CAN'T BUY A THRILL

"Can't Buy a Thrill" is the debut full-length studio album by US rock act Steely Dan. The album was released through ABC Records in November 1972. Steely Dan was formed in 1971 by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals), although the two of them had already met in 1967, while attending Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and had played together in other groups before forming Steely Dan. They were initially songwriters/composers for other artists, but at the request of producer Gary Katz, they formed Steely Dan and began recording their own songs, instead of composing for other artists.

Listening to "Can't Buy a Thrill" it´s immediately audible how professional and skilled Becker and Fagen are as songwriters and musicians (Fagen is the main composer on this release). They have a team of highly skilled musicians performing with them, but it´s the smooth rock/soft semi-jazzy material which takes the prize. The two hit singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In the Years" are both catchy and easily accessible soft rock songs featuring memorable melodies and pleasant vocal harmonies in addition to great organic instrumental performances.

It´s a pleaseant and polished rock album (making one all warm and fuzzy, thinking about topics like beaches and nice weather. Not that the lyrics are necessarily about such things, but it´s the atmosphere of the album), but it´s not simple or shallow. The songs feature many different details and interesting twists (within the boundaries of radio friendly commercial pop/rock) and it´s through and through a good quality release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.