Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Hellings Steely Dan, gott stöff!
Ooooh it's jazzy! I liked it. It was kind of whimsical and I think the writing is fun.
This album is an easy listen and I liked the funky vibes on the songs
Classic era Steely Dan, polished jazzy rock before they became ultra ultra polished and jazzy. Very good indeed. A very high 4 because it's not Aja!
I have been enjoying the Steely Dan on this list. This isn't my favourite one so far (that would be Aja) but it's still good
i actually really enjoyed this album, especially the first song! i thought it was fun and i just really liked it
As a little kid relegated to the unsafe back-of-the-station wagon (seatbelts?) I was subject to all that AM radio (and my dad's preference) had to deliver out of the rear-wheel speaker at my ear. Something about Steely Dan kind of freaked me out and I never enjoyed their smooth mysterious ways... But hot damn those smooth mysterious ways are pretty great - took me decades to appreciate them and now just hearing the simple opening riff to "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is like a time machine - and how can a kid appreciate or understand the slightly odd jazzy *only Steely Dan* chord changes that take this pop song from simple to complex within 4 chords? Also I wouldn't have noticed how amazing this record (record. I'm listening through digital technology that couldn't have been dreamt of in the 70s) sounds - and it does sound amazing. It's at once full and clear, perfect separation of instruments, amazing musicianship. This is an album (band?) that sounds "dated" but somehow not in a negative way - more like a nostalgic slice of the 70s that celebrated creative and complex songwriting. Ironically what probably prevents me from giving this a 5 would be that some of the songs aren't as stereotypically "Steely Dan" as I'd now prefer (e.g. Barrytown doesn't seem good enough for them if that makes sense) but still overall a great listen. 8/10 4 stars.
Enjoyed this, two listens.
191121 17:30 3.5
Solid Album throughout, no standout songs though. Would happily listen to again. Like "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and "Pretzel Logic" the most
More and more dig this band now
Groovy dad rock
Steely Dan is a solid four star band
* favorite so far
Really enjoyed this. Great melodies and very listenable.
Pretty good. Even better when I make the connection with Donald Fagen - nifty! Every song was good, although Barrytown gave me major Beatles vibes. Inspiration is inspiration, though, and I don't think that takes away from anything.
Good and short
Good album. I always dig Steely Dan. 3.5
Steely Dan is real hit-or-miss for me. First track is Rikki Don't Lose That Number, which I can't stand. The album really picks up midway though though, their harmonies are excellent.
The band MOR DJs turn to when they’re feeling a little edgy. So easy to listen to but surprisingly complex and subversive. I don’t pretend to understand Steely Dan but I was perfectly content listening to this album on repeat.
Love Steely Dan. I thought that a few of the songs were a bit short, though. That was kind of surprising to me. But still, I had always enjoyed Aja and a few of their later albums.
"Rikki Don't Lose that Number" is a great song. It's main riff comes from Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" (check it out, it is the exact same riff minus the beginning 16th note and Horace is in F while Steely Dan is in E). I love the production on the track. The acoustic guitar in the second verse always makes me smile. The rest of continues to please with a great blend of jazz and rock.
Całkiem spoko, ale miejscami nudnawe
I guess I love Steely Dan
A great album with a good mixture of styles form pop to jazz
“Rikki” sets the tone as the lead off track, being smooth with some downright creepy lyrics if you really analyze them. A great album front to back, though it loses a little steam at the very end. And a great instrumental!
Good album.
Not sure if I have ever listened to a Steeley Dan record. I liked it, it was like this classic rock dabbled with what I perceive to be a dash of blues and jazz. With a gun, Pretzel Logic, and Rikki don't lose that number really stood out to me tbh.
I had listened to it before. A definite classic so smooth.
Slaps. Blues, funk and jazz.
Very nice
Night by Night: Questa groova bella forte. Qualcuno dovrebbe imparà a fa gli assoli dal vecchio zio Steely me sa Barrytown: M'è piaciuta, mi piace come ogni pezzo c'ha qualche elemento di arrangiamento un po' fuori dal comune fino ad ora. East St.Lous Toodle-Oo: Bellissima! Charlie Freak: Anche questa mi piace molto, quando usi i campanelli natalizi al posto del tambourine a me mi conquisti sempre. In conclusione: Una piacevole sorpresa! Non conoscevo gli Steely Dan ma questo album mi ha davvero colpito, pensare che avevano delle sonorità così moderne nel '74 è abbastanza assurdo. L'ho trovato molto raffinato soprattutto nella composizione, il blend fusion è fatto davvero ad arte. Con certi pezzi, in particolare Night by Night non sono riuscito a non fare head banging. Non mi sento di dargli 5 solo perché alcuni pezzi li ho trovati un po' più sottotono rispetto agli altri (tipo Parker's band) e perché comunque non ho dato 5 manco ai Sonic Youth. Comunque me lo risentirò.
Very cool jams! Not too wild, perfect for hangover days.
Much more funky than I remember Steely Dan being. Enjoyable, but not a go to album for me.
SD’s most effortless sounding album. Songwriting more uneven than CTE, KL, RS. Best songs on here are among the band’s best, and the performances are unassailable. Last album with original lineup, always hated the cover.
Surprised it didn't recommend "Can't Buy a Thrill", whose tracks are more familiar. But this one was surprisingly quirky. I didn't get burned out on a single sound and found it pretty listenable while I worked. Rikki Don't Lose that Number was still the standout for me. Reading up on this album, you really do appreciate the quality of the studio production, and it helps to understand that isn't really a pure "rock" album but a bit of jazz fusion too.
......not bad!
This felt similar to Aja, which I got barely a week ago. But at least to me it feels more accessible. I liked it a little bit more
really good album. 4.5
Pretzel Logic is a very good album that has a lot of new sounds, powerful guitar solos and a characteristic 70's vibe that helps you to relax but gives you a good and fresh experience.
Plezant albumpje met leuke deuntjes, maar geen grote uitschieter
I'm questioning how well I know this album. I know Rikki, Pretzel Logic, Any Major Dude and East St. L . . very very well but the rest - not so much. Perhaps I had a Greatest Hits LP? At one point I looked up whether Haitain Divorce (From their The Royal Scam LP) or Frampton Comes ALIVE was released first to see if Becker was the Talk Box leader or follower. I found that they were both released in 1976 but I forgot that Becker also Talk Boxed on East St. L. Becker wins!
Ricky don't lose that number pullssss
Enjoyed very much, smooth and relaxing. Like a river raft ride
Really enjoyed this. Another album that reminded me of roadtrips when I was a kid.
Yes loved this. Night by Night & Parkers Band.
Great one! Super good music, but the lyrics were sometimes like wtf dawg
4/5
I had this album (or at least the cassette) and I don't remember "Ricki" being on it. I must have always started on the second song. Perhaps I was going practicing Ricki avoidance, since I'd heard it a million times on the jukebox when I worked at my Uncle's restaurant. Great song writers, great production. Short little diversions like Through with Buzz and Charlie Freak show how easily they could pop off catchy songs. Getting back to Ricki, the piano intro is borrowed from Horace Silver's "Song for my Father", and since IMO there isn't a track on this album that can stand up to that song, I can't give it a 5.
Pretty interesting and catchy tracks throughout, I think this fits a Sunday cleaning sort of vibe.
One of the first vinyl records I ever bought from wax trax on 13th street in Denver. I'm obsessed with this title still.
Very good love artist
Not bad, reminds me a little bit of Chicago.
Me gustó. Muy fácil de digerir. Se me hizo perfecto para entrarle a Steely Dan. Tracks: Parker's band, Night by night, Charlie Freak
Excellent album. I had heard several of these songs before. 4 stars.
false
top e daora gostosinho de escutar faltou estender algumas faixas, só com instrumental, algumas músicas se beneficiariam disso... fiquei com a sensação de "pô, mas já acabou?" várias vezes, especialmente no final pianinho fera through and through
Fire, this album got me going.
Not much to say. Liked it.
Not my general vibe, but it is well made and definitely worth another listen later.
Me gusta Steely Dan, pero también requiere el mood adecuado.
Fusion music in 70s!! Are you kidding me?
Really enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ve heard of any of these songs. I think there was only two tracks I didn’t care for
Great fun, love Steely Dan.
Enjoyable, I liked the heavy use of keyboard
Musically an absolutely amazing album. Lots of interesting instrumentation throughout. Songs are good but only a few memorable ones. 4.5
Easy St. Louis Toodle-Oo
great fucking record!
Some good tunes, love the horns
First of all, 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' is a bop. Second, this was a band that my parents listened to all the time when I was a kid and I thought they were ridiculous. Steely Dan is legendary.
Good smooth rock album. I enjoyed it.
4/5 stars. nice quick album. great vibes throughout and love the sound.
Good ol' rock n roll
mmmmm yes ooo yeah wee woop yes
okay, great album so far really funky amazing guitar/sax solos great song names/lyrics bangers all along "i fear the monkey in your soul" HAS to be one of the best lyrics ever written fav track: night by night least fav track: with a gun?? honestly they're all good sometimes old white dudes CAN make good music
Pretty good jazz-rock type album by Steely Dan, has some great songs in here such as "Rikky Don't Lose That Number", "Pretzel Logic" and "Charlie Freak"
Such good tonal mids on this album, and great tracks all around.
Fun jazzy tunes. Had heard a few songs off it before (Rikki, Any Major Dude). Liked Night by Night, Parker's Band
Cool grooves and like the drum sound. Second favorite Steely Dan album next to Aja
Not my kind of rock, but still had its high points
fun album, good instrumental and vocals, steely dan is good stuff
Yacht rock at its best... driving in the summer music!
I like their sound but a lot of the album sounds like the same beat with just different words.
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
This album was ok, recognise and enjoyed the first track.
Off the beaten path for Steely Dan. Not exactly their radio hits, but solid listen!
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.
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 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.
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
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
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.
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,
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+
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.
More honky tonk than I expected
More funk than i was expecting but still a bit meh
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»
Turns out I’m not a Steely Dan fan and frankly I don’t understand how people find this mid tempo rock enjoyable.
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.
I don't know what I thought Steely Dan sounded like but that was nice.
Fun aren't they steely dan! Very enjoyable album
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
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.
😴
rikki don't lose that number night by night
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.
I love Steely Dan, and this record has 2 of my favorite songs by them, but the whole record is lame.
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.
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 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.
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
This was ok
Highlights: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic. 3.8
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.
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
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
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.
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
3.5
Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Any Major Dude Will Tell Ya Date listened: 12/06/26 Listen when: Spring evening bike ride
Listening session: june 10th, while going for a walk Listened to before: no Thoughts: I’m not really familiar with Steely Dan apart from the famous hits, but this album surprised me with some songs. Some chord progressions and melodies were quite interesting to listen to Favourite tracks: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You & Parker’s Band
sounds fun
I feel like I should like this album more than I do. I generally really enjoy more complex, jazzy arrangements in rock music, but for whatever reason this just didn't click with me. I'll have to give a relisten sometime for sure.
Mismatched and fairly antiquated
This was the third Steely Dan album I've listened to so far in this project, and I really don't see why we need more than one. Which is to say, it's fine but not special.
This was fine kinda a lot more genres packed in than I thought
It’s not bad but I also don’t have much to say about it
I like some Steely Dan, and I like "Ricky Don't Lose That Number," but this album, I think this is the first time I heard this album in full. Overall, it fell flat to me. Maybe it's too much in the pocket. I either like the looser earlier stuff or the super refined later stuff. Not sure this is the one.
звучит неплохо, но скорее 3.5
Me dio nostalgia de algo que no viví, difícil de explicar.
Very vibey, felt kind
To my count, this is exactly the fourth best album by the band and the fourth out of the four offered in the list, and while being one of their most fun and groovy record, it lacks the lush tapestry of sounds offered by their later discography as well as their initial two records. All of this to say that while 'Rikki Don't Lose My Number' is a bop, I could do without this record at the end of the day. 8/10 [DROP]
Listened Before? N I'm not going to do what 900 other reviewers did and bash this album as "dad rock". All "dad rock" means is mainstream rock from the 70s, which is what it is... so sick burn, guys. Anyway, this one gets a solid 'meh' from me. It's skillfully made, sure, and some of the songs are classics (Rikki), and some are just fun (Any Major Dude).. but at the same time, some of it didn't age very well. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Any Major Dude Will Tell You
I am definitely a fan of Steely Dan, but I gravitate towards the latter output. The list has 4 SD records, including their first 3. IMO none of those are good enough for the list. Aja? Definitely. But where is The Royal Scam? Or Katy Lied? Both of those take the first three to the woodshed imo. A lot of filler on this one for me
Can’t really go wrong with Steely Dan.
Pleasant dad rock.
very stable album, songs aren't necessarily good or bad
My review for Aja was "Not particularly exciting, but well played and produced." Same? Yup, same. Not rushing to turn it off, but would rather be listening to some Fleetwood Mac or Toto or Chicago or Hall & Oates...
Se siente entre un poco aristogatos y señor country de América central.
I have a like-dislike relationship with Steely Dan. My best friend in college loved them and played their music frequently and I mostly was annoyed by what I was hearing. At the time their music was very different from what I enjoyed, but my musical tastes have changed over the years. That being said, I've never sought them out and mostly don't mind when a song here and there plays. Initially I found myself kinda liking the record, but then a shift happened midway and I began to feel more annoyed. There was nothing specific about it other than the "yacht rock" of it that just couldn't sustain an album worth of songs. Even a pretty short album. There is talent there, but it's just a bit too slick for my tastes. The two songs that stood out were the singles, Rikki Don't Lose that Number and Pretzel Logic. The rest were fine.
Steely Dan, I always assumed they were a fool band. This is just a bunch of cool old rock songs. Great.
Definitely at the musically technical end of rock, even if it doesn't drift into prog. Ok to listen to on a first go.
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would, since my last experiences with this band were lukewarm. It's not the greatest thing in the world, but definitely isn't one to avoid. Only thing preventing it from being a 4 or higher is that some songs didn't hit as hard as others. Highlights-Rikki, East St. Louis, Through With Buzz, With A Gun, and Charlie Freak.
Le dernier album de steely dan j’étais passé à côté alors qu’il était très acclamé par la critique Là encore je me fais plutôt chier Ça pue le 2 : ce n’est pas sans intérêt mais je n’aime clairement pas. L’écoute n’est pas désagréable non plus. La voix du chanteur ne me fait rien et je trouve les musiques plates Hey j’aime bien east St Louis ! J’apprécie quand même la qualité générale de l’enregistrement, soulignée par les fans du groupe Pretzel Logic est bien Finalement sur la fin de l’album je me surprends à plutôt aimer les sons
first two tracks are premium Dan but I overall prefer them stranger, more nocturnal - very necessary record in their evolution as a band but not my favorite!
Actually enjoyed this to begin with but over time this petered out as seemed to become blander as the album progressed. There are some nice licks thrown in at times, and the drumming is super solid; vocals a bit more shakey and in the end, turned into slightly more generic blues fare.
ganz ok but not rly memorable
Perfectly fine, but nothing special
It’s hard to put one Steely Dan album on this list without putting all of their 1970s albums on this list. My favorite is The Royal Scam. Or their Decade Of Steely Dan collection.
I can’t explain this but this album made me want to dance badly. Like, it made me want to dance, but when I did it was bad. So like, I guess that’s better than not wanting to dance, but I wish it had inspired good dancing. Does this make sense?
This is a low 3, high 2 for me. I really enjoy Steely Dan's music, but based on how I've been rating other bands' albums, this one must be skewed down. I grew up on this music. It's in my blood, but it doesn't have that punch like some of the other Steely Dan albums do. I'm giving it a 3 because it hurts to give it a 2... (Literally, lyrics are going "Don't you think it was wrong? as I wrote that. Come on, universe. I'm trying...)
Pre Listen: I've got a few Steely Dan songs on my playlist, so I have some familiarity with them. Growing up I never heard them, as my mother considers them her #1 pick for the worst band on earth. I didn't inherit that opinion, but we'll see. Notable Tracks: Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Absolute classic, catchy start to the album. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo - A classic blues styled song? On a 1974 album? And it sounds immaculate? Easy favorite track on this album. A cool little jive. May add to my playlist. Charlie Freak - Least favorite track on the album. While I respect trying out unique instruments in songs, Jingle Bells do not belong on anything other than Christmas music. I looked at the comments under this song and people were calling it a Christmas song, which comes off as a massive cope to me, considering nothing on the lyrics or theme is remotely holiday related. Post Listen: The A-Side of this album was much better than the B-side in my opinion. So much so I would rate the A and B side seperately, if I could. The instrumentation, lyrics, and flow work together for some real bangers through the first 5 tracks, but drop off steeply over the last 6. The vocals specifically become more slurred and intrusive over the last few tracks, to the point I wish some were instrumental instead. Perhaps it was a mixing issue, but some songs felt as though every instrument was working against each other to have the spotlight, fighting against the vocals which consistently held that spot. It wasn't an offensive album by any means, most tracks would service completely fine as good background music for any day-to-day moment. I would have given this album a 4/5, but the latter half bumped it down to a 3/5. Got me feeling *steely*.
Listened to on my Apple AirPods Max. Beyond a single listen years ago to 'Aja', perhaps Steely Dan's most famous album, and repeated listenings to 'Hey Nineteen', a song from them I adore, I don't have too-too much experience with Steely Dan, and their 1974 release Pretzel Logic doesn't really reshape what I came to expect from the band, but still delivered a good album of tunes that can be pretty diverse in terms of sound. See, I am familiar on the surface with a lot of Steely Dan's hits, and this album certainly starts out with a big one in 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', and I am also aware of their reputation, which seems to be one of a sort of snobbery, like 'Oh you listen to Steely Dan. Pfft.' To a degree, I can see where the root of this may come from, in both their perfectionist studio style where only two members, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, are actually 'Steely Dan' with the rest of the instruments outsourced to session musicians, while also putting out music that, honestly, sounds that way. There's nothing to argue about the performances, which are very locked in, but the songs do kind of have this sense of a lack of grounding to a centralized idea. It's certainly an interesting idea, to have a band be more of a rotating group of people who serve a track specifically, but it removes some personality that could form from the tracks as a cohesive whole as well, which I think Fagen's lyricism doesn't really help either, which is about a whole load of things that doesn't feel like a whole load of much, outside of certain tracks (I'm not such a big fan of his voice either). Still, there is solid enjoyment to be gained from the listening of this album, which really started to warm up to me at 'East St. Louis Toodle-Oo', which perhaps highlights the strength of Steely Dan's variety the most--an instrumental track with this really whimsical vibe from the rhythm and the horns, overlayed with a guitar that has a really kooky kinda effect on it before switching off to a clean delivery, swapping to a plucky honky tonk piano and horn section before rounding back off in that wah wah guitar. Just a great track with a lot of personality, where the instruments get to speak for themselves. What follows is my personal favorite track of the album 'Parker's Band', which has such an infectious, upbeat fast paced rhythm that it was impossible for me not to groove along to it while listening. The album continues with the brief 'Through with Buzz' which was a really interesting pull/push flow to it with some great string instrumentation, and beyond that there are continued explorations into different vibes like the Western-feeling 'With a Gun'. Funnily enough, clicking on random tracks for refreshers to this album review has me really vibing to what I hear, and I think it kind of illustrates the success and failure of Steely Dan in Pretzel Logic. There's an endless supply of great performances on this album, and there is a good sense of exploration even in more typical sounding soft rock tracks, in the sense of chords played or rhythmic switch ups on drums, and it makes for great material on it's own. But in terms of serving a cohesive whole, an album, it's really hard to find the soul in there. It doesn't make it a bad album, but it's something that stops me from really immersing myself within the album, when so much of it feels interchangeable, whether it's the songs or the musicians themselves.
Dog in hot car music
It's more classic rock radio station fodder. It's not bad by any metric. Just kinda boring. If I was working in the garage and this came on I wouldn't be upset. I think it's better background music than to sit and listen to it.
The one Steely Dan song most people would know without knowing it's Steely Dan. And I'm no exception. The music and the production are good, but I still have problems with Fagan's voice and some lyrics. My last Steely Dan record on this list, so I might be a bit generous.
To me a child of the 70s Steely Dan represented that boring middle of the road. Not on a par with hated groups like Yes and ELP. Just background music not much going on. Like Rikkie probably from years of hearing it. The rest is OK with short to the point songs. Did I dislike it? No Did I like it? No A cert 3
Good vibes, some are nice to hear , some are okay.
i like the mix of soul and rock but some songs just feel a little bit outdated
Pretty good album. Never listened to Steely Dan, so I didn't know what I was expecting. Barrytown and East St. Louis Toodle-oo were my stand outs. 6.8/10.
Egentlig ok.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the first two songs, but Barrytown got me. I love the melody, lyrics and instruments. I think this gratefully impacts what I thought I would rate the album.
Pretzel Logic devoured, the dans are Steely indeed. As someone without any prior steely dan knowledge this one was fine! Nice, even! A lot of the guitar noodling I loved. That being said, at least when I compare it to the other 70s rock album I listened to (sheer heart attack) there's some kind of flavor missing from Steely Dan that Queen has in spades. Maybe it's just the difference in particular rock subgenres but, I found myself just kinda pleasantly nodding my head and going "yep! This is music!" for a lot of the songs on this record. There were still some standouts tho. Highlights: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Night By Night (actually maybe my fave from the album), With A Gun. Maybe mr dan's other albums are more steely? This one was perfectly fine tho!
Yes, it’s suburban dad rock, but you can’t deny the talent of these guys.
I think I’ve heard enough steely Dan, thanks
“night by night” is cool.
I knew the song "Rikki" but not the rest. It's pretty mellow as far as 70s rock goes. They use harmonies that remind me of the Beegees a bit.
I can dig it.
Quite chill. not a lot of pure bangers, but altogether nice
Not bad, but I wouldn’t say great either. The instruments are vibrant, tight, and interesting, but nothing that makes me really want to listen again. With a Gun is good. I found everything else to sound too similar to the rest of the album to stand out to me. Something I would put on in the car driving around with an old guy or my grandpa. P.S. I have heard so much hate about how boring this album is that my 2 or 3 rating might just be influence rather than my actual opinion, but likely not. Definitely nothing wrong with it, just a little shallow.
Fun album
A lot of fun for sure, I like the jazzier bits here
3.5 - not my favorite album…but still Steely Dan
I love them but this is not my favorite album. 3
Washed over me nicely enough, but nothing really to latch on to 2.5
any major dude will tell you is a JAM it's very hard to dislike these guys, but im not totally head over heels either. it's very very well performed and an surprisingly easy listen, just not terribly memorable outside of a handful of great catchy tracks
I am not the biggest Steely Dan fan, but I usually enjoy their music enough. However, this album did next to nothing for me. It really just sounds like they were going through the motion, nothing here stood out either in a good or bad way. Mid 3.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
This album is fine, nothing remarkable either way. I am perhaps poisoned by the passage of time, but it sounds like a bar band doing a pretty good job singing songs I'm not familiar with. Not sure why its on the list.
me lembrou muito a banda "america", apesar de ser mais rock. conheço pouco bandas de rock americano dos anos 70, então todas são meio parecidas pra mim.
7/10
3.5, with a reserved right to change to a 4 later
Good album with nice vibes.
Not the strongest release from Steely Dan, but a solid dad rock album.
Steely Dan is a band that I kinda enjoy but each album I don’t find any stand-out thing to point at when trying to figure out my level of enjoyment
Vähän ehkä menevämpää Steely Dania, mutta kyllä tässä on niitä samoja chill elementtejä ja vekkuli soundeja mikä on hyvää Steely Danissa. Mut ei BONGOJA! Hyvä levy, mutta ei paras Steely Dan. Parhaat: Night By Night, With A Gun
Мастеринг альбома - отличный. Содержимое - на троечку. Этакий легкий рок ни о чём на заднем дворе
Great album, bunch of hits. Classic rock but lounge style.
Really homely atmosphere, warm. Beautiful ritm and vibes. Every song tells a story. Fun but not amazing.
People will call this dad rock (derogatory), but there's fun solos, harmonies, and ensembles here. Not their best, but Steely Dan deserves more praise. (3.5)
I’m sure it’s a good album if you like Steely Dan, but I don’t.
Enjoyable album
Great start to the record with Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and Night by Night. Everyone after that sort of sounds the same and I got a little bored. Nothing special but certainly not the worst thing I’ve heard
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number // Barrytown //
i just listened to all the music thats ever been. my favorite was a song a little girl sang to her cat in greece in 1286. my second favorite was from a ceremonial performance in modern day ethiopia, from 22000 bc. i also liked STEELY DAN.
the punk part of my brain says i should hate steely dan. but a band named after a sexual torture device from a william burroughs novel has some pretty punk notes. and i do love me some steely dan
Nöd so uf passt aber glaubs nöd so schlecht gsi
Raro.pasable, por ahí yo no lo entendí del todo
I may have a new-found appreciation for this band.
A 2 that became a begrudging 3. I’ve always been kind of irritated by Steely Dan even if I know the hits. The overall sound is just too smooth to me while I also find the vocals grating. But they can clearly write some good songs… and like some others, I actually found more to appreciate on the second side with songs like “With a Gun.” I read more about them and some of their gnarlier lyrics… and I find it hard to hate a band that lets their freak flag fly. Not for me, but I feel like I get what makes people fans of them a little bit better than I did before.
sure!
A nice little album. Kind of short and sweet. Plain vocals, with some great harmonies tossed in. Some nice variety between tracks. And the instrumentation on a couple songs was really cool. All in all, an inoffensive classic light rock experience.
Blah blah blah ... don't get the love for Steely Dan. Forgettable 70s soft dad rock jazz pop, very hard to love it or loathe it. 3 stars
Steely Dan sounds like a parody of Steely Dan. It’s nice, solid music, but rarely does it excite me. I know “audiophiles” go gaga over them, but I don’t listen to music to bask in the fidelity of it.
Nice harmonics
Enjoyed this one. Not as hard as Led Zeppelin but similar 70s vibe, only softer and more listenable
I enjoyed this album from Steely Dan! This was a great rock album with jazz, blues, and pop influences which added flavor and uniqueness to the album. Overall, I had a good time listening to this album and I would check it out again in the future!
Þeir eru oft fínir, en ég tengi ekkert sérstaklega við þessa plötu. Upphafslagið er kannski þeirra stærsti smellur, en það er ekkert voðalega skemmtilegt. Fer ekki niður fyrir þristinn samt.
Summery vibes - nice listen. Some good riffs
Decent and fun!
I love the Dan but not their best album bar some highlights like Ricky and Dude
I liked this overall. I enjoyed the first few songs in particular. There were some pretty random ones sprinkled in throughout but I think they are interesting to listen to.
ornate
This was okay, was expecting better, all the songs have a somewhat similar sound/feel.
Not my fave Steely Dan, but any major dude will tell you that this still rocks
I had never heard this record. I actually like it more than the more popular records
7/10
Pretty good but nothing really stood out. Happily have it on in the background again.
Sorry John
surprisingly fun and groovy!
Not sure how to place the style/genre of this album. It had a jazzy/funk feel, but also an edgy indie vibe. I listened to it while running, and I’m not sure when I would listen again on the pure basis that it doesn’t fit into a listening setting. I didn’t love nor dislike any of the songs. I liked the instrumentals but wasn’t a huge fan of the vocals. 7/10
I kinda feel like it is technically insanely good, but still, something misses... Feeling
no me encanta. Siento que tiene elementos de los Beatles y algo que me recuerda a Elton John. Creo que hay canciones que fácilmente pueden estar en una película, si es que no lo están ya.
1 - Rikki Don't Lose That Number (calm and smooth, this opener at least picks up during the chorus. The slinking spy like bass and piano add to the mood) 3.5/5 2 - Night By Night (a sort of funky start with horns and wibble wobble guitars. The bluesy guitar solo is the main selling point of this song. Easily a top highlight) 4/5 3 - Any Major Dude Will Tell You (very sweet sounding plucked guitars make this track memorable, without it the song would be rather plain and unassuming. There were probably thousands of songs like these in the 70s) 3/5 4 - Barrytown (more of a piano rock type of song and probably the most emotional song on an otherwise cold and impersonal album. Easily the most soaring chorus I've heard from Steely Dan, maybe ever) 4/5 5 - East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (a solid tribute to ragtime and Depression-era jazz especially considering it's a cover of a song from that era. A very unique piece considering it's among the only covers and instrumentals in Steely Dan's catalogue - maybe their only one) 4/5 6 - Parker's Band (another bluesy piano rock piece, more energetic than the previous one. A little too short for it to be substantial though the roaring sax solo at the end is a nice touch) 3/5 7 - Through With Buzz (another short song with a mid-tempo beat and some ELO-style string sections. This is sort of a speedrun of a pop song) 3/5 8 - Pretzel Logic (a shuffling mid-tempo romp with a heavy blues influence. The clean and polished hook takes you out of the down and dirty sound of the verses; a nice contrast. The solos are excellent on this song) 4/5 9 - With a Gun (slide guitars and an acoustic lead tinge this song with a country sound. The song is bouncy enough to be fun but it's overall rather inoffensive and not particularly memorable) 3/5 10 - Charlie Freak (some bizarre lyrics are the main highlight of this song. It undercuts the otherwise unassuming instrumentation barring the plaintive strings in the background. Steely Dan became well known for their stellar mixes and a song like this is no exception. Very varied sounds on this one for an album that generally keeps to a core of instruments) 4/5 11 - Monkey in Your Soul (a sort of bluesy closer. That aside it's rather plain; plenty of MOR bands sounded like this at the time of this album's release. Nothing about this song really screams finality either) 3/5 OVERALL - 6.4/10
Good band but pretty average from them
solid
Album starts on a heater! Super sleazy 70's funk thru those first 3 tracks, kinda cools in the middle and then picks it back up towards the end. Not a fan of the song they choose to end with either, not bad I just prefer to be left wanting more and this song didn't do that. They didn't seem to "jam" these out as much as the previous albums, overall it is a fun album worthy of your time.
Cute. Fun. I liked it
fun! not my fave of theirs, but a solid album
I like a bit of Steely Dan - as a child, these were the songs that played in the background on the radio so they instantly transport me to simpler times. I like their rich, smooth sound, it’s just… nice. Is this an essential album? Not sure. To be honest, I’d be happy with a best of.
Immaculate but way too tied to Baby Boomer culture
Not my favourite Steely Dan album, but this is a solid effort that starts strongly with both the classic “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and a great follow up with “Night By Night”. The middle section (basically from the bizarre “East St Louis Toodle-Oo”, which feels like it’s out of place on this album) has the wheels off a bit, but by the time you hit the title track you feel back on the right path. Overall, the album isn’t as interesting as what they’d do with Aja a couple of years later, and falls a little flat at times. This is very much a 3 and a half star album for me, but I don’t feel it is strong enough overall for 4*.
Another band plucked from my parent's record collection. I like the stacked backing vocals. I like the brass. I like the piano. In places the vocals made me think of Rod Stewart for some reason. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo feels like a completely out of place cover (although I liked it). I think as a whole I enjoyed it, but it didn't set my world alight. Another 2.5/5 if I could half star it, but as I can't: 3/5
Pretzel monies
3.5
I listened to this and forgot to write a review straight away. Now a few hours later I can’t really recall a thing about it. That speaks volumes.
Pretty good. Fun to listen to but not very exciting or super interesting, kinda dragged towards the end.
A Steely Jam. Enjoyed it.
A bit dated, but I liked it.
Another band I know and heard but never listened to a whole album. This was a great listen! Very interesting songs written with some jazz influences. Makes for a very harmonically rich listen. Each piece is well written in a concise fashion. Leaves me wanting to hear the album again at the end and I did put this on twice. Definitely want to hear their other albums as well.
Love some steely
Pretty good stuff, just getting kind of dated
Not annoying but not something i would seek out again
Slightly better than the last album, but it had a couple of songs that brought it down.
Sympatoche poprock qui passe bien mais sans relief.
Good vocals and really strong lyrics, one of those albums to just vibe to when doing homework or doing some other chore, not MY favorite type of rock that Beatles esque sound, but not bad
steely dan doesn't do it for me Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: Doesn't he have more popular albums? 2.5
I went in expecting not to like it but it's not bad. It is dad-rocky pero that doesn't have to always mean boring and generic. It was chill and nice to have in the background.
Eigentlich ganz geil am Anfang, finde es allerdings mit Dauer immer langweiliger. Kann aber auch mit dieser seltsamen Mischung aus Funk und Trucker-Musik nicht wirklich etwas anfangen. Das ist wohl dann diese Brezellogic...
Soft rock can get boring quick, luckily this was only 33 minutes. Definition of OK.
Pretty eh for steelys standards
A single hit amongst a variety of bearable and pleasent sending tunes
Not their best work
Some gems and some questions. When it works, brilliantly played pop/jazz infused with lurking blues runs through Hooksville, and when it doesn't (have you actually finished this song or is this an idea you are still working out?) it makes you wonder who organized the whole project.
Probably my fault for coming in with expectations based on the very few (but very exceptional) Steely Dan songs I've heard on radio over the years = suspect this album is a creeper that will grow on me over time with repeated listening 3 star with a note to call back from time-to-time
6 / 10 - coole vibes und ziemlich abwechslungsreich (jazz/rock/blues) - interessante Songwriting - Manche Songs besser/einprägsamer als andere - kein befriedigendes Ende zum Album Favs: - Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Night By Night
Maybe too much Steely Dan.
Yeah.
The instrumentals on this album felt very Beatles-y at times but even that was not enough to save it for me. As someone with the music taste of a boomer dad this should be right up my alley but I just did not vibe with it.
Not noteworthy
not my favorite steely dan album
This album felt quite anachronistic. I understand how it paved the way for the development of current pop music, but I probably won't be returning to it.
an okay album. it started strong with “rikki doing lose that number” and the next two songs became a bit boring the piano parts are cool, the guitar bits are good too, just a bit too long for my liking, therefore boring it has some jazzy and james-bond-ish vibes sometimes also at some moments really remind me of queen, fleetwod mac, and david bowie saved a few songs a 2.5/5, but i’m rounding up to the bigger
primeiro album curto em muito tempo KKKKK FAVS (top 3): rikki dont lose that number, night by night, pretzel logic mençoes honrosas: barry town, monkey in your soul um bom album, curti o começo, achei a segunda metade meio fraca, mas é bom, pra primeira parte eu tava considerando um 4 mas dps errr uns 3-3.5 entao de media vou dar 3.5 nota final: 3.5/5
this is fun and familiar but would probably not pick it but I like it
Good but what's the logic behind having four damn Steely Dan albums in this challenge?
Good Pop Rock, but I think we got the picture after 4 Steely Dan. Do you know any other band, by chance?
A lot of this album sounded like it was going to be fun, interesting, and funky, but proceeded to let me down a little. Most of the songs felt like watered-down Billy Joel to me. Ironically, I really liked “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo,” which is arguably the least Steely-Dan sounding song on the album. I also enjoyed Charlie Freak, but the rest didn’t leave a strong impression on me.
Simple-minded. Artist have better musics in setlist.
1974. I love Steely Dan and Im glad to have listened to thie album but unfortunately this album doesn't reach the height of the best that Steely Dan has to offer. I still love the sound and style but I know there is better waiting for me.
The good stuff is legendary. But there are a few cuts on here that are just a bit sterile. They haven't quite hit their peak. Excellent guitar throughout, though. Like, REALLY amazing, which was unexpected. "Rickie..." is an all-time favorite.
technically, it's good, they make good albums. but nothing called my attention in this one
Favorite Track: Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Besides the first song nothing really stood out.
The older I get the more I like Steely Dan. Pretty good but definitely not my favorite.
take it or leave it
Call it sophistipop, soft prog, complex pop. Call it what you want. It is a work of refined arrangements and complex compositions. Do I like this? Oh fuck no. I hate Steely Dan. But it is undeniably well made, it made its mark in time. Brilliant album. It deserves to be here. I just hope I don't have to listen to it again.
This guy Dan really has some steely music. Sorry, I saw a review of this that included a line like, "I really like his music" with a 5 rating and thought it funny. Steely Dan may have acclaimed music, but it is too soft for me. I'd prefer more jazz and less pop effort.
I’ve heard of them. I listened to one of their songs Aja. They're like a jazz fusion band. Rikki Don’t lose that number: 6.5/10 Soft rock really isn’t my thing, this song isn’t too bad. Night by Night: 6/10 The song isn’t bad, the musicians aren’t bad. I just don’t like this style of music. Any major dude will tell you: 6/10 I just don’t like this genre. Barry town: 5/10 Easy St Louis Toodle-Oo: 3/10 Parker’s band: 6/10 Through with Buzz: 5/10 Pretzel Logic: 5/10 With a Gun: 5/10 Charlie Freak: 6/10 Monkey in your soul: 6/10
É um álbum bem legal. Não tem enrolação e músicas bem elaboradas. QoA Vesper.
I was excited but the album isn't as great as their other stuff. Still good ofc Favorites: -Rikki don't lose that number -Night by night -Pretzel logic
All the elements of a great Steely Dan record appear to be here, but this doesn’t really click for me. Other than “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” and “Barrytown,” this strikes me as below average Steely Dan, which makes it above average for music generally, but still. I would probably not include this on a list of albums to hear before you die, even given my enjoyment of Steely Dan generally.
Never listened to Steely Dan before. This wasn’t bad.
Was very cool and had some bangers. Interesting to see how they teetered between country/soul on this album a little more than they did their debut. Favorite Songs: Parker's Band, Through with a Buzz