Countdown to Exegesis – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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."

The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand Steely Dan – Monkey in Your Soul (Walter Becker vocal version) Freedy Johnston – Monkey in Your Soul

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."

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)