Customer Reviews
First thrill - By: D. J. H. Thorn, 19 Mar 2008 
Steely Dan's first album, like many first albums, suggests that they haven't settled on their approach. Yet this is to its advantage. While they seem to make only great albums, this is more the work of a rock band, rather than the usual Becker/Fagen dominated jazz-inflected musings. Sure, they wrote all the material here, but the other band members are allowed a more prominent role. The lead vocals of David Palmer, for instance, highlight that Donald Fagen's voice, while distinct, is probably Steely Dan's weakest link. Nevertheless, this is a minor gripe. From first track to last, this is solid-groove rock music, sophisticated, lyrically & musically imaginative, with the odd daring arrangement. All of the players get to express themselves & the harmonies are superb.
The lyrics, without being belligerent, pull no punches. 'Do It Again' dives straight into murder. That there are two big hits is a bonus, but 'Can't Buy A Thrill' doesn't depend on these tracks. This is the best Steely Dan album to start with & is arguably their best.
STUPENDOUS ALBUM! - By: T. Baker, 05 Jan 2008 Walter Becker & Donald Fagen, chief members & songwriters of Steely Dan, apparently do not rate this, the group's 1972 debut, very highly, dismissing it as purely 'formative.'
As a mere listener, however, I discern much more: 'if you listen, you can hear it' - depth, range, variety, style, structure, poetry, and, above all, that elusive element which gradually diminished as their career flourished - melody, here at a consistently high level throughout the 10 tracks.
Consistency is equally evidentin the lyrics, the theme of REPETITION being echoed again & again - 'you go back, Jack, do it again', 'you have sent the maid home early, like a thousand times before', 'ring out the past - his name lives on', 'for one more time let your madness run with mine', 'you've been telling me you're a genius since you were seventeen', etc etc.
DO IT AGAIN, the album's opening & most enduring track, is a particularly hypnotic & infectious slice of urban frenzy, with a monotonous undertone - an anthem of our times, if ever there was one. The protagonist (actually YOU, suggesting WE) commits a crime ('you go gunning for the man who stole your water'), gets caught ('they catch you at the border'), is let off ('the hangman isn't hanging') & promptly goes out & 'does it again.' Sound familiar? Subsequent verses tell of lies, gambling, betrayal & grudging acknowledgment - a pettern of (mis)behaviour that serves to create a vicious circle (the infernal 'wheel turning round & round').
Other tracks offer similar scenarios, where past experiences & present predicaments meet head-onin ways the listener cannot fail to recognise & feel challenged by:
DIRTY WORK - 'I'm a fool to do your dirty work.' Moral: don't let people use you.
KINGS - 'And though we sang his fame, we still went hungry, just the same.' Lesson: don't follow false idols.
MIDNITE CRUISER - Missing the 'fun' days? Then, re-create them.
ONLY A FOOL WOULD SAY THAT - 'A world where all is free?' Forget it, it 'just couldn't be.'
REELING IN THE YEARS - 'Stowing away the time?' Better to live for now - 'no time is better than'(it).
FIRE IN THE HOLE - 'And nothing left to burn.' Time to re-fuel.
BROOKLYN - A less mature (& coherent) vision - it was written some years earlier - this is supposedly aimed at neighbours who the singer feels do not conform to his pattern of behaviour or ideology, but it's all rather cryptic,in truth.
CHANGE OF THE GUARD - 'If you wanna get through the years, it's high time you played your card' - seize the chance, while it's here.
TURN THAT HEARTBEAT OVER AGAIN - Another fairly inscrutable lyric - pergaps a warning to keep promises.
The overall impression is of a world that is continually turning, but where nothing really changes - everything just repeats itself, resultingin stalemate. But the music is anything but stale. It's fresh, inspired, inventive - &, as noted, richly melodic & satisfying. Allin all, a stupendous album whose message is as real & relevant today as ever.
Just a brief mention for David Palmer, lead vocalist on DIRTY WORK & BROOKLYN. His contribution is often neglected, sometimes derided, but I think he does a great job on both tracks, providing a pleasant contrast to Donald Fagen's raspier delivery.
One of the true classic "must have" albums - By: Carole, 03 Apr 2007 If this album just contained "Reelin'in the years" & "Do it again" plus dross it would still be worth buying, but it doesn't. It is 100% brilliant. Every track is a gem, there is always something new to hear & enjoy.
One of the great debut albums & a collection that stands the test of time.
Whenever I hear the intro to "Reelin'" I just smile. Sheer heaven.
Who says you Can't Buy a Thrill ? - By: M. I. R. Clarke, 26 Jul 2006 Where has this type of music gone? Smart lyrics, artfully composed tuneful songs, instrumental virtuosity. Steely Dan's 1972 debut was way before its time & remains fresh & challenging today as a standard for pop music. The Dan have never bettered Thrill, although Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic & Aja come pretty close. Thrill features two modern rock standards that everyone knows - Do It Again & Reelingin the Years - they got lots of airplayin spite of being more than 3 minutesin length with extended guitar solos, but every track is catchy & memorable showing a range of rock, blues, jazz & Latin beat. What Fagen's vocals lackin musicality they more than make up with irony, phrasing & style & the baxter/ dias guitar partnership (with elliott randall guesting) is awesomely powerful. There are lots of quirky Becker/Fagen originals - Dirty Work & Brooklyn superb melodic ballads sung by david palmer with fagen on keyboard, to the uptempo rockier Kings & Change of the Guard. Dan were undoubtedly the coolest band of their day & their work remains accessible to pop & serious rock listeners alike. Check it out. File under "indispensibly smooth".
A stunning piece of artistry! - By: Sultan of Swing, 26 May 2006 This the debut album from Walter Becker & Dolald Fagen, now legends among those with any musical taste. It hosts such classic tracks as 'Do It Again' 'Dirty Work' & 'Only A Fool' which have stood the test of time!
I wouldn't say this album is my favourite of all time but it is definitelyin the Top 1! I can sit back & listen to it, whatever mood i'm in! Although the best time is a Sunday afternoon, when there's nothing to do & all day to do it, you can truly appreciate Steely Dans raw entry into the musical world & pick out the intricate melodies intertwiningin a way that music never had before & never will again.
This album is an Absoloubte work of Genius!
Very Highly Recommended & at such a cheap price - can you afford not to?
Rock On
