Gripping story telling. Instead of the usual historical documentary - this work reveals very quickly the personality of the protagonists which makes the story alive, almost like a vibrant novel. The editing is creative and playful and keeps you in the room with these three lively jewish men.

I read the book, I saw the movie - this works as easily but it is even more dramatic - because it's the real thing !! - this stuff is all the most salient bits of the commerical story. There are such moving moments in the telling, you could never write anything like it.The interviewees are an eloquent colorful goldmine, and Cole handles the material respectfully, masterfully. The editing, writing and delivery keep a perfect pace - there's no lagging, no time for wandering.

Highly recommended - any time

I got enthused listening to this story--a real this American life odyssey. I liked the technique of multi-tracking, layering sound tracks over each other. This was most obvious when dealers told of the perqs that flowed from being a dealer.

What was confusing was that I didn't hear of anyone making money selling Tupperware. Party guests bought Tupperware for their hostess. Sales people got paid off in Tupperware. Who pays the electric bill? I wondered.

Before I heard this piece I had assumed that I would write that whether one enjoys it or not depends on whether you like Burnside Project (who I must confess to not being familiar with until now), but this is not the case. The band comprises a trio of engaged and engaging musicians whose enthusiasm for their work is infectious. This well rounded radio interview is aptly named: providing an insight into the artistic process and the nature of the musicans' collaboration, and also revealing the dramatic impact of digital editing software on music composition. In addition there is ample use of their music throughout the interview for those not already in the know.

Don't be put off by the host's somewhat speedy and fact-filled preamble, (I felt a bit breathless just listening); he is clearly knowledgeable and interested in his subjects, and appears to be a natural fast talker! HW

Improv like this might be lost on the radio. I can't quite put my finger on it. This piece was well produced, good voices... but it just didn't click for me. Odd because I've liked the other pieces Offramp and 60 Second Radio has done.

I put Experimental because I haven't heard a lot of stuff like this. Maybe I'm just not listening in the right place. I heard a piece last month on Transom.org where the woman who produced it did the narration by ad-lib, and they put together the best takes. That, along with attempts like this, keep radio fresh. I guess this piece, IMO, lacked highly compelling, content. Not bad, it just didn't turn that corner.

This is a great example of a piece that takes a funny story concept - an Elvis impersonator who is also a police officer - and takes it deeper to teach you something. You'd be surprised at the connections between being Elvis and being a police officer. "It's all about the uniform," as Chuck would say. (And it's not just the cop who wants to be Elvis - the real Elvis actually wanted to be a cop - one of Elvis's 'proudest days' was getting the DEA badge from Nixon).

The piece is sound rich, with concert footage mixed with cop car footage. The transformation of Chuck's Maine accent to his Elvis accent is magical. And the story ends with one of the later stage Elvis hits (from the 'jumpsuit' years) - "Suspicious Minds." Hearing chuck croon along with elvis with a cop car in the background was enough to turn this Elvis novice into an Elvis fan.

A sure bottom-of-the-hour crowd pleaser for any type of show.

Man, what a great bit. Storytelling at it's best. This piece could be a great closer for a variety of shows. Great clipper sounds and simple straight-forward narrative--one your listeners are sure to enjoy.

A vox pop piece featuring "on the street" Q&A with GLBT teens about Valentine's Day. If matched with other features and/or interview segments, it can provide a unique perspective from a group of articulate youth.

Reasons to put this on the radio: 1) The topic is one that affects a lot of people, though most listeners may only have vague notions about it; 2) The tone is unpolished and real, in a way that makes you feel as if you're in one-on-one conversation with the speaker; 3) in just four and a half minutes, the piece paints a remarkeably detailed picture, I think.

Other comments: At first, this sounds like an interview with the questions slightly awkwardly edited out (was it?); then the speaker warms up and moves through it more smoothly. By the end, I was really drawn in. The lead-in (and out) about the newspaper is the awkward part.

This reviewer was happy to hear more fiction for the radio. I'd like to hear this as part of the Offramp show to see how it fits.

This is an engaging morning drive-time piece that will get you talking all day about first names, what they connote and whether they fit or not. The piece is well-produced and the variety of voices gives the piece a nice texture.