Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Interetung
Solid Dan as always. not one of my favorites as I'm usually more a fan of the albums that have memorable songs on them but still a classic. how they got away with that f word though will still puzzle me forever
I like the song my old school I've had it saved for a while :) the rest of it was also quite fun
Nice and cool
Lyrically interesting, sounds great. Solid.
I got ecstasy
On the lower end of their classic era but still a great time.
Bodhisattva strong start and enjoyed the last track too, King of the World. Clicked more on second listen.
Not bad with some good deep cuts
Clean and weird and good. Love it.
Genre: Jazzy rock Overall, it's a bit more mellow than I usually like; however, there is a solid groove to most of the songs. I found my toe tapping without meaning to. I enjoyed it.
Jeg liker steely dan. Vet ikke om det er innafor? Føler meg teit som liker steely dan.
Some albums who bend genres have problems to satisfy all the needs of the genre. But on this album Steely Dan has a very attractive mix of songs that are easy accessible but more complex than you might imagine. It's wonderful blend of jazz rock and pop.
I was a little let down by the slower pace following Boddhistva as an opener. Really didn't care for Boston Rag, too slow and not catchy at all. The instrumental palette and use of effects across the album is awesome, thought. Was pretty into Your Gold Teeth, Show Biz Kids, and King of the World. REALLY loved My Old School, very fun with the group vocals and brass.
Another jazzy and dancy album. Listened to it while unwinding and it was hard not to get up and dance
I am a massive fan of Steely Dan (they are my little brothers favorite band OAT) and have listened to them extensively. In my humble opinion this is one of their more underrated albums. It doesn't have really any hits; the biggest song is "My Old School" and personally I would not consider it one of their hits. That being said despite not having any hits this is an extremely consistent album with a ton of good songs. "Your Gold Teeth" is one of me and my little brothers favorite tracks they have ever made and so is "Pearl Of The Quarter". "Bodhisattva" is a good opener and really showed that they were a band that were comfortable with experimenting and not making the same sounding music that made them popular on their first album. "Razor Boy" in all honestly is a track that I never really come back to but when I do listen to this album it is always a nice listen. "The Boston Rag" is another one of their more underrated tracks and I love the guitar riff that comes after the verses and it has a super earwormy chorus to me. That is one of my favorite pieces of instrumentation on this album. Overall that is a probably the highlight of this album. I think they improved the instrumentation from "Can't Buy A Thrill" by a lot and this is the first album that I would say the created the general formula for their music. "Show Biz Kids" is another track I don't come back to a ton but it is a good track. It personally just doesn't feel particularly special. I do think it has some of the more memorable writing on the album but I think it just drags on a minute or two long. "My Old School" is the biggest song on the album and it is a song that I am kinda surprised was not a hit on release because it checks a lot of the boxes you would typically hear in a Steely Dan hit. It has great groove, memorable chorus, nice supporting vocals, great guitar and sax but was not a hit on release. It is one of their best songs. "Pearl Of The Quarter" as mentioned before is one of my favorite songs on the album. That chorus is so good and it has some of the most sweet writing on the album. It feels like watching a cheesy rom-com. The best part of the song though is obviously the "Singing voulez, voulez, voulez-vous" refrain. It is one of those lines that even if you don't know the song you have to sing when you hear it. The last song is "King Of The World" which is another track I don't come back to a ton but it is really good. I just am not a huge fan of how the track starts. There are though some really quality parts of this song like the little synth bridge and singing in the second half of the verses. Overall I really like this album a lot. I think it falls victim to the fact that the band has so many great critically acclaimed albums and albums with bigger hits that this sort of falls to the wayside. Personally it is not better than Aja, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied or Two Against Nature but it is right there with Can't Buy A Thrill and Gaucho. Solid 8.5-9/10
Album art is sick. Leads off with Bodhisattva that I only know due to Rock Band. Hoppy number that puts that Steely Dan guitar tone right in your face and lets it rip start to finish. The Boston Rag and Your Gold Teeth both rip. Very luxurious guitar tone that feels as if dripped in gold. I really did not give this a very close listen, but will be going back for an immediate relisten. I loved the instrumental work on a lot of the songs -- particularly King of the World, Bodhisattva, Your Gold Teeth. The production feels modern and crisp. 4 / 5 and I don't see that changing with a relistening.
I like it.
Starts off so hot with Bodhisattva which rips right out of the gate. Cools down a bit until My Old School which is an awesome song. Then King of the World is a great song to end on. Reminds me of the band Midlife with some of the sweepy synth. The whole album was very strong with those couple very high points. Steely Dan is great I hope there are more of their albums on here
I had this on as I was crazy busy working and stressed out. It was the perfect music for that. Groovy, jazzy, proggy all in one. I will definitely be coming back and listening to this one again. Lovely guitar licks in the background in so many of these songs.
Love me some steely Dan
It's pretty good, maybe pretty fine. Found it hard to really get into the music, but I do enjoy the vibe it creates.
Smooth
Steely Dan albums can speak for themselves. They had a masterful run in the 70's and have become an incredibly well-respected band in all respects with the notable exception of Steve Albini. Steve, I love you and your work, but Steely Dan is immortal now.
I hate to admit it but I liked this one
Really liked this one
Had a review written but lost it. I don't truly "get" Steely Dan, but they come so highly recommended that I feel like it is something that I will come to eventually. And, I have to say, this is my favorite of the Steely Dan albums that I've heard so far. The vocal harmonies are great, and the album has really nice production. The songs are well crafted to 4/5
Trash lyrics, good vibes.
i’ve never really gotten steely dan, and this isn’t an exception, but it was solid in its own way.
Outstanding musicianship. The proof that it's possible to blend jazz, pop and rock very well without it seeming the least bit forced.
Yeah this is solid, it’s got some really good songs especially on side 2 ao for that 4/5
should re-listen
pretty good although very repetitive
Has one of my favorites Old School. Like Steely Dan!
Yeaaa yeaaaaaaa yeaaaaaaaaaa
I didn’t like the first song very much, but it got pretty good after that. Early Steely Dan is kind of hard for me to love, though (note early, as Aja is an unabashed classic in my eyes). I do like the more jazzy influences on this, as they give it more of a unique feel, whereas Can’t Buy A Thrill was more so built around its best songs (Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin’ In The Years). Overall, a good release from the Dan. Ew, I sound like a dad. Anyway, hope I get the pretzel album next so it can be all chronological.
Some pretty great 70s rock. However I thought it was a bit too slow and soft to really hook me throughout. The best songs to me were kind of dotted throughout the album, so at least it could get my attention back. Probably not my favourite Steely Dan album that I've heard so far, but a good album nonetheless. Favourite: King Of The World
Low 4, high 3
Just good music, whenever I listen to a Steely Dan album there is just a feeling of enjoyment, at no point do I ever feel like skipping a track or doing something else. Their debut has probably some stronger individual tracks, but Countdown to Ecstasy is a very balanced and strong album that always delivers if I am in the mood for some Steely Dan.
1973: A great year for music A bit more reserved but still an artistic accomplishment from the masters of perfection. Though none of the songs ever broke through as singles, it still deserves high praise for the journey it takes you on.
One Hall Of Fame Dan track for the cannon ("My Old School" is an all-time banger, the one track that blends both their debut album and subsequent ones). This is great, it'd be most other bands best album by a mile. It just fails to two other Dan albums, both of which justifiably appear on this list.
This was cool. Always smooth guitar work
I’ll never be a father, nor will I ever own a yacht, so why is it that I find myself so enchanted by Steely Dan’s silky-smooth siren songs?!
There's something about this album that is joyous. Fun, prog rock with a great sound. They got the Steely Dan T Shirts.
The name of this band always makes me think that it’s music meant for my Dad. I like it though and think it has really cool musical moments. Really liked “The Boston Rag.”
Sometimes I felt attacked by reggae. I liked the album as a whole, but I'm afraid what I'll remember best will be these moments of confusion
I like how energetic most of this album is. Combination of piano and wind instruments sounds really appealing.
Brilliant album, not my favorite steely dan but still really good
Astounding show of musicianship. Production wise it's absolutely flawless. As an album I've heard more enjoyable Steely Dan stuff.
- I'd been meaning to listen to Steely Dan for ages, but this is the first time listening to them - Expected to like it, lived up to expectations - Really enjoyed it, but thought it kind of tailed off towards the end - Fav songs: The Boston Rag, Bodhisattva, My Old School
This album must be one of Donald Fagan & Walter Becker's favourites because when I saw them live a few years ago they played three songs from it. A friend I went with said something interesting, that if someone asked you to describe Steely Dan's sound, it would be difficult. You couldn't say "they sound like..." because they don't sound like anyone else. On this album they don't even sound like themselves on a couple songs. "Bodhisattva" & "Show Biz Kids" are outliers & highlights of the album. There are a few garden-variety Steely Dan songs to fill it out but the arrangements are great and the lyrics, as always, are clever. IMO, some of the albums that followed, "Katy Lied" or "Royal Scam" are stronger, but by then, expectations would have been higher. This would have turned more heads.
First one in a while so not doing the full review. But a pretty awesome-sounding record. Solid 4 for me.
Nice album. We feel the time gap but some very good instrumentals
Un disco que es demasiado vigente para la epoca. Cumple con todo lo que se le exige y supera 7,50/10
Very biased, but love Steely Dan, and while I don’t think this album scratches their top 3, it could be a top 3 album for any other band that would’ve made it (wouldn’t be the same though)
steely dan is certainly a unique listen. top notch musicianship, a culmination of pop, rock, and jazz. smooth as silk vocals and soothing rhythms; i can’t help but be in a good mood when i listen to this album. you never know where the song is going to take you, but you know it’s going to be interesting. for example, “pearl of the quarter” is steely dan’s take on a southern rock song… and there’s no other song on the album that sounds anything like it. at all. fascinating collection of tunes. highlights: “the boston rag”, “show biz kids”, “pearl of the quarter”.
I really enjoy a few Steely Dan albums (Can’t But a Thrill and Aja) and couldn’t get into a few others (Pretzel Logic and one other one I’ve forgotten the name of, Gaucho, I think) so I didn’t know how this was going to go down. But after listening to it, it’s firmly on the Love It side. What a record! A little bluesy, a little jazzy (but not too jazzy, lol), a little countryish, a little rockin’, a little soulful.; this album has it all. It’s one of those albums that just sounds great when consumed alltogether so I’m not sure there are any “hits” on it but dang, it’s good. Like, really good.
Pretty enjoyable rock album with jazz elements and other influences such as harder rock on Bodhisattva and steel guitar on Razor Boy and Pearl of the Quarter. The performances are all great, some of the songs have weaker moments though but overall very solid.
I love Steely Dan. I love the length of their albums, and just every vibe of them. This album could have a little more to it, but given that I love them as a band I will give them a credit they deserve.
Love Steely Dan and love this album. My Old School is one my all time favourite songs
Less approachable than the follower Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan's second album features longer tracks, but the same stellar production. The flow of the album is not as good as on Pretzel, but the guitar sound on 'My Old School' is enough to get 4/5 score.
It’s only been a couple of days and I’m once again presented with a Steely Dan record. Countdown To Ecstasy opens with one of Dan’s greatest blues-inspired songs. After that it moves into heavier jazz territory as is the case with Steely Dan records you’re never completely sure where you’re being taken. It might be due to nostalgia but I’m leaning heavier toward Pretzel Logic than this record. But that being said - Steely Dan proves, on this album as well, that almost nobody wrote more intelligent and refreshing pop music in the 70’s than they did.
This was so good, solid tunes throughout. Having said that, nothing jumped out to me as an absolute knock out though, so I think a 4 is fair.
This was actually a really good listen - absolutely loved the intro instrumental to the album in "Bodhisattva". Pleasant and quick album. 7/10.
Poppy, trashy, low budget proto-garage rock. I loved 3 songs. No cohesive theme. It’s like they’re trying several different genres (blues, rock and pop) but separately. Obviously they had huge potential.
Boston Rag slaps
Yes. I need to spend more time with this band. My wife will not be happy. Fun stuff!
Cool album cover art. Love that the harmonized guitar sound on the first tune Razor boy is my least favorite song on this one and least favorite style of steely Dan song. Show biz kids has a cool hypnotic groove with the repetitive bgv’s My old school is probably the most poppy song on the album. The playing and production is great of course. Super original like all their stuff with that unique steely Dan sound. I liked this but didn’t really have much of an emotional response to it. I hope wAja is on the list. Read on Wikipedia that Jeff Baxter has a whole other career as a missile defense consultant for the pentagon and working for NASA- so crazy. 3.5
Love the instrumentation of this band. Liked this album. Favorite track: Razor Boy
Generally enjoy The Dan but this isn't their best album. While I am happy to play jazz blues for days, opening an album with one in 1973 seems a little played. Actually, I think side two is far better than side one. Either way, a good solid 4 stars.
First listen
I really like this :)) 4
I do love me some Steely Dan. Funny, I just had their first album a week or two ago. Both are excellent, but in this one it feels like the band is hitting their stride and really finding their signature sound. Excellent album start to finish. My Old School is one of my all-time favorites. 4 stars.
Very enjoyable, although not overly memorable. A perfect soundtrack for driving on a sunny day - which is handy, as that's what I was doing! Hard to pick a stand out track, which shows how consistent the piece is. The music, lyrics, instrumentation and vocals are all great - would love to hear more from them
This was really good, funky
On the weaker side of their discography but more than worth the listen!
good good good
1/23- Driving to school
Like how they inhabit a bunch of different genres but still have their own distinctive sound. Cool!
You can’t go wrong w steely Dan. This album is romantic, hopeful, heartbroken, and sexy
Wierd one. It's not my normal thing and the ingredients are not to my taste, but as a whole enjoyed listening and made me smile.
4/8, 50%
Non male, ma forse gli manca un po' di verve. Molto godibile, come gli altri degli Steely Dan
Another quality steely Dan album. Didn’t like it as much as the last one though. I have nothing else to add
Probably 4.5 for me. Pearl of the Quarter upped it the half star. It’s the one song I could see going back and proactively listening to. The test I would describe as stuff I’d be glad if it was on somewhere but probably wouldn’t listen through a. Hunch solo. But maybe would.
Love Steely Dan.....love this album.....love the guitar work,which leans a little further to the Jazzy side, for a rock album, and is kind of their signature sound. Love the snarky, smart alecky lyrics....My old School may well be my favorite Steely Dan song.I'd give it 5, but I know AJA is probably coming.
Some rough notes on these great songs: Boddishita - amazing guitars, different styles and great playing and interaction, jazz, surf guitar, rock n roll. Razor Boy - A lighthearted pun on the grim reaper, love this song’s vocal melody Boston Rag - reminds me of the tragedy of Boston Legal being cancelled. Your Gold Teeth - Smooth as hell, love the hook. Keyboard solo around 3 minute mark is choice Show Biz Kids - Nepo baby hate anthem 🙌🏻 My Old School - Love how the voices come together on the chorus Pearl of the Quarter - A man very secure in his love, the undulating melody when he says “voulez voulez voulez vous” is delightful King of the World - ‘I Am Legend’ eat your heart out, great synths. All in all, has always been my favourite Steely Dan album
So jazzy, not like mind blowing but he has some nice music
Few bands have a core catalogue as focused and high-quality as the Dan. The temptation is to give every album five stars. But things are relative. there are five-star songs here - My Old School and Boddhisvata obvs, but Gold Teeth and Boston Rag though fine songs don't quite hit those heights. And if it's five then what is Katy Lied or the Royal Scam? So four, though a 9 out of ten.
This album has some really great jazz-feeling guitar lines, and I love the variety in instrumentation (I'm a sucker for a track with vibraphone). Not every song is a banger, but the bookends of the record alone make me want to listen again.
I liked this quite a bit more than Aja. It was good to great. I would listen again. Especially My Old School. 4/5
Not my favorite Steely Dan LP, but it’s still the Dan, so the lyrics are deliciously bitter and musicianship is steak sauce. B
Ok
More decent stuff from Steely Dan. I always seen to at least mildly enjoy their albums. The mix of smooth rock and jazz is so unique to them and is always a good listen. 7/10
bangers
Love steely dan. Good album
Goated
Uh oh, favourite band alert, might be difficult to be impartial! A good 2nd album, perhaps not as great as the debut, but it does come with the magnificent My Old School. Skunk Baxter plays guitar on it and I’m sure he had more fun with Steely Dan than he does now working at NASA or US Defence - no, really.
Wow, that's some interesting album art. As far as I know I like Steely Dan so I think I will like it. Update: I loved it.
Great skill. Great music. Great album
So that's where the Super Furries got the sample from!
Favorites : Show Biz Kids and My Old School
This is great! Never gave Steely Dan a chance before. Really tasteful groove-lovin musak
Fun album
This one won me over as it went - Show Biz Kids was a real standout (including a sample that was used in the 90s that I never realised)
T3B 1. The Boston Rag 2. King Of The World 3. Bodhisattva
Oké album. Had het iets steviger verwacht, maar wel van genoten
I Steely Dan but this might be the album I listen to the least. It never grab me as much as Aja, Pretzel logic or Royal Scam.
I’ve found I like Steely Dan more than I thought. Great production, top shelf musicianship, quirky songs.
What can I say except I just love Steely Dan. Maybe because I grew up listening to them, and my Dad is a big fan, but it's comfort music to me. This album is no where near as good as Aja, but it's still a solid record, with some good tunes.
So crisp, so fine, so cruise on down the Highway. There are some fine tunes on here in that trademark SD style. Fagon and Becker bring the irony.
Yes, I definitely find this ecstatic. I'm someone who... enjoys instrumental fiddling. Unfortunately, the ecstasy fades away after a while. And I'm pretty it's not the post nut clarity. Not "countdown to ecstasy" but "countdown to the end of ecstasy".
Great album, most song where to folksy for me. Album best: Pearl of the Quarter
Pretty good need to listen to more.
Though not as as good as ‘Aja’, this album is still a fantastic entry in Steely Dan’s catalog. It is a interesting mix of jazz, funk, and even a bit of country rock as well. They are keen absorbers of influences and genres and are able to reformulate them into something that sounds uniquely like Steely Dan.
Nothing blew me away, but front to back it was just a good, well-produced listen.
I was surprised by this as I hated the last Steely Dan album I had to listen too. There is a great groove happening in a few of these songs and the overall sound of the album is never dull
Funky and the solos are great
Rock. Años 70
I’ve lamented a couple times that jazz isn’t really my thing. However when it’s fused into tightly arranged rock music, I’m down. Steely Dan have a meticulously organized sound. There are no loose ends. I have a strange album history with Steely Dan. I started with their Greatest Hits, then Alive In America, a live album. Then I bought their box set, Citizen: Steely Dan, which contains their first 7 studio albums on 4 discs plus a couple oddball tracks. I never owned any of their studio albums even though I had them all on the box set, which is strange to me at least. I’ve heard Bodhisattva hundreds of times and never realized how much I like the guitar solo leading up to the halfway point of the song. My Old School is the highlight of this album while Pear Of The Quarter is forgettable. Overall, this is one of my least favorite of Steely Dan’s first 7 albums, but it’s still enjoyable nonetheless.
Good
Good jam band album.
adjacent to something i would really like
Will you still have a song to sing when the razor boy comes and takes your fancy things away?
I’ve heard a few Steely Dan tunes and thought they were a bit so so. Listening to this through was great. I’m not a wordsmith so I’ll just say I was pleasantly surprised by this album and will be revisiting it. Great melodies and a nice chilled vibe with some quality guitar solos.
Deez nuts
It’s a testament to the quality of Steely Dan’s music that this is one of their weaker albums
Sw4g, svag 4
Haha, nice. I never did listen to song that The Man Don't Give A Fuck sampled. But Showbiz Kids is a cracker.
Steely Dan just don't miss
*oh hello reference*
Rock setentero con algún toque de jazz. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
6/4/2022 - ALBUM #128 Today's Album: "Countdown To Ecstasy" by Steely Dan - Steely Dan is always a name that I had heard in passing when talking about music and I know that he plays a really essential role in the evolution of soft rock, but the only song I knew by him was dirty work, which is a great track off of the album before this one. I'll save my thoughts on that song until I review that album, but suffice it to say that this album gave me everything I wanted and more out of what I had grown to expect from Steely Dan. The way the piano plays a large role in many of the tracks and the presence of brass and sax in the mix gives his music a really unique taste to it and he just has that classic sort of songwriting you heard in older outfits while bringing his own flair to it. Sprinkled throughout the album, but mostly present in the standout tracks Bodhisattva and My Old School, there are really fantastic solos all around the band. The production and mixing is top notch and each song feels really cohesive and well build, even if most of them don't keep my attention super well. The songwriting is just overall really charming and the really charismatic vocals back that up really well. I like a lot of the chorus vocals incorporated into these songs and when the band just feels really tight all around. There are plenty of shimmering highlights instrumentally and pretty much every chorus is good enough to get stuck way up in your brain. Overall, this is just a really fun pop-rock album from one of the most inventive song-writers of the era. Give this one a listen if you like soft rock or have ever heard the name Steely Dan and wondered, "Why does everyone care about this guy's music?" Highlights: Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, The Boston Rag, Show Biz Kids, My Old School, Pearl Of The Quarter, King Of The World. Score: 8/10 Effortlessly Enjoyable
Really great album.
The songs themselves aren’t as interesting as their other releases, but they are the best sounding band I have ever listened to. Worth the listen always!
Steely Dan are always a guarantee for good, light hearted, easy.lsitening music and this album is no difference
Classic rock with the simple yet refreshing rock formula, no tracks stander out for me but I still enjoyed the record! I’ve got nothing against steely Dan
dan the mannnn
It's not super for me, it feels like some real old man music. And like no disrespect it just sounds pretty old.
Maybe their smoothest and therefore most perfect jazz-pop fusion. Maybe their most pop. Maybe their least jazz. Maybe the other way round. Maybe neither. It's impossible to say. Their career is one long "what is this?" moment. When things get impossibly smooth, they slip in a knotty something-or-other solo. When they get too abstruse, they break out a magical hook. Admittedly, some of those hooks are hardly transparent. "Can you show me Bodhisattva," say, or "She said, 'Oh no, Guadalajara won't do.'" But they're so perfectly harmonised, and so full of joy, that they sound like they make perfect sense.
Exquisite
listened to again jazzy grooves, i love it
as they always do, Steely Dan do not disappoint this time
Through the vivid melodies and smooth grooves it's easy to overlook the darkness of these lyrics, How they navigate through the themes of drug abuse (Boston Rag), class envy (Your Gold Teeth), post-nuclear devastation (King Of The World), and Material possession (Bodhisattva) is prodigious. I’m really surprised at how much I liked this. Bodhisattva, Boston Rag , Show Biz Kids , My Old School , Pearl Of The Quarter are my personal favourites from the album.
Not quite 10/10.
comfort album
Great vibes in this album. I've not listened to a ton of Steely Dan but really enjoyed this.
Steely Dan has so many cool harmonies and great use of keyboard in their sound. It’s relaxing but also complex. The definition of Yacht Rock which is right up my alley.
3.5/5. This was good, and just about what I expected. This is not my favorite Steely Dan album I've heard, but it is definitely enjoyable.
I was only vaguely familiar with a couple of tracks on this album. It sounded just like Steely Dan... I enjoy the jazz-infused rock. I wasn't quite over the moon with this one, but it is pleasant.
Yep. That's 41 minutes of Steely Dan, all right. I love the cover art.
PANG-Album rätt igenom
I listened to the entire album and realized once I got to the end that I hadn't formed an opinion on it at all. Thinking critically about it, there are some great songs on here that are a joy to listen to, and it starts off great with 'Bodhisattva', but the middling parts of the album are just so middling that they left almost zero long-term impression. Great vocals; they definitely are talented, no question about that. So, in short, good vocals, good instrumentals, low remembrance.
Gustoso. Non so se l'avrei altrettanto apprezzato se non avessi prima sentito Aja, ma vabbè. Figo.
A pretty decent album.
Mijn ding wel mooi rustig 70 rock
Drugi na liscie i drugi w dyskografii, mam nadzieje, ze rowniez nie ostatni material Steely Danow na liscie, nadal jest grane w podobnym klimacie, ale w troche innym skladzie, nie ma juz Palmera, wiec cale wokale naleza do Fagena, dodatkowo album nagrywany w trasie koncertowej, wiec nie jest az tak dopieszczony pod wzgledem masteringu jak cant buy a thrill czy kolejny plyty danowe, ale jak dla mnie najwazniejsze, ze ostal sie ten estetyzm ktory byl juz widoczny na debiutanckim materiale, polaczony z lirykami przepelnionymi sardonicznoscia, ktorej nie brakuje na tej plycie, stanowi o mnie to cos za co uwielbiam ich materialy, nawet bardziej niz perfekcjonizm brzmienia do jakiego daza w swej muzyce, glowne motywy sa zblizone do tego co mozna uslyszec na poprzednim albumie, wiec zarty na ludziach, czy to szukajacych swojej drogi zycia w ucieczce na wschod, jak na otwierajacym bodhisattva, fajnie jest pokazane jak szukanie czegos orginalnego i duchowego sprowadza sie czesto do odcinania kuponow przez kogos kto wykorzystuje taki trend, podobnie w razor boyu, ktory szuka siebie w materializmie i dobrach doczesnych, takie zestawienie obok siebie dwoch kawalkow pokazuje jak obie drogi sa beznadziejne, jest gemblingowanie zlotymi zebami, narkotyki w starej szkole, dziwkowanie w nowy orleanie, czy post apokaliptyczny survival LA, wiec duet jak zawsze nie zawodzi lirycznie i potrafi pisac kawalki ktorych da sie sluchac wielokrotnie wynajdujac w nich coraz to nowe odcienie szarosci, nigdy sie nie zastanawialem jak tym listowal ich albumy, ale sluchajac countdowna, ktory jakos nigdy nie byl mi bliski, to wiem, ze byloby to pierunsko trudne zadanie, bo skala ocen zamykalaby sie pomiedzy 4-5, na plejke dodam otwierajacego bodhisattve jako najbardziej jazzowo zinfluencjowany kawalek i your gold teeth, a calosc leci na poleczke spotifajowa
Maybe it's just my mood but I was jiving much more to this than Can't Buy A Thrill. Really liked Your Gold Teeth. I don't think I was listening with headphones before which probably wasn't doing it any favors. Between the two albums I can give this a 4, not all exactly my thing but I see it, I see it.
Rock setentero con algún toque de jazz. Me ha gustado.
So - like Chicago without the horn section? I never really listened to Steely Dan much (I'm not big into the jazz/rock/fusion stuff), but this was a really solid album. It's really well produced, the arrangements are cool, the melodies are interesting, and there are some really great guitar tones.
Countdown to Ecstasy flew by in terms of time. Loved Bodhisattva and My Old School. Great guitars, keyboarda and vocals. Only a couple of songs I wasn't a fan of but six ones I did enjoy.
Yet another timeless classic of Steely Dan. Great Jazz rock with intriguing lyrics. Highlights are "Bodhisattva", "The Boston Rag" and "My Old School".
I've listened to "Aja" LOTS before but haven't really checked out their older stuff, besides their first release, so I was a bit surprised at how their sound in this album. It of course maintains the cynicism of Donald Fagan's voice, which is signature to the band, but it adheres more to "straightforward" pop, like their first album. Personally I like the jazzier stuff of theirs, but this is good too.
5: Bodhisattva, My Old School, 4: Razor Boy, Your Gold Teeth, Show Biz Kids, 3: Boston Rag, Pearl of the Quarter, King of the World
4/5
I like their style
The best of the early Steely Dan albums. I enjoy 'Countdown To Ecstasy' so much more than 'Can't Buy A Thrill' or 'Pretzel Logic'. Their obtuse lyrics laced with their usual acerbic wit are still present coupled with their unique brand of soft rock, but the music is overtly jazzier here, more so than either of the two albums that bookend this one. Fagen and Becker were also apparently unhappy with some of the performances on the record and believed that it sold poorly because it had been recorded hastily on tour. And yet I disagree with them. For me, ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’ succeeds in-spite of and because it wasn’t quite as polished and meticulous as some of their other efforts.
Love it. 4/5
George St Geegland vibes
Not the very best Steely Dan album but it’s still Steely Dan.
прикольная, в меру сложная, много риффов, разных мелодий, есть синтезаторы, старый теплый звучок
Of the three Steely Dan albums I’ve heard from this project, this one sits as an easy favorite. Fun, thoughtful, exciting musicianship. Too polished, but that’s always my issue with steely Dan. Boddhisattva in particular was an amazing highlight. Fuck, I don’t like how much I like it. I really have transformed into a dad.
Very good, but not totally captivating. Favorite track is Bring Back the Boston Rag
This album was mostly enjoyable. My favourite songs are Show Biz Kids, My Old School and the closing track King Of The World. But I wasn't that big a fan of some of the other tracks. 4/5 stars.
Not SD's best, but has some real faves like Bodhisattva and My Old School.
Steely Dan and their SUPREME rota of studio musicians had such an inimitable sound across their studio albums and, while this isn't my favourite SD album (that'd be a toss up between their debut and Aja), it still yields aural treasure on every repeat listen.
Another excellent Steely Dan entry. No classic tracks like Can't Buy a Thrill or Aja, but My Old School is the catchiest. As always, there's a strong jazz element fused soft rock, with this album relying heavily on electric instruments, including the synths, which makes for some interesting jazzy-electric solos. All the tracks are great but nothing extraordinary.
The third Steely Dan album we've gotten. I think they're really good, but don't seem them as quite that monumental... still, this is very good jazzy hard rock and I enjoyed listening to the album.
A lot nicer than I thought it would be. I'm probably not listening to this album again, but can't say I wasted my time checking it out
Not bad at all. Love Steely Dan!
Rockin
Great musicianship and harmonies. The upbeat stuff is really fun, but the ballads tend to drag a bit.
Solid writing. Excellent musicianship. Really good album.
Fun especially while driving
opening track is amazing. the instruments, wow pourrait être une bonne musique de rock very lowkey boston rags = love the harmonies; god, le solo very cohesive work ok ils se lâchent pour les solos chaque musique est une unité avec une identité propre, c'est en quelque sorte un voyage, un cheminement avec elle et le joyau de la quête = le solo c'est marrant les 2 sons que j'ai pas directement aimés sont les plus courts... the 6 seconds of french are much appreciated 4 or 5... l'idéal serait 4,5 mais bon pas le choix
MMmmm I do love a bit of Steely Dan. Good mix of rock jazz and blue, producing this kind of wild album. It's *very* 70s
Great album. Love Razor Boy
Honestly a great album. It has a wonderful blend of country and more synth elements that really mesh well together. I liked their melodies and energy a lot. Favorite Song: My Old School
Um álbum que é difícil de descrever, parece que entrei numa viagem quase que mágica com uma trilha sonora impecável. Estes senhores são muito proficientes na questão da instrumentação e não ficam muito atrás no que diz respeito a voz. É um álbum bastante datado pela sonoridade, mas isto só confere carácter ao álbum. A minha nota irá refletir o quanto apreciei o álbum e a sua qualidade, tendo em conta que todo o álbum foi toda uma amalgama de magia doa anos 70 que é bom de se ouvir, mas não sei se sairia do meu caminho para ouvir. Nota: 7/10 03/06/2024
me like it | sounds newer than it is! great :)
Not as good as Aja, Pretzel Logic or Can’t Buy a Thrill, but still a solid album. This album is tight, laboratory clean, antiseptic, jazz rock. Every song is good (Razor boy just okay). Bodishava is fun, upbeat. Boston Rag has a chefs kiss hook abd great breakdown. Show is Kids is a hit. My Old School has a chorus that makes nostalgia beat through my heart. King of the World is almost pedantic and sounds proto Phish. Good listen, their other albums better be later on the list.
Track 1: "Is this the Allman Brothers or Steely Dan? Ah, yes Steely Dan there it is." Show me the sparkle of yer 'gina. I think I've listened to this album once, maybe twice before. Really digging track two, loving this weird Hawaiian slide guitar? Powerful start to track 3. I think Donald Fagen has some of the most easily-recognizable vocal stylings of all time. I was thinking the instrumentation feels a bit more straightforward (or at least less wild) than other albums and then read that this was the only album Steely Dan wrote for a live band. This is an absolutely delightful sunny day album. Could definitely play rock bocce with a beer in hand while grooving to this. It doesn't quite stand up to other Steely albums, but who gives a shit? I'm grooving in Guillaume's old chair and having a great afternoon.
Great album. I wasn't familiar with all the tunes, but it was solid, top to bottom.
Really enjoyed this album. Interesting to read this album was didnt sell well but was loved by critics; I love me some Steely Dan, but this is more Solid than Spectacular, 4 stars with My Old School being the standout
Liked this much more than I expected, I didn't realize what a smooth sound these guys have, much less abrasive then I expected. Goes to show you don't know what you think you do sometimes. Might return to it again in the future.
Not afraid to say that I love Steely Dan. This was no Aja but damn did it still jam. "My Old School," was the standout for me on this one. I'm not gonna lie I'm writing 10 reviews at once for albums I listened to over the past week, so all I'm going to say is Steely Dan rules and fuck the haters.
Auf die Gefahr hin das dritte Album schon wieder etwas zu tief zu bewerten, wollte ich hart sein und doch wieder Abstand zur Konzession nehmen. Denn „Aja“ driftet immer mal wieder auf meiner Oberfläche; ob‘s dieser erneut muckerige „Countdown to Ecstasy“ vermag, bezweifle ich beim Ersthören. Aber ich glaube, dass mich 1001 auf eine scheue Art zum lebenslangen Fan dieser lustigen Dödel gemacht hat. Bonus Punkt: sehe Super Furry Animals’ B-Seite „The man don’t give a fuck“ verkifft durch „Show Biz Kids“ hindurch grinsen. Und wer mit „King of the World“ ein Album abschließt, hat was drauf. Still growin‘ 4.3
Steely Dan is cool and I love 'em. Don't often choose to put 'em on, but am always delighted when I hear 'em. This album was a very chill listen and the end of a stressful day and will definitely be going into my rotation. I also like the face of the guy in the bottom right corner.
This is pretty good and clearly Steely Dan but lacks a bit of standout hit. Would probably grown on me but as is, probably more elevator music. Listened again, it’s pretty darn solid if not amazing. Could see how it’s got staying power
Bodhisttava is hands down the best track on this album. It’s a lot of fun- feel good album. Not heard this album before but know the big steely Dan tracks. Good fun
Pretty great. Definitely some hidden gems on this album.
Nice as
Why was this album so fun? Steely Dan rules so hard
Good album
Твёрдое четыре с плюсом:)
Some very cool tracks on here, all of them well crafted.
I had fun with this album.
'Bodhisattva' by itself is enough to give this album 3 stars, but the rest of the album was really enjoyable, too. I definitely prefer this album to 'Can't Buy a Thrill'
Ok, no can’t buy a thrill
Good outing. Steely Dan’s vibe is perfect for a Friday.
You got the Dan man?
Great, clean, sparkly fun.
It was really good. The guitar riffs were excellent - a classic rock album in every respect.
i like steely dan they show a nice mix of styles that you dont see anywhere else, only lacking a real 'hit'
Groovy, rock/pop, varierende, lækre hooks, Chicago-vibes
Really liked this jazza rock album. Fav track is probably King of the World
A classic. Great jazz notes and they nailed down the lead singer (Donald Fagen) in this album. Really dig it.
More I hear of this band the more I love. Yacht rock on warm spring days by the beach... perfecto!
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
Enjoyable music with multiple influences. Just somehow never quite makes the breakthrough into 'greatness'.
Meh..its okay
Pretty much repeat the last Steely Dan review I did: Feels like one I'm supposed to like. It was ok.
Nothing really stood out but it was overall just a really consistent and groovy listen. Steely Dan fucks.
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.
more neutered boat music from steely dan.
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
Not a particularly interesting Steely Dan album, but at least I know where the Super Furry Animals song came from now⭐⭐⭐
3.1 2x
Sorry I didn’t love this more, Dad!
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
Probably my least favorite SD album. But it's still SD so 3/5 it is
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
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
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.
oli oikeen hyvä ajelulevy!
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
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.
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...?
Who doesn't like Steely Dan. Solid album. Three stars
Ouais sympa mais pas marquant
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.
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
Alright, plus Sam liked it
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.
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.
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 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
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”
Was chill to listen to, would probably listen again.
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.
I would give it 2,5 if I could. It is not bad, just too slow for me
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 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
Not bad.
At worst it was good, but it was fun throughout.
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.
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.
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
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
Kind of boring compared to other I've heard from Steely Dan. Still easy listening. Your Gold Teeth stood out. 2.5/5
Not my favorite steely dan, but a good steely dan nonetheless
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.
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
mid
Fand ich nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht gut, Bertholt Brecht, ein alter Hut
3.5*
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
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.