The Jokermen Starter Pack

A curated collection of greatest hits

Since its inception in June 2020, Jokermen Podcast has grown far beyond its initial focus on the mid- and late-career albums of Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan. With a back catalog of over 350 episodes, we wan to offer new listeners a curated selection of greatest hits that illustrate the many dimensions of the show. If you see it here, just put it on—it’s Good Podcasts.

One note: while many of our best episodes are available exclusively on Patreon, this collection is limited to free episodes. If you’re paying, you’re enough of a head to figure it out on your own.

Bob

At Budokan (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A joyous celebration of the transformative power of live performance, and the first episode that began to challenge conventional wisdom with a sense of purpose. Jokermen Mindset was born here, as was the fan-favorite “What mustard is this album?” segment. The perfect litmus test for determining whether or not this is your kind of shit.

Shot of Love *Revisited* with Matt Farley

A vital reconsideration of an underappreciated Bob Dylan album with World’s Greatest Songwriter Matt Farley, and the beginning of the Jokermen tradition of revisiting previously-discussed material and completely disowning our previous takes.

Street-Legal *Revisited* with Matt Krefting & Josh Builder (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A definitive conversation about a record that has become a definitive piece of the Jokermen canon with two of the best Jokermen guests. Just an all-around great time.

Shadows In The Night (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A suitably moody chat about a Jokermen favorite, one of the very best in Bob’s entire discography. Advocating for the American Standards period has been a Jokermen passion from day one; these conversations make good on that mission.

Desire *Revisited* with Tim Heidecker (SIDE A // SIDE B)

A grand old time with a fan favorite guest. Come for Tim’s “Mozambique” rendition, stay (or don’t) for all the “Joey” talk.

Trouble No More with Know Your Enemy

An assessment of conservative Christian recording artist Bob Dylan with scholars of the conservative movement Sam Adler-Bell and Matthew Sitman. Big takes, big themes, big bangers—dig that “Caribbean Wind.”

More Blood, More Tracks with Jake & David Longstreth (SIDE A // SIDE B)

An odyssey into the outer limits of the art of Bob Dylan podcasting with the Brothers Longstreth. The final episodes of the Bob Era of Jokermen, and the apotheosis of everything the show is about.

Lou/John/VU

John Cale: Paris 1919

An appreciation of an undeniable classic from an artist who still hasn’t gotten his due despite all that he’s achieved over the past sixty years. John Cale does not have the same cultural cachet as Bob or Lou; these conversations aim to change that.

The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground (1969)

A reckoning with the amorphous, ever-changing entity known as The Velvet Underground or: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Doug Yule.

Lou Reed: Street Hassle with Tom Scharpling

An unflinching look at an unflinching album with a guy who knows his shit. Includes an important Lulu digression we would make good on many months later.

The Velvet Underground: Loaded with Dean Wareham

The great Dean Wareham helps us round out the original run of Velvet Underground records and makes Evan admit that this is indeed Good Music.

Nico: Desertshore with Weyes Blood

The best of our episodes about Nico’s small, difficult, and daring body of work, with an assist from Natalie, one of the many brilliant artists whose work has been influenced by the German chanteuse.

Lou x John: Songs For Drella (SIDE A // SIDE B)

One of the key texts of the second series of Jokermen Podcast, and a beautiful, inspiring culmination to a lifetime of artistic influence, appreciation, and rivalry between Lewis Allan Reed and John Davies Cale.

The Velvet Underground: Live MCMXCIII

Another essential moment from our examination of The Velvet Underground. A miracle, plain and simple.

John Cale: Walking On Locusts

A casual late-era masterpiece from Mr. Cale, and one of Ian’s very favorite records ever. Proof positive that John and Lou remained vital artists decades into their solo careers.

Lou Reed: Lulu

The final boss of Jokermen Series 2.

Brian & The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys: Little Deuce Coupe

An utterly forgettable Beach Boys record, but the debut of a vital new dimension of Jokermen Podcast: the Root Beer Report. Chug-a-Lug 🍻

The Beach Boys: The Beach Boys Today! with Mark Richardson

A look at Brian Wilson’s first great leap forward as both a songwriter and a recording artist with former editor-in-chief of Pitchfork dot com, Mark Richardson.

Interviews

The AJ Weberman Interview

Yes, *that* AJ Weberman. Must be heard to be believed.

The Greil Marcus Interview

A straight-up exegesis from one of the world’s preeminent Bob Dylan scholars.

The Christopher Owens Interview

An engaging, emotional conversation between Ian and his art hero, Chris, and a final assessment of the life and death of the great American rock band, Girls.

In Conversation: Ezra Koenig

Heady talk with Vampire Weekend’s main man on the occasion of their brilliant fifth album, Only God Was Above Us.

Very Special Episodes

Warren Zevon: Mutineer with Steven Hyden

A heartfelt conversation about a nearly-forgotten record with our friend and partner Steven, a fellow Excitable Boy. Just wait ’til you learn what “Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse” is about.

Walter Becker: 11 Tracks of Whack with @baddantakes

An incredibly fun talk about one of the greatest discoveries we’ve made during the podcast: the 1994 solo debut from Steely Dan’s Walter Becker. All the agony and ennui of the Dan with cutting-edge computerized percussion and positively ferocious riffs.

Girls: Album

In which we get *~eMoTiOnAl~*. This is what talking to your friend on the computer is all about.

Purple Mountains: Purple Mountains

The greatest episode of Jokermen Podcast ever recorded.