Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Typical SD. They are what they are and they do it well!!
They got groove. 7/10
My opinion on Steely Dan hasn't changed. Musically they're pretty good. Some of the tracks are pretty upbeat and a good listen. It's easy going and an easy enough listen. It's just really soft and blah. How do you define 'blah'? I don't know, but they have it in spades. I prefer music with a bit more bite. This is all gums. 2.5 rounded up.
When Steely Dan is so good it’s so good, but the albums are usually hit or miss.
Groovy
Had never really listened to these guys before and had always been curious. They always appear on “dad rock” lists so I suspected I would like them given that I seem to like everything in that category which I guess makes me uncool. Oh well. Ultimately it was fine. Didn’t hate it or love it.
Decent enough without any real standout tracks.
3 1/2
it's just bad jazz
Having now listened to all 4 Steely Dan albums on the list my only reaction is: oh no “Countdown to Ecstasy” won’t do
This album has a lot of interesting textures – “King of the World” sounds like it was made for sampling – and compositions that range from the incredibly beautiful (“The Boston Rag” and “Pearl Of The Quarter”) to the mildly annoying (“Bodhisattva”). I’d return to it but this album as a whole isn’t consistent enough for me.
Steely Dan makes good music. There, I said it. This project has convinced me. Ive actually listened to this one before and own a physical copy becuase someone recommended it to me. I didn’t like it the first listen or the second listen. But this third listen….well let’s just say it’s growing on me.
Sometimes I listen to Steely Dan and I wonder if they were worth all of the fuss we made about them back in the 70s. Other times, they'll just be playing in the background and I'll be struck by the (apparently) casual brilliance of a song like "Bodhisattva." It's still hard for me to accept that they deserve FOUR spots (plus a solo effort by Donald Fagen) on any 1001 albums list that has ZERO Warren Zevon records, but there are certainly other, worse offenses than multiple Becker and Fagen efforts on the list I assume many of us are working to get through (yeah, I've still got my eye on YOU, Smiths/Morrissey!). This is the Steely Dan album I would most likely leave off the list if forced to choose between it and Excitable Boy or Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, but it would probably also make my own personal 1001 list if I ever put one together.
I didn't really enjoy this. Nothing special.
It's good. Not likely to revisit, but I think Steely Dan are growing on me.
Mostly good!
Good musicians but boring composition.
nice enough - middle of the road for me
That's all 4 Steely Dan done now. A solid album. Nothing that super stood out on first listen but as something in the background was nice. I liked the energy/flow of the 1st track
I thought this was almost aggressively OK. Perfectly fine and even quite accomplished, but far too neat and tidy to excite me.
Equally impressive and irritating at times. There are songs like Your Gold Teeth that I could listen to a whole album of, but then some of it sounds like hotel bar band jamming
Anonymt til Steely Dan å være. Ikke noe galt med plata, men så mange plater i katalogen deres er bedre.
Tredje SD-plata. Er ikke like nyforelsket lengre så ble litt lei etter hvert.
Skulle så gjerne likt dette bedre, men det blir for pregløst. Ingen av låtene setter seg, ingen av tekstene er spesielt interessante. Skuffende.
Enjoyable music with multiple influences. Just somehow never quite makes the breakthrough into 'greatness'.
Occasional flashes of their more popular hits…a number of songs reminded me of Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. However, there was nothing special on this album to draw me back in future.
Meh..its okay
Oh, goody, another Steely Dan album. Exactly what I wanted.
I'm really sick of the 70s
Ah, Steely Dan. They just ain't got the sauce. I know that's kind of a dipshit review from me, but I just think it's that simple. It's hard to put my finger on exactly, because in theory, this should be a slam-dunk. These fellas are playing very, very, very well. It's tight, intelligent, and ever so easy to listen to. But there's just some missing...thing. Maybe it's passion, or more emotion, or some sense of effort. I don't know. But the sauce just isn't present. At least this was a little more fun than Aja.
Pretty much repeat the last Steely Dan review I did: Feels like one I'm supposed to like. It was ok.
I don’t care, Steely Dan, I don’t care. I don’t care about your chops I don’t care about how long it took To find a drum sound that pops I don’t care about the melodic hook I don’t care about you Steely Dan I don’t care about your studious rhymes Of vacant people in empty lands I don’t care so much I wrote these lines
Nothing really stood out but it was overall just a really consistent and groovy listen. Steely Dan fucks.
I assume this is very technically proficient, but it is also boring.
I mean, this was my fav Dan album for a while for a reason. I love the way this one sounds and the guitar playing is out of this world. Some of the best songwriting moments too with razor boy and Boston rag. Incredible closer too
Holy wow what a way to get back into this. Hell yeah. This rocked hard. Steely Dan is the best sounding band maybe ever they’re so damn good
Honestly thought steely dan would be like death metal or smt but was really surprised. Sounded more mellow and really reminded me of an inspiration for the indie rock genre.
More old school rock but very distinctive to the group, its wild to think of the band without Fagen's vocals which have become synonymous with the bands sound to me but it all started here. Big jazzy sections tie a lot of the songs together and keep a high energy which is easy to listen to. Very highly produced but that doesn't bother me, I think it has a lush sound that definitely grew on me over repeat listens. Not as Hit packed as other albums of theirs but a solid entry.
Why don’t we consider this fusion? Most of what we call fusion is made by jazz bands approaching rock music. This album is a rock band approaching jazz music; is it Steely Dan’s jazziest record? Anyway, I think it should be considered fusion. It’s great. Has a bunch of classic tracks. Not my favorite Steely Dan record but I still can’t help but consider it a must-listen, #388.
It's Steely Dan, I like Steely Dan. But it's also an album I don't ever really seek out, except for being in the mood to hear Boddhisattva or King of the world.
I’ve never heard of this album or this band in my life, and that’s a good thing, because now I’ve discovered an incredibly interesting album. I really love it when instruments sound interesting and complex, and that kind of sound makes recording much more interesting for me, and I found all of that in this album.
Early Steely Dan is kind of a trip. Very much a jam band vibe with strong elements of what the band will become in its later versions.
Album #136: Countdown to Ecstasy - Steely Dan Genre (W): Rock, jazz rock, pop Singles: Show Biz Kids, My Old School I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I enjoy the production and the arrangements of this album! However, I feel like some songs go on for too long or aren’t very memorable. Favorite tracks: Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, My Old School, King of the World
I am getting this album delivered to me while watching 24 Hour Party People. And let me just say, the chasm between Steely Dan and Joy Division is pretty fucking wide and deep. Obviously it is very cool to hate on Steely Dan. I actually like the band. But this being the second of their albums on this list (the same week as a Donald Fagen album no less), and not having had a hip hop album for over 60 days is…telling. This was a fine listen.
I’m a sucker for yacht rock, especially Steely Dan
Kinda fun, 80s
Two Steely Dan albums in three days is a bit too much Steely Dan. I'm honestly impressed that the first three Steely Dan albums sound like three different bands, all with a different mixture of jazz, rock, and pop with a bit of blues. They also all have 1-2 great songs, 1-2 good songs, and the rest ok. 3.5, and I guess I can round it up.
more neutered boat music from steely dan.
Oh yeah short and sweet little banger of well intentioned rock adjacent music. Just a year or so shy of "soft rock" but its got all the fixings. You can kinda here the band somewhat push the envelope and head towards that fusion drenched masterpiece know as Aja. BUT, you can still hear the blues rock standard sound of Can't buy a Thrill departing from them Not without seeping into every song. I know ball enough to know Becker was pushing Fagen to be progressive and grow the sound but the label needed a hit. Steely comes with baggage. But regardless fun album. Thrill, Aja, and Royal Scam are staples. I think this might a gentlemans pick, but its tied with Pretzel and Katy Lied for that title.
Couldn't connect with this, just wanted it to be over.
Thoroughly enjoyed getting to put a sound to the enigmatic steely Dan, who up until this point I had only heard of referentially. Even the dud for me (show biz kids) isn’t all that bad!
Nonstop bangers this week I’m feasting. Was just wondering the day before when we might get some Steely Dan. From the first notes of the first song I was jamming. I think probably not their best album but that’s okay. Another one where who knows what the hell the song is about half the time but the vibes are so goated it’s nbd. Makes me feel like I’m cruising around in my grandpa’s gigantic oversized sedan downtown 25 years ago. Second act montage needle drop in my biopic: “Pearl Of The Quarter”
Overall, it was a good album. The songs were weird. It was jazzy, which was pretty cool.
i liked it okay, i liked to see how it got izzy groovin but it didn’t have the same effect on me :( i liked the lyrics because i was like heyyyy what are they on about? especially razor boy come and take all your fancy things away
rolling around on the ground like an earthworm after the rain I've been waiting so patiently to get to listen to some steely Dan albums on this bitch Listening to this album specifically makes me feel like I am on the worlds longest escalator that is going to deposit me into a sexy mall from the 1980s when the hottest thing you could do was plant palm trees indoors, this is another one I can't be objective about because I feel like I could do this shit Acapella however I am giving this four stars since i think they have better albums. I'm an absolute slut for the wind chimes or whatever that is on bodhisattva but the lyrics on this album overall aren't at steely Dan peak esoteric Likelihood the members of this band lezzed out IMO: wooooooof questions questions! Well. I want to say yes because I am gay and I love Becker and Fagen but I honestly don't really think these two have chemistry sorry to say! Damn they still made good music though somehow 1/5 please send me receipts if I am wrong.
try not to smile and dance and have fun challenge (IMPOSSIBLE) just some of the best feeling music there is. absolute instrumental mastery and very mysterious (to me) lyrics. last track is my favorite, i love the mario kart solo section & that synth lead. i had a great time i love you steely daniel i can’t wait for aja to come up on the list sausage egg and cheese
Idk if it’s because there steely Dan albums too close together, but meh
Eh why is all his stuff the same vibe
Another Steely Dan album fails to bypass the 3 star threshold.
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would
Not a particularly interesting Steely Dan album, but at least I know where the Super Furry Animals song came from now⭐⭐⭐
easy listening rock. some great tracks although some that dont really stick out. very solid project. 7,5/10
Like all their albums it’s really groovy and really intelligent and clever at once. It’s not my favourite of their albums but it’s still a great listen.
3.1 2x
Fookin fantastic.
Sorry I didn’t love this more, Dad!
My second favorite SD album after Katy Lied. After two big radio hits on their debut album (Do It Again at #6, Reelin’ in the Years at #11), this album’s two single releases didn’t crack the Top 60 (Showbiz Kids and My Old School). Those tracks, along with album opener Bodhisattva get played occasionally on Classic Rock FM stations and it’s always a rush when they come on in the car. The tracks outside of those main three cover a wide range of styles and are all great. Fabulous guitar work throughout from Jeff Baxter and Denny Dias, with Rick Derringer’s slide on Show Biz Kids an early example of their bringing in established session players for guitar solos. This came out a month after I turned 18. I immediately bought it and fell in love with it. It made my honorable mention list of fave albums of all time. Two more SD albums to go, their debut, Can’t Buy a Thrill, and the critics’ fave Aja (not mine…). We’ve already had Pretzel Logic.
There was a steel guitar solo in Razor Boy I liked. I liked the guitar solo (and distorted tone of the solo) on Boston Rag. Your Gold Teeth sounds like the platonic ideal of a Steely Dan song. I thought My Old School sucked for about the first 4:30, but once they stopped singing, it got great. I also enjoyed King of the World more once those steel guitar licks kicked in around 3:00 in. Basically I’m saying I like alt-country Steely Dan more than jazz-pop Steely Dan.
Not first yime
It's good, jazzy even though it still on the pop side of things
Look, it's not terrible. But I didn't get as much out of it as I thought I would. Very competent music. Maybe good to have on in the background. However, if I don't get another Steely Dan album in the next 6 months, it'll be too soon.
I struggle with this band. They’ve made some genuinely good music. But then they get all weird and too 70s country prog sounding. I can appreciate the quality of the composition and ambition. There are certainly a lot of ideas and talent. But something in their sound makes me queasy. I think it’s the vocal harmonies.
finally some dan, man. this album is so good. they all are. idk what it is about the dan, but it takes a bit for you to get and when you do you really do. pre-studio as an instrument steely dan, walter becker's bass tone is so on point its crazy. skunk's guitar and pedal steel, suh-weet. has some great lesser known songs: "king of the world" is awesome, the bass, the synth solo, hodder's kit. "pearl of the quarter" has great steel playing - so underutilized in rock/jazz. "your gold teeth". the only negative is a personal one, and that is that i am such an avid "live in america" listener, that "bodhisattva" falls a bit flat from that live version (this is not a detraction overall). the would reach higher heights that i'm sure we'll get to on this list, but no notes. also - "show biz kids" sample alert - super furry animals "the man don't give a fuck".
Probably my least favorite SD album. But it's still SD so 3/5 it is
So good. I don't know why I don't listen to more Steely Dan. I'm changing that...
I like Steely Dan, but this album felt mailed-in
I sit and wonder why I never heard of Steely Dan before.
Dirty guitars, lapsteel and CSNY sounding country harmonies added to the ultra smooth, polished to a mirror, jazz rock mix.
3.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/steely-dan/countdown-to-ecstasy/ Like this one less than their debut, as this one leans a bit too much into the jazzy tangents here and there. Still, however, solid boomer rock.
[3/5] soft smooth jazzy rock. every song is neat and polished within an inch of its life, which leaves it feeling devoid of character. i spent my first listen spaced out and enjoyed it a lot, but that may be the brainrot talking. torn between 3 and 4 but tracks 2-4 blend together and leave me without an impression. 3.5. track notes: 1. old school twisting and turning 2. brought my vibraphone to the departures lounge 3. important piano with confusing lyrics 4. vocals remind me of yes by roundabout. smooth progression 5. repetitive but offset with catchiness and grooviness 6. best song on the album. giving lisa's music in the simpsons hit and run 7. sweet. i too love cajun seasoning 8. malfunctioning ambulance. boing boing bass. it is probably unsafe to ingest cobalt like that
These muthafuckas could jam Got into steely Dan in the last few years, through my love of Ween. This is the most Ween sounding album of there’s I’ve heard so far. That is to say I think it’s ace. Favourite track: show biz kids
The second Steely Dan album for me, and chronologically, which is nice. To be honest, this one makes me want to go back to the first album and make sure I actually did like it that much. . . I didn't particularly dislike anything here, but nothing really grabbed me (except maybe hearing steel guitar, which I always love). Can't give it less than 3 because I don't think there's anything bad about it; I was just a bit bored.
It’s decent enough but can’t imagine I’ll listen to it again.
Unexpectedly enjoyed this while it was on but don’t see myself coming back often.
Enjoyable but doesn’t have that many standouts compared to their other works. Likes: Bodhisattva; Show Biz Kids; My Old School
meh, it's Dan
1. bod - 1 2. boy - 1 3. bozton - 1 4. gold - 1 5. kidz - 0 6. zchool - 2 7. pearl - 1 8. king - 2
Guess I was sleeping on this particular album. I still think I'd prefer to listen to Aja or Guacho, but the first couple tracks are some of their best for sure. 8.5/10.
8/10
Oli aika pettymys verrattuna edelliseen.
The boston ragin alku on suoraan niinku joku persona-soundtrackin alku. Erittäin makoisa. Muuten vähän inhosin tätä xd jotenki rasittavaa renkutusta mulle. Oli tuskaisaa. Nyt annan ekan ykkösen ja mietin arvosteluskaalaani tulevaisuudessa.
Aivan hyvä levy, mut selkeesti kädenlämpösempi kuin Aja. Harkitsin jopa kahta tähteä, mut olihan tää hyvää tekemistä, vaikka biisit oli vähän tylsiä. Autokuuntelu saatto myös vaikuttaa näkemyksiin.
”Bodhisattva näyttäisitkö minulle posliinisi säihkeen? ✨” Tää nappas pikkasen paremmin jo koukkuunsa kuin edellinen Steely Dan. Ehkä voittaa vielä kunnolla puolelleen listan loppuun mennessä?
Mietin et onko tää nelkku vai kolmonen, mut on tää 3,5 eli kohoaa neloseen. Edelleen ajaton ja erinomainen groove. Vaikkei olekaan yhtä kova kuin toi Aja.
oli oikeen hyvä ajelulevy!
Hard to believe this was only their second album. It pales a bit in comparison to Can’t Buy a Thrill, which has to be one of the best debut albums ever. There’s still plenty to love, though - slick guitar playing, jazz influence, and tight timing.
Old man background music
It was alright at best, but for the most part it was pretty boring. I forgot I was listening to it multiple times. King of the World is pretty good, so I am giving it three stars instead of 2
The world's grooviest rock band is at it again, and it sounds good as ever, fresh and uniquely Steely - purely smooth
never had any interest in checking steely dan out. guess we’ll see. better than i expected. hardly spent time with it tho.
Yes yes eat the rich and all that, but the music is just not resonating with me.
I never really know what to make of Steely Dan. I guess I like them, but maybe I "like"-like or like "like" this album, I dunno. There's some switch inside me that still needs to be flipped before I LIKE-like them. It's good though.
More jazzy than can’t buy a thrill, but just as catchy
i had never listened to steely dan and just assumed they were one of those bands who are really lame but whom some people insist are "good, actually" just for the sake of being contrarian. turns out they are pretty good, actually! highlights: bodhisattva, the boston rag, king of the world, maybe more if i listened to it again but my power went out
Jeg har aldri helt forstått appealen med Steely Dan. Denne tok meg et steg i riktig retning, men blir fortsatt litt for smooth / uten edge til at jeg virkelig digger det. Gutta kan spille da, skulle bare ønske at det var litt mindre polert...?
Jeg har aldri klart å høre et helt Steely Dan-album fordi det har virket så ekstremt kjedelig. Jeg er på en måte glad for at jeg har rett, og at jeg ikke har gått glipp av noe. Det er så blankpolert og tannløst og det eneste de har gående for seg er at de er gode musikere og samspilt.
Surprising good album. I knew their big radio songs, but that was about it. Maybe not the most emotionally compelling music, but technical proficiency for technical proficiency’s sake has its place.
It’s a 4 or 5. For My Old School alone, let’s give it a 5.
Who doesn't like Steely Dan. Solid album. Three stars
Ouais sympa mais pas marquant
More solid Steely Dan
3 down 1 to go.
This album had some good moments but man most of these songs went on for way too long. Lyrics alternated between funny/interesting and bitter in an annoying way. Dunno about this one, maybe something I would enjoy if I return to it.
nice
I liked it! Especially Bodisattva!!!
Bodhisattva and Show Biz Kids are absolute bangers. The other tracks are all fine but the album is carried by those two songs.
It’s not awful but it is quite boring
Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT a Steely Dan hater, but there are better Seely Dan albums
Every song besides the opener kinda has the same jazzy sound. Not as varied and exciting as their debut album.
As I've already said before, I've got nothing against Steely Dan, but they just aren't my thing. This one wasn't a bad listen, but it's just another Steely Dan album I'll never listen to again.
I would totally accept a Steely Dan Greatest Hits on this list.
Surprised me a little. Some sloppy love ballads in between that I would probably always skip, but I generally enjoyed the whimsy and musical technicality on display. Some quite interesting compositions.
I am in fact a Middle Aged white male American. Therefore I like Shelly Dan. It’s a genetic obligation. This one has some more fun steel guitar on tracks which I love, but not the Steely Dan hits of others. Just shy of 5.
not what i expected! fun album with groovy songs
Ah, the dildo band. Good musicians - great even, but the material is boring - jazz without soul.
Great cozy album
While less unique in sound than their debut or their masterpiece in Aja, I do believe this album is the one to best embody their sound. Between the yacht rock snippets and the bona fide masterpieces there is an album with a great attention to instrumentation and which leads to a lush experience. 9/10 [KEEP]
Not the best Steely Dan album, but it's still a vibe.
4.5
4.5
Five of the eight songs woukd make five star record "Budhistava", "Your Gold Teeth", "Show Biz Kids", "My Old School", and "King of the World" The other three were fine but dragged the overall feel down a hair. (9.4) ★★★½
Steely Dan at the grittiest. 4 stars
Before they turned into studio jazz rock nerds, Steely Dan was a real band, and this is the closest they came to perfecting the sound. There's some actual grit here, and this album contains what I think are the three best Steely Dan songs -- "Show Biz Kids", "My Old School", and "Pearl of the Quarter". Side two of this album might just be the only Steely Dan you need. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is on fire here. His fuzzed out solos on "My Old School" nicely compliment the bouncy horns, then he returns with some beautiful steel guitar on "Pearl of the Quarter". There are a couple of songs I don't love, but it's still an excellent album. 4.5 stars.
A Steely Dan from the 70s, eh? Easy 5. Amazing quality lyrics, musicianship and tunage throughout and stacked with super smashing anthems. “Show business badgers making movies of themselves you know they don’t give a fuck about any other badger” “Will you still have a song to sing when the razor badger comes and takes your fancy things away” “She stole my heart with her badger smile singing “voulez voulez voulez badger vous” “Can you show me the shine of your badger, the sparkle of your otter, Badgersattva, Badgersattva?”
Am I a Steely Dan fan now?
Oh right, this is the record with “My Old School” on it, have fond memories of that song, and like it more than most of the rest of their output. (I have a general bad attitude about Steely Dan, probably due to overexposure to their later material - to me all sounds like Steely Dan, all the vaguely proggy jazz rock spiraling on and the very Steely Dan vocals.) But respect to them for telling interesting stories with their lyrics, and they’re very good musicians.
Bodhisattva: On the path to becoming fully enlightened!
Not my favourite Steely Dan personally. It seems to start of a little bit like warm and straightforwardly poppy (by their standards) and only gets into Their intricate style towards the end. Lots enjoyable stuff there. A bit too much of it is slightly forgettable for me though
Influenced by jazz much? Delightful listen. Of course the classic “My Old School” is still my favorite track.
Alright, plus Sam liked it
Pretty boring stuff, I don't understand why Steely Dan are such critical favourites.
I guess it's called Countdown to Ecstasy because the Ecstasy never actually arrives. Don't get me wrong, this is all perfectly decent and enjoyable, but it's not groundbreaking and it definitely didn't put me in a "state of overwhelming emotion" per the dictionary definition. Decent music, good enough vocals, reasonable variety in instrumentation throughout the album, adequate rock that made enjoyable background music. Would happily listen again but wouldn't seek it out.
Is every song a countdown to ecstasy?? Most songs starts off fairly generic and then does something incredible that makes my head all fuzzy in different ways I do agree it has a degree of overproduction that hurts it. But the content is amazing There's a decent amount of pretentiousness in here which I like. Didn't like Your Gold Teeth :( 4
Dadcore. I use to despise Steely Dan, now I kinda like them. I assume that when the baby arrives they will become my favorite band. It is life's natural progression.
Am I a Steely Dan fan now?
Not really an album for me. I can recognize it is p good musically but just not my style and didn't win me over like Maggot Brain. Top songs: Bodhisattva, My Old School
This was fine. I quite liked its lift music sound. It was not really expressive enough for me though.
Wasn’t looking forward to this after the first 10 seconds, but I warmed up to it eventually. It bounced along easy enough and some of the instrumentation was fun. I enjoyed the self-referential part about steely Dan t shirts.
I like Steely Dan but I'd never heard this album before, I guess it gets a little overshadowed by their debut and Aja. It's very good, much more of a jazz-rock sound than Can't Buy A Thrill and very consistent. I feel like all of these tracks were meticulously crafted and found it hard to pick a favourite. Perhaps My Old School for the guitar solos but it's a great album across the board
I enjoyed this, but it felt much longer than it was. 3.5/5
OH MY GOD I HAVE FINALLY BEEN FREED FROM STEELY DAN I DONT EVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM AGAIN PRAISE JEEBUS
i tried, i really did. ive had so much prog and nonsense recently i just cant stomach it anymore. the high point was the super furry animals sample, the low point was everything else
Very well produced album for 1973; awesome sound. The songs are engaging even if a bit too Hair.
Apparently I don’t know a single steely Dan song or who steely Dan is beyond the abstract. Is he a Dan? A band? A stage name? (Okay update: sounds like besties who met while the one was studying English at Bard, so I’m hooked) // Nothing terribly standout but pleasantly surprised by the jazzy vibes and giggled at “lost wages” / “las Vegas”
Like a chiller laid-back Yes, extremely good listening. The album cover art is an all-timer too.
Was chill to listen to, would probably listen again.
This is Steely Dan’s most conventionally “rocking” record, and thus the one likely to appeal the most to those who can’t stand their more jazzy and, well, “easy listening” material. One minor issue with this is that because the music rocks harder, the thrilling disjunction between the group’s lyrics and music is lessened, which makes it the tiniest bit less conceptually interesting than, say, Pretzel Logic or Katy Lied. But the songs are still fantastic, and as a bonus this contains the group’s most furious track, “Show Biz Kids,” where the band drops all their arch sophistication and delivers this lyric: “Show business kids making movies for themselves / You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else.” Best track: “My Old School”
I LOVE STEELY DAN
This is the fourth Steely Dan entry (I’m counting the Donald Fagen album “Nightfly”, since he’s most of Steely Dan - sorry Walter). This one contains two hits: “My Old School” and “Badhisvatta”. The music on the album ranges from pop to rock to jazzy. Skunk Baxter was with the group back then, before he joined the Doobies. Overall the album is not quite up to four stars, but I enjoyed hearing it.
Still counting... This isn't offensive or anything, but it definitely still makes me feel like I'm getting dental work. I'm less patient than I was for Steely Dans #1-2. Stop noodling and let me get out of here!
It's fine, nothing to write home about. Easy listening. King of the World is solid.
They really heard every genre and said "I wanna collect 'em all" huh In all seriousness though, this was a blast and kept me intrigued at every turn.
Good
i tried, i really did, but i just fucking hate steely dan
I would give it 2,5 if I could. It is not bad, just too slow for me
Это ебейший стили Ден
A brilliant album from an underrated band.
Steely Dan is possibly the greatest thing to ever grace this planet
I do not enjoy Steely Dan. I didn't like Aja, and I don't like this record much either. To me, they are at their worst at their jazziest. I just hate the stupid, corny chord changes that sound like showtunes. I also hate their approach to recording, which seems to be technical perfection over warmth or feeling. I hate it. This record starts out pretty jazzy, and then mercifully backs off the jazz gradually until eventually, by the end, I was almost enjoying myself! I particuarly liked the guitar work on "Pearl of the Quarter." That was good stuff. But the only two things I really enjoyed were that song and "My Old School." Otherwise - no thanks, Steely Dan, you weirdos. TWO STARS
There’s some great guitar work on this, but it is rather bland.
It is Steely Dan! I have never really understood the hype but I will say I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. A very run of the mill type of record but I don’t hate it by any means.
I think this is already Steely Dan’s third album in this ‘challenge’, and this one is definitely worth a listen too. Four stars...
Steely Dan is named after a dildo machine from a book, Naked Lunch, I believe. Don't quote me on that. Now Limp Bizkit is also named after a gross sexual thing. A Frat house game about ejaculating on a biscuit. I know Steely Dan are infamous for perfectionist & clean. The Bizkit is well Limp Bizkit. This is an album that is good musically, inside & out. It just does little to absolutely nothing for me. I just don't like it. Seems needlessly polished, like a slight flaw would actually add to it. 2
The Good: We are going to reach ecstasy! The Bad: Somewhere down the line, we forgot to count… The Ugly: Extasis Interruptus… Well, that’s it. We can close the lid on Steely Dan’s albums. No more to appear on this list. This is #4 and I don’t know what to think… Of all the records it is the one that is least Yacht Rock. It is the one that includes some lovely subdued guitar playing, but also keyboards and percussion. Fuckers… I’ve gone in and changed those 2 Steely Dan albums that did not have 5* to the 5*… and now I don’t know what to think about this album… There are times I feel like I am listening to music that could have fit well in the movie Grease, for some odd reason. Then there are sounds that I associate with Tom Waits… It is all so confusing. Yet, as I sit here and listen to the album for the third time, what is amazing is that I look forward to hearing this album again at some point in the future… Guess I need to accept the fact that I am now a fucking Steely Dan fanboy… 5*
Second Steely Dan album so far. I remember thinking I should check them out due to the SFA sampling Show Biz Kids for their "The Man Don't Give A Fuck" track, but never got round to it. Having finally listened 30 years on, I'm genuinely disappointed in everything I've heard so far. Just generic 70's easy listening, which appears from this list to be a genre that by body outright rejects. Show Biz Kids is pretty good though.
Huge fan. The album is much less sedate than the ones to come, particularly Aja.
I liked the solo on bodhisattva, and the interplay between the guitars and the keys. The guitar work on gold teeth was also really cool. The album as a whole is solid, technically proficient but also a little stale. Also, the singer for steely Dan has always sounded kinda doofy to me and I can’t get past it so it kind of ruins all their songs for me.
talented but fine. it’s not aja
totally forgettable
Not bad.
I’m extremely unhappy I had to listen to this.
At worst it was good, but it was fun throughout.
Something about this record made me feel a little uncomfortable. Favorite track: Boston Rag
I can't believe the entire internet has spent the past 5+ years trying to tell me that *this* is an all-time great band. I like Gaucho, though, wish that were here instead of this album in particular.
Will say this is better than the last (And only Steely Dan album) I've listened to - The Royal Scam. But generally the same complaints there. Kinda overproduced and sterile. Which is kinda the point I guess, but yeah. Bohisattva and My Old School are good songs, but that's more from playing Rock Band. Also enjoyed The Boston Rag. But yeah. It's mostly just fine. Don't think Steely Dan really are a band for me. I'd like a little more grit and dirtier production, which you're never going to get from Steely Dan.
Cons: it’s Steely Dan Pros: it’s not available in Spotify
Its fun.
Probably not the best Steely Dan album, but pretty good anyway.
Nice jams, but not spectacular
This is a very vanilla Steely Dan album. None of the songs are bad, and there’s something to appreciate in each of them. I especially like the jazzy feel that pops up throughout the record, which helps give it some character. That said, the album never really reaches the heights of their best work. More than anything, it feels like a collection of songs that didn’t quite make the cut for the first album. It’s a perfectly enjoyable listen, but not much beyond that.
I’m not big on Steely Dan. But Old School is a great tune. I suppose compared to a lot of the records I’ve gotten lately this is at listenable.
Si pero no...
8 / 10
It felt like this one dragged more in places in comparison to the last one fav song(razor boy)
Now this is the steely Dan I know. A sublime fusion of jazz and rock. The guitars fuckin killed on this
locked in closer to a 4 than a 6
Know likely in minority but this is so white bread. They are so frictionless that I nearly slid to the end without hearing, which would have been a saving on my part if I had. Not even any of their “more” catchy hits, the only hook I remember after finishing is on the last track. What genre actually is this -super soft jazzy soft rock, think rock is too strong a term to be fair, but let it go for now. They seem to mix fairly exciting genres, super well produce it and create uninspiring dross. Yacht rock is a dreadful term but suits this, whatever it is. Hear great thinks about them, and every time try to listen I am so underwhelmed, have to have them in my top 10 overrated acts ever. It’s so well done, played sung arranged and I find it awful. 2 Star
It's chill. Like, sooo chill, which is interesting noting how royally cuntish the guys from Steely Dan are known to be. Maybe because it's so sweated over, it kinda distills everything to the point where there isn't a lot of buzz or energy coming from, like, not being so exact and calculating. I don't know that for sure, but that's what I get here and everywhere else with SD. Lyrics are interesting. Donald Fagan sounds cool, and I'm glad that other Neil Young-wannabe isn't around anymore (from the first album); that guy sucked. It's chill. It's a snoozefest. Not bad, but I'm gonna take a nap if that's cool.
not bad to be fair, i’ve never heard of this album before but it was tidy
Flew right over my head
Bodhisattva - 3 Razor boy - 3 The boston rag - 3 Your gold teeth - 3 Show biz kids - 3 My old school - 3 Pearl of the quarter - 3 King of the world - 3
entretenida, nada más que comentar
me gustó mucho la instrumental del album
production
Kind of boring compared to other I've heard from Steely Dan. Still easy listening. Your Gold Teeth stood out. 2.5/5
From the first tune on this album, it is clear that we’ll be treated to some outstanding guitar. Steely Dan rarely disappoints when it comes to interesting guitar, which I love. I mean take a minute to really listen to the slide work on “Show biz Kids” or the solo in the follow-up “My Old School”, truly beautiful. The integration of jazz into the tunes doesn’t always work perfectly, but it does keep things interesting. But in the end, this is just unabashed rock and roll. Is it dad rock? Sure, I guess, but I’m a dad and I like rock, so I don’t see this as too much of a disparagement. Solid record.
Not my favorite steely dan, but a good steely dan nonetheless
while i like other works from steely dan more than whats on this album, its still a vibe 😎 standouts for me were your gold teeth and king of the world
often listen to these without a track listing and was floored i was hearing "bodhisattva" correctly. i get why they're a big deal, i really enjoyed a lot of the instrumentals, always lively and pleasant for idle/routine activity. fav: king of the world
3/10 - boring, another 70s album which doesn't advance the genre
4/5
4.5 - This album is great, but the fact that there are 4 Steely Dan albums on the list and not one of them is The Royal Scam is egregious.
Great Album!
More Can't Buy a Thrill than Aja. Nothing to find fault with here.
I’m a bit ashamed of how much I love dad rock
Good songs and great production
Loving this sound. Mellow and melodious.
Best offering from Steely Dan I have encountered. Has a rather downbeat vibe running through it, and, of course, is of note for being the source of that wonderful Super Furry Animals sample. Still not really my cup of tea, but a dense, interesting listen.
I guess that I should be loving this, but at least I like it, other SD albums do a bit more for me.
You don't even need to floating on a yacht to enjoy the beauty that is this band (though it would help)
A whole lotta fun. Shows off their technical chops but the real soul comes through in their later albums. This is still a really solid album though. Good, fun, quick listen
So good from start to finish.
1. Bodhisattva (★★★★★) -Fav 2. Razor Boy (★★★⯨☆) 3. The Boston Rag (★★★⯨☆) 4. Your Gold Teeth (★★★☆☆) 5. Show Biz Kids (★★⯨☆☆) 6. My Old School (★★★☆☆) 7. Pearl Of The Quarter (★★⯨☆☆) 8. King Of The World (★★★★⯨) -Fav
On previous reviews I’ve struggled with bands who self-indulgent. There’s no doubt this is self indulgent, but it never loses sight of the importance of melody. And what melodies, beautiful harmonies always spiced up with an unusual chord of unexpected key change. This sweetness doesn’t hid the sharpness of the lyric. These take a swipe at everyone, but the savagery comes with a sweet tune
Not great, not even good. Doesn't make a case for itself. Wandering, lame, gentrified, goofy, unrefined. Can't believe this is the same duo that went on to make Aja. Yet another wasted slot that could have gone to something worthy.
i'm not really familiar with Steely Dan beyond "dirty work" after that record, im not sure i'll be exploring more. Not a steely dan guy, i guess
Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands, and I have so many memories associated with various songs on this album. My best friend and I used to have balcony nights where we’d sing super loudly to the street below, and “My Old School” was always on heavy rotation. It and “Bodhisattva” were also songs we bought on Rock Band back in the day, and the timing of the latter was always so off and we’d get the worst scores, but it was always so amusing to us. “Pearl of the Quarter” makes me emotional every time I hear it despite being about a prostitute. As an album, it’s one of Steely Dan’s jazzier efforts, but it’s also one of their best. “My Old School” might be my favorite song of all time, and the flow from song to song on the album is exquisite. I could go on and on, but this is one of Steely Dan’s best albums, and it feels like a treat to have this one be the final album by them I’ve generated from the list.
mid
Fand ich nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht gut, Bertholt Brecht, ein alter Hut
überraschend gut, Mischung aus Rock und Jazz. Kein Lied besonders hervorstechend, aber alle auf gutem Niveau.
chillig
Sehr geil! nur 40min aber sehr interessanter Mix aus Rock und Jazz. Mega!
Fast but not least
3.5*
ok jazzy jam fest!!
What’s weird is that before the age of 25 I hadn’t even really heard of this band. After I turned 28 i’ve listened to about 4 of their albums and I hear about them constantly. Is this a sign i’m going old?
this album rocks. Really, really, rocks. From the manic "Bodhisattva", to the beautiful "Pearl of the Quarter" I cannot turn this thing down. This album is a really fun combo of rock and jazz. It feels like this is before the jazz started overtaking, so it still really rocks. Love the more jazzy stuff, but I really really love this. I drove a few extra laps around the block with my car volume literally maxxed the whole time because I just can't get enough
Clean sound. Not my vibe.
This reminded me too much of Santana. That’s an immediate deduction. Dan’s—is the lead singer Dan?—isn’t great. The music is a jam at times, but at others sounds like Santana, and I hate Santana. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t want to listen to it again. A low 3/5
There were some interesting parts to the music but I didn’t enjoy the music overall
Last Steely Dan album on the list for me. This is a good one for sure, but once again I think they should have put Royal Scam or Gaucho here. This contains several all-time Dan classics, however album tracks fall a bit short for me, so this could be anywhere between 3 and 4 stars. Seeing that I already rated this 4.0 on RYM, I can't really round down 1 whole star, so will probably be 4.
Bodhisattva The Boston Rag Show Biz Kids My Old School Pearl of the Quarter
It's fine but is more for Dan diehards, not sure it merits an inclusion here.
Chill
Look, Steely Dan are very good musicians, and pretty good songwriters. I never dislike anything I hear by them, and this album is no exception. But despite all of their green flags, they somehow just don't overly resonate with me.
A polite 3. Can't really get into them, but it's not really bad either.
alright
Ni slabo
It's a Steely Dan record. Was quite surprised by the opener, but then I got what I paid for. Not their most important work but still a very good effort.
My Old School, Razor Boy, Good Tooth, Bodhisattva and King of the World. 4.0
it is fine but I like other albums better
As part of this challenge, one of the biggest surprises for me has been discovering Steely Dan. I went into these albums barely knowing their music, but with each listen my appreciation for them has grown more and more. What started as simply enjoying a few catchy tracks has turned into a real admiration for their songwriting, musicianship and immaculate production. Can’t Buy a Thrill was a great introduction, Pretzel Logic confirmed how consistently enjoyable they are, and Aja was the album that finally made everything click for me. I still find them difficult to define as a band, but I now completely understand why they are held in such high regard. Today was my fourth Steely Dan album, Countdown to Ecstasy, and just like the previous three, I really enjoyed it. “Bodhisattva” is a brilliant opening track and sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the album. Musically they are exceptional, the lyrics are sharp, and the production is once again excellent throughout. There is such an effortless coolness to their sound that makes these albums easy to keep coming back to. Another really strong album from a band that has been one of the highlights of this challenge for me. Favourite tracks: “Bodhisattva” and “My Old School” Least favourite tracks: None really stood out as weak Album artwork: Brilliant album cover
Starting to like Steely Dan is a sure sign of middle age.
Not again.
Meh.
The beginning was rough, but I really really enjoyed the rest of the album. The beginning was almost so much of a switchup that I felt surprised to like every other track on the album. So solidddd! Made me like it a ton more! The tracks are very lengthy but not in a disruptive way, they all know how long they should be and how they needa be. Phenomenal album
The problem isn’t that Steely Dan is clever, it’s that they need the listener to know how clever they are and that’s fucking tedious.
Did I actually enjoy this? I think I did you know. Maybe by the third album on the list I'm numb to their cheesy bits? Like with all of their music they often over egg the pudding - but some of it is genuniely brilliant.
Finished strongly enough to be a 3.5 rounded up
Was OK.
Gossamer
Enjoyed that. 3.5 rounded up
in Jojo's bizarre adventure there is a character named Dan of Steel, a permutation of the band name to get around american copyright laws. This is another classic noodly record. Truly Jazz for the modern hippie. It works great. Doesn't have the hits like Can't buy a thrill but it's another good project and it fills out the legendary catalog.
I expected quite a bit more from this, especially after hearing Cant Buy a Thrill, Aja, etc. This is one Steely Dan album I never really heard before. I think it's honestly a bit disappointing. I know that Fagen was getting in to his groove here, before he really took off, and though it is pretty innovative for the time it just isn't as over the top as I expected. It is absolutely a Steely Dan album; it hits all the notes of long improvisation, technical mastery, strangely literal lyrics, and just general tone. That said, it doesn't push the boundaries of fusion or jazz-rock as much as the other works of theirs do. That's what really makes them stand out - that drive to use discordant harmonies, wild key changes, off beat chords, etc. The songwriting is there, the talent is there, it's just not as fun as I wanted it to be. It's still good and I enjoyed it, but I think you could've put any of their later albums on here over this one.
Never heard this album. It's typically impeccable. 6 new to me songs...will need to give this album more of a listen.
Pretty good. I've had a few Steely Dan albums so far and I like them for the most part.
Always good
475/1089 - This is a weird one. It's tighter than the 1st album but it's also way more jammy and vamp-y. I like it more than Pretzel Logic but the repetitiveness takes me out from fully enjoying it. "King of The World" was really good and "Show Biz Kids" was one of the worst and most repetitive Steely Dan songs I've heard.
Essential.
1. me encantó, no suelo conectar con canciones tan movidas que son solo instruemnatles pero esta fue una excepción me gustó la excusa para escucharlo pero me da viejo yankee falopero
Helt ok rett og slett. Noen gode, noen som ikke treffer helt.
Quintessential Unc Gem album There’s some absolutely awesome solos in this album, most notably the breakneck paced one in Bodhisattva and the smoother but still really cool one in Gold Teeth. I love the variety between the jazzy songs and the more quintessential soft rock sound that they’re so well known for. Fagen’s vocals are also just super easy on the ears If I had to complain about anything it’s the lack of a true standout, but that’s more of a symptom of the album just being pretty damn solid from start to finish. I think the albums a little flat emotionally at times, which I guess is kinda expected with the genre I’ve listened to a decent amount of Steely Dan and I think they just have such a high floor where it feels like all their music is above average. Absolutely a dad rock band but damn they sound good. Not quite a 5 for me but will definitely listen again
uncgem Bodhisattva is such a banger, fantastic solo I think people who listen to Steely Dan have sex on the regular
Overall, just a nice and chill album to relax to. Nothing really stood out to me, but I just really appreciated listening to this.
I can't say I love this band, and while I am very familiar with their "best of," remarkably, this is my first time listening to this album through front to back. So... the album kicks off with my least favorite of their hits. The music and groove of "Bodhisattva" are amazing, but the repetitive lyric has always been a turn off for me and this listen did nothing to stop that. Fortunately, the album also includes what may be my favorite of the album's songs, "My Old School," which just slaps, including a awesome horn line, fantastic guitar breaks, and fantastic drum performance by a guy I just had to look up (Jim Hodder) as I knew nothing about him. Anyway, really enjoyed the album despite the opener. These guys are solid, and it makes me excited for their other albums
Aja is one of my favorite albums, but I haven't really listened to this one ever. Excited to try it out! Ok. It's no Aja, but it's good!
It's steely Dan, he is great
It's a precursor to adult contemporary stuff. Which I abhor. But it's actually okay and in some ways production and writing - a bit ahead of its time.
Good album.
Nice to listen to in the background. From the tracks 3 to 6 I really enjoyed it.
Why can’t every SD album sound like this? Although the lyrics suck they do make me understand old heads. 5!!!
I think there are some five star moments on here, like the solos on Bodhisattva and Your Gold Teeth, but overall this is a high three for me.
4 ya I like this
Great album. Loved the production and harmonies
easy listen!
****A good easy listening Album.
Amazing amazing album, steely Dan was introduced to be through an episode of the sopranos. Dirty work was playing in a 15 second segment and it was hilarious. I looked up the song and fell in love with it. This album directly led me to listening to Aja as well. I know we’re not talking about that album (yet! No way it’s not on this list) but countdown to ecstasy had so many great songs. Pearl of the quarter and bodhisattva are highlights for me I’ll definitely be revisiting. Incorporating country elements with such great songwriting was really special. Show biz kids was such a great idea for a song at the time and will age phenomenally. The Boston Rag is an incredible song. The production quality for the time is just something else.
nice enough
Of the seven albums Steely Dan released between 1972 and 1980, six are perfect. Their debut was still somewhat uneven, but by the time of "Countdown to Ecstasy", Steely Dan had already arrived at their classic sound: a highly distinctive blend of rock, blues, jazz and adult pop. If I myself have paid slightly less attention to “Countdown to Ecstasy” than to the subsequent albums, it is because they were even more perfect [SIC!!], even more refined, even more finely honed, but that does not detract from the genius of songs like “Bodhisattvaha”, “The Boston Rag”, “My Old School” or “Show Biz Kids”. Perfectly composed and flawlessly executed musical dramas in five minutes. Timeless mastery that we may never see the likes of again.
First three numbers more or less bored me, I guess at my age it's nice to be able to say this is 'before my time'. Somewhat to my suprise I quite enjoyed the songs halfway, my gold teeth, show biz kids in particular. 3 stars, even though it won't go on repeat
Inbetween album. Love “Can’t Buy a Thrill” and “Pretzel Logic” but not none of these songs grab me the same way.
Endelig Steely Dan igjen. Her med deres andre studioalbum. Jeg mener at bandet ble bedre med årene, men synes likevel at dette er meget bra pop rock. Fire stjerner der, altså. Top 3: The Boston Rag, My Old School, King of the World
God I dislike this band. So bland, so lacking a soul. Bonus star because that song about Boston was fine.
Too much Steely Dan.
a steely dan classic, fun album from beginning to end. Synth sounds are pretty cool. Favorite track: Bodhisattva other picks: show biz kids, my old school, the boston rag
Same as the last Steely Dan, technically proficient, but boring and lacking in edge and surprise, though I enjoyed some of the additional textures to the music as opposed to their debut.
Mellow rock gold. It is a very well put together, melodic and chilled out album. There is some minor Santana influences with the samba drums and electric organ on "Your Gold Teeth" and I enjoy the full sound of "Show Biz Kids". It feels like the type of album that I would listen to at the end of the party. When everyone wants to have sit down and chill out whilst they finish their last drinks and chat. (3.666)
Steely Dan is just smooth. Hard to not find yourself bopping along to any part of these songs.
Solid music, but nothing that left a lasting impression.
Nah bros