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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
History gives Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen the last, hearty laugh on this, the crown jewel in their remarkable canon of 1970s Mensa-pop. Sneaking onto the charts a half-decade earlier with sinuous, jazz-inflected "rock", the dysfunctional duo's acerbic, anti-heroic visions had been critically lauded for their band identity and killer guitar riffs, then promptly challenged when the two songwriters retired from the road, dissolved any formal band lineup, and used the studio as laboratory. Aja carried the added indignity of its increased focus on sophisticated jazz models and musicianship, which carried the Dan's ambitions even further in terms of suave harmonies, intricate song structures, and brilliant playing. Time has proven them wiser than their rock crit detractors: These seven songs abound in knotty plots, sneaky imagery, and drop-dead brilliant performances from a blue chip studio repertory studded with first-call jazz players epitomised by Wayne Shorter's towering solo on the title song. From the hard-boiled jazz romance of "Deacon Blues" to the twisted Homeric vamp of "Home at Last", the veiled but ominous swing of "Peg" to the sci-fi eroticism of "Josie", Aja is a modern pop classic and the coolest fusion record no one ever thought to lump in that category. --Sam Sutherland
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can remember sitting a car in 1977 when the song 'Deacon Blues' came on the radio. I was instantly mesmerised. Having never heard Steely Dan before I was amazed by the quality and feel of both the song and the recording. I immediately went out and bought the 'LP'. It was this that started my love of the music of Messers Becker and Fagen.
If you are considering your first SD purchase... THIS IS THE ONE TO GET. Don't muck around with those compilations that. Steely Dan albums must be listened to in their original context.
It is solid testament to Aja that it hit the streets slap bang in the middle of the 'Punk' era, a musical movement that was championed by the 'New Musical Expresss', yet, in their review the NME hailed Aja as one of the all time great albums with possibly the greatest 'side 1' of any album ever released. (Remember 'side ones'?)
Side one actually comprised of three musical masterpieces; Black Cow, Aja and Deacon Blues and even now, 25 odd years later I am hearing new things in these songs, especially on the newly remastered release. Side 2 isn't bad either. Peg, Home at Last, I've got the News and Josie are all fantastic offerings.
As well as the superb songwriting and mind blowing lyrics watch out for virtuoso performances from the likes of Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Chuck Rainey and Larry Carlton as well as the amazing vocals of Fagen and the backing vocals (including Mike McDonald). The slick production of Gary Katz tops it all off.
"This is the day of the expanding man, that shape is my shade, there where I used to stand"...classic!
An absolute masterpiece.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you were not around in the 70's and have heard that Steely Dan are worth discovering you could do no wrong in buying this beautifully crafted piece of work that features some of the slickest US session guys around. I recall this album being used as a hi fi show piece when it came out and it still stands out as a fine recording - tastefully remastered by the duo themselves in recent times. If you want to hear a little bit of jazz sneaking into your music this is a great introduction. The stand out tracks are the title track and Black Cow. Steve Gadds famous drum fade out at the end of Aja being one of the high points of the bands career. The album closes with Josie which is cool beyond cool. If you are wondering about Steely Dan, start with this and then buy all the albums - they are all gems. Aja does not quite have that lyrical streetwise savy found on Katy Lied and Countdown to Ectasy, but it marks a high point in the Steely Dan collection as a work of outstanding musical genius and a showcase for the talent of those reluctant maestro's Messrs Fagen & Becker.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The music contained on this album does not fit in any neat and tidy box.
What can you say about it? is it jazz, is it pop? is it music? in one word "YES" it's all of this and more.
"The men from Dan" used some of the best session men in music business to record this, rehearsing and playing these guys within an inch of their lives!
It shows for contained of this album not only is music but audio art.
Of course Becker and Fagan did all the remastering themselves and what great job they have done, they are such control freaks, who can blame with music of this standard.
For all you Dan freaks out there who didn't buy the first C.D. release because of poor sound forget that buy this version with confidence, it is WOW!! in terms of sound and content
What can you say about it? is it jazz, is it pop? is it music? in one word "YES" it's all of this and more.
"The men from Dan" used some of the best session men in music business to record this, rehearsing and playing these guys within an inch of their lives!
It shows for contained of this album not only is music but audio art.
Of course Becker and Fagan did all the remastering themselves and what great job they have done, they are such control freaks, who can blame with music of this standard.
For all you Dan freaks out there who didn't buy the first C.D. release because of poor sound forget that buy this version with confidence, it is WOW!! in terms of sound and content
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Plodding through the same old chords
If you love the sparkle and variety of Steely Dan's first three albums, you'll be disappointed with this bland series of repetitious chord sequences. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. G. Richardson
Love Steely Dan
I bought the vinyl in 1977 and have always loved this album for it's amazing musicianship, brilliant production and iconic songs from that period. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Bony Tanks
Some albums just 'hang' together
This, is far and away the best Steely Dan album - and one of the best from anybody - one where the tracks are inextricably linked rather like DNA strands or a seamless god of a... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tim Kidner
The Crimson Tide of Steely Dan
An album you can listen to a hundred times and still hear something new. The lyrics seem to hang around in your brain long after the music has finished, demanding your attention. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Foden Wheatley
The Best
First heard the Dan in 83 when they were remixed for the Clubhouse Billie Jean and Do it Again top 10 single in the UK and wondered who was singing that great vocal. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Simmo
Absurd pricing
At around 3 times the price of a new SACD, they've could at least tried to remaster in surround.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
Published 21 months ago by J. Alan
MASTERPIECE!!!!
I think all the other reviewers on this page have said it all really,
but i just have to add that this album is a true masterpiece. Read more
but i just have to add that this album is a true masterpiece. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Sj Weller
I can't cry anymore
Steely Dan's best? Well I've always had an almost unhealthy love for Pretzel Logic but this runs it damn close. The Dan take on jazz and win a resounding victory. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by A. Willard
Miss out at your peril
If you love music as I do then you cannot miss this album out of your collection. Yes it is Jazz influenced , but is also rock, pop and everything else influenced. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by B. J. du Cille
Brilliant
Clearly one of the best albums from Steely Dan. The LP has got a real good sound quality to it, but this digitally remastered CD edition is even better, at least on a great system.
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by KHerbst
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