Steely Dan's first album is pretty summative of what Steely Dan is known for: soft rock infused with Latin rhythms that anyone can get into. The bands mix of Latin rock and jazz creates a relaxing yet energetic sound that you can't help but just groove to. The band showcases a good deal of technical prowess in the studio, both in composition and performance, as well as mixing/editing that makes the songs take on a wholly unique feel that I've not heard anywhere else. The sort of Latin percussion and strings that you expect are paired up with more "electric" sounding components that combine beautifully, such as the multiple guitar solos that are given a sort of rough, almost compressed timbre that goes oddly well with the backing instruments. Another area of note in the album are the lyrics/themes of the songs, which all have a similar theming along the lines of mistakes, regrets, and other sorts of "that's just how life is" that I don't know how to describe, and once again it fits oddly well for the music. It creates an atmosphere of melancholy that compliments the relaxed feel of the music, and really shows the expertise of the bands compositional and lyrical talents. I'd highly recommend this to anyone for at least a listen or two as it's a very broadly appealing set that, even at it's lowest point, is always at least enjoyable to have on, and can reach very high heights at it's best.
Highlights: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only a Fool Would Say That, Reelin' in the Years, Change of the Guard.
Rating: 5/6
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