Reviews (page 4 of 8)
- 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!
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
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
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.
alright
Ni slabo
it is fine but I like other albums better
Did I actually enjoy this? I think I did you know. Maybe by the third album on the list I'm numb to their cheesy bits? Like with all of their music they often over egg the pudding - but some of it is genuniely brilliant.
Was OK.
Gossamer
I expected quite a bit more from this, especially after hearing Cant Buy a Thrill, Aja, etc. This is one Steely Dan album I never really heard before. I think it's honestly a bit disappointing. I know that Fagen was getting in to his groove here, before he really took off, and though it is pretty innovative for the time it just isn't as over the top as I expected. It is absolutely a Steely Dan album; it hits all the notes of long improvisation, technical mastery, strangely literal lyrics, and just general tone. That said, it doesn't push the boundaries of fusion or jazz-rock as much as the other works of theirs do. That's what really makes them stand out - that drive to use discordant harmonies, wild key changes, off beat chords, etc. The songwriting is there, the talent is there, it's just not as fun as I wanted it to be. It's still good and I enjoyed it, but I think you could've put any of their later albums on here over this one.
Pretty good. I've had a few Steely Dan albums so far and I like them for the most part.
Helt ok rett og slett. Noen gode, noen som ikke treffer helt.
Overall, just a nice and chill album to relax to. Nothing really stood out to me, but I just really appreciated listening to this.
Aja is one of my favorite albums, but I haven't really listened to this one ever. Excited to try it out! Ok. It's no Aja, but it's good!
It's a precursor to adult contemporary stuff. Which I abhor. But it's actually okay and in some ways production and writing - a bit ahead of its time.
Nice to listen to in the background. From the tracks 3 to 6 I really enjoyed it.
I think there are some five star moments on here, like the solos on Bodhisattva and Your Gold Teeth, but overall this is a high three for me.
easy listen!
nice enough
Inbetween album. Love “Can’t Buy a Thrill” and “Pretzel Logic” but not none of these songs grab me the same way.
Same as the last Steely Dan, technically proficient, but boring and lacking in edge and surprise, though I enjoyed some of the additional textures to the music as opposed to their debut.
Solid music, but nothing that left a lasting impression.
My. Steely Dan did two not terrible albums. Please can this be the last though. Please. PLEASE. Quite a bit of this was actually catchy and not cringey.
Still not impressed by Steely Dan. I got their first album about a week and a half ago, that one was alright I suppose, just like this one. I don't know much more to say other than that it's very well thought out and every imperfection was taken out. Though a lot of the songs are just mediocre some stand out like the song "Show Biz Kids" with its earworm of a refrain. The album also has some interesting percussion sounds going on. BUUUT that's where it ends with noteworthy stuff. I don't see myself coming back to this one, just so basic and dull. Highlight Song/s: "The Boston Rag" and "Show Biz Kids"
The '70s have a sound and steely Dan definitely rides that wave. A lot more jazzy than I thought it would be, but some of the noodling just doesn't click with me.
Klassískur Steely Dan. Smooth og (of)pródúserað.
I liked a few songs on this. Boston Rag has a crazy song structure and some good hooks. Teeth of Gold and My Old School were pretty good, too. At the same time, I'm not sure where noodling guitar solos are part of eastern philosophy. I'm not exactly a superfan at this point, but this list has improved my view of this band.
3/5 - Not as good ad Can’t Buy a Thrill for me, but I’d still listen. If someone asked me what this sounded like, I’d say, “Steely Dan.”
Love the cover. The album is mixed. They can do better than this.
I liked the guitar and the tempo, but I found the vocals and lyrics less interesting which ultimately drags the entire album down a bit for me Standouts Show Biz Kids King Of The World 3/5
Decent.
ok
See yesterday’s review. It’s unfortunate that these two albums by the same band were back to back. I can only wonder if my experience would have been different if there had been more time in between.
Pretty groovy stuff
Didn't listen too heavily but I was not impressed.
Meh, it was alright. Not really my jam.
There is some I liked on here. Definitely a solid album and one I wouldn't be mad about if it were playing but I wouldn't actively choose to listen to it.
Steely Dan has an incredibly smooth, chill sound... So much so that it's almost boring. The instrumental parts are great on their own. I feel like I often complain here about harsh, unpleasant vocals, but this band has basically the opposite problem, where the singer is so painfully generic that it diminishes from the music
A lot of Steely Dan? Who knew??
Steely Dan’s second album, Countdown to Ecstasy, finds the jazz-rock, pop-rock, and prog-rock pioneers leaning fully into their signature polish, delivering a collection of smooth, easygoing tracks that glide by without friction. While the musicianship is undeniable, few songs leave a lasting melodic imprint or offer the kind of hooks that stick around after the music stops. Given their strong presence on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list—with four entries in total—this feels like one that could have been left off, as two selections might have captured their legacy just as well. And notably, the Kmart Radio Network never featured a single track from this album, which tells you just about everything you need to know.
If you like Steely Dan, you'll like this one. A few songs are radio regulars and the rest sound the same. Can't go wrong with this kind of yacht rock adjacent vibe.
un rodeo en slowmotion en el atardecer...
As a Dad without a Yacht, I still like this enough to listen every once in a while.
They can play but I feel like each song is the same.
Another solid album by Steely Dan! Couple big hits and all the rest easy listening - their standard recipe. High 3+.
Couple bangers!
70’s Rock ⭐️Show Biz Kids
A band with a lot of haters and apologists both, and certainly enough chops to give creedence to the latter. Maybe it's the over-enunciated vocal delivery but there's something unintentionally goofy about these guys that I can't shake. I'm either rockin' out to a great guitar solo or waiting to do so.
Pleasant
Gas
The amount of Steely Dan on this list really amuses me.
I don’t hate these guys. Clearly talented musically. They just don’t work for me. The harmony bugs me. And they’re soft. Like a cat rubbing your leg… nice for a while, but eventually, out you go.
I think I’m lacking some sort of mental computer chip that allows me to really get Steely Dan. I like My Old School, though.
One for the dads.
I need more time with this record. I was somewhat bored at the beginning, but the vocal harmonies were great and the rhythm section in the second half of the record is really pops. I need more time. I want a 3.5.
Really enjoy Steely Dan, but this just didn't hit for me. Pedestrian and dull. Background listening.
Decent
Decent 70s record; I don’t think I’ve heard any of these tunes. Highlights for me are “Pearl of the Quarter” and the f bomb on “Show Biz Kids” I didn’t expect, said all Steely Dany. 3.3/5.0
Ok better Steely Dan out there Replay. Maybe
3.5
Helt ok, noe spor av orginalitet.
I said a couple of days ago in a review that I am quite partial to a good prog record, and whilst this isn’t necessarily full-on progressive, there are some elements here which made this quite an enjoyable listen. I only really know a couple of Steely Dan tracks, none of which are from this record, so it was nice to approach it blind… It was engaging, and one of those albums that you can just listen to without necessarily having to concentrate too much on it. Wouldn’t be in a rush to play it again, but still gets a respectable three out of five. Standout track - Bodhisattva
This was ok. The only Steely Dan album I was familiar with previously was Aja, which I loved. From one listen here’s nothing too much different about this. Certainly not shit, but I’d question whether anyone unfamiliar with the band would need to hear more than one of their albums. I could be wrong though of course, not being familiar with their entire catalogue. Enjoyable, yes. Essential? No.
Some easy listening jazz rock, it's not terrible but I don't see why this band is held in such high esteem 3*
Not unpleasant, but nothing too striking.
Another perfectly alright album. I don’t mind Steely Dan, but all the songs sound kind of the same. Unobjectionable dad rock
It was alright but didn’t really wow me. I did like Bodhisattva and My Old School a lot.not going to turn it off but not going out of my way to find it again.
I feel like I should like Steely Dan more than I do, being firmly in the dad rock demographic. But I didn't have any older people in my life who were really into them so they aren't nostalgic for me, and I always feel like they are missing a bass section. Its the band version of only hearing flutes
This is probably a 3.5 but not my favorite Steely Dan on the whole. Show Biz Kids and My Old School back to back are pretty great. A few other moments here and there, the closer is pretty good too with the wah-wah guitar and the cool synth line. I actually would consider myself a fan of Steely Dan but this is a little lower in the hierarchy for me.
mellow stones
6/10 - Not a bad debut album. A few places I thought it sounded like Jazz ELO.
3.2 I've enjoyed the Steely Dan albums that have appeared on here but I think this is my least fave of the bunch. The only song I knew beforehand, King of the World, remains the best and isn't that great. Sometimes they can come across too elevator music like, and this album has that in greater concentrations than their others. It's fine, but not sure why it's included on this list.
I'm ready and willing to become one of those pretentious Steely Dan snobs, but no amount of great playing and perfect engineering can make up for a lack of great tunes
Stop calling it “dad rock”. Dad rock is the fuckin’ Eagles, man. Becker and Fagen would throw Henley and Frey out of class and make ‘em repeat freshman year. I love Steely Dan for the sound, foremost. The tracks are so clean, so sharp, they were 10 years ahead of their time in production. But the lyrics aren’t pop, or “rock” slurry; they sound sinister and sad, lifting up a shiny rock to let the bugs come out. “Your Gold Teeth”, “The Boston Rag”, “My Old School”. This is what always drew me to the Dan - that impeccable sound with unsettling lyrics, like they were Nixon’s house band.
My first experience of a Steely Dan album. I really don’t know what to expect, but it’s certainly one of the more pleasing examples of “dad rock” I’ve heard. The jazz influence helps to make it more interesting sounding, to my ears. Not bad, and to date the best early 70s rock album I’ve had generated.
Solid sophomore effort from Steely after the tough to follow Can’t Buy A Thrill. Bodhisattva and My Old School are the best tracks and the ones that got radio play (along with The Boston Rag, but I think this one only got played locally.) These guys are true musicians that continue to improve as they age. (3.4*s) It does seem like we should bring back the Boston Rag.
Countdown to Ecstasy begins Steely's countdown in quality from their debut album. This one has a couple hit tracks and some good supporters but it ain't as good as Can't Buy a Thrill but better than Pretzel Logic. "My Old School" is a top Steely Dan song and really lifts this record. "Bodhivsattva", "Show Biz Kids" and "King of the World" round it out to give this one a respectable 3.0 stars.
Glad to see another Steely Dan album but really surprised that this album made the list. It's an OK album but doesn't really stand out from anything else in their discography. It's not their debut, nor does it have the benefit of an extended length of times between releases to make it significant. It's simply a middle of the pack release from the middle of their career. I like Bodhisvatta and My Old School but wouldn't put either of them near the top of their singles list. A head scratching entry even if I do enjoy the album simply because their isn't anything notable about it as far as I can tell. It's more of the same Steely that I know and like, but its never an album I turn to on its own merit. Hopefully Aja makes the cut down the line I guess. 2.98 stars
🛥️🍹☀️
норм..
Þeir eru oft ágætir, en mér finnst þessi plata aldrei fara á almennilegt flug. Þetta er fínt, en það er ekki fyrr en í lokalaginu, King of the world, að ég er aðeins farinn að dansa. Það er ekki nóg fyrir fjarka.
If I told someone to imagine a 70s rock album in their head and then played this I think it would be very close to what they imagined. Its softer than more modern rock and more of a head bobbing feeling throughout. I don't know why I wasn't expecting the steel guitar to come in considering the bands name but it did, and it did in a great way. A very fun listen through.
3.5
Hey, it's Steely Dan! Actually thought I would like this way more than I did -- other than My Old School, it's just kinda ... eh?
I quite like the old school rock. Good instrumentals!
A good Steely Dan record but not sure why it's on this list over Gaucho. 6/10
No. 357/1001 Bodhisattva 3/5 Razor Boy 3/5 The Boston Rag 3/5 Your Gold Teeth 2/5 Show Biz Kids 3/5 My Old School 3/5 Pearl Of The Quarter 4/5 King Of The World 3/5 Average: 3,0 Was a bit disappointed by this, because I was a big fan of the Steely Dan albums I got so far. This was just average.
Favorite song: King of the World
I've heard so many references to Steely Dan (most recently while watching Oh, Hello with John Mulaney & Nick Kroll) throughout my life but have never listened to them. Honestly their sound isn't what I was imagining. I thought they would be more straight ahead rock, but this has some jazzy elements that add interest. I thought it was a good album, though I don't have strong feelings about it or a desire to listen again. I feel like I need to start rating out of 10 again because I need more nuance. This would be a 7/10 for me.
First time listening to Steely Dan. At times this feels like hold music or elevator music. Really clear audio mixing with the hi-res lossless creating a pleasant listening experience. Overall enjoyable easy listening with no standouts imo. The album plays as if it was intended to play entirely in the background and not be a “pick-me” album. I bet this sits at the back of many peoples record collections collecting dust.
I actually didn't mind this one, it was okay!
this was fun, chill groovy vibe, easy to listen to 3.5
Ah yes, welcome back Dad Rock. Honestly I find the tunes and compositions here quite interesting I mostly just do not like the singing. Or I guess the kind of inane and repetitive lyrics. Like the instrumental on Bodhisattva sounds awesome, but then you get to the lyrics like "Can you show me, the shine of your Japan, the sparkle of your China?" and my eyes roll. The Boston Rag is another example of this, its like 2 minutes of a pretty great song mixed with 3 minutes of a very okay 70s dad rock song you'd not think twice about if you heard on the radio that repeats itself way too many times.
“Bodhisattva” is a groove and “Show Biz Kids” felt relevant. The rest was just there for me, but pleasant enough.