Countdown to Exegesis
Your listen-along Steely Dan podventure. Join Oli (Dan fan) and Andrew (Dan sceptic), as they take the scenic route through the entire Steely Dan discography. Each week, our hosts take a forensic look at a Steely Dan song. Join them on a nine-series trek from 'Do It Again' on 1972's Can't Buy a Thrill, to 'Everything Must Go' on the 2003 album of the same name. Will they uncover hidden truths? Will they nail The Vibe? Will Andrew ever admit he actually quite likes Steely Dan? Turn on, tune in, find out. And be sure to listen along at home!
Listen on:
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
In this special episode, Oli and Andrew pay tribute to the myth, the legend, the cape: David Crosby.
Tracks discussed: The Byrds – Triad / CSNY – Almost Cut My Hair / David Crosby – Laughing / David Crosby in Hook / David Crosby – Yvette in English / Joni Mitchell – Yvette in English / David Crosby – Your Own Ride / David Crosby – Rodriguez for a Night.
Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2HTSayRNkduFvBx9JIpApe?si=dc891a043ec943fc
"God bless your massive soul."
Friday Aug 19, 2022
Friday Aug 19, 2022
It's the season finale, and the guys are performing circus tricks for Exegesis celebrity Brian Rosten. Meanwhile, Andrew's own simian soul is rudely extricated.
"I had sex with you and now I think that you're a monkey."
Further listening…
The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your HandSteely Dan – Monkey in Your Soul (Walter Becker vocal version)Freedy Johnston – Monkey in Your Soul
Further Brianing…
Brian Rosten's TwitterPete vs The City of Chicago (Brian's book)The Maul (Brian's mag)
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Monday Aug 08, 2022
It's Christmas every day* at Exegesis HQ. As the fire roars and the chestnuts crackle, Andrew and Oli discuss golden pigs, shitting logs and Charlie Freak.
* It's not Christmas every day. It's not even Christmas today. The song has sleigh bells, basically.
"You've got to let the love in down the chimney of your heart."
Further listening…
The Mark Masters Ensemble – Charlie FreakFauré Quartet – Charlie FreakTuesday Island – Charlie Freak
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Hello schism my old friend.
"Just shoot a harpoon in my face."
Further listening…
Them Fargo Brothers – With a Gun
Nina Cristante – Romance
Paint Your Wagon trailer
The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon
The Beatles – I'm a Loser
The Beatles – Run For Your Life
The Beatles – I'll Cry Instead
Joni Mitchell – Raised on Robbery
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Monday Jul 25, 2022
The boys make a heartfelt apology and open up about Andrew's charity work. Also, pretzels.
"Everything that has got better is being slowly reversed by these pony fuckers and I just want them all to die all at once."
Further listening…
Joy Wright – Pretzel Logic (and the cover of her album)The Catman Doodz – Pretzel LogicThe Incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band – Pretzel LogicThe Jackson 5 – I Want You BackThe Jackson 5 – ABC'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's MessiahCrosby, Stills, Nash and Young – Wooden ShipsFagen's thoughts on WhiplashBob Dylan – Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin'
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
It's the shortest song in the Dan catalogue, but will it be given short shrift by our exegetes?
"Fagen is fucking with us."
Further listening…
Chicago – If You Leave Me NowPhilip Frobos – Through With BuzzAfroman – Because I Got HighThe Beatles – Happiness is a Warm GunThe Beatles – Sexy SadieThe Beatles – I Am the WalrusThe Beatles – Glass OnionThe Beatles – Eleanor RigbyGarth Marenghi's Darkplace (excerpts)
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
The lads mix up their Jims and avoid talking about Parker's Band.
[Slightly shonky sound in this one. Apologies.]
"I was just imagining Denny Dias as part of a human centipede."
Further listening…
Becker & Fagen – Parker's Band (demo)
Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse
Radiohead – The National Anthem
John Coltrane – Blue Train
Radiohead – You and Whose Army?
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Andrew and Oli indulge in some forced fun before enjoying a cosy conversation about an old jazz standard.
"A reanimated Harryhausen jazz skeleton."
Further listening...
Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1927 version)The Temperance Seven – East St. Louis Toodle-OoHumphrey Littleton – East St. Louis Toodle-OoMercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-OoEmerson Lake and Palmer – Fanfare for the Common ManDuke Ellington and his Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1957 version)
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Monday Jun 20, 2022
The "third exegete", Ben "Pen" Jones returns to discuss the sorta-Dylan-pastiche Barrytown. This episode also includes the world's best Bob impression and more Dan-inspired fiction by Brian Rosten.
Warning: politics.
"A very teacherly pigeon."
Further listening…
Ben Folds Five - Barrytown
The Beatles - Tell Me What You See
Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street
Bob Dylan - Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
Randy Newman - Short People
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Tom Peel's Bandcamp
Ben "Pen" Jones's website
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
The boys sink into the giant jazz-pop feather that is Any Major Dude Will Tell You. Will they overcome their single greatest challenge yet – agreement?
"Gary Katz is Mork."
Tayyab Amin's piece about discovering Steely Dan
Wilco - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Schlong - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
The Acoustic Guitar Troubadors - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Die Sterne - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Nancy Wilson - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Randy Newman - Louisiana 1927 (the song Andrew said had a similar melody to AMDWTY)
Carole King - I feel the Earth Move
Nickelodeon's Alex Mack dissolving into mercury
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Bill Grundy talking to the Sex Pistols