Dull Dan
Aja by Steely Dan is the album that seems to be the one that people hail as a classic, however I tend to disagree, as I think The Royal Scam, their previous album, is far more superior on many levels.
I feel by this time in their career, Steely Dan were on auto pilot, and just churning out third rate Jazz, that by now, was becoming tiring, and samey. The songs on this album feel bland, and stale, only the title track, and Home At Last stand out for me.
Countdown To Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, and Can't Buy A Thrill, are far better recording's, as those records have a lot more interesting ideas to offer, and have more interesing styles.
Katy Lied was considered by a lot of the critics at the time, to be one of their weaker albums, but I listen to Katy Lied more than I do Aja. you can tell that Steely Dan have sucked the lifeblood out of this recording, resulting in a pretty mediocre effort.
The Royal Scam was their last great musical statement, you don't need this album. I even listen to Alive In America, more than Aja, and that Live recording is brilliant.
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