Customer Reviews
Least favourite! - By: D. J. H. Thorn, 05 Mar 2008 
From a band that only seem to release great albums, 'Aja' is well down the list of Steely Dan's best. What I like about their earlier releases is their blend of styles. 'Aja' is dominated by jazz & funk influences, neither of which are my favoured genres, but the music rewards repeated listening & is beautifully constructed. The title track is, for me, the highlight, its innocuous opening soon drifting into subtle, shifting shades of tonal colour & twinkling keyboards, culminatingin a striking closing passage. 'Josie' is the obvious hit item, with a great guitar intro & a solid groove. 'Peg' is the other more overtly commercial item, the remaining tracks being more like the title trackin approach.' Not the most instant album, and, as usual, lyrically challenging, but great anyway.
Give this to visiting aliens - By: J. Fowler, 14 Nov 2007 This is probably the best album ever recorded. Songs, players, arrangements, groove, harmony - I can't think of another album that ticks every boxin such abundance. This album should be part of the school curriculum.
Didn't even like Jazz when I first bought this.... - By: popestar, 06 Mar 2007 ....or at least, I didn't realise that I did. Nearly 30 years after first buying this musical work of art rarely a week goes buy when it doesn't get a spin.
This album isn't just good, it's special. No one, from the pop, rock or jazz styles has made anything approaching what Steely Dan achieved on Aja.
Try it, you probably won't regret it.
Magnificent - By: S J Buck, 21 Apr 2006 When I first had this on LPin the early 80's I wasn't that keen. However as I've got older, & perhaps understand music better, it has overtaken all other Steely Dan albums to become my favourite.
This has that perfect mix of catchy songs & high-class musicianship. Its worth catching the Classic Albums program on Aja, which gives great insight into the making of the album.
The list of musicians is amazing, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Jim Keltner to name but three, & they are all drummers! Becker & Fagen tend to use musicians with Jazz backgrounds so Wayne Shorter plays Tenor Sax on the title track, Larry Carlton contributes Guitar to a number of tracks. However don't let this put you off, like all Steely Dan albums this is a Jazz influenced album, not a Jazz album. Becker & Fagen are just using a different palette!
Peg is a wonderfully melodic song (with very difficult backing vocals according to Michael McDonald). Josie is or was a covers band standard. The title track has everything, & perhaps sums up the album best.
There are no weak tracks on this album, & any Steely Dan fan should have thisin their collection.
elsewhere - By: LeopardPrince, 02 Dec 2005 
Beleive me if you want the best of S/D then look elsewhere , such as Cant buy a thrill or even better Royal scam. Much better throughout, this is just mediocre background fodder. Not at all like its cracked up to be by the beatnik know alls reckon it is.
You have been warned as they say.
