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Eugene Mirman’s Guide To Modern Life: Jethro Tull

Along with David Cross, Zach Galifianakis and Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman has liberated stand-up comedy from the zany fratboys and sweater-clad neurotics. Mirman’s latest album, God Is A Twelve-Year-Old Boy With Asperger’s (Sub Pop), isn’t representative of a “new breed” of comedy or a supposedly edgy advancement in humor; it’s a collection of smart, imaginative bits that embody the anger, absurdity and awkwardness of everyday life. You might also say it’s full of guffaws. Mirman, who also published a book this year (the mock-advice tome The Will To Whatevs) and regularly appears on HBO’s Flight Of The Conchords, is guest editing magnetmagazine.com this week. Read our Q&A with him.

jethro-tull

Mirman: I fell in love with Jethro Tull in high school. Some teenagers retreated into the melancholy of the Cure and the Smiths; I retreated into Jethro Tull. Who else could sing with such humorous and moderately self-aware arrogance about the faults of organized religion, poverty, the nuances of love, medieval times, the stupidity and hypocrisy of our elders, quiz shows and horses? No one. It’s awesome. This year is the 40th anniversary of their second album, Standup, and next year will be the 40th anniversary of Benefit (my favorite!). Why is that important? It isn’t really, but it gives me a vague reason to tell you that I like Jethro Tull, otherwise I’d feel self-conscious telling you about a 40-year-old band instead of talking about the new Condo Fucks record, which is also great. So here I am to say, “Happy 40th birthday, Standup“—you hold up. The guitar on “We Used To Know” is totally kick-ass (especially the live version off the 25th anniversary boxed set), and “For A Thousand Mothers” really lets you know what it must have been like to be a British teenager whose mother didn’t believe he’d become a rock star—and probably not because she didn’t believe prog rock had a future. I bet they’ll soon re-release this with some alternate takes and an interview with frontman Ian Anderson talking about his current germophobia. Lastly, “Happy 39th birthday, Benefit“—you are a perfect record from your opening song about friendship (featuring backward flutes!) to your hit single “Teacher” (about how a teacher is totally fucking wrong!!!!!) to the pretty “Inside” to the riff-tastic “To Cry You A Song” to the over-the-top, wonderfully arrogant “Nothing To Say.” There’s lots more, but I’d like to stop describing songs now. Bye.