F Posterity, issue 15: "Postmodern Burlesque Review"

Looking back at the list of songs I've published so far, I've noted that few are actually new new. Most of them I've had sitting around unfinished or unrecorded for months or years. The closest to new is "Narcissist Blues", which I actually wrote this year. Some stretch way back to when I still lived in St. Louis.

That being the case, I wanted to publish something actually new today, August 30th. So I wrote a new song and recorded it this afternoon. Yesterday I was listening to lots of Woody Guthrie, and the folk chords served as inspiration to write a plain, straightforward song. I set out to do that. Whether or not I can write anything straightforward is debatable. Whether or not bandying around the term "postmodern" is straightforward is not debatable. It's a disposable term for expressing one's own pretension, even if by now it's a little bit "done". Try it sometime!

"Hey, Jack, I love that shirt. Very postmodern."

"Huh? it's J.Crew."

**feels smug**

I hear a little bit of Eef Barzelay's "Ballad of Bitter Honey" in this.

Postmodern Burlesque Review

Well Ive spent more time in Omaha than in love
And Ive spent more time in regret than in Spain
And Ive spent more time in debt than in heated pursuit of hopless ideals
That I fully expect to realize before Im dead

And just between the world and me and you
The best minds of time can conclude
Whatever they want to with footnotes tacked onto
Like Im just gonna go ahead and do

Well if Ive spent more exorcising than self-medicating
And if Ive spent more time playing banjo than paying my bills
And if Ive spent more time in offense of meaningless laws than screening my calls
I will count this life as something of a triumph

And just between the world and me and you
The best minds of time can conclude
Whatever they want to with footnotes tacked onto
Like Im just gonna go ahead and do

Well my eyes are crystal clear and my stomach is iron
And my heart is solid gold and pumps mercury blood
And my intentions are good with all of your daughters and all the worlds nations
And given the chance to prove it, I would

And just between the world and you and me
The best minds of time can concede
Whatever they want to with footnotes tacked onto
Like Im just gonna go ahead and do

Like Im just gonna go ahead and do

Like footnotes tacked onto an unreasonably long
Epic postmodern burlesque review

August 30, 2006

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

Analog Jetpack, Sahmwise Custom Reel-to-Reel Model

Next month Analog Jetpack is playing in a battle of the bands. Philosophically, I think all artistic competitions are bull. Invariably they award the middle of the road that has a please-all/challenge-none thing going. But this Bodog competition billed themselves as a genuine coast-to-coast competition, and there were no entry fees. As opposed to Emergenza, where you pay them $75 to play half an hour (we didn't bother). But seriously, we don't do battles of the bandses. I ain't no 'merican idol.

So opposed as we are to competitions, we're playing this one for kicks, and we're going to win just for a lark. The first round is next month at DC-9. I hope you'll all get out to get down for it - obviously these things are governed by mob support. For the flier, we've released the Robby Sahm Custom Reel-to-Reel Jetpack. Enjoy.

My worst selling song on iTunes. Inexplicable.

"Break Out the Mashed Potato" is my worst-selling song online off the album Hypocrisy in the Genius Room, and I can't seem to explain why. Maybe because no one can make sense of the imperative, "break out the mashed potato." But it shall be redeemed as such, and it shall be redeemed for free.

If you follow the link below, you can first listen to the song, then download a hi-res mp3 of it. I think you'll agree, this should be the best-selling song of the year, not the worst-selling song on the album.

Download "Break Out the Mashed Potato" free:
http://mp3postcards.com/listen?1502

You can also read the lyics here and listen to the other songs on iTunes.

If I do say so myself, this is a good song. It's got a good mix of distorted and acoustic guitars. Kirk Hoffman plays some hard-hit drums on it. And it says, "Invite the crips." I challenge you to find another song that invites the crips.

Next week, I'll let you check out the best-selling song off the album. In fact, I'll send the first person to guess what it is a copy of the album*. Post your guesses in the comments.



*provided I haven't already told you, or you cheat or something.

F Posterity, issue 14: "Neverending Love Affair"

I pretty much suck at drums, but my drummer Robby gave me the most rudimentary lesson about a month ago. Hit the snare with your left hand and keep the quarter notes with your right on the high hat. In moments when I should be working this month, I've been sitting at the drums and rocking it middle-school style.

And so this week I've thrown on my first attempt at recorded drums over "Neverending Love Affair". The song is subtitled "Apocalyptic Prophecy" because I'm really fond of that phrase, and it sort of contradicts the notion of any ongoing affair. I love the idea of a certain class of humans who can straight up see the future. They see it daily or hourly like we see a dayjob. And I've no doubt they doubt their own sanity while being desperate to communicate what they see.

The music of this song stretches back to late 2002. I never settled on the lyrics. Chad filmed a freestyled version of this song called "Wasted Melody" at the time, in which Zoe and I traded meaningless verses over the guitar. Last fall I tried to finish the song and came up with most of what's here now, and today I finished off one last verse. Just so's you can have it on schedule here today.

This F Posterity project is interesting because it's causing me to dig out many an unfinished song and polish it off. I don't think I'd bother if I weren't in the habit of doing this once a week.

Neverending Love Affair (apocalyptic prophecy)

Hey great, its the end of the world
Just as the world began to get good
To swim against the current
To self-make and self-demand

I could shrug this lame dystopia
And all of its vain ideals
For one love, an overdose of soma
Or a new band with mass appeal

I wish sometimes that I was prone to visions
Of apocalyptic prophecy
Then I wouldnt have to wonder what is and what isnt
What might and what ought to be

But even those are prone to misinterpretations
Of a crazy kind
And lose truth, like photocopied photocopies
Of the hundredth time

So what to do? So much to do
So little trust and time
To shred all of these photocopied conclusions
And daydream the daydream to make the whole world refine

I wish sometimes that I were prone to visions
Of apocalyptic prophecy
Then I wouldnt have to wonder what is and what isnt
What might and what ought to be

So whats the haps? I can hear the thunderclaps
Roll across the plains
And given one vision, I can just laugh off
The world going up in flames

And Ill sit back and watch the spokes of the sun
Filtering through her hair
Cause I feel fine about the politics of nations
Where we can settle back into a neverending love affair

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

F Posterity, issue 13: "Living On Credit"

Continuing the theme of insolvency, I'ma throw down a harmonica stomp I started writing a year ago and finished just recently. Stomps work best live, because they're real physical and don't always translate to recorded media.

I picked up the stomp from Mike iLL, who's acapella stuff blew me away when I first saw it. First time I saw Mike, he got up at the Antihoot on the Lower East Side and busted out some KRS-One, no instrumentation. He started writing his own stomps in the serious folk tradition. The place would be totally silent, and he'd hold down the joint with a mic in hand, stomping his foot on the measure: "Who woulda known that (bam) who woulda known that (bam) who woulda known that, man it's a crime!"

Mike mighta picked it up from Odetta, or Leadbelly, or any of a number of recordings of slave field hollers. Dave Van Ronk has a good one, "Old Hannah" on Somebody Else, Not Me, and Beck has a typically absurd stomp called "One Foot in the Grave" on Stereopathetic Soulmanure. But wherever Mike got it from, I thought it was amazing. It took me a long while to get up and do some myself. This is the first one I've written.

Living On Credit

I've been living on credit
Credit that I don't deserve
'Cause my gal gives me the benefit
Of a doubt when she isn't sure

And I've been racking up a bar tab
But I haven't had a drop to drink
Because I take my shots to the heart, man
When I don't know what to think

And it's a long, long time since I paid my bill
And I'm gone, I'm gone, gone if she counts that till

And it hurts, it hurts, ain't it hurt to feel the way that you do?
And I'm certain, I'm certain I'ma sharecrop a life or two

I take credit! I want credit!
Credit for the damage I done
And she said it! And she meant it!
She said, "Oh lord jehova, supernova
"Tell me all my trials is surely over"
Cancel my accounts and clean my plates
And I'ma sign my checks with a year pre-dated
'Cause I know five from six from seven
And a rich man can't get the kingdom of heaven
I reckon I'm set to inherit the earth
But a couple hundred dollars in the bank couldn't hurt

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

F Posterity, issue 12: "Broke As A Mu'fuh"

There will always be a demand for the throw-away song. Throw-away songs frequently live longer and stronger than huge hits. That's one reason I love Beck. Beck writes throw-away lyrics alongside mensa food all day long. Lines like this, from "Puttin' It Down": Fat chance / Glued to the wall / Like a centerfold of an old cannonball / Won't you put me inside your tv tonight / 'cause you're treating me like a re-run.

In that tradition, this is a sentimental old song about how being broke seems to be a character attribute, like having blue eyes or brown hair. This was written in the Spring a couple years ago. I've long come to the conclusion that being broke is no way to live. I set out to New York City to be a starving artist and did just that. It wasn't romantic, it was constant worry and self-loathing. To it, I attribute my first genuine loss of innocence, at which point I said, "Oh, I get it. Life sucks. Life is awful work for companies you don't care about. Paying bills for things you don't really need. I get it, okay. I give."

So I've sworn not to return to NYC until I'm bootie-ass rich. (As they say in Forbes.) 'Cause being a broke muhfuh' isn't any fun.

Broke As A Muhfuh

Here I am, once again, broke as a muhfuh
My fortune was to roam without no fortune

Here I am, once again, still broke as a muhfuh
Plainly the result of something beyond my control, fo sho

I must doing something wrong
Cause just long as I can remember
I never had a knack for the legal tender

Here I stand and still I am, broke as a muhfuh
I aint got no domestic product to chalk up

I remember being broke as a kid
And I guess it hasnt changed a bit
Because I just been waiting
For some kind revelation

To take me by the heart and say
You aint never more gonna play the part
Of the sorry-ass sack of change
With the same old blues.

Here I am, once again, broke as a muhfuhn joke
All my dolla bills have gone out to play without me, undoubtably

Put it on my tab, put my tab on credit
Consolidate my loans and sit back and wait for them
To disconnect the phone and foreclose on my home

Here I am, once again, straight broke as a muhfuhn joke
My fortune was to roam without no fortune
was to roam without no fortune
was to roam without no fortune
was to roam without no fortune
was to roam.

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

F Posterity, issue 11: Steely Dan's "Josie"

So I've started an unofficial trend in this project of throwing a cover out there every fifth song. In this two-months-old tradition, I've whipped out a favorite that I worked out while living in Boston back in 2001. But because it's Steely Dan, there's always a back story.

Steely Dan inspires a mystical reverence in knowing musicians and obsessive audiophiles. I first came into contact with it through a roommate in college, who had all their albums and a encyclopedic biography of them. People go mad trying to decipher the hidden meaning in their lyrics, and because they're Berklee grads, the music is ridiculously complex.

I was dubious. To me, Steely Dan was elevator music. "Reeling in the Years"? Pop candy. "Dr. Wu"? Muzak. "Peg"? Good enough for an uncleared De La Soul sample, anyway.

But the more I heard about them, the more intrigued I became. Music teachers would become tight-lipped and reserved when asked about Steely Dan. My friends requested a Steely Dan cover of Bruce Hornsby when he played our college, and I think he said something like, "Now that's getting into serious stuff" and didn't. Presidential administrations still refuse comment.

I gave in one summer in Maine, while engaging a choice venue for music shopping: the Salvation Army. I found their selection to be lacking that day, though I did score two Milli Vanilli cassette singles and, behold, Steely Dan's Aja. I figured if I couldn't drop $1 on a classic album cassette, I'd never give them a chance.

It was a definitely an all-time purchase. Figuring out why Steely Dan is brilliant is seriously rewarding, and if you haven't yet, I encourage you to. And if you can do it for $1, more power to you. And out of the feeling that this blog should be better researched and have more of a punch, I'll point out the fact that they invented/named a chord: Mu major.

I really should discourse more, but I'm not actually a Steely expert. So here's Josie.


Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006