Reviews (page 5 of 9)
I've always considered Steely Dan a rock band with some crosses into other genres like jazz and funk. I don't love this album, but it's listenable. The era is not really to my liking.
Got too airy
Too slick for me
3:5
J'ai pas tout écouté mais pas mal
Très simpa
First, Steely Dan is great. Second, this is not my favorite album of theirs. They started so strong with Can't Buy a Thrill, and this is definitely a sophomore slump (of sorts). Their more long term sound is definitely coming out here, but not as solid as it was in later albums. Still worth the listen though.
Liked the vibes
I go through phases with Steely Dan. Sometimes I like them. Sometimes I don’t like them. Today I liked them. Book ‘em, Dan-o.
I still haven’t gotten to that Steely Dan phase, but I know it’s coming. This is very good, but it doesn’t quite grab me the way albums I love do. But given more time and attention I bet that might change.
I’m one of those guys that likes Steely Dan. All of their first 7 albums are great. Sometimes I’ll just listen to two or three in a row. And My Old School is one of my favorite songs. That being said, I’m not sure I’d put this on the 1001. I’d put Aja and Can’t Buy a Thrill and maybe Pretzel Logic. The rest of those seven albums range from pretty good to great, and I’d put this one somewhere in the middle.
It's a four, but I'm trying to live a Yacht Rock summer so simply must give this five stars.
Nothing stands out on this for me. Great musicians but rather emotionless. When I was listening the album ended but Tidal continued directly into Little Feat. I didn't even notice for a few songs.
I really enjoyed this album. I don’t know if the words jazzy or progressive make sense here, but it was a fun and playful listen with some absolute bangers on it. Take it for what it is, their second studio album (apparently?) and you’ll understand how this is paving the way for some of the great hits that came after. Still, on its own and without the context of the future music that Steely Dan produced, this album is worth a listen.
А мне в целом понравилось
Cool, 3 super tracks. Grooves nice, nur minimal monoton. Songwriting: 4/5 Eingängig: 5/5 Sound: 4/5
Easy listening but neither good or memorable.
Countdown To Ecstasy was actually a really good album. During my first few minutes of listening, i thought this album was just going to be okay but the more i listened to it, the more i started to like it. I love the generally jazzy vibe to it with a whole lot of rock elements added in as well and also even the slight country twinges were a nice surprise as well. But the main draw of these songs is obviously how funky they can all get. They all had a fun melody to them that is just so easy to dance along to. Granted, the songs are a bit long but i never really found that to be too much of an issue as i still enjoyed their melodies. This is a really strong album and a really enjoyable one. Best Song: My Old School Worst Song: The Boston Rag
Like it 3/5
Dad rock, probably grandad rock at this point
Mark Knopfler lays down some God tier guitar to great hooks and lyrics
Very pleasant album. So chill and vibey. I though by the opening chords that I wasn’t going to like it but I was wrong. I enjoyed and would play it again. The jazz component of this album was really interesting for me. Couldn’t connect to the lyrics at all, but the overall sound was really good. Solid record, just didn’t KILL me, but I would definitely play it again for the vibes.
there was nothing too outstanding about this. Pretty standard rock album with nothing that caught my attention. Was it terrible? No, would i listen again, No
Konsekvent over-middel-men-forgettable band
Mindst yndlings Steely Dan vi har haft. Meget smooth produktion men lidt kedelige sange
This was very pleasant.
Really starting to like Steely Dan
As great of a continuation of a great debut can get. Nice maturation of the sound. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I prefer their debut, but this is still really good, Show Biz Kids is probably my favourite track here. 4 stars.
Not bad and the music is pretty good but I find something about steely dans vocals annoying
Pretty decent steely Dan album.
Countdown to Ecstasy is an absolute gem — a flawless blend of rock, blues, and jazz with zero weak tracks. From the explosive opener Bodhisattva, you're locked into a smooth, sharp, and endlessly listenable ride. Donald Fagen’s voice is unreal, giving every song character and edge. Every one of the 8 tracks hits just right, packed with slick musicianship and cool, clever vibes. Whether you're digging deep or just vibing, this album delivers. No question — this belongs in your vinyl collection.
I tried to see if I could get it to three and I like Steely Dan, but it's like a 2.75 so it'll be two stars.
To add insult to injury, I listened to this whole album in bumper to bumper traffic on 75 yesterday over roughly 15 miles.
Countdown to never having to listen to a Steely Dan album ever again. 5…4…3…2…and 1.
Probably the most disgusting album title of all time. Just eww. I’ve had enough of these guys. So much so that I don’t even need to hear this to know it’s a 1. Fuck them.
I don’t know what it is about these guys but I just really don’t like it. Great musicians but it just falls flat for me. And then it starts to bother me. And then I get angry. And countdown to ecstasy? What the hell is that? If it were a Prince album named that, I’d be like…yeah, that guy fucks. But these jabronis? Nah.
I believe this is our last Steely Dan album so I’m gonna take this opportunity to summarize my thoughts on the band: They’re a great example of a total being less than the sum of their parts. No doubt great musicians who came together to make mostly crap music. They’ve given me a great way to know if I’ll like someone… just need to ask, “hey, do you like Steely Dan?” If they say yes, fucking bolt. Acceptable answers are: no, fuck you, etc. There’s an SNL skit that was cut for time about a life size man doll named Alan. Please watch it. Perfectly encapsulates the Steely Dan vibe. Anyways, this prob doesn’t deserve a 1* but it’s my last chance to shit on them, so….suck it, nerds. 1.5/5
Some people say Steely Dan is boring. Fuck that noise. The only thing boring about Steely Dan is trying to be clever when writing yet another 5 star review for a Steely Dan album.
3.4 - Not sure if I was in the right space for this
Bodhisattva was the first Steely Dan song I ever heard. It was on the game Rock Band. It didn't sound difficult but was one of the harder songs to play on drums. I guess that's pretty classic Dan isn't it. Bodhisattva is a rock song, whilst Razor Boy immediately shows that Steely Dan have a much more whimsical side with the salsa groove. Then The Boston Rag and Your Gold Teeth demonstrate a lot of very typical early Danisms - sardonic storytelling aplenty. For me this album feels like Steely Dan are still trying to find their identity a bit. Bodhisattva would be out of place on their later polished work. My Old School is a fairly poppy anomaly. Other tracks lean more toward the yacht rock stylings that they will ultimately become known for. Fave Tracks: Bodhisattva, The Boston Rag, My Old School, King of the World 3.8/5
Wasn't ever a fan. It's 'No' from me.
Pretentious, busy, empty. These guys have no heart and no loins. Nothing passionate or sexy or gritty or real, just noodly nonsense. As usual, the mixing is fantastic, with every instrument clearly audible. If only they had just mixed other people's records and never made their own, we would all be happier.
Now that I have listened to all four Steely Dan albums on this list, I can confidently say that I'm not crazy about them. Their mix of dad rock, light jazz and country tang just doesn't click for me. But I can recognize that they're kind of good. If I spent enough time with them, I could probably learn love it. But life is short and there is a lot of good music out there. Steely Dan just isn't my priority.
This steely Dan album really makes their last milquetoast one feel even more out of place on this list, with this one having something about it - lounge rock with a bit more going on behind the scenes, Bodhistavva and Your Gold Teeth being genuinely good songs.
85/100. More adventurous than their debut, with complex arrangements and a cool, polished sound.
J - 2/5 Best Track - "Show Biz Kids" F - 2/5 Best Track - "Pearl Of The Quarter"
Steely Dan is solid - but honestly one song sounds pretty much exactly like the next.
7/10 I’ll give them credit for inventing yacht rock. I don’t hear unrestrained joy in their music….it’s too clinical.
One in a good run of albums during the 70's for these guys
Not my favorite. I am glad I gave it a listen but I wont be recommending it or going back. Great riffs, a bit samey. Talent exists but not my thing. I feel there is better in that era. I've never listened to Aja and assume it will pop up on this list at some stage.
Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (lead guitar) and Walter Becker (electric bass) get this record going w/ a nod to The Allman Brothers's genius for instrumental hooks, precipitating an ecstatic and resourceful rock/blues/pop experience. Heavier than Pretzel Logic, b/c featuring more guitar soloing and gut-punching grooves, it's no less colorful or spotlit. I still don't know what Donald Fagen is singing about - 'While the poor people sleeping / With the shade on the light' - but that becomes a part of the fun: an item that is so immediate requiring dissection only gains in pleasure. 'Show Biz Kids' and 'My Old School' are absurdly catchy, but every track here is a memorable apotheosis. 'All I got to say / I'm alive and feeling fine.' Off the wall(s).
Totally inoffensive. But that's kind of the problem. 3/5 Highlights: Your Gold Teeth My Old School
5/10…classic rock
This feels like the weakest of the early Dan albums, which is saying a lot considering it's still very very good. Can't Buy A Thrill sets the bar so high with it's smash hits and "I need to get a beer" vibes, and Countdown to Ecstasy is their message to the world that they can simply do it all. It's a bit more laid back than the previous, and they even pick things up again with Pretzel Logic, but this middle ground creates a little time capsule at the peak of Chill Dan. Favorites are The Boston Rag, Your Gold Teeth, and Show Biz Kids,
Love me some Steely Dan. These songs are so smooth and they just sound incredible. I need a Miller High Life in my hand and my ass in a lawn chair expeditiously. Favorite songs were Bodhisattva, The Boston Rag, Show Biz Kids, and My Old School.
Steely Dan can rock out, but still keep that more eclectic side tucked in the pocket for when we need to see it.
Not bad
This album doesn't do anything spectacular, but does well as an assortment of smooth laid-back rock songs.
Good stuff.
Other than Bodhisattava didn’t recognize a single song. Actually never knew what they were saying in that song until today! Album had a definite 70s vibe to it, but even as a youth of the 70s, I grew board pretty fast. I know that Steely Dan had many more hits through the years, they’re just not here.
Haven’t listened to this album in probably 50 years, but still knew every word. I really enjoyed listening to it again. Loved razor boy and pearl of the quarter among several others.
They went all out with the first song and then didn’t have anywhere else to go with the remaining ones. I still had a lot of fun listening though
Northern Lion was right. I really enjoyed this one. Turns out you actually can make good music in the 70's and the critics who wrote this book just can't tell the difference.
Didn’t really capture my attention good or bad.
This one was really good Was like butter. Would add to a classic album to listen to at pickleball or anything
I just don't really like SD
Good.
Very nice listen, loud and smooth
Big fan of Can't Buy a Thrill and haven't explored much outside that so it was nice to listen to this one. It's no CBAT but it's still a good time
8/10.
Boring jazzy country rock from the 70s. No, I don’t like it. Rating: 2
The sixties are over.
Good album. There's at least 5 steely dan albums i like more.
I liked this less than the previous Steely Dan I've gotten. I get this was kind of a transition album for them but it felt a bit disconnected and bland.
2- Stars (4/15)
An important stepping stone for the band, offering some great, but often forgotten tracks. Razor Boy probably gets stuck in my head once a week, My Old School a close second. Bodhisattva? Stuck on loop.
A pleasant fusion of jazz and rock. It's sickly sweet, but it's honestly awesome.
Decent album for playing in the background. No standouts apart from 'King of the world'. Steely Dan is my guilty pleasure but this album seems even more cheesy than the others.
I've been on a Steely Dan binge the past week, so this was a welcome and fitting surprise. Every single song here is well made, well produced and a joy to listen to. This is not my absolute favorite Steely Dan album but it's a really fun one nonetheless. Countdown To Ecstasy feels a little more like a jam at times than other Steely Dan albums.
Countdown to Ecstasy? Fine... counting... counting... still counting... I'm afraid ecstasy is the last thing this album is going to give me. Sure it's well made and all that, but the fundamental thing, the musical interest of the songs, is missing for me. This is ultimate, beige, Dad Rock, just trying a bit too hard to be clever. Don't care for Fagen's vocals. I'll still give it a 3 though because the musicianship is good as are some jazz and prog-rock elements. But it's very "meh". Like Aja.
This one is a bit off the mark for Steely Dan from what I expect. It's not bad, but there's just something about the elements on this record that I don't quite get. It's the typical easy-listening feel, but there's just something missing that's not as captivating as their other songs/albums. Will have to listen to this one again.
steely dan has yet to miss but from all the album ive heard so far is this the weakest link yet. Still a great album itself but in comparison to their better works it dont reach the same bar. (3.5/5.0)
While I do think the songs sound fairly similar. I find the instrument play is very good. I don’t fully understand some of the early 70’s lingo. Going to round up from 3.5 to 4.
Didn’t knock my socks off
It was nice enough, but I feel like my complaint with this is the same with the other Steely Dan we've had. Musically I'd give it a 4 or 5 but the lyrics don't do anything for me. I'm just kinda meh about them. If someone put on Steely Dan I'd be totally okay with that but it's not going to be something I request. I can respect a Steely Dan enthusiast, but I am not one of them.
think this is our 3rd Steely Dan on this list. enjoyed the other 2 much more. still enjoy their sound but this was a more "meh" listen.
It was the countdown to ecstasy of this album ending.
Just kinda meh to be honest.
Bleh
The term "soft rock" is pretty ugly to me (and probably to most people), as it's commonly associated with squeaky clean production and shallow genre fusions. Hear a lot of people shit on Steely Dan for that exact reason, and seeing as this was my first time listening to them, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the whole thing. But while some of the jazzy extended-jam moments did end up feeling like imitations (I was especially not a fan of 'Your Gold Teeth'), I do think this was a perfectly okay pop-rock record. To me, it's not too far off from what guys like Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen were doing. It's catchy and witty at times, but I'd say the band is at their strongest when they hone in on the better parts of their ideas, like with 'My Old School' as opposed to when they go into these directionless jams that lack improvisation, grit, and soul. The vocals are always smooth, offering up melodies that are earwormy and easy to digest, and you have backing vocals that nicely fill in the rest of the space on certain songs, like in 'Show Biz Kids'. The whole thing feels like a comfort album, not my comfort album, but a comfort album nevertheless. That's the best way to sum it up.
its aight
Steely Dan is a band that I don't particularly love, but I do enjoy. They are remarkably consistent, especially in this album. It's an enjoyable listen even if no song really sticks with me other than "King of the World."
Pleasantly surprised!
So there's a bit George Carlin has in one of his specials where he criticises people who use baby slings. Y'know, how they treat their baby like camping equipment, leaving their hands free to shop instead of, y'know, actually touching the dang kid. As Carlin puts it, they're the kind of people who "sort their garbage, jog with their dogs and listen to Steely Dan" — yuppies, in other words. For the longest time, that bit right there has influenced how I've viewed the band Steely Dan. And not even necessarily those exact words, I should point out — more just the way he says the band's name. "Steeeeely Daaaaahn." It's dripping with this, like, amused wort of contempt that just screams, "Yeah, this is some lame-ass music for lame-ass white people. Gimme a break." And it's been drilled so thoroughly in my head that it's **the** thing I think of whenever I hear or see their name. Combine that with how Steely dan beat out both Radiohead's KID A **and** Eminem's THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP for Best Album at the GRAMMYs that one year, which really comes across like the boomers at the Academy rejecting the newer sounds that scared them... Yeah, I can't say I've ever had the highest opinion of Steely Dan. Which makes it all the more embarrassing to admit that I've hardly listened to them before now. Yeah, I know, I know. I'm not gonna make any excuses for myself about this. I had my preconception built for me out of scraps of other people's thoughts, and I just never felt compelled to see if it was correct or not. That's horrible form. I wasn't even that young when I first heard or saw these things. So it's about time I finally got around to seeing if I was wrong all along. And with a full listen in mind... Well, unsurprisingly for this kind of ordeal, I was wrong. Or at least, I was wrong more than I wasn't. 'Coz here's the thing: while, based on just this album, I can pretty firmly say they're not that bad, it's not like I can't also see why I could've come to my preconceptions regardless of outside influence. The way I figure it, the problem with Steely Dan is that a lot of what's interesting about them exists on a purely technical level. The production, the use of chords... If you've got ears for that kind of stuff, you're probably a big fan of Steely Dan. If you don't, and you're the more "average" listener... At best, you'd probably think this material is fine and that's about it. It all clicked for me the moment I heard "Razor Boy". Like, the album starts with "Bodhisattva", and it's for sure the most rocking song here — as much as Steely Dan can "rock," anyway. I mean, it **was** featured in ROCK BAND 2... But anyway, coming out of a song like that into "Razor Boy", which is a very soft "latin/jazz/lounge" sort of thing... Yeah, no, I get it completely. It's so "yacht rock" it can hurt. And I don't wanna come up here acting like "yacht rock" is a bad word to me. I've heard TOTO IV a few times too many to be completely against it. But, y'know, I can totally hear why this band got a reputation, at least in Carlin's eyes, as "yuppie music." If you're not looking for the deeper intricacies, it's just soft and inoffensive. It doesn't rock hard enough, it doesn't pop hard enough. It's just... There. And it's fine. Whatever. That's about how a bit over half the album feels to me. "Razor Boy" got the brunt of my attention for being the key to this band's sound, but after that... Well, the 1.5k word review rated as the best review of the album singles out "The Boston Rag" as the album's centerpiece, but I didn't really get much from it. I guess I like the opening, and the one guitar riff that repeats is pretty nice... And a similar thing goes for the closer, "King Of The World", where I liked the little synth line but that was about it. Meanwhile, as I'm writing this I don't remember a single thing about "Your Gold Teeth", and I was actively bothered by "Show Biz Kids" for its backing vocals. They just never stopped repeating the same line over and over, and it was driving me nuts tryna figure out if they were saying "lost wages" or "Las Vegas." Jus', goodness. As for the remaining three songs I haven't mentioned yet, well, "Bodhisattva" might be my favorite song here just for being the biggest rocker. I promise you, that's not the rockist in flaring up, but I just overall found it the most interesting. For sure the one where I had the easiest time appreciating any complexities the band had to offer without the softness causing me to tune out. Then you have "Pearl Of The Quarter", which struck me as a pretty country-ish track thanks to its pedal steel guitar, and for that reason I liked it quite a bit. Finally, there's "My Old School": that's the one with the horn arrangement, and lemme tell you, it did a **lot** for the track as a whole. Like, across the board the backing vocals are fine (save for "Show Biz Kids"), but I think they really shine paired with the horns on "My Old School". It might be my second favorite after "Bodhisattva". But then that only ends up being three tracks out of eight I can really go for bat to. And it's like— look, I wanna be fair to Steely Dan here. I like a fair bit of soft, smooth music every now and then, and Steely Dan doesn't do it all too bad. I can see putting "Razor Boy" on as music to relax and vibe to. I recognize as well that when it comes to music theory and production I tend to have a pretty tin ear, so I'm probably not appreciating their compositional skills as much as I could be. But then at the same time, I don't think you should have to know what a "mu major" chord is in order to get something out of this music, and unless you're a music major or as yuppie as yuppie can be... Y'know, I really was hoping I'd come out of this feeling like the hate this band gets was completely undeserved. That maybe I'd be able to listen to that Carlin bit again and be like, "Oh, come on now..." And despite my gripes, I would never, by any stretch, call this a **bad** album. It's really not in my eyes. It's just... Fine. Achingly fine. The kind of fine where I can't really muster up any strong feelings about it. And that does kind of disappoint me. I wasn't expecting to come out this a born-again fan or anything, but I was expecting **something**, at least. I suppose a better understanding of who they are and what they do will hafta suffice. And, hey, I'm sure for a fact this isn't the last Steely Dan album on this list, so I'll have my chance to try again. For the time being, though, I don't think that the way Carlin says the band's name is gonna leave my head all that soon. "Steeeely Daaaaaahn."
Just some quintessential jazz rock from some of the best to do it. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 5. This is my first time properly listening to Steely Dan – my hopes have been pretty high ever since we got “The Nightfly” by Donald Fagen back in September, and this experience was gladly worth the wait. Steely Dan has lived up to the acclaim & the hype; this is a great, great rock album that dips its toes into everything from 50s/60s style rock & roll, bossa nova, CSNY-style harmonics, Elton John-esque piano ballads, & a bit of prog rock. There’s not a single bad track here, save for *maybe* “Show Biz Kids”, but that’s just the refrain sort of nagging in my head; I still liked that one. As far as the songs themselves go, I don’t have much to complain about, just a lot to praise in scattered tones that just boils down to “they all sounded really great”. “Bodhisattva”’s got the dueling guitars in its solo, “Razor Boy”’s got a good elevator music vibe, “The Boston Rag” has an excellent solo, “Your Gold Teeth” has a guitar filled with swagger, “Show Biz Kids” has a really nice building instrumental, “My Old School” has some great brass in its solo, “Pearl of the Quarter” has great steel guitar, & “King of the World” is a cool as hell prog rock track. Every track has something really captivating about it, which is a huge positive for an album experience. I’d be remiss to not give a bit of love to Donald Fagen’s vocals, which do glide on a lot of these tracks really nicely. Lyrically, the storytelling is a bit scattered, but it sounds like vaguely full stories that intentionally don’t paint a full picture is part of the Steely Dan mythos, so I’m not too plussed about that. Overall, I just really enjoyed this. It’s a super breezy 41 minutes that never once misses a beat, & I really hope there’s even more Steely Dan on the list. Pretty easy 5 for me.
"Bodhisatva" feels like being stuck in a pinball machine in the best way. Nothing else really stood out, but it was all rather pleasant.
Not the biggest fan of them but Steely Dan is iconic.
# 456 : 11/04/2025 : It was Ok, Nothing stood out, probably won't go back to this.
Very well done, but I'm not into prog now
these guys really do encapsulate the ‘wouldn’t turn them on, wouldn’t turn them off’ vibe. it’s always good music and i have a good time but i tend to find myself hearing other bands in them that i wish i was listening to instead. this album was Allman Brothers, David Bowie, and Zappa if that makes any sense at all
The only issue that one can find with one record is that it's not Aja. One prefers over Can't Buy a Thrill because it's more expansively jazzy. The playing is great – the guitar solos and vibes and electric piano are just dynamite. Every song works, but "Boddhisvata" and "Old School" really stand out.
Good album - classic Steely Dan
Until today I had never listened to this album. Steely Dan is in my opinion properly rated/ derided. As a person born in 1978 little was less cool to me than jazzy rock when I was a teenager. In the last two decades the band has undergone a reexamination and become a darling to people who are or consider themselves to be hipsters. With that in mind and having listened to "Aja" several times in the past year or so I was not super excited to when this was next on my playlist. After listening I am glad that I gave this a chance. To me this is superior to "Aja" and has no real weak songs. The lyrics are cynical if that is your thing but what makes the album great is the music and how it all comes together. 4/5
Always fun, but never something I'd rank amongst my favourites
To my ears this is sophisticated yacht-rock with jazz tinges. Nothing outstanding but neither nothing terrible; just smooth. I think they do better later with Aja, Pretzel Logic etc.
Sure
Second favorite of the Steely Dans we've heard so far. Yet they've all gotten a 3 🤔
Steely Dan is mostly just not going to be for me. I find that 70s harmonics style grating. But maybe more than any other band that is not for me I can easily see why this is the absolute jam of dads and dads at heart all around the world
well it certainly sounds like Steely Dan
Pretty great
I enjoyed it as a snapshot of the time it came out. I thought it was interesting, and I could definitely find myself enjoying a Steely Dan song again in the future.
I thought this album was pretty cool! Very easy to listen to, fun songs throughout. I liked the guitars, the rhythm, basically everything. By the end of the album, I wanted to listen to more Steely Dan.
Good album. Some of the songs fall flat, but when it works, it’s great. 3/5 Might listen again
Loved it! Ended up listening to another album after
Solid instrumentals
Pleasant enough, with some great playing. Looking forward to getting more Dan
I own this one and it's very good.
Never heard Steely Dan before. This album really veered all over the shop in terms of quality. Started badly, already starting to write it off, then there were some sort of jazz prog tracks that sounded like Yes and I was back on board. Finally it slumped back to being forgettable again. Not really sure what genre they are, one of those where it's almost more annoying that they have the capacity to be good but frequently chose not to be. The good bits were great so I'm going 2.5.
I'd previously considered Steely Dan to be quite lame - I think I heard one of their songs in a hotel lobby in Amsterdam, and thought: Not for me. This album was quite the surprise. Had two listens. Jangly classic rock in the style that I tend to warm to. Not everything was to my liking - I did not enjoy the first track, Bodhisattva, but Razor Boy, The Boston Rag, and Pearl of the Quarter were pretty terrific. 4.4/5.
Heard of steely Dan but not sure I've ever listened to them.... Couldn't name a track anyway. Had no idea what to expect from this. Was fine I guess. In parts I quite enjoyed it. Very forgettable though. Nothing stood out but not bad by any means. Think I recognised my old school actually? ....2.5
I like most of the music. They can definitely play but a lot of their vocals are too soft and melodic for me. I get bored with that smooth delivery. But then in songs like Show Biz Kids where they added female backing vocals it really works because they add an upbeat pop tone that makes for a fun dance song. Also My Old School has that propulsive tempo plus even better backing vocals that lift it up to be a hit. Also some tasty guitar work. More of that please!
It’s fine! It’s dad rock, well-made dad rock.
I gave the other two Steely Dan albums on this list a "4," not just because I thought they were pretty good albums, but because I felt they were important albums to understand 70's dad rock. For this one, I'm still in the same boat. It's impossible to give it a bad grade because the music is created to be perfect and not a note out of place. The songs are not bad and some are catchy. But...did we need this album? Is there something covered here that isn't covered with Can't Buy a Thrill and Katy Lied? Not really. Is this a better album than those two? Not really. THEN, imagine my surprise when I remember there is actually a fourth Steely Dan album in this book. Aja is here too. What are we doing here, people? This is not a bad album! It's not! Is anyone, even diehard Steely Dan fans, saying "You heard Can't Buy a Thrill and Aja?" Oh man, you should listen to "Countdown to Ecstasy!" I am guessing not. It's dad rock and non-controversial. The curators of this book were so concerned whether they could put another Steely Dan album in here, they didn't stop to think if they should put another Steely Dan album in the book.
Music was good, though nothing really stood out. Pretty good for an album I'd never heard of before. 3/5
Cool!
Just can't remember what I listened yesterday. Forgettable.
Good old songs, nice to hear once
Great music
Only know the band by their song « do it again ». Cool music to start the workday—light, upbeat, and easy on the ears, maybe too easy as it seems quite forgettable at the end. Kinda gives me Chicago (the band) vibes because of voices harmonizing. Could use a bit more intensity and atmosphere, but there’s some good technical work and a nice jazzy, groovy touch.
2.75
Oh lord god almighty. I actually liked this.
Great listen. Nice energy. I will come back to this
Probably my least favorite Steely Dan album, which is saying a lot.
These are good songs; great songs by one of my favorite period bands. I loved S.D. since I saw them on a concert TV show in the early 70's. But this album never really caught on with me. No reason. Hearing it now is actually somewhat of a fresh pleasure.
They really faded here.
ganz cute. 3.5
Some cool ideas, but too smooth around the edges overall. 60/100
After a lot of their albums here on the list, I can state that only Steely Dan can be so great and so disappointing at the same time.
I need to listen to some more steely Dan
Not familiar with this Steely Dan album. I very much like their debut album though, so interested to see how they followed that one up. Tough act to follow for sure. Immediately with the opening track "Bodhisattva", you can tell things are slightly different here. That track, as well as "Show Biz Kids" specifically, have a sort of rockabilly/blues influence. I read that the band dumped vocalist David Palmer after the last album, but Donald Fagen has pretty much always been the voice of Steely Dan, so I can't quite put my tongue on why this is still so much different. I guess the rest of the album sort of shifts into the familiar Steely Dan mold as it runs along, but nothing else really stood out per se.
Def one of the weirder Steely Dan records
Terrible. Its like Toto without hits. And its the second Steely dan album you made me listen to in a month.
golden tootsies intro solo slapped my ass
This band is dialed
My old school is definitely a standout.
It was fine, but honestly I was kind of hoping for better. I hadn't listened to Steely Dan much before, and they are so hyped up that I thought this would be one of the entries on the list I would enjoy and add to the rotation. Sadly, it's a one and done for me.
I love Steely Dan, one of my favourite bands of all time, there’s literally nothing out there that compare to the sheer perfection that Fagan and Becker accomplished. I could write a long review about every aspect that I love in this album, all the little decisions that they made that make it truly great. I’m not going to do that, but I am going to talk a little bit about my favourite all time moment in a Steely Dan song, which conveniently enough is on this very album. The song “King Of The World” is perhaps the greatest song ever writing about living in a post apocalyptic world, wondering if you really are the last man on earth. The moment that hits me right at the base of my skull where it connects to my spine happens at almost exactly three minutes into the song. There’s this tiny little crescendo at the tail end of the line “might as well die” where the trailing edge of the lyrics in this bridged is reverbed into this very brief climax leads into the third verse, and it’s just such an incredibly little detail that gives me goosebumps every single time I hear it. Needless to say I love this album and I’d give it 10 starts if I could. Absolutely incredible that I am alive at a time when I can enjoy this music whenever I want. 5*
This album has always been kinda low on my Steely Dan rankings, and yet I struggle to identify a single reason why. It's a testament to the strength of their discography but also I think I have kinda slept on this album for a while. It's fantastic, better than I remember certainly. "Bodhisattva", "Your Gold Teeth", "My Old School" and "Pearl of the Quarter" are the best tracks. *chefs kiss*
Fav: Pearl Of The Quarter Least Fav: Razor Boy Dad rock with a side dish of jazz, has some good moments but nothing too impressive overall
Been looking forward to getting another one of the Steely Dan albums! Wasn't expecting to get 3/4 so early in the challenge but glad I've got another one out there to look forward to. Like "Aja" this doesn't quite live up to "Can't Buy a Thrill" for me. It's still really good and I probably like it more than "Aja". It doesn't quite feel like a 5 to me but 4 also feels too weak which makes me wish again for a half star system. My gut tells me 4 is more appropriate.
It's ok I guess. Good musicians, good music. I'm just not a fan of this kind of rock music.
It's like all the shit bits of rock and all the shit bits of jazz had a retarded baby
Good steely stuff
I’ll try and get the obvious out of the way first: the last minute of Bodhisattva is so strong a gust of what-can-make-music-so-fucking-brilliant that it threatens to capsize me (and by extension my attempts to really encounter this record) every listen. How it stumbles, twists, grows in confidence, breathes, starts to run, looks up, then screams. Ah. If it fails to make you feel alive then urgently seek help. It’s just. Fuck. Guys. “Countdown to Ecstasy” is a wonderful amalgam of rock, jazz, blues and whatever else (bluegrass, skiffle, R&B, French?) the fellas fancied integrating and elevating. It’s a typically smooth, strongly melodic bit of work, but there are edges to it to enjoy, too – “Show Biz Kids” swaggers, machined-in to the beat, while “My Old School” is finger-pickin’ funk that unapologetically shreds its way towards Hendrix then bails out and scurries back to surf. And that’s something, really. The Dan seem to have an infallible instinct for knowing where they are and where they want to be. They feel in control; never too close for comfort to their source material – pretty much “iconic acts no one can sensibly think of approaching with anything over than reverence” – while also never so far out that their innovations feel obviously contrived. Back to Bodhisattva. It’s true that it ends with a sort of triumphant freak out, but it’s equally the case that the song’s already been excellent for three minutes or so by then anyway. In each cycle through the verse, chorus structure it’s changing things around, giving vent to different harmonic expressions, picking up speed, accumulating ideas, placing motifs that you’ll delight in hearing again later – played a little quicker or with a little more brio. Again you’ll feel it’s all completely under control, right up until the moment you can’t be. And for this the song is, of course, a countdown to ecstasy properly. They’re the real deal, what else would you expect from them?
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Never listened to Steely Dan before and hopefully never win again. Low 2.
Countdown to Ecstasy This has always felt like a more streamlined progression from Can’t Buy a Thrill, the same elements of precision soft rock and jazz, but more high gloss and more focused, which then continues on to Pretzel Logic. I totally get how something like Razor Boy’s glockenspiel could make it come across like lift music, but underneath that it’s a great track with lovely piano and interesting changes. That does go for a lot of the songs, the piano driven structure underneath the instrumentation gives it a sense of jazzy propulsion with a soft rock easy listening sheen over the top. Like all their albums the sense of exactness and craft is all over it, I think the meticulousness of getting everything sounding correct and correctly in place is a big reason why I like SD so much, particularly on the first 3 albums. For me there’s not a dud on the album but highlights would be the satirical Bodhisattva and Showbiz Kids, the picaresque The Boston Rag, My Old School and the superb, bass-driven King of the World. The second side in particular is excellent from Show Biz Kids to King of the World. Like Can’t But a Thrill and Pretzel Logic and like Aja will be, this is an easy 5. 👑👑👑👑👑 Playlist submission: King of the World
'Can't Buy a Thrill' I liked a lot, and Pretzel Logic not so much - so as a band I am undecided where I stand on this bunch of Proto-prog/Dad-rock specialists. At 40 minutes long and a collection of eight songs, this album is edited perfectly; makes you forget your listening to a style that is teetering on a tightrope - falling into bland MoR jazz inspired pop one way; and prog rock guitar wankery the other. But tread the tightrope they have, and they have done so perfectly. The melodies continue to shine out over any prog-rock leanings; 'Razor Boy' leans heavily to Pretzel's MoR, but the melody saves it; 'Show Biz Kids' is like a funky retake of Nilson's 'Coconut'; 'My Old School' an effortless Eagles-esque breezy tune; 'Pearl of the Quarter' a Harrison-esque slide-guitar-propelled ballad. 'King of the World', like 'Boston Rag', has all the perfect melodies of CSNY, some Pink Floyd synth thrown in and fantastic Niles Rodgers funk-riffing.
My least favourite SD album so far, although still quite groovy. Just a bit boring and repetitive, without many hooks. Pleasant and very well produced but nothing special. 3.5
What fun, what bops. I imagine this would be an amazing live show
Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstacy Really trippy to listen to, but it's good. Reminds me of something that Yes would do, really good music all throughout, it does have it's lows here and there tho, but it's highs are promising and they do deliver the vibe that this album is trying to achieve. Overall, this is pretty good! 1.- Bodhisattva = 9/10 2.- Razor Boy = 8/10 3.- The Boston Rag = 10/10 4.- Your Gold Teeth = 8/10 5.- Show Biz Kids = 7/10 6.- My Old School = 7/10 7.- Pearl Of The Quarter = 8/10 8.- King Of The World = 9/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.3/10
Yacht rock fueled by kick ass musicianship and guitar wizardry.
Listening to Steely Dan makes me feel like I'm placidly wasted careening around somewhere like Palm Springs with wiley perma-partying boomers I just met. Which is, as they say, a great vibe but unfortunately this album doesn't have any of my favorite songs by them which makes this sound like a big glob of Steely without any remarkable standouts. Not surprising this didn't have any single, still a fun listen though.
I've hit most of the Steely Dan catalog but hadn't done a playthrough of this whole album for some reason previously - better than I expected. Always been a My Old School fan, but a good album all around
I’m getting over my Dan dislike, but this record didn’t do much for me. Talented musicians, but not much in the way of killer songs.
Cancion fav: The Boston Rag
It was my wife's birthday, so I didn't give this as much attention as other records on the list. It's Steely Dan, so the smooth, clean production will slide right in one ear and out the other. You've really got to be listening to catch the bitter lyric pills in the cheesy jazz. Should it be taken aurally or orally? I don't know, I wasn't paying enough attention and got my metaphors mixed up. I need to give it more time and focus. I'll come back to it some day when my wife has left me - it's lonely men who dig Steely Dan, right? Theoretically, I dig this too. I will say that, for all our recent complaints about sampling repeating snippets over music to death, hearing "You know they don't give a fuck about anybody else" just once is underwhelming. 3 A minute into the first track it occurred to me that this stuff, suitably re-recorded, would do well for Mariokart course music. Perhaps this was fatal to my attempt to listen justly to the rest of the album; I couldn’t let go of the idea. I didn’t like any of this regardless. I found this music overwrought and shallow. The lyrics aren’t bad but neither are they arresting in any way - all mere solutions to the problem of feeling obliged to have a lyric to sing when all you really wanted to do was solos and fancy turnarounds. The production is wretched - ‘smooth’ is the word I suppose and I can’t deny that that is what you get when you diligently remove all the rice pieces from rice pudding. The drums and guitar lack any edge, and even the xylophone and pedal steel guitar manage to sound castrated. The effect is pathetic. There is a moment at the very end of ‘Pearl of the Quarter’ where the piano player quietly throws in a bum note - a moment which must have had them all hooting in the studio at the daring of the transgression. In the ten thousand notes the guitar player goes through on this album he does not once allow himself the luxury of a ‘wrong’ note. And yet somehow they’re all wrong; this is rotten stuff. That nimble solo at the end of ‘My Old School’, to single one out, runs through so many technical ideas, and none of them are any good because there are absolutely no melodic ideas in the solo at all. I have spent much time recently scoffing at rap music for its mind-numbing lack of musical content, so I ought to thank Steely Dan for reminding me that an abundance of music can also be crushingly dull. 1.5/5
Cerramos el ciclo 2024 unos días antes y nos vamos con éste disco, el segundo de esta banda en el libro (hasta el momento) y que originalmente tocaba el martes 24. Suena a Rock & Roll clásico (Bodhisattva), muy chill (Razor Boy) y con canciones con su nivel de complejidad (Your Gold Teeth o King of the World). Álbum prolijo, sirve para el mood del fin de año, que tiene a la reflexión y a la introspección general. De nuevo, muchas gracias por las sorpresas y nos vemos en 2025 para seguir con éste reto, que nos llevará algunos años pero seguro todo será transformador.
El sonido de Steely Dan es Sexo.
no puedo no poner 5.
Well that was certainly an album
Meh.
Smooth jazz with singing. OK for background music.
Great guitar and band, will be listening to this again and again
So damn good! Steely Dan have done no wrong (at least as far as I've heard). Jazzy and catchy and just... Really damn good. Want to listen to it like 4 times in a row lol
Some nice tunes, nothing too memorable
Not necessarily my cup of tea but some good songs for busy work. Your Gold Teeth was my personal favourite.
6.5/10
Just in comparison to the other Steely Dan album on the list, I found this to be much more energetic and musically interesting. The guitar work is a lot more complex.
It was a bit better tha Aja. Some songs actually stop being about playing fast and complex stuff and get to a point. Which is good.
Very much enjoyed. VERY MUCH. Cleaned and jammed out to this album will listen again
Steely Dan gettin' their feet under them. I think this album starts out very strong, then kind of tapers off with "Pearl Of The Quarter" and "King Of The World", the weakest 2 songs on the album. "Boddhisatva" and "Show Biz Kids" make this worth the purchase price, and there are plenty of other great shredders. Of note are the guitarists--Denny Dias, Skunk Baxter, and Rick Derringer--absolutely ripping guitar solos on this album, if you listen closely.
Another steely Dan album 😩
Steely Dan perform their typical Proficient, tongue-in-cheek, jazz-influenced softish rock while criticizing society and exploring characters in its corners. Boddhisattva has one of the best guitar solos of all time (and is an excellent song - probably my favorite of the band). Jeff “Skunk” Baxter’s guitar playing is the highlight of this record. He can shred impressively, play a smooth melody, have a sound and style that’s at odds with the music but fits right in (he’s gets zippier and more distorted than the lot) - he’s just amazing up and down here. Otherwise, the song writing is tight, lyrics are (sometimes) clever, melodies are memorable, the harmonies are lush, the instrumentals are impressive (solid rhythm section, some cool keys, and some of their vampy jams are the best moments on the album). But despite how they are all high quality and the band achieves its goals, I’m just not always interested. All songs have interesting moments, but I’m just not always hooked or care to revisit. A couple of excellent songs and a few I could care less about.
I was keen to give this a listen after being given Steely Dan's debut album a little over a month ago. I haven't listened to anything from these guys in the time since then, but they have been firmly lodged in the back of my mind as an artist I should give a good, fair shake to once this list is behind me. I was dismayed to discover that I like this album way less than the preceding one. I wish I could give Can't Buy a Thrill another listen to compare the things that I prefer from that album over this one, but I just don't have the time. I remember their previous album having much stronger vocal harmonies and a more vibrant sound, which I preferred, despite having instrumentals that came real close to blending together. I appreciate the effort in making songs that stand out more on this album, but I think a lot of the material on here is stretched pretty thin. I'm not one for decimal points, but if I were to delve into half-digits like I am now I'd give this album a 4.5/10. Yet, despite being the closer score, I can't bring myself to give this a 2/5. This band is undeniably pleasing, even if the approach they took on this album doesn't appeal to the more critical side of me.
Jazz rock pioneers. Nice listening experience.
很欢脱，但少点个性
funky
Pretty decent record, nice café background music. It was quite nice for a Sunday morning Got more boring as it went on
I wish I'd listened to this before Aja, this has changed my view on Steely Dan
This album was pretty good. Found myself enjoying almost every song and getting into a good groove. Only reason it isn't a 4 is cause I can't see myself listening to it again
Nice to listen to
22/01/25 I'd never heard of Steely Dan until this challenge. 2 albums in and he is a good find.
Good album
Not bad - very unsurprising tho, it was exactly as I expected it to be and that's a bit meh
My Old School is the big hit on this album, but many if the other tracks are just as enjoyable. Show Biz Kids and King of the World bring it down a little bit for me. So not quite five stars but still an enjoyable album.
Enjoyable meandering through early pop culture - nice but not great
Very well produced.
Who doesn't love Bodhisattva and Show Biz Kids? Or all of it, really. Not epoch defining, and tainted a bit by being a favorite of some real douches, but such a lovely thing.
Steely Dan as actual band and it’s not their best album but certainly their most badass.
Play but please don't sing!
Mäßiges Album der 70er im Gibsy Stil. Zwar hat das Album einige passable Momente in „Pear of the Wuarter“ und „The Boston Rag“ , doch alles im allem ist unterdurchschnittlich.
i'm a fairly big steely dan fan and i have to say, this is probably my dark horse pick for favorite steely dan album. i think it fits a nice balance between the more catchy rock music and jazzy side without going overboard either way. all the songs here are really great - 'bodhisattva,' 'the boston rag,' 'show biz kids,' 'my old school,' and 'king of the world,' are all all-timers for me and i think compete with the best of what steely dan had to offer. of course, with any steely dan, the musicianship is great and the songs are smooth but can be bitingly bitter ('show business kids making movies of themselves, you know they don't give a fuck about anybody else'). just an all time great record, in my opinion.
Love the Dan, pop stylings
I didn’t get It
Not their best, but has a couple favorites.
Love Steely Dan!
One of the hardest things about doing this project is finding out that all the dads in your life were actually right about a lot of these bands. This certainly applies to the dad band to end all dad bands - it's innovative, its got a consistent sound but it doesn't rest on a single musical concept either and god damn can they really play the shit out of these instruments. I don't think there is a single miss on this one.
It tastes like tomato potato soup. It's not strongly stimulating but has a mild yet subtly tangy kick.
Some high level wankery. I really hope this is the last Steely Dan record I have to listen to on this list.
Yawn…
Oh, it's finished!
Yeah it's ok. This type of music just doesn't do anything for me
Pretty good but a couple stinkers. Great arrangements and solos
I enjoyed this a lot, and I'm surprised that none of the Steely Dan songs I know are on here. In fact, none of these songs appear in Spotify's top 9 most popular Steely Dan songs, and the tenth was my favorite from this album. "My Old School" is so great, and it's made better coming after the annoying "lost wages" song. I was thinking about Steely Dan recently because I was listening to Field Music, a band I love, and was wondering what you would call their genre. I settled on calling it Steely Dan. I'm glad this album was on here, as it may not have gotten on my radar without this.
Boring.
I've never really got into Steely Dan. I quite like the songs that I know. The rest is fine, but I'm not likely to go out of my way to listen to an album.
It was alright
Stop with this crap
About 30 seconds of each track of this is enough
This was good.
2,5
Steely Danin kappaleissa on kyllä letkeä meno. Tykkään kyllä, tulee hyvä fiilis. Parhaat: Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, My Old School
Only knew the singles but for what i always took as a yacht rock staple actually has a lot of great jamming capabilities. I see why these guys are always listed as essential 70's listening. Reminds me of all the great Japanese city pop that has come to be known in the last few years and wonder if these guys were the progenitors of the style. King of the world, Bodhisattva, Razor Boy and Your Old School are the hits for me. Good warm summer twilight music. Great yacht rock music.
One of those annoying albums where I like some songs but dislike others. Can’t stand the jazzy lift-music types like Razor Boy and Your Gold Teeth, but The Boston Rag and My Old School are great.
Sounds just like every other Steely Dan album, but with less recognizable songs. This one doesn’t have that charm that they often seem to not be able to find. Some of these songs can drag just a bit. Sorry, Dan. You get better. 3/5
Yacht rock at it’s finest
I’m enjoying the Steely Dan this list has exposed me to
A decent listen. Bodhisattva is a pretty good song. The rest is okay.
Vocals didn't really do it for me otherwise probably would be a 5. Could listen to steely dan jam all day
Good vibes
Quite good actually. I might listen to more Steely Dan. Didn't know them before and I think this album was a great introduction. Solid 4 for me. Loved the more interesting timing on the melodies without to much weirdness or lame stuff.
This is rock music but it has elements of rhythm & blues, jazz, soul, Latin, and a little funk sprinkled in as well. I just might be a Steely Fan!
breakfast suitable but that’s it
4.25
Steely Dan have some good songs but there aren’t any in this album.
Classic band but not their best album. My old school is such a great song.
This is like a really cheesy version of lots of things I actually like. I’m not sure how to articulate why this fails for me, but it feels so formulaic and structured for music that is meant to be fun and loose. I dunno. This was a miss.
2.75
Wasn’t expecting to hear
It’s no ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’. They’re starting to get into their prog and jazz bag, so this is a transitional record and sounds like it. I liked it fine.
Another banger album from Steely Dan, even despite Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie not being on this one. The playing is just so top notch here that’s what drives it, and the album doesn’t overstay its welcome at all. Great.
Didn’t enjoy this as much as Can’t Buy a Thrill. I was initially thinking 2, but it’s an average album
Pretty standard Steely Dan: smooth, skillfully executed, boring-ish.
Love Steely Dan. Great music. Not a bad song in the bunch.
dum dum di dum .. netter plätschernder hintergrundsound, keine aufreger, keine hinhörer.
Etwas unschlüssig, aber wirkte auf mich sehr gewöhnlich ohne in Erinnerung zu bleiben.
Meh. 2/5
The other steely was better. I didnt like nothing about this
Dit is een prettig album zeg. Gezapig, maar heel fijn gezapig. Een warm dekentje. Weer een soort vibrafoon erbij, congaatje, een pedal steel slide achtige toestand en verder natuurlijk een setje prima normale gitaren en een drummer die in dienst staat van de band maar dat heel prima doet. Redelijk onopvallende maar toch best prettige 70's zang inclusief harmonieën. Toen mannen nog niet bang waren om een beetje hoog en gevoelig te zingen. Het is niet zo dat elke track heel memorabel is en in een playlist gezet moet worden, maar als geheel is het wel lekker om zoiets gewoon aan te zetten en lekker te laten uitvloeien tot het einde. 4 tot 5 sterren.
So, so close to the platonic ideal of Steely Dan. They're on the cusp.
Nice album. I give it a 3.5, but better than many of my 3s, so elevating to 4.
More rock than jazz compared to their other albums. Not a fan of their lyrics but a good shift from their usual style. 3.5
Steely Dan definitely deserves to be on this list but I'd probably pick a different album, like either album the one is sandwiched between. That said, it's a good record. I give it a light 4
Fav song: The Boston Rag I feel like this album just didn't have any stand out HITS - a bit filler for me.
On enchaine les BANGERS, ça me met de bonne humeur! Premier album que j’ai écouté de Steely Dan, Countdown reste un classique rockojazz dans mon catalogue. C’est peut être pas un 5 instantané pour tous, mais tout le monde peut y trouver son compte
It was alright
I guess if I were a cool dad in the past I would listen to this.
Didn't care for it too much. 2.4 stars
https://youtu.be/mAcUPTWvjJQ?si=n1TVh0ClrzO3yp39 (Pretty good stuff though)
Cool, harmonies and great musicians I can see why people like this. I’m just not one of them.
This band just got better and better and better and better and..........
Funnily enough, I think this was the first Steely Dan I listened to in full, maybe like 13 or 14 years ago. I didn't really take to it at the time, and haven't listened again since. Now that I've listened and loved Aja for a long time though, I appreciate this one much more. It's a clear step in the evolution from their first album of radio friendly guitar rock to Aja's smooth jazz rock.
Super mid
I finally got one of my favorite albums of all time. Steely Dan is in my top 5/6ish bands ever, and Countdown to Ecstasy is 1 of my 3 10/10 Steely Dan albums. This album is simply great song after great song. So here’s a quick blurb on each song. Bodhisattva has some killer guitar and honestly some really underrated drumming. Razor Boy has some genuinely upsetting lyrics while being an upbeat and chipper; also that keyboard(?) at 2:30 is so good. The Boston Rag was initially my favorite on the album. When the chorus kicks in with some menace, I’m always blown away. Your Gold Teeth has some more insane lyrics, but the playing is so phenomenal you forget about that. Show Biz Kids has my favorite background vocals and has amazing energy. My Old School is simply perfect; it is such a great pothead (at least for me), and as someone from California, I love it so much (I did not think the girl could be so cruuuuuuel!) Pearl of the Quarter has really grown on me as the emotional detour from all the cynicism and sarcasm, although that’s probably still in this song too. King of the World is an amazing ending with some more killer playing while pretty much summarizing the album: “Assassins, cons, and rapers. Might as well die”
I fuckin love Steely Dan
The only emotion that this album evoked was a constant and nagging desire to listen to something, anything, else
Didn’t know what to expect from this. Have heard references to Steely Dan that have ridiculed them but also some that have made them sound amazing. They were perfectly solid. Simpsons: Yes
Enjoyed this, would listen to more.
Steely Dan is the best of dad rock. Just great quality and enjoyable.
Absolute classic. Though not as awesome as Katy Lied.
I have listened to Steely Dan before and have never been a big fan- their songs seem to all have a similar sound and come across a little pretentious. I actually found myself enjoying this album- there is still that quick vocal style that doesnt really mesh with tge instrumentation sometimes, but the songs were varied an enjoyable. We got to hear a lot more of the rock elements and experimentation than their hits. Overall- solid album.
i love steely dan
This feels more warm and welcoming than I remember the earlier album feeling like. Less outdoor party vibes, more warm inside relaxing vibes. Faves: Bobhisattva, My Old School
Hmmm, more consistent (and consequently slightly less fun) than "Can't Buy a Thrill", and not as yachty as "Pretzel Logic", I think this is my least favorite of the Steely Dan albums on the list. Still pretty solid, though - I can see myself coming back to it. Fave track - "King of the World" at the moment, but maybe more listens would unlock more faves.
3.5
Jammy, old style music, liked it!
3☆/5 10.13.2024
Great guitar work, a lot of fun to hear. Nice and chill. Starts out with a banger, Bodhisattva. Razor Boy and Your Gold Teeth are good chill songs. My Old School is a lot of fun. Pearl Of The Quarter is a pleasure to listen to. Best song: Pearl Of The Quarter
The nicest thing iI can say is i am just never in the mood to hear Steely Dan. That being said, for about 45 seconds, the middle of that first song was interesting.
Early 70’s acid vibe.
While I didn't immediately hate it, by the time it had finished I really wanted to drown them in a bathtub. Definitely not my cup of the hot and steaming.
probably a joyful day for the number one steely dan man paxo8 i thought it was okay and alright
Muahahahaha... Steely Dan. This is my dojo. A big step up from their debut album, particularly if you're a fan of the jazz-rock fusion genre they'd eventually cling to in their later works. Gone are the fun but cliched radio hits of Do It Again and Dirty Work, and instead we get a diverse whirlwind of jams, miniature-prog projects, and some truly epic solos (mostly on guitar). And only a year later! And, for 1973, it sounds completely different from anything released before it. Man, there's just so much to like here. From the crazed slam-dunk opener of Bodhisattva to the glowing pseudo-pop Razor Boy with its unpredictable harmonies and percussive bells, to the extended shredding solos in The Boston Rag and Your Gold Teeth, to the brassy joy and snarkiness of My Old School... Big shoutout, too, to King Of The World, one of the more underrated Steely Dan tracks – for its excellent synth solos, floaty/psychedelic guitar lines, jolting chorus harmonies, and a very odd lyrical theme for Dan standards. Normally their lyrics are tutorials on how to prepare high-quality meth or about the regret of hiring a pair of 19-year-old prostitutes, but here we have this post-apocalyptic theme more akin to something by R.E.M. It's a great closer to a great album. The two weakest tracks here are probably Pearl Of The Quarter (the line "voulez voulez voulez vous" being its only real notable moment) and Show Biz Kids (that weird whiny shouting towards the end emphasises my feelings about a 5-minute jam over one chord and the backing vocalists repeating "lost wages" for its entire duration). And I guess the album art is kind of goofy. But the music is so darn fun to listen to that you can't really fault ol' Don and Walt. 5/5 Key tracks: Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, Your Gold Teeth, My Old School, King Of The World
Very Good album
Meh
First song woke my kid up from his nap and had him dancing like a fool and playing imaginary piano on my tummy :)
Not as good as Pretzal Logic - the previous Steely Dan album this list gave me. Pretty boring all over, despite the artistry on display from the musicians.
2.5/5
copado 7/10
It was okay. Wouldn't bother with again
Solid album
A lesser talked about one by them. Good stuff.
What are lyrics, didn't understand them.
Yeah, well. It is what it is, isn't it. Will I be upset if I'd missed it. Not really. Track one got me right excited. Then it took a complete nose dive really. 2.5
this s pretty good. Thank you mr dan
After a couple of albums of Steely Dan and a solo project from Donald Fagen I can now safely say that Steely Dan is just not for me.
...