1001 Albums Generator
Aja by Steely Dan

Aja

Steely Dan

1977
3.48
Rating
29616
Votes
1
5%
2
15%
3
30%
4
28%
5
22%
Distribution
Genres: Rock, Jazz Styles: Soft Rock, Jazz Rock

Reviews (page 3 of 15)

Second Steely Dan album in the same week. I am having a shitty day and I am hating this album. I am finding the singer's voice super annoying. This could be background music in a fancy and pricey coffee shop.

MY GOAAAAAAAATTTT!!!! Well top 5 album of all time for me. Man what do i say about this one, this album is often used to test high quality speakers and headsets due to how crystal clear the instrumentation is and just how beautifully groovy it is. Also its an absolute masterclass on adding to the greater steely dan narrative with most tracks relating to the scandalous nights of a somewhat young american (i mean the last track is about a hooker), i guess the hypothetical protagonist is getting on in age. My number one track (Aja) is an interesting track in the discography as it suggests the desire for healing and enlightenment from the lowlife described in most other tracks, and the fact it’s not last implies that the life of lust and desire always reels him back. Because i love this album so much, i won’t do standouts, i’ll just rank the tracks from favourite to least, and honestly apart from the last two, i’d rate all these as all-time favourite songs, the number 1 might even be in my top 10 favourite songs of all time. Aja > Josie > Black Cow > Deacon Blues > Peg > Home At Last > I Got The News

Goated with the sauce. This white boy loves steely dan

Steely Dan never sounds like I think they're going to. I always immediately forget what type of music they play as soon as I stop listening to them. It's all perfectly fine music, but bland. I want them to be more interesting than they actually are. This was only 40 minutes long, but it felt interminable.

Classic yacht rock and that's using the Gene Yachtski scale.

This is funky as hell. Damn, I guess I like Steely Dan.

7 songs A gay little jazz rock album. Superb choice for Club Penguin Pizza Parlor background music.

Yet another one I've heard before, the production is stellar but I think one of its biggest strengths is the reason I can't give it the coveted 5 star rating, how short it is... I WANT MORE OUT OF THIS

5 for peg

eye know i love peg

Goofy dad rock, occasionally clever but way too soft

I can appreciate the musicianship, but it's way to soft for me.

I like this album better than the last Steely Dan. Not a huge fan of yacht rock.

Listen to this has made me realize I enjoy listening to the nostalgic hits off 'Can't Buy a Thrill" but that I don't actually like Steely Dan. It's not a bad album and I can see how it was doing something interesting at the time it came out. But it is just not for me.

OH SHIT YOU ALREADY KNOW. Another Steely Dan. Another masterpiece. If I could rate it a 6 I would. Bernard Perdie. Steve Gadd. Larry Carton. Joe Sample. Chuck Rainey. Michael McDonald. Tom Scott. Wayne Shorter. Incredible arrangements. Inscrutable lyrics. Very much my shit.

Pop plus piano bar jazz but not pop enough for any real hooks and not piano bar jazz enough for anything to grab you. Almost like it was designed to be background music of no consequence. But other Steely Dan can be good, so I am not at all sure why anyone considers this to be the pinnacle of Steely Dan. Deacon Blues is almost good.

Kuunteli mielellään. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mieletöntä soittamista ja kunnollista soundia!

Incredible instrumentals. Such creativity and the drums were just 👌👌

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Enjoyment: 8/10 Replayability: 6/10 Cohesion: 7/10 Flow/Pacing: 5/10 Artistic Merit: 8/10 Weighted Average: 7.05/10 Review: I grew up on Steely Dan, so these songs were played frequently over the years. This album is quintessential yacht rock with the well-produced marriage between its slick jazz beats and classic rock sound. Although I wouldn't choose to listen to this entire album on repeat due to its slower pacing, Deacon Blues, Peg, and Josie will remain favorites of mine with a newfound love of Black Cow. Liked Song(s): Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Peg, Josie Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? Yes

Oddly enough, I first heard Steely Dan through a sample of the song "Peg" from this album on De La Soul's first album, which made me interested in the band. Overall, the same dynamics from the first album can be heard hear, easy listening R&B oriented songs that can be either enjoyed on that level or can be enjoyed for the complex dynamics buried within them. The primary difference is that this might be a little slicker in burying that. I particularly like the uptemp songs, "Peg" and "Josie" along with the more offbeat "I Got the News" and "Deacon". It's a good record, but some of the longer songs keep it from getting four stars despite the fact that everything here is listenable.

Competent stuff. Just not very exciting

Essentially perfect

Exceptionally dull

Another one that is just fine. A few good songs in there like Deacon Blues and Peg.

Solid background

Great album. Just good music, not the hits that we know, but really just great music and I was impressed several times with how well it sounded. Everything was mixed really really good and it was all pretty sharp. 6.24.26

2.5 actually. a bit more my vibe. I dont love the songs nor do i hate them its a bit bland/boring for me. idrk how to explain it but ig there aint enough going on

I don’t like this at all. Genuinely unlistenable.

a technically marvelous album, but as i think ive said before with steely dan, it almost feels inhuman due to the total cleanliness and shimmer

Right my name is Jim E Brown, I've just completed a full listen of the album Aja by a bloke named Steely Dan. The sounds like it was assembled in a laboratory by men who iron their socks, and I resent how much I enjoy it. Every note is so clean and precise it makes me feel physically unwell, like I’ve wandered into a surgeon’s theatre and accidentally become the operation. It is, unfortunately, bang on—smooth to the point of spiritual emptiness, like being gently suffocated by silk......Right my name is Jim E Brown.

Love Aja; I think it's my favorite Steely Dan album but Pretzel Logic and Gaucho are both right there, too. Usually, when a band or artist removes all the rough edges of their music, it just doesn't work for me. It'll sound expensive and cheap at the same time and so often, it feels like an attempt to appeal the dullest common denominators. Steely Dan, still removed of all rough edges, are not one of those bands. While everything's been smoothed down, it's got a sleek, chrome or suede kinda feel to it. It's got some shine, for sure, but the beauty is in how asymmetrical and professional the final product is; Aja scratches every itch. Steely Dan are the real Rolex in a case full of shitty knock offs. The production quality is second to none. Lyrically, there are some more rough edges and topics visited but when those words are put to that music, it still feels nice and clean.

sorry steve albini, I like Steely Dan. I get it - they're not raw. But they make me feel pretty good.

One of the most consistent surprises from this list. Every Steely Dan album has been great with almost all bangers. Unique vocals that meld well with the pristine instrumentals. Simply a breath of fresh air every time one of their albums pops up. 9/10

steely dan, nulla da dire, una vibe, gran bell'album

Peeeeeeeeg

Tried, just can’t deal

i see ya picsha... ya name in lights abubeh

ok yeah i guess these guys are good actually. i know the name but never heard their music before and kinda just assumed they were another dad rock band? im really into this bluesey funk type sound tho. type of shit that has me bobbing my head without fail. my favourite this time is "deacon blues" but it's real close. the whole album is so good it really does just come down to catchiness and this track just happened to be the one that got stuck hardest in my head. i finished my 4th listen like 3 hours ago and it's still bouncing off the walls of my skull. to dieeeeee behiiiiiind the wheel...... not the strongest 5 ive given out but it really is so solid it's hard to justify anything lower. music is pretty fuckin good sometimes.

"Critics and audiophiles applauded the album's high production standards", says Wikipedia. "Smooth jazz-rock from the 1970s..." Oh, good grief, I'm going to hate this. After listening: Yep! Genuinely a contender for the worst album I have ever heard. If I ever get kidnapped by nefarious actors who wish to torture me, just play Aja and I'll give you whatever you want before the first bar is even over! Excruciating!

Definitely, "Aja" is the best song here, "Deacon Blues" was good too.

Perfectly listenable but sounds like diluted beach boys and feels very one paced

This band for me was an acquired taste, but once you get it, you get it. Thick lush harmonies, very creative melodies, and top notch playing by all of the players.

I’m conflicted with this one. It’s borderline elevator music, but I’m still infatuated with parts of it. Rating: 8/10 Favorite Song: Peg, Deacon Blues

would not listen again not my style thought it was going to be very different from what the album cover looked like

My God, I was bored to tears listening to this album! Gone are the country flavours and slick harmonies from the two previous albums I got from them, in comes funky beats and jazz overtones. And it’s even worse. Great production, though!

Such a vibe

não me pega. divertido

Stilly not a fan of steely Dan

très bien. beaucoup plus complexe que ca en a l'air. un peu jazzy. certains morceaux me parlent moins néanmoins

Ajed well

GOOD ALBUM

Meticulously recorded, performed, and produced, but the songs just don't do it for me. These guys seem like douchebags.

Very interesting to see the difference between their earlier albums and this. Way more jazz chords as opposed to the folk. I think they maneuver them both pretty well but there's just something missing. Can't put my finger on it. Highlights: Peg (ofc), Home At Last

Good pedal work and saxophones reminded me of that phat Mr. Bungle. They come clean

So good. I didn't know Steely Dan was so jazzy.

Yet another mediocre entry on the list. It was fine.

I do not like Steely Dan, Sam I Am. I do not like them with green eggs and ham. I do not understand how they got 4 albums.

An interesting album that tries to split the difference between jazzy prog rock and the kind of cheesy 80's yacht rock that Patrick Bateman probably listens to (which is impressive given this came out in the 70s, ahead of it's time I guess). Unfortunately, it leans more towards the latter. I quite like a couple of tracks where the jazzy prog side shines through a bit more like Aja and I Got The News, but otherwise though it is clear there is talent behind this, it is kinda boring.

It really is one of the best produced albums you’ll ever hear Sparkling clean and masterfully performed from start to finish Might just be their best work

Very solid album. Steely Dan is a really unique band, blending rock and jazz, and it just works.

Great album to have in the background. I did really enjoy this so i’m gonna rate it a 4/5 as an album. I don’t think there was a particular song from it that stood out but it was an easy and enjoyable listen.

I'm gonna give this album a listen tomorrow after Louis's concert but I will not make any promises because tomorrow is gonna be a really a busy day so let's see. Update: I did listen to it after Louis's concert (😭😭😭🙌) and I think it deserves a solid 3 stars. It gave me Mario Kart vibes for some reason LOL. And the song I liked the most was: Home At Last.

FIVE FIVE FIVE FIVE FIVE STARS

Almost perfect lp. No bad tunes, but the sequencing seems off to me. The tunes don't flow. Playing with a different sequence

Peg is such an absolute stone-cold slammer I'm gonna be listening to that on repeat all week.

extremely good!!

What a crazy atmosphere. Loved the instrumentals

Siento que el album tiene una esencia tipo, canciones largas con mucha instrumental (a veces), y eso igual es bueno, ya que tiene variedad de instrumentos y en general, se disfruta mucho esos momentos donde suenan pianos u otros instrumentos que comúnmente no hay en algunos apartados de la musica. Puedo destacar que me ha gustado mucho mas la mitad para el final del album que el inicio, ya que al comienzo lo senti un poco flojo, pero despues iba mejorando en varios apartados. Puedo decir igual que no tenia ni idea de este grupo, tampoco de alguna canción. Fue un buen album, pero no uno muy bueno a mi gusto, se acerca a las 4 estrellas.

Loved it. Top notch yacht rock

genieten album, zou het zeker nog een keer opzetten, 4.5/5

Es buena música pero no me dice nada

What do you want me to tell you? 5 stars, of course. Of course.

It's a little too easy listening for me.

About as middle of the road as it gets. Would go hard on a beach with a cold one

Good one.

A good album, I liked Deacon Blues and Josie the most.

Phenomenal production and it’s just a great listen from Black Cow onwards.

The only song that stood out to me was Deacon Blues, especially the line "Drink Scotch whiskey all night long and die behind the wheel".

I know a few Steely Dan songs that I like, but this album had none, and, for me, it's generally just unbothering background music. The "Drink Scotch whiskey all night long. And die behind the wheel." was a funny gem though.

Try as I might. Steely Dan will just never do it for me.

Uno de los mejores discos de jazz fusión El segundo mejor disco de steely dan ya habla de lo bueno que es Pegadizo groovy y enviame tiene a peg

The first time I got really high I was 18/19 on Cape Cod with my best friends in the world listening to this album. It’s hard for me to be unbiased but it’s a masterpiece

Immaculately composed and performed, but what do you get for all of that undeniable effort? An album that sounds like background music in a restaurant. I get why this is probably interesting if you’re a total theory nerd who wants to obsess over chord progressions and production techniques but that’s not what music is about for me.

“A jazz-rock album which fuses cool jazz, blues, and pop into a masterpiece of an album “ ? Sounds like it should be brilliant , pity it is not. I can like slow soulful jams and like jazz infusions normally but there is something in the high harmonies and keyboard here that leaves me cold. But then “eye know” by de la soul saves the album. Peg is actually great song in a sea of mediocrity . Saving it from a 1

People like this?

This music would be a lot of fun in the right setting. I’d love to sit in a small jazz club and listen to stuff like this. For everyday listening, not so much my thing. I almost gave it 4/5 but it wasn’t quite there.

Buenísimo

love this album

Steely Dan always make great music, so I really like this album too. Three stars...

Black cow - 3 Aja - 3 Deacon blues - 3 Peg - 3 Home at last - 3 I got the news - 3 Josie - 3

Second album so far that I was already familiar with. Groovy, Jazzy, Cool. My dad always told me growing up that his two favorite bands were Led Zepplin and Steely Dan. I wasn't big into music growing up but the names made me think that they were metal bands because of Lead and Steel, which I especially didn't care for. Glad I gave them a chance eventually. Review: 9.3/10 Fave songs: Black Cow, Aja, Deacon Blues, Peg, Josie

Yacht rock.. Vill säga vanilla, men det är en kränkning mot vanilj. Detta är som om man gjorde glass på vatten

This album once again proves why it’s the best in Steely Dan’s catalog. It’s a legendary jazz-pop masterpiece with that signature cynical, smooth edge they do better than anyone. While listening I felt a strange mix of warmth and melancholy. The whole record explores themes of love, escape, freedom, and mid-life disillusionment in a very elegant and grown-up way. The storytelling is excellent throughout — each track feels like a short film with interesting, flawed narrators that pull you in. The musicianship is flawless, the grooves are addictive, and the production is immaculate. It’s sophisticated without being cold, catchy without being simple. Aja is really a gem of pop music. One of those rare albums that feels both intelligent and emotionally rich at the same time. Absolute perfection.

There is not a low point here.......or anything closely resembling it. A pure masterpiece.

Very slick. I like the jazz rock feeling present here. Nothing in particular grabbed me but the compositions are nicely done.

This is the idea of "perfect music" being discovered in real time

Not my thing. Didn't finish

First peg of the summer and there's gonna be many more

Fått litt mer sansen for dette på mine eldre dager.

Such a classic

All good songs ... I just can't listen to them anymore. Not sure what it is, overplayed, over hyped ... it's just over for me. They come on the radio - I change the station.

enjoyable but idk can't say I would ever listen to it again

No slouch, this one. Damn near every song hit the airwaves. Certainly made the wife happy. Not my jam, then and now, but I won’t deny the satchel of winners. 4 stars, holding my nose.

I feel in the middle

Am I an enigma or something? I gave the Ramones first album a 5. Music that rebels against bloated perfectionist stuff like this. Which, I also give this a 5. Hmm. I am a Steely Dan fan, and own all of their 70s albums. And this is probably the crown jewel of that output. So sleek and refined sounding, while the lyrics are still as biting as ever. And every song is great. I suppose appreciating both the Ramones and Steely Dan comes down to the fact that I didn't experience the zeitgeist of the mid 70s. I grew up liking both, and still do.

4 stars. We enjoyed. We like Steely Dan already, but hadn't actually listened to this album before.

Classique 3.5/5

Smooth but the album is not engagingnor memorable. It would have benefited from a few highlights

Essential. “Deacon Blues,” “Peg,” *and* “Josie?!” In my mind, this about a 4.5-star album. To round up or down? Hmm. So hard! Maybe just a touch more, erm, edge would’ve gotten it to 5.0?

Favourite Songs: Black Cow

Remind me of old times

I am not a jazz person. This album was listenable but also forgettable.

vinyl day! perfect album

Марко 5 Сара 4,5

This is honestly my jam, some funky soul and jazz music.

It took me awhile to really appreciate Steely Dan. Their songs are still pretty hit or miss for me, but I always like the subtlety of the production and arrangements. I never understood why "Deacon Blues" gets regular airplay. I don't get the hype of this album over all their others, but I love it nonetheless.

Solid chill vibes with some fusion 5/5

10 outta 10, no notes. Gotta listen to it to love it. It's so good.

Queria dar 3.5 Achei gostosinho de ouvir

Album muito bom, tipo eu entendo porque o Ed Motta é obcecado em Steely Dan. No entanto, não sou a maior fã de jazz, então não darei 5 estrelas.

Steely Dan feels like a meme that I'm not really in on. However, this is good. It is perfectly fine and chill music that feels extremely polished to a shine to the point that it loses a bit of character. That's fine, though, because it's really good. Deacon Blues and Peg are songs I've heard so many times from my parents growing up, that I didn't know they were Steely Dan songs, funny enough, that as soon as they started playing, I immediately knew every lyric. Just like my favorite foreign movie, it came back to me.

I don't get it. 39 mins but feels like it goes on forever. 1/5.

Fantastisch

5/26/26. Flawless album. Incredible production and performances by everyone on here. Perfect blend of jazz and pop that still sounds great years later! One of my all time favorites.

Bust out the nautical themed pashmina afghan cuz we yacht rockin' today

This is what happens when you give two obsessive weirdos access to some of the finest session musicians in the country. A collection of perfectly precise, musically complex, sophisticated songs played as pop music. There’s jazz and rock and disco and funk and soul and just the sickest grooves. Endlessly listenable and just a fantastic piece of work.

3/5. pretty good. might listen again. some songs a bit too trumpetry and waily

very nice

I know I love you better

So this morning I had a weird inclination to listen to Steely Dan. Specifically the song Do It Again off of Can't Buy A Thrill which I did positively rate a few weeks ago and do remember fondly. Keep in mind I usually don't rate as soon as I wake up, but anyway I press shuffle on my largest playlist and the song it plays is exactly Do It Again! Then I go to rate my last album, and the new one for today is more Steely Dan! Guess I was fated to enjoy some Steely freakin' Dan today. Anyway, this album is jazzy, it's nice, it's well put together, definitely feels more magnum opus-y and an amalgam of their ideas of what they did before. That being said, I didn't enjoy it as much as Thrill. This is missing some of that fun factor for me which they had on their debut, this feels a bit more clinical. The tracks are also way longer a bit needlessly, and the album kind of blends together but not in a good way. Maybe I'm missing something and will probably revisit on that basis, but this is where I'm at right now.

Dun album. Very calming and lively. The ending of Aja was one of my favorite moments. 6.5/10

Too produced and smooth jazz like for me

I could hear the mix of jazz and pop better this time. I have to intently focus to get anything out of it yet despite that I can barely remember any specific parts. A lot of the time I can’t tell if I’m enjoying it or not. Rating: 3.3

Groovy, smooth jazzy, and mellow.

It's Steely Dan.

Dads🤝Yachts🤝Rock🤝Jazz🤝Me Not sure where the hate is coming from, this album is great! Good production and a smooth blend of rock and jazz that creates an enjoyable listen. Likes: Black Cow; Aja; Deacon Blues;Peg; Home At Last

This was all a bit too pristine and unaffecting for me. Very little I can recall about it following the one (and only) listen I'll be giving it.

If a hangover had a sound, it would be Steely Dan. The farting bass at the kick off is the first indication.

I like Steely Dan. I did not like this album at all.

It was the best of times, it was the deacon blues of times.

I knew of Steely Dan but never really listened. Quite funky! It's not the best I've heard but not bad at all. Some tracks are a little bit too much elevator music for my tastes. As soon as the opening track "Black cow" starts playing I realize where Chris Sawyer got the musical inspiration when selecting music for the tycoon-games, most prominently Transport Tycoon - trivia for the nerds I guess. No real outstanding track but also none that stands out in a negative way makes this a solid 3,5 for my tastes, rounding down to 3 because I know there'll be a lot of more albums actually worth a 4 in this list.

So many meanings.

me dormi

The songs are really creative and I overall like it. The vocals are pretty dull.

there's something just a tiny bit boring and yacht-rocky and golden oldie about the vocal delivery, but a lot of the instrumentation is pretty sick actually. very busy and fun sound. favorite song is either I Got The News or of course Peg. very strong 3

Rating: 9/10 Fuck it's actually really good. Listening to Aja in full there is not a single weak song and the album as a whole package is just really well made, basically to perfection. Really good musicianship all around and peak studio production. Even though Donald Fagen's vocals are one of the weaker parts, the lyrics are interesting and his synth playing is great. The weakest track is Home At Last, and I otherwise enjoyed every song. Favorites are probably Aja and Josie. Surprised by this one, am I in denial that it's just a solid 5?

Punchy, groovy, smooth, and swanky. I feel like I need sunglasses and a cig to look good enough to even listen to this album. These guys just own their sound and make solid stuff without any weakness in quality or style. It's a smidge too one-note for me to rave any more about it, but it's still very strong 7.6/10

I legit had no idea of what Steely Dan actually were like, I just assumed something like the Eagles. This album is very much not like that. Man I love this style of 70's bass and drums mixing - so warm, tight, and clean! The arrangements, timbre, production, and song structure were interesting, but I cannot for the life of me recall a single melody. This might need a few revisits later.

Brilliant album. All the best musicians on the scene at the time. I guess you've made it when Wayne Shorter guests on your album. The production is the best I've ever heard.

relaxing for work hours with coworkers, but not sure if I would listen elsewhere

felt like they were losing the plot a little bit at this point

Take out I Got the News and it's perfect.

Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? Steely Dan is fine but kind of boring Pre-Listen Thoughts: I don’t think I’m gonna fall in love with this but I don’t think I’m gonna hate it either Favorite track(s): Post-Listen Thoughts: This album went by really fast and I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult. It just faded into the background so easily and nothing stood out, but it wasn’t unpleasant, it was just Steely Dan.

surprisingly short album, perfect length of songs in my opinion for this album head bopping!

High quality songs! Some take time to get used to but i like this experimental stuff!

Not their all time great but groovy as hell

Absolute bollocks! Just another american drivel rock album. Putting a load of talented musicians together does not necessarily make a good band. That’s another 40 minutes of my life I’ll never get back

Des musiques d’écran principal de jeu vidéo, insipide Je vois qu’il est très bien noté sur rym et ça me choque, j’y suis pas du tout Sur Aja à la fin il y a des bonnes percussions mais un peu étouffées Les paroles sont un peu drôles Bon en fait c’est pas si mal on s’y fait Josie finit pas mal 2/5 malgré tout déso

It was fine, not sure it belongs on a greatest of all time list though

Very very vanilla feels like mediocre holiday resort music but the production on this album is absolutely outstanding for this genre, crisp cymbals and really good flute production aswell as a refined guitar sound. Shame the music was basic

5 - AVERAGE

RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: Aja LOWLIGHT: Black Cow

I just... it just makes me mad.

Yo this album is really good. I was concerned because all the Steely Dan songs I knew prior to this were from their first album, but my expectations were exceeded. Jazzy rock albums from the 70s are so my vibe.

Groovy, fun music. Sounds like Stevie Wonder.

Didn't really vibe with it

I had a buddy a long time ago who was super into Steely Dan. He’d go on and on about how these guys wrote music. Apparently, the Steely Dan guys were meticulous craftsmen when it can to songwriting and studio production…which I find kinda funny considering they named themselves after a popular dildo at the time. Anyway, my friend wasn’t wrong about the studio production. Aja sounds great. The musicianship is tight and professional. My problem is that, attention to detail aside, Steely Dan does not write songs that excite me in any way. Every song on this record is a finely and meticulously crafted song that I’ll forget about the second the next one starts. And finally, the record will end, and I’ll move onto something less refined that actually inspires something in me, and I’ll forget about the genius of Steely Dan all over again. I’m happy that Steely Dan gives us something that music nerds can obsess about, but I can’t do it. 6/10

This was alright, quite enjoyed it

This is truly one of my favourite albums of all time. I’m not sure how to appropriately review such a tremendous accomplishment of musicianship and audio engineering, but I’ll give it a shot. This was the first Steely Dan record, in my mind, that veered away from the rock n roll influenced sound they released previously. Aja is a lot cooler, maybe even more relaxed in a sense? It’s as biting and intensely poetic lyrically as anything else they’ve done, but musically it’s certainly the beginning of a change in mood. If I remember correctly, this record had something like 40+ different session musicians playing on it, which is a testament to Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s unrivalled perfectionism as much as it is to their awe inspiring insanity. It’s pretty impossible not to love this album, Fagen and Becker’s almost preternatural composing abilities, the groovy basslines that ground the tracks while also carrying you through them. The bright and funky horn sections that you can’t help but vibe to. Fagen’s piano playing is obviously a highlight of everything he’s recorded, but it’s never overbearing in the mix. There’s also some really incredible vocal work on this record, for example Michael McDonald’s backing vocals on “Peg” are really something to behold. I think that the shift I mentioned previously has lead to Walter Beckers guitar work being slightly less prominent, but every guitar solo on this record is absolutely flawless, no doubt thanks to a ridiculous number of guitar player tryouts and studio takes. From an engineering standpoint everything is spot-on. I think this may have been the peak of audio production in the pre-digital era, and even in that modern era nothing, as far as I’m concerned, has surpassed it. This is almost always the first record I put on the turntable when I set up a new hifi system, and for very good reason. I cannot personally find a single fault with this album, and I’ve spent more time than is probably reasonable listening to it. I am thankful that this one exists and I wish I could give this more than 5/5*.

What a delight it is to listen to an album where every single note has intent behind it. My absolute favorite thing about Steely Dan is the level of thought behind everything they do, and perhaps on no other album is this more evident than on ‘Aja’. Without even starting on the music itself, the production value of this album is second to none and it’s a testament to the meticulous level of detail and the standards to which Becker and Fagen held this project. How lucky we are to be able to enjoy it. “Black Cow” is a master class in the music delivering the message of the lyrics. It starts off sparse and with a feeling of unresolved or mixed emotions from the mixolydian mode—but then we resolve to the major with “I can’t cry anymore!” as the chorus begins! With the resolution that this situationship isn’t sustainable comes a sense of relief! In the second verse we come back with heightened confidence or perhaps indignation backed up by the horns. “I can’t cry anymore” becomes “I don’t care anymore!” And we’re carried out by some retrospective saxophone and repetitions of “so outrageous”. Perfect songwriting. While “Black Cow” tells a story, “Aja” creates its own universe. It is a masterpiece and its ambition and execution only grows more impressive to me as I have gotten to know this song better over time. It’s the most complex and the jazziest song on the album and the drum and sax solos, the marimbas, flutes, the whistle… everything is just done to astounding effect. This song amazes me. Then we have “Deacon Blues”, which I won’t go into as much detail about because I think it’s pretty widely appreciated already. I will just say this song has some magical lightning in a bottle quality and a flamin’ sax solo. That rounds out an absolutely flawless side A. To begin side B is “Peg”, which is every bit as perfect as the first three songs. It has a magical mix of being both bursting at the seams with joyful energy while also being musically quite weird, with the famously complex vocal harmonies from Michael McDonald in the chorus and extensive use of diminished chords you just don’t necessarily expect in a song that sounds like 10000 watts of sunshine. De La Soul’s sampling of this track on “Eye Know” was actually my introduction to it and it’s such a good sample that it just deserves a shout out. The next two songs, “Home At Last” and “I Got the News”, are still excellent but I don’t feel as strongly about so I will just jump to the last track, “Josie”. I don’t have as much to say about “Josie”, either, but I think it’s worth noting how cool it is to close out your album with your grooviest, most danceable barn burner. Yeah. What can be said about ‘Aja’? It’s one of those works of art that almost feels so unique, so elemental, so necessary that it must have been discovered rather than created.

Somehow, despite all the effort put into the production, all the talented musicians, and all the interesting bits sprinkled throughout, it never really comes together.

Favorite Songs: Black Cow, Deacons Blues, Aja, Peg

I'm glad we got a good album today but it does annoy me that Steely Dan is the type of band you KNOW is in the list a disproportionate amount of times. After listening: it's not even that good of an album. It doesn't pain my ears but neither does it excite them.

One of the best albums of all time

Love me some yacht rock in the morning

8/10 Steely Dan had, by the time of this record, essentially become a studio duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, rather than the traditional full band of their earlier years. As a result, there was a huge amount of focus on the production of their music and, to that end, this album is a triumph. It sounds incredible, with everything so crisp, clear and coherent. It feels like that studio nerdiness paid of in spades when it comes to the sound of this record, but I do wonder if that precision resulted in it losing a tiny bit of soul that a jazz-funk record needs to sit at the top of the pile. If asked to categorise this record, I’d probably label it as nerd-funk. It’s well written, the grooves are solid and everything is handled with such precision that it’s hard not to get sucked into the flow, but it also has patches where it lacks a little bit of bite and hook that would elevate it to the next level. There are some clear moments when things do step up a notch; The drum and sax section from Steve Gadd and Wayne Shorter in Aja is superb, Black Cow is great, and Peg is probably the overall standout on the record. If they’d managed to get a bit more of the grit that Shorter added, or the hookiness that they conjured on Peg, this could have been a near perfect album. But unfortunately there are ocassions when things become a little too self-indulgent or long-winded and that focus and precision doesn’t allow it the room to breathe and let the slight dirt and grit of the best funk/jazz fusion to emerge. A lot of that sounds critical, but there is a vast amount to enjoy about this, and I did really get into it, but the fact that it comes so close to being an all time great, yet doesn’t quite manage to pull everything together over the whole runtime is just a little bit of a disappointment. Perhaps its one that will sit with me for longer and grow, but regardless of that this was a thoroughly enjoyable album, but I was just left with a niggling sensation that it could have been something even better. Black Cow - This is a cool, soft funk groove. There’s a nice simplicity to each of the lines, but they’re super in-pocket and deftly delivered The “big black cow” triplet stabs they use are delicious, and the rhodes solo has drifting swagger to it. And good god, does it sound good. It’s so crisp, clean and clear. It’s funny, because there’s not anything overtly exciting about this, but hardly matters because it’s so buttery smooth and satisfying. Aja - The counterpoint across the different instruments here is really nice and they use some slightly unexpected interval changes that add an air of mystery to the sound. There’s a nice slow groove to this again and the pulse of it is really pleasing to the ear. It’s definitely fairly self-indulgent in places, but there are moments when things get together so brilliantly that it’s forgivable, particularly when they get to the sax and drum section, which is brilliant and reminds me a lot of Weather Report. I’ve actually just looked it up, and the sax solo is played by Wayne Shorter of Weather report, so well done to my ears. This one’s a tiny bit of a mixed bag and meanders a tad in places, but when it peaks, boy does it peak. Deacon Blues - This is delightfully chilled, but has enough of a sultry groove to it to keep it driving along. The bed of sounds from the range of instruments here is so full and rich, but each have little moments where they pop out from the mix with touches of flair and nuance. The interplay between the lead and backing vocals is so, so tasty. There are some really lovely rhythmic punches they throw in here and there too that give it just a little dash of extra excitement. The only complaint I could have this is that it perhaps drags on a little too long, but it sounds so good. Peg - It’s funny, because I know this more from the sample used by De La Soul on Eye Know. Either way, it’s bloody glorious. That groove is so tasty, and the popping and rolling bass line against the sharp staccato guitar and drums is so funky. There are some great hooks and so much depth to the harmonic structure too. Everything about this is delightful and again, it sounds exquisite. Home At Last - There’s a bit more swagger to this. It’s not got the hookiness and punch of Peg, but there are still some really great moments and the tonal mix is still incredibly solid. The rhythms are compelling and the vocal harmonies are really excellent. Top quality soloing again, as you’d expect and some well balanced and perfectly placed horn work too. In fact, the more I listened to this, the further it dragged me in. It really is quite nice. I Got The News - This leans a bit more towards jazz, particularly from the piano, but persists with the snappy beats and insistent groove of the bass. As with the last track, there are some really excellent vocal blends. It’s a track that doesn’t really deal in hooks, but the vibe is really high quality. The solo work is really nice, and the guitar tone on that solo is so, so smooth. Josie - A nice, strolling funk-soul number with great swagger. The vibe is smooth, but has the odd moment of bite, but it’s also lacking the hooky moments of the record’s choicest cuts. The soloing is cool, everything is super-clean and crisp and I think it’s decent enough, but it just feels a little too clinical and slightly lacking in the soul and edge that would help it stand out.

nudy w chuj nw czemu ktos chcialby tego sluchac ale nie nest asluchalne

Grooving bass lines and great lyrics.

One of the best-sounding records ever made. Even if lush 70s jazz-rock is not your thing (although it is mine) you can marvel at the playing and production. 4⭐️

Ik wil dit album leuker vinden dan dat ik het daadwerkelijk vind. Het is zo gladgestreken in de studio. Tegelijkertijd staan er wel erg lekkere nummertjes op.

Acceptabel, maar gewoon erg bland.

Would be a 3, except that Peg is amazing.

80% Sure ive listened to this already but I will give it another go

Fine not as good as earlier works

It's well done and all, but I didn't really enjoy it. Too jazzy, not yacht enough for me. Much like when I got the Donald Fagen one, it baffles me when every detail has obviously been obsessed about, then this weak voice sings over it. When Michael McDonald shows up with backing vocals three quarters of the way through, it's like "YES this is more like it". But that's only one track. I liked the De La Soul one, too.

Not as good as Can't Buy a Thrill imo

Perfectly produced dreck.

A little boring

Boring as fuck. No me interesó para nada y siendo que dura solo 38 minutos se me hizo eterno.

I put this in whilst changing the cartridges in my kitchen mixer tap. It wasn’t a taxing job at all, but I can’t really pick out anything from this album I noticed. Says it all really. The top review at the time of writing this suggests this is dinner music for an all inclusive holiday dinner. Bang on. Inoffensive background musak.

On paper sterile jazz rock that sounds like it was made in a lab sounds like it would be an awful listen. But once you hear Michael McD singing PEG backups it's like a bearded angel calling from heaven.

Sind glaub 2-3 doom samples drin. Und eimal de la soul

Fundamentally, I shouldn’t like this. But there’s something about this Steely Dan that just sort of works. Admittedly, it works best in snippets and small doses. Preferably as a sample on some one else’s record … but I still works.

Would I listen again: yes This was niiiice. I didn’t know what to expect from steely dan but this was lovely, jazzy and very easy to listen to. Singing definitely reminded me of Billy Joel in parts. Love black cow!!

Didn't last long before I hit another landmark album on this list. It's actually insane how amazing each song is here. The performances really contribute to the entire album's flow and memorability, in addition to the catchy-ass choruses everywhere! If I had to pick a favorite, it's probably unexpectedly the deep track "Home At Last" with its infectious rhythm and out-of-this-world smooth guitar solo. I love this band so much now.

Dikke slay

Call me Deacon Blues

Steely Dan are unquestionably the most controversial group of the classic rock era; one half find them insufferable, unbearable elevator muzak that spits in the face of all that is exciting and good about rock and roll, the other half find them geniuses, sarcastic parodists of an entire decade (The 70s—in all their horror and glory—are represented best by Steely Dan) who accomplished their work by hiding it in the catchiest, most professionally performed and recorded songs known to man. I tend toward the second view. Steely Dan cannot be understood unless one pays close attention to the obvious disjunction between their lyrics—bitter, sarcastic, literate, at times horrifying—and their music—smooth, placid, immaculately performed. This particular album leans a bit too hard to the “placid, overproduced” side for me—I don’t care much If a guitar riff is “tasty” or not—but only a bit. Best track: “Aja”

I hate this

I liked the sounds of this band's groove du-wops more for some reason than others from this era.

This could be the worst of the seemingly neverending collection of Steely Dan albums on this list. Easy listening to the point of banality, can't remember any part that caught my attention. Definitely no prog or jazz that sometimes appeared in the other stuff. Nothing else to comment on really, very much not essential.

Oh man this was disappointing. Really middle-of-the-road. I was looking forward to it too, Steely Dan were one of my highlights from this list, 13 songs so far on my favourites. Just a really boring, dull, forgettable album. More like Dan of Lead.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the last steely Dan album we had, so thought this might be good too..... I was wrong, this was nothing like the last one and so dull and soft in comparison. Disappointed Just checked and this is actually the 4th steely Dan album we've had! Obviously, "can't buy a thrill" aside, they are pretty forgettable. This was the worse of the lot. Recognised "Peg" I think, but even that isn't anywhere near as good as most of the last album. 2

Uma mistura de rock com elementos do jazz, um excelente a ser apreciado com calma, ocasional.

Not massive on Steely Dan but I'd be lying to myself if I didn't say this was elite.

Steely Dan seems to be an easy target among rock lovers. You've heard them all before: they're too clever for their own good, they're too technical, they haven't an inch of punk in them, and - god forbid - it's oh so *smooth*. And you know what, it's all true. But at the same time, I still think all these complaints are misdirected; but how do you explain that no, these guys are the *good* kind of intellectual, they're the *right* amount of smooth... etc. etc. I think the only way to properly explain, is to look at the actual songs themselves. You've got Black Cow with its strange, gospel-like choir; you've got Aja with a fantastic instrumental xylophone break turning into an even more fantastic fusion jam; you've got Deacon Blues with its insanely catchy yet deceptively bleak chorus which somehow hits even harder the third time; you've got one of the greatest yet most complex pop songs ever in Peg; you've got the brilliant key parts in Home At Last; you've got fun, bouncy dissonances in the scherzo-like I Got The News; and to top it off, you've got - alright, I'll admit - the perfectly alright Josie. With a line-up like that, what's a nerd like me supposed to do?

Never listened to a steely Dan album but this was far out! Strong jazz influences was not what I was expecting and a lovely interesting surprise. Still don't love the singers voice but have a new appreciation for the band

The is an amazingly beautiful record. It’s so perfectly produced. The first song Black Cow sampled by lord Tariq and Peter Tariq on Deja Vu ( Uptown Baby). Aja is such a beautiful song. I bought this album on vinyl after watching the yacht rock doc. Imagine my disappointment when I found the vinyl to be poorly produced and have numerous issues. But at least I can stream it. The use of 40 session players is crazy to me. But it worked and they found magic in the formula.

STEELY DAN

4 instead of 5 cause Peg sucks

Molto bello, però per me non raggiunge can’t buy a thrill

Forse il loro miglior disco, molto bello

Well played and tuneful but far too smooth. AOR at it's finest?

This was not on my "playlist" when it first came out. It has aged better than I have. Listening now, it is an exceptional album.

Chevy Chase was Steely Dan's original drummer. And that's the beat thing I can say about them.

This might be the most decent album of all time. Not great, not bad, just decent.

Steely Dan has such an established sound. Good stuff

Another solid album from Steely Dan. Not as immediate as “Can’t Buy a Thrill” but the jams are smooth and the sound is pristine.

I love steely dan but had ironically never heard this album outside of one or two songs. Pleasant jazzy feel in all the right ways

VERY GOOD LOVED THE HORNS

In Steely Dan we trust. 🫡

probably an album that annoys most people for its jazziness. it really sounds more like an actual jazz album to me than a pop or rock album. but it works great here. the 15 minutes of "aja" into "deacon blues" is pure bliss for me.

Fantastic album, great production.

I know it's a little cheesy and not incredibly dynamic. But I love it anyway. It's fun.

I was genuinely excited when this popped up on a Monday morning. It's an all-timer. Everything about Steely Dan is seemingly totally hateful, but they deliver the goods. Evil geniuses.

Boomer dinner party music

Kedeligt

groovy, dark, white boy soulish and smooth

It's a fine album, but I prefer their debut more. 7/10

Before: ngl I haven't heard of this before I'm scared. Kinda scared cos 1977 idk if it's gonna be cheesy or boring but idk Bowie proved me wrong with old music I liked his album. Black cow: I'm scared. Is this cheesy. Wait no I'm dancing. Actually I'm liking this! I wouldn't have chosen to listen to this before this but I actually like it so I'm glad! Is this jazz? I'm going into these albums blind so I'm usually surprised. Idk what I was expecting I think I was scared it was gonna be metal or smth. ANYWAY I enjoyed that song. Aja: I'm scared this is 8 mins am I gonna be bored or entranced? I like the intro. Oh I just looked up who steely dan are and I got the ick I need to remember to not let that affect me. Also I found out they are white?? Wow I enjoyed that instrumental! Deacon blues: this is quite laid-back. I like the bass moments they're giving After Midnight by Chappell Roan I think? Ew "make love to these women, languid and bittersweet" actually gonna throw up. I can't get the image of white hippies out of my mind and I need to cos I need to be objective 😔. I think my favourite parts of these songs are the instrumentals I rlly like them! Peg: I'm sorry my mind has been corrupted to the word peg... I can't tell when a song is cheesy like this is very twangy. I like the guitar in my left ear. Love the bass. Home at last: I'm liking this intro with the jazzy piano and drums. Ooo brass and sax! His voice gave me the ick again. I rlly like these instrumentals. I got the news: help when this started I didn't know if it was an ad. I like the funky guitar in my right ear. I love the way they put different stuff in each ear! Yayy brass! Maybe I should listen to more jazz because of my love of these instrumentals. Josie: ok I like this intro it's unique! Omg bass!! Woah I liked that there was a bit of silence and then drums. Now guitar solo! I liked that album. The instrumentals were amazing but the vocals were lacking, some lyrics made me cringe but I didn't process most of them so maybe they were out of context! Ranking: Aja Josie Black cow Home at last I got the news Deacon blues

Easy listening, great musicianship . Not an every day listen.

# Album Name: Aja # Artist: Steely Dan # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Not their best but a good album. # Top Tunes: D blues / peg / homeat last / Josie # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Jazz, funk, pop, rock bliss. 5/5!!

So slick, commercial and of high production value it’s hard to hear this as not simply a product. But it’s good.

Cooler than the other side of a pillow. Is it a bold take to say Can't Buy a Thrill is the better album?

Mellow. Bluesy. Jazzy. Is it elevator Muzak? Absolutely. Do I love itm Also absolutely.

Not particularly exciting, but well played and produced.

Someone once told me that Yacht Rock is just Funk for white people (maybe it was on the YouTube classic show 'Yacht Rock'? I highly recommend the show) and I can't unhear it. As far as Bland funk goes, I have to give props to the smoothness of the groove. 4 stars.

Produced quite well, but the combination of his voice and the slow jazz-rock really made this record forgettable.

Yllätys minulle. Steely Dan vain nimenä tuttu mutta musatyyliään en tuntenut lainkaan. Musana kaukana siitä, mistä pidän. Kuitenkin, jos herrat Becker ja Fagen olivat kuuluisia perfektionismistaan niin totisesti se levyltä kuuluu. Hurjaa virtuositeettia, jota on mukava kuunnella. Ehkä koko albumi tätä kuitenkin vähän liikaa… Hyvä ja ennen muuta taitava levy. 3/5

3 puntos. Melodías que no se te quedan en la cabeza. Es para escuchar una vez y punto.

Hermoso disco.

Very slick and well-produced. I enjoy the jazz elements, but the album’s still a little boring. It’s not commercial slop, but it’s lacking the edge of their first couple albums.

Standouts Black Cow Deacon Blues

Steely Dan is exactly what I remember Steely Dan to be. I forgot about Josie.

I am not sure what it was about this album but it was just so boring. Technically very well done, well produced music, but I couldn't wait for each song to be over.

This was a good album, I really liked the jazz and funk theme throughout. However there were some places in which it was lacking, like the second track I felt wasn’t the strongest. Favourite - peg

no esta dentro mi top

uhhhh its good but it so dad rock, like uhhhhh

sure my mum would love it

its okay, not sure when i would listen to it or if i would listen to it again but i like some songs.

Nice jazz album

Very very chill album

Still sounds like elevator music to me. I feel like I’m not on the correct sedatives to enjoy it.

Chill, para poner de fondo

Not for me. Grunge adjacent but no.

aja-is this just while my guitar gently weeps? nice album. upbeat jazzy rock. pretty smooth. i dunno, it didn't really speak to me enough to be a regular listen. i'd give a solid 4/5.

One of the tightest, best produced albums of all time. 5/5 I even saved it to spotify

Ideal for those who wish Joni Mitchell's jazz period albums like "Don Juan's Restless Daughter" and "Mingus" sounded a bit more like George Benson or Boz Scaggs. Jazz Rock polished to the point of smooth sterility, it's an audiophile wet dream. Magnificent playing from the very best session players, lush harmonies, but we're a very long way away from "Ricky Don't Lose That Number" or "Reelin' in the Years" and not necessarily the better for it.

very pleasant listen. i will probably remember the choruses forever

Probably the best engineered and best sounding analog recordings ever made. It was always used to audition new speakers or other equipment. Great songs too

I liked it more than I thought I would but no where near as much as John Mulaney apparently does.

Classic 70s radio music. Interesting mix of pop and jazz

This could probably be considered their magnum opus; the way the songs all work together, the extended song lengths and the peak of their sophistication. I’d still usually grab for Countdown to Ecstasy or The Royal Scam, but its an undeniably great album.

sounds cool and well made, but I'd probably have to listen to it more carefully to understand it better. Unfortunately, after one hearing, i wouldn't be able to differentiate between this and similar bands of that time

Jamais écouté avant. À quoi bon ? À quoi bon mobiliser 40 musiciens talentueux, voire géniaux pour certains, pour leur faire jouer de la musique d'ascenseur parfaitement inoffensive ? À quoi bon gâcher une production aussi propre, peut-être trop, sur des morceaux qui n'ont rien a dire, lisses et calibrés au millimètre ? À quoi bon une pochette aussi belle pour un contenu aussi insignifiant ? Un album qui justifie à lui tout seul la déferlante punk... Top : Black Cow Flop : I Got the News

Steely Dan is not a band I’ve listened to much before, and so it was a treat to listening to this very prog rock album, which features literary references, a plethora of instrumentations, and long, meandering tracks. It grew on me more while listening, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was highly polished lounge music. The lyricism is very good, and the innovative harmonies and vocals are interesting and well done, but I didn’t fall in love with any tracks besides “Deacon Blues”. 3 stars for me.

exceptional music

#97/1001 🇺🇸 A slick sounding slice of seventies sophistication. Whilst it's an incredibly well produced record, there was far more interesting, ground breaking music coming out at this time. Best track: Peg.

I would not describe it as steely jsyk

For some reason, my fingers felt completely frozen while I was sitting at my desk; I took a walk to warm up and listened to this album. This album ended up being a lot lighter than the cover suggested, if not in subject matter, then at least in aesthetics. While the cover looks dark and sinister, the sound itself is more soft rock, interspersed with horn sections straight out of a lounge act. Aja sounds like a band of middle-aged dudes in the best way possible, like a mid-life crisis in sonic form. Each song is carefully constructed to move between new and interesting compositions while staying relatively reserved and relaxed. While not every song grips me, Steely Dan sound like a band doing exactly what they want to do, and I find a lovable charm in that. Highlights: Deacon Blues, Peg, Home At Last, Josie

I couldn't get past Track 2. This is everything I hate about 70s music.