Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ set the bar for finesse in pop and rock music, and that bar hadn’t been cleared yet.

Four decades hence, it’s easy to hear the glory of Steely Dan’s diverse and calculating ‘The Royal Scam.’

This month, Steely Dan’s ‘Katy Lied’ turned 40 years old. Here are some reasons why it’s good enough to overcome an infamous mixing fiasco.

Some might dismiss “Aja” as strictly as some snobby, high-falutin’ jazz song, but “Aja” represents the artistic apex of Steely Dan.