Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Very catchy I had a good time with this one but it’s very much not an album that forces me to pay attention
It's good this, because of course it is, it's Steely Dan. But it, in the words of the guy in The Inbetweeners, is probably a little too jazzy. They do hover on the line between genius and annoying quite a lot, and on this particular effort, they might occasionally come down on the latter. Still, there's plenty of bops in here, and it rushes along well.
vampire rats who have been feeding off other vampire rats for centuries with no fresh blood try instead to feed off vampire squirrels who have been doing the same. results no better than expected.
They can’t keep getting away with this
So solid and just so jazzy. Doesn’t overstay its welcome and just delivers great music with some catchy hooks but never gets boring.
A smooth, stylish, and bumping record. The guitar riffs here were stylish as hell. Favourite Track(s): Bodhisattva, The Boston Rag, My Old School, King Of The World Least Favourite Track(s): Razor Boy
Mmmm yeah I like this pretty well! Steely Dan still doesn't quite reach 5 territory, but I do enjoy the energetic vibe of a lot of this. Particularly the beginning, but still strong throughout.
Another slam dunk from the Dan. This one's a bit more rooted purely in 70s guitar pop than the more 30s-jazz-inspired sound of Pretzel Logic or the exquisite fusion arrangements of Aja, but no less awesome for it. Bodhisattva, The Boston Rag, Your Gold Teeth, and more are all-time bops!
I really wanted to give this album a 5 due to how many times I went back to it throughout the day. But I think 90% of that was just wanting to listen to Bodhisattva and Your Gold Teeth a bunch of times. Idk. It’s still really good. Really fun album with some awesome jams. Giving it a tentative 4. Edit two weeks later: these songs have entered my brain and have no plans on leaving. IT’S A 5
Steely Dan brings the heat once again! The peaks are certainly higher than Pretzel Logic, but I can't say I vibed with it quite as much on first listen. I will say that the instrumentation is so friggin' tight here, at times to the level of Aja but with less jazz influence. Your Gold Teeth blew me away. Maybe I'll warm up to it in a few listens -- I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Bodhisattva starts randomly popping into my head in the coming week, much like many a Steely Dan song has in the past. Edit: I have fully warmed up to it. This is a great album with a face-melting 3-track run in the middle. Ecstasy achieved Standouts: Your Gold Teeth • Show Biz Kids • My Old School
Fuck it's so good. Not a wasted second on here. Love when an artist is able to mix it up song by song but still keep a consistent sound. Yeahhhhh
I just don’t get it.
Fun fusiony dan, I forgot they sounded like this for a bit lol
It gave me a bit of a nostalgia kick from the Rock Band 2 days of youth. Started strong and ended strong. Not an album I’ll come back to again and again but something to throw on every once in a while depending on the mood.
Alright, this is the second Steely Dan record, both in the context of albums released by the group and on my album journey. I was already familiar with the opening track, "Bodhisattva," with its borderline bebop, uptempo vamping, and freestyle guitar soloing that made for quite the challenge in the video game Rock Band 2. Now, does the rest of Countdown to Ecstasy stack up? Well, after that initial high, the album drops into the more laid-back, mid-tempo, easy-listening jazz-rock affair that is standard for this group. It's not bad by any means, as Walter Becker and Donald Fagen lyrically explore themes of class struggle and drug abuse. There's some impressive guitar playing on cuts like "The Boston Rag" and "Show Biz Kids", and the momentum eventually picks back up toward the end between the upbeat prominent horns over the misadventure in "My Old School" and the more funk-influenced post-apocalyptic hellscape of "King of the World." But man, there are some sonic lulls in the middle of the record, particularly in "Razor Boy" and "Your Gold Teeth", that end up dragging down the pace, which is a shame, as these arrangements are otherwise well-arranged and produced. Perhaps a restructuring of the track list would have benefited the listening experience. Otherwise, I consider Countdown to Ecstasy to be another solid record from Steely Dan. It's a largely agreeable listen that sounds well-polished with enough engaging musical ideas to make it worthwhile.
You can start to see the evolution of their early work into something better in this one, but it's just not quite there yet. "Countdown to Ecstasy" is a fitting name for something that will eventually lead into the perfection that is their album "Aja"
Steely Dan is weird. After Aja, I don't think I needed to hear any more Steely Dan.
I haven't listened to this album in many years, it's as good as I remember.
Ok
First time knowingly hearing a Steely Dan song - let alone album. It’s clear the band knows their instruments and how to craft songs - there are number of bright spots with enjoyable guitar riffs and solos. But something about it just doesn’t work. Boring, uninteresting, forgettable. In fact I didn’t realize it had started over. Despite the tightness and riffs, I just don’t see myself ever listening to it again. 2/5
Like most Steely Dan albums it was OK
Has a couple of great songs on it. Not my favorite by them.
Some decent guitar work throughout, filled with some whatever
I absolutely loathe this band. So awful.
Still not my thing, sorry
Very impressed by Steely Dan now that I'm in my late 30s. This album started a bit slow, but finishes quite strong. Rounding down from a 3.5 star rating.
Very good
I've evolved to 'I think I understand Steely Dan now' status!
Love some Steely Dan. Easy enough to listen to and certainly worth a revisit
Steely Dan never released a bad album during their entire career. While this one is not quite as good as their debut album, it still is a perfect album..
Jazzy, poppy, uptempo rock n roll. Like that it takes the piss out of hippies trying to find themselves in India. But doubt I'm gonna come back to it.
supermarket music
Steely Dan has a smooth sound. This is a beautiful album and they sought perfection by doing everything themselves in the studio, eventually. It came out just like they wanted it, tight and smooth. That said, for people who like a rougher sounds, like me, it loses some appeal.
Good
Ça m’a pris un temps avant d’apprécier Steely Dan. Genre d’album que j’écoute le soir sur ma Thorens au sous-sol quand China dort au premier étage. Bons musiciens.
1ere écoute le matin en déjeunant, j'étais pas sûr, je trouvais ça plutôt convenu. Faut dire que le brouhaha matinal est peut-être pas un contexte idéal. Après, dans la cx-90 deluxe de courtoisie avec le système surround, j'ai trouvé ça génial. Les petits riffs jazz dans Your Gold Teeth par exemple, wow!
Bien aimé ça! Je connais steely dan de reputation seulement. Mais c’etait agréable, réfléchi, entraînant. Peut pas croire que félix aie traité ça de generic rock!
70er Rock im für die Zeit typischen Sound. Keine Highlights, die mich beim ersten hören mitgenommen haben. 3/5
Sorry - doesn't belong. Sounds like a quintessential sophomore slump. They spent 7 or so years working up the songs that became Can't Buy a Thrill. Then they had, what? 12 months to write another album's worth of material? Couldn't do it. Show Biz Kids is decent and My Old School is OK. Everything else just flows by unremarkably like tree branches in a river. And without great songs, their sound comes across as pretentious and self-indulgent. Two songs - two stars.
My dad loved listening to this one with me.
Where Steely Dan's debut album *Can't Buy A Thrill* saw the band in the process of trying to define themselves (with sometimes awkward results), by the time of their sophomore effort *Countdown* the band had found their essence, infusing their solid pop/rock songs with sophisticated chord progressions that consistently gave the songs direction and emotional pull. Donald Fagen, by now the band's sole lead vocalist, delivers the vivid, precise and occasionally caustic lyrics (co-written with Walter Becker) with confidence and personality. In addition, the production on this album is clear and uncluttered, the arrangements are perfectly tailored to the songs and the playing is expert (especially the guitar solos, which consistently have drive and direction, propelling the songs forward). All of these elements add up to an album that is not only one of the best in the band's catalog but also in terms of 70s rock in general.
I couldn’t even with this one. I’ll take it over Kid Rock I suppose, so I’ll round up to 2.
I feel like steely Dan is the nerdy side of the coin to whatever genre they share with the cool guys over at zz top. That's not an indictment it's just the feeling I've got.
It's ok.
Love it.
Jazzy Steely. It didn’t get me anywhere near ecstasy. This was a letdown compared to the last Steely Dan album I reviewed.
4 - great album. My old school has one of the greatest guitar solos ever
Not my favorite Steely Dan album but even bad Steely Dan is better than most everything else.
Slickly produced, enjoyable enough, but with nothing that grabs me emotionally.
Might be a dude take but Steely Dan is good. Feel like this one is a half step down from Can't Buy a Thrill but step towards the greatness that is to come in the next few albums.
I like Steely Dan. I don’t love them and I think the later work is better
Love the guitar work on these Steely Dan records. Such a fantastic display of mastery and expression. They are so smooth and fluid. As a (poor) guitar player this music kind of astounds me. None of it had me really feeling totally 'in the groove' so this stays at a 4 for me, but I can see why it would be a 5 for many.
70’s
70’s smooth rock
There are a couple decent songs and over all the music is pleasant enough. It just doesn't do much that I find very interesting.
such agonizing ecstasy
Not impressed. Early prog rock, which means we're gonna try to be jazz folks but we don't have the credentials to actually be jazz folks. It all descends into musical masturbation. Let's cut it out and quit being pretentious. My Rating: 1/5 joints
Pretty pretty good
Another pleasant album by Steely Dan, but unfortunately I cant remember a single song! 3 ⭐️
I was able to review Steely Dan's "countdown to ecstasy" via equipment permitting Hi-Resolution listening as opposed to the vinyl album, which I remember listening to in the 1970s. The Hi-Resolution used in this review was excellent.
Good album.
Perfect hence a bit dull
I could remember not liking the previous Steely Dan album I listened to, but couldn't remember the style of music. And that's the problem I have with them; what is it? It's like they dip a toe into jazz, a toe into prog, a toe into swing, and throw in some nods to the Beatles without doing any of those things justice. The result sounds like show tunes from a show I don't want to see. Don't give me this watered down, commercialized shit - give me the full fat albums that inspired it.
I enjoy Steely Dan enough, but liked this album a bit less that the global distribution shows. Maybe I got this on an off day and didn’t allow a deep enough listen. 2.75/5
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Boston Rag The Boston Rag was a great song. Otherwise, I continue to be not impressed with Steely Dan. This is my third Steely Dan album on the List and they are just okay. I can listen to them, I don't feel the need to turn them off or change the track or switch to another artist, but I just can't bring myself to give them anything other than "yea this exists". It's perfectly cromulent.
You know it is a great day when you log in, click on the link for '1,001..." and you have a Steely Dan album waiting for you! I approach it like opening a good bottle of bourbon - you take a minute to savor it with anticipation!. An awesome sophomore effort. Not the Golden Gem of 'Aja" (one of my top 5 albums all time) but a sold listen. #699
fuckin awesome
Solid Dan. Still not as good and later stage, this is an enjoyable album. 4/5
all steely dan is great, but this was just a mid one for me
God Steely Dan. I think this is my last dalliance with them this project. I started it with them. They’re delightful every time. And this album is no exception. It’s funny, tight, great. Again it’s sort of like all their albums where some of the tracks just fade into the background.
Steve Albini was right.
Interesting, cool album Standout songs: Your Gold Teeth My Old School
Steely Dan... it's been a while. Steely Dan is one of those "love 'em or hate 'em" bands in music discourse. Me? I love them. Obviously Aja and Can't Buy a Thrill are classics, but Countdown to Ecstasy turned out to be quite enjoyable as well! I really liked this one! Between the two aforementioned classics, it's definitely more comparable to Can't Buy a Thrill, which makes sense seeing as this was released just a year after it. I can't say it's as good as Thrill, but it's actually a somewhat close. Fagen and Becker were still going quite strong at this point. You've got some all-time great songs on here. "Bodhisattva" is a fun opener that has a fun trivia piece to it regarding its appearance in the Rock Band 2 video game. Because of how it was charted, the song was thought to be impossible to FC (hit every note) in other games like Clone Hero for the longest time, before finally being FCed by Acai in 2022. That probably doesn't make sense to anyone other than me, but it's an interesting thing to know. "My Old School" is awesome. It's one of those songs that encapsulates early Steely Dan in such a way that paints a really good picture. The lyrical themes are interesting, the instrumentation and production are as spectacular as ever, and the pacing is quite good. Countdown to Ecstasy is another strong Steely Dan album. What can I say? I like this band. 4/5.
70s rock. Pleasant, jazz elements.
perfect songs, perfect plaatje.. maar perfectie is per definitie saai
Nice album
Here's an album that I really counted out since I love Aja and The Royal Scam. Still a solid album, but I wouldn't put it on the top tier of stuff from Iron Daniel
Love the Dan. Aja takes the cake for me, but Countdown to Ecstasy is awesome.
More Steely Dan?! How? Why? I could’ve gone my whole life without listening to a single song and now I’ve listened to three albums of this boring drivel. There are very few artists who have produced enough great music to feature multiple times on a list like this and Steely fucking Dan certainly ain’t one of them.
Some great musicianship, but it's all so utterly pointless. I can't fathom anyone being moved or excited by these songs.
Its enjoyable stuff. No more than enjoyable but not bad.
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🥴🎨❇️ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎼🌟😶 Rating: 🐵🐵🐵(🐵)/5
bit boring
They're not a great listen. Four is excessive. At least they're done now. I'm too young and too female - this is proper grandad rock. Best of the Steely Dan albums I've had though. It's was short and felt a bit more varied than the others. They're not bad musicians, they're consistent. I just find them consistently dull.
Awful
I wasn't really familiar with Steely Dan, and it was nice listening to their album “Countdown To Ecstasy” because it's an exciting mix of pop rock, hard rock, jazz, and blues. I like the jazzy sounds and arrangements on “Bodhisattva” and “My Old School,” but also the very clear and catchy vocals on “Razor Boy” and the rougher-sounding “The Boston Rag.” This is exactly the kind of music I was expecting when I signed up for the daily album challenge. It won't be my favorite album going forward, but it's a very nice discovery.
I genuinely don’t know why this album here. Yes, Countdown to Ecstasy is a good album for sure, but it is absolutely not a must listen. Almost any other Steely Dan album is better then this one, but that’s not because this album it’s just because almost all their other albums are better. Anyways, this album is just good, not great. Favorite Track: Razor Boy Worst Track: Show Biz Kids
1. Bodhisattva - 7 It's a decent track. It's a fun kind of swinging/swingers kind of rock. The drum paces the song well and the lyrics are alright if not slightly on the more repetitive side. Still the piano does so well as a compliment to the track and the rock solos are simple but effective. 2. Razor Boy - 3 Elevator music. 3. The Boston Rag - 5 Reminds me almost of The Band. It's a decent song with some fun guitars in it. Nothing else really stands out as remarkable or memorable about the track. 4. Your Gold Teeth - 3 It's very random and instrumentally it's a lot like elevator music again. 5. Show Biz Kids - 7 The lyrics can be very repetitive at times but the instruments are given so much space to play it doesn't really ruin the track. Speaking of the instruments, the lead guitar is absolutely fantastic on this track. There are some absolutely excellent solos. Brilliant sound. 6. My Old School - 6 Lot of a good fun on this track. Lyrcially it's the best thing on the album but the loud guitars from Show Biz Kids have been left behind for a lot more brass and swing. There are some great guitar solos as well on this track but a mit more muted. Overall it's a decent track. 7. Pearl of the Quarter - 5 Decent track. Nothing phenomenal about it but it's well written and enjoyable none the less. 8. King of the World - 5 Another decent track. Guitar play on it is nice and it reminds me of a more mellow track from Jimi Hendrix. Still it's okay. Average Rating: 5.13 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.56 Rounded Up: 3 Stars
Rating: 6/10 Mostly meh but a few highlights carry this album.
10/20/25. I do enjoy Steely Dan so always excited to hear their work. I do think this album is a step down compared to their others, especially Aja, but still some solid tracks on here.
Tredje SD på denna lista. Det är obegripligt. Denna är dock lite bättre än tidigare. Som jag minns det. Inte min kopp te, men det är åtminstone inte värdelöst :)
Tyckte att första halvan puttrade på i klassiskt Steely Dan-manér, men att andra halvan var klart bättre. Om första halvan var en trea så var andra halvan en fyra. Tänkte vara snäll och sätta en fyra i betyg, men inser att jag bara gav Can’t by a thrill - som jag tycker är snäppet bättre - en stark trea (vilket jag ångrar lite idag, borde fått en fyra), så det får bli en stark trea även för denna, för Steely Dan-rättvisans skull.
5/10 Who is this for? No urgency, just background music.
Don't bother counting down, ecstasy is NOT happening!
starts off strong funky hahah > one can hear those 70s "will you still have a song to sing when the razor boy comes and takes your fancy *things away*" ✨️ your gold teeth > alright but not as good as the rest pearl of the quarter > very noiceee
3.5 Some great songs here, nothing as good as anything on Can’t Buy A Thrill. The definition of easy listening.
Another day, another Steely Dan album. I didn’t like Pretzel Logic or Aja, so I was ready to hate this one too but it clicked. It’s got a surprisingly proggy vibe. Maybe it’s time to revisit the others.
Not good
Énorme banger, super découverte que je vais clairement creuser, chaque morceau a sa personnalité avec des instrus incroyables, c'est groovy, chill, un peu rock, on adore. Un peu une vibe entre Sting et Supertramp pour parler de ce que je connais, franchement au top.
C’était sympa
Une ambiance un peu jazzy, un peu funk, un peu rock, un peu pop, un peu expérimentale oh la là j'ai vraiment kiffé. Totalement ma came. Les instruments et le rythme sont impeccables, l'un de mes albums préférés jusqu'ici. Je cours écouter le reste de la discographie! 5/5
I love Steely Dan, not really sure why. They are cheesey but smooth as hell. This is nowhere near their best album but still a great slice of Steely. I had never heard this album but glad to have finally experienced it.
Dirge
I’m late to the game with steely Dan and am always surprised by how much i like them. I expect them to be difficult and dense but their songs are catchy and light. Love this album.
Never got behind Steely Dan - not for me.
Loving Steely Dan rn, it’s been a long time coming…. Listened to Gaucho last week (loved it) and now I loved this one too. So good!
sooooo steely dan is my favourite band...
Not big on Steely Dan, but pretty good background music with some solid moments.
I’m sorry. I still don’t really get Steely Dan. I was surprised to see “jazz” as one of its genres; I guess I appreciated it more by paying attention specifically to the jazzy elements, but even that wasn’t enough to make it click for me. I mean, it’s not bad - I’m just not sure what I’m missing that so many others are charmed by.
I’d heard of this album but never listened to it; was better than expected!
Fine. Nothing magic.
slightly better boomer rock but still boomer rock 3.5/5
I loved their debut album 'Can't Buy a Thrill', giving it 5 stars, so was excited to listen to this one. On first listen, (and maybe it needs more), this was an enjoyable album but didn't hold a candle to the debut, without any tracks which were recognisable classics nor which grabbed my attention as new delights. 6/10
better jazz
"Who the fuck are 'Steely Dan'?" - Eminem, 2001 I get really put off when I feel I'm expected to like something, so friends online talking obsessively about Steely Dan has made me want to avoid them. I expected irritating smugness. There are moments when I think, "god, couldn't this solo be a few bars shorter," but overall I liked it. There are some lovely Neil Young harmonies on The Boston Rag, which might be my favourite song. A few tracks are just a pleasant sound - good production and skilled musicianship - rather than good songs. I was playing spot the reference to some extent. There's the Lady Madonna "see how they run" bit in Your Gold Teeth, for example. I was very surprised to realise Luke Haines had nicked part of My Old School for the chorus of The Auteurs' School.
Pretty nice rock album but not super memorable. Enjoyed it though, especially the keys.
pretty meh compared to their other stuff
Superficially fantastic but lacks the depth and intricacy that give steely dan their legendary status. Makes sense that this is a transition point for them.
Not their strongest record but some good moments. Sue did not enjoy 🤣
All songs are okay, no song really stands out. Do prefer Joe jacksons version of king of the world
Love it. Own it.
So much better than the other Steely Dan album this list had me on. Bodhisattva is a banger, of course. I feel like these guys would be really annoying to have a conversation with, but I enjoyed the music.
Individually, each member of Steely Dan was and is a technically brilliant musician. But together, as a band, they somehow make the shittiest, most boring, most cringeworthy music. Negative 1 million stars.
Slow generic rock album.
Not my favorite Steely Dan - very 70s trippy, mellow, not very exciting
Fun jam band album, lots of good guitar work. Was never much of a Steely Dan fan, but I really enjoyed this one.
This is a good album, has a couple really well made songs. I just never could get into Steely Dan. I guess it too yacht rock for my taste.
I never really wanted to be the kind of guy that was into Steely Dan but yknow what, maybe I am that kind of guy. That was pretty sick. Best song: Pearl of the Quarter
At this point, I am resigned to the fact that I will never 'get' what the deal with Steely Dan is. They just sound like a slightly jazzier version of the average 70's rock band. It's not like their songs are that original or complex. It's not terrible, but... really? Key tracks: Bodhisattva
Jazz rock album very good vibes and clean melodies
Creo que saldrá toda la discografía de Steely Dan (hasta Gaucho). Y eso me congratula.
Het eerste nummer vind ik heel zenuwachtig, maar “razor boy” vind ik dan wel weer heel leuk
Running out of things to say about Steely Dan but I enjoyed this album just as much as the last two!
Apparently the generator has decided to get me into Steely Dan this month. Earlier last month I had Aja, which is peak jazz rock fusion. Yesterday I had Pretzel Logic which felt like they were honing their jazz rock craft. Today is Countdown to Ecstasy that feels more so like they’re flexing their rock chops, but there’s still a bit of jazz here and there throughout. It’s feels a lot more accessible and straight forward than the last two, but still very enjoyable. I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t get Can’t Buy a Thrill tomorrow.
Someone missed their D.A.R.E. Class.
In a nutshell: dad (or granddad) soft rock. I consider Steely Dan to be more of a "Best Of" band. Many of their singles are excellent, the rest of the tracks are just... blah. Layered vocals and harmonies in the chorus, again? A strong riff to open up. Ugh. The mundane format derails my attention from the lyrics, which are usually satirical. It feels like an inside joke I don't get. Good to hear a slide guitar on this album (Razor Boy). Skip this and go straight to Aja. Overall: 3/10
Not my Style, zu jazzig
Not my favorite Steely Dan record. Has some bangers though
I unapologetically like Steely Dan. This album is inventive and has a rock undercurrent that a lot of their stuff lacks. It's less polished than what was to come for the band. Fagan has the voice of someone who confidently sang along to every R&B and Soul record he could find, but not QUITE getting there. I just find it endearing. Becker and Fagan are both great musicians. They explore some interesting sounds and a variety of rhythms on this, it's really satisfying. Good energy and intensity. King of the World is a new favorite, I haven't heard that before.
I’ve always been unenthused by Steely Dan, and this album didn’t change that
Bland.
Un disco que sigue la estela de su debut, con temas de enorme calidad y que constituye uno de los mejores de su discografía a pesar de las reticencias de ellos mismos. Bodhisattva, My old school o The Boston Rag son tremendas. Clásicos suyos y en la radio. Razon Boy y Pearl of the quarter suenan brillantes. Your gold teeth, es descacharrante. King of the world es la que menos me gusta, a pesar de su teclado.
You're killing me, Smalls.
Enough Steely Dan already.
How do you make a sophomore album that's more musically proficient and well produced than your landmark debut and still make it so much more boring. This so graded on a curve. Man do I dislike bands that decide they're too good for their own material.
A great SD album. I especially like Show Biz Kids and the slide guitar tones they got on this one.
Not bad. I like this more straightforward version of Dan than the later 70s stuff
60
Steely Dan is more of a cultural reference than a band that I’m actually familiar with. This album I wasn’t particularly enraptured by, but wasn’t too bothered to listen to it either. It’s very “easy listening “, but lacks annything interesting enough for me to want to dive deeper.
Why was this album so good? I like Steely Dan and I know a lot of people LOVE Steely Dan, but maybe they're better than I assume. I don't understand when people say "I don't understand Steely Dan." I don't think there is anything to get, it's jazz rock mixed with a lil pop. I think you just like it or don't, not that there's something to get or understand it ain't that deep in my opinion. Anyway, album good, put one of the songs on my main playlist.
Pretty good
For the longest time, Steely Dan was a greatest hits band. That is, I did not own any of their albums, but I did have The Definitive Collection. I would tend to skip over "Bodhisattva" and "My Old School" to get to songs I liked better. However, at some point I did acquire most of Steely Dan's albums. I would put Countdown To Ecstasy in the second or third tier of Steely Dan's discography (assuming Aja is top tier). And, I have to say, "Bodhisattva" and "My Old School" have grown on me too. As has "The Boston Rag," "Your Gold Teeth" and "Show Biz Kids."
i do this bit (that's only funny to me, but why do anything in our fleeting lives if not for the love of the game?) where i say i get steely dan and tom petty and huey lewis mixed up - they're all pretty much the same guy to me. after listening to this album, i can see how i could really piss people off saying that, so i think i'm going to keep doing it. highlights - bodhisattva, razor boy, the boston rag, show biz kids, my old school
Not unpleasant, touches of jazz and blues in a few tracks. Didn’t really rock my world though
I like some of Steely Dans songs but never get all of the hype.
As one half of pioneering UK rock band, Houmous & Chutney I really appreciate what Steely Dan try to do. 4.4 1/8 Boddishatva
tuned out
About two years ago, I realized I actually liked Steely Dan and I launched into their discography. Countdown to Ecstasy has never been high in my personal ranking, but listening to as part of this list has been a chance to reevaluate it. Certain things I found annoying on previous listens ("Bodhisattva", "Show Biz Kids") aren't as irksome this time around, and in fact, I now have a real appreciation for the musicianship. Steely Dan aren't as willing to please on Countdown To Ecstasy; there's a bit more experimentation and some more challenging compositions, which is nice, but occasionally takes me out of the music. I do appreciate the extended jams, though.
Some clear jazz and reggae/funk elements which make it a bit unique and the music is very solid. Becker on the guitar is awesome, which is what stands out the most for me. I am not familiar with Steely Dan and they kinda feel like the Coldplay of the 70's: huge following but meme'd on by everyone else. I've read a lot of opinions from Steely Dan fans on why they love this band, and I can hear both sides, although it's starting to parallel Rick and Morty fans when they start talking about you need a "higher intellect" to understand Steely Dan. You don't, you just need to get passed the overall bland music to get the points....which is why people often refer to this as "dad rock" or boring. As musicians, they're great; but it just feels out of balance to me. Like it's missing attitude or an edge that forces you into it. Maybe that's soft rock as a genre in general. All this to say that I am acknowledging their talent and that many people love them, and that it isn't for me.
It's no Aja, but still a solid Steely Dan album. My favourites were my Old School and King Of The World. They're quite catchy.
I haven't heard a Steely Dan record I didn't like, and this was no exception. I knew a few of these songs well, and the ones I didn't were just another garment cut from the sale wonderful cloth of Steely Dan. Great melodies, awesome harmonies, impeccable playing and writing, and just perfectly recorded and mixed. I have nothing negative to say about this album and I listened to it twice. Five stars.
It's not my favorite of their albums but not bad. Distinctly Steely Dan, you know it when you hear it. Just not as deep of an album a lot of the songs are really similar which is maybe not bad for everyone. I guess I am spoiled by their other work. Not bad, just not my favorite.
Got pretty boring but there was some fun stuff here,
One of the better Steely Dan albums in my opinion. It has some grit, which seems to be lacking from a lot of their stuff. Plus, My Old School has one of the all time great guitar solos on it. The album is a testament to what is possible with good songs, excellent musicians and impeccable production,
only realized i finished when the boston song came back around
slaps. close to a 4 4 me Fav song: Pearl of the Quarter
Ok
Preferred this to Aja overall. A few songs genuinely stood out, but while Aja was flawless a few songs near the start held this one back. Fav Tracks: Bodhisattva and King of the World 7.1/10
Nope
4+ for lyrics, 2.5 for music.
ok eendlich steely dan. das album het chli ziit brucht. find s cover huere grusig aber au huuuere geil. s het sooo viel banger. wer isch d kathy barbarian? glaub wege bodhisattva bini am afang nöd i das album inecho. weeeirde afang. afoch e 50er johr surfrock ding irgendwie mit de claps. razor boy liiiiebi. countrigste steely dan track glaub mit de pedal steel. das solo isch sooo guet. und d melodiiie. boston rag isch gebau de früe steely dan sound und s isch funky irgendwie d harmony vocals sind de hammer und de breakdown slappt extreeem. your gold teeth rieeese banger krassi klaviersoli und geile text und suuuper schöni melodie ui wenn sie seged tobacco they grow kn pekiiiiing. wer isch d kathy barbarian? show biz kids isch glaub es sehr früehs "fuck" imne rocksong? de las vegas/lost wages joke isch vo irgendme komiker da hends afoch funny gfunde. finds suuuper. i detect the el supremo. weli band cha so e line droppe echt. ich lieb my old school. d soli fuck. d hornparts. OLEAAAANDERS. fuck. pearl of the quarter vilicht de schwächst ufem album und trotzdem uuuuuhuere schön. pedal steel back und git DURE. king of the world isch im gheime vilicht de besti steely dan song. so andersch als die andere irgendwie. de gitarre part am afang. d bass chords, wie de gsang huere viel slapback het. de fagen singt suuuper. no marigolds in the promisedland, denn die zweit stimm nimmt mich jedesmol. zweiti strophe mit de gitarre links wo am gsang antwortet. de refrain isch sooo e wand. s synth solo huuuere geil irgendwie chli g funk? und de moment nocher wo de delay ufegschrubt wird bis zum volle feedback und denn die dritt strophe chunt und alles wieder fokussiert isch sooo geil. weli band cha susch so en song über e atomapokalypse schribe, s ernst meine aber doch mitme zwinkere? ich bin en riese fanboy.
STÄHLERNER DANIEL wow bodhisvatta git schomal gäse han am ahfang iwie kein starche emotionale bezug gha aber de SCHLUSS razor boy findi s xylophon (?) super hahaha aber chli sehr langsam s gliche hilt für boston rag ABER S SOLO MMMHHH omg stimmt s luca-whatsapp-status-lied! fantastischs piano, het gad s lied sooo guet gmacht ah und s cover isch suuuper UND JZ GITARRE PIANO ABWECHSLIGSWIIS WOW und de schluss iach hoootttt, drums nomal am durregeh d schnurregiige bi show biz kids nöd so nötig aber allgemein find ich s instrumentale eig spannender als de gsang (au wenner guet singt) joo seehr cools album, d soli sind uhuere guet, leider ischs für min persönliche gschmack mengisch zu ruhig gsi
Great musicians. Good vibe, though I didn't love jam bands.
Too much jazz
Instrumentals were awesome and I really grooved with them pretty hard. I don't love the vocal style so much which probably bumps it from a 5 to a 4 for me.
This is great. Maybe not my favorite Steely Dan record, but I still really enjoyed it. I love the weirdness of the guitars and keys, the silliness of the lyrics. But then also the seriousness of some of the lyrics? The vocals for Steely Dan are always kind of hard for me to get into. They kind of do this Crosby, Stills and Nash harmonizing thing that kind of takes me out of the groove behind it. The groove is what draws me in, the vocals are what cause me to pause. Either way, I had a blast listening to this today.
ugh
Pretty distinct sound.
An absolute stunning album when listening in the right state of mind for some Steely magic.
Classic rock, a bit jazzy. Easy listening
The ultimate acquired taste band. This is a satisfyingly good album when you get into it
Great background music.
Good fun
I felt like King Of The World after I listened to this.
I can sense these musicians have the talent to produce a great album, I'm gonna need to listen to more of their discography. Update. Yeah they produced some great music.
Clearly excellent musicians but it lacks any great numbers - all countdown no ecstasy for me!! Would make nice lift music..
Steely Dan is a band I could just never get into. I tried. I really did. Years ago I worked at a restaurant/bar where our chef loved Steely Dan - he played them every night. And still, it never clicked for me. That’s not to say they aren’t talented - far from it! Their musicianship and songwriting are undeniable, and I know they’ve had their share of hits. But for me, it never went beyond casual recognition. Countdown to Ecstasy, their second album, is often praised by fans for being looser and more jam-oriented than their debut, but I find myself listening and still feeling like it just isn’t my thing. For some people, this is sophisticated, jazz-tinged rock at its finest. For me, it’s music I respect more than I enjoy.
A pleasure to listen to the complete album, not just the (big) hits.
Okay album with nice riffs. Kinda unremarkable soft rock. 6/10
Way more fun and jazz than i expected from a rock album, which is awesome. Favorites: Your Gold Teeth and My Old School. 8/10, 4 stars
Sounds like Steely Dan, alright! Pretty groovy and chill but nothing particularly notable.
Apparently Yacht Rock is my thing …. Who knew? Steely Dan is not just another fun name grabbed from scifi books …
It’s ok. Has a few moments but not enough to keep me liking it all that much. Just ok.
Pretty good - for elevator music.
Easy to listen to in the background. Dont mind doing chores to this one
Just too bland for me.
bem divertido
This was good. As I expected.
weird vibe, no likey
different than i though. jazzy
I liked this better than Pretzel Logic, but I’d still never choose to throw this on the stereo. The definition of bland.
Inte något som jag hade hittat och lyssnat på själv!
No está mal, pero...
Very good album from a classic
If steely dan tried to be more bland
A mentor of mine a long time ago told me his favorite band was Steely Dan and I laughed out loud. As I’m getting older I realize that I really like Steely Dan now. There is a subtleness to them that requires maturity. While not my favorite album by them, it’s hard not to appreciate their technical abilities and album production.
No no no. Repetetive rubbish.
Decent album
Tight. Jazz. Rock. …which I prefer over country rock. Plus, a shout out to Virginia’s own William & Mary University, in “My Old School.” 👍🏻
Steely Dan always reminds me that I should and could know more about jazz, and if I did, I would probably enjoy life and music more fully. Then "Reelin In the Years" hits and I completely give up on jazz all over again. Really solid album.
I'm not sure what this sort of rock is called, but I really vibe with it. Show Biz Kids was mind-numbingly repetitive but the rest of the album makes up for it.
Good vibes
Great to relisten to an old fave
Steely Dan is an artist to which i need no introduction, having listened to multiple albums already, such as the Royal Dcam and Aja. However, countdown to ecstasy is a new experience, as it was one that i hadn't got round to. I will say however that it lives up to the standard set by their later works, whether it be the catchy refrain of Bodhisattva, the jazzy and comforting instrumentation of Razor Boy, despite talking about losing everything, or the sunset vibe that comes across on Pearl of the Quarter and its story of seemingly unrequited love (Do note that the normal streaming version is slightly higher pitched, but you can find the original on sites like YouTube). The drumming throughout the album is also impeccably tight, and deserves a mention by itself. Its only downside is the fact that it never got a major radio single, and as such, isnt nearly as recognizable as Aja, Pretzel Logic, or Can't Buy a Thrill. Otherwise, it is very much worth the listen.
Really good, didn't stay with me the next day. I've always felt like most of Steely Dan's fans are other musicians. I usually write a lot more but there's not a lot that needs to be said that hasn't already been. I will say that there are some interesting melodic things that made me think of poppier 80s rock bands, like Huey Lewis but it's hard to put my finger on. Steely Dan deserves the rep for being more complicated than that, though. I'm going to say 4/5; this was pleasant and utterly skillful, but I'm probably not going to go back to it on purpose again (or maybe even remember the name of the album). It'd be 3.5 if it were possible. I respected this more than I enjoyed it.
Steam powered dildo
I may not like Steely Dan all that much. It wasn’t awful, and I can see how it got on the list, so I can’t punish it too much. I can’t give it more than three stars, either. It’s just… music that exists.
Second Steely Dan album I encounter on this list, and I’m starting to develop a violent allergy to this band. I truly don’t get the hype. It’s bland, generic and boring. It’s not even dad rock, it’s the musical equivalent of dining on a glass of water and a slice of white bread. People seem to praise their special blend of rock and jazz, but I love rock and jazz, and I only found residual traces of them in this album. Even more than the music, I find the affected, upbeat singing absolutely excruciating. I felt like I was trapped in an endless mall where every shop was exactly the same, full of automatons with painted smiles trying to sell me canned happyness. If that’s "ecstasy", please give me torture. Ok, I’ll admit the album as a whole wasn’t as terrible as Aja. "Boston Rag" was kind of ok, and "Show Biz Kids" had an almost psychedelic vibe for a minute or two. But it was really not enough for me to suffer through so much triteness. I’ll give it 2* because it’s probably objectively a bit better than I make it sound. It’s just too far removed from what I consider exciting music. I find it terribly depressing that there are no less than FOUR (4 !) Steely Dan albums on this list, while a lot of amazing artists don’t even get one.
Good and chill. I didn't realize how jazzy steely dan was, all I heard were the hits.
Steely Dan was one of the bands I heard on the radio as a kid and really liked. The first 7 Dan albums and the Nightfly by Fagen are on my required listening list. I find their music to be outstanding. The musicianship and songwriting is superb. Bodhisattva is a jam, find a live version from '74 and you'll hear what I mean. Always 5 stars from me.
point7.
Dad rock mixed with elevator music
Enjoyable.
I forgot how cool jazz chords sound when you sneak them into rock! A smooth cruise through some funky, brainy jams. Very into it. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Bodhisattva - Show Biz Kids - My Old School - King Of The World
Good songs
Un si total, por fuera de mi comfort. Nota: 3.0
Technical but lacks any grip into my emotions.
Day569 - other than my old school i just couldn’t get into the songs. i love the instruments and the sound just not lyrics
Yeah, whatever, not bad.
They lost me with the last 3 songs, but I liked this more than I expected considering there are no hits on it.
Album 844 of 1089 Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) Rating : 4 / 5 I’ve always enjoyed Steely Dan’s music, though sometimes I feel like I need to defend that appreciation. There are plenty of takes out there calling them inauthentic, overly polished, or just "yacht rock" filler—but I don’t think I’m missing anything. This is a band that’s created some of my all-time favorite tracks, period. As for this particular album, it might be fair to call it a bit of a sophomore slump, but not in any dramatic way. It features two of my favorite Steely Dan songs—"Bodhisattva" and "My Old School"—which makes it more than worth the listen. The rest of the album may not hit quite as hard for me, but I suspect that has more to do with familiarity. Some tracks just take time. Even if this one doesn’t top their catalog for me, it’s still a very solid record from a band that knows exactly what they’re doing. I’d absolutely recommend it.
Show biz kids was a cool song
I dug it! The Steely Dan fandom makes way more sense to me after having listened.
not their best
88% Best: Bodhisattva; Your Gold Tooth; Show Biz Kids; King Of The World Must-Hear? Sure
Ok. Now we’re talking. Second album from these guys. Every track is good. Your Gold Teeth has a great guitar solo. Can’t wait to relisten.
Some CSNY vibes in some of the choruses here (The Boston Rag, King of the World) Also lol to the lyric in “Pearl of the Quarter” that says “voulez-voulez-voulez-vous”, because this lacks a verb or noun to make it make any kind of sense
I love noodling
This is early dan or nearly dan. Some good songs but all their best work on later albums. Signature steely dan lyrics and keyboard and piano flourishes but this is missing something. Still an enjoyable listen but chronologically there are better albums from becker and fagen to come.
Steely Dan is everything a rock band should be. This album does not disappoint (bonus points that it's less than 45min long, haha).
It was okay definitely dad rock ...
Great listen! I really liked Show Biz Kids.
I’m continually learning that Steely Dan is just not for me. It’s something to put on in the background of a bar but not something I’d choose to listen to of my own accord. 2/5
cansadão hein galera claramente tava numa vibe meio jazz mas não sabia aplicar isso direito
ROCK PARA PAPAIS QUE GOSTAM UM POUCO DE JAZZ MAS NAO MUITO meia boca! algumas dão vontade de PEGAR UMA CERVEJA E IR ASSISTIR UM JOGO DE BASEBALL COM O FILHÃO. outras dão sono.
never really listened to this one. i recall hearing The Boston Rag many times via my dad drumming to it all the time tho Bodhisattva - 5/5 Razor Boy - 4/5 The Boston Rag - 5/5 Your Gold Teeth - 4/5 Show Biz Kids - 5/5 My Old School - 5/5 Pearl of the Quarter - 5/5 King of the World - 5/5 Average score: 4.7/5 okay my dad's got impeccable taste. i think this this the highest rating i've given an album so far too, crazy good
Certainly not my favourite 'Dan album, but still goes okay. Mid 2s.
Soft rock that you would hear in the background of erectile disfunction commercials. Both things seem to go together.
Ok, first listen, it was nice. Tight arrangements that sound loose, great guitar work and it had that jazzy, "jamming with mates" sound. Then I listened while reading the lyrics and I got it. These guy's aren't into feelings, they are clever and a little mean. I bet Zappa bought this album. Great musicianship, not taking them selves too seriously and giving lovely smart arse comments on the idiocracy that surrounds them. What's not to like
2/5
It’s fine, not good, not bad. Just fine.
i always get excited whenever steely dan is today's listen. at this point i'm convinced they're the shining examples in the world of classic yacht rock. this album is just more of that slow, sweet goodness i've already familiarized myself with. a mix of jazz, a mix of rock, a mix of blues... everyone gather and rejoice at this band and their virtuosic tunes. steely dan has a certain harmonic chemistry that not a lot of other rock bands share, and this album is just.... mwah mwah mwah mwah it's just so good. it makes you feel good.
Really enjoyed this album. It's kind of rock and funky upbeat with cool guitar solos.
Absolutely amazing guitar work on this album.
Kind of sleazy lyrics set to 70’s soft rock. Loved it!
Decent Seventies rock.
I enjoyed the other steely dan albums but this wasn't it
4/10 - this steely Dan album was fine. It didn’t have anything crazy. One of the synths sounded like the one in Peking o
Been liking steely dan a lot more recently
The thing with Steely Dan is, all their music is competently made by intelligent people who understand music. It's full of pop hooks and some pretty dazzling performances. But here's to the thing; I don't get any emotional response. It's like it's been moulded to perfection, with every nuance, every note played and processed until it's just so. The outcome; music which plods along ina sterile carefree jazz-bop-pop vibe drowning in its own smarmy, pointless existence. It's not terrible music but somehow it is a terrible listening experience.
Countdown to disapointment.
I'm sure that this is perfectly suited to any number of situations and occasions that I hope I never find myself in
Steely Dan are not my thing. Everyone else loves them, but I don't like his voice, and the style of it.
Countdown To A Shrug 🤷 This is the fourth (and hopefully final) Steely Dan album we've had on the 1001 list. It's fine in as far as classic dad rock goes. Middle of the road 2.5 from me.
Good, but not my vibe. 1970s progressive, rock and roll, jazz, latin. I think a bit psychedelic as well. As i say, not my vibe. I dont heard before. Remember me a little neil young as well.
Very groovy rock
Steely Dan is the only yacht rock worth listening to. Not their best tho.
It's not the best Steely Dan, but even a lower-tier Steely Dan is better than most bands.
Kinda fun
Steely Dan is just an offbeat band. Their songs are generally pretty strange when compared to contemporaries. Sure there are songs that I love like Do It Again or Reeling In The Years, but a lot of their stuff is simultaneously interesting yet different enough to keep me intrigued, but not a big fan. This album proved to be no different. Really gifted musicians producing music that seems like it is slightly bent. There were some high points, no doubt. The Boston Rag had some very cool elements, including the way the guitar and piano worked together, the fact that this borderline turned into a march, etc. The closer, King of the World, also has some great guitar work, though the keyboard in the middle is aimless and sounds like something you would hear at Tomorrowland in Disney World. Surprisingly elementary given the what Steely Dan is known for. I really dug My Old School, especially the horn section. Surprised that this song was released as a single and barely charted. This is an excellent tune and happy to have found this one. Yet, the problem with this album is that this song is followed with a song like Pearl of the Quarter (both on the album and as the B side on the single release) which was just a sleepy tune and has little to offer. The guitar work was ok, but this was an instantly forgettable song, much like too many of the others on this record. And that inherently the problem with this collection. It might be technically sound, but few of the songs really grab your attention. I think this is part of the problem with this band and how they are viewed in many circles. They have a clear sound that is often an audiophile’s dream (e.g. the A’ja album), but what gets lost is that the songs aren’t inherently great on a consistent enough of a basis for them to be viewed as highly as they are. In short, they are inflated by people who want to believe they are cool, when all they are is just eccentric. This album is another example of that: an ok album with too many misses to be rated as highly as it is.
Meh it was alright. Not a big fan
3.75
It’s slightly jazzy and proggy, but still has catchy tunes.
Favorite Track: Pearl of the Quarter
More solid dad rock
Love me some Steely Dan, though this one doesn't quite have the level of bangers that their other albums have. The later half is solid though.
Pretty good bit of jazzy rock.
Not listened to this before. Familiar with Aja and really like the prog elements to this album. No big hits but more than made up with by King of the World
It's objectively a lil bop of an album of yacht rock but it kinda dragged for me a lil bit
I listened to this album about 4 times. One of them, I wasn't in a great mold and I couldn't even finish it, which is an indicator that I didn't really like it. This album is a fusion of Rock and Jazz, and it's very noticible as the songs have that feeling of a rock hit while the intrumentation has a jazzy feeling, specially with the fast guitars. The record has also a pretty solid production. It has a sense of comfort, which is nice. With the positive points being said, I'd like to move to what I didn't like: There're some elements that I find tedious, such as the choruses of 'Show Biz Kids'; and the only song that I really liked was the opener 'Bodhisattva'. A very catchy song. The rest is just decent at best in my opinion. Because I'm feeling generous, I'm giving this album 3 stars, even if I didn't get anything of real value out of it.
Bland, anonymous and says nothing.
Showing their stripes early in their career: clean, cutting, and spicy.
'gold teeth' and 'king of the world' are terrific, the rest isn't quite up to steely dan standard. 3
Quick short album, every track was great, saved to library
A technically accomplished album where Steely Dan effortlessly moves across genres like jazz, rock, and funk, without ever losing control. The music is complex yet accessible, and the lyrics are sharp and well-crafted. It’s an album with both edge and depth that grows with each listen. 4/5
Rock and Jazz, huh? Like mixing chamber play and action for a movie. While not directly mutually exclusive, these genres fall short of their potential when mixed.
Fun but not necessarily noteworthy
Not absolutely peak Dans but pretty good Dans, all things considered.
Am I a white, middle aged muso? I mean, I'm doing this so yes. Ergo of course I love Steely Dan. Is this album needed? Nope. They have 3 maybe 4 that belong on this list, but this one isn't one of them. It is , however, still great. Sit back, pour yourself a drink and enjoy. In fact, fuck it. The more Dan the better - keep it in. I suppose you coudl technically have all their albums from their first up to and including Gaucho. So do yourself a favour and listen to all of them anyway even if they're not on the list. Best Tracks: Bodhisattava; Show Biz Kids; My Old School
I started and stopped this album about three times, and while I enjoyed it each time I also realized I didn't remember what I had and hadn't listened to because it was all sort of blah...
1973. A very good year. I think this album is great muscially. The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 for me is that I'm not into the lyrics. What the fuck are we singing about Dan? Love the instrumentation, riffs, & songwriting. Bodhisattva has great energy. Buddha Boogie. Razor Boy is okay. Kinda weird. Clearly a Steely Dan deep cut. Boston Rag is pretty good but why are we trying to bring back 1920's era Boston piano playing? Your Gold Teeth has a great groove. Looked up the lyrics. Some strange poetry. Catherine Anahid Berberian (July 4, 1925 – March 6, 1983) was an American mezzo-soprano and composer based in Italy. So what does Wikipedia have to say about it all? "Countdown to Ecstasy has similar lyrical themes to Can't Buy a Thrill.[9] It explores topics such as drug abuse, class envy, and West Coast excess.[15] "Your Gold Teeth" follows a jaded female grifter who uses her attractiveness and cunning to take advantage of others,[16] "My Old School" was inspired by a drug bust involving Walter Becker and Donald Fagen while they were students at Bard College,[13] "King of the World" explores a post-nuclear holocaust United States, and "Show Biz Kids" satirizes contemporary Los Angeles lifestyles." My Old School is the only song I've heard before on this album. I especially like the horns in this song. King of the World is super groovy. This is probably my favorite Steely Dan album so far.
When the third or fourth album by certain bands, like Steely Dan, show up on this list, I feel like we’re way into overkill land. I don’t mind Steely Dan, and as I’ve pointed out before, their albums are impeccable in the production department, but song wise they mostly don’t always do it for me. That being said, Countdown to Ecstasy feels like an accessible enough album. As always, the breezy jazzy vibe is the backbone, so the vibes are nice. I just don’t like their songwriting.
This was pretty great. It felt transportive to the era, but also fresh. I had fun grooving with it.
3.5
Funehee
Pleasant, summer dad rock. 3*
good but overstayed its welcome a little
I wonder how this album sounds whilst on ecstacy??
It's decent, there are more good songs than bad songs but I don't think it deserves a 5
Meaahhhh