Countdown to Exegesis

In which the Dan tackle cultural appropriation, Oli unveils a fast-moving, MIDI-powered new segment and Andrew receives the greatest gift of all: a bit of time off. *Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and lots of love to those who don't.*

Join your trusty exegetes as they avoid talking about Steely Dan's saddest song (as voted in Metal Leg Fanzine's infamous 'Ladies of Dan' poll). Among the distractions are cat-borne diseases, parenthetical song titles and a shocking revelation about Andrew's true heritage.

Oli and Andrew agree about something. How will they cope? [Donald Fagen - Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano: https://youtu.be/rR6OsrzbHHY]

Our hosts throw another classic onto the exegetical pyre. Tune in to hear 24-carat Danchat, teenage poetry and Andrew's run-in with a mysterious podiatrist.

Our hosts are joined by SPECIAL GUESTS Ann and Rachel from STEELY ANN: the greatest female-fronted Steely Dan tribute band in the history of South Central Minnesota. United in scepticism and tenacity, they attempt to navigate one of the Dan's stinkiest lyrical swamps. [Audio is a little ropey in this one. Blame Oli.]

Oli is ready to discuss one of his favourite things. Andrew is not. But their commitment to the podcast knows no bounds and they manage to eke out 53 minutes of edutational chat.

An attempt is made to discuss Katy Lied's groovy trou normand, Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More. Andrew, however, is more interested in mid-price, off-the-shelf cocktails.

Could it be true – a real, bona fide Steely Dan love song? In this episode, your hosts smack a sexy piñata until it spits out William Blake, a long-lost billet-doux and something Donald Fagen has 'found'.

Our hosts brave the harsh morning light to discuss Bad Sneakers, drink pina coladas and swap footwear. Friend of the Show Ben Jones joins to share his thoughts and a song. Recorded live in Bad Sniekers, Lower Franconia.

What do you mean it's been eight months? For their Earth-shattering comeback episode, the Danlads carry on as if nothing ever happened. Join them as they dive ears-first into a world of faulty dbx systems and financial chicanery.

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."

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 Hand Steely Dan – Monkey in Your Soul (Walter Becker vocal version) Freedy Johnston – Monkey in Your Soul Further Brianing… Brian Rosten's Twitter Pete vs The City of Chicago (Brian's book) The Maul (Brian's mag)

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 Freak Fauré Quartet – Charlie Freak Tuesday Island – Charlie Freak

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

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 Logic The Incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band – Pretzel Logic The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back The Jackson 5 – ABC 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – Wooden Ships Fagen's thoughts on Whiplash Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin'

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 Now Philip Frobos – Through With Buzz Afroman – Because I Got High The Beatles – Happiness is a Warm Gun The Beatles – Sexy Sadie The Beatles – I Am the Walrus The Beatles – Glass Onion The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (excerpts)

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?

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-Oo Humphrey Littleton – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Mercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Emerson Lake and Palmer – Fanfare for the Common Man Duke Ellington and his Orchestra – East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1957 version)

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 ----------- Tom Peel's Bandcamp Ben "Pen" Jones's website

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