Word: albums
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Donald Fagen and Walter Becker composed smooth lyrics for Aja, proving you can combine meaningful lines with structural jazz. In "Deacon Blues" they make us privy to the business of their new album...
...Deacon Blues" is the blues of this album, at the same time it is the album's triumph. It is sad Steely Dan left its rock and rollpulpit for the endless plane of jazz; it is one of a handful of bands which can do justice to a rapidly whithering art. But Aja comes across as Steely Dan's "breaking on thru"; their growth is so limitless and their potential so boundless that it way only a matter of time before Aja had to arrive. Becker and Fagen are all that's left of the original Dan. Their everpressing musical...
...most unique and original album released this year. The album cover is unDanly suave; a mysterious portrain of an exotic woman, it is its own glossy message, carefully designed and stated. There are not bad cuts, but there are several excellent ones. "Aja" and "Deacon Blues" stand as the album's keystones, musically leading the way, lyrically and philosophically into another stage of Steely Dan's growth. The horns and sax are slick, and the sound bottoms out with creditable vibes by Victor Fedlman...
...second side is not as strong as the first. It is continuation of the same sounds, assembled in shorter cuts, perhaps for the benefit of the air waves. "I Got The News" uses graceful vocal harmony and some fine guitar leads with the album's usual set of jazz instruments to weave a fluent, atriking cut. "Peg" is that cute tune to which all the top-fortyettes will bump. Peg," despite its true quality, approaches the barrier between easy-listening-jazz and disco. The "Disco Dan" concept puts a damper on the album, raising doubts as to whether...
...every doubt there is a hope. The strides this group makes with each consecutive album amazes me and promises. And, there are also Steeley Dan's own reassurances...