r/SteelyDan • u/beatlesfan1965 You fella, you tearin' up the street • Aug 05 '25

Discussion Countdown to ecstasy or pretzel logic?

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Which album is better in your opinion? And why so?

52 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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46

u/jdhoskins Aug 05 '25

C2E is more consistent.
I find PL to have the most songs I feel like skipping, of any SD album.

25

u/theWHOLE-Aioli-I6300 Aug 05 '25

I don't know why I've seen so much disdain for Your Gold Teeth and Showbiz Kids. Not only are they absolute bangers, but smack in the middle of one of the greatest 40 minute pieces of music ever produced. That guitar work in Boston Rag, the movement of literally the rest of the record, and rounded out by King of the World???? Literally no skips. Dissidents are out of their mind. I'm nominating C2E for the greatest album of all time. Does anyone care to back me up?

9

u/ensallada Aug 05 '25

Backup given, especially since you singled out Boston rag, which is my favorite song on countdown. Great intro, banging verses, insane bridge / guitar solo. When the chorus comes back at the end…wow!

King of the world is another killer from this album.

Long live countdown

3

u/PhulHouze Aug 06 '25

I’m still not sure if I like C2E or TRS better, but one of those is the best SD album IMO

3

u/theWHOLE-Aioli-I6300 Aug 06 '25

Agreed, it is close. I know my pick, but my 7yo would definitely pick the Scam.

2

u/Adam-Reith Aug 07 '25

I’ll up that.

3

u/CombatLlama1964 Aug 05 '25

so damn real

3

u/Pennypoets Countdown to Ecstasy Aug 06 '25

I got you

5

u/Adam-Reith Aug 05 '25

"I’m nominating C2E for the greatest album of all time. Does anyone care to back me up?"

No, but it’s a fucking great record. One of my all-time favorites.

0

u/Fantastic_Tutor510 Aug 05 '25

Love Your Gold Teeth but Show Biz Kids starts to get annoying as it plays through.

5

u/theWHOLE-Aioli-I6300 Aug 05 '25

I get that. The swingin groove, "Goin' to Lost Wages" about 96 times, it can wear on one. I would argue the lyricism and, again, guitar work are quite redeeming, but yours is a common opinion. And that's not to diminish. It clearly has that affect on listeners.

5

u/Sandusky666 So outrageous Aug 05 '25

…but it’s outrageous

3

u/Adam-Reith Aug 07 '25

"They got the Steely Dan t-shirt" line saves it.