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This profile of Steely Dan's elegant 1977 masterpiece, Aja, is a feast for Dan fans, a thoughtful, satisfyingly detailed assessment of the album and its bejeweled fusion of jazz, R&B, rock, and pop. Better yet, the documentary's producers elicit atypically straightforward, revealing interviews from the group's stealthy principals, songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who jettison enough of their signature sarcasm to touch on the autobiographical threads, cultural anomie, and serious musical ambition audible in their work. In that respect, the production rivals any extant interviews with this proudly cerebral, occasionally evasive musical team.
The duo, along with producer Gary Katz, engineer Roger Nichols, and a generous cross-section of the crack New York and Los Angeles musicians featured on the sessions, dissect the sleek layers of the songs both musically and lyrically, both in modern performances featuring the original players and in control-room playbacks of the original multitrack master tapes. Becker and Fagen prove articulate, self-aware, and dryly funny subjects, and the subtlety and richness of the music offer an ample canvas for discovery. --Sam Sutherland
Special Features
Originally produced for cable and home video as a documentary project, the Classic Albums series offers in-depth profiles of enduring rock and pop albums built around first-person interviews with the artists, producers, and musicians that created them. That audio focus creates an ironic, largely perceptual problem for DVD release, since the segments aren't intended to replace the original audio recordings, only to expand upon them: these are conventional DVDs, not harbingers of true audio DVD optimized for sonic resolution, and they are not mixed to exploit surround playback. If you haven't heard these albums, nearly all of them landmarks in late-20th-century pop, then this isn't the place to start, and Aja magnifies that issue through the very high standard of the original audio recording, itself a true audiophile work. If you do know the album, however, the Classic Albums presentation is a handsomely produced, revealing companion. --Sam Sutherland
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By D. Hawkins
Format:DVD
If I were a tree, one or more of my rings would be taken up with Steely Dan's masterpiece "Aja," as every microscopic note has infiltrated my soul over the last quarter century. That said, seeing how this album was recorded behind the scenes lends an even greater appreciation. Listening to the world's funkiest drummer, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, dissect his Purdie Shuffle is nirvana for this drummer. Rick Marotta's groove on "Peg" is also a wonder to behold. Becker and Fagen are truly masters at getting the right performance from the right person and integrating them into the most amazing whole. Whereas most musicians this meticulous would get a soulless performance, Becker and Fagen get one for the ages. My only quibble is that "I Got The News" was only played during the closing credits, and not discussed at all, since it's just as strong as the other tracks. Still, make a great album even greater and pick this up.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Glenn
Format:VHS Tape
For anybody who loves Steely Dan and especially appreciates their "Aja" CD, I highly recommend this video.
This video goes into great detail on the methods and mixing of most of the songs on the "Aja" CD (all except "I've Got The News"). They include appearances of "guest" musicians who they used in some of the songs. Took each component of each song separately, then showed how they all blend in together to make the final product.
A very interesting video enhanced by Becker and Fagen's dry witty humorous remarks along the way. The only disappointment was that they omitted a full analysis on "I've Got The News" instead just playing that song with the closing credits.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By "The Woj"
Format:DVD
A very well done dvd and a must view for any Steely Dan fan. No fan of the band will be disappointed with this purchase. Just be prepared for more "words" than music.
Personally, however, I always felt "Katy Lied" was the band's best work. Whether or not "Aja" can be considered a classic album, worthy of a dvd documentary in the company of albums like the Who's "Who's Next" & The Band's "The Band" is highly debatable. For the casual Steely Dan fan, best off saving you cash on this one and getting the Steely Dan box set instead.
Personally, however, I always felt "Katy Lied" was the band's best work. Whether or not "Aja" can be considered a classic album, worthy of a dvd documentary in the company of albums like the Who's "Who's Next" & The Band's "The Band" is highly debatable. For the casual Steely Dan fan, best off saving you cash on this one and getting the Steely Dan box set instead.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Detail
This series which covers over 30 different albums now, is usually very good and this DVD is no exception. Read more
Published 17 months ago by drumforfood
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cool inside look at the people and the process behind Aja
If you are a Steely Dan fan, you have to buy this. The insights into how the pair work in the studio, hearing Fagen play back and discuss discarded guitar solos for Peg, hearing... Read more
Published on Nov 20 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars
Looooooved it!
This one is definitely a must for any musician/Steely Dan fanatic. The interaction between Donald and Walter behind the board is priceless and a window into their songwriting... Read more
Published on Nov 5 2002 by "funkycharlie"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic on DVD&Album
Steely Dan are One of the Coolest,baddest,Tightest Acts I've Ever Heard.I truly enjoy&get a Kick out of there Musical&Lyric Presentation. Read more
Published on Aug 16 2002 by A customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great DVD for Musicians/Producers/Recording Engineers
It's cliché to talk about what a masterpiece AJA is. We should just consider ourselves fortunate to have the characters who created what Modern Recording Magazine called... Read more
Published on Jun 27 2002 by Todd Van Gelder
4.0 out of 5 stars
Deconstructing the Dan
This is a fascinating documentary about a fascinating band: Steely Dan. A must for Dan fans, this DVD takes apart the dense arrangements of the Dan classic recording Aja. Read more
Published on May 25 2002 by Lisa Smith-Brooke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!
This is one of the very best music documentaries ever. After 24 years, I still listen to "Aja" regularly. Seeing how it was created has made it new again. Read more
Published on Feb 26 2002 by "knickchick"
5.0 out of 5 stars
How all the pros play the game
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this documentary is, especially considering the potential for this format to go to cheese. Read more
Published on Feb 15 2002 by The Feefmeister
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful, simply wonderful.
how marvelous this dvd is. a superb documentry about the music and musicians involved. Not what colour pants they were wearing at the time or what drugs they were taking. Read more
Published on Jan 26 2002 by mr andrew park
2.0 out of 5 stars
This is not Two against nature
Home movie sound and picture quality is good for nostalgia , but not so good for dvd . If you have to have all things steely dan, buy this,if not let this one go. Read more
Published on Dec 19 2001 by "nman69"
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