Marking
its 45th anniversary today is the sixth and penultimate Steely Dan
studio album before going on a 20 year hiatus from recording. Aja
(pronounced “Asia”) was released on September 23rd, 1977 and took the
group to new heights of complexity and sophistication, not only in terms
of songwriting and performance, but also in the technical quality of
the recordings they were able to achieve. Indeed, since its release, it
has become a favorite demonstration record for audiophiles looking to
show off their expensive hi-fi equipment.
Musically, Becker and
Fagen were able to create a fusion of jazz and pop music which was so
complete that it succeeded in obliterating any meaningful distinction
between the genres. You can’t call it pop music with a jazz influence
or jazz music slumming it as radio fodder. The distinctions are simply
meaningless as the genetic codes of each are so completely intertwined
that they are effectively inseparable. The result of this is a kind of
music that is satisfying both as a casual listening experience while
also rewarding those who wish to ply apart the layers and explore the
intricacies which have been so carefully crafted within.
Lyrically,
Fagan continued to develop his subtle insinuations of cynicism while
superficially keeping a smile on his face. It’s an approach that
mirrors the deceptiveness of the music in terms of presenting itself as
aspirational towards the mainstream while clearly calculating a
complexity meant to reward listeners who were able to move beyond
mainstream artifice.
The music of Steely Dan was something I
couldn’t appreciate in my youth while I was hip deep in teenage angst
and the rebellion of "punk". I couldn’t see past the shiny veneer to
comprehend the subversion happening beneath its surface. That’s
something which only became possible with a level of maturity that could
set aside old prejudices and hear these songs for what they really are.
The album has become something of a staple in the realm of what’s come
to be called “yacht rock”, because of the laid-back vibes, but I think
it also underscores the decadence and perversions of the privileged
class in a way that’s secretly malicious and therefore, subversively
delicious!
