CAN'T BUY A THRILL

STEELY DAN debut is a remarkable record because of two things at least: a sophisticated musical hybrid of rock, pop, jazz and R'n'B along with cynical sometimes cryptic lyrics and campy cover art in the vein of LITTLE FEAT or ROXY MUSIC on one hand; and on the other the phenomenal piece of art in the shape of the opening mega tune Do It Again. Distinguished rhytmic pattern, melodic Fagen's vocals and interplay between the solo parts of electric sitar and organ made this track one of the DAN highlights right from the start of their career.

Still, the rest of the album is not on par with the promising opener. David Palmer's vocals on Dirty Work, Midnight Cruiser and Brooklyn are too cheesy and better suit to a crooner-type vocalists. Music is often a too straightforward rock'n'roll with an occassional blues or jazz chord that approaches a type of easy-listening soft-rock. I read somewhere that someone had assessed SD as the first Adult-Oriented Rock band, even before the term was coined. Even if we agree with that, the later work of the duo would certainly overpass any cathegorisation and would be highly evaluated among jazz, rock and prog listeners alike. The hints of the better works to come are present here in clasically arranged Kings, anti-Hippie vignette Only a Fool Would Say That and a fiery rocker Reelin' In the Years.

This Lp is not essential for prog collections, but I would surely advise you take a chance and listen to it. If only more songs were done in the way of Do It Again (and without Palmer vocals) I would consider 4 stars...

PERSONAL RATING: 3,5/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5