Aja

This falls under, "good but not for me".

Æ mér fannst hún bara ekki skemmtileg

Very plain and boring. Not bad but boring.

1. Cow - 2 2. Aja - 1.5 3. Deacon - 1.5 4. Peg -2 5. Home - 1.5 6. News- 1 7. Josie - 1.5

The high production standards mentioned in the wiki article are noticeable. The music. . . Is not my style.

This music does nothing for me. It's jazzy, but none of the jazz is satisfying... more like 'jazz-ish'. The recording and musicians are great but it's so polished and unchallenging that it truly does sound like easy-listening background music to me.

Smooth sound and top notch mixing, but the music itself is not doing it for me at all. I listened to the whole album, couldn't tell one song from the next, and had a distinct feeling that if I don't hear it ever again I won't be missing out on anything. I'm awarding it 1 additional start for craftsmanship, I might cue this album up as a reference track when I'm making my own music. But for an entertainment product, this isn't going above 2 stars.

Jazzy interludes that occasionally break out into song. Fairly lukewarm stuff 2*

YAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCHHHHHHTTTTTTT ROCK!

Smooth, forgettable stuff.

This doesn't do anything for me. It's very well made but lacks any emotion.

Not bad

Lots of people really rate Steely Dan. I don't.

Dentist rock

Some cool tracks, but I couldn't find it much compelling.

Oh, this is so bland and smooth.

Fun, funky, but - in a first listen - feels relatively light. Accessible, but would be a lot more interesting if there was some room for experimentation. It's listenable, but maybe so listenable that it doesn't really leave any impression at all.

I tried to keep an open mind with this one, but... it's not for me. I know it was only 39 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. To me, the whole thing seemed bland, lifeless and very sanitized.

I don't care at all wow.

chill snooze fest

Confirmed my belief that the only reason to listen to the Dan is to test your new expensive sound system for 5 minutes before putting on literally anything else. The worst middle of the road nonsense I've heard in a long time.

I know they balk at the term yacht rock, but listening to it makes me sea sick.

Short album, but the songs are all long and pretty much every one overstays its welcome

Not my vibe but it was also cool to discover two of these tracks (at least) have been sampled, most notably by De La Soul in Eye Know and also Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz

I don't mind the general style but this execution was bit too playful with the runs.

My 2nd Steely Dan album and I still do not get it. Too sterile , too much sax, too noodly and lacking in spontaneity. Only highlight was Peg - although the De La Soul version is so much better.

This album is the sort of music that, when you're 14, you think Mums and Dads make love to. Ultra-slick studio jazz-lounge-yacht-pop. Guess I've got a bumpy relationship with Steely, having very much enjoyed Can't Buy a Thrill, loved Countdown to Ecstacy and crashed at Pretzel Logic. Fagan and Becker were striving for studio perfection with Aja, and by most accounts they got it. There's a reason this won the Grammy for best engineering. But it's polished to within an inch of its life, so much so that any grit, (the type you can find all over Countdown to Ecstacy), is completely buffed away. Avoids a one rating solely down to the truly magnificent 'Peg'. I'm not sure who the lady on the cover is, but it looks like she's crying and I completely sympathise.

Ja okay. Kedeligt nok til at Frida faldt i søvn til det. Lidt jazzet med kedelig og tør vokal.

Det er godt nok lækkert produceret. Men hold nu op hvor er det kedeligt. Yatch Rock når det er værst

Unmistakenly Steely Dan. That’s neither good nor bad, but the only standout here is Peg. And even then, I prefer the Nerina Pallot cover.

Okay. Maybe I'll be surprised. Wow! You know how some bands have a gift for grabbing you with a first track? This is the absolute opposite. Possibly too insipid to put me to sleep. Truly dire with a piano solo that truly sucks. The rest of the album isn't as bad but it still has all the life of a custard. Elevator music with lyrics.

What am I missing? This is so boring. These guys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is a hugely popular album and I just don’t get it at all. It doesn't even have the decency to be cheesy and fun. (Also, second album with a Chevy Chase connection so far!)

It's not really my thing

מוזיקת רקע משעממת

My speaker test album. Still not one I'd listen to regular.

I dont wanna write my opinion of this album because i dont wanna be mean. Some ok grooves. too creepy for me. TWO.

Easy listening but no stand out songs. Hasn’t aged well.

Pre listen: how the heck do you have a 40 minute album with 7 tracks. Also, for 1001 albums, why am I getting steely Dan twice in so many days? Post listen: I don’t know, man. This is probably good, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

Man I really just don’t like Steely Dan. 2 stars for the musicianship

Finding this a really difficult listen. First day on holiday so listening from sunny Crete, but even in these surroundings, this is quite dull. Really not for me, feels like lounge music.

Meh. Not my stule

2.5 - if i kept listening im sure it would grow on me but idk

Their sixth album. The production here is so good. Crispy drums, clear bass, clean guitar. A superb job, its just a shame it's done on such a boringly beige album of songs. I was expecting much more from such a revered band. Lyrically boring too. This gets a two out of five purely for the producer. Albums like this are partly why punk happened.

Like an obscure Guinness record - if THIS is what you do with all your talent, who cares?

it was okay to listen to while doing stuff but wouldn’t listen to it again

Weird band, never know what I’m gonna get but it’s neve mr great with the exception of a few songs

Pliisu.

Like the jazzy style but otherwise not really my type

Bored me. Wished for it to be over

First song was sampled by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz so it gets a 2 for showing up

I actually love some of their albums from earlier in the decade, but I never liked this one.

Ugh. The fact that this nonsense carries with it memories of 7th grade is just icing on the cake.

Boring after dinner Pop Rock.

Not for me, was pretty slow. I considered it alright despite that, but the long the album the went the more I wanted it to be over

Too mellow for me, too easy listening. Im sure in 25 years when I’m an old man I’ll love this album but right now it’s not my thing.

70s glossy mellow crap. This album should come with a gold chain, some hair spray and a gram.

yeah solid album but i heard better ones

Not really my type of music. Quite jazzy and I'm not into that. Apart from that, solid.

On Aja, (pronounced “Asia” btw) Steely Dan boldly answers the question: how great can something boring sound? The most interesting thing here is how CRISP everything sounds. Instrumentation is on point, and yet nothing stands out as remarkable. What a funny problem to have.

The instrumentation was fine, but the vocals were a bit lacking. None of the songs felt like they were going anywhere and just ended when they decided they had gone on long enough.

There were moments where I found myself tapping my foot because there was a groove going, but mostly this album felt like meaningless background music.

I get it, it’s well-engineered. Still sounds very Anchorman-y.

Didn’t love this album. I’ve tried it before because it’s acclaimed but I just don’t get it. It’s not poppy enough to get in to easily, too complicated to enjoy the listen. Maybe I need to give it more time

👌

It’s hard to listen to this album without thinking of how every other white, Millennial dad out there decided to get together (without me) and decide that we all like Steely Dan now. I’ve tried. It’s obviously high effort, but it just isn’t interesting.

This is not a terrible album, and I can see how some would enjoy it, but that's not me. I am not a big fan of jazz and I find a lot of this kind of pretentious. I prefer more mainstream rock Steely Dan.

I like Steely Dan but I have to be in the right mood to listen to more than one track at a time. This was a good test. I might have to listen to this album a few times before I give a rating.

A couple of tracks, the title track and I think Home at Last were pretty good. The rest was either tedious pseudo jazz or embarrassing (Deacon Blues) to incredibly irritating (I Got the News) pseudo jazz. Not sure I get it.

It's hard to put.my finger on what I wasn't keen on here. I'm certain all the musician are top notch and are playing at their best... but it was boring, there was nothing to grab my attention or trigger my intrigue. It started, it went on, it ended. I couldn't tell you much about it beyond that. It just very wet, like those bits of sponge cake or whatever that you get in a trifle that have gone all floppy and have the consistency of mush and the flavour of not much and you can't wait to get back to the cream and strawberries. It did not spark joy.

I feel like I should like this as a Musical IntellectualTM, but I don't LOL peg and josie were aight

Good news: I didn't skip through any songs. Bad news: still didn't care for it. Aja(song) is too long and plodding. Deacon blues is weird. Is it about football or losers? After reading about it there is a connection but geez, you'd never know just by listening to the song. The Peg intro is cheesy, dee-dee-deeee. "White kids trying to make jazz in suburbia", is how they describe themselves. Yep exactly what I expect that to sound like. Most of this album sounds like they threw together words that rhyme to fit the music with a faint connection if you dig deep enough. This album is constantly considered one of the greatest, I just don't get it. It's not jazz, it's not pop, its not rock what is it? Fusion? Fusion of the worst parts of those three genres, IMO.

Is it prog elevator music ? It is very well performed a bit bland though.

good jazz to listen to between floors. generic as a wave in the sea. Lift music

incredibly produced album. every sound, every note, every little piece is so intentional and clear, truly one of the best sounding albums of all time. that said, with the benefit of context and hindsight, this record always feels to me like Fagen and Becker got so obsessed with making a perfect-sounding record that they forgot about the part where it's supposed to make me feel anything. it comes across as so squeaky clean that it's sterile, and the lyrics are just begging me to notice how clever they are. all the talent and focus in the world, such a shame they harnessed it to make a jazz-rock muzak record that's too cute by half.

Fine background music, 2.5 stars.

2stars

Just don't get it. Elevator music.

Production values are excellent, and the musicians are clearly talented. However, Steely Dan just isn't my vibe. I don't mind the jazz elements, but it's very soft rock for me.

Not very many enjoyable songs

"Aja" by Steely Dan is a solid 2 out of 5 for me. The music is boring, the lyrics are weak, and overall, the album fails to captivate. The best thing about this album is that it's only 39 minutes long.

I appreciate the musicianship and the level of production of this album. It’s very tight and clean. However, I would prefer a talented dude and a 5-gallon bucket recorded on an iPhone over a lot of this. It’s strikes me as a fun blend of rock, jazz and soul - but I’m left unfulfilled. Maybe it’s the jazzy vocals, maybe it’s the meaningless lyrics. Whatever it is, I am not its target audience.

This is my second attempt with this album. The way I have seen people talk about it online, I was expecting to have my mind blown but it’s fallen flat on both occasions for me now. Musically good, very competent musicians and production is solid on it which scores some points, but i just really don’t “get” it. Was expecting some big hitters but everything sort of melds into one for me. I’m going to score it 2 stars which feels low (in reality its probably a solid, middle-of-the-road 2.5) but 3 stars seems a bit high for it as I was kinda wanting some of the longer songs to end. Going forward my 3 star reviews will probably be albums i’ll intend to give a second go. Maybe it will change later down the line but right now I’m okay with not hearing this album again for a while.

You could listen to this on repeat as background music and still not remember a single song the next day.

Whether it's here in North America, or Asia, Steely Dan can't buy a thrill. This album was basically one slow, boring song. At least it had some sexy saxophone play. Favorite Track: "Peg".

Lift music. Wank

Funky start then some jazzy elements creeping in. Listened to this in the car and it faded into fairly pleasant background music but nothing that I was particularly moved by.

American jazz rock. Their most successful album. Very 70s. Funk and groovy. Fairly cheesy. Technically great. Excellent studio production, a bit too manufactured.

Revered by audiophiles and musicians alike, Aja is often praised as a masterclass in studio craftsmanship. Its pristine production, jazz-inflected chord progressions, and flawless performances leave little room for error. Or for any kind of soul. The album dazzles, but rarely connects. Beneath its glossy surface lie clever, cryptic lyrics and impeccable arrangements, yet it all feels emotionally empty. It’s like the difference between a brilliant essay and a poem that wrecks you. One impresses, the other inhabits. Aja may be the former: smart, sophisticated, untouchable—but for me, completely unmoving.

Ehhhh

Good musicians, but I just don't like this style of music

Seem to be a an awful lot of big names on this album. However, it just doesn’t do it for me.

I mean it was okay

Before: Ik Steely Dan is polarizing but I don't think I know anything from this album. My mom loves Steely Dan. Excited to see how I vibe with it! Standout tracks: Peg Weakest tracks: Aja I Got The News During/after: Immediately starting out with some nasty bass on Black Cow and a woman who was "very high" is a positive sign. However it goes downhill with Aja; I am so incredibly bored. I usually say "the instrumentals are boring but they're complex and talented" but these aren't even all that complex. Deacon Blues is also kind of ass. The lyrics and vocals aren't good and the instrumentals are boring. We get it, you can play saxophone. I recognized the saxophone lick from Peg, and I think this is one of the better tracks on the record (partially because it's only 4 minutes and doesn't overstay its welcome). It's kind of fun and catchy without being as drawn out or boring. Home At Last isn't too bad either. It felt like a lot of the same stuff but there were some neat trumpet screams and interesting brass that was missing from the rest of the record. I Got The News is more boring 80's doctor's office music though but with extra annoying vocals. The final track, Josie... oh my god. I didn't even realize it was Steely Dan but my mom loves this song and is always quoting it. She says that it's interesting and fun to her because "you don't know if Josie is getting back from Ryker's or from Harvard." I mean... I don't really like it but it gives me fond Kim memories lmao Not a fan. Steely Dan has tons of albums so maybe I'll like some of their other stuff as I work through this project. Disappointing doctors office music with a slightly higher bpm. It gets a solid 2 because it's not offensive, just not enjoyable, and it's not too long. And it reminds me of my mom I guess. 2/5.

People say you age into this shit but I still haven't. Talented and uncompromising and making the most boring music possible. At least it's only 40 minutes. I want to give it a 5 for its realization and a 1 for how much I like it, but rather than give it a coward's 3 I'm gonna dock it a point for hoping I never have to sit through it again. I'd rather listen to Nico than this.

eh, okay

Not quite for me. In a few years, maybe?

Not really my jam but you can tell the craftsmanship of the musicians. No real standout songs.

Was good but can't say I'll be revising

It was fine. Wouldn't listen again.

Did not enjoy. Some of the jamming was really good, can see why people love them. Hated these songs though, they remind me of mediocrely bland, (often white) retreading of jazz/funk/blues ideas with less emotional range. And it's not catchy enough to make up for it. I'll forgive anything for catchy pop.

Just don't fucking get the love this album gets.

4/10 smooth brain jazz idiots. fuck dude 3-27-2025

Not sure what I was expecting here, but it wasn't this. This is pretty jazzy. I thought Steely Dan was more rock, like guitar. meh, 2 stars.

Yawn

Decent 1001 album worthy: No - 51/97

My mom absolutely loves this album, by the way Best Song: Peg Rating: 3.0/10 2 Stars

tja, Steely Dan... de antithese van punk... soms goed, maar niet hier

The sort of music thats playing in the background of a bar in a nightclub in an 80s movie, probably something about friends and lovers. It’s not bad, it’s not good. When there’s only a scale of 5 in the ratings, 3 seems too much approval.

Super Furry Animals were so taken by a particular expletive-loaded line from Steely Dan's track Show Biz Kids, they crafted their own (quite brilliant) song around a sample of said obscenity. There, folks, begins and ends my extensive knowledge of Steely Dan. Oh, and they took their name from a steam-powered dildo described in William S Burroughs' Naked Lunch... but everyone knows that. Being a Furries fan, I did feel obliged to pick up a copy of to Countdown To Ecstasy - the album containing Show Biz Kids - as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Countdown To Ecstasy was also ranked fairly high (13) in Mojo magazine's Top 100 Albums Of All Time list from 1995, which would probably have been at the back of my mind when seeking out the LP back in the day and (finally getting to the point) Aja also seems to crop up on similar such lists regularly enough. When I drew this as the first of my 1,001 albums in this venture, my initial thought was "Well, I'm sure there will be worse albums waiting for me among the next 1,000..." While I am still convinced this is true, Aja, I'm afraid, is not the hidden gem I was hoping it might be. I appreciate the crisp production and I also get why champions of this LP are always keen to highlight the "excellent musicianship". It's because its a code for "there are no songs". In fact, I'll go further and suggest that, to this listener at least, is almost completely devoid of any traces of soul or emotion whatsoever. You see, playing instruments proficiently is all very well, but, just like a painter who is very proficient with a brush when it comes to whitewashing brick walls - the expertise required might be an artform but the end product isn't necessarily always art. Countdown To Ecstasy, while exploring similar jazz-prog-rock-pop territory, at least is more rough around the edges - more human, more raw. Aja is slick and soulless by comparison and, the lack of any kind of edge leaves it floundering in easy listening territory. This album's admittedly tight grooves, jazzy progressions and instrumental dexterity never threaten to coalesce into something approaching a catchy song. In turn, the seven tracks here, for all their extended soloing and musical flourishes, fail to offer much in the way of varity in terms of sound or feel, yet neither do they pull together in one direction to offer some wider concept of the long-player as a whole. Don't get me wrong, not every song has to be Love Me Do, but I guess I am ultimately in it for something a bit more immediate and memorable. The only moment my ears truly pricked up was during Peg as I realised this was where De La Soul lifted the vocal refrain and instrumental motif for their Eye Know. Look, if the likes of De La Soul and Super Furry Animals hear something inspiring in Steely Dan, then I'm not sure I'm qualified to argue. However, after several listens though from start to finish, Aja just isn't doing it for me. Sorry.

While I do like a few songs, the overall vibe is way too jazzy for me.

Das Album Aja der US-amerikanischen Band Steely Dan wurde 1977 veröffentlicht und gilt als ein Beispiel für ausgefeilte Studioproduktion. Donald Fagen und Walter Becker arbeiteten mit erfahrenen Sessionmusikern zusammen, um einen detailreichen Sound zu schaffen, der Elemente aus Jazz, Rock und Pop verbindet. Die Aufnahmen fanden in renommierten Studios wie den Village Recorder Studios und den A&R Studios statt. Musikalisch zeichnet sich das Album durch komplexe Arrangements und präzise Instrumentierung aus. Besonders hervorzuheben sind Titel wie der eröffnende Song Black Cow, der atmosphärische Titelsong Aja sowie das eingängige Peg, das sich durch markante Bläser und einen eingängigen Refrain auszeichnet. Auch Deacon Blues gehört zu den Stücken, die dem Album eine klare stilistische Identität verleihen. Aja überzeugt durch seine sorgfältige Produktion und die hohe musikalische Qualität. Die Kombination aus anspruchsvoller Komposition und professioneller Studioarbeit macht das Album zu einem wichtigen Werk in Steely Dans Diskografie.

Generic. Nothing particularly wrong with it. But it has no place on a list of albums that I must hear before I die.

It was funky, I just wish it wasn't another steely dan album

Steely Dan was known for pursuing technical perfection. In the age of digital music, I don't think that's aged well. It sounds soulless to me. I'm also not excited about the genre. I'm sad to not like this music though, because I know they worked like crazy to achieve this sound.

Sorprendido de que el anterior disco que me salió aquí de Steeley Dan me gustara tanto, y este no me gustara casi nada. Me parece un disco súper genérico, como de grupillo de variedades. Rarísimo sentir dos discos del mismo grupo tan opuestos uno del otro. Me dio mucha flojera.

Very average 70s soft rock, distinctly mid

I was hoping for this one to come up so I had high expectations. Never listened to it before but I like the concept of yacht rock. Unfortunately, this... was not for me. And I really tried to enjoy it. The famous production truly is perfect. As a drummer, I was shocked by the crisp clear sound of Gadd's drums, it's really impressive. I also enjoyed the jazz breaks scattered throughout the album (especially on title track). BUT, the songs... suck! Big time! The compositions are too complex and do not bring any enjoyment. I am really annoyed with this particular songwriting style where the melody starts to form and get some traction and then.. instead of going somewhere with it, you kill it. It just dissolves into nothingness. And it seems like it's being done on purpose, for the sake of being different/progressive, which makes it masturbatory. I do actually enjoy nice melodies in my music. And it's not either/or. You can put jazz and all that complexity while having nice tunes at the same time. Really disappointed. 2/5 (i was thinking of giving it 1, but this production truly is otherworldly and Deacon Blues has some nice moments).

disco, groovey... bit too shaggy

Classic rock, funky, meh, not my thing, 2

Was seeking more of a Reelin’ in the Years electric jolt.

I find Donald Fagen’s voice really really fucking annoying on this album in particular

Feels a bit watered down, compared to the last Steely Dan album that came up. Squarely in the realm of easy listening, which I generally find meh.

Reveal reaction: Oh no. Goddammit. Full disclosure, I'm about 4 days behind on this project because I've been ill and I desperately don't want to listen to this album. I made a commitment, though, so let's get into it. So, it's as bad as I thought. My wife informs me this is called "yacht rock." I have no idea why, but whatever. Apparently it's a genre of smooth rock jazzy shit that white people listen to on boats, I don't know. What I *do* know, however, is that it's not for me. I really try to avoid 1 star reviews, and I'm really searching for something that allows me to give this 2 stars...and I got it at the end. Home at Last had me actually tapping my toes a little, and I Got The News is strangely jaunty and fun. With a different vocalist, I think Josie could be a decent 60s-ish funk joint with a killer bass line. So there it is. That's all I got. If you're a white guy that has a predilection for white shorts rolled at the knee and boat shoes, you're probably really going to dig this album.

i am trying really hard to “get” steely dan but i just cannot. IT JUST SOUNDS SO STUPID TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! some of these songs are kinda fun and groovy (”josie”) and then they introduce some stupid fuckass cornball element (those ultra smooth vocal harmonies) and it becomes unlistenable again.

god this is so boringgggg. so shmaltzy and hokey. appropriating elements of jazz in a really corny way that makes this sound like muzak

Fun

Won a Grammy for Best Engineered Album (Non-classical)! Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know? I swear to god that Steely Dan is a cult for audiophiles and other pretentious middle-aged men seeking validation for their own irrelevance and bitterness, while nursing their secret desire (unrequited) for a Japanese girlfriend. They can all give you a long lecture about the virtues of their favorite single-malt whiskey and the $2000 custom tone-arm on their turntable and why 'the solo on 'Peg' is the greatest moment of music ever recorded. But audio fidelity and ironic intellectualism are not signifiers of musical value, dude. For me, this album is the apotheosis of Steely Dan's super-polished, over intellectualized, cold-hearted, cocaine infused, studio-tanned, sneering, condescending and ultimately bloodless pseudo-jazz. I could go on, but I'm going to quote Steve Albini: "I will always be the kind of punk that shits on Steely Dan. It's music made for the sole purpose of letting the wedding band stretch out a little. They spent three weeks on the guitar solo... Three weeks of watching guitar players give it their all while doing bumps and hitting the talkback, "More Egyptian but keep it in the pocket..." Christ the amount of human effort wasted to sound like an SNL band warm up." I could not agree more. I have learned to tolerate (possibly even like) a handful of Steely Dan songs when they give the throttle a little nudge, but this album is the textbook example of why we needed punk.

Music for people who are testing their sound system for 253rd time today.

Some Steely Dan songs are good, but none of them are on this album.

I thought their album "Pretzel Logic" was quite good, so when I heard Aja I started to question my sanity. Had my music palette drastically altered or matured in a few short months? Had my eardrums suddenly ruptured? How could I like Pretzel Logic so much from a band that sounded like elevator music synths and cheesy middle schooler lyrics? I can't give any examples of the cringe lyrics because that would require listening to this album again, which I thoroughly refuse to do, but just know that my eyes rolled all the way back in my head for some of their gems. And then there were brief moments where there were vocal harmonies similar to CSNY or Fleet Foxes that were like the eye of a hurricane and I realized that Pretzel Logic was all that -- the only good bits from this band, all condensed into one album -- where Aja was a dumpster fire.

Not the album I was in the mood for today. But then again, I don’t know how often I am in the mood for this tranquil blend of smooth jazz and soft rock. It’s not you Steely Dan, it’s me.

A definition of background music.

More songs I recognize but....still Steely Dan though. Feels so cheesy

Definitely not a Steely Dan guy. This did not intrest me in the slightest. Not awful, but I would never listen to this

I have tried. Really tried. Steely Dan remain an irritant to me. The best bit on here was used and improved by De La Soul. Life is too short for this.

I just don’t get Steely Dan, it started off cool but progressively I just lost more and more interest.

this was not groovifying

Steely Dan, and this album in particular, is something I have seen being given high praise in multiple music discussion sites. However, I honestly do see what the hype is all about. Sure it's jazzy and all, but it's also so boring. I get nothing out of this and I've given it multiple chances.

Funky, aber nicht meins.

The write up makes this sound fantastic, and of course I know Peg via De La Soul. Peg is a legit banger on its own. For some of Aja, it sounds like Ozric Tentacles without the beats, and other times sounds like Nilsson on The Point. I am not sure I approve, although I like the groove at the end, I'd prefer to listen to 8 minutes of where that is threatening to go. As noted by a fellow project adventurer, yes, I would rather listen to Prog rock, or jazz. Felt vaguely similar about every Steely Dan record in this book. It's vaguely intriguing, vaguely easy listening, very accomplished, but ultimately mostly a little boring? And this, on the whole, is that.

2.28

Very different to what I normally listen to. Felt like Mario Kart music at times. Wouldn't choose to listen to again but Deacon Blues does stick in my mind.

cheeeeeeeesy

Not for me

Starts off a little funky, but not overly funky, but then transforms quickly into elevator muzak. Not on the same level as other Steely Dan albums here, and honestly sounds like the inspiration for late 70s/early 80s Chicago albums. Make of that what you will...

I could not wait for this to be over. Musicianship in buckets, but also the worst parts of pop and it felt barely like jazz. Bland, predictable, dry, and ultimately pointless to my ears.

Never could understand how great musicians could sound so bland.

4.5/10: yacht rock meets jazz. Might be fun if you're lounging in the sun on vacation, but gets repetitive quickly

Despite multiple attempts, I just cannot get into Steely Dan

I’ve heard of Steely Dan but never listened to them before. I was pretty fed up by the end of the first song. I can see why some people are into this, but I refuse to give anymore than 2 stars when you sing that out of tune.

Rock, Jazz and Pop, good melodies and harmonies, some strong lyrics and nice Sax. I enjoyed listening and Deacon Blues was my favourite track. A great album? I'm not so sure but it's way better than some that made this list

Fine as a background music, but it's not really my thing.

Gear: Focal Clear (ZMFed) Artwork: 🔳⛩️🩸 Produktion: 🎧😘🤌 Musik: 🎷🍷😏 Wertung: 🍷🍷(🍷)/5

we will not be doing any more steely dan

Not sure why, just not a big fan of their vibe

A lot of talent and craft went into this album, and it just did absolutely nothing for me

Didn't love it

Has not aged well at all.

- Quite disappointing, especially after being surprised by Steely Dan's \"Countdown to Ecstasy.\" Probably why I am being as harsh as I am. - I was not raised with Steely Dan, so my point of comparison is Chicago; this sounds like Chicago with much less brass and much less heart, which just makes it sound like dated easy listening. - No stand out songs. I almost got into \"Deacon Blues\" and \"Peg.\" The title track grated on me (and when on for over 7 minutes).

These guys are talented musicians, but I just have a hard time getting through the songs. Not my favorite musical era.

Feels like this album was AI-generated. Technically sound but boring and lifeless.

Really not my bag. MOR listless 70s rock. Couldn't even make it to the end 2/5

Trop mou pour moi

Not my style. I can understand why it's popular, but I think it's quite mainstream and a lot of other bands have done similar work a lot better.

Trying to get into this music feels like trying to pick up an extremely smooth, slippery ball. It keeps sliding out of my grasp. Who is this for??

I feel like I’m waiting on hold to play the game where I tell my internet provider that I want to cancel so that they lower the monthly cost back to what it used to be and act like they’re doing me a huge favor.

I was today years old when I found out that Steely Dan is just glorified elevator music. If the rest of the album had been more similar to “Josie”, it would have been so much better.

They clearly have a very talented group of musicians. Somehow all the songs sounded the same? I didn't know Steely Dan was a jazz group basically. The repetitive nature of the ridiculously long songs had a lullaby effect on me. Sort of like elevator music.

I'll never understand this music.

In a dinner scene from the film Knocked Up (2007), Paul Rudd's character complains that the music industry has changed and that Steely Dan wouldn't have a chance today. Seth Rogen replies "maybe that's because Steely Dan gargles my balls," and that line alone has steered me away from listening to them for over 15 years. Aja was an interesting listen, swinging wildly between gargling balls and kicking ass. The final tally favors the balls unfortunately(?) but there were decent runs of jammy, inspiring instrumentation. Not bad, but I wouldn't be upset to go another 15 years Dan-less.

Please, no more Steely Dan, I can't take it...

I don't think I really like Steely Dan. Similar to The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald, I just don't like the vocals. It all just feels kind of...lifeless? I'm not sure why or when I would be listening to music like this. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)

Apart from one brighter spot (Peg), this puts the difficult grind into easy listening, and the offensiveness into its inoffensiveness.

Not for me.

Is this the soundtrack for Dary’s Super Soft birthday party? Steely Dan is so boring. I don’t get it.

impeccable production on garbage-ass songs.

I don't get the hype around this at all. It's like the worst parts of rock and jazz combined. No question flawless musicianship but this is dull at best

Not my cup of tea, but probably gets rated highly by others.

I hesitated before even pressing play on this one. It was everything I expected - a full dose of 70's yacht rock. The sort of thing that would have played in a restaurant when I was a kid, or in an elevator. You don't notice it enough to dislike it. A star for musicianship, nothing else of note

People keep telling me I need to like Steely Dan, but Aja only reinforces why I don’t. It’s a bland mix of elements that should work but somehow don’t. Polished to the point of boredom, and occasionally so cheesy it’s hard to stomach.

This was okay. A bit too scattered and jazzy for my liking.

I really enjoyed Countdown To Ecstasy so was excited to dig into Aja, but left feeling pretty nonplussed. It feels a bit elevator-y, very easy-listening and lacking in any real edge. Musically, it's solid and the songs are well written and constructed; It's fine and inoffensive but just can't think of any reason to keep it in my rotation.

More like Steely Yawn amirite

Sure, it's slick, beautifully produced and it's executed with brilliant technical precision. But, it bores the shit out of me so...

Do I have to?

Only really liked Peg. Groovy but not something I can listen to straight through.

Gets an extra star because my mom likes it.

Steely Dan reminds me of music you’d hear from a lounge act in an outdated hotel. It’s fine as background music, but there’s much better, more engaging “yacht rock” out there.

Two stars for being the source of that De La Soul sample.

Hmm. Never really been a Steely Dan fan. Album was jazzy, but in an elevator music kind of way. Maybe it was technically clean, but without much feeling. I guess I liked it better than I thought I would but not enough to come back to it for another listen.

Okay, so here is the problem with this album, as well as Steely Dan in general. While there may be an occasional catchy hook or funky baseline or sweet jazzy solo (which are in abundance on this album because of the longer song structures), every track is placed alongside possibly the most mediocre vocalist and songwriter in rock history. There is absolutely no character to Fagen’s voice, making all of their songs, with some exceptions of course, being some of the dullest you could find from a generally critically successful band. To break these points down, I love the groovy guitar that kicks off the intro track, and I’m a pretty big fan of the penultimate “I Got The News“, as well. However, everything in between varies from alright to boring, and while I said the, jazz solos are some of the highlights of this record, the extra long structures that allow those to happen are largely a negative for me. The title track drags on terribly, even if that beachy vibe that the album gives off generally feels the most at home here. Then there’s the equally long “Deacon Blues“ which bored me to tears. I’m also a big album closer guy. A lot of weight is placed on the finale to do its job, and what does “Josie“ do? Absolutely nothing. It’s arguably the most lifeless song on here, and aside from nice guitar work, the song does not follow the penultimate track’ unique energy, leaving the album off in the most uninteresting way possible. Look, I’m not a straight up Steely Dan hater, but it’s difficult to justify a band with a leader that is just so stripped of personality because that very much bleeds into the music. I don’t hate Aja, but in no way shape or form do I think it deserves the classic status that it has.

Meh

Intricate instrumentation that seems to be not just free of a distinct emotion but at times disconnected from the song itself. The modern sounding sonic elements in Peg seem like the could be used to create a better song in someone else's hands. Much ado about what I'm not sure.

There are some aspects that I appreciate how they come together/how they’re composed. However, I’m not sure if it’s a couple instruments that take me out of enjoying it or if it’s just the production but I didn’t like it enough to return to it as whole. Aja, Home at Last, Peg were my standouts and I wonder if a current cover would make me like them more. Some songs are a bit too long. 2.5

I don't get it. I love jazz - always have, but admittedly have never enjoyed rock jazz. It always comes across as cheesy. Maybe it hasn't aged well with time, or maybe it's a generational thing, but man, oh man, this album just screams "I'm rich and i love to do cocaine. Come to my key party in the hills." I dunno.... it's jazz rock. I think Steely Dan has done other more interesting works. This one... yea, incredible engineering and production quality - astounding. But the song writing just... it's boring, cheesy, and sounds really.... white. Like, this is what they would play in a Trump Tower elevator.

Damn this is bland. It’s very well performed and produced, but it has to be a collection of some of the most boring songs ever written. I have a pretty high tolerance for yacht rock, but this is as edgy as a marble. Peg is nice, I guess.

Not terrible

Steely Dan will always make me think of my Dad, which is nice. But I have to question his musical taste with this one. I think they probably have better albums than this? Musically it was okay but I just wasn’t really taken by it

This is just what I was expecting. Clearly the musicianship is good but there is nothing likeable about this

Es ist die perfekte Musik zum Socken sortieren. 70er Jahre Schum-Schum mit leichter Jazz und Rocknote. Da klappts mit dem sortierten, kaum Highlights mit einem Hang zum langatmigen Verweilen.

Didn't like this. Bland, easy-listening. Maybe a 1, but not quite that painful.

This is like the third or fourth SD album that I've gotten and I still don't get what I'm supposed to like about them. There's bot even a standout track here. Hard pass.

Wasn't for me. Felt like elevator or hotel music.

“Hey yeah we’re perfectionists how dare you rap artists sample us we are gonna sue you. Also we stole from jazz artists note for note but have we mentioned we are perfectionists?” Dinner-cruise-ass music.

I guess that this is surprising for being perhaps the most 80s soft rock from the 70s. Can't say I enjoyed it much.

Un po' noioso e monotono

I can listen to it but I don’t have to. The songs where too long for me to fully concentrate on them.

Gør ikke nogen fortræd. God produktion - alting står krystalklart!

listened 1x. 1.7/5 not my thing

This album SOUNDS like it's out of my price range. 2 yacht club membership rejections out of 5 ⛵⛵

Jazz vibe to this one, quite a lot of saxophone which was enjoyable but not something I would listen to regularly. Another semi abduction album as I would put it, maybe some background music whilst you’ve come back home from a date and trying to get those romantic scenes going. A fine album, some songs feel like they dragged on a while too long

The make out classic, it's just so skeezie smooth sounding to me. Like everyone involved had jello shots and the sounds all smoothly blend into a disco-eezy blur. I also condemn this as being overplayed on FM radio. Barely worth 2 stars.

"Drink scotch whiskey all night long, and die behind the wheel"? WTF?o didn't know steely Dan went that hard. But seriously, get me off this elevator.

I gave this a 2 because I love my wife. could i write poetry to this? n

I don't care for the music or the vocals from Steely Dan. Other than that, they're OK.

Funkig jazz är faktiskt lika tråkig som jazz visar det sig. Det är inte dåligt men inte heller bra. Det bara är. Och det blir ju sällan kul.

Andra Steely Dan-albumet. Obegripligt att de får flera skivor på listan. Detta känns verkligen menlöst. Lite som bakgrundsmusiken i ett byggarstrategispel från 90-talet. Finns inga hits eller krusiduller.

Going to just hang this one up on the Peg and leave it be.

Yacht rock through and through

Really good and extremely bland at the same time. If it was a normal band, I would say it was an ok album. But it's steely dan, so this is disappointing.

hmmm.. at least it’s only 40mins

Not for me but I can appreciate that it would have been a huge sound at the time of it's release

I was curious why people go so insane for this album when to me, it sounds like boring elevator music. Apparently they strived for musical and recording perfection and it took a shit ton of effort to make and is thus hailed as the holy graal of sound engineering. But i'm not a musician, I dont have a musical ear and I listened to it on a shitty speaker so all i'm earing is boring elevator music... 2/5

5/10

Shows that they're incredibly talented but like 40 minutes of very little difference

Blandest bland that ever blanded.

I like prog rock. I can appreciate funk. I love jazz. And yet, while mixing these genres, Steely Dan succeeded to make this album deeply blunt and boring.

Ehhhh. It's ok music, but the vocals just get under my skin.

It's ok. Liked Can't buy... more

Just a basic 70s album. Not really anything worth listening to.

This sounds all perfect and very tasteful, the musicians are obviously the cream of the crop. Even the songs themselves seem very well-written. And yet the only way this makes me feel is bored and underwhelmed. There is just no passion, no human element and (to me) most important: No real dynamics in terms of speed, loudness and yes, emotion. I never thought that 40 minutes could feel this long... I couldn't help but think of Steven Wilson, who definitely learned from Fagen and Becker's production perfection, but luckily he also learned from Pink Floyd and others how wo write interesting songs and those are mostly missing here.

I've never got into Steely Dan - talented musicians, tight music - but I get zero emotional response listening to them. Feels cheesy.

Black cow was the only song I reqlly enjoyed, mainly due to the title

My second Steely Dan album in this project and I can now say with absolute confidence they are the most overrated band of all time. I will say the production is great. But the music maybe be the blandest I’ve ever heard. It’s menu music for Gran Turismo. 3.7/10

If you like light jazz, but I don’t like light jazz

4/10

It's competent but really boring. 2.5 rounded down.

No

Should come with a warning to not operate any heavy machinery while listening to this album.

After almost 2 years in the studio, and with the help of 40 studio musicians, Fagan and Becker did it. They created the ultimate music to celebrate a really terrific pair of slacks.

Peg makes me want to listen to De La Soul. Can't really imagine rocking out to this. Steely Dan is an acquired taste I'm sure. It's got some good saxophone and harmonies. They got Wayne Shorter on the title track. I think I just crave some more volume and edge and maybe leaning into grooves a little more instead of the impressive transitions through song component parts.

Not my favorite. Reminds me of the adult contemporary station the cool dads listened to in the 80s. A little jazzy and some good musicians but just not my sound.

Quite boring...

so bland. not bad musically but i could never listen to this for fun there’s nothing interesting about it

Alors, c'est bon mais c'est plaaaaate.

Superb arrangements but overall boring

A bit too musak-y for me, Peg was a solid track, but the rest quite forgettable

big old floppy one right here

Ugh not a fan of this - jazzy, 70s elevator music.

Black Cow is good. The rest? Not that great. Does it deserve a spot on the wall? Probably not 4/10

Classic Steely Dan with lots of hits. I'm not a big fan, but this is a worthy album to be in the top 1001 all time good albums.

Not a big fan of the saxophone (I guess is a saxophone) in many tracks. I don't get the mix.

Couldn't make it through the whole album. Background music for a 70's porn shoot.

With apologies to the people I follow on Twitter, this is just jazzy nothing music.

Sounds just like you’d expect songs by a band called Steely Dan would.

There was nothing wrong with anything on this album I just wouldn’t ever choose to listen to it again and “would listen again” is my bar for 3 stars so…

i def listened to this one ans forgot to rate it. giving it a 2 bc it does not stand out in my mind even a little

Smooth but kind of boring. "Peg" was a good track but i think I could leave the rest. Maybe it just needs a few more listens, I just didn't feel like I got it. A strong 2 or a weak 3.

Mediocre

It only gets a second star cause people liked it I guess

I can see how TECHNICALLY this is great, but I found it dragged on and on

La première et la dernière not bad, sinon j'ai préféré l'autre album d'eux.

Very passive, felt like background music :/

2.5

Eentonige hippe jazz, muziek is aardig maar tekst is kut 1.75

Like being lightly sprayed with magnolia paint while eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Non mi ha particolarmente colpito. Quando sarà uscito sarà stato sicuramente un album innovativo. Non mi ha suggestionato particolarmente né interessato. Del resto è comunque un buon album.

Kinda boring

Aja is hailed for its production value which is undeniable but the album as a whole is quite boring.

middy dan

Really enjoyed it at first, but it got old fast. I would rather just listen to an actual jazz album.

Was decent but not really an artist I love. Bit down the middle of the road for me.

A bit too slow for me, feels like 1 continuous long song.

There is only 2 songs on this album that is under 5 mins long. I just read that this was the first yacht rock album. Like Yacht rock seems like it should be barred.

5/10

Easy n boring

Plääh, ei oikein lähtenyt käyntiin. Innostuin lenkillä, mutta levy oli jo ehtinyt loppua ja artisti vaihtua. Ei aiheuta minkäänlaisia tunteita.

Fine background listening

I liked the first song okay but my open mind started closing pretty quickly. The second song, Aja, reminded me that I don't like jazz any more now than I ever did. That feeling remained for the rest of the album. I'm glad that Peg got put to better use being sampled by De La Soul. I can appreciate that the musicians' skills and the production are really good, but the music itself just isn't for me. So it deserves to be on this list, and I can understand how people like it, but I won't listen to it again.

the songs are quite lengthy; i don't mean to be disrespectful, but it's just not my taste at the moment, and i'm not very familiar with the genre srry omg

I'm sure there is a market for this. Could workin a hotel bar.

Country Bee Gees. Appreciate the bass mix - hate the bass sound. Surprisingly chiller than I expected as background music. But still pretty bleak.

It’s fine. Boring background music. 1970’s definition of “good production” means nothing to me.

Very jazzy, ihop vibes

Sehr langweilig

Music to write 70s porn to.

The vocals really put me off. It almost felt like the singer had a voice that would fit a different genre of music better, but I'm not sure what that genre is.

Nothing special really Didn’t captivate me

White man's jazz funk. A lot of old people complain that musicians these days don't play their own instruments, but they forget about Steely Dan -- technically proficient, yet overall shit. 2.8

Didn't enjoy any of the songs prior to I got the news, Josie is also good. Black Cow starts strong but fails to keep my interest. Pretzel Logic is just a better album, but Aja finishes strong.

Bad

This album starts out with an excellent song but from there it just gets more boring. I enjoyed the sound of the electronic jazz, but all the songs just started sounding the same and they lasted way too long. The music sounds nice and is well done, but there's just no backbone to it. Stand out songs: Black Cow

Try as I might I've never been able to get into this album. I like their others but this is just so bland. No hooks, that's the issue.

Not for me.

Kedeligt

Echt moker saai dit. Goede productie maar vind het echt heel saai, ik ga streng zijn en geef twee sterretjes

Mix rock jazz Blues. 70s

on the second track. like the chill vibe so far. overall i think i dont vibe with it that much tho. i like home at last. (especially the beginning) overall chill and sometimes its musically interesting to me and i like the style. not that crazy tho. since this is my first album in this thing its hard to give it a rating. i dont really know where it stands compared to other albums in the list. (i like the cover design and title font) i didn't really listen to the lyrics maybe they are itneresting but didn't catch my attention most of the time.

Meh

Meh, enough fire, did not grab me