Aja: Album Analysis

Analyzing what makes Aja such a good album is as hard as writing a compelling article about it. I am well aware of the connotation surrounding Steely Dan: it’s old people music. But I think everyone should give this album a listen. There is so much to love here, and it’s a cornerstone of the jazz fusion genre. If you don’t want to listen to the whole album, my favorite tracks are “Black Cow,” “Deacon Blues,” and “Peg.” I would also listen to the title track “Aja.” If you’re still reading, prepare for my ramblings on why you should listen to Aja.

Aja is an album about people; Each tracks tell a different story. Some of these stories aren’t all that compelling, but the music portrays the story in a unique way. I’m going to split different songs into categories to avoid sounding repetitive.

Late Night Drive

The album begins with “Black Cow,” perfectly setting the thematic stage of the album. The song’s lyrics focus on a man admitting he is fed up with his lover for cheating on him. Despite the depressing subject matter, the tune is infectiously funky. This song The keyboard and drums serve as the foundation for the song’s smooth tone, while the bass and vocals stand out with clean finesse. The later appearing, “Home At Last,” also features this funk-rock fusion.

Steely Dan was obsessed with the individual sound of every instrument. Aja takes inspiration from the work of jazz engineer and producer Rudy Van Gelder. He was known to have musicians play close to the microphone in order to capture a rich, intimate sound. In each track, certain instruments take the spotlight and reveal a hidden meaning. “Black Cow” uses the funky bass to juxtapose the sad vocals. Donald Fagan and Walter Becker are touching on the idea of unknown denial. The protagonist is clearly fed up with his lover’s actions, and maintains a cool, collected stride despite his frustration. But has he truly moved on, or is he in denial. Definitely look out for the keyboard solo and the complementary horns.

Aja: There’s So Much About This Song Because I Have a Weird Opinion About it

“Aja” is an incredibly well made song, but it didn’t have the punch I was expecting from the title track. The pieces of the song are all very strong. The piano pushes the melody along, guiding and building upon the chord progression as the track progresses. The percussion is varied without straying too far from the tone. The song constantly pivots between slow, soothing verses and dense rhythmic chaos. It all works very well, but the song overstays its welcome. With an eight minute length, it all begins to feel repetitive near the end. Nonetheless, I still love this song, it just has a harder time keeping my attention.

Deacon Blues: It’s the Best

Following “Aja” is, in my opinion,  the album’s greatest track: Deacon Blues. To me, this song captures what makes Steely Dan special. They utilize a particular fusion of genres to perfectly tell a story. The lyrics tell of a suburbanite trapped within his underwhelming existence. On the surface, it’s about the protagonist wanting to quit his nine to five and become an alcoholic saxophone player. After looking again at the lyrics, the song seems more focused on portraying a common phenomenon: the fantasy of failing in the confines of the world. The song’s protagonist states “you call me a fool, you say it’s a crazy scheme.” Donald Fagan himself stated, “Many people have assumed the song is about a guy in the suburbs who ditches his life to become a musician. In truth, I'm not sure the guy actually achieves his dream. He might not even play the horn. It's the fantasy life of a suburban guy from a certain subculture.” Descending chords drive the song ahead, giving the piece a melancholy undertone. Guitar and piano flares give the verse a lingering sense of hope. A fast and repetitive drum rhythm rushes towards the chorus as the listener hears the protagonist proclaim, “I’ll make it this time, I’m ready to cross that fine line.” The, “fine line,” represents the line society draws between winners and losers. The winner’s prize is the American dream, but the protagonist has realized that this prize has left him feeling small and broken. The instrumentation then blossoms into a triumphant chorus, as the listener hears the protagonist’s fantasy. “Learn to work the saxophone, I play just what I feel, drink scotch whiskey, all night long.” The fiery chorus is comprised of descending chords making the listener feel like they’re slowly sinking. This instrumentation all screeches to a halt to reveal the protagonists’ dark desire to, “die behind a wheel.” Walter Becker stated that the song was about, “a broken dream of a broken man living a broken life.”

Funky Stuff

The next two tracks are the only I’ve yet to discuss, and they are both absolute bops. “Peg” is easily the most upbeat song of the album, despite its dark (and messed up) story. The tone of the song’s lyrics suggest that the protagonist is coercing an aspiring actress. As the piece progresses, the listener slowly begins to realize that the protagonist is a complete scumbag.

Conclusion

Aja is easily approachable, but there is so much complexity underneath the hood of each song. It feels as if every piece of music is intentionally placed. It’s a short album, but tracks are dense with some of the most talented musicians of the time. Despite its 1977 release, Aja never feels dated. Steely Dan has made an album that is timeless and I really do think it deserves a listen.

By Jaden Ellman