157 - Steely Dan, Quantum Criminals & the Reality of What Is w/ Joan LeMay

London & New York based artist Joan LeMay (a Texas native) has illustrated a fascinating new book authored by Alex Pappademas, "Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan" (Univ. of Texas Press 2023), released earlier this Spring.

Joan joins Hooks & Runs in this episode for a wild ride discussing the derelicts, drifters, slackers, scofflaws, hopeless romantics and mythical creatures that populate the iconic Steely Dan song catalog.

Her paintings brought to life familiar characters like Daddy G, the Major Dude, Snake Mary and dozens more, providing the visual and aesthetic foundation for this unique and entertaining project.

Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield accurately called "Quantum Criminals," "one of the sharpest, funniest, and best books ever about any rock artist." Hooks & Runs wholly concurs - this book is highly recommended.

Joan LeMay website: https://www.joanlemay.com/
Joan LeMay Instagram: @joanlemay

Episodes Mentioned: None

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Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (Premium Beat)   
Disclosure: The University of Texas Press provided Hooks & Runs with a pre-publication copy of "Quantum Criminals."
This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2023, all rights reserved.  

Chapters

• 0:00 "It made me feel safe to have on the hat."
• 7:17 "That's not a fanzine, that's a book!"
• 12:58 "The Master Daniverse Character Sheet"
• 15:42 "The onion that is forever peelable"
• 21:42 "The fantasy of what could be and the reality of what is"
• 28:51 "It's not such a big ocean after all"
• 37:18 "It's not a one-off, but ..."