gafa42
2
Definitely one of their weaker albums, 3/5
I do love Steely Dan. I grew up in LA in the 70's & 80's so it seems like most of the songs raise some sort of memory or another. That being said, I do find that most of their albums have some great songs, but filler - except maybe for Aja. Can't Buy A Thrill is no exception, I'll give it a 3/5.
I scored another record down previously in the list for being too polished and too well constructed, and I think I shall have to do the same here. I initially scored this a 3 when I listened to it (for the first time ever) in my solo listen through, but I think it is only fair and consistent that I score it a 2 on a re-listen. It is all a bit boring at the end of the day. 2 / 5 stars.
Thank god the producer convinced Fagen to be the singer moving forward because I'm not a fan of Palmer. Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years could have been on any of their other albums. It's a tentative debut, there are glimpses of what would come, but there is a lot that doesn't quite work as well. Not a bad album, but not great.