Reviews (page 8 of 13)
This one started off really strong and had me thinking it might end up higher. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” is obviously a banger and still holds up. I was also surprised by “Night by Night.” I had never heard it before, and honestly, it might be the best song on the album. That track alone gave this record a nice boost for me. The second half is where it kind of lost me. It’s not bad, it just does not keep the same momentum. Still very much a yacht rock album…if it was the summer and I was on a lake, it would probably be rated higher. Rainy day on the back porch might’ve killed the vibe.
Steely Dan in my opinion is something for weird uncles
pretty aight
Tied myself in knots trying to justify a higher score.
Have discovered via this project that I LOVE Steely Dan lol - also weird that of 1089 albums i’ve got two Steely Dan in the first 20! This was fun but not quite as good as Aja for me. Please 1001albumgenerator gods save me some Steely Dan for later
Great album! Some songs I would skip but overall great
J'aime bien. Mais l'album ne pas autant transporté que ça.
definitely has the nostalgia feel of dad rock from the 90s that you heard in the background of all of your Boys and Girls Club basketball games. The harmonies are nice and it is perfectly unoffensive
Steely Dan never transcends to the heights of nostalgic now-dad-rock that some people seem to love, nor do they slip to the grating lows of boring-dad-rock so many seem to hate. Totally fine. Never unhappy to hear this come on in the background, but would never seek it out either.
Hadn’t listened to Steely Dan in years. It was good to hear his voice again.
3/5 Rikki Don’t Lose That Number Night by Night Any Major Dude Will Tell You With a Gun
I don't know why, but I've never gotten in to Steely Dan. I've got nothing against them, really, they just come off as boring to me. Listening to this, I can get that they're gifted musicians and song writers. Still does nothing for me, though.
Yep its Steely Dan ... didn't love it ... didn't hate it!
Honestly, it’s a perfect choice for today again. Only yacht-rock can gently fondle my ears after a sleepless night. I love yacht-rock and Steely Dan sooo much. I’ve listened to Rikki Don’t Lose That Number over 10 times since 2019. And probably never listened to other songs from this album. Time to fix it. I really want to write a big text about the album or Steely Dan in general, but I’m tired af. So, it has been postponed until their next album, glad we have 4 of them on the list. Only one thing I can say, the album disappointed me. I hoped to add a lot of songs to my playlist, but no. It’s a small catch. There’s almost no fish in this album for me. 3/5 —————————————— Liked: — Rikki Don't Lose That Number — With A Gun
I do love these pleasant jazzy tunes, the nostalgia is raging from my days living in Georgia but I still like it now.
Great find. Hadn’t listened to Steely Dan before and am glad I discovered this along with Can’t Buy a Thrill. Will be in the rotation going forward.
Not my favorite Steely Dan album, but it's alright.
Lots of good sounds!
Hyvä klassikko tämäkin.
No cóż… kolejna płyta, która nie jest zła, ale nie ma w sobie nic wyjątkowego. Taki soft-rock, z lekkim może folkowym narzutem. Spokojne, czasem kojące, częściej nudne. 6/10
Good, not great
Can a Steely Dan album be too polished? Maybe. And yet, that's not really my problem with Pretzel Logic. The issue is subtler: the album feels more tame than the records of theirs I enjoy. It's a little too well-behaved, not quite as sardonic or sharp. I don't think it's the attention to craft that did it either — the issues existed prior to the studio. I sense more Dan filler on this album than others as well. Ultimately, it's a weaker entry in their catalogue and barely makes the 3 star mark.
As a big fan of Steely Dan's previous album, I was a bit disappointed. The album sounded good as you can tell they are starting that perfectionist attitude that they would focus on going forward. However the song-writing especially in the back-half is a step down from their first two albums, other than the title track. The first side is strong though and I believe that this album could grow on more listens. 3.5/5
Ntb. RYM: N Saved a song: N
Never a steely dan fan but pretty solid album
It's fine (Rikki Don't Lose That Number an all-timer tho)
solid soft rock album
Not my kind of music but I'd happily listen to it at a cafe or a lounge!
classic album
big, big fan of 70s music… but i don’t think steely dan is for me. some fun moments but just not my style favorite tracks: night by night pretzel logic with a gun
🔥
I didn't dislike this album as much as expected. Faint praise, huh? Steely Dan has always been one of those bands where fans discuss the equipment used and the engineering precision as much as they do the music. A local hi-fi specialist shop uses Steely Dan as one of their demonstration records for sound quality. I don't really jive with Steely Dan's rock-jazz fusion and I'm not an audiophile. But this album wasn't awful as a whole. Surprised to throw this one a 3 star award.
i knew a steely dan album would show up on this list, i just didn’t know when or which. pretzel logic is a fun listen! starting strong with rikki and ending strong with monkey, i enjoyed myself.
I ate an entire bag of chocolate covered pretzels today and instead of taking personal responsibility for my weight, I will blame Steely Dan
Abrupt ending! Any major dude - didn't realize classic riff was from this song
I just can't get into Steely Dan...
Very groovy, i like the variety of instruments/sounds throughout the album, definitely would keep a cd in the car to listen to ocasionally (probably wouldn't buy it for more than 5€ though) 6.5/10
3.5/5 + Funky grooves, nice jazzy dad rock instrumentation, very attention grabbing + Great voice and vocal production + really easy to get into... - ... but sometimes it sounds needlessly complex, technical and unfocused - not really a satisfying album experience, but great stuff for some of my playlists - very basic album artwork Fav: Barrytown, With A Gun, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Pretzel Logic Least Fav: Night by Night
I didn't dislike this one as much as the previous album but that could be because I wasn't paying much attention and it did nothing to even try and grab it. From what I remember, well put together, ticked the boxes, very easy listening. There is a time and a place for this but it's not essential. 2.5.
I was pleasantly surprised by the last steely Dan album we had. This wasn't as good. It's still all decent enough though but fairly standard and probably won't be rushing back. I'll stick to the other one. Firm 3
Ok
Easy listen but needed time to really enjoy. Favorite tracks are East St Louis and the final 3 track run
Even on a quick listen it’s full of moments that jump out. Night by Night has a great guitar solo, and tracks like Parker’s Band just put me in a genuinely good mood. There’s a relaxed, playful feel running through the whole record that makes it enjoyable even when I’m not listening very deeply.
Ihan ok, hyvin soitettu, melkoista sointukikkailua rasittavuuteen asti
Jazzy parts were 4 stars, rocky parts were 2. Splitting the difference
Actually more interesting than I initially thought it would be.
According to this site, Steely Dan has four albums on the list. I only knew one Steely Dan song prior to this: Do It Again. And to be honest, I think four albums might be too much. This one is my first and it’s not bad, but it’s really just your standard dad rock. There’s a couple of nice songs, though nothing that really stands out. Expect East St. Louis Toodle-oo, which just felt weird and out of place. We’ll see if my Steely Dan apathy can be cured from this list, but Pretzel Logic is not the breakthrough. Favorite track: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number Other hits: Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Night by Night, Pretzel Logic, Monkey In Your Soul, Parker’s Band
ROCK PARA PAPAIS QUE TENTARAM SER LEGAIS NA JUVENTUDE E NÃO CONSEGUIRAM, AGORA SE CONTENTAM COM AS MÚSICAS QUE DESCOBRIU NAQUELA ÉPOCA!!!!! meia boca! dá um pouco de sono, mas as duas primeiras são até legais.
Pleasant but non-essential
This is very solid, lots of interesting hooks. I also like that it is not just one thing, and still coherent. But I think I see flaws in it too, some songs feel a bit dated and I don't think the writing is my favorite. It's really good, I get why some people love it, but it's not exactly to my taste.
Always liked Barry town from hearing Ben folds five covering it
I generally enjoy Steely Dan's jazzy vibes and vocal harmonies, but I'm not a fan of this one.
Sounds like the soundtrack to a hip 70s New York City crime show. Solid musicians.
6/10 This is my second dive into the work of Steely Dan, having been impressed but not blown away by Can’t Buy A Thrill. Let’s see what's changed two years and two albums down the line, shall we? As the album first washed over me, it felt very much like that. A wash. It was a pleasant, even moderately enjoyable listening experience, but one that had little to no temperature variation, just coasting along at a set, lukewarm temperature. But Steely Dan are, if nothing else, a tight and talented group of musicians, and sometimes a first listen doesn’t really expose the nuances and quality of a group like this. Unfortunately, the second and third run throughs just kind of plodded along in the same vein. The musicianship is excellent, the band is super tight and they can write some engaging enough music in moments, but it’s all incredibly one-note. There is little dynamic variation within each track, and even from track to track, and apart from the odd moment here and there, there was also very little in the way of rhythmic dynamism either. With their debut album, I felt there were a few more moments that stood out and grabbed hold of the ear, but here, more or less the whole album seemed to just start, exist, and then end with nothing particularly noteworthy happening in between. It was, as may be revealed by my track notes, a very ‘nice’ experience, but a largely forgettable one. Perhaps it’s the perfect kind of music to stick on at a dinner party where it gives you a stable bed of music with a bit of groove and a nice ambience, but nothing vastly more exciting than that. But I guess I enjoyed myself enough that it just creeps its way the high side of average. Rikki Don't Lose That Number - This is a pleasant little song. There’s some quality playing, particularly from the piano, which has some nice bits of flair but isn’t overplayed. The transitions between the different sections of the song are really nice and it’s got some solid harmonies and quality hooks. The guitar solo is great too. It’s all quite understated, but pretty effective. Night By Night - This has got a nice groove and feels super fluid. It’s lacking a bit in bottom end, which would have helped it to have a bit more weight to it. The horn parts are really nice, with the variety between staccato in the verses and the swells in the choruses. The playing is deep in the pocket and it all pulses and flows nicely. Any Major Dude Will Tell You - This is another nice but not really spectacular song. The playing continues to be excellent, and it’s such an easy and smooth listen, but it’s never going to grab you by the balls or change your life. The electric piano is a particular highlight for me and I it was a solid and enjoyable listen, but still fairly unspectacular. Barrytown - Another entirely pleasant experience. It sort of meanders around without ever landing on anything particularly memorable, but the journey is pretty nice. So farm the album has been pretty one-note. It’s a nice note, but it does start to wash over you a little after a while. East St. Louis Toodle-oo - And now we’re served up a Duke Ellington cover that’s a little bit different at least, but it sounds more like it was written to be the soundtrack to some kind of slapstick comedy silent movie. It’s a complete tonal departure from everything we’ve had up to this point, and it’s all just a little odd. Quite a funny way to end side A though, I suppose. Parker's Band - I think part of what has not helped my enjoyment of this album is that everything’s very dynamically flat. There aren’t any particularly raucous or subtle bits, it's all just... there. It starts, it flows along nicely, and then it ends, not ever really deviating from its path. This is another of the same ilk. It’s more niceness with nothing particularly special about it. Through With Buzz - Contrary to my comments on the last track, there are some slight moments of tempo and dynamic variation here that give things an interesting edge. They’re fleeting, but at least make for a change of pace. But it’s all over in a minute and a half. Pretzel Logic - There’s some nice swagger in here. It’s still fairly one-paced, but it’s got a decent groove. There’s the odd breakdown that moves things around a bit, and some of the vocal harmonisations are pretty good. It’s perhaps a little too laid back for my taste and could do with a bit more get up and go, but again, it’s solid if unspectacular. With A Gun - We get a bit more zip with this one. It has its moments, but it’s another that very much picks a lane and chugs along enjoying itself with no deviation at all. Sometimes, with an album like this, I start to struggle to find fresh ways to say that a song is pleasant but just a little bit boring. And here we are. Charlie Freak - This is a bit more instrumentally sparse, but it’s so dynamically one-note that the piano in particularly almost feels robotic in its delivery. If you told me it was a sampled piano playing a MIDI score at 100 velocity for every note, I’d 100% percent believe you. And now we've got some sleigh bells. Is this their Christmas single? It’s very, very rhythmically stilted and I think I’m getting ready for this album to end. Monkey In Your Soul - There’s a bit more grit and space here, which is nice. It’s more bluesy and it’s got a slightly quirky, cheeky edge to it. The groove is decent and it strides along nicely. I feel like this could have been used to break up some of the more samey tracks earlier in the album, but it’s nice to finish off with something a little bit different.
Great voice, Steely Dan has such a distinctive sound. Those 70s layered harmonies are glorious. The first half is strong and reminds me of what my parents listen to. Great lyricism. The latter half is a bit forgettable. I'm hopeful that some of their other works will hit a little bit harder. 2.9/5.
Interesting rock album. Mainly listened to as background during projects, and it went by quickly
not my favorite steely dan but still fun
Harmless fun.
It's fine.
I've listened to Countdown to Ecstasy and so far my feeling has not changed at all about them: Great musicians that can produce great music, but it also just feels dull and uninteresting. I'm just stuck between hating it by default for some reason and also acknowledging that the music itself is very polished and sounds great. It just firmly in the "good musicians, nothing special" category.
Steely Fan is fine. Never really moved me though. This album is no exception.
aged surprisingly well. 3.5
they're smooth i guess
I liked the first song its good.
Pretty good, but it got old and repetitive pretty fast. I liked "Night by Night" a lot.
Yeah, I just don't get Steely Dan.
Classic SD, nothing crazy.
Dad on a roadtrip music
Rikki don't lose that number is easily ther best track on this album but the rest is mostly quite enjoyable too. maybe i'll listen to it a 2nd time
OK, not great, not terrible. Pretty boring Dad rock.
Good 70s pianos and drums. Nothing outstanding but still a pleasant listen.
My 4th album of the challenge and the first one I had not previously listened to. I've always quite liked what I'd heard of from Steely Dan (classics like Reelin' in the Years etc) so was optimistic for this. A bit in two minds on first listen. Musically it's great, like jazzy and funky, and the guitar playing is outstanding. Rikki Don't Lose That Number is the only one I was familiar with from radio play. From a pure song perspective though, there wasn't a huge amount that gripped me, maybe it would take further listens.. Didn't seem to pull together as a coherent piece. Best bit: Track 5 instrumental is ace Worst bit: Can't say the title track did it for me. In fact I found it unintentionally amusing.
This was a good listen, I quite liked it as a change of pace to my norms. The production is sumptuous. I'm familiar with a couple of the tracks, but not heard a while album before today. However, I can't see myself hankering for a return. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Surprising ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
My go to Steely Dan Album is Aja and this album did nothing to sway that choice. It's.....fine.
It's fine I guess.
There were some highlight (Pretzel Logic as the title song), however the rest was rather average from my perspective.
This feels very 70s. I ended up listening to this a few times because i ended up getting distracted each time, and i think it got a little worse with each listen.
Good but I prefer Can't Buy A Thrill
Decent listen, fine to have on during work but nothing super special on my book
Always love the smooth stylings of Steely Dan, even if I only knew one of their songs on this album coming into it. Still so hard to believe Chevy Chase was briefly part of this band. Probably could round up to a four but I’ll stick with a three.
A classic band with a classic sound. One big hit and the rest of the album is solid. A 3.5 for me.
Three stars for the William Burroughs reference. ★★★
I didn’t hate this. Decent songs. Great recorded sounds
Ofattbart många SD-skivor. För mig känns det helt oförtjänt. Jag måste missa något. Men det är inte svinbra, långt ifrån att få in fyra album på denna lista. Nej, det här är mest irriterande (kan bero på min egen okunskap etc. Men nu dömer jag i huvudsak på känsla).
Fjärde Steely Dan-skivan nu. Denna sticker ut lite pga de många jazziga inslagen, vilket var lite kul. Som vanligt är det tekniskt oklanderligt, men denna lyfter ändå inte riktigt för mig. Samtidigt är det behaglig lyssning. Får konstatera att Can’t buy the thrill verkar vara deras bästa skiva och att denna är en genomsnittlig trea.
It's pretty good despite not being my genre exactly. It's some pretty good jazzy rock, but I don't think I can pick out a song as particularly great.
I used to dislike Steely Dan because of the people who liked it. Then I actually listened to it, and I started liking it. Now I'm starting to go back the other way. Steely Dan is music made by people with a really strong understanding of music theory and composition, but have the mentality of 19 year old fraternity bros (who used to be marching band dorks). I have to appreciate songs like Rikki Don't Lose That Number for the musical masterpiece it is, but when I dig into the lyrics...it's just a bunch of guys who are trying to impress women with their masters in liberal arts and job in finance in an attempt to sleep with them. Plus hard liquor and cocaine. It just seems like such a waste of talent and musical aptitude. ...and that's basically yacht rock. Musically interesting and completely vapid at the same time.
A few solid hits and a bunch of less memorable stuff.
mostly smooth and groovey tracks with some unmemorable fillers inbetween. solid.
It was fine background music
Some iconic songs, but I did not even notice the album ended, so maybe a little too much in the background
3.5+
The first side (or the 1st 3 or 4 songs) were great. But I just didn't like anything after Barrytown. The best thing about Steely Dan: I was at one of Levon's Midnight Rambles with a friend (who later passed during the COVID epidemic) in which one of the guest guitarists was Donald Fagan. So many great memories with my friend during this era as we also visited "Big Pink" and the then-present owner allowed us access into the basement. For me, like getting a personal after-hours pass into Graceland for those who love Elvis. Better actually, since I could not give a shite about Elvis/Graceland.
I'm just not a Steely Dan person. I don't hate if a song comes on every now and again but don't see myself coming back to listen
It's a good album, but not even close to one of my favorites from the Dan.
Ihan mukavaa rokkia mutta ei tällekään ihan nelosta voi antaa. Aivan upea levyn kansi ja mukava tuttavuus, mutta tästä huokuu kyllä kovasti jenkkimarkkinat. Joissain biiseissä ehkä torvisoittimet ottaa omaan korvaan liian isoa roolia jota vokaalit ei pysty lunastamaan. Mut kyl meikä tuolta kiskalta pretzelin ostaisi. Rikki dont lose that number jäi jopa soimaan päähän mukavasti
Periaatteessa ihan ok taustamusaa, ei kyllä saanut millään tasolla viisaria värähtämään suuntaan eikä toiseen. Siitä hyvästä nakataan Dania kolkilla
Jee päästiin näiden salaisten paheitteni äärelle. Eli pehmeetä karkkia tarjolla korvakäytäviin. Tää nyt ei oo näistä höyryseksilelustanimensäsaaneen pumpun parhaita levyjä, kun vaan yhdellä biisillä rumpuja soittaa porokaran jehvi. Night by night onkin albuumin paras biisi. Yleisesti ottaen miellyttävää ja harmitonta menoa. Jos itzessä vielä henki pihisee 50v päästä niin todnäk tää ois sillon täyven vitosen setti. Nyt kuitenkin jää vähän vajaaks, joten perusvarmalla mennään.
Technically sound and probably good but it melted into the background and I forgot I was listening to it.
Meh. Kinda corny elevator music
Very easy listening.
Overall I would say it's pretty standard 70's soft rock, which isn't a bad thing, but this album doesn't exactly set the world on fire. There was some really nice guitar work on 'Night By Night' which I enjoyed. 'East St. Louis Toodle-Oo' is a very interesting track. It's sounds as if you're walking through a busy New York street. Very cool sound. 'Charlie Freak' has a very up and down hook which is a proper ear worm. The opener was also one of the better tracks. Technically sound and I'm sure a lot of people love it, but I kind of drifted in and out of this one. It was alright.
All very beautifully arranged and played but the songs themselves are average.
Le premier morceau était excellent mais sinon, le restant de l'album n'était pas mémorable. 2.5/5
It was alright
Laadukasta ja toisaalta aika mitäänsanomatonta aikuisrokkia
⭐️⭐️⭐️
ehh nothing notable, just an album
5/10
3.5
Pretty alright album! Definitely not better than 'Can't Buy A Thrill', but still a good listen. The first track and title track were my two favourites.
Easy enough to listen to. Not enough standouts to get a 4.
Cool kid's Dad rock
Smooth. Sounds impeccable. Musicianship is superb. Regardless, they’re just not my thing. Not a bad listen, though.
Steely Dan has some excellent music but I really didn't think this was that great an record, especially the back half. It starts out strong with it's first 3 songs, no doubt. I had never heard Night by Night before, but I really dug that track. That's bookended by a couple of songs we've all heard before in Ricky Don't Lose That Number and Every Major Dude Would Tell You, the former of which is superior to the latter, mainly because of the harmonies and offbeat vocal choices that really work. That said, after that it steadily goes downhill. There are some poor tracks on here, especially With a Gun and the title track. Rare to name a record after a song which is clearly inferior to some of the others, but Steely Dan always have been different. Just an average album.
3.5! again this is opinion not like critiquing
There's a lot to like in this record. It's short and sweet, and there are a couple of standout tracks too. Favourite Track(s): Barrytown, Easy St. Louis Toodle-Oo Least Favourite Track(s): Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Pretty run of the mill
Maybe I’m messed up by listening to aja before this, maybe just not the time for me right now but I’m just not feeling this. Will have to revisit sometime later.
Just not my style
Pretty good easy listening. Very good. But nothing really catches me
Solid 70s guitar.
Better than aja, that’s for sure. Forgettable. THREE!
3.5 stars
I’ve never been a real fan of Steely Dan and listening to this album did nothing to improve that. I kept thinking these songs sounded like ithey were created on Christmas morning with a kids newly unwrapped 32-key Casio keyboard. If this album had been 11 tracks of Rikki Don’t Lose That Number I might have been able to give it a better score, but mediocrity begets mediocrity.
Not as good as Ajr, but def a solid rock album with jazz influence. It makes me happy when bands push the boundaries in instrument use.
Talented musicians, good jazz influences and chill music. How could you possibly not make the greatest album of all time, yet it steps into mediocrity. Aja is objectively better, but I'm always disappointed with Steely Dan. Like, they have the potential to be great, but never did act on it.
I always liked Steely Dan. Music you can put on for chilling by the pool
Alright, this is going to be a fun challenge - afraid that I agree with the turbo-paedo Steve Albini about Steely Dan being dull studio wank, so actually listening to a whole album could hopefully be a voyage of discovery! ---- It's very clean. It really can't shake that "manufactured" feeling, and the end result is an impeccably-produced splodge of tightly white jazz/funk rock. It's all the self-knowing Yankee bollocks that I don't like from Zappa, but with little of his balls to redeem it - there are a few decent tunes, and they're the most "natural" sounding! Better than I feared, worse than I hoped. Favourite tracks: Night By Night, Barrytown, With A Gun
Positively surprised, the album sounds very nice, touches of blues, wind music, it sounds so 70s. It deserves another listen.
Good but unremarkable in my opinion.
Pas trop mon style J'en ai quand même liké quelques unes Ça ressemble à Supertramp en moins bien
Different styles that are nice to listen to.
okay, but not great. A bit too cool for me.
Dad rock incarnate. Great album nonetheless.
Short and sweet. Night by Night, you just feel cool listening to it. Some of the songs didn’t pull me as much. 3.5 stars (I wish these were rated out of 10 rather than 5)
Fun.
Nothing stood out to me
Rikki don’t looose that numberrr Edit Apr 2 2026: 4 --> 3
Good, not my favorite rock music. Mastering was good but nothing jumped out at me.
Among my least favorite records by a great group.
Американская музыка, поп рок, поп джаз.
Wasn't a bad listen but didn't really stand out to me at all.
Meh. They’re talented, but their music is so inert.
And a half
This would be a 3.5
It was nice but ronan said it was a solid 4.4 so I went in with high expectations. IT WAS NOT
Any major dude will tell you this is great
Tonight is a Steely Dan night. Tonight is a Pretzel Logic night. This one’s sneaky—it doesn’t have the sprawling jams of Aja or the polish of Gaucho, but it’s absolutely loaded. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” opens with one of their most iconic hooks, “Any Major Dude” sounds like a cosmic pep talk, and the title track is pure Dan wordplay perfection. Then there’s “Parker’s Band,” their little love letter to Charlie Parker, and “Monkey in Your Soul,” where Donald Fagen sounds like he’s trying to sweet-talk you and insult you at the same time. It’s tight, it’s weird, it’s brilliant. Basically, it’s Steely Dan. Tonight’s pretzel is twisted just right.
I'm not sure how Steely Dan has 4 albums on this list. Don't get me wrong, I like them but to say they are iconic to a point where they have about as much albums on this list as Pink Floyd is a bit of a stretch. That being said, this album is pretty meh in my opinion. It's just the same formula that they've used their entire run so I can't say it really stuck out to me. Yeah, I just think it is really bland, not horrible but not great at the same time. Favorite Songs: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You Rating: 3/5
Two Steely Dan's in just over a week. This is my least favorite of those I've heard in full so far, but it's still solid. A number of shorter tracks which I'm not used to from them.
Enjoyable but not something I'm likely to revisit
Pretty good.
Certainly not Steely Dan’s best stuff and not my favorite, but still some good stuff in here! And nothing bad at least. The title track was incredible, and I enjoyed the guitar on Night by Night, but not much else stood out to me.
The album was interesting. Had some strong points, but not my favorite.
Before starting this challenge, I had only heard A Royal Scam. The songs here are shorter and surprisingly commercial, albeit with a zany funk and jazz fusion. I imagine this could get up to four stars for me with repeated listens, but based on first impressions it's a three.
Solid
Hard to believe this album is over 50 years old. It still sounds pretty fresh today and has some beautiful melodies and harmonies. Not entirely to my taste but a pleasant listen when relaxing.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, With A Gun Second Steely Dan album on the List. Still largely average with a few standout tracks. I like the instrumental Toodle-Oo ditty, and With A Gun. Nothing I recognize from radio play and I was not super impressed by the single Rikki Don't Lose That Number.
pretty chill vibe
It's fine I guess.
I should have liked this more. No doubt they were influential though.
???
Never been a fan of these guys. They are obviously super talented but not my get down. And Donald Fagen’s voice is not my cup of tea.
3 out of 5 Quintessential yet background classic rock. I know their music well but would not seek it out.
Meh I forgot I listened to this tbh and had it unrated for ages. Oops That's how bland it was. Funnily enough I said something similar for another album of theirs 3 ⭐️
Ok. Pretty good. I liked barrytown and monkey in your soul.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number earns this a full extra point, but ultimately this didn't impress me much.
IDK maybe this isn't their best album or I'm not in the right mood, but I just don't get this. I think the overproduction really lacks personality, and feels overcrowded, which I don't think you can really say for other production perfectionists like Brian Wilson. I don't really like the vocals either, probably preferred his solo album, pretty much everything is double tracked, so it just feels quite fake and tacky after a while. I think people call this jazz rock and I can't really see it, I think it would benefit from some heavier jazz influences, maybe that's what their other albums lean into. The blues Eagles esque guitar stuff is also really tacky imo. Favourite songs: Any major dude will tell you, Monkey in your soul. Overall around 5/10
It’s ok. Nothing here to get too excited about.
I still find them boring... But it's a bit better than the last album by then I suppose.
I feel like every day I alternate between loving and hating steely Dan. Tbh only their really popular songs usually resonate with me. My favorite on this was ESLTO which is odd considering it’s the only instrumental song, but it scratched itches that the other songs didn’t. I totally understand the appeal of steely Dan but a lot of their songs aren’t for me
I love pretzels. This album was good too.
Loved the variety of instrumental styles even within a single song. Great first album to listen to! 7/10
Pretty cool to finally listen to them. I'm surprised I only knew the first song previously, the rest were decent.
I liked this back in the 70's, it dominated a portion of the radio airwaves and was certainly of higher quality than a lot that was being put out. Cool jazzy rock in a radio-friendly pop format. Mellow, brainy and sedate it was the soundtrack of every fern bar and Tupperware party.
Not a huge S.D. fan
Smooth, first time I heard about this band, look foward to dig deeper on their discog
На мій смак є суттєво кращі альбоми в дискографії. При чому що до цього, що після. Загалом приємний альбом, стиль присутній
Цікаво чому з усієї дискографії стілі ден обрали саме цей альбом. Я дуже їх люблю, і буквально будь-якому альбому який виходив після Pretzel Logic я поставив би 4 або 5.
Expected a bland rock album, and I guess that's what it was. I liked it though. Easy to listen to rock.
2.5 but i can’t do that & this deserves to be rounded up rather than down, there’s been worse
Нет ни единой причины не любить этот альбом, как и впрочем быть в восторге от него. Он последовательный, хорошо написанный, отличный звук и смешной мужичок на обложке, есть пару хайлайтов, но в основном он просто классно ложится на фон. Возможно он вырастет на мне, но я так не думаю. 7/10 Highlights: Night by Night; Pretzel Logic
Maybe the most mid band of all time. But they kind of own it.
Had high hopes for this one given rikki and major dude but the rest of the album was a hokey flop for me. 2.5 rounded up
Not my favourite Steely Dan, less memorable songs but very clear.
Good classic rock album, just vibed with it in general. No songs super stuck out to me.
I have mixed feelings about Steely Dan. Their songs are typically smooth and easy to listen to, but almost aggressively so, if that makes any sense. There's nothing NOT to like here. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Pretzel Logic" are the standouts. But there are better overall choices (just about every song on AJA, for instance) if you really find yourself needing a Steely Dan fix.
Pues me ha gustado. Es super groovy y es super entretenido de escuchar. Me ha sorprendido. 3/10
Better than I anticipated. Never listened to a Steely Dan album before
Tuttu albumi, taattua steely dania :)
Not for me
I believe real fans call them “Scully Dan”.
Yacht Rock Baby. This might be the hardest album cover of all time Best Song: Pretzel Logic Rating: 5.0/10 Stars: 3/5
3/5.
You don’t fuck with the Dan. Got some legend tracks even though it goes a bit saggy toward the middle-end. Finishes strong with “Monkey in Your Soul”.
Love Steely Dan. Love a couple songs here. That said, I think a fair case could be made for this being the weakest of their first albums. Still good, but just not great.
Its fine.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number aside, this is incredibly forgettable. Too pop to be rock, too mellow to hold an edge.
A couple of nice earworms in here.
Yeah... No, one good song and a lot of long bits that should have just stayed on the cutting room floor.
I think it would be hard for Steely Dan to make an album I hated. It’s a mix of blues on lead guitar, jazz sax and funk bass that is pretty unique to them as an act (and feels uniquely American). For me though - this isn’t as strong as Cant Buy a Thrill or Aja. The second half has some skippable tracks that are almost instantly forgotten as soon as they end. East St Louis Toodle-oo should be deleted. I can’t give this more than 3/5
The ridiculous fun of Rikki Don’t Lose That Number is the highlight of this LP for me. The rest is less of a genre match with my tastes and doesn’t give enough to overcome that - despite enjoyable instrumentation throughout. I enjoy when they stray into pop rock Bowie territory. They have a funny use of language as well, particularly the term “major dude.”
Pretzel Logic doesn’t do much for me but the production is great and the musicianship is impressive and carries it along nicely, solid 3 for me
It’s kinda giving 70s sitcom theme tune. The opening track is one of those songs that you know from somewhere but don’t realise it. I thought this album was nice and a pleasant half an hour but it didn’t make much of a lasting impact on me.
Solid but forgettable
I don’t think I’ll revisit it, but it was more pleasant than expected for my morning drive.
rikki dont lose that number- 5 or 6 night by night- 5 any major dude will tell you- 5 barrytown- 5 east st louis toodleoo- 5 parkers band- 5 through with buzz- 5 pretzel logic- 5 with a gun- 5 or 6 charlie freak- 5 monkey in your soul- 5
Rikki Don't Lose That Number is great. Any Major Dude Will Tell You is good. The rest of the album is either forgettable or too jazzy for me.
Not really my style but a super interesting listen
Ran together but good vibes
I would say this was very forgettable.
It was ok, not much to say about this.
Dude rock. (More or less.)
Dads of the world unite!!
3,5
Me gusto eh, tuvo momentos flojos pero en líneas generales me resultó atractivo
Not my favorite Steely Dan, but it’s still Steely Dan
Really enjoyed the first half second half of the album wasn’t as good. After the first three songs I was thinking I was going have to my first 5 but the album as a whole to me is a 3.5
Dad rock. This is neither a positive nor a negative, just a general purpose statement.
Easy listening.
Ganz nettes Rock-Album aus den 70ern. Bekannt ist "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" 3/5
Not as good as can't buy a thrill, but it had some charm left in it
Not the best, it's cool and mellow but also a bit too soft for my taste.
good
It was genuinely fine. Charlie Song was really good but other than that it was like, normal rock
Cover 6 Decent songs. Good album from an influential band. Better upon second listen.
Steely Dan is an interesting one. I listen to this record a couple of times in different ways did not enjoy it in my ears, but when I put it on in the backyard chilling, it had a different feel to it the further it is for my ears the better I think this album was made to be put on One of those old radios that Dad’s put in their garage. My final impression of this album is in the end. It was pretty fun to listen to just took me a little bit to get there. I definitely like other Steely Dan albums more but I have no regrets. Who is Steely Dan? What’s the deal? I’m gonna need more information about this band.
2 Steely Dan albums in 5 days. Who do I complain to?
Funkig
Steely Dan is sitting around the BBQ, drinking a few beers while the families are mingling over a few mean games of cornhole or a disorganized game of volleyball using an old badminton net left over from a forgone time. For me, this album is not particularly memorable in the annals of music history, but it was great for what it was: a product of the time. Not being seasoned Steely Dan fan, my assessment is simple: their musicality was good; harmonies great. However, their biggest point of experimentation came in the first song, and was limited to the first minute. Some key songs were Rikki Don’t Lose that Number; Pretzel Logic and Monkey in Your Soul. Overall, solid album but not world changing.
Random thoughts: * I'm kinda in my full dad-rock phase at this point and I should be all about Steely Dan. * I dug the hits on here: Rikki and Any Major Dude. * The rest was fine. I think I'll end up liking and rating higher the other Steely Dan albums. * Enjoyable but definitely not classic outside of the key tracks.
Rv/g
Eh
3,5/5
First exposure to Steely Dan. Had a great time. 3.5 really
I love Steely Dan, don't get me wrong. But this album isn't it. At all. Rikki Don't Lose That Number does literally nothing for me. I don't even get why it's popular. Almost every song on here is instantly forgettable. This thing still has Steely Dan charm, but it feels like something they just churned out to keep the coffers full, not a piece of music they actually put much effort into. It's listenable, but that's probably as far as I'll go with this thing.
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number - Clean as fuck guitar solo in the second half, which is the best half by far. Pretty slick tune overall, really liked it. Night by Night - pretty good instrumentals, liked the sax in the mix. Any Major Dude Will Tell You - beautifully written, produced and performed. Charlie Freak - great lyrics and instrumentals. A disappointing album overall, certainly when they have Can’t Buy A Thrill and Aja in the catalogue, which are all-timers. 2 bangers, 2 great, the rest were not much to write home about, which is a bit sad.
For the most part this didnt quite click. There's some gorgeous piano on this thing. The keyboard is often excitable and when the guitars get going they really flourish. The vocals can be awesome at times too. But yeah just didnt click I guess. 5/10
Reading about this album after a listen, it is obvious that compared to their other works that this album was designed to be more commercially viable/accessible. While it certainly worked, this album spawned their most successful single and arguably the group's most popular song. Unfortunately, I don't think that Steely Dan as a group shines their brightest when catering to what sells. Side A is clearly stronger with the first three tracks being the standouts of the album, Barrytown is decent and East St. Louis Toodle-Oo is a novel, funky and off-kilter tune. The only thing that really sticks with me about Side B is the refrain of With A Gun. Even though I consider this a weaker Dan album, everything here is performed and arranged to an extremely high standard without sounding clinical. It has all the hallmarks of Dan album, especially the lyricism. If any other band released this, it would be a great album. But when the band that did Aja and Gaucho release this, it's just good. Highlights: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You
I can imagine a middle-aged suburban father named Dan Steele listening to this on a Sunday afternoon after church. It's okay, but what is it about this band that deserves this kind of love? Favorite Track: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number".
Didn't know the album. Probably I expected to much since I am not so convinced. There are some really nice songs on here ("Rikki ...", Barrytown, ...) but some don't convince me at all.
Superb
I love Steeley Dan but this album is not their best work. Sonically it's a little disjointed and the smooth production that you get on Aja and Can't Buy a Thrill is missing. Rikki Do t Lose That Number still slaps though.
It's a smooth ride with some catchy tunes, but it doesn’t fully grab me. The jazzy vibes and clever lyrics are nice, but it feels a bit too laid-back for my taste.
easy listening, i liked the lil instrumental interlude. some songs felt like they repeated for a bit too long
A nice easy-listening band from my youth with one hit on an average album. But not exactly setting the world on fire. I’d give it 2 only, except that there so much other dross on this list that, by comparison, its at least a 3.
Pretty darn cool
Inte min favorit Steely dan, men inte alls dålig heller. Stark 3
Some great music but not a lot of songs i connect to on this one, 3.5
Rikki var nice men inget speicellt
Hört om detta band flera gånger men visste inte hur det skulle låta. Visste inte ens om det var ett band eller en person. Men lät bra!
Super 70s tight musicianship, complex white guy blues/R&B/jazz so perfect it must have taken a whole gang of cocaine to get it all together. I don't love Steely Dan, but there are a few really good, interesting, sonically rich songs on this one, as well as a few mid throwaway wank jobs.
Very funny to go from yesterday’s album to Steely Dan, but it gave me a new appreciation for them.
Good easy listen
Unmistakably unique, Steely Dan brings it again.
The musicianship is undeniable. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo is a charming tune that shows off their chops. The overall sound is great, but there’s something about the vibe that bothers me. This feels like music for bros. I guess I liked it better than I thought I would.
Listened a lot to aja last month an am over steely danned atm. Aja is probably better, and this seems okay, but again not the moment to listen to more steely dan.
I like how well they fuse so many styles together and the blend often works extremely well (especially the more jazz sections and guitair solo). I was surprised I knew some of the songs on this album. Sounded slightly dated at times and routed in 80s. Lots of promise on this album but the bangers were only occassionally but as something to listen too while cooking or something I would definately come back to it.
Might grow on me next time round
These guys get better the more I listen. This one made me feel like I should give the others another go. Great opener with Rikki and the others created good vibes.
It was ok. Not really my thing
J - 3/5 Best Track - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" F - 2/5
Weird but why not, easy to listen to
Kinda fun bunch of weirdos I guess.
3.5. ADD HALF STARS PLS
I like it more than I thought I would, but I wouldn't rush to listen to this on repeat. I like the music a lot more than the lyrics/vocals.
Can't quite make up my mind, good sound, weird narrative, perhaps I may have become obsessed if it had entered my orbit in the mid 70s. But it didn't, and for that I am thankful really.
Forgettable dad rock (no offence dad).
Steely Dan. Fint, men forglemmelig.
This album brings back a lot of classic memories and the first half is really good. Wide variety of sounds and instruments, the right mix of jazz and pop, got me loving some yacht rock these days. The second half is not as strong but still decent enough. However, I prefer a few songs of Steely Dan sprinkled throughout a playlist rather than in full album format. This was a lot of Steel Dany. 3.20 for pretzels.
Steely Dan brings the 1920s flapper swag with Pretzel Logic. Feel like I should be sipping an old fashion at a speakeasy listening to "East t. Louis Toodle-Oo." Other than "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" though, there are not any other real hits but it's still a decent listen. Does this album deserve a spot on the must listen list? Not so sure but the record cover boosts it a bit to a 2.59. I'll take a hot pretzel at 15 cents for sure.
love me some steely dan but this isn’t their best imo
high 3, almost a 4.
I’m not sure I’ve listened to much Steely Dan before, so Pretzel Logic was a fresh experience for me. I gave it a couple of spins today and found it to be an easy, enjoyable listen with a few standout tracks. The album has a lively energy and smooth production, making it accessible and pleasant. That said, nothing on it really gripped me or compelled me to hit repeat right away. It’s solid, but not particularly groundbreaking on first impression. Favourite songs: “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” is a clear highlight—catchy, confident, and effortlessly cool. “Night by Night” also stood out with its groove and punch. Least favourite: Honestly, nothing felt skippable. Every track was worth a listen. Album artwork: I love the cover—simple and iconic. And yes, lots of pretzels!
Sonically this one sounded really great but lyrically there was a bit to be desired. It was a quick fun listen overalls
Good vibe but a lot of boring shi
Decent tunes. I am not sure if it's for me or if I would listen again.
Hard to argue with the musicianship on this one. No particularly memorable songs on this album though. Check out 'Eleven Long Years' by Us3 for an excellent sample from 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number".
Not bad a little slow in places easy listening
This album has a good infusion of jazz sensibilities to Steely Dan's pop/rock sound. The best song on the album is Rikki Don't Lose That Number. Some of the other tracks are a bit forgettable, but overall the album is fine. The sound is very good.
This was more enjoyable than expected, and could very well make it's way to a possible roadtrip playlist as a repeat listen. This will be receiving a 3.5, however it will be demoted to 3 a three as it does not quite hit the overall heights of a complete 4.
Strong start with "Ricky Don't Lose That Number". Nothing stood out after. Won't revisit, I don't hate it, just doesn't float my boat. 2.5/5 raising to 3.
Bang average
It's always been an uphill battle to get myself to listen to a Steely Dan album for whatever reason. I have no reason to be Steely Dan averse, they've done nothing to me, and I even like a lot of their bigger songs, but frankly, I'd rather just think about the insane origins of their name than actually listen to them (look it up if you're curious). Anyways, sometimes the generator wills it, and here I am. Honestly, this wasn't bad, there are some really great highlights like Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night By Night, and Charlie Freak, but as a whole I just kinda think this was pretty good. This isn't to say that I think Steely Dan sounds generic, they definitely have their thing going on, I just that I can't see what makes this essential listening in the wide world of '70s rock. Anyways, its a matter of time before the generator conjures more Steely Dan, so we'll meet again someday.
This album was one of those in heavy rotation in my older brother's vinyl collection so it seeped into me by osmosis: love "Ricki ""Any Major Dude," and the title track but a lot of songs don't stand out. Still, amazing studio work (as always) and songwriting. Love me some Dan.
Any major dude will tell you that this is a pretty solid, entertaining, and musically impressive 70s rock record. Kudos to the hell of a gong player (gongist?) on "East St Louis Toodle-Oo"
liked songs: Through With Buzz Good 3
my first steely dan album. not sure how I feel about it yet. is it bland and boring? without a doubt. but not offensively so. I'm perfectly happy to leave it on in the background and float away in its fuzzy sound. not a single song is even slightly memorable, but it's not awful. slightly toasted white bread of music.
Nice little indie vibe. Reminded me of the velvet underground
5/5/2025: solid, just not quite my vibe.
Good album!
Appreciate it, but do not vibe with it
I listened to it but forgot to come back to review. Then I realised most of it wasn't memorable except for the single "Ricky Don't Lose That Number". Maybe because looking back it sounds like generic 70s pop.
Sympa sans plus. Plus calme
Enjoyed the album. Nothing special that I could point out. This particular sound I have heard before. Plus I didn't have enough time like I usually do to breath with the album to think over it carefully. But from my one listen, the album is nice and gets your going. It's moving in the sense that it lifts my spirits. The final rating based on my current music taste: 6/10 21 April 2025
Don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t that. It was kind of all over the place and you never knew where it was going to next. Weird album. but not bad weird.
OK. Middle of the road
Not their best
Gentle rock and roll. A few good tunes, enjoyable