Classic Albums - Steely Dan: Aja

Rating:
Summary: My Appreciation for "Aja" now runs EVEN deeper!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Classic on DVD&Album
Review: 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.but to get a Chance to see the Guys Behind the Scenes doing there thing is a Added Bonus&that is what this DVD is to me.it's a Glimpse into there Factory or Working&Creating a Truly Great Album.now all the Great Help on this Album also will leave your Mouth Hitting the Floor.we always Knew that DOnald&Walter were a trip&this Shows that as well.this is a Great Journey Into Some Very Important Music Making.

Rating:
Summary: A great CD for Musicians/Producers/Recording Engineers
Review: 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 "Genius at Work" still around and willing to dissect this album. For those involved in the process of recording (Musicians, Producers, Engineers), this DVD provides an invaluable look at the recording process at its perfectionist extreme. We also see how the elements that result in such a classic album run the gamut from cheesy little synthesizer riffs (which embellish horn lines), to the fanatical recording and re-recording of the guitar solo on "Peg". For a bass player this DVD is especially valuable, as the sequence of events that resulted in many of AJA's bass lines are shown at an almost microscopic level. As a drummer, my only disappointment is the sparse information about the drum parts. But this is a minor drawback that will be quickly forgotten once you are overcome by the trance-like spell that this amazing DVD casts...

Rating:
Summary: Deconstructing the Dan
Review: 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. I love the music, and finding out about all the subtle nuances and surprises buried in the arrangements was very interesting. Also included are interviews with the musicians involved, not just Becker and Fagen. If you're a music theory or composition student, or a Steely Dan fan, I recommend this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: 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. I have a much deeper appreciation for it's magnificence and the genius of Fagen & Becker. Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: How all the pros play the game
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by how good this documentary is, especially considering the potential for this format to go to cheese. In fact, I can't really think of how it could have been better. Becker and Fagen isolate and discuss instrumental tracks, let us hear bits of tracks not used, and otherwise describe the sounds they wanted. Their discussion is very well complemented by commentary from astounding session players Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie and others. I would have liked a bit more insight on the creative process that went into the lyrics, as I've long considered SD lyrics the most evocative and three-dimensional that rock has to offer, but this probably wouldn't have made for very compelling video. Aja was my favorite SD album to begin with, and this DVD added a new dimension to my enjoyment of it. I know you're gonna love it.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful, simply wonderful.
Review: 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. this cuts to the heart of what us fans want to hear about, how the hell did they do that? buy it, buy it now, and buy a spare in case you lose one.

Rating:
Summary: This is not Two against nature
Review: 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. I personaly only found the need to watch it once, and there was a fair amount of fast forwarding before I realized I just wasn't going to see an entire song without numerous interuptions for interveiws.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Aja
Review: If you want a concert buy SD's 2 against nature. If you want to go behind the scenes and behind the mixing board Aja will take you there. No better way for songwriters/composers to pick up
tips for their projects. Fagan and Becker are just too cool...
Listen to guitar licks that didn't cut the mustard, isolated
tracks that help you hear how these cats think and piece their
stuff together..a must for the serious musician..Keyboard players
might be interested in Fagan's Concepts for Jazz/Rock piano.

Rating:
Summary: L.A
Review: The Dan's are a great group. Aja is a great album. The sum of that is a great DVD. I expected more music, but the part about Jay Graydon's solo on Peg made my day. Michael McDonald and Larry Carlton among others also appears on this DVD. Check it out.