Steely Dan
hadn't been a real working band since
Pretzel Logic
, but with
Aja
,
Walter Becker
and
Donald Fagen
's obsession with sonic detail and fascination with composition reached new heights. A coolly textured and immaculately produced collection of sophisticated
jazz-rock
has none of the overt cynicism or self-consciously challenging music that distinguished previous
records. Instead, it's a measured and textured album, filled with subtle melodies and accomplished, jazzy solos that blend easily into the lush instrumental backdrops. But
isn't just about texture, since
Becker
Fagen
's songs are their most complex and musically rich set of songs -- even the simplest song, the sunny
pop
of
"Peg,"
has layers of jazzy vocal harmonies. In fact,
ignores
rock
on
, preferring to fuse
cool jazz
blues
, and
together in a seamless, seductive fashion. It's complex music delivered with ease, and although the duo's preoccupation with clean sound and self-consciously sophisticated arrangements would eventually lead to a dead end,
is a shining example of
at its finest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine