COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY

Round two in the Steely Dan offering and what an epic release. From the opening foot tapping Bodhisattva to the grand King Of The World closing the album off there is not a single below par song. The high standard SD displayed on their studio albums especially from Countdown To Ectasy onwards shows that they are complete perfectionists. Seldom have I personally experienced such attention to perfection in output of albums other than say perhaps Pink Floyd ( a debateable point for many I am sure). A different band and different music I know, but the same work ethic is there right before your eyes or ears which makes an album like this such a pleasure to listen to. My personal favourite off this second album is The Boston Rag closely followed by the insidious ' Show Biz Kids. Everything is here from Brooklyn, to East Coast varsity nuances to L.A. California lifestyle. The glitz, the glamour, the fame, the big deal, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Hard to define but SD manage to convey a whole generation of sound on Countdown To Ectasy. The album needs to be listened to in it's entirety to full appreciate what essential progressive jazz rock is all about. To coin a phrase from another band, it is art as a Moving Picture. No session listening to this album will be the same.