Countdown To Ecstasy

It's a quick shot, barely ten seconds. "I'm a fool-to-dooo your-dir-ty work, oh yeaaaaah! I don't want-to-dooo your dirty-work, no mo-o-ore." It's nighttime, the radio plays an old Steely Dan hit, and Tony Soprano is singing at the wheel as he drives somewhere. The endearing yet sociopathic mob boss has the same bored, weary eyes as ever, but that scene is probably the closest thing in the whole series to a moment showing him having the time of his life. Tony knows them oldies-but-goldies standards. And he knows it's always deeply pleasurable to sing along to one of those as they pop up between Journey and Cream on the car's radio. The thing is, would Tony Soprano enjoy *Countdown To Ecstasy* in the exact same way he enjoyed the early hits from Steely Dan's debut, *Can't Buy A Thrill*? Probably not. Very much a transitional effort leading the L.A. band towards the more refined soft-rock soundscapes for which they'll later be known for, *Countdown To Ecstasy* is maybe too sophisticated and left-field for Tony's more immediate, impulsive, 'it's-either-hit-or-miss', tastes. Not that Steely Dan would have cared, at least at the time. Having dumped co-singer/songwriter David Palmer (of "Dirty Work" fame) for this second album, now penning cryptic lyrics with a somewhat dystopian flavor (in keeping with the William Burroughs influence on their band's name), and electing for an ethereal cover that would nicely fit in Brian Eno's discography, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker took very much of a gamble here, even if the years that have passed since 1973 might have erased the extent in which those risks were actually *that* bold. First listens today indeed suggest Steely Dan was mostly a band perfectly content to rely on their earlier charts success and technical prowess to write and perform quite innocuous songs ranging from old rock'n'roll, country and rhythm and blues. Admittedly, they did spice things up by adding a fashionable form of prog-rock once in a while. If only said prog-rock didn't sound so irremediably tame compared to the Floyd or Can, this could have well turned up as a lengendary endeavor. Not in here, though, unfortunately. Such harsh preliminary assessment might not be the full picture, however. As subsequent spins soon reveal, this missed opportunity might actually be a blessing in disguise for amateurs of truly *original* sounds. And playing a huge part in this overall originality, you have the jazz inflexions throughout the album, either in the instrumentation (those vibes in "Razor Boy") or the chord changes, bringing a welcome uneasiness and chiaruscoro ambiguity to the whole shebang, very much in line with the dystopian atmoshere already evoked earlier. Opener "Bodhisattva" is a very striking example of such artful sprinklings. Starting as an old R'n'R standard not sounding too fresh or daring these days, with a vocal hook even bordering on parody or muzak, the track's five minutes still fly by, thanks to those unexpected chord changes, along with slyly imaginative bridges and a synth part whose glossy crispness does a great job as it finally circles around you like a flock of pixellated sparrows, forcing you to let your guard down in front of their aerial spectacle. If this is elevator music (make no mistake, it very much *is*), this might be the sort of elevator music you can hear in Stephen King's "dark tower", granted such tower has an elevator in the first place (can't recall, does it?). The irony that you felt under the surface at the start of the song ends up screaming at you toward its end, and quickly, you begin to reconsider how performative the track really is. Is this stuff *cheesy* music? Or is it a *semblance* of cheesy music, with a more sophisticated agenda behind it, even more shrewd and cunning given that Steely Dan have more or less managed to hide their true game until the very last minute? Retrospectively, it seems that Fagen and Becker have always aimed at straddling that fine line, being the sly, witty bastards that they are. Fans sometimes see in Steely Dan things that non-fans are unable to imagine or even comprehend while listening to their music for the first time. Sometimes it just takes one weird, off-kilter note in a guitar or keyboard solo to change the picture, as in the hard-bop but otherwise predictable and standardized "Your Gold Teeth". Other times, you find yourself being entranced by the implacable grooves of the rhythm section, even though the rest of the instrumentation sounds a little too nice and dandy overall. Not to say 'bland'. You know this is imaginative writing here, no matter what. Too bad you can't *feel* it sometimes. As a consequence, one could easily argue that the prog-rock flavors in Steely Dan's music would have gained from being a little more pronounced than they actually were. Or that a true manifestation of genuine psychedelia during those very specific forays would have helped them faring better today, at least. But maybe it is unfair to compare apples and oranges, and expect from Fagen and Becker a program that was far too much in line with their contemporary day and age--it's a program the band visibly had no genuine interest in, for better or for worse. And ironically, Steely Dan's overall sound was nothing but ahead of the curve in 1973, foretelling the set of styles countless "mainstream" soft rock bands would embrace later on, from Eagles to Supertramp (not to mention other 'neat-sounding' acts even further down the line, during the eighties--Dire Straits, anyone?). Yet there is *another* layer of irony to point out, at least from our vantage point in the 21st century, and this one is far more cruel than the first. None of those groundbreaking aspects objectively present during the course of *Countdown To Ecstasy* are easily discernible today, after all that has transpired since. The music is good in this album, there's no arguing about that. But whether it is still *relevant* remains to be seen. A good chunk of the tracks are saving the record from complete stylistic oblivion though, first because Steely Dan's pop-leaning, post-modernist agenda actually does conceptual wonders from time to time. Or, on the contrary, because the band *also* knew how to drop that agenda in key points of the record so as to focus on the music first and foremost. The mock-country highlight "Pearl Of The Quarter" for instance, is a convincing exercise in style, with its evocative albeit over-the-top steel guitar. And "Show Biz Kids" is a somewhat linear, overlong jam that's probably a little too on-the-nose, but it's stiil part of that interesting postmodern group of songs, thanks to its wry lyrics about poverty (and the fact that "Steely Dan T-shirts" won't save you from it). If nothing else, such attempts are showing how smart and topically meaningful the band actually intended to be. And in the more straightforward tracks, you have rhythm 'n blues homages such as "My Old School", whose Motown-sounding backing vocals suffuse much needed life to the proceedings. But most of all, you have two stunners, not hits per se, but still the liveliest tracks of the whole program. As a centerpiece of the record, "The Boston Rag"' evokes a sense of nostalgia only belied by the animated performance that supports it. And closer "King Of The World" is an apt, skittering conclusion for the countdown uttered in the album's title, a promised "ecstasy" here tainted by heartbreaking descriptions of a post-nuclear America where said "kings of the world" are actually none but a scattered group of survivors slowly dying from radiation poisoning. From the barren realm of The Dark Towers, we've plunged right into the waste lands of The Stand, but the overall effect is the same. And yes, the shakespearian references do help set the appropriate, despondent mood, finally revealing that the titular countdown was nothing but a countdown to nuclear annihilation. I bet not a lot of listeners saw that one coming, whether today or at the time--even though the cover was an ominous sign of the disaster about to surge. *Gravity's Rainbow*'s Thomas Pynchon, would surely have appreciated such a nice touch here. Wasn't Pynchon's mammoth published in 1973 anyway? If a rock album cover could have been used for thsi novel, the one of *Countdown To Ecstasy* would have done a fine job paying homage to its grim-but-carnival-like contents, if not the music itself. To be honest, however, all the tragic post-apocalyptic memorabilia displayed by Fagen in that song is NOT the first reason why the latter should be singled out, along with "The Boston Rag". The real reason is simple, as simple as a back-to-basics New Jersey mob boss's playlist. And the reason is that those tracks are catchy and direct enough to allow you to sing along to them, in spite of the other jazzy flourishings out there. This does not lessen the other merits of "King Of The World", and yes indeed, the admirable guitar interlacing in its introduction is still very much in keeping with the other sophisticated arrangements thoughout the album. But here you have that extra cherry on the cake, and you can eat it too: a glorious, roaring, heartfelt, take-no-quarters chorus. Sometimes Tony Sopranos was right, at least when it came to music. It's not always necessary to split hairs if you want to have a good time. Life's too short for this, with or without a nuclear apocalypse looming on the horizon. [[Number of albums I listened to from the list: 3 Albums left to listen to: 998 Number of albums I've found genuinely relevant: 0 Number of different albums you should *probably* listen to before you die: 1 (so counting this one out, maybe) Number of different albums you should *definitely* listen to before you die: 2]

Hell ya some steely Dan! I wish I had heard this before Aja as I think this is a great intro to Steely Dan. It’s slightly jazzy and proggy, but still has catchy tunes. King of the world doesn’t sit with me right as an album closer

Day 10 of Music You Must Hear Before You Die and the album of the day is Countdown To Ecstasy by the legendary American rock band Steely Dan. I grew up hearing Steely Dan on the radio and know most of their popular songs. I must admit that, shamefully, I’ve never owned any of their records or dove deep into any of their deeper cuts. I must say, the music these guys have made is as American as it gets, especially when it comes to rock n’ roll. Sure, this is rock music but it has elements of rhythm & blues, jazz, soul, latin and a little funk sprinkled in as well. The biggest standout is the guitars, vocals, and horn arrangements. Lead singer Donald Fagen’s voice is iconic. So warming and haunting at the same time. The songwriting of Walter Becker (RIP) and Donald Fagen is very catchy and intelligent. You can tell that these are some really smart fellas and care A LOT about how their music is crafted. The arrangements and mixing are impeccable. The singles released from this album are Showbiz Kids and My Old School. Both are great songs. My personal favorites were Pearl Of The Quarter, Bodhisattva, and the closing track, King Of The World (very funky almost Isaac Hayes sounding instrumentation). What I like the most about Countdown To Ecstasy is each song has a theme. I was introduced to different characters and felt immersed in some of the stories. I’m so glad I got to listen to this album and get to know more about Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Steely Dan!

Classic dad rock. Didn’t really stand out as much as I hoped.

An album that lives up to the expectations of a band named after a steam-powered dildo in "Naked Lunch." In some moments, they are taking something seriously enough only to cut it apart, whether it is the new-age spirituality of the West-coast (Bodhisattva) or its excessive consumerism (Show Biz Kids). In other moments, they offer up vignettes of life's losers (The Boston Rag; My Old School; Pearl of the Quarter). And, at their very best, they are offering up an often impenetrable statement on the state of their world (Razor Boy; Your Gold Teeth; King of the World).

The album name is exceptionally appropriate as it never actually manages to reach a climax, just slowly builds to what one assumes is one. Maybe it's performance anxiety. I hear it's very common.

Steely Dan is one of those sharp break artists for a lot of people, love it or hate it... I fall firmly on the love side, though I can see the objections of a superficiality... But to me that all-surface high gloss is what it's all about. Hardly needed to listen to this one, it's basically on repeat somewhere in the back of my head, along with Pretzel Logic and Can't Buy a Thrill - to me, jus gr about perfect.

Seriously underwhelming dad rock that fails to try something new

Most overrated band in existence in my opinion. Boring and then they are pretentious about it. No favorite track, I'll give it two because it's fine for background music you ignore

This album has always been kinda low on my Steely Dan rankings, and yet I struggle to identify a single reason why. It's a testament to the strength of their discography but also I think I have kinda slept on this album for a while. It's fantastic, better than I remember certainly. "Bodhisattva", "Your Gold Teeth", "My Old School" and "Pearl of the Quarter" are the best tracks. *chefs kiss*

I mean, I've loved this album for years, so. This is not going to be an objective rating. All the reasons people tend to not like Steely Dan are the reasons I like them, I think. I know every song on every album. I mean, My Old School is a pretty great song however you cut it. It is what it is.

I wasn't sure what I thought about this one, but I read that they focused on incorporating some jazz into their sound, so I listened again, and it was clear as day. Kind of weird how articulating a genre or influence of a genre can lock everything into place. Not as single-friendly as Can't Buy A Thrill, but still just as enjoyable. Best track: King of the World

p301, 1973. 2 stars. Early hipster jazz-rock. Look how well we can play our instruments! Look how fast we can go! Look how precise we are! Look at the polish and sheen and shiny chrome! All at the expense of any emotion or feeling. It doesn't help that Donald Fagin sounds stoned on every track. And it has an electric piano ffs. The entire album sounds like something you'd hear in the lift or restaurant in an expensive hotel. Technically excellent, but zero heart or soul. 2 stars for some sharp lyrics and for the guitar work, even if that does stray into 70's "look how fast I can play" wankage a lot of the time. Thank god for punk.

I've listened to it twice and disliked. Disliked it the first time. Disliked it more the second. Also, my father-in-law LOVES Steeley Dan. Which may also play into my opinion

Wow, I guess I hate Steely Dan. This is so boring. It’s like when you go to a bar and there’s some house band playing. Couldn’t wait for it to be over. No thanks.

Sweet Rosalie, she's working at the five & dime train back to Hackensack with rosemary wine Yo-deedle doidle dee, cocaine We both like to do cocaine

Countdown to Ecstasy This has always felt like a more streamlined progression from Can’t Buy a Thrill, the same elements of precision soft rock and jazz, but more high gloss and more focused, which then continues on to Pretzel Logic. I totally get how something like Razor Boy’s glockenspiel could make it come across like lift music, but underneath that it’s a great track with lovely piano and interesting changes. That does go for a lot of the songs, the piano driven structure underneath the instrumentation gives it a sense of jazzy propulsion with a soft rock easy listening sheen over the top. Like all their albums the sense of exactness and craft is all over it, I think the meticulousness of getting everything sounding correct and correctly in place is a big reason why I like SD so much, particularly on the first 3 albums. For me there’s not a dud on the album but highlights would be the satirical Bodhisattva and Showbiz Kids, the picaresque The Boston Rag, My Old School and the superb, bass-driven King of the World. The second side in particular is excellent from Show Biz Kids to King of the World. Like Can’t But a Thrill and Pretzel Logic and like Aja will be, this is an easy 5. 👑👑👑👑👑 Playlist submission: King of the World

'Can't Buy a Thrill' I liked a lot, and Pretzel Logic not so much - so as a band I am undecided where I stand on this bunch of Proto-prog/Dad-rock specialists. At 40 minutes long and a collection of eight songs, this album is edited perfectly; makes you forget your listening to a style that is teetering on a tightrope - falling into bland MoR jazz inspired pop one way; and prog rock guitar wankery the other. But tread the tightrope they have, and they have done so perfectly. The melodies continue to shine out over any prog-rock leanings; 'Razor Boy' leans heavily to Pretzel's MoR, but the melody saves it; 'Show Biz Kids' is like a funky retake of Nilson's 'Coconut'; 'My Old School' an effortless Eagles-esque breezy tune; 'Pearl of the Quarter' a Harrison-esque slide-guitar-propelled ballad. 'King of the World', like 'Boston Rag', has all the perfect melodies of CSNY, some Pink Floyd synth thrown in and fantastic Niles Rodgers funk-riffing.

Two Steely Dan albums in a row! And in chronological order no less. This is where they really start to refine their sound. Not a dud in the bunch here. I see some people disparagingly calling this "dad rock" but I think that's a pretty big misnomer. Cheese this ain't.

Steely Dan sind einfach großartig. Reicht nicht ganz an die Pretzel Logic ran.

Pretty decent record, nice café background music. It was quite nice for a Sunday morning Got more boring as it went on

They haven’t fully lived up to their namesake on this record, but the seeds are there and you can tell that full-blown dildo rock is not far off.

It's largely horrible like I expected, but competent enough not to be a 1

*sigh*

So uninteresting even the repetitive parts didn't annoy me

I'm not a steely fan. I found this incredibly bland and uninspiring.

Not listened to this before. Familiar with Aja and really like the prog elements to this album. No big hits but more than made up with by King of the World

Showing their stripes early in their career: clean, cutting, and spicy.

Quick short album, every track was great, saved to library

It's a four, but I'm trying to live a Yacht Rock summer so simply must give this five stars.

I really enjoyed this album. I don’t know if the words jazzy or progressive make sense here, but it was a fun and playful listen with some absolute bangers on it. Take it for what it is, their second studio album (apparently?) and you’ll understand how this is paving the way for some of the great hits that came after. Still, on its own and without the context of the future music that Steely Dan produced, this album is worth a listen.

Mark Knopfler lays down some God tier guitar to great hooks and lyrics

Countdown to Ecstasy is an absolute gem — a flawless blend of rock, blues, and jazz with zero weak tracks. From the explosive opener Bodhisattva, you're locked into a smooth, sharp, and endlessly listenable ride. Donald Fagen’s voice is unreal, giving every song character and edge. Every one of the 8 tracks hits just right, packed with slick musicianship and cool, clever vibes. Whether you're digging deep or just vibing, this album delivers. No question — this belongs in your vinyl collection.

Some people say Steely Dan is boring. Fuck that noise. The only thing boring about Steely Dan is trying to be clever when writing yet another 5 star review for a Steely Dan album.

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (lead guitar) and Walter Becker (electric bass) get this record going w/ a nod to The Allman Brothers's genius for instrumental hooks, precipitating an ecstatic and resourceful rock/blues/pop experience. Heavier than Pretzel Logic, b/c featuring more guitar soloing and gut-punching grooves, it's no less colorful or spotlit. I still don't know what Donald Fagen is singing about - 'While the poor people sleeping / With the shade on the light' - but that becomes a part of the fun: an item that is so immediate requiring dissection only gains in pleasure. 'Show Biz Kids' and 'My Old School' are absurdly catchy, but every track here is a memorable apotheosis. 'All I got to say / I'm alive and feeling fine.' Off the wall(s).

Northern Lion was right. I really enjoyed this one. Turns out you actually can make good music in the 70's and the critics who wrote this book just can't tell the difference.

Very nice listen, loud and smooth

The sixties are over.

A pleasant fusion of jazz and rock. It's sickly sweet, but it's honestly awesome.

I've been on a Steely Dan binge the past week, so this was a welcome and fitting surprise. Every single song here is well made, well produced and a joy to listen to. This is not my absolute favorite Steely Dan album but it's a really fun one nonetheless. Countdown To Ecstasy feels a little more like a jam at times than other Steely Dan albums.

Just some quintessential jazz rock from some of the best to do it. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 5. This is my first time properly listening to Steely Dan – my hopes have been pretty high ever since we got “The Nightfly” by Donald Fagen back in September, and this experience was gladly worth the wait. Steely Dan has lived up to the acclaim & the hype; this is a great, great rock album that dips its toes into everything from 50s/60s style rock & roll, bossa nova, CSNY-style harmonics, Elton John-esque piano ballads, & a bit of prog rock. There’s not a single bad track here, save for *maybe* “Show Biz Kids”, but that’s just the refrain sort of nagging in my head; I still liked that one. As far as the songs themselves go, I don’t have much to complain about, just a lot to praise in scattered tones that just boils down to “they all sounded really great”. “Bodhisattva”’s got the dueling guitars in its solo, “Razor Boy”’s got a good elevator music vibe, “The Boston Rag” has an excellent solo, “Your Gold Teeth” has a guitar filled with swagger, “Show Biz Kids” has a really nice building instrumental, “My Old School” has some great brass in its solo, “Pearl of the Quarter” has great steel guitar, & “King of the World” is a cool as hell prog rock track. Every track has something really captivating about it, which is a huge positive for an album experience. I’d be remiss to not give a bit of love to Donald Fagen’s vocals, which do glide on a lot of these tracks really nicely. Lyrically, the storytelling is a bit scattered, but it sounds like vaguely full stories that intentionally don’t paint a full picture is part of the Steely Dan mythos, so I’m not too plussed about that. Overall, I just really enjoyed this. It’s a super breezy 41 minutes that never once misses a beat, & I really hope there’s even more Steely Dan on the list. Pretty easy 5 for me.

Pretty great

Great listen. Nice energy. I will come back to this

golden tootsies intro solo slapped my ass

This band is dialed

I love Steely Dan, one of my favourite bands of all time, there’s literally nothing out there that compare to the sheer perfection that Fagan and Becker accomplished. I could write a long review about every aspect that I love in this album, all the little decisions that they made that make it truly great. I’m not going to do that, but I am going to talk a little bit about my favourite all time moment in a Steely Dan song, which conveniently enough is on this very album. The song “King Of The World” is perhaps the greatest song ever writing about living in a post apocalyptic world, wondering if you really are the last man on earth. The moment that hits me right at the base of my skull where it connects to my spine happens at almost exactly three minutes into the song. There’s this tiny little crescendo at the tail end of the line “might as well die” where the trailing edge of the lyrics in this bridged is reverbed into this very brief climax leads into the third verse, and it’s just such an incredibly little detail that gives me goosebumps every single time I hear it. Needless to say I love this album and I’d give it 10 starts if I could. Absolutely incredible that I am alive at a time when I can enjoy this music whenever I want. 5*

I’ll try and get the obvious out of the way first: the last minute of Bodhisattva is so strong a gust of what-can-make-music-so-fucking-brilliant that it threatens to capsize me (and by extension my attempts to really encounter this record) every listen. How it stumbles, twists, grows in confidence, breathes, starts to run, looks up, then screams. Ah. If it fails to make you feel alive then urgently seek help. It’s just. Fuck. Guys. “Countdown to Ecstasy” is a wonderful amalgam of rock, jazz, blues and whatever else (bluegrass, skiffle, R&B, French?) the fellas fancied integrating and elevating. It’s a typically smooth, strongly melodic bit of work, but there are edges to it to enjoy, too – “Show Biz Kids” swaggers, machined-in to the beat, while “My Old School” is finger-pickin’ funk that unapologetically shreds its way towards Hendrix then bails out and scurries back to surf. And that’s something, really. The Dan seem to have an infallible instinct for knowing where they are and where they want to be. They feel in control; never too close for comfort to their source material – pretty much “iconic acts no one can sensibly think of approaching with anything over than reverence” – while also never so far out that their innovations feel obviously contrived. Back to Bodhisattva. It’s true that it ends with a sort of triumphant freak out, but it’s equally the case that the song’s already been excellent for three minutes or so by then anyway. In each cycle through the verse, chorus structure it’s changing things around, giving vent to different harmonic expressions, picking up speed, accumulating ideas, placing motifs that you’ll delight in hearing again later – played a little quicker or with a little more brio. Again you’ll feel it’s all completely under control, right up until the moment you can’t be. And for this the song is, of course, a countdown to ecstasy properly. They’re the real deal, what else would you expect from them?

El sonido de Steely Dan es Sexo.

no puedo no poner 5.

So damn good! Steely Dan have done no wrong (at least as far as I've heard). Jazzy and catchy and just... Really damn good. Want to listen to it like 4 times in a row lol

Very much enjoyed. VERY MUCH. Cleaned and jammed out to this album will listen again

Steely Dan as actual band and it’s not their best album but certainly their most badass.

i'm a fairly big steely dan fan and i have to say, this is probably my dark horse pick for favorite steely dan album. i think it fits a nice balance between the more catchy rock music and jazzy side without going overboard either way. all the songs here are really great - 'bodhisattva,' 'the boston rag,' 'show biz kids,' 'my old school,' and 'king of the world,' are all all-timers for me and i think compete with the best of what steely dan had to offer. of course, with any steely dan, the musicianship is great and the songs are smooth but can be bitingly bitter ('show business kids making movies of themselves, you know they don't give a fuck about anybody else'). just an all time great record, in my opinion.

Love the Dan, pop stylings

Love Steely Dan!

One of the hardest things about doing this project is finding out that all the dads in your life were actually right about a lot of these bands. This certainly applies to the dad band to end all dad bands - it's innovative, its got a consistent sound but it doesn't rest on a single musical concept either and god damn can they really play the shit out of these instruments. I don't think there is a single miss on this one.

Another banger album from Steely Dan, even despite Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie not being on this one. The playing is just so top notch here that’s what drives it, and the album doesn’t overstay its welcome at all. Great.

Love Steely Dan. Great music. Not a bad song in the bunch.

Dit is een prettig album zeg. Gezapig, maar heel fijn gezapig. Een warm dekentje. Weer een soort vibrafoon erbij, congaatje, een pedal steel slide achtige toestand en verder natuurlijk een setje prima normale gitaren en een drummer die in dienst staat van de band maar dat heel prima doet. Redelijk onopvallende maar toch best prettige 70's zang inclusief harmonieën. Toen mannen nog niet bang waren om een beetje hoog en gevoelig te zingen. Het is niet zo dat elke track heel memorabel is en in een playlist gezet moet worden, maar als geheel is het wel lekker om zoiets gewoon aan te zetten en lekker te laten uitvloeien tot het einde. 4 tot 5 sterren.

On enchaine les BANGERS, ça me met de bonne humeur! Premier album que j’ai écouté de Steely Dan, Countdown reste un classique rockojazz dans mon catalogue. C’est peut être pas un 5 instantané pour tous, mais tout le monde peut y trouver son compte

This band just got better and better and better and better and..........

I finally got one of my favorite albums of all time. Steely Dan is in my top 5/6ish bands ever, and Countdown to Ecstasy is 1 of my 3 10/10 Steely Dan albums. This album is simply great song after great song. So here’s a quick blurb on each song. Bodhisattva has some killer guitar and honestly some really underrated drumming. Razor Boy has some genuinely upsetting lyrics while being an upbeat and chipper; also that keyboard(?) at 2:30 is so good. The Boston Rag was initially my favorite on the album. When the chorus kicks in with some menace, I’m always blown away. Your Gold Teeth has some more insane lyrics, but the playing is so phenomenal you forget about that. Show Biz Kids has my favorite background vocals and has amazing energy. My Old School is simply perfect; it is such a great pothead (at least for me), and as someone from California, I love it so much (I did not think the girl could be so cruuuuuuel!) Pearl of the Quarter has really grown on me as the emotional detour from all the cynicism and sarcasm, although that’s probably still in this song too. King of the World is an amazing ending with some more killer playing while pretty much summarizing the album: “Assassins, cons, and rapers. Might as well die”

I fuckin love Steely Dan

i love steely dan

Muahahahaha... Steely Dan. This is my dojo. A big step up from their debut album, particularly if you're a fan of the jazz-rock fusion genre they'd eventually cling to in their later works. Gone are the fun but cliched radio hits of Do It Again and Dirty Work, and instead we get a diverse whirlwind of jams, miniature-prog projects, and some truly epic solos (mostly on guitar). And only a year later! And, for 1973, it sounds completely different from anything released before it. Man, there's just so much to like here. From the crazed slam-dunk opener of Bodhisattva to the glowing pseudo-pop Razor Boy with its unpredictable harmonies and percussive bells, to the extended shredding solos in The Boston Rag and Your Gold Teeth, to the brassy joy and snarkiness of My Old School... Big shoutout, too, to King Of The World, one of the more underrated Steely Dan tracks – for its excellent synth solos, floaty/psychedelic guitar lines, jolting chorus harmonies, and a very odd lyrical theme for Dan standards. Normally their lyrics are tutorials on how to prepare high-quality meth or about the regret of hiring a pair of 19-year-old prostitutes, but here we have this post-apocalyptic theme more akin to something by R.E.M. It's a great closer to a great album. The two weakest tracks here are probably Pearl Of The Quarter (the line "voulez voulez voulez vous" being its only real notable moment) and Show Biz Kids (that weird whiny shouting towards the end emphasises my feelings about a 5-minute jam over one chord and the backing vocalists repeating "lost wages" for its entire duration). And I guess the album art is kind of goofy. But the music is so darn fun to listen to that you can't really fault ol' Don and Walt. 5/5 Key tracks: Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, Your Gold Teeth, My Old School, King Of The World

I grew up not really being that much into Steely Dan. What the hell was wrong with me?!? This album is solid from start to finish and the music is just so cool. I am out to the store to add this CD to my collection!

- Steely Dan strikes a groove unlike anyone I’ve ever heard - the variety of lyrics and sounds is perfect - not a single sleeper on the album - imagine listening to this sipping on an iced tea on a warm Saturday afternoon

Superb

My Old School is a fave. Everything by Steely Dan evokes high school, college, law school, and beyond…A lot of great memories associated with this music.

Another auto five. Fantastic record. Unique band. I've probably listened to this record a thousand times.

Good ol Steely Dan.

One of the first ten albums i bought when I started my record collection. Great from start to finish.

"Countdown to Ecstasy" is the second studio album by the American rock band Steely Dan, released in 1973. Clocking in at just over 2000 words, let's delve into an in-depth review of this seminal work, analyzing its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and evaluating its pros and cons. **Lyrics:** The lyrics of "Countdown to Ecstasy" are quintessentially Steely Dan - cryptic, witty, and often veiled in metaphor. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the core songwriting duo, craft narratives that blur the lines between reality and fiction, touching on themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the underbelly of the American Dream. Songs like "Bodhisattva" and "My Old School" showcase their knack for storytelling, while tracks like "Your Gold Teeth" and "King of the World" exhibit their penchant for enigmatic, yet evocative imagery. **Music:** Musically, "Countdown to Ecstasy" is a tour de force. Steely Dan's fusion of rock, jazz, and pop elements creates a sonic landscape that is both sophisticated and accessible. The album features intricate arrangements, tight grooves, and virtuosic performances from the band members. The interplay between Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's guitar work, Denny Dias's inventive riffs, and the dynamic rhythm section of drummer Jim Hodder and bassist Walter Becker is particularly noteworthy. Tracks like "Show Biz Kids" and "Razor Boy" showcase the band's musical prowess, with their intricate melodies and infectious hooks. **Production:** The production on "Countdown to Ecstasy" is polished and meticulous, thanks in part to the guiding hand of producer Gary Katz. The album has a rich, warm sound, with each instrument given space to breathe. The attention to detail is evident in the layered arrangements and pristine mix, allowing the nuances of the music to shine through. Katz's collaboration with engineer Roger Nichols resulted in a sonically stunning record that stands the test of time. **Themes:** Thematically, "Countdown to Ecstasy" explores the darker side of the American experience. The songs delve into themes of disillusionment, corruption, and the search for meaning in a world driven by materialism. Tracks like "The Boston Rag" and "Pearl of the Quarter" paint vivid portraits of characters navigating the seedy underbelly of society, while "Only a Fool Would Say That" and "Change of the Guard" reflect on the fleeting nature of success and the inevitability of change. **Influence:** "Countdown to Ecstasy" has had a significant influence on subsequent generations of musicians. Steely Dan's innovative blend of rock, jazz, and pop elements paved the way for countless artists exploring similar sonic territory. Their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to musical excellence set a high bar for craftsmanship in popular music. The album's enduring popularity and critical acclaim attest to its lasting impact on the musical landscape. **Pros:** 1. Exceptional songwriting: Fagen and Becker's lyrics are thought-provoking and inventive, offering layers of meaning for listeners to unpack. 2. Musically adventurous: The album's fusion of rock, jazz, and pop elements creates a unique and captivating sound. 3. Impeccable production: The polished production and meticulous attention to detail elevate the album to a work of art. 4. Thought-provoking themes: The album's exploration of existential themes adds depth and resonance to the music. 5. Lasting influence: "Countdown to Ecstasy" has left an indelible mark on the music world, inspiring generations of musicians to push the boundaries of their craft. **Cons:** 1. Esoteric lyrics: While some listeners appreciate the cryptic nature of Steely Dan's lyrics, others may find them inaccessible or pretentious. 2. Overly polished production: Some critics argue that the album's slick production detracts from the raw energy of the music, making it feel overly sanitized. 3. Lack of diversity: While the album's sound is undeniably impressive, some may find it lacking in diversity, with few deviations from its established formula. 4. Limited accessibility: The album's sophisticated musical arrangements and dense lyrical content may alienate casual listeners looking for more straightforward pop fare. 5. High expectations: As the follow-up to Steely Dan's critically acclaimed debut album "Can't Buy a Thrill," "Countdown to Ecstasy" faced high expectations, which may have overshadowed its merits upon release. In conclusion, "Countdown to Ecstasy" is a masterful work of art that showcases Steely Dan at the peak of their creative powers. With its exceptional songwriting, adventurous music, and thought-provoking themes, the album remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences decades after its release. While it may not be without its flaws, its enduring influence on popular music is a testament to its lasting impact and enduring relevance.

Classic!

Wonderful

One of my favorite Steely Dan albums. Razor Boy>Boston Rag>Your Gold Teeth>Show Biz Kids is a helluva run of great memories tunes you'll never hear on the radio sandwiched between a couple of classic rock radio mainstays you may be tired of. Then you get Pearl of the Quarter and King of the World, the latter of which makes me want to wager that Dan has more songs about doomerism than possibly any other band to sell a million records. About their lyrics. Today I noticed that all of the locations mentioned in the Boston Rag are in NYC, not Boston. Par for the course with these tricksters. Also, I love it when lyricists give priority to the sound of their words over a direct literal meaning. The Rolling Stones and REM are two bands that are good at this. On Show Biz Kids, I think the backup singers are repeating something about "life's wages" but it also sounds like "Las Vegas" and in putting both ideas into your head at the same time, it adds a whole new dimension to the lead singer's words about a decadent LA culture, while better fusing the words and the music together. This album was made when they still had a regular band and I think it benefits from the continuity. Denny Dias is a criminally underrated guitar player whose career never seemed to recover from Becker and Fagen's decision to stop touring and use more studio musicians. He gets more room on here than other albums and really makes the most of it. Worth listening to the entire record one time through just focusing on the guitars (Skunk Baxter is the other guitar player, and the two make a great team). It's stunning what's going on over there.

Great album. On the spectrum of jazz-rock fusion, this album tips toward rock but the jazzy solos are fantastic. And a lot of these songs prioritize the solos so much that you totally forget about the chorus or the verse until the song suddenly snaps back into place. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are great songwriters and all of these songs are strong enough to work on the level of the standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. But most of these songs also have some kind of turn -- a key change or a new musical idea -- that gets introduced two-thirds of the way into a track that pushes the song into new territory. The songs keep you on your toes. The lyrics are sharp and interesting too. By my count, three songs criticize materialistic lifestyles ("Bodhisattva," "Razor Boy" and "Show Biz Kids") but I like how Fagen and Becker are self-aware enough to include themselves in that world. In "Show Biz Kids," there's a reference to rich yuppie-types who "got the Steely Dan t-shirt." Even in this counterculture criticism of wealthy people, they stop to point out: "Yeah also maybe us being a successful rock band is part of the problem too." And, as always with Steely Dan, there's a few songs I don't understand at all. "Tobacco they grow in Peking In the year of the locust you'll see a sad thing Even Cathy Berberian knows There's one roulade she can't sing" I have no idea what those lyrics refer to on "Your Gold Teeth" but I love listening to the flow of them. A lot of Steely Dan lyrics will have these little character details or story fragments and you don't always have enough information to piece it all together but the words are fun to turn around in your head. The production is clearly meticulous -- every guitar lick and piano riff is placed in just the right spot -- but the music still sounds so loose and effortless. It has a breeziness about it that can hide how well-crafted every song is here. A+, 5/5, big fan of this one.

Just some great bops in this album. I love the record starting with a energetic buddhist pop rock track. Great lyrics in this one with a few short but complex fun plays on Buddhism / Capitalism / Materialism. It's got so many layers in each track, so many tempo changes, so many instrument introductions that end up just lingering for a short second and then leaving, so many delicately placed musical elements, and yet they all sound perfect and meticulous. It feels like there's no loose ends, it just all gels and feels great. I don't often rate things as a 5 here unless it's truly one of the best albums of all time, and in a totally biased but unintentional way I find that I don't rate 5's for albums that are my first listen through via this list. But this album doesn't do anything wrong enough for it to be anything lower than a 5. It's enjoyable from start to finish and I want to listen more after I'm done.

Third dan album in my first 100. Not complaining, it's the third 5 star.

Een combinatie van jazz en bluesrock. En hoe vet is dit. De gitaar is soms zenuwachtig, dan weer juist heel relaxed, vervolgens het pianootje of de drum. We hebben al eerder een album van Steely Dan gehad en ook dat viel behoorlijk goed in de smaak. Weer komt de associatie van jaren 70 en 80 televisieshows bij me op, net als de vorige keer. Bloemetjesbehang, boerenbontservies, nostalgie. Het is soort van gedateerd, maar op een hele fijne manier, dat je juist terugdenkt aan vroeger als je bij opa en oma op visite ging en je volgestopt werd met koekjes en snoepjes. Of in mijn geval met zelfgemaakte tomatensoep (Maggi was het geheime ingredient), peperkoek (wij noemden dat ontbijtkoek) en abrikozenvlaai (omdat we die altijd met frisse tegenzin opaten, dacht oma dat we dat echt lekker vonden, dus had ze de keer erop weer abrikozenvlaai gekocht). Qua muziek heeft het af en toe jazzy uitstapjes, maar omdat de ritmesectie zo ongelooflijk lekker is, mogen ze er alles op improviseren wat ze willen, want het blijft lekker klinken. De zang in harmonie is ook top, het klopt allemaal. En ondanks dat er dus geen hit op staat, al ken ik My Old School wel, sta ik vanaf minuut 1 onbewust mee te knikken met mijn hoofd. Dit is gewoon 40 minuten topmuziek. Man, wat is die ritmesectie goed zeg. Fucking 5 sterren dit.

This one guy in the reviews wrote literally 9 paragraphs about this album. I’m not going to do that.

The Steely Dan album I’ve listenes to the least, but that’s about to change. This as hard rocking as they get, and I like it.

Perfect Steely Dan album just like practically all their albums

Not a Steely Dan album I listen to very often, but this is still top notch musicality. Such clever song-writing.

My favorite SD album. 5 stars

Not my favorite Steely Dan album (Katy Lied), But pretty much most of them are 5's! Including this one.

digging this way more than Aja. groovy

This is really fun. I don't think I had listened to this record all the way through and so it was a nice adventure. Such killer production and love the sound of Fagen's voice. So sooooothing.

Probably hadn't listened to this in full since my Dan phase in college but still remembered every song vividly. Bodhisattva is a monster live too

idk why but I've been on a huge kick with these guys lately, this is the third time I've listened to this album this year, no notes 11/10

I joined this website to expand my music taste - Steely Dan has shoved itself in the best way possible, just like its namesake. Smooth, jazzy, jammy, harmonics on point, bluesy, I mean, what more do you want?

It starts with one of my favorite Steely Dan songs, "Bodhisattva". Not my favorite, but one of them yes! Standouts: My Old School, Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, Show Biz Kids, The Boston Rag.... 5/5

Not a bad album, but a bit slow moving for me.

Underrated, one of their top albums. Not a bad track on here.

I have listened to this album before, but I re-listened to it today because it had been so long since I gave this project a proper listen (or listened to Steely Dan at all!). It was the album that got me into Steely Dan (especially 'King of the World'!) and it's still my favourite of theirs all these years later. Favourite Track: King of the World Least Best Track: Pearl of the Quarter (it's still good in my opinion though)

One hundred stars. Brilliance.

Walter Fucking Becker… If you can listen to Boston Rag or My Old School and not have a gigantic smile on your face after Walter absolutely shreds your brain in half with that tonal wave of sound, then I’m not sure I could ever be your friend. This album is absolute jazz-rock heaven, I think they’re most true to the genre. With keys and drums accompanying the backing singers and supporting Walter and Donald. It’s just something you grow into and appreciate more as you age. I’m sure someone could explain it to me, but in the meantime I’ll just continue appreciating it more and more.

This is such an exceptional album. It's kind of a dark horse as Steely Dan albums go, because it doesn't have any major singles. A few of the songs, most notably "Bodhisattva" and “My Old School,” have deservedly become classic rock radio staples, but this is an album of deep cuts for people who love deep cuts. It's also the first album where the band maps out what would become their trademark sound. Musically, the band is flawless. The songs are crisp, clean and jazz-infused, with nuanced arrangements. They're somehow laid back and academic at the same time, which kind of sums up a lot of what Steely Dan is all about. The musicianship is crazy good, and hip as hell. The band is making brilliant choices here that no one else would even think of trying, like mixing a pedal steel guitar with the vibes. It's insane, but it works so well, blending the warmth and looseness of country rock with the aloof virtuosity of jazz. Donald Fagen shows up full force with his trademark incisive songwriting, delivered no doubt with a bit of a smirk. Grifters, prostitutes, suckers and the idle rich provide a rich palette for his stories – frequently obscure, sometimes bluntly dark, and mostly devoid of sentiment. After a week of mostly bad albums, this was a joy to listen to. Not a bad song to be found. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): My Old School, Pearl of the Quarter, Bodhisattva, Show Biz Kids, The Boston Rag, Your Gold Teeth, King of the World, Razor Boy

More fun than I thought. Incredibly easy listen and great sound