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MJ Lenderman: What If Donald Fagen Was A Folksinger?

Donald Fagan is the frontman of what might be the most sarcastic rock band of all time, Steely Dan. The lyrics he co-wrote with the late Walt Becker often painted portraits of slimeballs, criminals, and not-so-lovable losers. This was emphasized by his singular delivery, which was somehow snarling and laid-back at the same time.

It’s safe to say that Donald Fagan is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, but shades of his signature style can be heard in the most unlikely place: an upcoming folk singer in his mid-twenties. Read on to hear about the sarcastic genius of MJ Lenderman.

Who is MJ Lenderman?

MJ Lenderman of Asheville, North Carolina came up on the indie scene playing drums for Indigo De Souza and guitar for the band Wednesday. He released his debut album Ghost of Your Guitar Solo in 2021, but it was on 2022’s Boat Songs that he started to make a name for himself and develop his signature style.

The Lenderman Way

Fusing spacey Americana guitars and emo melodies with lackadaisical vocal style and sarcastic lyrics, Lendermann stood out as one of a kind. His song “You Have Bought Yourself a Boat” skewers the sort of personality changes that happen to a person once they start making wealth most of their personality “It’s plain to me to see/ you have bought yourself a boat/ since the last time you and me spoke.”

 

But most of the album stayed on the occasional sarcasm level of John Prine. It was his next album, Manning Fireworks, released in 2024, that he stepped into his role as Fagan reborn.

Songs like “Wristwatch” push this further, taking the perspective of a character who flaunts their wealth, deflecting criticism by boasting “Well I got a Beach Home up in Buffalo/ and a wristwatch that’s a compass and a cellphone.” It’s already pathetic to brag about your possessions in this way, but a closer look reveals how empty it is. Buffalo isn’t exactly known for its fantastic beaches, and a wristwatch that’s a cellphone and a compass is an Apple Watch, something that’s common to the point of banality.

She’s Leaving You

For all the irony of those songs, nothing oozes Fagan quite as much as 2024’s “She’s Leaving You”. A rocking Neil Young-style anthem, the song tells the story of an aging man getting left by his girlfriend. It opens with the brutally funny lyric “You can put your clothes back on, she’s leaving you.” Within the first verse, Lendermann paints a picture of this dude, renting a Ferrari, singing the blues, and believing that “Clapton is the second coming.”

 

The second verse describes a pathetic trip down to Vegas in the aforementioned Ferrari that could be straight from The Royal Scam. But what sets Lenderman apart from Steely Dan — and other nostalgia acts that ape their style (like Drugdealer) — is the chorus, which injects a level of sincere tragedy into the story. Lenderman practically weeps “It falls apart, we all got work to do”. For all his bile, Lenderman believes in redemption for his character — as long as he works on himself.

-Christian Flynn

Photo: MJ Lenderman, 2023 (ForksForks via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Christian Flynn is a writer based in Brooklyn who’s writing has been published by Horror Press, Cusper Magazine, 13tracks, and Dot Esports. They like heavy metal, JPEGMAFIA, and their friends.

5 comments on “MJ Lenderman: What If Donald Fagen Was A Folksinger?

  1. MJ Lenderman has just been added to my playlist! His lackadaisical vocal style and sarcastic lyrics evoke childhood memories of listening to my parents’ Steely Dan CDs, featuring painted portraits of slimeballs, criminals, and not-so-lovable losers. I appreciate how you link the influence of an artist from yesterday to an artist of today in your articles. Great job!

  2. Those song lyrics are both genius and hysterical! I never knew MJ played with Indigo De Souza. I would have assumed he was the guitarist. What a talented musician! A friend of mine is going through a tough breakup and she asked me for a melancholy song. I gave her MJ’s You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In”. Asheville has a great music scene, you should do a piece on it.

    • christianflynn27gmailcom

      Hey MA I’d love to do that! I have a friend who’s a producer and he wants to go out there to try to meet some of them. Maybe I’ll join them and cover the scene.

  3. I’d love to see MJ in concert! Love how you infused his lyrics and his character into your writing. Def interested in learning wire. Would love to see you write more about his music and more songs!

  4. Been listening to MJ Radio since the article came out. Some good music out of Ashville. You can hear the folk, bluegrass, country, multi-genre influences in the music. Check out MJ’s “Joker Lips”. You get the sarcastic Fagan lyrics of a not so loveable loser with an Allman Brothers southern rock melody. I hope you join your producer friend and cover the scene. Peace!

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