Aja

jazz rock

Groupe inconnu. Intéressant. J'apprécie bien les divers chorus guitare/clavier/sax, et certaines parties de batterie (Aja) ou lignes de basse (Peg). Mais je me passerais bien du chant qui n'apporte pas grand chose et donne des morceaux bien trop sages. A la même époque Weather Report (par exemple) proposait un Jazz Rock bien plus créatif, et ... instrumental. =>3/5

Peg is definitely a standout track. As for the rest of the album, it’s nice and laid-back, with a very chill vibe. It’s the kind of music that wouldn’t be out of place while you’re waiting for your name to be called at the dentist’s office.

Solid dad rock I guess.

Goes alright, but they definitely have better albums.

I kind of like Peg, I Got the News; I almost like Josie

maybe it's because my yoga instructor regularly plays Steely Dan, but I found this a very relaxing, chill listen. 3.5 stars

I don’t think I was or ever am in the mood for this.

Pretty good, great recording.

Steely Dan - you get what you pay for. It's OK. 3/5

I don't know what genre I thought Steely Dan were, but Jazz/yacht rock was not it.

haha every time i hear steely dan specifically, im like “oh no here comes some prog-rock nonsense.” but then i kinda enjoy some of it. i cannot say that about other bands like this.

Can't Buy A Thrill me introduziu ao Steely Dan e, por uma coincidência enorme, foi o ultino álbum que ouvi antes do Aja. Diferentemente do álbum de estreia, esse não me pegou tanto. O Aja tem um ar mais "jazzy", com frases mais elaboradas em todos os instrumentos e pequenas inserções de solos, o que seria um ponto positivo para mim já que a elaboração traz um movimento pra música e quebra da monotonia, mas em comparação com o primeiro, achei as músicas menos empolgantes e menos marcantes.

I normally love steely dan but this album was so boring I didn’t even realize I had already finished it and it was halfway through the second loop before I noticed. Just so light as to basically not exist.

Growing up with AM radio, I know the 3 hits like the back of my hand. The rest of the album was more of the same, just more boring but inoffensive.

3+

great vibes overall (i just know myself and that i won't always have the patience for lengthy songs like that but still enjoyed them) faves: home at last, i got the news, josie

Just okay for me. 3/5

Może być, ale nic szczegolnego. Takie do posiadówki wieczorem przy winku lub whisky z drugą połówką. 3/5

Reminds me of DMB

Nice and short too, not much else to say.

...

Classic

I liked it, but it didn’t make me feel deeply and the guitar was a little more funk than I usually go for

Hyggeligt og meget samplet hehe 3-4/5

Hmm. Mixed feelings on this one. It’s not as good as Can’t Buy a Thrill, too many cornball songs. But Deacon Blues and Peg are unbelievably good songs. Like Deacon Blues might be one of the greatest songs ever written holy shit. But the cornball songs…….

good just not exceptional

just a good album

For the first time in I don't know how many listens the album finally resonated for me. The intention of the notes is spot on, the production is clean / crisp, and the talent is top notch. With that said, it still feels like lounge music to me.

This is the opposite of yesterday's album, I really wanted to like this one more than I did, but was just struggling to get into it that much. It's definitely not bad, they've moved onto a much more jazz-influenced sound in the five years since Can't Buy a Thrill, with longer songs and more jamming. It's perfectly enjoyable and they're clearly all very talented musicians, but honestly I just found it a bit boring. It's like a little too smooth for my liking, everything just kind of has this easy-going pace that forces it to the background a bit. I guess it's kind of the general criticism of the "yacht rock" sound, a bit overly polished and light. "Peg" is by far the best song on the album, and I enjoyed "Josie" too, but then there was a few fine songs and a few that didn't do as much for me. Maybe I'll change my mind on Steely Dan at some point, but this was just fine for me. Favorite song: Peg Other: Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Home At Last, Josie 6/24/24

Pretty chill.

70/100 After three songs it does all start to sound really similar... Still a very good Jazz-Rock album!

This is an album when it was released in 1977 I wouldn’t have given any attention to at all, let alone buy it. But over the years I have become aware of its critical value and the fact that nowerdays it is considered a classic. For that reason I have tried once or twice for it to resonate with me and appreciate what all the fuss is about. The best thing about the album is that it is very typical of the music which was around in the mid 70’s. Before I checked it reminded me very much of the UK’s long hot summer of 1976 but then realised it was released a year later. Nevertheless the jazzy soft rock feel of this and other albums reminds me of many memories of happy summer moments. It is a nice album to listen to and relax. It doesn’t get my juices flowing but to read or gently snooze outside in a warm breeze then it is just the ticket. Production wise it is also often cited as an album to test high end audio equipment on. This is true even on my modest middle of the road gear. Instrument separation and a wide soundstage is very apparent and adds to the overall enjoyment. I still haven’t bought the album but agree is probably one I should own at some time. 3/5 21/6/24

Nice music, easy listening

The last minute of the song Aja is pretty sweet, but for me it's not really worth sitting through the previous 6 and half minutes of, admittedly opulent, yacht rock.

Ok. Music for musicians

Someone said that merge of jazz and funk is called junk. That is a merge of said two genres, but it's certainly not junk. 3.5/5.

Fine but pretty boring. 2.5

Jazz rock/white soul album from the late 1970s. It's the kind of music I'd like to listen to in a bar in the background, while I sip my coctail. And this is also the disadvantage of this music: it's good, smooth and really well produced, but not interesting enough to listen to it voluntarily, because it's mostly background music.

I like all the songs that sample this album, but not this album

I liked it, specifically how the instruments have so much space between them. It feels airy and light, even though a lot is going on. According to Wiki, "The jazz-influenced Aja, was released in September 1977. Aja reached the Top Five in the U.S. charts within three weeks, winning the Grammy award for "Engineer—Best Engineered Recording—Non-Classical." It was also one of the first American LPs to be certified 'platinum' for sales of over 1 million albums." I can see that back in 1977. Speaking of engineering, for the New Yorkers in post production, they recorded in the Brill Building.

Not bad, but very background

chill classic rock, dadyacht vibes

Ok, but not for me

Before listening to this, the only one I knew from the album was \"Peg,\" and I like that song even if I feel it's terribly uneven. But honestly, Steely Dan always sound like yuppie jazz to me: too clean, too smooth, and the lyrics are just so smarmy. And I guess this album is also good technically and it has a lot of inspired moments, but it's working towards a sound that I personally don't vibe with. But yeah, it's a fine album, I think. Just not for me.

Pleasant. Have seen this at record stores for a decade and never listened to it.

So naar de purdie shuffle

buttery smooth but this album does nothing for me one way or the other.

A light-rock classic, so everyone says. Intensely crafted, every note perfect, a marvel of production and engineering. So everyone says. Smooth! You can't handle this much smooth! Overall, the sons are cool and detached, but without as much of the wit we'd heard on the other Steely Dan albums on this list (see general rant, below). Three songs in, and I'm feeling they're overlong (Black Cow is the longest 5-minute song I've ever heard). My toe tapped to Deacon Blues, but is that enough? The rhythm section kicks into high gear on Peg. Excellent song, but I admit my grooving was mostly owing to it being used by De La Soul. Then they lost me again with the album's remainder, even Josie. Too slick, too smooth. I always feel like Steely Dan is a band I should like, and 40 years later I'm still waiting for that moment. During the mid-70's Joni Mitchell was experimenting just as much with composition, arrangement, and jazz session players, with results that capture my heart and imagination. Fagen and Becker gave us a still-life. Giving a bonus star for the otherworldly sound of the drums and over precision in the production process. (rant: as usual, too many albums by the same artists. This is the third Steely Dan album I've come across during this project. Do they all need to be there? Does each one bring a unique facet of the artists' work and career? I'd have been happier if the list creator included a "you might also enjoy" footnote so that those interested could explore more of Steely Dan's catalog.)

Generally enjoyable, not mind blowing.

3 - It was fine. Musically I think there is a lot there, but just no emotion for me

Toca hoy banda que sólo ubicaba de nombre. Creo que no conozco ningún hit de ellos: por lo menos, de relacionar x canción con ésta banda. Las voces recuerdan sutilmente a Bowie, supongo que por la época de salida de éste disco y porque Bowie es eterno: también, algo de The Police. En el caso argento, canciones como "Home At Last", a Baglietto y su "Un loco en la calesita". Música muy tranquila. Buena para alguna actividad manual como cocinar.

As mentioned in my other Donald Fagen review, this genre isn't my cup of tea, but that's not to take away from the proficiency of the musicians.

Forgettable muzak played impeccably, 3

A bit jazzy, a bit funky, a bit ska, a bit MOR. My favourite Steely Dan so far. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Peg Date listened: 09/05/24

Much better than Can't Buy a Thrill, but Jazz Rock is not my thing

El jazz-rock sofisticado tiene en este disco una de sus cumbres. Texturas sonoras impolutas y medidas, repletas de melodías y solos de jazz que se mezclan perfectamente con exuberantes fondos instrumentales con una ausencia deliberada de música rock. Destacan el pop brillante de "Peg" y los toques blusísticos de "Deacon Blues".

Cool enough

For all that effort it's fairly average

Familiar and funky – but shifts a little uncomfortably between cool 70s vibe and 80s TV theme. Favourite track: Peg (famously sampled by De La Soul on 'Eye Know')

Peg lifts this boring album to a three

Nice vibe, like funk lounge music

Funky

klart mit yndlings-"det sample kender jeg"-øjeblik vi har haft indtil videre er Peg på dette album, som er blevet samplet af De La Soul på nummeret Eye Know! Kan anbefale at lytte til de to numre lige efter hinanden! Resten var eh, fint. Kunne bedre lide Pretzel Logic. Ville nok have været en 2'er hvis det ikke var for Peg-samplet tbh

Smooooooooooooth

A really fun mix of jazz and pop/rock, not leaning too hard on either and mixing things up to keep it fresh throughout the album. It's a great album to have in the background of a chill evening.

Kinda makes me want to bust a move I didn't know MF DOOM or de la soul sampled this album I desire a complete rejection of societal obligations

was okay

extremely solid production fun, feel good type shit 7-8 outta ten

I said that I'd give something 3 stars if I thought there was something worthwhile for an album. The instrumentation and arrangement is pristine. It's too bad the lyrics are mind-numbingly boring and there's no energy to anything.

Josie was really good

first song reminded me of a nintendo game

a bit jazzy for my tastes

#193. This is beige music for middle aged moms. Like, it's not bad, but it's not anything really. 3/5: milquetoast.

3.5/5

I have a deep dislike for Steely Dan. I don't know why, it isn't rational. Corporate rock, Dentist Rock. Seems kind of soul less. The hits keep coming on this album. I would be fine if I never heard another SD song ever again. I imagine ChatGPT music will sound like SD. Only 40 minutes, thank God. The book calls it a 'landmark in Jazz Rock". One could argue it is neither jazz nor rock. The book loves Steely Dan, 4 albums?! It is in keeping with all the middle of the road synth pop the editor likes. 3* I guess.

Groovy and chill. Happy to have on in the background

My only complaint with this album is how clean it is. It’s almost too perfectly engineered and has lost all of its grit.Steely Dan was pretty great, this album just isn’t for me.

Sababa

Precis som senast är det riktig audiofilporr även denna gång, vilket jag gillar, särskilt när man lyssnar i ett par bra lurar. Tyckte dock att förra skivan var bättre med fler låtar som stod ut. Spontant tycker jag att Peg är bäst på denna, kanske för att den samplats av De la soul. I övrigt är det bra men inte fantastiskt, det saknas lite själ i all perfektion.

Nice, but nothing special

I like Steely Dan’s singles, but honestly I got kinda tired of this by the end.

3 Hadn't listened to Steely Dan before this and was pleasantly surprised about the album. Definitely an older sound but I really liked how it was put together and found the experience really enjoyable!

I didn’t really understand any of the songs, but god damn the production is SILKY

Of stílhreint og snyrtilegt fyrir minn smekk. 40 sessjón spilarar, þar af 6 mismunandi trommarar. Svakalega flottur hljóðfæraleikur samt auðvitað og fínt í kokteilpartý. Never mind the bollocks kemur út mánuði síðar, sem betur fer.

Zu viel Jazz, zu wenig Rock! Soundtechnisch spitze! 3/5

Fun classic album, fun and funky beats

The sound is amazingly clear.

Pleasant and well produced but honestly a bit bland. Feels like late night supermarket muzak….kinda nice muzak just not that interesting

Appreciate steely Dan, don’t really listen to them

I was already familiar with the singles from this album, and the whole album is fine. Steely Dan always sounds so polished and highly produced that it is almost off-putting for me somehow. It's hard to explain. The album is good, but I just have to be in the mood to listen to it.

仍然對爵士不是太感冒、

It was unpleasant, but not necessarily my cup of tea. I didn't realize that Steely Dan sang Peg. I recognized that song and none of the others.

Same review as Pretzel Logic. I don't understand what emotion this music is trying to caption or evoke. The songwriting is creative, but the performance and production are about as boring as it gets. Very listenable, though. Very inoffensive. Favorite song: Peg.

Loving the Wurlitzer solos on this record. They're fun and add a lot to each song. I love the jazzy elements of this album as well. The instruments are also mixed super well. It sounds very good. I don't love Deacon Blues, the story is a little silly in my opinion. I'm starting to like this less and less the deeper I get into this album. I feel like it had a lot of potential from the first couple of songs.

It was good! Not my favorite Steely Dan record, but I liked that they went full on jazz for this record. The extended songs lengths and different instruments was fun. I enjoyed it!

The only thing that I know about Steely Dan is that they were named after a steam powered dildo from William Burroughs’ drug classic The Naked Lunch. This album feels very polished and technically accomplished but like several other classic albums on this list, it didn’t grab me. According to Wikipedia this is classed as Yacht Rock, so maybe I need to own a yacht before I can appreciate it properly?

This is the 2nd Steel Dan album I've had on this list. I loved the first one, so I had high hopes for this. I just don't get it. Nothing about this feels inspired or interesting. Fine as background music, but that's about it. Even Bernard Purdie sounds uninteresting on the 2 tracks he got - that's almost impressive.

Pretty chill throughout. Standout Songs: Deacon Blues Peg

It's not bad. I would listen again. But it's, honestly, kinda boring.

I think this is my second Steely Dan album so far in this journey, and this album was not what I expected nor what I remembered the first album to be like. This one had smooth, soft, sexy vibes. Overall it was fine.

It’s a nice-sounding, well-produced record indeed, but its sparkling yacht cleanliness comes with a sacrifice of the authentic grit that other albums of its generation were able to capture. Josie and Deacon Blue are decent tunes. Not a bad album by any means but Pretzel Logic and Can’t Buy A Thrill are both superior to Aja.

opens with very 70s lounge vibe. more easy listening than I was expecting; not rock.

sounds like Steely Dan... ? They used to play that De La Soul song that samples Peg during timeouts at Sonics games in the 90s.

Greinilega ekkert sem ég veit um Steely Dan .... ágætt stuff svona smooth listening groove .. . alls ekki rokk, allavega ekki Aja

That's not my taste in musik. But ok - relaxing

I know the band’s name and I know some of these songs but it was good to get a refresher and be able to put the band name to their sound. I recognized Peg immediately from being sampled on Three Feet High and Rising.

I liked this more as an adult than I did as a college student. I wasn't over the moon for it or anything, though. Individual songs really popped for me on this listen, but by the time you get to the end of the album each next song feels a bit too similar to the rest of them.

Listening to this in the background of my day it was good enough for a couple of play throughs. The kind of album my boomer parents would have loved.

I quite enjoyed this album. Pretty vanilla sounding 70s jazz rock. Just funny to think that the band was named after a "revolutionary" steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch. Steam powered!

Commercial jazz/rock. These guys are great players, the recording is crisp and clean but the songs bore the hell out of me

Didnt hit as hard as the first one but its a nice groovy one.

Muzak/easy listening is fine, and this is certainly better than standard yacht-rock. The jazzy feel definitely helps it stand out. Top tracks: Deacon Blues, Josie

Huge Steely Dan fan and I always found it odd that this is their "go to" album for many people, as I find the songwriting to be inconsistent and this is probably my least favorite of their various albums. Deacon Blues, Black Cow and Peg are great tunes, but some of the others are completely forgettable (I Got The News, Home At Last) and the title track sounds like a long and boring mistake.

Sounds like elevator rock music

Better jazz album than other ones. Solid 3***.

Was okay, good background classical music

So this album is a great example of how my current emotional state impacts my musical ratings. First played when what I really needed was an energy boost - said 'fuck no' after 2 songs and reverted to Green Day; would have rated a 2 or maybe even a 1. But then this afternoon, cooking and chilling, listened again and felt the right groove. Would rate a 4. I'll dollar cost average to a 3.

Technically this is amazing, from both a musicianship and recording standpoint. But it lacks any edge. There was nothing here that extracted any emotional response from me at all. As such it sounds like top quality lounge music. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Peg

Yacht rock vibes at it's finest

Very 70s, quite fun and smooth.

nisam ga dozivila bas :/

Ok al jazzy mi cesto bude malo dosadnjikavo.

It’s fine Asia thinks Aja is fine, I think if I were someones uncle I’d like it more

Perfect. Perfectly sterile

Pretty groovy album over all. I like steely dans top songs so it was cool to see what other stuff he had. Might listen again. 3/5

JazzRock, 1977 -> 3

Steely Daniel coming through with an extremely solid album. Thank you Steely Daniel, very cool! Best Song: Home at last Worst Song: N/A

Took me a while to get through the album because I had the first track on repeat.

Good production and musicianship

3/5. Didn’t think much of the album until I got to “Home At Last” which I really liked, but this style of music just isn’t for me. A hair too mellow.

Nice sound but nothing spectacular about the music

I like Steely Dan. Good band. Some real classics. The band made its mark at a time where music was astonishingly "good" and a tremendous amount of great music was produced. I always considered Steely Dan as "somewhere in that mix," neither at the top nor the bottom of that very talented and prolific pile. So... does this album stand out, above and beyond? It is well made, professional music and I must shout out to a few gems in the mix. Aside from those, it must have to be someones "thing" to really get into past "yeah, it is pretty good."

3.5/4 So much fun...funky you might say

I hadn't realized how many Steely Dan songs I had heard throughout the course of my life. That was quite enjoyable

Enjoyed something I hadn’t really listened to much before!

Was boring but reminded me of Jordan

It’s an okay album. I’ve never been a huge steely Dan fan and this doesn’t really change my mind. When you listen to the album, it has a jazzier feel than I remember from them….but its just okay.

How many Steely Dan’s albums do we need on this list? It’s perfectly fine but it lacks a bit more substance and excitement overall. [0125/1001]

Black Cow is solid. The rest is a little boring but not terrible

The lyrics feel very bland and dull. Nonetheless, the production is fun and great. I love jazz-rock but I'm not sure about this one, it might not be my cup of tea. The songs feel to long. Won't go back to it. 6/10

Pretty good

The smooth background vocals of Michael McDonald!

Enjoyed that more than expected to.

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Good stuff Still new to steely Dan, feels like I need to listen more to get more into it 1st 3,5

The players are clearly very good. I like the drummer. I have a lot of friends who are way into Dan. Although I liked this, I kind of just wanted to listen to Earth Wind amd Fire instead.

Game show/sitcom intro sounding music. A bit of jazz fusion thrown in the mix. Feels like it would be fun live but this just isn't the kinda stuff I can listen to a whole album of. Which is strange, since on paper, this is my kind of 70s music. The end of the title track was a definite highlight.

Kinda smoooth jazzish. Lots of horns. Would sound good in an elevator or waiting room.

* Very light, smooth, music to go to sleep to. * Definitely not my kind of music generally but maybe if I was in the right mood. I always wanted to get into jazz but maybe it's just not for me if this is one of the greatest albums ever. * The longer I listen the more I think I could be into this. Maybe I'm getting old * OK that's where that De La Soul sample comes from Every song I'm thinking "OK this is not for me" and then 2 minutes in I change to "This solo is banging" and the song gets an extra star or two but overall it's only going to hit my infrequent rotation list.

Not what I expected, in a good way!

Bored me a little bit, but I would not dare to say it is a bad one. Expected Marc rating: 3

Great jazz rock album, but can’t seem to get the sterotype out of my head that Steely Dan is Rich People Music

My first introduction to Steely Dan. The album was enjoyable as a whole but only "Peg" stood out to me as something I'd want to revisit frequently. I see this isn't generally considered the peak Steely Dan album, so I'm looking forward to getting more because this was on the cusp of being something I'd really like but not quite there. 3.5

I believe I enjoyed this

This was my first full listen of Aja. I had previously only been familiar with a few Steely Dan singles. Home At Last was a stand out track for me- excellent jazzy guitar solo and fills. The bluesy solos midway through I Got The News and Josie were really smooth too. I love the bass groove and vocal melody of Josie, but I'm not big on the actual lyrics. I didn't care much for Deacon Blues- the Crimson Tide reference was pretty cringey. Black Cow, Aja, and Peg were mid for me- technically proficient and I can appreciate the craftsmanship, but they just didn't resonate with me much. Overall I enjoyed the music throughout the album a lot, but the vocals and lyrics were VERY hit and miss for me.

pretty good, really only liked the songs i already knew. short and sweet

Easy listenig as far as eye can see

This album is filled with a bunch of AMAZING production, to the point where you start to wonder how an artist was making their music sound this good in 1970. Personally, I think that all the songs in here are not only repeatable but they all have really catchy choruses, synths that draw the listener back in, and it was such a pleasant experience listening to this album.

Not bad but not really my style. Very lounge-music type of listening, a little too soft/easy for my tastes.

A little jazzier (re: too much sax) than I'm usually up for, but I was baking cookies in my kitchen on a rainy Saturday and it was nice to listen to. If I was doing embarrassing mom-dances while mixing up batter, no one needs to know.

uhhh yeah it's steely dan. I've never really found a way to hook into steely dan and I still haven't! they're fine!

Not sure if it's me starting to get burned out to listening to new music every day, but this didn't really move me that much even though I felt like it should. Can't put my finger on why. 'Peg' is a cool song though!

I heared it long ago, back in beginning eighties. It was not so impressif.

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Sin más. Cortito y al pie, está bien.

Out of all jazz-containing albums this one is the closest to my liking. Nice and relaxing

Some great songs on here but it also lacks some of the grit I like on the earlier albums. The songs feel almost too crafted.

Very nice, liked few songs, Deacon blues was my favorite

3.5. I like the funky lounge sounds! Also, has a yacht rock feel. The lyrics of the songs are out there man!

What is a Black Cow? Is he telling her to drink her milkshake and get outta here? Love a good yacht rock album

Gosh idk it was fine

Decent album I hadn’t been aware if

Blues smooth , not sure

Not my cup of tea, and a lot like tea, I drink these songs once in a while for change of pace and to see if my taste has changed. My opinion of these songs have not changed: good musicians playing some catchy hooks, lyrics that are banal, and not especially moving. I enjoy Peg and and couple other songs. But not gonna cry or fuck to the album. Ever.

01) Black Cow - 7,0 02) Aja - 6,5 03) Deacon Blues - 7,0 04) Peg - 7,0 05) Home at Last - 6,0 06) I Got the News - 5,0 07) Josie - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,43 (64/100)

3.2 Decent background music kind of album (as most of Steely is for me). Fave songs: Peg, Aja

Second Steely Dan album to show up on the list; this one I've listened to sometime in winter 2021 prompted by a reason I can't remember. As with their debut, everything kinda blends together for me to a point where I don't dislike the music, but there aren't a lot of moments where I notice myself enjoying what is happening. Two years ago I liked Black Cow, Peg, and Home At Last the most, and the same songs remain my favorites with Josie joining them. This would be a boring record to listen to in most contexts in my life, but maybe around a cozy campfire at the end of a night it could be nice. 5.5/10

Ooo yes. Super smooth, hella enjoyable.

Siendo más o menos del mismo estilo, me ha gustado más que Yes. Lo volvería a escuchar

The Orla Kiely of music - so popular but nothing I ever bought into it. It’s easy to have in in the background but ultimately I just don’t care.

I'm pretty ambivalent about Steely Dan. The musicianship is top-notch (I especially dug the drums on this one), and the songs are catchy and the lyrics are interesting, but the overall feel I get is cold and sterile. And also kind of rapey.

Smooth as a baby’s butt-ass white boy jazz. Not bad.

mmm bien ahi maestro

On the fence I think it's more of a two and a half and there's definitely better steely Dan albums

3.5/5

Enjoyable jazz-pop-rock album. It's the Kmart Radio Network nightmare all over again.

Technically sound, but it's so unexciting to listen to.

Jazz rock. Bastante agradables.

I consider myself a Steely Dan guy but this isn’t their best album, high 3 but not a 4.

Enjoyed it, at least.

Probably would have liked this much more a few years back

Don't know much about this band. This album art would trick a teenager into not getting what they think they paid for. Sounds like rock with foam taped to all the sharp corners. It's fine. I picture them smiling to each other having fun performing for 12 people at a bar on a Thursday afternoon and 4 of those people work at the bar. Is edging rock a genre? Comes as close to rocking as possible, but never does it. Good music to sample and make better. Solid production. 3.5

AJ: Peg!

3/5

Love the jazziness of this bitch. I’m a slut for horns so you already know the state of my tip during this listen. However I did forget most of this album by the end of the weekend regardless of love me some slutty steely Dan but love my friends more. -B

Highlights: Josie, Deacon Blues This would have been a bitch to record and mix, sounds like there are so many components to organise (props to Katz and the music engineers there). Much respect to the session musicians and singers who made an appearance (including Doobie Brothers frontman Michael McDonald, he actually has range!?!), they are on fire. There's something about Aja that feels off that I can't put my finger on. 'Black Cow', 'Aja' and 'Home At Last' would benefit from pruning. The title track is cringe by today's standards. I dunno? It's not my favourite of the four in the book. Overall: 5/10

Suuuuper cheesy seventies glam rock. It's nearly all ballads minus "Peg". Certainly not as good as Can't Buy A Thrill, bit the harmonies are nice and the mix is really solid.

I know is regarded as their best, it's a bit too sterile sounding for me, especially the tone of the bass. I prefer early Dan like Can't Buy a Thrill or Count Down to Ecstasy. I do like Big Black Cow and Peg, Michael McDonald's falsetto on the latter is transcendent!

The track Black Cow is pretty good.

Steely Dan is a very specific guy for a very specific mood. This one is groovy and fun!

So yeah, this is a classic rock album. Very crisp performance, but for a millennial like me, these songs are boring.

actually really liked it, giving it a 3 bc it's not totally deserving of a 4 imo, but I could see myself relistening and rating it higher

It’s probably not fair that I’m giving this the same rating as yesterday’s album— k.d. Lang’s Ingenue— but that’s the problem with the five star system. Lang would’ve gotten a 2.5 if we were giving out half stars, and Steely Dan would’ve gotten 3.5. But I rounded the former up and I’m rounding the latter down. I like Steely Dan, but I’m more partial to the earlier stuff.

Heralded as one of their best - I still can't get into aja as a whole but upon my like 3rd listen, it is better than I remembered it. Black Cow, Aja, Peg and Josie are sleek and great balanced production. I will put this album on if I want to get work done but I dont see myself returning to it all the time. I get why its loved and I do like it - its just not an everyday album for me.

Just OK

I came into this with no clue how to pronounce the name of the album, assuming it was maybe "aha", later learning it's supposed to be "asia". For the life of me I cannot tell if this album is taking itself seriously. Long-winded instrumentals abound, but there's some solid musicianship and interesting instrumentation to back them up. Overall this feels more like a collection of songs than a cohesive album. Definitely more fun in the back half -- it feels to me like the two sides should be directly swapped, to open with the upbeat classic "Peg" and close on the extended fade-out of "Deacon Blues".

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: it was good Favourite song: Track 7 - Josie

Pretty good, an easy listen. Would I listen to it again? No.

Sounds like background music for a lounge bar, but the coolest and most well-produced one that you can listen. It would probably change my evening for the better, so I approve it. (I don't like numeric ratings, I just give 3 to anyone)

Ok tier

блюз джаз немного поп и немного бардовской песни в начале в духе Билли Джоела. Не моя музыка на постоянку, но один трек себе добавила под настроение

Lekkere ochtendmuziek. Eerder funky dan jazzrock m.i. Tikkeltje muzak-ig en daardoor geen hogere score.

It was decent, like other people have said, its background music that you don't really need to pay attention to. Production is really good, but music is dated and some of the songs are bloated into 7 minutes plus.

MEH

Pretty good. Funky, catchy.

you know I love steely dan! Not sure I will listen again, but enjoyed the tracks I heard

Listened to it in the car and it made for a great driving soundtrack, but I don’t know that it would have held my attention otherwise. Production objectively very impressive, but aside from a few riffs and runs the writing was a bit uninteresting. Maybe just not for me! Appreciate that it clocked in at 40 minutes tho and not around 2 hours. If you’re going to write 7-minute songs at least be selective. Favourite track: Black Cow

Good jazzy background music. Never been a huge Steely Dan fan.

These are some long songs. They don't sound bad but I think I find them more distracting then enjoyable. 2 songs I would give a 4/5 the rest are a 2/5 3/5 for the album

Listened Before? N Super funky and jammy stuff. I really grooved with this 70's stuff, baby. I feel like I'm not cool enough for it. Jam on, boys. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Peg

Not really my flavor but the band is tight, sounds good, there are a couple goofy/odd synth things that didn't add to the songs in any way

Beautiful songs but not really my style of music. A lot more instrumentals than I usually like. I really liked Aja.

Over-produced, under song'd, imo.

Okay. But not spectacular.

Another Steely Dan. It's totally fine.

Lounginis rockelis. Nežinau ar man tai visiškai prie širdies, tačiau klausant ryte tikrai maloniai susiklausė ir neprailgo. 3/5

Cool sound, at times very funky while incorporating many unique chord progressions with a slightly jazzy sound. At times a bit boring, due to the drum beat sitting far behind the instruments in the mix and being a steady beat.

Ok, disco

I wasn't a fan of this sort of jazz-rock-funk then, and I'm still not a fan today. The album is not unpleasant, but it just doesn't grab my attention.

This was groovy! Peg was my favorite, instant serotonin. Opened strong with Black Cow (loved that Tatyana Ali sampled it in Daydreamin'!). Second fav was Deacon Blues.

This felt like easy listening music, but it was well-done because it was easy to listen to. Very chill, if a bit uninteresting.

Fine, just not my thing

Well done, but it felt like it lacked any real emotion.

Ja fantastisch. Eerste twee nummers een 5. Daarna werd het wat minder. Zit tussen de 3 en 4. Maar ga toch voor 3

I heard that Steely Dan's Aja is a must listen before even starting the 1001 album challenge. So I listened to it but didn't understand the fuss. This is the second time I've listened to Aja and I still don't get it. It's alright I guess but not the mind-blowing experience I keep reading about.

This was slower and more mellow than I anticipated. Pretty good background music.

Black Cow- 3.6/5 Aja- 3.3/5 Deacon Blues- 3.5/5 Peg- 3.7/5 Home at Last- 3.9/5 I Got the News- 3.9/5 Josie- 3.7/5 Total- 3.7/5

This is so Steely

Just ok. A few catchy songs with enjoyable guitar

Eh. It's ok.

very groovy but was just lacking anything that really blew me away. i enjoyed it.

a little funky for me -- not my taste..!

Not my cup of tea

***3 Nary an edge to be found here. Maybe in the lyrics? Even the moments of angularity go down smooth. Peg is a good song, don't really need much else.

Dadrock.

Goeie muziek voor in het menu van Gran Turismo. Best lekker, maar er staan geen nummers op die er voor mij uitspringen, zoals Dirty Work. 3 a 4

I hear good musicians playing good music. It also has a certain cleanliness to it that makes it a bit too clinical. Not sure why this bothers me because it doesn't in some other artists music, still good.

Some of these songs are solid but in some weird way the album feels a little pretentious

Honestly didn’t know what to expect. but that was pretty pog. songs were a little long tho yuh

This album stands soley on the opening measure. A production work of pure brilliance. After that, there a lot of meh cheesy yacht jazz. These guys are corny as fuck and not that charming.

Meio entediante em geral para meu gosto, rockao demais

Deacon Blues is one of my favorite songs, that said, a lot of the rest of this album is good but not particularly stand-out to me. Steely Dan songs tend to be either catchy or very background in my eyes, and only Deacon Blues and Aja felt like real attention grabbers.

Always thought he was saying "Hey" instead of "Peg". But now I know. I also know all the songs sound like each other.

It is pretty unique sounding, and when they hit their groove, it is unquestionably catchy. Deacon Blues and Peg as great. However, the rest of the album struggles to hold my interest... Josie & Black Cow are okay, but the rest feel like filler that kind of drone on.

Up til now the only way I knew of Steely Dan was through an old Harry Hill joke. Not a bad album, was nice to listen to on the way home from work. Probably won't listen to it ever again though.

Good album, very known

It's good, but not my thing. I am not the best person to rate this genre :/

this is jazz jazz, which is not my favorite to listen to but always impresses me. Aja is like Asia??? that made me do a double take actually when i heard that. it’s cute it’s fun it’s upbeat i feel like i’m on a yacht.

está bien

It's sleek and funky, but can also be a bit too cold and mechanical, like a robots idea of groove.

Old school background listening

2nd listen. This album has definitely grown on me. Still just 3 stars though.

Fällt gegenüber den anderen Alben in dieser Liste ein wenig ab und läuft so durch.

Пара песен очень понравились, остальные скучновато

It’s exactly what I thought a Steely Dan album would sound like. Jazz music meant to bang to.

A good, solid, album that lacks the tracks that really set me on fire.

I have so much cognitive dissonance when it comes to steely Dan. On the one hand the harmony/arrangement/musicianship/production is all top tier, but it’s just devoid of anything emotional or raw. There’s nothing soulful or dark about it and so I just really feel nothing when I listen to it.

I've only really listened to much earlier Steely Dan before and I enjoyed that much more than this. I found the songs to be rather forgettable with none of them really jumping out at me as something i'd actively listen to again.

A masterclass in production and engineering. Good album, some great songs, but there’s a certain campiness(?) that I don’t quite jive with.

This shit is smooth, squeaky clean, impeccable production. The tracks themselves are hits and misses, albeit with a strong start. Aja and Black Cow at least are must listens!

Humm not what I thought it would be

Fun n funky music, great musicians. Music a lil bit too 70s but enjoyed it

You're not making jazz better, you're making rock worse Great album to show off your sound system, though ok im turning around on this, it's classic rock but jazzier, there's a place for that ok seriously, the audio production on this is amazing, it's making my headphones SING Overall: If you're ever at the type of party where this is background music, stuff your purse with hors d'oeuvres, then immediately leave.

funky, dated. guessing 3 unless it surprises me. It's chill but boring. Like wallpaper paint music.

This jazz-rock album was often described as cleaner and more accessible than previous albums. To me it sounds quite poppy and I'm not sure I like that. I think jazz-rock and fusion don't need to go this way. It certainly stands out in this approach but when you have something like Soft Machine and the entire Canterbury scene - why not chose these guys?

This reminds me of a lot of different music all at once. I like other Steely Dan songs more than the ones on this album.

Are you squeezing on my cheeeeeeks Are you grabbin on my buunnnnns

Look, if I just admit that I don't get Steely Dan and probably never will, will you guys stop making me listen to their albums? None of their albums have been bad, and I think this was the best one that I've heard so far, but two songs into the album they all just become muzak playing in the elevator of my mind 3/5 Again, it's not bad, I've just never owned a pair of New Balance sneakers, so I think I'm entirely the wrong demographic for this album

A jazzy sorta rock. Some of it to my taste, some of it not so much Saved tracks: Aja, Peg, I Got The News

Why is the second song on this album 8 minutes long? It's actually not that bad and it makes me kind of angry. I hate it when long songs are really good.

Yet another album with only a few songs but mostly overly long ones. Wasn't a massive fan, it played okay as background music but just nothing remarkable. Fairly tired of the era too which probably doesn't help. Not one to revisit.

Not bad but boring

Don't know a big lot about Steely Dan, was pleasantly surprised with this album, it seems a mix of blues and soft rock, many elements of Nile Rodgers style. It's all a well composed album with good lyrics sung well, arrangements and supported by well played instruments. Has a quality feel to the sound, they've obviously had a good mixing studio when mastering the album. Peg is the best track on the album. Not quite a 4 for me, but it's a heavily weighted 3.

Really easy listening. Nice for a summers day in the garden. Particularly liked Peg, didn't realise they did the original of the De La Soul 'Eye Know' sample.

Not really my taste

It was Ok not my favorite

Das klassische Problem bei Classic Rock: Ist mir über weite Strecken zu Dad-haft. 3/5

Muscially, this is very good. Incredible composition. Everything has it's place and even the vocals are as much an "instrument" as the guitars, horns, keyboards. But, it's just too dated for me. These guys were trying to be cool at the time...maybe they were, I dunno. But they're certainly not now. A bit tough to reconcile that when I listen. Really respect what they did here, but it's not my thing. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

Not totally my type of music but some of the later songs are good.

I mean, I guess I can respect it for the execution? Maybe I'm still too young to "get" Steely Dan

Gonna confess to being conflicted. This is one the the albums that I think I ought to like; I would have probably given it a milquetoast 3 stars if not for the fact that I went into the 1001albums review archive first. Lots of grudging acknowledgment of the production values, offsetting a general loathing of the product itself. Can you polish a turd? I think not. Aja isn't a bad album, just somewhat inoffensive and unmemorable – superior elevator music, perhaps? Maybe if De La Soul hadn't taken samples from Aja on Three Feet High... (source material was just a bit over a decade old then), it would have died the social death experienced by (say) Christopher Cross, rather than taken on its current legendary status. Perhaps/

Very peaceful listen with funky bass lines. The album cover doesn't match the music at all, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. Maybe not something I would come back to, because all songs sounded at least a bit similar. Fave track(s): Black Cow, Peg

Yacht rock! Smooth, sounds real clear though good cans. Musically complex and beautifully played... But just soft. Soft. Soft and bland. Like Tofu. Yes, this is musical tofu.

Too smooth. The sort of thing to put on at a dinner that isn't romantic, but where you don't want the music to get in the way. Very precise production though, as others have noted. I did enjoy its crispness.

Fijne muziek, vooral lekker saxofoontje en blues vibe in een paar nummers. Heel dicht tegen 4 sterren, maar net niet.

It was fine

13th January 2023 Listened during the day on Friday before a very last weekend. Played poker on Friday night. Funny that steely Dan were raised on the blues kitchen pod recently. Not as country as I would have thought.

Iconic but very easy listening lift music!