After listening to this a few times i've come to the conclusion

>actually fits in very complex musical concepts into pop songs to an extent guys like The Beatles, The Velvet Underground, Bowie, Radiohead, prog/'art' rock in general, etc. could never do who did far simpler things
>not an ounce as much recognition as those guys
Why?

Also my favorite is probably the title track because of how well done the harmonic progression is throughout the verse bit, and then Shorter does his magic in the instrumental section.

Hey Nineteen

>>74618938
"not an ounce of recognition" lmao boomers pay more attention to steely dan than they ever did to VU

and i genuinely feel sorry for you if you think "soft rock with smooth jazz touches" is anywhere near the best the 70s had to offer

I think their lyrics are really underrated. People talk about how great of producers they are and stuff but no one seems to take their lyrics seriously.

>>74619005
>"not an ounce of recognition" lmao boomers pay more attention to steely dan than they ever did to VU
Yeah sure, a small group of them. But that's still nothing compared to VU's overall love.
>and i genuinely feel sorry for you if you think "soft rock with smooth jazz touches" is anywhere near the best the 70s had to offer
Easily the best mixing done for a 70s record, perhaps of a rock album period. Unlike the other examples I gave, the album wasn't afraid to have what were the equivalent of additional melodies creating a kind of polyphony not seen in most other so called "ambitious, complex, experimental" music of its time. Not to mention it's by far more harmonically creative than any of its fellow rock peers. Aja can have more interesting variation in chords in one verse than most King Crimson albums have in half the tracks of that particular album. To me Aja is a true test of a music listener's ability to discern detail in music. If all they get is "soft rock with smooth jazz touches", then it becomes that much more obvious how little they are able to pick up when it comes to musical detail.

One of the highlights of my life was having a middle-aged man come through the drivethru in a big ass Escalade blaring Peg while waiting for his order

I think it's the best album, period. Favorite track changes every year or so, currently: Josie

>>74619005
>and i genuinely feel sorry for you if you think "soft rock with smooth jazz touches" is anywhere near the best the 70s had to offer

OP said pop albums. And they did the soft rock/smooth jazz thing better than any other 70's band and made it into something more artistic and unique.

>>74618907
just got into this album (and the vinyl version is otw from amazon as of today) through deacon blues, black cow, and peg. it's beautiful

>>74618980
that's on gaucho lol

>>74618907
Black Cow and Deacon Blues.

My favourite SD album is Countdown to Ecstasy. Aja is in the top 3 though along with The Royal Scam.

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>>74618907

uh

>>74618907
Deacon Blues

Deacon Blues is easily among the Dan's best tracks, if not THE best
it probably is the best

>>74619898
That's the only real contender, but I like Aja a lot more.

>>74619941
the power of the groove compels us!

Aja is technically the most solid Steely Dan album, not my favorite though.

In terms of theme/tone, Royal Scam is the best.

In terms of individual tracks, my vote is Countdown to Esctasy.

In terms of raw feeling, Everything Must Go (I actually liked it, fuck you)

That said, Deacon Blues if I'm by myself, Peg if I'm entertaining.