Rating: 
Summary: Not even a good documentary
Review: Take heed of other reviewer's comments as well as the description above. THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY NOT A CONCERT OR DVD VERSION OF THE ALBUM. To want this CD, you must either be a rock historian or a Steely Dan fan that must own everything produced about them. If you are expecting this to follow the excellent Gaucho DTS DVD (which I am listening to as I write this), you will be sorely dissapointed. I am only considering this DVD's quality as a documentary when I rate it two stars. As for the audio/music quality, I'd barely give it one star. The video is of mediocre quality and the studio sequences are staged not spontaneous. Just when you think thats over and you can enjoy the music, the experience is ruined by interweaving of dialog and video cuts of the musicians. There are excellent examples of rock documentaries that show case both the artist(s) and the music. This is not one of them. If you are considering this for the music your better off buying the audio CD. For me, I'll play the vinyl version I bought 20+ years ago and recall the first time I heard this album. (I own the CD too.)
Rating: 
Summary: They Speak!
Review: Finally, we actually get to see Donald and Walter smile, laugh, even (dare I say?) make jokes. Albeit, it is "highbrow" humor (as one musician put it, when working with Donald and Walter... "there are no fart jokes."). In this video, we see a side to them that is not seen on the "Two Against Nature" video. And they seem to be having fun picking apart the songs from "Aja" on the sound board, track by track. Kids in a candy store. Very interesting, plus interviews with musicians who performed on the album. If there were videos for all of the Dan albums, I would own every one. But then, I'm obsessed!
Rating: 
Summary: See the men behind the myth....
Review: A very revealing portrait of Fagen and Becker in their natural habitat - the recording studio. Candid interviews with not only Don and Walt but also with the session glitterati who performed on the original tracks give a unique, first hand insight into how the Dan recorded one of the most influential albums of the 20th century. The Dan were often criticised for their treatment of studio session players (they would call it a quest for perfection) and we get to hear some of the solos that 'got away' for the first time. A real treat for any fan or any serious musician who would wish to see how a true classic was put together, told by two of the most secretive men in the business...
Rating:
Summary: "Aja" Uncovered For Steely Dan-aholics
Review: When I learned that this video existed, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. I am a bonafide Steely Dan fanatic, although most of my fanaticism over the years has centered around "Aja". Having listened to this album thousands of times over the years,I'd always wanted to know more: who were the musicians used, and what did they have to say; how were various tracks constructed, and how did Becker and Fagan actually feel about their own masterful creations. This video does that and more. If youre' looking for an in-concert video, you might be somewhat disappointed, as this video rarely features completed, polished verrions of any songs. You will, however, get great insights into the minds of Donald and Walter, who are in my opinion to of the most ingenious users of the studio in music history. Their intellectual senses of humor are also on stage in this piece. The bottom line is this: I couldn't wait to rip the celophane off and get the tape in the VCR -and it was worth the wait. Grab this and keep it forever.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical music video...
Review: This is a fantastic look inside the making of Aja. Out of the woodwork comes such greats as Chuck Rainey, Dean Parks, Bernard Purdie and more, to talk about their part in the making of the wonderous AJA. Both Donald and Walter appear extremely at ease and in their element. There is evidence of the almost-mystic connection between the two of them as they go over - and over - each individual piece of various songs from the album. They are not too stiff to laugh at themselves, to question why they put certain innuendos in particular places, or to praise the master sessions musicians that made their musical ideals a reality. This is NOT a video for the causal SD fan.
Rating:
Summary: For the aficionado
Review: After receiving Two Against Nature, and going through the apparently common experience of hating it then, over time, loving it, I went on a serious Steely Dan kick and kept playing all their CDs over and over again. So this DVD came out at the right time. Musicians and Steely Dan aficionados will appreciate this disc the most. We are given insight into the production and creativity behind the second greatest SD album ever (behind Gaucho). The previous reviewer criticized it for being "hardly spellbinding". Skip to the section where session drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie is highlighted, and watch him list all the greats, for whom he's helped make hits ("you done hired the Hitmaker"). Still need more? Just wait a few, and he goes into how HE answered Walt and Don's quest for the perfect backbeat to Home At Last (the Purdie Shuffle): "BOOM. UH. BOOM. UH. BOOM TA KA TA TA KA TA BOOM. UH!" That's mesmerizing! (By the way, this "quest" for the perfect Home At Last back beat is a neat subtextual metaphor for the song's allusion to Ulysses' on quest to go home). Other great sections include the alternative guitar solos for Peg, where you can see the quandary that Walt and Don are in trying not to dump on these unacceptable solos, all by session greats (quote of the disc goes to Don who, after playing one solo track, just shrugs and says "enough said on that one, really."). Also, Chuck Rainey playing five string bass for us. Criticisms? Doesn't cover all the songs, gives you the sinking feeling that they won't do a DVD Classic Albums of Gaucho, and makes you realize how much of a hack "musician" you are in comparison to these guys. I really needed that.
Rating:
Summary: Talking about making music
Review: If you would like to hear how did they made this album - behind the scene stuff purchase this DVD. If you are looking for the music/preformace part of it - look for other DVD's.
Rating:
Summary: I liked this Video.
Review: If you are a Dan-Fan you will want this video. This is well documented video explaining the various mixes, behind the scenes looks on the creation of "Aja". Nice graphics, some neat views of the L.A., N.Y. city skylines and lifestyles, plus a few instrumentals/mixes of the band members playing "Peg" and "Josie". A nice relaxing video to come home to after a long day at work. The only place I was able to find this video was on-line, what a shame.
Rating:
Summary: ummm, buy the CD maybe ? (DUH!)
Review: This disc is great. It's a d o c u m e n t a r y. To get all the MUSIC on Aja, buy the Aja CD. I WANT to see all the behind the scenes stuff, hear the artists explain the recording of Aja. That's why I bought this DVD. Again, for the dim "reviewers" below : if you want the MUSIC on Aja, buy the Aja CD. Evidently a tough concept for some ...
Rating:
Summary: Should only be considered by hard core Dan or Aja fans
Review: What the Aja DVD did for me was take the mystery out of Aja, but not as much as I thought it would. One of the stories I was disappointed not to hear is the story of the Steve Gadd drum solo on the title track. I also would have liked the songs to have been broken down more extensively than was presented. I did enjoy the explaination of the Bernard Purdie half-time shuffle groove on "Home at Last" and the (mention of the) garbage can lid overdub used by Jim Keltner on "Josie". I was very happy to see Wayne Shorter in the video and his take on the Sax solo on the title track. Rick Marotta's high hat work on "Peg" is so tasty, I almost wept watching him play it. All in all, this DVD should only be considered by those who either are hard core Steely Dan fans or those who love Aja. Pete, JJ and I are all of the above:-)
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