Aja

Classic, yet ever fresh, new sound.

Geggjuð klassík, þó það væri ekki nema bara fyrir Peg sem er algjör demantur.

There's no reason why anyone should love Steely Dan but there's also no reason on earth to hate them. This is as smooth as music gets. A great British rock critic once told me that there was never a bad time to listen to Steely Dan and that sort of sold me on them. This isn't the highest of their peaks, but it's a piece of work. Deacon Blue is a beautiful example of the texture, and lyrical agility of Becker and Fagen. Peg is an absolute pick up for any moment - though I think I have to thank De La Soul for that.

Quite torn between 4 and 5

would make great karaoke music

High 4. Solid.

A fantastic funky listen, short and sweet. 4/5

Easy listening, I really enjoyed this!

Surprisingly liked it. Chill songs and nice to listen to in the background.

Actually really enjoyable!

I love the Dan

Very chill album.

Was great!

I've never been the biggest Steely Dan fan, but they are really good at what they do, and they never disappoint.

Funky album

My first time actually listening to Steely Dan and it was quite enjoyable! I’ll be checking out more of their work.

4.5 three masterpieces alongside 4 good songs

these geezers didn't miss with this one, makes me wanna attempt dance moves i can't pull off. fav tracks: aja, peg

Another great one from these guys. Often regarded as their magnum opus, Aja (pronounced "Asia") shows a confidence and maturity in the studio. Both in performance and production value. 4/5

Es del 77 pero a mí me suena muy ochentero, seguramente porque sería cuando esas cosas llegaban aquí. Creía haber escuchado a Steely Dan pero seguramente me confundo con alguien porque no lo asociaba a este estilo. Como se dice ahora, "muy chill".

I enjoyed this album! I have heard of Steely Dan, but never heard before!

Not my favorite Steely Dan album but Deacon Blues is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs

my type of jam, almost 5 stars

It was alright

M'ha agradat bastant, és un altre cop un jazz molt fàcil d'escoltar i molt agradable. Expected Lorenzo rating: 3

very nice

Loved this a lot more than I thought I would. Fun jams

Very good album. Struck nice balance between arrangements and jam segments. Sound: there are a lot of great similarities to Japanese city pop and jazz. Would consider buying this.

So chill

I liked this! Short sweet upbeat oldie vibes

Steely Dan went elevator jazz and I’m not mad

Atmospheric

This is one of the best albums I've heard. The wildly interesting composition and just the variation among the songs is truly something beautiful. I think that Steely Dan is a criminally overlooked band that needs more recognition for their BEAUTIFUL music. If I could give a 4.5 rating I would

Sounds like it was made by like... a cool frog? v funky Black Cow - great bassline feels somewhat dated; jazz influenced, very seventies (harmonies on Aja)

Pleasant, but I don't get why it is on this list. It's nice to hear and that's it.

I like that album. It sounds very smooth, it is pleasant to listen, its lenght is perfect. In my opinion it is one of those albums in which end is better than beginning. I almost gave it 5

My mom loves Steely Dan so this album permeates my childhood memories. I like it a lot more now than I did then, is it just the nostalgia?

I don’t know that I loved the songs themselves, but this was just so satisfying to listen to. It was so well-produced and pieced together so perfectly. I enjoyed it!

Funky riffs and alot of charm

AOR, musica interesante y entretenida

not exactly feeling a 4 but its not a 3 and I like the album art so ill give it a 4

So good. The ultimate yacht rock album. Transports me to another time and place.

Sweet Grooves

A very classy album. Has great replay value.

When someone explained to be what the term “yatcht rock” was and how it was a lessened down version of true “soul music” I was disgusted. And I made a guarantee that I would never purposely find myself to hearing that genre. Why listen to the drier version of something that’s great you know? However, when it was brought to my attention that Steely Dan was considered a part of this category and this album is a beautiful execution of how well that genre expanded into I came to my senses. Aja, as a whole felt like an painter beginning the process of painting and watching the picture begin to become complete, each elegant stroke at a time. Definitely in need of a deep dive into Steely Dan as a whole and how they came to be as a group. 4 and a half out of 5 stars.

Aja came out my senior year of high school, and was pretty much inescapable for the 2 years. The overexposure turned me off at the time, and I wasn’t a fan. Steely Dan had always seemed like a band that took themselves a little seriously, and they really ramped that up on Aja. I saw a quote on Wikipedia that perfectly sums it up: “the conceptual framework of [Steely Dan’s] music has shifted from the pretext of rock & roll toward a smoother, awesomely clean and calculated mutation of various rock, pop and jazz idioms” (credited to Michael Duffy of Rolling Stone). That quote even captures the pretentiousness that I associate with later Steely Dan. That was 46 years ago, and as I’ve mellowed, I’ve come to appreciate this album. All that other stuff is still true, but that doesn’t change the fact this is a very good album. Yes, it is “clean and calculated”, but it’s also nearly perfect. It is heavily jazz influenced, the sound is really (really, really) great. The instrumentation is detailed and varied, it features the best takes from the best players they could find. The individual songs are all great. That said, it is almost too perfect, clinical. Perhaps a little lacking in soul or depth. The lyrics are sometimes too clever, and faux “deep”. But that’s just a Steely Dan thing. At 18, I would’ve rated this album a lower, but my tastes have broadened. I married into this on vinyl and eventually picked it up on digital. I’ll give this a solid 4. I’ve complained a lot about the flaws, but that’s just because they bring it down from a 5. 4/5

3.5

Not quite as good as The Royal Scam and Pretzel Logic, but still mighty fine

S A - Black Cow, Josie, Home at Last, B - Aja, Deacon Blues, Peg, I Got the News C D F

Oh boy did I enjoy this listen. I was a huge Steely Dan fan back in high school. Every single song is a banger. Always thought this cover was captivating.

it has good vibes and i was familiar with a few songs because they were sampled or i knew them outright!

4.5

Very classy, timeless beautiful groove

This album sounded like Marvin Gaye but jazzier. I loved it. The soulful harmonies with the jazzy piano followed by a saxophone solo or the sax playing in the background sounds incredible. Even though 1 or 2 of the songs didn't really do it for me, they are still objectively very good songs. I am very glad I listened to this album.

Genuinely enjoyed a lot. Funky and bass-driven to my liking. Will be listening more in the future. W Steely W Dan.

This gives me really weird feelings. The more I listen to the music the more I get it, and the more I listen to the lyrics the more I don't want to hang with people who like this. There's a song about playing the sax, drinking scotch, and dying in a car accident that feels odd. Outside of all of that the production and quality of play is very tight. I don't know if this genre for music is for me but there are incredible tools at work here. My heart doesn't give this a four though.

Steely Dan just has a great jazzy rock sound that is always welcome to hear. Very solid album.

Jazzy soft rock with synthesiser piano. Enjoyed it.

Back half not so good

I went into this ready to dislike it based on the first few seconds but man it grew on me so quickly. It’s one of the cleanest sounding records I think I’ve ever heard. Every instrument, word, and note feels perfectly placed, recorded, and played. The only reason I don’t think I’d give it a 5 is that I don’t really see myself throwing many songs in my regular rotation, but I doubt I’ll ever skip another Steely Dan song after this.

Incredible musicianship

Jazzy, but different than most jazz I've heard.

It really is my favourite foreign movie. I think if this album was just Peg for 40 minutes I'd still score it quite highly, because you can taste the Saturday night cup of tea and see a young Lineker on MOTD. As it is, the rest of the album is also absolutely brill. I sort of don't want to like Steely Dan, because they seem a bit daft, but this is a marvellous listen.

Absolutely amazing

Love the chill vibes, so far music is great for when I am working. Done with Album.

Lots of familiar songs here. Enjoyed the ones I didn't know as well.

Pretty cool, I can see why people are into steely Dan but I would need to listen a lot more to actually like it

Pretty chill to listen to. None of the songs really stood out for me to listen to again, but enjoyed overall.

Genius. Brilliant

Groovy

Steely Dan's meticulous approach to their craft is evident in every track on "Aja." Their impeccable musicianship and attention to detail shine through, making for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. From intricate guitar solos to intricate jazz-inspired arrangements, there's no denying their musical prowess. It's an album that showcases Steely Dan's musical finesse and their penchant for perfection. It was a delight to explore their discography more deeply, even if their occasional pop sensibilities weren't entirely to my taste. It's a testament to their artistry, and I look forward to further exploring their music.

Groovy 70's album Great voice Feel-good movie song vibes

Slickt. Genomarbetade kompositioner, om än några som bärs upp av produktionen. Superskickliga musiker såklart. Inte riktigt min kopp.

4.5

Funky! I haven't heard much Jazz Rock so quite a new experience for me. Really liked the instrumentation but found the vocals fell out of my focus (rare for me) and the album became quite background music in a way that I don't often find. I liked it though! Imo there wasn't too much variety within the songs but it really held me in a certain mood (upbeat groove with some confidence, definitely not a bad place to be) Highlights: Black Cow, Aja, Peg (also Deacon Blues) Would I listen to again? At some point, sure! Would I recommend? Yes, for that particular vibe

Groovy. Loved the bass and sax

I thought Aja (the song) was pretty great on the album. I didn't know any of the songs, but it was easy listening. I did not have any problems with any of the songs, but none of them really resonated with me too much.

Might be a 5 if I listen more, not what I expected but groovy

Black Cow is still one of my favorite Dan songs

Classic

Great album, funky!

incredible production. smooth as all get out.

grooovy

This album sounds familiar - but I've never listened to it all the way through. The songs meander and bend. It is a good "getting work done" album. It's amazing how I never knew the names of songs that are somehow familiar like "Deacon Blues." It is well-produced and cohesive and a product of it's time for sure.

Lots of Jazz inspirations.

I know this album best for its reputation as something you spin to test out a new turntable or sound system. Based on that reputation alone, this music was a total surprise. I liked it, though. Especially when I recognized the De La sample.

Aja's strengths are also its weaknesses. It's as if perfection itself was a genre. It does that perfectly, but it is just the one thing.

Wasn't sure what I'd think, but this sounded kinda cool. I prefer the sound this album has compared to the other Steely Dan album I got. It's a lighter four, but I still enjoyed it. My favourite song was Peg.

really fucking good. i figured i’d like steely dan but i’d never got around to listening until now

Jazzy

Smooth Jazzy Hifi

Boy, do Steely Dan songs all sound the same or what? And yet...I love some songs (Peg) and dislike others (Deacon Blues). So, I guess those sound different somehow? Also, I forgot about Josie (which sounds just like FM, TBH).

I find Steely Dan so interesting, this is their 3rd album that I've come across so far in here and it's not typically something I'd enjoy. It's definitely got the Muzak vibe with the keyboard tones they use, it's very smooth jazz easy listening type music you'd hear in an elevator, but then there's just this weirdness to it that makes you pay a little mor attention. I'll give it points for somehow making me enjoy this type of music.

Yes.

Jazz-rock animado.

It's fun. I wish it wasn't so safe. Parts do feel too generic. Overall I still enjoyed it, but I feel like I could have loved it if it took more risks.

If you're in your 30s-40s, your parents banged to this album. I'm sorry, but it's a fact.

Classic but not my style

knew about steely dan but didn't expect to enjoy them too much, i enjoyed this album a lot though, the vocals kept me listening moreso than the instrumentals although i enjoyed those a lot too. i am now a steely dan fan

Great album. Very clean recording! Awesome

Nice Album!

It's so sophisticated. Doesn't grab you by the balls and makes you want to constantly listen to it but it is very pleasant and very impressive.

3.5/5 Going to round up to 4 because I'm into HiFi this is one of the best recorded albums ever. Music is a bit too bland for my taste.

Another band I’ve heard of and heard the odd song but never listened to an album. Superb album in a genre I don’t often listen to, funky, soulful and very easy on the ears.

Very good album by a band that grew immensely on me over the last few years! These guys wrote some of the best pop influenced jazz out there. The features of drummer Steve Gadd are a very fine addition to me. It’s a nice groovy record I can always put on! 8,5 out of 10

Oh Aja… on every audiophile list. Obviously the production is top notch. Let’s give it a real listen through and see how it is as an album. Really growing on me. The smooth jazz part is wearing off. Obviously this is very well recorded. The drum solo at the end of Aja is pushing this up to 4. Almost completely due to the ending of Aja. Solid album otherwise but that song really surprised me. Really like Deacon Blues too.

An interesting and well made album, that despite appreciating, didn’t grab me so much as to feel compelled to explore the artist in any greater depth: perhaps because it is not quite my speed, rather than as any criticism of the work itself. Lyrically I didn’t find myself engaged at any stage.

Already heard. Genuine classic, I love the mix of jazz and rock, every song is a banger, this is one of my favorites.

Very clean album with great solo's. Just a bit too perfect in my opinion. Where are the raw edges?

I like Steely Dan for their jazz-rock sound - it's what makes them stand out from other 70's bands. And the musicianship is first-rate.

Very solid, well made jazz rock. Unfortunately there were some slow and slightly boring parts and it wasn't as catchy as Can't Buy a Thrill (which I should have given a 5 to.) FS: Black Cow, Drums/Sax on Aja

really good very groovy and perfect for letting play in the background while doing house work or ealking somewhere

En cette période trouble du générateur, Steely Dan confirme une nouvelle fois son statut d'élève appliqué. Une véritable valeur sûre.

Steely Dan reviennent nous baiser la gueule comme au bon vieux temps, nous ramenant aux plus belles heures du générateur. Une comparaison qui ne fait que nous rapeller à quel point le générateur actuel est dans un sale état...

I love this album, and I think it is maybe Steely Dan's masterpiece. That said, I can't in good conscious give something this cheesy five stars. I'm tempted to, but no. They must be punished for making something as cool as jazz sound so white. It won't stop me from playing at least one cut from this album every time I go boating, though.

Good album haven't heard much from them before

Classic steely Dan again

Solid lounge album, would be great for chill background music that’s well done.

Love Steely Dan

First half bops but the second half gets a little repetitive.

Funky and slow, with hints of jazz with exceptional vocals - very smooth but I am not sure if it has that "it factor" although it is very good quality techinally 4/5

good

From the funky bass right out of the gate in Black Cow, I had a feeling I would like this one. I thought the album was over and that Slayer started playing when the final track, Josie, started up. 🤣

This is a sophisticated, smooth and lyrically complex album. A great combination of elegant pop melodies and superb jazz musicianship, with some absolute gems, especially Peg, Deacon Blue, Aja and Josie. One or two tracks don't quite match these, but overally one of Steely Dan's best

7/10. The king of noodling. Just a good funky album from a funky dude. The white man's Santana, if you will.

Pretty funky album

From reading, the production quality is what this album is on the list for, but the instrument solos are just exquisite. The drums are so crisp, even through my poor quality headphones, it felt like they were in the room. Good stuff.

I'd heard that this was "jazz rock," but I hadn't realised the "jazz" was smooth jazz and the "rock" was soft rock. I seem to recall hearing someone once complain that this album was "sterile," but it's soft rock, so what do you expect? Great album.

Highlight: Peg

Bardzo przyjemne, spore zaskoczenie. Highlights: Peg & Aja

It's the moment when the Dan went full Yacht Rock, or even started whatever one considers Yacht Rock. That's far from a diss. It's both a feature and a benefit.

Great songs do not an album make. The songs are all easily listen to able, but just lacks for me.

Nice album, you're dad's smooth rock. I'm not a crazy fan of Steely Dan but you're always going to know what you're going to get with them - smooth, easy listening. 7/10.

Not my favorite Steely Dan record, but still great production, incredible guitar solos, and tight hooks all around.

ett riktigt fint album! inte riktigt bra som pretzel logic men ändå

jazzy album

This is another one that I thought I wouldn't enjoy as much as I did. I can't say it was the most interesting album ever, but it was enjoyable enough, and they are clearly talented musicians. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4.

If Thundercat was a middle aged white man. Excellent.

Écoute nocturne Avant dormire; Quel Jam exceptionnel

A superb album

Soothing listening experience, groovy musical sections. Just fantastic drumming!

This is pure yacht-rock. It's enjoyable and you can see the elements of rock and funk being pulled together. 7/10

I didn’t know Steely Dan was so jazzy. Also didn’t know so many grocery store songs I know are SD. Learning is fun! Peg

A classic that I am ashamed to say I haven't listened much to. Great jazz rock. Love the vibraphone in "Aja". I love the whole feel of this track and how it has things to say but isn't in a rush to say them. That's a little thesis statement on how I like to live my life. Awesome drumming on "Aja" too. The more you listen the more you can only be impressed by the performances. This is a really solid album and I feel a little sacrilegious to write but it doesn't hit that legendary 5 mark for me personally. Songs are interesting in good ways but not frequently enough get enough excitement in them that elevates them to a truly legendary listening experience. It all gels really nicely but I would love for some moments where the energy really lifts. I didn't feel that tension/release cycle much and I think that's what makes it a clear cut 4/5, like a 4.5.

Wonderful chill funk vibe. Hard not to like.

very funky, fun album with some genuinely great songs! A lot of jazz influence as well. My only gripe is how long some of the songs stretched on for - I feel like they didn't retain my attention super well, but maybe that's just me.

Incredibly…. Pleasant. I picture dinner parties with olive green furniture, giant speakers connected to a hi fi, and lots of cocaine.

4,5. Bavil mě ten jazzovej nádech (I Got the News).

- Pretty cool ngl 4/5

Super liked!!

That's good

Man, what an album! Jumped out the gate groovy and smooth and just overall a bop. Loved the jazzy vibes and the music break were my favorite parts of the songs. So cool and definitely a great jam for a bbq or just when you want a solid enveloping time. I lament that this typa 70s shit is far and few in between these days!

I always forget how short this album is. It's less about the songs and more about the vibe.

fantastic album, always sounds clear

listened to again a jazz pop classic

Steely Dan at their best just felt so tight. And this is Steely Dan at their best. You can squeeze a fab paper between their musicianship. I'll still be popping on their greatest hits though.

Lots of good songs on this breakout album. Exceptional musicianship. Good driving music

Enjoyed it more than I thought, especially on my 2nd listen. Will certainly revisit this.

Nearly 5 stars. The production is amazing, just a little it safe

My sister named her Doberman Pinscher bitch Asia, but she spells it Aja. They're American. She, my sister, not the dog, has a full mouth of fillings. Aja, the album, not the dog, is her favorite music to play when getting her teeth drilled. Dr. Goldman agrees.

Super album de steely dan mais la partie jazz tres accentue le place en dessous d ecountdown to ecstasy pour moi. 4.25

Perfect for when you are insanely tired after a big day and just want to listen to music brain off

Better than I thought it would be, but it is oh so 70s

Jazzy en bluesy poprock dat prima als intermezzomuziek bij van die tv comedy shows past als Home Improvement. Ik vind dit dus superrelaxed. Ga dit zeker vaker opzetten tijdens het werk.

Solid tunes! It’s amazing to think that they packed this much into a seven-song record. This album really is quality over quantity.

Fresh as f#ck

Nostalgic tones, good sound and culturally relevant

Solid album cover. Dark, somber, portentous, eye catching. Raises some questions, which the eponymous song really doesn't particularly resolve. In fact what is any of this album about? Don't know, but I like it. Sure, I like raw, emotional, edgy. But clean, pretty, and carefully constructed can also be enjoyable when done well. And this is done *so* well.

Great music throughout entire album. Awesome guitar solos.

So smooth, is this yacht rock? I think this is yacht rock. Ima get a bourbon...

It was good. Jazzy

Pretty funky album (especially from the middle on), and a mild introduction to jazz/rock fusion. Love the jazzy chord progressions and "dialogues" between piano, sax, and guitar.

Perfect for a slow morning

Didn't expect it to be so funky - seems like jazz rock. Piano was used well and I like Donald Fagen's voice. The lyrics were super random which is always fun. It's musically complex and well produced but still accessible. Fav track: 'I got the news'

Crisp and clean almost to the point of being laboratory sterile. Jazzy yacht rock. It’s so tight it almost sound 80s quantized. I do like it, I don’t love it.

Funk saxophone. Bello divertente comfort smhoot funk in tha room. Un po' simile a se stesso ma riesce a rendere non noiosi i coretti aiutatori

HL: “Peg”, “Aja”, “Deacon Blues” Shoot, I’m unsure but “Aja” gets 4 stars for now. “Peg” is my favourite Steely Dan song; yet the second half dragged more than the first, despite the 1st having longer songs. Could be anywhere from a 3 to a 5 depending on mood & location.

favourite song: deacon blues really enjoyed this album.

Great album overall.

Easy listening by the one and only Mr Steely

Pretty great! Such a great blend of prog rock, jazz and mellow funk.

Steely Dan brought Rock and Jazz together in their own unique way. They have a distinctive sound. Aja (pronounced Asia) is their sixth album and they have four albums on the 1001 list. Standouts: Deacon Blues, Peg, Josie Others: Aja, Home At Last, I Got the News

This is really mood dependent. I've heard this before and been so into it; this time I could take it or leave it. It's a bit boring. Technical ability, for sure. Understand why it's on the list as well. A generous 4.

funky

eu gosto do jeito que steely dan faz uma musica dançante com progressão de acordes incomum. o uso de menores e etc. tem um certo sambá, que sendo brasileiro eu aprecio muito

This was not what I expected, but then I didn't really know what to expect. I quite liked it though.

Really enjoyable album by steely Dan. I enjoy their jazzy smooth rock style as it’s pretty easy enjoyment wise. Their guitar playing is sonically really solid. I think this is one of their best albums all around. 8.3/10

Chill

Really cool. Quiet jazzy with lots of groove, but also really accessible.

Mellow; classic songs like "Deacon Blues", "Aja" and "Peg" - I don't always know the song name but I've heard these a lot. Not for everyday, but good for many.

Black Cow- 9.5/10 Aja- 6/10 Deacon Blues- 9/10 Peg- 4/10 Home At Last- 9/10 I Got The News- 4/10 Josie- 7.5/10 Aja-7/10

The production on this is actual black magic. This sounds like it came out yesterday. At first I thought this was pretty standard and inoffensive music, but after listening to it again.. yeah, it's really good. The vocals, drumming, saxophone and everything work so well together. Also this is easily in the Top 5 best album covers. No question.

Beautiful, clean, doesn’t quite hit me like the best of the best on this list but definitely grew my appreciation for them and their legacy

Oh, there you are again Steely Dan. Had a flurry of 3 albums in about a month and now it's been almost a year (and over 220 albums) since the last entry. I continue to put them in my list of classic rock artists I respect (more than I did when I was younger) but still don't completely get. Probably not surprising since this album is jazz-infused rock and I also don't get jazz. I find it funny because I always loved soft rock Chicago but never got into soft rock Steely Dan. The multitude of jazz players on this album are quite impressive and I really came to appreciate the complexity and grandness of the sound and the whole production on multiple listens. Lyrics too - they seem strange at first but when you listen and start to figure out the meaning (e.g., Aja, Deacon Blues, Josie) it's pretty sly and interesting. Definitely an album that grows on you (Black Cow and Peg being good song examples of that) but I may still be underappreciating it.

27/08/2022 Steely Dan – Aja 4/5 Looking around reviews of the album on the website, most of the complaints talked about how generic and how much like “elevator”, “shopping mall” or background music this album sounded like. I consider myself a fan of this type of music, and I think that to make something perfect enough to conceal itself on the environment is not as easy as it seems. Apart from that, the tracks in the album sound fantastic, full of good vibes and catchy melodies. The jazz influences make it not very repetitive and good enough to listen to it on its own. And it is also a great album for sampling. A couple of bad notes: the songs end being a bit too much similar between each other, and those vibes could be too much after a while and makes you nauseous. The voice of the singer is nothing out of the ordinary, but is compensated by the great instrumentals. Black Cow – 3/5 Good vibes, but maybe too flat and stable during its 5 minutes. I would need an interesting and more energetic solo somewhere, or a good enough bridge. Aja – 4.5/5 This one could have fallen in the same mistakes as Black Cow, but it makes good use of its 8 minutes with more variability and a fantastic guitar and sax solo/interlude and a great ending drums solo. Deacon Blues – 3.5/5 A slower good sounding song that maybe would have needed a little bit more of creativity and variety. But it is great at what it does. Peg – 4/5 Very groovy. Its stability is compensated by its short duration compared to the others. Home at Last – 3.5/5 Not bad, nothing out of the ordinary. Again, a bit too flat. Good solos. I Got the News – 4.5/5 Love the instrumentation of this song, maybe one of the jazziest of the album. Josie – 3.5/5 Good, but nothing different from the previous tracks.

The production on Aja is incredible: the sound is crisp and resonant, with each voice and instrument given warmth and depth. The songs themselves are a little more of a mixed bag: some may find the arrangements too noodly or the lyrics too obtuse, but the musicianship is generally impressive.

Wow this album gets some bad reviews. SD are my massive comfort blanket. In some ways this album was their apex. Their lyrics, as always, are brilliant; full of sleaze and opulent grime. Production and muso wise it is immaculate (Go on, yawn) It may break no musical boundaries and may be the antithesis of 'Never Mind the Bollocks' (Same release year) but it's not lounge music. I love you SD. 4

This isnt yacht rock, its dad rock. This album made me want to put on my cargo shorts and NBs, crack open a bud, and grill for the gods.

Peg is a de la soul sample, wow!! Much better album than I expected

Steely Dan. Nice.

I was expecting, from previous experience with this album to hate it. I thought of it as a beautiful sounding album of boring basically elevator music. I still don't like Black Cow but the rest of the album is better than I remembered (maybe Black Cow colored my overall impression), and Peg especially is a great song. And then there's the sound, even my old scratched vinyl couldn't obscure the impressive sound engineering and perfectly balanced production. Very impressive. 3.75 🌟

Really solid Steely Dan, really sounds like what I think of when I hear their name. Not sure that there's anything here that helps this climb above other albums of theirs, but a great listen, will take it anytime. Love hearing Michael McDonald on "Peg", it always surprises me in a good way.

Pretty damn good. I am not well-versed in any Steely Dan and it's not something I'd always wanna listen to, but there's a lot to like here. Smoooooth.

Light listening. Crisp production. First time listening to the album.

After the second listen, I’m starting to enjoy it.

I get why NL likes Steely Dan. Album feels very nostalgic. Happy on the outside, but depressing on the inside. Very well exemplified by Peg. Top songs: Peg, Home At Last Worst Songs: I Got The News

Love it

Smooth production, not all tracks land but I really dig several of them. Favorites: "Black Cow", "Aja", "Peg"

this is SO on the boat. i didn't even realize how on the boat this whole album was until i was swaying to every single song on this album. it's so smooth and makes for great easy listening. i could instantly recognize the amount of work that went into the composition of this album, particularly with their variety of instruments! the piano and sax stood out the most, but all instruments had their time to shine and were expertly performed. i was shocked when i read on wikipedia that steely dan called in a-list session players because the music was so technically demanding--but when i pay attention to the depth of each song, it makes a lot of sense. regardless, their hard work creating this album paid off. the yacht and jazz aspects allow for a pleasant ride. it's such a cohesive album. a delightful listen. looking forward to listening to it more.

This album was soooo smooooth, all throughout. The laid back yacht rock vibes are just right on this album. The overall "feel" of this album is well composed and executed, with each song still being its own thing. I was not familiar with anything from this album, so it was a pleasure to check it out!

Classic old white dude shit and I’m here for it

Great album. Love almost every song outside of the title track. Aja is just too long for me.

I am pretty ignorant about Steely Dan. I think I listened to "Gaucho" once a few years ago. The pop-punk band The Ergs have a catchy song called "Aja" which mentions this album - but for some reason I never followed it up. In my head, Steely Dan were a middle-of-the-road soft rock band, which is kinda accurate. But I really wasn't expecting the amount of funk/disco on this! I love the sound. I love the songs. I love the structure of the songs, which often opens out the conventional pop/rock song into a sprawling jam. Some elements are schmaltzy. They seem to be deliberately, knowingly schmaltzy, as an aesthetic choice - but that doesn't make it better. Overall, this is great. It's 40 mins, but every time I listen I've thought "that can't be over already??". Sure sign of a good album. 0% drag. I also want to add: the hook from "Peg" must be the absolute best sample Prince Paul used for early De La Soul. 4.5*

Wonderful and still sounds great.

Onhan tää on niin ylituotettua, että voi tuntua sieluttomalta. Mut meikä digaa ja kuulostaa vinskalta ärsyttävän hyvältä. Deacon Blues, Peg ja Home at Last on kans ihan aidosti huikeita biisejä.

Steely Dan released a run of great albums during the 70's and I regard a couple of them as essential (Can't Buy A Thrill, Pretzel Logic), that are a good starting point to discover Steely Dan. Aja, the band's 6th album was moving towards more of a rock-jazz oriented sound, a bit smoother, but just as interesting. The previous records leading up to Aja (Katie Lied, Royal Scam), were a bit of a letdown and less consistent, but Aja was improved and produced an accessible sound that led to it being probably their most commercially successful record. I would place Aja in my top three favourite Dan albums and it brings back much nostalgia from my teenage years when I listen to it. A solid record, but not their best.

Steely Dan was way better than I thought.

Technically brilliant but a bit forgetful, loved it when it started as can tell a lot of modern music has taken samples from this, but overall just didn't stand out. Suspect it's a get stoned and listen with headphones on album.

Good not great. Great production with a few classics.

A really good album filled with yacht rock classics.

4.75

I thought that this album had a beautiful finish on it, and only had a few dull moments for me.

Damn, lekker muziekje. Normaal vind ik dit soort muziek al snel saai, maar hier blijven de melodietjes leuk. Doet me soms een beetje aan Paul Simon of Billy Joel denken. Leuke verrassing. ****

Sooooo much porn sax and boredom, then.....PEG. 4 stars for that alone

Steeley Dan is underrated. Its like the background music of our lives. This is a really great album!

Bookended by a slightly too smooth version of the Dan for me but with a delicious centre. They've done several better albums, though.

This used to be one of my less favorite Steely Dan albums (aside from Deacon Blues), in spite of being generally a fan. It has grown on me over time though, as repeated listening revealed the care and intricacy of its production. I’ve never really got the charges of their being cold or soulless. I find delivery of grown-up melancholy very poignant.

Great smooth album

Now I understand why they’re so respected for their sound. Good passive listening, but the production takes it to a 4.

Great and unusual combination of jazz and rock/pop. Couldn't stop myself from feeling relaxed and happy by the music

Awesome!

Gli anni '70, quando la vita era tranquilla e i mutui al 20%. Un cocktail, una capigliatura sbarazzina e si va al mare perché fa molto caldo. Rilassante, mi piace.

Chill groovy

Great album.

Classic easy listening edition

This is one of those records you can toss on, do whatever, and come back mid song and pick up on the lyrics right away. One of SD’s best, and deservedly belongs on this list.

So nice

Tight ass bunch of studio musicians

Great Band of white people that sounds like black ones. Good mix of different type of music of that times ('70s)

Glimmering, uber produced jazz pop. Starts off very strongly, with Aja and Deacon Blue both being amazing, but I found myself losing interest as the album played out.

Snygg gubbrock, kluven på 3/4. Men det är så tight och groovy. Har ingen av mina riktiga steely dan favoriter dock!

Otroligt svängigt, välproducerad gubbrockrunk. ÄLSKAR

Muito gostosinho!

Normally i wouldn’t like music like this however i loved it. The music is just so funky and incredibly fun to listen to. the one critique is the song length but it was kept interesting so it doesn’t even matter - i really enjoyed this album. 9/10.

Likte albumet svært godt! Home at last bra sang

Buen pop-rock sencillo de los años 70, que se puede escuchar muy bien y que puede llegar a gustar bastante. Grupo que desconocía y al que le podría dar alguna otra oportunidad

a funky groove to fuck to

I already liked a bit of Steely Dan and enjoyed this too! I like the funky rockness of it. Good driving music

Wel een aangenaam album om uit te luisteren

Aaaaaaaa, pa viđam ovaj cover dost puta, al nikad nisam skužio žensku na njoj. Evo još jedan album iz 77'. Nisam očekivao ovakvu glazbu, više sam očekivao izdrkavanje po gitari, neki Rush tip benda, tako nešta jer gledajući koliko pjesama ima i koliko traju pjesme... Međutim, nije tak, drago mi je, zanimljiv album, gospodski, reklo bi se. Hvale ga očito s razlogom, i imaju zašto! Iznenadio me je jer stvarno nisam očekivao ovako pristojan album. Danceable, groovie, like it a lot! Pjesma Peg ima jedan sample koji se koristio u jednoj rap pjesmi (Eye Know od De La Soul) i to nisam znao, volim naučit ovakve stvari! Jedva čekam da i oni dođu na streaming platforme kad smo već kod toga. Aja (ko da ju volim još i saaaaaad) je jebena stvar! Top 5 albuma iz 77' na prvo slušanje, onda znaš. Love me some jazzy rock.

Easy listening, love the drum solo on Aja. Good tight music.

This album was quite good. Very chill and relaxing songs with really good instrumentation to keep them interesting. 7/10

Jazz-rock animado.

Great album

Deacon blues is the song I recognize from this album. More good listening, but I think I prefer the countdown to ecstasy album over this one.

never listened to entirely, adding to iPod

Solid, solid album. not overproduced. Not too complex. good band. Good album.

Warm, fun and smooth. The excellent drumming makes this a winner for me. Definitely interested in hearing more of their stuff.

Eindelijk Steely Dan! Zeer coole groep, ook als je er meer van weet. Ik kende dit album niet maar vond het wel zeer leuk !

oooh was leuk

Yeah this was great

Okay okay... Ya veo co.o va a ser.

Great Album! Have this in my collection, I Got The News my favourite track from this album. I do prefer "The Royal Scam" as an album, but this is a good one, with Backing Vocals from Michael McDonald. Also like Peg and Deacon Blues (which the eponymous Scottish band took its name from.) are also good tracks.

I'd avoided Steely Dan for so long because, I dunno, hipsters mocked them in the 90s? But this album is good. It has a very rich, complex sound, something that is evidence of how far audio production technology came in that part of the 20th century. The songs are just as complex, with dreamy worlds. But above all was my moment when I realised that "Peg" was the sampled basis of De Le Soul's "Eye Know".

The drums! The composition! So much good....but a lot of "this isn't jeff"

Steely Dan has a strange sound. I mean, on one hand, it's a funk, soul mix like Doobie Brothers or even Hall and Oates. But there's a Disco sense in it too that turns me off. The lyrics are a little more substantial than I expected, which is cool. The horns remind me of Chicago. Black Cow is quite a production. Aja is also pretty layered. Not sure if it's about a girl or just some other cultural observation The album cover seems to lean towards the former. This band always gives me a sense of a dark room with red lights, not a club or and not really comfortable. I just don't see them as "open air, and free. They seem confined I guess. Deacon Blues is a song I always kind of liked. It just sounds good. Definitely a story to Deacon Blues - which I admire as well. Peg is an uncharacteristically brief song for this album. Another log song but not ordinary. Home at Last is more of a return to Aja after Peg. This time its an ode to life at sea it seems, but with another solid groove that propels the song. I got the News - the title makes me think of A Day in the Life by the Beatles, but this appears to have nothing to do with that. Some great guitar work, really quirky jazz beats and is that Michael McDonald singing back up? Josie - Solid jam again. This was better than expected. I think I'd listen to this again for sure.

Very nice, I like the mix of instruments across the album. Quite the jam.

Вот что меня удивляет - насколько все говорят о влиянии битлов, и насколько оно мало чувствовалось на самом деле (по крайней мере в то время). Казалось бы - не так уж давно они распались, оставив после себя практически идеальную поп-формулу, до сих пор актуальную формулу экспериментальной музыки и тд, но в 70х люди почему-то куда больше тяготели к дженерик рокенролу, который юзался жуками в основном в начале пути. Ну типа песни вроде Strawberry Fields Forever, Eleanore Rigby, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Tomorrow Never Knows - это же другой уровень развития, пусть психодел тоже не всегда бывал удачным, но его же куда интереснее было пробовать, чем серый антивоенный роцкешник. Но это ладно, мысли на полях, Стили Дэн не совсем про это. Тут скорее джаз-рок такой, без лишнего огонька, но с довольно приятными трубами и прикольной атмосферой. Впрочем интереса это всё равно не особо добавляет. Раздражения не вызывает, но в очередной раз толкает в голову вопрос: "а оно мне всё нужно вообще?" Что бы изменилось в моём восприятии музыки (как у слушателя и как у исполнителя), не послушай я этот альбом. Да скорее всего нихуя. Это не какая-то предъява к пластинке, просто интересно порой, откуда берётся легендарный статус и вот это всё. Легендарный статус группы creedence clearwater revival, например, оправдать легко - у них действительно был хит на века, который выстоял проверку временем и до сих пор попадает в нерв. Плюс пацифистская позиция, которая также актуальна в любое время. Ну и даже вот предыдущих тирексов мне не составит труда отнести к классике - хотя бы за прорывное (по моему мнению) звучание. А Steely Dan видится продуктом своего времени, качественно скрафченным, занимательным, скилловым, но неактуальным и эстетически пустым на данный момент. Thus said, лепить тройбан альбому всё-таки считаю неправильным, поскольку совсем уж дженериком назвать рука не поднимается, и наверное под пресловутое настроение он может показаться хорошим выбором. Но честно, сомневаюсь, что ещё когда-то вспомню о нём. 7/10

бляять какой же кайф включать и в первом же треке угадывать семпл одного из любимых треков мф дума. ну и альбик сам ниче так

Classic jams on here. It's yacht rock, but it's solid

I have yet to hear a bad Steely Dan album, and this one is no exception. Their musicianship is always commendable, and the unique fusion/funk vibe they have going in a lot of these songs definitely makes this worth a few listens.

Ultimate dad rock

Clean yacht rock. Peg is sweet. Michael McDonald backing vocals

You kind of have to be in the right mood to listen to Steely Dan, but luckily I'm in that mood most of the time. "Deacon Blues" is the highlight of this album but the whole thing is great.

Pretty neat

Just about made the 4 stars

some good stuff

The more I listened, the more I enjoyed. Easy music to just fade away and relax.

Not their best album. That belongs to Pretzle Logic. Still a solid album though.

Is it a brag or flex to say I listened to my CD copy of this one? Pretty sure I have a vinyl copy tucked away too. I know this one and like it. Solid argument that it's Steely Dan's best album, though there is obviously room for debate and it's not my hill to die on. As far as I can tell, I can't rate in half stars but I'd probably go 4.5 on this if I could.

great jazz album

Not bad at all! I like the jazzy feeling!

Cool and funky album. Good, chill listen.

Ненавязчивая хорошая музыка для фона

I really liked the combination of classic hard rock and jazz that Steely Dan have going on here. A nice album to listen to and a band I'll definitely revisit. Not entirely gripping enough for a 5 though.

Impeccable jazzy soft rock. I found it enjoyable and easy to listen to. Peg and Home at Last were favourites on this one.

This album was prob the first to fuse jazz and rock this well. The sax throughout exemplifies this particularly on Deacon Blues. Steve Gadd’s drumming on Aja (the song) is mind blowing. His two solos on that track are played like guitar solos - ie played while the band provides rhythm- rather than Bonham style snoozer solos. Thanks to mgravelle59 for bringing it home circa 1977.

I listen to this Steely Dan album and I learn EXACTLY what all the fuss is about: it's the most accessible music while still being dignified, eloquent, and fun. It's exquisite how good this album is, really. Jazz rock has never been more fun. I bet my parents will love this; we can listen to it over drinks and talk about current events or something, idk! People with taste listen to Steely Dan, and Aja has to be the pinnacle of this or I'll be damned.

Brilliant album. A Classic

Echt heel tof en nog best wel van deze tijd! Heb dit album ol vinyl, maar pas een keer geluisterd. Echt een eye-opener.

Loving this, funk ahoy

false

Me gusta. Mezcla jazzística muy relajante.

Zum ersten Mal aufmerksam geworden auf Steely Dan bin ich, als Carsten "Erobique" Meyer ca. 1997 in der "Komm Küssen" irgendeine Plattenbesprechung abschloss mit den Worten "Ich muss jetzt erstmal Steely Dan hören". Ich kannte die damals nicht, fand den Spruch aber sehr gut und hab dann versucht rauszufinden, was es so auf sich hat mit der Band. Die waren dann lange und sind mir eigentlich bis heute ein Rätsel, vermutlich weil einfach zu schlau für mich. 2 Konservatoriumstypen, so weit wie nur vorstellbar von Punk und/oder Rockstarattitüde entfernt, aber ihre Band nach nem Dildo benennen. Sowas schon allein. Hab ich mich mit abgefunden, und steh jedenfalls schon seit einigen Jahren immer mal wieder total auf diesen yahzzigen Yachtrock-Style. Und möchte mich jetzt auch noch mal kurz für diesen Ausfall neulich gegen YES entschuldigen, von wegen "Angebermusik". Weil: eigentlich find ich sowas ja total gut, und Steely Dan trifft natürlich voll in dieses Klischee, dieses ganze ausgestellte Raffinement, die audiophile Produktion, Saxophonsolos von Wayne Shorter etc. Dabei aber halt viel luftiger, samstagmorgentauglicher verpackt als eben YES - und also meinen Nerv trifft das. Voll. Aja (auch wieder son Rätsel: wieso man eine Platte nach der Freundin des Brudes von einem aus der Highschool-Klasse benennt, mit dem man nicht mal viel zu tun hatte) werde ich mir jedenfalls gerne noch öfter, und gerne mit guten Kopfhörern anhören. Und freue mich dabei schon auf die ganzen neuen Ideen jedesmal.

Highlights: Deacon Blues, Peg Lowlight: Ironically...Aja 70's Jazz/Rock fusion and velvety lyrical prowess never sounded better. This isn't just a musically excellent album, it's also a sonic masterpiece; Every beat, crash, strum, pluck, and chord is deliberate and represented with crystal clear clarity, with plenty of space between to catch your breath. There is nothing overwhelming here, classics like Peg will have you tapping your toe...Even with tracks like Josie where there is more complexity, nothing is edged out or muddy. This is a well-built album.

always love steely dan

Mix of jazz, R&B and disco. 70s sound. Very good

Superbly produced album with expert musicmanship. I read a long time ago that Deacon Blues has the best lyrics ever and I can't argue with Learn to work the saxophone (I) I play just what I feel Drink Scotch whiskey all night long And die behind the wheel They got a name for the winners in the world (I) I want a name when I lose They call Alabama the Crimson Tide Call me Deacon Blues The rest of the album is not as brilliant, but it is still pretty darned good so it gets a 4/5 from me

(Jazz rock / Pop rock) Extremely well-written jazz rock that still sounds contemporary thanks to the quality of the session musicians and production. However, the 'softness' of yacht rock detracts from an otherwise stellar album. 8/10

Truly a classic - Peg, Black Cow, and Deacon Blues alone are worth putting it on the 1001 list, but there's 4 more great cuts as well! Only reason I'm not giving it 5 is that I rank it 3rd in SD's catalog after Pretzel Logic and Gaucho