20 Most Underrated Classic Rock Songs Of All Time
16. Aja - Steely Dan
There are probably many rock fans who turn their nose up at Steely Dan. For as much great music that the group brought to the table, their in-studio complexities and jazzy experimentation put them in the realm of dad rock for most rock fans. On the other hand, some of that trademark weirdness ended up being their greatest strength at the best of times.
On the group's 1977 masterpiece Aja, they set a precedent for recording technology along with pulling from some of the greatest musicians in Western music. With its complex structure and lyrics about being pulled away from boring existence, the title track is a musical trip that feels like you're drifting through the ocean. Then again, Steely Dan were always known as a band that brought out the big guns.
As the song builds to its climax at the halfway point, drummer Steve Gadd lays down one of the greatest drum solos in recorded music, complete with everything from intense snare rolls to the final click of his drumsticks. They're not done yet though, with Gadd pulling off another solo along with some intense runs from Wayne Shorter's saxophone. This is probably not the type of rock music you're used to, but Steely Dan is a band that can make some of the most off-the-wall rock music ever made and have you thanking them for it by the end.