Countdown To Ecstasy

What a fantastic album. My Old School is a top 3 Steely Dan track and is a blast to hear. The whole album rocks pretty hard, and you know it’s going to right out of the gate. An absolute gem.

My Old School var en bra låt. När jag lyssnar på den här skivan dras mina tankar till David Bowies plastic soul (Station to Station) och Rollings Stones Exile on Main Street. En harmlös skiva. Ska lyssna igen och se vad jag tycker.

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.

Despite having moments of musical excellence, Countdown to ecstasy lingers in an underwhelming dad rock bore for great deal of its run time

3.5

Each song sounded like a independent standalone piece of work and lent to the overall sound and mood of the album as a whole. The songs each have their own sound and utilization of compositional devices lend to their individuality. I can see how Steely Dan is an influential as they are.

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

This is the first time I've listened to a full album from Steely Dan. I've heard several songs from Steely Dan, but I was never sure if I liked the band or not. I'm still not sure. I have heard two songs from this album before ("Bodhisattva", "My Old School"). "Your Gold Teeth" got me tapping along as the music played. "Show Biz Kids" was the track that had me saying 'no, thanks'. I'm still not sure about Steely Dan. This album gets an "it's okay... I guess".

Instrumental aspect is really groovy and chill. However the vocals have a cool sound to them, they aren't particularly interesting but neat. Each song has a similar groovy feel. Some parts during a song start sounding a bit repetitive such as in the song Show Biz Kids.

This album was a bit repetitive, but I liked the first few songs. There were some cool guitar solos and guitar parts as well.

Have nothing good or bad to say, I enjoyed it somewhat

Album cover: 5/5 Grooviness: 5/5 Singing: 2/5 (I wasn't a huge fan of his voice and lyrics weren't that interesting to me) Had some nice jazzy solos and electric organ. Your Gold Teeth was my favorite song. I didn't like the second half of the album as much though.

I'm not a steely fan. I found this incredibly bland and uninspiring.

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

Nothing special, but perfectly listenable

Seriously underwhelming dad rock that fails to try something new

Great album. Love Razor Boy

meh

I liked listening to this one, some of the songs gave me an elevator music vibe. only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is it didn't stand out to me a lot

19th May 2021 Listened to this throughout the day in the flat whilst cooking, in the shower etc. Didn't really enjoy this one, a bit too white dad rock for me trying to be something it's not.

2/5

less good than the others

Hanging out by the pool vibe. I like SD and this album is just ok.

Expected to like it more than I did

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

Classic dad rock. Didn’t really stand out as much as I hoped.

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

Hmmm. I don't know. I listened to it a lot today and it's OK. I can't see myself loving it, but it was quite good fun.

Perfect

Not as good as Can't Buy a Thrill. Sounded ok, but honestly kind of bored me.

omg I'm so over the way this makes me feel like an old man.

Kinda just sounded like a worse version of yesterday's Steely Dan. More interestingly, what are the chances of there being two consecutive albums with the same artist? Sounds like a good probability problem

Wow, I guess I hate Steely Dan. This is so boring. It’s like when you go to a bar and there’s some house band playing. Couldn’t wait for it to be over. No thanks.

me like it | sounds newer than it is! great :)

Love the album cover art. I think that's the gateway to this album - the skeleton key to see through the perfect arrangements, pristine sound. These watercolor people in chairs are the target of the Dan's sharp satire. The "enlightened" (Bodhisattva), the complacent (Razor Boy?), the privileged (Show Biz Kids). The songs are catchy and complex. The solos don't waste a single note. The drums are air tight. After finally listening closely to the Dan (thanks 1001, and Josh) I think I've figured out the element that's always turned me off about them. They're so far above it all. They're not invested. Their lyrics drive a spear into imperfect people, but their music is perfected beyond criticism. They refuse to show their flaws while deconstructing the flaws of everyone else. It make sense in a pop-psychology sense. The most outwardly critical people are secretly the most self-critical. I asked myself, "well what about Father John MIsty, he criticizes absolutely everything that's ever existed (Pure Comedy), and you love his schtick". I answered myself, "well, good question, but he also is willing to risk his own pride and burn himself down with the terrible world" and then I stared at the middle distance for a 30 second count. I enjoyed the hell outta this record, especially King of the World. B+

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.

Interesting

I mean... I hate to say it but this album was not very entertaining, which has always been an important part of Steely Dan's first album in my mind. Not that the music isn't popularly entertaining, but that the music itself has little interesting instrumental parts. the lyrics seemed pretty straightforward. there was a bit to chew on here and there. I especially liked the line 'my baby's a pearl in the quarter' in 'Pearl of the Quarter.' But in general, kinda lackluster. kinda like they formulated the sound of their first album. 3/5 for being decent, but more like a 5/10.

solid psych rock, but feels very loose

An album that lives up to the expectations of a band named after a steam-powered dildo in "Naked Lunch." In some moments, they are taking something seriously enough only to cut it apart, whether it is the new-age spirituality of the West-coast (Bodhisattva) or its excessive consumerism (Show Biz Kids). In other moments, they offer up vignettes of life's losers (The Boston Rag; My Old School; Pearl of the Quarter). And, at their very best, they are offering up an often impenetrable statement on the state of their world (Razor Boy; Your Gold Teeth; King of the World).

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

Not really for me, but very technical album

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.

I liked The Boston Rag and Show Biz Kids

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

Bisschen groovier, hab ich mir gedacht, aber auch bisschen viel more of the same. Noch nicht so geschliffen wie auf Aja, natürlich. Aber das Rhodes-Solo in Your Gold Teeth ist schon geil, King of the World fand ich auch super.

Destila calidad, buena voz y mucho sintetizador. No me ha despertado muchas emociones

Very skilled, good sound and vocals. Wild ride.

There's much better Steely Dan than this album. There's much better everything than this album. I haven't figured out why it's on this list but it's not good and not special or important.

This was definitely easy listening. I have heard a lot about Steely Dan but never really taken the time to listen, I could listen to them some more.

Rockband classic

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.

It's Steely "polarizing" Dan. I still love Aja better than this one, but c'mon, it's Steely fucking Dan.

I'm not sure if I've listened to this record before. It felt a little... gimmicky? Was that the point? I didn't like 'Bodhisattva,' and 'My Old School' was forgettable. I like their other big records more, I swear!

I refuse to listen to Steely Dan

Bon album, mais n'a pas éveillé en moi des sentiments particuliers.

i liked it but nothing too special for me

Not bad. Not my favorite. I got bored listening to it.

Have not done enough cocaine to fully appreciate this album. Best I can do is 2 stars.

Steely Dan. It’s good.

Meh

Pretty good not my style tho

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.

I do love me some Steely Dan, and this record's sound reminds me a lot of CSN&Y. Not as many hits as other Steely Dan albums though.

This album was good. Nothing too noteworthy for me but nothing that stuck out as being bad either. A good listen for some classic rock.

Nice as

Sweet Rosalie, she's working at the five & dime train back to Hackensack with rosemary wine Yo-deedle doidle dee, cocaine We both like to do cocaine

Steely Dan is one of those sharp break artists for a lot of people, love it or hate it... I fall firmly on the love side, though I can see the objections of a superficiality... But to me that all-surface high gloss is what it's all about. Hardly needed to listen to this one, it's basically on repeat somewhere in the back of my head, along with Pretzel Logic and Can't Buy a Thrill - to me, jus gr about perfect.

Pretty pretty solid

I'm noticing a lot of these albums start out kinda weak but then get a lot better with each song. This is one of those albums.

Why was this album so fun? Steely Dan rules so hard

Good album

Твёрдое четыре с плюсом:)

There isn't much to dislike about this album, but similarly there isn't much to like either. It's difficult to have any opinion at all. Nothing much happens, good or bad. The averageness of it begins to hurt about halfway through. By then I would have been happy to hear something I disliked, just to get away from all the bland.

Day 10 of Music You Must Hear Before You Die and the album of the day is Countdown To Ecstasy by the legendary American rock band Steely Dan. I grew up hearing Steely Dan on the radio and know most of their popular songs. I must admit that, shamefully, I’ve never owned any of their records or dove deep into any of their deeper cuts. I must say, the music these guys have made is as American as it gets, especially when it comes to rock n’ roll. Sure, this is rock music but it has elements of rhythm & blues, jazz, soul, latin and a little funk sprinkled in as well. The biggest standout is the guitars, vocals, and horn arrangements. Lead singer Donald Fagen’s voice is iconic. So warming and haunting at the same time. The songwriting of Walter Becker (RIP) and Donald Fagen is very catchy and intelligent. You can tell that these are some really smart fellas and care A LOT about how their music is crafted. The arrangements and mixing are impeccable. The singles released from this album are Showbiz Kids and My Old School. Both are great songs. My personal favorites were Pearl Of The Quarter, Bodhisattva, and the closing track, King Of The World (very funky almost Isaac Hayes sounding instrumentation). What I like the most about Countdown To Ecstasy is each song has a theme. I was introduced to different characters and felt immersed in some of the stories. I’m so glad I got to listen to this album and get to know more about Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Steely Dan!

Some very cool tracks on here, all of them well crafted.

I had fun with this album.

I'm lukewarm towards Steely Dan even on their best albums, and this didn't feel like one of their best albums. Pretty sleepy at points, and while it's admirable they try different sounds in a few songs, overall this thing feels inessential to me.

Another solid 70s rock album.

old pop . ok 3.5

'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

Reminds me of if jazz, swing and jam bands had a baby. It's a little frenetic for me sometimes, a little cheesy other times.

Did not care for this or Steely Dan. It was fine. Really did not like the noises I heard on Show Biz Kids. No thanks.

Won’t you take me by the hand?

not my fave steely dan, but still nice

helt okej grej

Ensimmäisellä soitolla alkuun vähän tökki, mutta meni niin paljon biisejä ohi, että kuuntelin uudelleen. Toinen ja kolmas soittokerta häiriintyi ikävästi töiden takia. Neljäs ja viimeinen soittokerta kotosalla tuotti tuloksen. Tykkäsin kyllä levystä, mutta ei tuo nyt kuitenkaan mikään masterpiece ollut.

Good outing. Steely Dan’s vibe is perfect for a Friday.

Some great songs here.

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'

Meh.

Lite tråkigt men ett par goa melodier men inget jag väljer att lyssna på igen.

Countdown to Ecstasy? More like Countdown to Snoestasy!

Groovy, rock/pop, varierende, lækre hooks, Chicago-vibes

I wasn't sure what I thought about this one, but I read that they focused on incorporating some jazz into their sound, so I listened again, and it was clear as day. Kind of weird how articulating a genre or influence of a genre can lock everything into place. Not as single-friendly as Can't Buy A Thrill, but still just as enjoyable. Best track: King of the World

Classic dad rock. Not their best work but there’s still some tasty riffs in there

En lähellekään ekstaasia päässy, mut ei tää huonokaan ollut

Really liked this jazza rock album. Fav track is probably King of the World

More of this, please. The polish of the debut with good instrumentation, complex arrangements (but without the noodling of full-on prog), and nothing cheesy in the songwriting. An optimistic five, but the contrast with the earlier album is what sells it for me. Fitting to look back and see my previous exposure to Steely Dan was the closer of this very album, arguably the weak point of the tracklist.

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!

Show Biz Kids is nice. The Man Don't Give a Fuck by Super Furry Animals has taken that sample. But Donald Fagen is being an ass about it so that's -1!