (apart from that intro and intermission. Not much out of olace or wasted anywhere on this album.

I've had Aja from Steely Dan already from this list, and any major dude would tell you it's nearly impossible to top Aja. This album does have a few more classic Steely Dan tracks on it, but it's not quite on Aja's level in both a production and creative level. But that just shows what a juggernaut the band truly is. This album is still very good. 4 stars Hard to pick between "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" or "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" for the playlist... I might add both, just because some albums on here have had no good songs to add.

Steely Dan is weird.

Definitely not what I expected. The mixing is superb and the harmonies sound great. A lot of variety but the sound is pretty consistent somehow. Some great guitar licks and the bass is particularly the driving force behind a lot of these tunes.

Best Steely Dan albums are yet to come, but this too has great songs and those familiar Steely Dan chord voicings, strange arrangements and great story telling are already here. My favourite song of the album is Night by night. Donald Fagen's singing needs acquired taste.

Can’t go wrong with Steely Dan! The fourth on the list for me, similar to the first album I think this falls short of the 5 but still an easy 4!

I’m an absolute sucker for a maestro of the steel guitar. Put this guy in the turnpike troubadours. STRAIGHT GAS

Groovy and overall enjoyable

Funky 70s grooves

Cool

grandioso faking album me gusto mucho escucharlo todo junto. No me obsesione con ninguna rola aun pero me encanto

How can you compare this to so many of the other albums on the list, TOP of the HEAP! Steely Dan just blows so many other recording artists away. The song Pretzel Logic is so good: “I stand upon the platform The man gave me the news: He said you must be joking son Where did you get those shoes?” The guitar solo rocks, the organ and the piano rhythms blend so well. The horns and guitar licks near the end, are the icing on the cake This is one of my favourite Dan tracks. Charlie Freak, so well written, and Rikki is outstanding. I would have given this a 5 star, but there are a number of weaker tracks

I'm a white man, so this a 4 at least.

listened

I knew Rikki Don't lose that Number already. Night by Night was good. Really liked the horns there. AMDWTY kind of just sounded like every other SD song. East St. Louis has a great first 30 seconds, I like the beat. Not so much when the next phase starts. Parker's Band was good. Again just generic SD sound imo. Through with Buzz was eh Really liked Pretzel Logic (first min kinda slow, guitar was needed). With a gun was a nice change for song 9. Not an amazing song though. Charlie Freak good piano. Eh singing. Monkey in your soul mid. Good horns though.

7/10

Possibly the best Steely Dan album I've heard. wonderful jazz, mixed with 70s adult rock. Yeah, this is a good one. 4.5/5

Finally got to listen to some Steely Dan. I liked this album, can't wait to listen more from them.

groovy!! wasn't blown away by aja when i listened to it a while ago but i was surprisingly in the mood for this kinda album today

I didn't realize how much I liked this album. It was good from front to back

Schon wieder Steely Dan ;-) Immer eine kleine Spur zu intellektuell und abgehoben, aber auf diesem Album vergleichsweise zugänglich, schon durch den großen Hit "Ricky don't lose...". Aber stark, und je älter ich werde, umso mehr funkt es zwischen uns beiden.

brilliance

Reminds me of music from the Anchorman movies and I mean that as a compliment.

it's steely dan!!! wow!!! i'd say this is probably my least favorite album from them but that still means its really good given how great the rest of their discography is. i'll probably elaborate more on this if/when we ever get to Aja but it's really hard to argue against donald fagen and walter becker's pursuit of perfection being a bad thing for those later albums. can't really decide between 3/4 stars here so i'll just go on the upper end since i feel like i lean towards there anyways.

Warm sounding album. Really enjoyes.

Nunca los había oido. Me gusta. Ecplorare más de ellos. Musicalmente precisos, casi exactos, disciplinados pero rígidos.

This is objectively good, but soft rock/yacht rock has never been my bag. Night by Night was surprisingly more funky than I expected, though.

I was so ready for Steely dan to show up, but I was not prepared for day 2!! Last 3 songs end it on a slump.

Great musicianship and catchy tunes. Cant believe that it must have been a pain in the a** being part of the band. Fav: Rikki don‘t lose that number

I’ve enjoyed every steely Dan project immensely and this one is no different .. love the fusion , and the instrumentation work . It sits slightly below Aja , which is one of my fav finds here but this is def gonna be in my rotation for some time

A very good Steely Dan album that tackles the pointlessness of nostalgia, drug overdoses, homages to jazz greats of the past and much more. The musicianship is fantastic but I’ve never warmed up to Fagan’s voice. It sure what it is that turns me off.

Favorites: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Barrytown.

classic rock, 70er

Positive steely Dan experience 4 stars. Idk what was up with the previous album I listened to

A band that knew what it was doing and seemed determined to enjoying the doing. One never liked "Rikki" as a kid but sees/hears the quality now. "Barrytown" and "Any Major Dude" are longtime faves, and everything else is tight, well-judged and purposeful. A wholly professional effort that offers good value throughout, if never quite reaching Aja-levels of transcendence.

The definition of dad rock and that's not a bad thing, loved this!

Not my favorite steely album but good nonetheless

Enjoyed it. Easy listening, gentle rock.

What's the number again?

Pretty good, actually.

(82/100)

Fun listen.

Love this one!! 4/5

Such a lively album. I think I’m a steely Dan fan

Feels like a flashback to high school jazz band in the best way. Fun, silly, groovy, such a good way to spend 35 mins

really good and smooth

Will listen to this again. Great chill album with some really great songs.

4’5

Solid and worth a listen.

Dan of Steel

It's a great album. However for me it seems to lack any memorable moments. I finished the album thinking "well that was fantastic but there aren't any songs I want to go back to". I'll probably go back to this one later and revise this review accordingly.

Musicians! - jazz 1974 could be theme music to 70s TV show, piano, horns Ricki don't lose that number Any major dude Barrytown 8.4

Très très cool Rock jazz Alan parson comme la dernière fois apparemment

This is an enjoyable listen. It's smooth, clever, and full of the polished musicianship Steely Dan is known for. The songs are solid and the vibe is consistent, but it feels like it’s just shy of something truly great. It’s a good album, no doubt, but just misses the mark a bit.

Not their best, but still features some string tracks. Polished as ever.

Not my favorite Dan album but still good

Genius. 1 Star deducted for East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.

Muy bueno. No esperaba este disco, ya que no es de los más famosos de Steely Dan, pero me va que lo pongan.

Quite liked this one. Really easy to listen to and quite groovy in parts with some instrumental tracks in between. Vocals were quite clear.

Something between country Bob Dylan and LED Zeppelin guitar riffs I like it fav: Any Major dude will tell you

Muy bueno, siempre le quise dar una oportunidad a la banda y nuca me senté a escucharlo pero me parece algo que pondría bastante seguido.

Score: 8.5/10 | Favorite Song: Barrytown Pretzel Logic is where Steely Dan tightens the screws and fully embraces the studio rat identity they’d later be known for. This album feels compact yet endlessly replayable, packing jazzy chord changes, cryptic lyrics, and lush production into a lean 33-minute run. What really stands out to me is how varied it is without ever feeling scattered. You get country-funk grooves in “With a Gun,” warped nostalgia in “Any Major Dude Will Tell You,” and a smoky piano-led title track that sounds like it came from a parallel universe where jazz ruled AM radio. My personal favorite, “Barrytown,” feels like a deceptively cheerful song that’s actually laced with judgment and irony, which is classic Steely Dan. It’s upbeat and playful but has that unmistakable sting in the lyrics. Across the album, there’s this vibe that nothing is quite what it seems, like you’re peeking into the lives of people who smile while hiding something sharp behind their teeth. That dry, cynical wit combined with incredibly smooth musicianship is what makes Pretzel Logic such a standout in their catalog.

Soundtrack of my high school years.

Genuinely not sure why I liked this so much but I did. For me this is head empty, silly music but I had fun and really enjoyed tracks like Parker's Band. Would absolutely listen to this again outside on a sunny day

Rikki Don't Lose That Number - 5/5 Night by Night - 5/5 Any Major Dude Will Tell You - 5/5 Barrytown - 3/5 East St. Louis Toodle-Oo - 3/5 Parker's Band - 4/5 Through With Buzz - 3/5 Pretzel Logic - 5/5 With a Gun - 4/5 Charlie Freak - 5/5 Monkey in Your Soul - 4/5 Average score: 4.2/5

Steely Dan are a great band but I always feel like I'm listening to a overdone pastiche of another great band I really want to listen to

Fun stuff! At points it somehow reminds me of Mario Kart music (bangers). Probably a bit more mainstream and poppy than their later albums but I can't help but enjoy Steely Dan no matter what. 7/10

Steely Dan always does it. There's something very precise about their music, which sometimes doesn't feel very rock n roll. But other times it hits. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is great, but my favourite on this album is the subverted blues of the title track

Some nice easy listening for waking up. I feel like I'm getting ready to live my best movie life. I think it was "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" that was fun and funky. East Louis Toodle-oo would be a fun swing! :D

Pretty great

A lot of pleasant songs

4 out of 5

Worth four stars just for “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Really stellar. Probably 4.5 stars for me.

Æ vet ikke ka æ hadde forventa av Steely Dan, men det va ikke egentlig det æ fikk – det va bra, og æ likte det, men ja, æ huske lite av det i etterkant.

Enjoyed this, will listen again

Good stuff, talented performers, good song variety, a listening pleasure.

A nostalgic album for me

Any major dude will tell you this album rocks pretty hard. I'm not a huge fan of Steely Dan, but after hearing this record I'm starting to become a fan. A really laid-back and groovy album with good tunes such as "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Pretzel Logic" and "Night by Night" just to name. Very fun to listen to and enjoy. That being said, this gets a 4/5. This album isn't perfect, but it's very close to being perfect. And I'm sure it won't lose that number. 4.25/5

I enjoyed this. The first Steely Dan record I heard and loved was Aja, so it's not really fair to compare that to the rest of their catalogue, but I can't help it. This record sounds like they are on their way to that sound, and less like classic rock radio fodder. This is another band that I didn't discover on my own, that I wrote off completely as lame, but they are actually quite subversive most of the time. Hell, Steely Dan is the name of a dildo.

Good middle America funky guitar

1st few song start the album of great. I love how you can hear each and every instrument. My favourite song is Rikki don’t lose that number

Really liked it. Had heard bits and pieces of it over the years but never all together.

I went in blindly and decided to listen to this on the walk I went on yesterday. At first I was like smh what did I get myself into. But then I just imagined if I was an old lady on the walk this is what I would listen to, so then I enjoyed it.

Decent but got bored.

This is a banger. 4

very nice discovery

Perfect dad rock for my home depot run

Pretty flawless album

I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Sure, people say it's "dad rock" derogatorily, and they're probably (definitely) right. But so what. It slaps.

Nikki Don’t Lose That Number is pretty good, familiar. Mellow, kind, a little sad. Others similar but more upbeat. Pretty good on the whole.

Who knew dad rock was so funky. Always knew this band existed, but haven’t ever really paid them any attention. I’m enjoying this more than I expected - nice smooth music to have on.

It’s amazing that this was 1974–the production is immaculate and you can hear Fagen enunciate every single word. I love the smoothness and ease, but also the bitterness.

Steely Dan, I guilty pleasure of mine... but don't tell anyone! Its cheesy, its dad rock, its socks with sandals but its catchy!

Franchement pas mal, j’ai apprécié. Du rock un peu jazz, un peu blues. C’est chill détente.

Great Stuff. You can't go wrong with Steely Dan.

Solid outing with some big hits, but ultimately the album cuts just average

Fun fact - I absolutely hated Steely Dan until I reached my thirties - don’t know what can be drawn from that musical and physiological parallel, but figured I’d put it out there

Cool, chill rock

4.5

Thought this was very enjoyable; the ultimate dad rock. 8/10

Ah, we know it well! Steely just kills it with Pretzel Logic. Tight, jazzy, upbeat with lots of different topics and sounds. Rikki comes out of the gate strong and the next five songs make for one of the best album sides ever. The East St Louis Toodle-Oo was always a 4Ex family favorite. B Side not as strong, but still good. Weak cut is Through With Buzz, the following four song are a very solid finish. Liked this album a lot when it first came out and through the Haverhill years. L = (3.0*s) still holds up J = (4.4*s) yep, still holds up!

Always been a fan of Steely Dan. Growing up Pretzel Logic was probably the album that got the most play. It's a very worthy 3rd entry that comes in at a tight 33 minutes. It's not loaded with hits, but the entire ensemble is mostly engaging. Steely Dan are great at weaving a tale while showing off their musical diversity and skill without featuring face melting solos or extravagance. They are simply masters of competence which is pleasing on so many levels. 3.62 stars

Hell yeah dad rock

Buena mezcla de soft rock, jazz, blues y algo de funk con alguna canción que me sobra.

Some strong jams, good energy, doesn't drag . Good all around. Some top tier white people music.

So good

Liebe das Gitarrensolo. Manchmal muss man Songs öfter hören um die Schönheit für sich zu verstehen. Was würdest du gerne aufbewahren und was willst du abgeben?

Classic ‘70’s album layered with various sounds and themes. Jazz influence is obvious but smooth throughout. Slick production with not a hint of rawness

Pretty good.

Great album! I adored the vocals on Barrytown, which is probably my favorite off this album (along with With a Gun.) Had such a great variety of instrumentals so every song sounded different from the last.

Good album! I liked the way they blended both their voices but also the various instruments that are included, creating a clean sound. Favorite Track: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

Rikki is a great song - but the rest of the disc never seems to rise to that level again. I dig Steely Dan but this is far from their best. Still going to give it a strong rating based on body of work...

Only listened to Aja before, felt this was more enjoyable, interesting chords progressions and quite bluesy/rocky. Didn’t all stick the landing but the bits that did were immense. Title track the highlight

Steely Dan is great jazz/rock. Very enjoyable, excellent guitar work, very clean and crisp changes. Great album.

What more is there to say about Steely Dan that hasn't been said before. This album is SOOOO good. There are some songs here that aren't my absolute favorite, but this album is great! The vocal harmonies and hooks are sooooo good. Solid 4.5 album Liked Songs: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" , "Night By Night" , "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" , "Barrytown" , "Parker's Band" , "Charlie Freak" , "Monkey In Your Soul"

Production sounds great and the musicianship is unquestionable. This is my third Steely Dan record and I think I could tentatively call myself an enjoyer. This isn't as hook-y as 'Can't Buy a Thrill', which is still my favorite, but it left a better impression on me than 'Countdown to Ecstasy'. Dad rock maybe, but good, smart dad rock.

Pretty solid SD album, anchored by Rikki, a definitive song of the seventies.

Loved it! I never listened to much early Dan, but this is a terrific record.

That was surprisingly good - I listened to it during a car journey and I was in a good mood all the way despite some pretty bad traffic

This is my 3rd Steely Dan on the list. I think I feel bad for them because every album so far has had some of the greatest songs I’ve heard in the list mixed with stuff I just couldn’t vibe with. Deacon Blues is still in the top 10 of songs I’ve discovered this project. This album is a little different. I knew Rikki already but other than that song nothing on this album really stands out as something I’d want to listen to over and over again. But it’s also the most consistent listen of there’s I’ve heard

Gøy

First Introduction to Steely Dan, it’s pretty nonsensical, almost always a piano or some sort of keyboards, the harmony vocals and jazzy instruments mixed with late 60s sounding rock gave it quite an interesting sound. Great album overall, I’d rate it 4.5, unbiasedly it’s probably more like a 4.0 or 3.5. It’s a good album but admittedly I like it better than it actually is, + album standouts: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, With A Gun, Charlie Freak and Monkey In Your Soul, honorable mention to East St. Louise Toodle-Oo, not one the best tracks but one of my favorites.

This is peak '70s chill, man. It’s the kind of record that makes you wanna lean back in a recliner and let the hi-fi do its thing. Smart, but never smug. Cool without trying too hard. 11 songs clocking in under 35 minutes is super impressive too. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Any Major Dude Will Tell You - East St. Louis Toodle-Oo - Pretzel Logic

Ikke like bra som Aja og Gaucho, men en fin gjennomlytting. Litt varierende i kvalitet utover plata, men de som scorer høyt er veldig bra 3,5/5

Partially listened before Fav tracks: Rikki Don't..., Any Major Dude..., Through With Buzz

All Dan is great, but not all Dan is created equal. This is certainly overshadowed by Aja and other late period masterpieces, but still a great album in itself. 4/5

I like Steely Dan

Reminded me of the music my mum would play on road trips when I was a kid

Lively and funky. I like the harmonies and groovy instrumentals. A classic feel like a musical.

Ongelofelijk comfortabele dadrock. Ik gaf ze hier al een keer 5 sterren, en bij dit album is het vanaf het begin af aan twijfelen geblazen tussen de 4 en 5. Het is heerlijke paparock met een gitaartje, pianotje, drums, bas en de zang verre van het slechtste van deze lijst. Af en toe een blazertje. 34 minuutjes. Ik hou het toch op een 4 en dat is deze keer niet omdat ik geen twee vijven wil uitdelen, maar meer omdat er echt geen enkel nummer van dit album bij me is blijven hangen. En dan reserveer ik de 5 sterren toch liever voor de Neverminds en Siamese Dreams's van deze wereld.

Another day, another chance for me to not have an interesting review. The best part of the album is the album artwork. Musically, things are fine and interesting enough. The blues-y guitar is nice, and the vocals are only slightly tainted by that 70s pop jangle. A 3.5 rounded up

*Gordon Ramsay voice* "Delicious. Finally some good fucking dad rock" (and by good, I mean four stars). The emergent-yacht rock sound of some of these songs is great. And I think its what I want from my 1970s rock, a group that doesn't take itself too seriously and is willing to have fun with their music.

There's an attention to detail that is perfected on Steely Dan records. I think it's part of their lasting quality- that you can put these albums on no matter the year and you can always appreciate the artistry and production. Every note feels intentional, every section is tight, and everything is really locked into a BPM. There are a few tracks on this record that I don't fully connect with, like as I listen to "Barrytown" it feels like a bunch of musicians going through the motions without much connection to the actual song. It's almost a bit too perfectly attached to a metronome grid. It's not often, but noticeable. Aside from that, this is a really spectacular rockin' album. Great mix of genres, great performances (the guitar work really hits a ton of different styles and techniques), and I feel like there's something else deeper going on here too- like I have no idea what "Pretzel Logic" even means. Great album cover. Composition wise it's great but I love the black and white and how the guy and his cart kind of blend into the nature behind him. If you squint it looks like some weird amorphous thing on one plane/layer. Also it's another great "moment in time" photo- which I've mentioned before on this list as something that I really enjoy.. like it stops me and makes me think "where is this guy now?".

I down with the Dan. Why don't people sell hot nuts and pretzels where I live. Still, I'm a man of a certain age and I've been swept up in yacht rock since those early YouTube days. And whether or not this album is on the boat, I'm all aboard for the smooth vibes. Four easy stars.

very solid. i think i prefer aja and can’t buy a thrill, but steely dan rarely disappoints.

Much better than Coldplay

Love me some Steely Dan - this one is great, not quote their best. Few new tunes for me.

this album starts with the only steely dan song i know so i already at least kinda liked it immediately. i don't consider myself a fan of this brand of jazzy rock but it was a really fun and enjoyable listen. i may not have loved every song but i have nothing bad to say and i can imagine it was a blast to write and record. this is an easy 4 from me. album cover looks like danny devito. 4/5 where is his brother irony steve

as a Steely Dan Stan it’s really hard to not immediately give a 5 any time i see them show up in this exercise it’s just not as loaded as Can’t Buy a Thrill or Aja but it’s still a great album

THE DAN RIDES AGAIN!!! I love the Dan. Not my favorite of the Dan. Rikki don’t lose that number is a top five Dan though. When the Dan hits, it just hits. Not as strong as can’t buy a thrill but still the Dan continues to provide jams in only the way that the Dan can, bite sized morsels of incredibly tight pop jazz.

Another great Steely Dan album. Rikki don't lose that number is a fantastic song. The way the chorus develops halfway through is so good. Forgot all about this one. Night by Night is also a fun song. Very groovy. Barrytown is great once you get to the chorus. Pretzel Logic has a great blues vibe to it with great guitar. The composition in Charlie Freak is super unique with the arpeggiating piano lead. I don't know if this album is better than Can't Buy A Thrill, but these white bois certainly know how to catch a vibe. Strong 4/5

Is this better than the debut? Idk, but someone else could make that argument and they might not be wrong. I love the compact songs here - 11 songs 33 minutes that’s what I’m talking about. Favorites are Rikki Don’t lose that number, night by night, with a gun, and Charlie freak. Strong 4/5

This is the sound of a suburban dad in socks and sandals and its fucking awesome

Never listened to this album by Steely Dan. It's so good! Instrumentally, they are one of my favorite artists. It's just produced so perfectly. An album i'll be coming back to for sure