COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY

Have you ever avoided listening to a release by one of your favorite bands, for fear that it would not meet up to your expectations? Steely Dan has been one of my favorites for decades, but I've always avoided Countdown to Ecstasy. I think it has to do with the fact that the album is lesser known and the songs are relatively unfamiliar. Might be an interesting forum discussion, if it hasn't been done already. Why would you avoid particular releases, even by a band you like?. I never listened to Countdown to Ecstasy in full until just recently, and I definitely waited too long! This is a 4 star release in my book.

This is a major step up from Can't Buy A Thrill. SD's first album has some great songs, and a few that are mediocre. Countdown to Ecstasy shows a lot of progress (isn't that the point?) in songwriting and the combination of elements that makes Steely Dan great. There isn't a bad song here; they're all good to great. I wonder if Becker and Fagen were keeping their brilliance under wraps for their first album, or if they actually progressed so far between Can't Buy a Thrill and the current release.

My personal favorites are "Bodhisattva", "My Old School", and "King of the World". "My Old School", in particular, has some of the best guitar soloing ever. I don't know why Becker/Dias/Baxter (since individual solos aren't listed) aren't considered some of the best guitar players in rock music. I think Pretzel Logic/Aja/Katy Lied are Steely Dan's masterpieces. However, I should know that our friends Becker and Fagen would never steer me wrong! Countdown to Ecstasy gets a full four stars from me.