Steely Dan produces no emotion, feeling, engagement, or enjoyment. Musically, it is just there, like Milton in Office Space—an incredibly overrated band.
It's an amazing album and quite an achievement; the first four Sabbath records are all 5/5 star records. I am not even sure what could be written about this record, the simple reality is the first four albums are essential, and the fifth record as well. Incredible run.
I prefer Bruce on the Tacky Souvenirs of Post Revolutionary America and I argue that record should be on 1001 Albums Before you Die over this album which is token Boss. Tacky Souvenirs of Post Revolutionary America takes Born in the USA; I am certain that turd is also on this list, and uses the music with terrible singling and keyboard effects over the actual recording and it is infinitely superior to anything Bruce has done outside of Nebraska. Bruce is T Top rock to its core, you need a Camaro or a Trans-Am to really enjoy this cheesy commercial trash. The sad reality is Bruce has one good record, Nebraska; the rest of the catalog is grossly overrated to include this overrated record. I could have died without this one. The man who sang about rich and poor felt he was too much of a king for a DUI in a National Park, The Boss is the The Butthole at this point. I knew he would make it, he is a commercial music god, but this record is not essential. Not even close to essential, its kinda poop. Here are some much better albums that are not considered 1001 Before you Die from 1978: - Blondie Parallel Lines 4.5 out of 5 - The Cars - Self Titled - The Rolling Stones - Some Girls - Wire - Chairs Missing - Bob Seger - Stranger in Town - Patti Smith - Easter The reality is simple, this is a commercially successful from '78 and in '85 was on the charts for 15 weeks. Its commercial pop music, nothing too special honestly and its on the list because you just cant leave out The Butthole Bruce Springsteen.
Steely Dan produces no emotion, feeling, engagement, or enjoyment. Musically, it is just there, like Milton in Office Space—an incredibly overrated band.
It's okay, but the album is grossly overstated, and multiple albums from 1968 are better. Cream - Wheels of Fire Dr. John - Gris Gris Jeff Beck - Truth Otis Redding - The Dock of the Bay Miles Davis - Nefertiti Ennio Morricone - Once Upon Time in the West These are just a few examples; this Zombies album is another example of a record critics have always fawned over, and therefore, it's amazing. It is average at best.
Undeniable classic. It's a great record and a token album for anyone who collects physical media. I would say 4.5, I rounded up for this review.
I first heard this when I was about seven years old. My brother had a tape, and I saw the Tipper Gore naughty lyrics sticker and could not resist. What was inside this that made it so risky, dangerous, and taboo to have that magical sticker? The cover was strange. Why are these dudes in a cell? Why is the album name a paragraph? It's loud, filled with sirens, bass, and amazing samples. The samples on this disc are amazing: Angel of Death on She Watch Channel Zero!?, that's just rad. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is one of the most innovative and listenable hip-hop records ever recorded. The first four PE records are essential, and everyone should own them, except those who wish to limit speech; you can go fuck yourself; that includes the PMRV ringmaster Tipper Gore and all who wish to tell us how our freedom of speech should work.
It's decent enough, but I will remove it from my personal 1001 and sub in Herbie Hancock Empyrean Isles, which is not on this list, which is crazy. Its record is a 3/5. Some folks argue it is understated, but I get confused when Hancock's seminal hard bop record is snubbed for this. Google best of '64 lists. The author of this list seriously dropped the ball. There are only seven records from '64, yet Steely Dan makes the list twice. So Can't Buy a Thrill is a more critical record than Herbie Hancock's Empyrean Isles; sure thing, pal.
A grossly overrated you will like this album, album. I have heard songs from this over the years, well, since 94 and never knew who it was. Now I know why, the record scratches are banal and the vocalist is annoying. This is SHIT.
"If Alex Jones pays for lying, shouldn't every celebrity pushing vaccine pay too?" "If I have to choose the vaccine or chip, I'm gonna choose death." The best part of M.I.A. is watching how upset people are; she doesn't think the approved thoughts and your feeble authoritarian minds are mad because the other people are fascists. Strange, you are free to think what you want, as long as it is what I think; yup, that's how fascists do things. Pot meet kettle. As far as this album, meh.
It's a great album, and it belongs on the list. It's in my collection, and I would argue it is essential. They did something amazing on this record. Oddly, at least for me, it's a timely record to return to in 2025; I think I will spin this one for a few more days. My only issue with this album is how much it falters with Fireplace and Lightning Hopkins, thus making it a 3.5 at best. Posted a 4-star as the system does not permit half-stars.