Reviews (page 3 of 14)
Black Cow is simply the best song about Pilk you're gonna hear, and that's a fact. Another fact, this album has been played so much by me before now it's impossible to rate with fresh ears. Steely Summer every summer.
Hearing this album again brought me back to my childhood listening to it on vinyl through my brother's speakers. It might be nostalgia speaking but, holy crap, the playing is so tight and the songs are fantastic. Pretty much perfection to my 70's loving ears.
To steal a line from another Steely Dan album, "perfection and grace". If you don't get this, try again.
I had already listened to this album hundreds of times, but upon coming up on this list enthusiastically put on my headphones again. Not only is it their most "grown-up" album thematically, they had to enlist over 40 studio hammers because Fagen and Becker, literally, could not play everything they were writing. An astonishing record that laments a generation progressing into adulthood, and not exactly kicking and screaming...but rather with an acceptance of their fate.
Classic
Another album I own and have listened to dozens of times. Steely Dan has aged like fine wine. Amazing piece of art!
A masterpiece that is always an absolute pleasure to experience.
Aah in my mum’s top 10 albums of all time, and I don’t think I’ve ever really listened! Not at all what I expected but loved it! Want to listen to more but have to march on with the project…
What an album. I've listened to it so many times but I welcome another excuse to give it a listen.
5/5 album prolly their best also first album i listened to by them n first vinyl by them
An all time classic. Instrumentation, production, melodies are all out of this world. Lyrics are abstract but with a lot of hidden depths. Banger.
I’ve listened to this album already during my Steely Dan dive. It’s one of my favourites!
Amazing album. Honestly listened to this album at least 3 times today. No skips needed.
In the morning, one of the first things i do is check what album is next up on the 1001 list... and this morning, i was PLEASED to see one of my all time favorite records... AJA is a masterpiece... from the songs... to the performances... to the QUALITY of production... Donald Fagan is a genius musician... and Walter Becker, RIP, is another... and i've been lucky enough to see them live... and man, can they do it... but, in the studio, they are even more MONSTROUS... using fantastic studio musicians and ROCK STARS to play even minor parts... or to TRY a part... and see if it stuck on the record... lol... "Black Cow" opens... and what an opener... "drink your big black cow, and get out of here"... lol... for you youngsters a "Black Cow" was a root beer drink back in the day... with ice cream... and Fagan was a regular at soda shops back in the day... Becker does not appear on the song... Chuck Rainey (bass), Larry Carlton (gtr), Joe Sample (keys), Tom Scott (sax) and Paul Humphrey (drms) are the band... whoa... some acts get studio musicians to cover them up, and some acts use LEGENDS... like Steely Dan... then comes the title track "AJA" where Steve Gadd is the drummer and Timothy B. Schmit, and Denny Dias join in... and who is the sax man???? Wayne freakin' Shorter... damn... how much money was involved in this production???? and it was well spent... "Deacon Blues" has the LEGENDARY Bernard Purdy on drums... Lee Ritenour on guitar... "Peg" is the other track that Becker is not on... Fagan is joined by Michael McDonlad on bv's... Rick Marotta on drums, Steve Kahn on guitar, and more... "Home at Last", and "I Got The News" are the two least known tracks on the record... and they are great... with all those players... and the album closes with "Josie"... "she's a live wire... she plays like a Roman with her eyes on fire..." heck... "She's the pride of the neighborhood" lol... Fagan as Dylan... having fun with words... but in a rock, yet still jazzy, setting... FIVE STARS... forever..."
What strikes me about this album is that in opposition to what comes of most pop-rock with elements of soul and funk, Aja seems to not really feel derivative of anything in those particular genres. Like its follow up Gaucho it is its own thing. Perhaps that is a sign of like, the staleness people tag Steely Dan with at times, but I don't find it bothersome. It is groovy and beautifully produced. Wasn't too keen on the mixing at times but it wasn't so bad.
man they were hitting that shit
Corney, cheesy... call it what you will, I still love it. My guilty pleasure, don't tell anyone though.
Great sound, lyrics, feel. Understandably one of the top 100 albums overall.
Fantastic!
I know of Steely Dan but not this album/tracks. Really cool funky/jazzy beat, awesome guitars, relaxing but still a solid groove. Awesome
The first of Steely Dan’s two perfect albums of lowlife luxury & degenerate decadence - plus an absolute pleasure to listen to every time.
****** An all-time favorite of mine !
Great
Great album, and a must listen
Smooth and jazzy. Great musicianship and catchy lyrics. Easy 5 for me.
Wow was this well put together. I can’t say I really understand the lyrics and what they mean but the music sounded excellent. Smooth and polished in the best possible way with wonderful musicianship. “Peg” was my favorite but I loved all the tracks with horns.
listen to AB or some other Great pressing. It deserves its praise
They did it again
Not a big Steely Dan fan, but this one is pretty great.
Black Cow has a very R&B, almost Stevie Wonder-esque sound in the instrumentation and the vocal delivery (if not the vocal quality). The title track has a brilliant journey of very tight instrumentals, devolving into a fit of orgiastic chaos, and then composing itself again for the end of the song. Peg is a nice, catchy tune with a great bass line.
One of the most sophisticated, smooth albums of all time. A true classic.
And suddenly, as if from nowhere, I found that I was, in fact, a Steely Dan man. A convert. Soon, an evangelist.
Album 840 of 1089 Steely Dan - Aja (1977) Rating : 4.5 / 5 I was a bit giddy when I saw this one pop up—Steely Dan is a longtime favorite of mine, and Aja is often mentioned not only as one of their best, but as one of the great albums of all time. While I definitely enjoyed it, and the standout tracks are truly fantastic, it’s not a perfect front-to-back listen for me. The highs are very high, but a few songs didn’t quite carry that same magic. Still, when Steely Dan is at their best, they’re among the best—and this album didn’t change that for me. It’s an easy 4 (it gets a half point just because I love their music), but it just misses that “best of the best” tier I was hoping for.
Didn't even need to listen because this whole album resides in my soul... But if course I did. I cannot add much to the discourse that hasn't already been said, this is just a legendary record.
listened to this out if my blown out laptop speakers and it still sounded perfect
One of my favorite albums
Amazing album
Perfect jazz fusion. Great hooks, excellent musicianship.
that’s nice
I like this veery much. Super chill and smooth. Maybe a bit too polished, but I dont mind that. Deacon blues rocks
Aha
W ALBUM
One of my favourite albums. Catchy melodies, great lyrics, perfect use of harmonies and backup vocal. A no-skip album for me.
la rompio mal
Good album, nice introduction to jazz rock.
a stone cold classic, but I still prefer Gaucho.
Hell yeah the steely Dan vibes are just unmatched. Had only heard peg before but loved black cow as well. Some of the songs are a tad long but I didn’t notice as much. Specific rating 4.5 Fav song- peg Least fave- I got the news
Banger. Will always be a banger. Wanna make some session musicians cry so bad.
One of the best sounding albums of all time.
I played Steely Dan when I was a jock on the radio ages ago, and for the longest time I just didn't "get" them. Then I stumbled upon their Live album and it all popped into view like one of those 3-D Illusion pictures. Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and the whole lot are quintessential musicians and understanding that makes me finally understand their entire catalogue. The lyrics are somewhat goofy, and Fagen's voice isn't the greatest, but the musicianship is off the fuckin' charts, and it's all over Aja. I'm disheartened by all the negative reviews, but hopefully people will find their way back to Steely Dan over and over until they finally "get" it. Also, Michael McDonald on background vocals for the Win!
One of the best albums ever made
sorta goes without saying that i am obsessed with this record... its my fav band's best album ... fuck it
An all-timer for me. Something to enjoy in every song. If I listen to Peg once, I've got to listen to it a second time. Has any other backing singer ever had such a strong positive effect as Michael McDonald does when he pops up here? Love it.
You can hear the room it's recorded in. It's so damn clean it's unbelievable. If you tune out of the groove you can hear the gradual diminish of each last note. Sonically incredible and to not only have some of the best sounding instruments but some of the best compositions too. The bass sounds truly incredible, nevermind how tasty the licks are. This an album you can listen to each song 10 times and hear something new hidden each time. The guitar solo on Peg isn't even treated like the incredible piece of work it is. This is Becker and Fagen at the top of their game along with every session musician. Aside from virtuosity there is so much groove and funk put into each song it's hard not to find at least one moment to make you smile on each track. Highlight: This time it was the keyboards on Aja. Or maybe the drums on Aja. Or maybe the sax... ...okay maybe it's the bassline on Josie. Incredible stuff.
Five out of seven songs on this album were staples of FM radio within a year or two of being released. I really doubt anyone picked up the needle and skipped past the others, frankly. I am SO fortunate to have been such a music head, especially when I recall the wide diversity these ears have enjoyed. 40 minutes is all it takes to listen to "Aja". Do it!
Serious
okay ich ha sehr lang brucht zum mich entscheide und has es paar mal glost. fazit: sehr es starks album. es isch seehr geil, wenn me richtig zuelost. wenn mes nur nebedbii lost würkts allerdings gliichförmig. was si mached mit de harmonie und de rhythme slapt mega. ich finde allerdings s album gaucho eindütig besser, will det d songs unterschiedlicher sind. in aja find ich hend alli songs chli en ähnliche groove, en ähnliche takt, und es paar songs sind mer dadefür dass sich nöd vill innerhalb vom song und über s ganze album veränderet chli zlang. ich weiss, dassi gaucho es fetts foifi gib, drum bini am struggle, öb das album au es foifi isch. black cow, aja und peg findi sehr nice, deacon blues findi z langwiirig. home at last findi het en agnehm andere trott als di andere. spötistens bi i got the news hani gnueg vom album. aber d harmonie in josie am afang sind sehr geil. nacher trottets sich wieder inen ähnliche rhythmus ii. also ich gib jetz eif mal es foifi will ich glaub s hets verdient. denn losis ines paar mönet nomal wenns mer nümm zum hals usehängt und bi wahrschinli zfriede mit minere wahl. aber gaucho isch besser!!
Excellent. Love the the sound of that era.
Incredible!
one year on this site and ive thoroughly embraced the dan
I liked it
Listen to this front to back on literally any pressing and your life will change. Amazing clarity, incredible arrangements, just perfect. Home At Last and I Got The News deserve more love.
The Dan's other masterpiece. Immaculate back to front. Cozy as fuck. Love this one, its only a little off of CBAT for me.
An essential listen I think.
The drums and sax on this album are incredible.
The uncanny valley of how perfect all of Steely Dan’s music sounds hits one of its peaks here. That makes it either their worst or their best depending on how you like them. This record makes being a record producer seem as cool as being a rock star. I prefer Gaucho but I love this one, always a treat to revisit.
Aja! Steely Dan! Oh yeah, gimme all of that ya got!
Massive 5. Happy to listen again. I love this album
Insane so much fun
One of my all time favorite albums and 1a 1b with Can’t Buy a Thrill for best of the Dan
One of the greatest albums ever made and Steely Dan's best. Such brilliant arrangements. Such catchy tunes. Just incredible.
Some say this is a peak of studio recording, some say it sounds like an ass turd. Luckily I fall into the prior category. This album fucks and if you don’t like it, I will have a tough time being your friend
My dad loves steely Dan and I get why now
A masterpiece that largely defined the soundscape of popular music in the late seventies.
BRUH C'MON
PERFECTION!!!!
great, best is deacon bluez
This whole thing. Loved it.
the creme de la creme of elevated yacht rock, please don't punch me I'm holding a full champagne flute
The father of Yacht Rocks greatest album. So yeah, it's pretty good. Every arrangement is flawless. ~ 5 Stars
92% Best: Black Cow; Peg; Home At Last; Josie Must-Hear? Yes
Despite being a Steely Dan fanatic, I've never actually listened to this one. Fuck me, I should have. My favourite Steely Dan album is Gaucho, and this is so damn similar it's not funny. Gaucho is one of my favourite albums ever, and while this isn't quite as good, it's still comparable. Absolutely incredible listen. I can't state in enough detail how good this record is. Like I said, it's not as good as Gaucho, but that doesn't mean this isn't a damn good record. I don't have a lot to say that I haven't said a million fucking times about Gaucho. Black Cow was definitely my favourite song, but like with all Steely Dan albums, that will change in a months time and I'll be hyper obsessed with another song off here; probably I Got The News. Going to go listen to this about 12 more times today. Hell yeah Steely Dan.
The Dans of Steel return with another practically perfect album. A much more laid back and jazzy affair than Can't Buy a Thrill, but one that I found myself enjoying just as much. I legitimately can't understand how someone could hate this album or not at least appreciate the talent on display, either as active or background listening this shit is as easy to listen to as drinking water I'm not one who usually is too attentive or appreciative of drums in music but some of the tracks in this (especially early on) really catch your ear. A set of great songs at the start which leads into a section of practically perfect songs from Deacon Blues onwards
Jazz for people who don't get Jazz (me). I love Steely Dan, it's like watching an extremely well-oiled chrome machine go to work. The instrumentation and production is perfect here, all the musicians involved here are playing at their peak. Literally my only complaint is that Gaucho isn't included in this project because it's a better album but I'm really arguing between a 9.4/10 and 9.5/10. Lyrically this has some of the best stuff Steely Dan ever did. The two big ones are Deacon Blues is a very fun tongue-in-cheek poke at the band themselves, deriding suburban white people who romanticise the trainwreck jazz musician lifestyle; and Peg, which is the best song ever written about a stalker. It's yacht rock. But's a party yacht; all the women are paid to be there and are forty years the junior of the men on there who are the biggest and saddest sleazes of all time. And everyone is wearing Tommy Bahama. Highlights: Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Peg, I Got the News, Josie
Koji je ovo album majketi drage, da se naježiš svaki trenutak dok slušaš. Nevjerojatno dobro. Apsolutno 5/5, 10/10. ♥️
Happy Friday Y’all I could write forever about this masterpiece, but it speaks for itself Top 10 album for me
Oh boy. The only worthy successor to Can’t Buy a Thrill’s throne. I don’t need to gush about the Dan again, it’s the third time we’ve gotten them in 50 days, you know how I feel.
I love this album more than I love myself
cinco puntos pibe y que lo lloren los ynkees culorrotos
one of the greats
Learn to work the saxophone 🎷 I had some initial resistance as this is so different from buy a thrill , then work i associated with them and loved. Deacon of blues caught me on first listen and then album grew on me by Josie . I knew second listen was gonna be fun and it was . Ok this really grew on me , I love the fusion the jazz the guitar the vocals .. feels like the type of album I can listen to in a lot of settings … a classic
Sheer slick jazz-rock perfection. Undeniably cool and breezy listen for any time of year.
I loved the overall vibe. Kinda chill jazzy dad rock. There were some parts that didn’t connect with me, but especially considering I have never listened to Steely Dan before, I can really appreciate the production and understand why people like it.
Good fuckin album The bassline on Josie is 🤌✨ Very strong 4⭐ - nothing life changing, just some banger music EDIT 3 days later and just about every song is on loop in my head. This is more than a banger
All time classic for me. This is one of those albums that grows in quality every time I listen to it. On this, my third listen, I was finally able to appreciate the back half of the album and I can say it was truly a 5 for me.
9/10
After yesterday’s album I was so thrilled to see this one pop up for today. I adore this album, it is one of my very favorites. It is impeccable and perfect.
Um. I love Steely Dan.
Just an excellent record. In terms of sound and production... so masterfully crafted, theres no other record out there that just sounds nearly as snooth and well rounded as aja. The lyrics are also insanely clever and the vocals match the jazzy aspects of the record. One of my favorite records of all time, still is. Favorite track: Black cow. Overall score: 9.5/10
People do not talk about Steely Dan enough. This bad is legitimately superb. Everything about it man. You can just have it on repeat constantly. It's not even 10 30 and I'm on my 4th listen so far. Its giving 5 vibes. I loved the other two albums, but this is another level. Brilliant Peg is so good
musicalmente hablando esta muy bueno se nota que son muy buenos musicos, no me desagrada pero no es mi tipo de musica
5/5; classic
Steely Dan's magnum opus. No bad tracks. No filler. Every song works. This band is very hit or miss for me. But this one is all hit. Other albums by the band and their members' solo releases have ranged from 2-4 for me. This one is a 5.
It arrived at a sad time in my life. It made me feel better.
Genuinely delightful. The album cover threw me off. But it was funky in the best way possible.
Loved the instrumentals. Good listening!
I listened to this album last week. It is easily one of my all time favourites and Steely Dan’s Magnus opus without a doubt. If you watch the documentary you can see the anal detail Fagen and Becker went into to produce this beauty! There are no duds on here, every song is a classic and Deacon Blues is unbelievable both lyrically and musically. I can get some peoples poor reviews of Aja but it’s not punk it’s jazz infused rock of the highest order and deserves a listen. If you listen to all their albums in chronological order you can hear the progression towards this masterpiece. Drop the needle into the groove sit back and enjoy!
Awesome musicianship, creative well written songs and an entirley unique sound.
Steely Dan don't miss! One time I saw someone talk about this album and complain about the production being "too slick." I literally laughed out loud, because that is one of the things that makes this album so singular. Nothing has (or likely ever will) sound quite like this album. It rides the line of cheesiness for sure, but in a way that is, to me, perfect. It's not something I'll always be in the mood for, but if I'm in the mood then there's no substitute. No notes.
I’m always here
Nice!
Sure! Not my favorite Steely Dan, definitely their slickest (which is saying something), but no complaints here.
Slappppeeeerrrd
Absolutely love this album. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are consummate musicians, and Steely Dan doesn't deserve its dad/yacht rock reputation (if you consider that to be an insult, which I don't). Those chord progressions! Those session players! Wayne Shorter!
My ex wife hated Steely Dan so I never really listened to them when I was younger. Now that she is no longer in the picture I have really come to appreciate them and their songcraft. The music is excellent with great lyrics. Some of the songs are pretty epic, really building up a great musical composition. This is one of my favorite albums and I enjoy every song on it. I'm sure I will listen to it many more times.
Steely Dan at it's finest; some of my favorite songs of theirs are off this album. -Aja -Deacon Blues -Peg
Smooth and sophisticated, meticulous but never clinical. ‘Aja’ is nigh on flawless, a masterpiece.
Perfect album
Sublime
Easily one of the greatest albums I've heard so far! This album is so well composed and produced making every song extremely memorable. What really makes this album incredible however is the instrument backing. Steely Dan (Becker and Fagen) would hire studio musicians to play each song and chose whoever fit the track best. The highlight of this was on the song "Home at Last" where Bernard Purdie gave one of the best drum performances of all time! This is one of the best albums I've heard so far and I can't wait to hear more Steely Dan in the future. Liked songs: All!
I literally said FUCK YEAH when i saw this pop up. Two steeley albums in a week?! i feel so spoiled! Just a top notch album. There was one point where i had 3 records of Aja. One as a gift, one that i bought, and the other i received in a 'mystery box'. Such a tight album that pushes some really cool boundaries especially for the time. At this point they're at their peak and just being vibey and groovy and making up their own rules. I don't even know what's my favorite here. Deacon Blues is a top contender, Aja is also really great. Just such a killer album
5.0 - Awesome
Love Steely Dan, Aja is an amazing classic.
This was incredible. Easily the best produced and sounding record from that era. Songs were all solid and will definitely be returning to this.
Excellent !
Another album I very much knew before this list. One of those unique albums that just feel super nice on the brain. The title track slaps incredibly hard. The production is absolutely ridiculous layered, jazzy. Every person who performs on this album goes to town.
Can't stop listening to this. Fav tracks: Black Cow; Deacon Blues; Peg; Josie
En av de beste albumene noensinne laget. Høydepunktene er mange men for å trekke frem noe : deacon blues eller Steve gadd sine trommesoloer på tittelsporet.
Lost my original review to a browser refresh, so I'll keep this brief. In short, this album is the tits and my favorite of those we've encountered thus far on the list. Beautiful fusion of jazz and rock with funk-infusion and grooves for days. Each song is so wonderfully constructed and spread out. I could listen to this back to back to back and never grow tired. This is some of that good kush that momma always talked about. 5 / 5
Steely Dan does it again with another terrific, possibly their best album so far. Listened to this one thrice and each time was just as good as the last. The biggest revelation about this 1001 albums project is how much I enjoy Steely Dan.
***EDIT*** Listened to this again a week later. Had to switch to a 5. This album is just a jam the whole time and the best Steely Dan album that has come up here. ******* Steely Dan rules so hard. This is now his 4th album on here for us, and unlike stupid Morrissey, I am happy to see his albums come up every time. This album in particular seemed the most jazzy that we have listened to so far. A few long songs which drew out nicely and never got stale. Steely is always an automatic 4 and a high one in this case.
iconic
I own this on vinyl and its one of my favorite go to listens. Every track is meticulous and breezy, probably their apex. On this listen I could only fault it for needing a couple more tracks, but I'm still going with a:
Absolutely brilliant. The gentle distinctive sound of Steely Dan. Soothing vocals, excellent musical accompaniments. This album was a bit more jazz inspired which added to the enjoyment. Loved it ❤️
Very pleasant easy listening - not my style but it will surely be someone else’s :) thanks! :)
i really liked this album! i think i would go back and relisten :p
Seven songs all nearly perfectly made. One of the great albums of its time, and it hasn't lost any of its luster.
It's brilliant. Sometimes very loungy and cheesy but then other times really jazzy and abstract. Really pop and offbeat at the same time.
Quite possibly my favourite album ever, if I had to pick one. Amazing tunes, incredible musicians, and possibly the best production on any album out there. Don’t sleep on it y’all!!!
Very very good.
I think I’m getting obsessed with steely Dan
Great
One of my favorite albums ever. Every song, so god damn good. The production literally couldn't be better. Such a perfect album.
Hell yeah
The best sounding album I've heard. Each instrument is crisp and adds a substantial layer to the rich masterpiece of Aja. Horns swell with immaculate precision and drums snap as clean as a whistle. All testiment to the outstanding performances of the session musicians (especially Michael McDonald's vocals) and great songwriting and production from Becker and Fagen. Best Tracks: - Black Cow - Aja - Peg Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 10/10
9/10 - op lijstje van LP's die ik wil
Best songs: Deacon Blues Home at Last
The drum and sax solo is one of THE coolest moments in music history, and the rest of this album matched that level of greatness.
10/10
Clean. Just clean.
pop-jazz from the Dan, always good to hear
CAAAALL ME DEEEACON BLUES
deep in the groove
Absolutely beautiful start to finish. Dynamic and yet so digestible. Legendary work.
Goated album by a goated artist, not a single weak song. Peg is #1.
92/100. One of my favorite jazz records of all time—it’s damn near perfect. The music is truly wonderful, and the riffs are otherworldly. There are basically no lows on this record.
Will listen to it again
Очень чилловый, супер на повседневный фон, не отвлекает, одна песня перетекает в другую, не сильно заметила разницы
Masterpiece
Pretty awesome. Don't know if I've ever listened that closely to a Steely Dan album. Lyrics and production and all that is a masterpiece.
This is the first 5 stars I give to an album I didn't previously known. I really enjoyed this one!
5 out of 5. Third Steely Dan album so far, but another album where nothing more can be said that hasn't already.
Oh wow. This is so great. I know there are those of you out there who don’t like steely Dan. You’re wrong. And this is the best of them. The arrangements are superb. And the best LA players couple with the best songwriting. Listen to those arrangements. Often dismissed as yacht rock but yacht rock has a mild pleasant feel - life is usually pretty good. Steely Dan is pimps, gangsters, addicts, dodgy characters and cynicism. This is probably the least cynical of the albums, but it is the peak. 5000 stars.
As close to perfect an album as you can get. Steely Dan rocks, all of the musicians that play on their albums are top notch.
love it
Steely Dan. My choice for best band from the 70’s-80’s. Love their music. Know how to mix all types of music type. This album one of their best.
One of my all time favorites. Jazzy, smart, eclectic.
Loved this album
Yeah, I’m just going to rate this before I even give it a fresh listen. One of Steely Dan’s best albums — it’s not my personal favorite (that would be Pretzel Logic) but it’s still a 5-star masterpiece. I do think “Deacon Blues” is my favorite song by them, it’s such a knockout. Easy must-listen. #47.
Overall: 9/10 The generator seems to know that I'm really into Steely Dan right now. This album is much closer to actual jazz than Can't Buy a Thrill was, and in my opinion that's a good thing because it feels more focused and consistent. The crazy amount of perfectionism that went into this album also paid off cause every track is so so good. My biggest complaint would be that a couple tracks are longer than I would like them to be but it's a minor complaint. Such a great album! Fav Song: Peg Least Fav Song: Home at Last
I knew this one already, reminds me of my childhood!
Wow! I really liked the instrumentals and melodies, this was my favorite so far
So many iconic grooves
[note: this review was written in 2021. i have no plans to replace it on RateYourMusic and will simply post the old review here. my opinion remains unchanged.] aja is the culmination of about 5+ years of musical prowess and performance, and is pretty much considered THE dan album that cannot be denied as an ass-kicker. there's a reason audiophiles who care about how FLACs sound and immediately turn a song off if it clips use it as a test for their speakers -- it's one of the most well produced albums of all time. you could pick out each part of a song with a pair of mental chopsticks if you wanted to, with how much space and weight is in the production. however, because i don't know any music theory and very little about how they made it sound like it does, but i know that i love it lyrically, this is the tightest fagen and becker have ever been. the people depicted are pitiable wrecks, as always, but the sentimentality of the music doesnt impress the idea that theyre beyond help. "deacon blues" is the most iconic song here because its a song about how cool it would be to do a sick ass sax solo and drink in lounges, despite the narrator very clearly just being that guy who says hes gonna learn guitar and buys a martin but has never really played it and just uses it as a conversation piece. "black cow", "peg", and "josie" can be categorized as "songs about women", but the songs are less "why aren't you fucking me any more" and more "what the hell is wrong with you, why are you like this". "home at last" and "i got the news" are considered the worst tracks, but theyre still crazy good, and shout out to the part of the chorus michael mcdonald sings. finally, the title track is this beautiful suite that pretty much serves as a tribute to charlie parker and the jazz that inspired SD throughout the years, and honestly? its kind of heartwarming, and despite illustrating a scene of where parker was institutionalized, it sort of feels like an uncharacteristic love song -- not of romance, but of admiration for the art of music and the struggles artists go through to "get it right". i think they did their job here, and did it well
I remember the hits off this album, but I didn’t appreciate them much at the time. Mainly because I was a kid. I’m not sure children can fully appreciate the music of Steely Dan. As an adult and, I like to think, as a more mature connoisseur of music, I very much appreciate Steely Dan. And this album is a gem. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-aja-by-steely-dan?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Steely Dan's best album. Smooth and sonorous
An exquisitely crafted album, one of my favourites and the album that got me into Steely Dan. Becker and Fagen employ the cream of the session music world - Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Chuck Rainey, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie - and combine them into as many groups as there are uniformly excellent songs. It’s all superb but highlights include Wayne Shorter’s solo over Gadd’s subtle drum patterns on the title track, and one of the most incredible guitar solos in popular music, in Peg, a masterclass by Jay Grayson, who was allegedly the 11th guitar player to give it a go. What a great album to start with.
The Good: Yacht Rock! The Bad: What do you do if you don’t have a yacht? The Ugly: Finding out that we’ve been lied to all our lives—Asia is spelled Aja! Why is there so much negativity that surrounds this album, this band, or even the style of music in general? Is it because those who hate it are being confronted with the fact that they know little to nothing about what music should sound like? You might not like the tunes, you might not like the lyrics, but one can simply NOT deny the fact that the musicianship and production value is why this album is considered one of the best ever. Great album, great cover art, great songs. Can’t give it 5*, but is comes real close… Future me here… upgraded to 5*
In the end, we all become our own "crazy uncle deeply into Steely Dan". Studio perfection.
5/5
Very solid Dan. The only dip on the whole album is I Got The News, and that's better than 90% of other music. Yes, people get weirded by Steely Dan for some reason -- but that mellow cynicism is a life preserver right now. "Unexpected" banger -- Home at Last
Can it be too damn smooth? Nah
coming from a background in jazz and classical music, Steely Dan represents my platonic ideal of what a pop rock band can be. it's rare to come across rock albums this polished that still feel so vibrant and alive. a lot of yarn has been spun about the many session musicians and arrangers that worked to bring these songs to life, but my ear is always most drawn to the songs themselves. I've stolen a ton of chord progressions from them over the years, intentionally or otherwise! Walter Becker and Donald Fagen owe a tremendous debt as songwriters to the harmonic innovations of Wayne Shorter; there's a ton of Shorter-esque weaving in and out of different tonal centers across all of these songs, and Shorter's solo spot on the title track is one of the most exciting crossover moments in the histories of both jazz and rock music. I like the B-side quite a bit, but this has to be the most perfect A-side in the entire yacht rock canon, right? strong 9/10.
You done it! You done hired the hit maker Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie! Indeed they did and the drumming is immaculate. The Purdie Shuffle rules. Don't worry about those ghost notes! AIN'T NOTHING BUT REBOUND! This is probably as diametrically opposed to Big Blank's Atomizer as you can get but its wrapped back around to great anyway. Pristine playing, clear production, even a tight compact album at 39 minutes.
Day 63 - November 11th, 2024 Proud parent of a Steely Dan dick rider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5/5
One of my all time favorite albums
Worthy of any top 10 album of all time collections.
Steve Gadd drumming in thar Aja break and at the end of the song. It doesn't get better than this! Oh wait, there's also the classic example of Bernie Perdie's Perdie Shuffle on Home At Last. If you're a drummer and you haven't heard this album, you're in for something special here. The sax solo on Deacon Blues is one of the best! Liked Songs Added: Aja Deacon Blues Peg Home At Last Josie
I stan steely dan
100000
An all timer, that can be annoying if listened to too much due to its grocery store like smooth jazz. But full of classics and amazing playing.
Definitely a vinyl purchase
Now here's an album! One of the most intricate and sophisticated albums ever made. Donald Fagen is a genius. Really, really brilliant album. The drumming on the title track is quite literally as good as it gets. Really hard to choose a top 3 because the album is essentially perfect as far as I'm concerned. My Top 3: 3. Home At Last 2. Aja 1. Deacon Blues
4.5 stars. Incredible infusion of jazz into rock and roll. Such clean playing and production. Fagen's voice is great and pairs so well with the music. "Peg" is a phenomenal track. Other standout is "Josie".
It still holds up
Probably one of the best marriages of jazz and rock. Steely Dan certainly weren't new to the party at this point, but it was clear that they wanted to experiment and push the limits further than they had been already. What we got was a polished production that respects the listener's time whilst providing them with an eye...erm, ear-opening experience. Just looking at the personnel involved, each of the seven tracks were basically their own separate project. Some decorated studio musicians and vocalists honed their craft and chipped in all throughout. Can't really think of any track that drags this down, maybe "I Got The News" if we're being picky. Tracks like "Deacon Blues", "Peg", and "Josie" are each worth the price of admission, though. It's a shame that many dismiss this record and Steely Dan as another "bland" yacht rock outfit. I know that yacht rock was coined much later down the line after this release, but it doesn't *have* to be disparaging. It's simply a label for soft rock and similar-sounding genres from this era (not that I'm denying most of it is cheesy, but there was still some pretty darn good music produced as a result). I guess I've learned that the reviewer hivemind just hates any and all jazz-sounding things. Enough dwelling though, this was a fun record and struck a decent chord with me mainly due to the smoothness & production quality of it all. 9/10.
Grew up loving early Steely Dan and not understanding the more prog albums like Aja, but have grown to love this and other later year Steely Dan. I’m sure it’s a common story. Like all my favorite albums, this one grows on you the more you hear it. I do wonder if we should be critical of Steely Dan for their clinical approach. Obviously precision/perfection is their thing, but would it have killed them to let their hair down in spots? Either way, one of the great records. Not a drum solo guy but the outro to Aja is so fucking sick. Steve Gadd >>>>
In my teens and twenties I had a weird antipathy to Steely Dan - I think because of the polished, studio sound and subdued technical competence - they represented a 'maturity' I wasn't ready to embrace. 'Peg' is the song that changed all that to me - specifically the falsetto harmony 'peggggg' in the chorus and that moment when the saxophone line comes in the verse. Now I see that there is ebullience in their competence, an ecstasy to their mastery, and that something can feel both refined and raw at the same time if you've truly mastered your craft. I fucking love this album and listened to it probably 8 times back to back on Friday. Another thing that made me change my mind about them is that they named themselves after a dildo in Naked Lunch. Rock and roll.
I havent listened to all of Steely Dans albums and I know theyve experimented with tens of musicians (every album), but this feels like the band’s ultimate mission. An album with various instrumentation choices, jazz improv breaks, perfectly timed hits and a pop feel that brings it all together - and the masses that follow Genuinely, Aja is a masterpiece IMO. Peg, Deacon Blues and Josie are radio friendly with incredible vocals (Michael McDonald is perfection). Aja is super prog rocky and has the most exciting hits. I could dust off this album twice a year for the rest of my life and never tire of it
5 stars all fucking day. I love this album. What a TREAT. Gimme all that Fagen and Michael McDonald. Such a tight album. So many jams. Top 10er all time for my money.
I'm pretty torn on this one. Part of me is saying, hell yeah a total classic. Another part of me is saying, holy cow this is kind of a sterile, over-produced snooze. The songs are perfect, but almost too perfect, like there are too few moments where you feel like you're listening to a real band and not a synth backing track. Could use just a little more energy and emotion throughout. That said, this was super fun to listen to overall - incredible headphones album. You can hear literally every instrument crystal clear. Liking the B side more, probably because it has more guitar solos. I know I could end up liking this alot more with some additional listens. And now when Aja comes up in the crossword, I'll know what I'm talking about.
I think this may actually be the greatest album ever made. Absolutely perfect for every second (all 2396 of them). I truly think that the list can only go down from here, and I sincerely wish I could give this a sixth star. I'm not much for writing, and I really can't do this album justice in this review. It is really, honestly and truly, a thing of beauty.
All the bangers
This is #day67 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it brings me to Steely Dan's Aja, my first-ever encounter with their music. From the very first notes, this record struck me as a perfect candidate for audiophiles to test their setups. But it's much more than that. The band spins a fascinating musical narrative, fusing rock and jazz in a way that draws you in. It's an album with a character and a mood. Even on Spotify, the clarity of instrument separation makes it easy to visualize the stage and the atmosphere. I'm genuinely impressed and happy to embrace this entry. It's a great start to the week as well. I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day68.
Their Best
Great vibe. Very relaxing and upbeat at the same time.
Fun album
Straight up fiver (10) ★★★★★
One of the most immaculate and masterful albums of all time. Title song when it takes off is full-on transcendence and is like a jazz-rock Stairway To Heaven. Peg is the feel good hit of every summer. And Deacon Blues has just the best lyrics and could very well be my own theme tune.
Probably my favorite Steely Dan album. Easy 5 stars.
1977 again, what a stunning year. Pretzel Logic was a real grower for me; must have been in a bad mood to have rated it a 2, as it's at least a 4! I knew this was easily their most highly rated album by music nerds. It's incredibly well produced as many others have stated. Whether you enjoy it seems to rest upon whether this is enough for you or whether you require it to have some deeper meaning. Personally, I couldn't give a flip about lyrics if it sounds this amazing on headphones. The album was made for an incredible audio experience and that's what it does. An easy 9/10 for me; now I'm off to explore the rest of the catalogue (except the albums left on this list).
In my Top 5 all time greatest albums. The musicianship is unequalled. All tone and texture. Superb.
Incredible album.
No reason not to give this a five. Steve Gadd putting on a clinic. Ridiculous. Bernard Purdue doing his shuffle thing (a god among men) in Home At Last. Catchy, jazzy and just a little off, this is Steely Dan 101. Spotless performances of some great songs. Clichè though it is, this album exists at another level entirely. A satisfying listening experience that you can return to.
5 stars
I didn't think I was much of a Steely Dan fan, but this album is great.
Kan nog vara världens bästa skiva
Bara bangers?!! Man vill ju bara mysa i soffan och ha SEX! Eller så har jag bara blivit betingad av Alvin Lindahl att gilla låtarna efter flera år av repetitivt spelande
Love steely dan so very happy listening to this laid back tunes. Takes me back to my teenage years.
Classic af
Absolute 5 star banger. One of my favorite albums possibly. Don't get the Dan hate, Dan is being dad, Dan is not caring what other people think of you. Be like the Dan.
FUCK YEAAHHHHH
Aja is nothing short of masterful! Along with Fagen and Becker, it was performed with some of the top session musicians in the business which resulted in this widely-respected classic. One of my all time favorites!
i love the rock.. i love the jazz.. 5 stars. Favorite track: Aja other picks: deacon blues, peg, home at last
Utterly impeccable. And no wonder given the 40+ players – Wayne Shorter's sax on the title cut being the top contributor. But Becker's guitar work is a subtle standout on nearly every cut. The sweet, sophisticated langour of the opener sets a delicious tone. At once bemused and melancholy, jaded and wry. The ennui vibes delivered in jazz idioms with just gliterringly perfect production, is what makes the record. "Aja" is a monument to excellence in music making, and a high water mark not just in jazz-rock but any genre; it meanders and sprawls but every note makes sense. "Peg" is among the happiest and hookiest of any pop song, ever. "Home At Last" is severely underrated. "Deacon Blues" and "Josie" were among the sharpest and richest tracks they ever recorded (a high bar indeed). Music this good can feel like an opiate. It's a wonder that it sold so well.
i love steely dan
One of Steely Dan's best.
A few years ago I was reading an interview somewhere with the excellent artist Kurt Vile, who made the comment (paraphrasing) “anyone who loves music inevitably realizes that Steely Dan is the fucking shit.” Something like that. He’s right of course. I was thinking about giving this 4 stars, then I realized I’ve never listened to Aja and thought anything but “damn this is good”. I’m not sure why that wouldn’t qualify it for 5 stars. It’s so smooth, just absurdly tight playing through. There’s not really another album that sounds like Aja. The first three tracks are my favorites, but it’s excellent from start to finish.
One of the most iconic records of the 70s, for good reason. Every track here is superb.
A thoroughly enjoyable album, best one so far, very jazzy and nice to listen to.
It’s really moody and calming to listen to. Great songs and variety, brief yet interesting. Like the theme, wasn’t what I was expecting. 8.9/10.
Great album, great band
No private session needed for Steely Dan. I am surprised how polarizing a band Steely Dan is, I know some people who hate them. I think it's because their music is a little more complicated than bands like The Eagles and Steve Miller Band. Anyway, at one point in college I went through a Steely Dan phase, Deacon Blues will always have a special place in my heart for some reason.
IDK guys, Steely Dan may or may not be your bag but you gotta acknowledge that this album is damn effective, if not, totally slaps. I get that they are too smooth for rockers, too rock for jazz fans, not abstract enough for prog fans, and too clean for funk fans, but that's the point. The Dan of Steel are clever purveyors of multiple influences for nerdy armchair musicologists who get off on dialing life in "just so". They got a pristine sound and execution that grooves while reminding a listener of so many musical references while dropping lyrical gems of multi-layered sarcasm that rewards thrilled nerds the more they nerd out on it. Musically though, no matter what school you run with, you gotta hand it to these guys. The hooks are catchy as hell, while doing musically impressive gymnastics on their instruments-- something prog never pulls off.
Truly a masterpiece. One of the best albums ever created, oozing with style and sound.
Steely Dan are one of my favorite bands of all time. I don't know if there's a single song of theirs I don't enjoy listening to. The songs are just fun and there's so much going on. The musicality is anything but generic, and the lyrics perfectly encapsulate that yacht rock feeling of banality covered up by a jazzy, yuppy lifestyle. Some of my favorite sonic moments on this album are the xylophone during 'Aja' and the staccato piano bits during 'I Got the News.' I love this album. I've got to get the boat out. It makes me want to cruise and feel inadequate.
A really groovy album. All of the musicians on this album are outstanding and I really vibed with the prevalent jamming. Peg will forever be a banger. I was cooking food while listening to this album and found myself dancing along to a lot of it. Proper tunes from Steely Dan.
What a perfect album! It is impossible not to get hyped when the drums kick in at the end of Aja... That is the most painful fade in the history of recorded music.
Before listening to the album again: Never really understood why *Aja* is even more praised by the critics that *Can't Buy A Thrill* or *Pretzel Logic*. I guess that compared to their previous LPs, the "band"'s sound, along with the performances given by the many session musicians hired for this one, had never come off as maddeningly slick and pristine as in this 1977 album. The thing is, it seems to me that Steely Dan's choruses and vocal lines are generally less memorable in *Aja* than in the records I've quoted up there (except for "Deacon Blues", of course)... After listening to the album again: Damn. I still have a problem with "Black Cow", that I find a bit mundane and indistinct for an opener. But the string of songs that follows is indeed quite perfect. It starts with "Aja", where the album it gives its name to hits its stride at last: gosh, those gorgeous syncopated drums in the climax of this one! And that eerie synth! It continues to "Deacon Blues", still catchy as hell, and then ends with "Peg", oddly graced with jittery male backup vocals uttering the name of the titular girl like frail robots smitten with love at once. Truly, you "see it all in 3-D" here. There are so many great moments in that string of three songs that I will bump my initial grade by at least one point. As usual with Steely Dan, the song lyrics, some of them oblique and even cryptic, are about a bunch of characters "down on their luck", as that other reviewer politely describes it. And as usual with them, it's sort of a cheesefest instrumentation-wise "You can see why punk happened", as yet another reviewer puts it. Which, to be honest, aptly supports the sardonic tone of those lyrics about "being a doomer 30-40 something in the late 70s witnessing the rise of Neo-liberal realism and the death of effective counter-culture" as a third pert reviewer explains elsewhere... Yet it's also such an imaginative cheesefest, with so many subtle-and-yet-elated twists and turns, and with so many layers to marvel at, that the whole thing soon becomes an aloof and immersive jazzy adventure like no other--even if it's an adventure in a land filled with pathetic losers, as pointed out before. The Dan had always desperately tried to look like cool cats. And it's here, as what remained of their "rock" influences had been so well-digested--to the point that said rock influences became indistinguishable or totally subliminal--that Becker and Cage *did* become cool cats in the eyes of the whole world... Apart from all that, I'm neutral towards bluesy "Home At Last"--in spite of its cute references to Homer's *Odyssey*--"I Got The News" is kind of fun, and the final guitar break of *Josie* always gets me. Not writing an overlong long review here. If I did so, it would be doomed to look flat compared to the weird witticisms Steely Dan routinely used themselves to talk about their equally weird--but also often wonderful--music. Or rather, *not* talk about it. At least not really. You can't beat cool cats at their own game, I guess... 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5+4.5) Number of albums left to review: 96 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 390 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 228 Albums from the list I certainly won't include in mine: 286
just, you know.. one of the best most complete albums ever made… (3 stars)
Music has a very difficult time getting better than this. Not impossible, but this sets a *very* high bar
Super chill great album
Amazing wtf
This album was already one of my favourites. So jazzy and catchy, and the musicians skill is outstanding. Highlights: Black Cow, Aja (that drum solo!!) Peg.
Probably more influential on my growing up than any other album. I love everything about it.
I fuckin love Steely Dan
Banger!
Que incrível meu
Love Steely Dan and love this album. Peg!
hbhhkh
short and sweet and all of their funkiest tracks. so many rap samples.
I love this band
A bit of sonic slickness combined with amazing musicianship and fierce wit. Also, it thumps.
I became a huge fan of Steely Dan this year a few months ago when the site sent me Pretzel Logic. I was instantly swept off my feet by the first lulls of Rikki Don't Lose That Number. So to sum it up well: I'm totally into them! It's my kind of music, no mistakes! It's the kind of 70's road rock band that I've been looking for for a long time. I thought I had already seen all the good ones, but now in 2024 I am blessed with Steely Dan. And this review of mine has nothing to do with the album itself. I just wanted to say thank you to this site! 5 Stars!
Possibly the greatest lineup of no-name set musicians ever. I’m not a big fan of Steely Dan, but this album is so perfectly performed and produced that it’s hard to deny how amazing it is. The fact that Walter Becker, one of the two permanent members of Steely Dan, didn’t perform on a few of the songs really shows how much of a masterpiece of collaboration this album is. If there’s any album highlight though, it has to be Wayne Shorter’s sax solo on the title track.
The ultimate yacht rock album. Every song is incredibly smooth and catchy but there are some bits that go really hard as well - the solos on the title track for example are just excellent. The session musicians on this track are next level (with appearances from Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie and Wayne Shorter among many others) and the production is so meticulous and crisp. An all round lovely and engaging listen
Steely Dan perfection, I don't know whether to sit back and smoke a cigar or get up and boogie
No babe when I said I wanted to Peg I meant Steely Dan! Honest!
Very good stuff. loved this way more than I thought I would.
Smooth rhythms, mellow, great Steely Dan - probably their best album
In these times of great turmoil and discordance, this is a hopeful reminder that America is indeed capable of great things. Here we have the magnum opus of the greatest jazz rock band to ever do it, and there’s no question, this is among the finest albums ever recorded.
Ears are all you need to make this album soundtrack seemingly any activity imaginable—no yacht required.
Jesus. I wasn't prepared for this. Absolutely incredible from beginning to end. Can't even pick a favourite. Looks like I'm about to hit Steely Dan's entire back catalogue hard.
Amazing, totally amazing
I listened to this in a pub in the beer garden, drinking and smoking, and enjoying the heartbreaking intricacies of the songwriting. I’m sure it could have been obnoxious, but seriously I felt like the coolest motherfucker ever
Alban bien tocado, con algunos temas que enganchan más. Pero no me termina de llegar. Algunos amigos músicos dicen que es de lo mejor. Pero a mi me cuesta
Really enjoyed this one.
fell in love with this album.
Love this album, always have always will. Deacon Blue might be my favorite SD song.
Great memories of high school bands. Always liked their sound
Eines der besten Alben der beiden Genies! Zeitlos. Ich vergebe 5 von 5 Sternen!
Been a fan of this album for a long time. Hard to fault it - almost perfect but I think it’s possibly a little bit too short.
Some great tracks on here and a great album as a whole.
This feels so unique. The jazz elements are just delicious. The bass, guitar, and drums all drive everything forward. The singing is just kind of what it is, but I could live in this sound for days. Every solo was different and interesting, and there wasn't any major or noticeable dips in quality from song to song. Favorite Song: Peg But they were all great.
Perfection
Anyone on here who rates this lower than 3 stars needs their fucking head examined.
A lot of times with music, you have to fight the urge to gaslight yourself into liking an album. You know, the classic, “All the reviews say it’s an 11/10, and all my friends adore it, so I must be missing something.” With Aja, I’m doing the exact opposite — fighting the urge to gaslight myself into hating it. It feels…pretentious to like Steely Dan, and praising Aja suggests that I have deep-seated, TED talk level thoughts on things like ✨sound design✨ and ✨audio headspace✨. To like Aja suggests you like it not as a pop record, but as a a subversion of pop, something much more complex. It’s not the hook or the groove, it’s the 7/9 Lydian shuffle that blah blah blah. Liking Aja is coded language for a more sinister type of music nerd, one that I try very hard not to be. But the truth is that I like Aja because I think it’s just catchy as fuck. Sure, the songs are long and it gets pretty damn jazzy, but it’s also infectious. Even a fill can be a hook, and I find that appealing and constantly engaging. Sure, it’s also complex and dense and you can dive into that if you want, or you can just sit back and enjoy the occasional Michael McDonald harmony and novelistic lyrics and vibe out!
Absolutely superb!!
Lovely
Fucking brilliant. 5 stars.
God. 100/10
Impeccable album, if there’s a more immaculately produced rock album out there I haven’t heard it yet. Also Peg. Fave Tracks: Black Cow, Aja, Deacon Blues, PEG, Home At Last, Josie 5/5
"You call me a fool // You say it's a crazy scheme // This one's for real // I already bought the dream // So useless to ask me why"
The rock that launched a thousand yachts! Endless groove, the finest studio musicianship the 70s had to offer, and lyrics that will keep you analyzing and re-analyzing for years. As appropriate for an all-day study session as for four nights of blow (on an extended sailing trip, of course, what were you thinking?) Arguably their masterpiece, though I suppose you could say that about any one of their original 7 albums.
One of my desert island albums
A benchmark for popular music performance and recording, from the vocals, to the guitar solos, the drums, the arrangements -- all stellar. A big part of the soundtrack of my late 70s high school years. 5 out of 5
Really enjoyed this album, it was so groovy and smooth. The melodic and harmonic complexity is incredible. Standouts for me are Peg and I Got The News.
Steely Dan is a popular band from the 70s. They had some great songs. I really enjoy their music.
They were so amazing. What fool nerds. Peg.
Nearly perfect. No matter how many dozens of times I have listened to this album I never get tired of it. Steve Gadd's drumming on Aja set a new high bar for session drummers.
Immaculate late night driving music. Best Song: Tbh this is such a tight 3 horse race between Deacon Blues, Aja and Peg and I think Peg takes it for me. Also some songs I wasn't as aware of were absolute bangers especially Josie. Worst Song: N/A on this one
the drums are just phenomenal on this record oh my god
I will never understand how Steely Dan is the most 50/50 band when it comes public opinion. How could you NOT love this?????
I really like this album, such well produced songs throughout
Just so goog.
"Steely Dan?!?... That's cocaine music!!!" -C. Wilson To my ears, it's a masterpiece. Becker and Fagan spent months grinding through some of the very best session musicians while blasting key bumps in the control room. The result is one of the most smoothed-out and divisive albums ever. Polished clean of any imperfection, it's impossible to point to any one flaw. Logically, then, it is a "perfect" album. The word "cynical" is used often to describe the lyrics. By wrapping them in a Jazz-Pop package, the words leave a sour aftertaste that many find understandably off-putting. I think it adds complexity, like a fine California Chardonnay at its peak.
As a girl who currently listens to Dirty Work everyday on my spring/summer playlist, I was excited for this one - and I was not disappointed at all. A gorgeous little album, I have no notes. Also, as a big Michael McDonald fan I was SO EXCITED to hear him on Peg and I Got The News ❤️❤️❤️ Standout tracks: - Peg 5/5 - I Got The News - Josie 5/5
Excellent
Shmooth, technical and flawless. Another great album that separates those with taste from those without - the musicianship and songcraft on this album is next level, technically brilliant, and an amazing fusion of rock, jazz and funk.
Classic 10/10