I saw this posted on the PRX Facebook wall, and I want to congratulate the reporter. The voices are clear and varied and give me a good perspective on Adam's daily life and future desires as well as his family's hopes for him and their awareness of his limitations.
I listened on an overcast, late-spring day, which put me into a Parisian mindset. On any day, though, I would have thoroughly enjoyed Charles' survey of French music. I had heard of many of the artists, and heard their work, but I never had context - who was contemporary with whom, who influenced whom. This piece is great for structuring my understanding of the music, presenting the artists in loose time sequence and drawing connections of influence among them. I enjoyed hearing stylistic shifts across artists and over time. I'd like a piece like this for many music traditions worldwide.
Charles' writing is simple, clear, and interesting - a great combination that made it much easier to remember what I was hearing. The production quality is high. Nothing fancy, just professionally done, and a reminder that simplicity can work well. The piece does start to feel rather long after 40 minutes or so - Charles himself acknowledges there's a lot of music to go through. It might be worth breaking it up by decade, even at risk of losing the stylistic comparisons over time.
This is a great show. I love the music, Glynn's offbeat style and energy, and the stories themselves. With this one hour, I now trust Glynn's taste in stories. All three were winners. The connection of the first two to the Warning Signs theme was very clear; the last one, less so, but I didn't mind because it was gripping. After an hour of mental and physical danger, I came away feeling safer, because I have nothing in common with the three protagonists. But that's also what drew me in, because I am perfectly happy to keep the experiences vicarious through them.
The stories were creatively produced, too. In the second story, I liked having the female observer to add a different angle. I'm painting my house now, and her presence reminded me of a complementary accent color.
As for Glynn's style, it's different and refreshing. But it also seems to come naturally, and as a listener I feel secure that he won't lose me along the way.
The only thing missing in this superb hour was a little more from Glynn, maybe a personal reflection to take the topic deeper. Something that ties it together a little more, or makes me think about things in a new way. Never mind, though. I'm being picky. Air this.
This is a great show. I love the music, Glynn's offbeat style and energy, and the stories themselves. With this one hour, I now trust Glynn's taste in stories. All three were winners. The connection of the first two to the Warning Signs theme was very clear; the last one, less so, but I didn't mind because it was gripping. After an hour of mental and physical danger, I came away feeling safer, because I have nothing in common with the three protagonists. But that's also what drew me in, because I am perfectly happy to keep the experiences vicarious through them.
The stories were creatively produced, too. In the second story, I liked having the female observer to add a different angle. I'm painting my house now, and her presence reminded me of a complementary accent color.
As for Glynn's style, it's different and refreshing. But it also seems to come naturally, and as a listener I feel secure that he won't lose me along the way.
The only thing missing in this superb hour was a little more from Glynn, maybe a personal reflection to take the topic deeper. Something that ties it together a little more, or makes me think about things in a new way. Never mind, though. I'm being picky. Air this.
For anyone who doesn't understand what all the fuss is over healthcare, have them listen to this. The two doctors who are interviewed are clear and passionate - though they remain calm, you can hear the anger and frustration in their voices, which adds to the power of what they're saying. My father has been a doctor for 45 years; my mother has managed his practice for much of that time. I can relate when the doctors say their children get to hear their frustrations all the time. I did, too, and this interview supports so much of what I heard.
When people talk about waste and corruption in the system, they generally focus on the exorbitant cost of unnecessary procedures, as did the doctors here. There's also the cost of missed time from work, and the human cost - even a "minor" procedure can cause anxiety, pain/discomfort, and time to recover. While that was implied or mentioned throughout, I wouldn't have minded it being more explicit. But that's a minor quibble with an otherwise powerful program.
A simple, elegant piece that flows smoothly like the water it follows. The music is perfectly chosen. The pacing and substance of the narration are gentle and at times unexpected, too. This is an excellent production that I would recommend to any station.
Daniel Grossman gets at the effects of climate change both creatively and thoroughly. I had always wondered about the Paris heat wave, and the segment answered pretty much all of my questions - the cultural, social, and meteorological aspects of the tragedy. It took a little too long to tie the Paris story into the climate change angle, but that wasn't the case for the other two segments, and the story was so interesting it didn't really matter. This sound-rich piece gives a sense of travel and includes a lot of local voices, helping me to understand climate change from perspectives I rarely get to hear. As with "Meltdown", the production values are extremely high. Sometimes the narration is heavy, but I do enjoy his style, and generally it enhances rather than impedes the sense of place. I highly recommend this report.
I listened to bits and pieces in various segments, and really liked what I heard. I am particularly struck by the energy and movement of the production. They use music judiciously and well. The hosts, reporters, and commentaries go between fun, relaxed, earnest and serious. They get at "Environment" from many directions. As a grownup, I want to hear what they have to say.
I personally would have been curious to hear from Van Jones, as I had never heard him speak, and his impact is impressive: As one commentator notes - 'He's famous for making the environmental movement more fashionable for more people'. Too bad circumstances rendered his interview outdated. However, I am sure the Alaska Teen Media piece is a very good substitute.
This piece is pretty much perfect. I don't know Bollywood well, but I know it enough to know that the producer has covered the major points, the lesser-known points, and then some. The host has a great voice and energy; the interviews are also energetic and wide-ranging. Best of all, there's lots of music. This is a top-quality production.
A fun, inspiring story told by someone full of enthusiasm. I am assuming that comment #1 comes from her mom, and I start to understand where that passion comes from.
Rebecca does an excellent job of lightly guiding Jacki through reflections on war, journalism, making good radio, and simply 'doing something', whatever that might mean for a particular person. I say "lightly guiding" because Jacki needs little help revealing deep thoughts in an eloquent manner, and Rebecca respects that and responds to what's being said rather than trying to overmanage the conversation. A great piece for students of journalism, of radio production, and for anyone trying to break out of whatever box they feel they're in.
How did I not know at least some of this? (deleted)
This piece is yet another reminder of how narrowly history gets taught and retold. How could I get to this point in my life, having heard about Lincoln's assassination countless times, and not known at least some of the details that Nate reveals? A couple of these details gave me chills - one of fateful coincidence, and one of sympathetic catharsis. Well done.
This piece uses sound and a touch of humor (at the gentle expense of his wife) to breathe life into a bunch of numbers that would have made my eyes glaze over in print. I appreciate, too, that the producer went beyond the standard 'take shorter showers' approach to home water consumption in order to look at the water used in the manufacturing of milk and clothing and other items. Obviously, we can't control a lot of those uses, but it does help to be aware.
Bicycle lanes that promote sociality and a local music store's business, a 28-year-old half-Vietnamese-, half-Nicaraguan- American mayor who uses words like "metaphor" while cutting the ribbon on a new bridge, an elementary school that gets empowered while learning how to recycle. "Q: How are they doing on standardized tests? A: They do ok, but the important thing is they're learning to think." My goodness, enough already! I can't take it anymore. My progressive index is off the register. And I'm smiling the entire time.
I listened to this while walking to work in my own city, rolling my eyes fondly at yet another progressive fantasy brought to life by Zak's inspired storytelling. The piece's production style creates a sense of place as much as the content does. In a way it reminded me of the film Russian Ark, the way it moved from 'room' to 'room'. Or maybe now I'm going over the top, too.
Love the music you use, too (e.g. Tin Hat Trio).
The only challenge for the listener is knowing just when we're in fantasy mode, and just when the narrators have stepped out of it for a minute. But I will be generous and say it could be deliberately in support of the dream/reality blur that makes this so fun.
At the dawn of a new federal government that might actually generate *real* good news from time to time, this piece has a very relevant place on everyone's air.
This is a great assemblage of some of my favorite parts of the campaign. It also gives me plenty of audio that I hadn't heard before. The production quality is top notch. I do wish there were a way to identify some of the speakers and singers (celebrities and regular folks) without interrupting the flow. That might be a good use of an accompanying multimedia player... a simple text label for the duration of each clip.
In any case, well done, and a great way to pay homage to an exciting time.
All I knew about Joe Strummer was that he played music I listened to in middle school.
The balance and energy of this production, from beginning to end, is perfect. It takes a lot to keep me going through a story about a musician I never cared about. This was effortless.
Thank you for playing so many songs from beginning to end, and somehow doing that without compromising any of the piece's narrative motion.
Everything about this piece is excellent. The narrator's voice, what he says, the balance his and his father's voices are given throughout the piece. This is a piece about a child's experience with a depressed parent. about depression. It also gives a portrait of depression that is unexpectedly profound, given how little the father speaks. But when he speaks, and perhaps because he is speaking to his son, not to an outsider, you hear the fragility and the struggle in his voice. I highly recommend this piece.
This is a piece about a geek subculture. It's really well done; sound rich, lots of different voices, and great detail that gives substance without weighing the piece down. I truly connected with the group when the reporter noted that one of the engineers calls his customized phone the "Squeaky MoFo". I also loved the detail that they use a 3D printer to make the phone cases. Clearly not your average bunch of tinkerers!
I really like the premise of the series... chemistry in everyday life. This episode was very good. Informative in an accessible way about things we all encounter: Pepto Bismol, hardboiled eggs, and chocolate mousse. While the first two were good, they were straightforward essays. The chocolate mousse segment was great. It was a kitchen show without the visuals, and it was very well produced. The two hosts worked well with each other, asking the right questions and making sure accelerating the passage of time (e.g. 5 minutes to whisk the mixture0 didn't disorient. The ambiance was fantastic. I particularly loved the sound of water being poured onto chocolate. And now I know that chocolate mousse doesn't need eggs and cream to taste like chocolate mousse. Though I admit I'd still have to try it for myself to believe it.
I'm going to check out more pieces in this series..
Review of All Songs Considered from NPR Music (deleted)
I have listened to All Songs Considered for years. I find its simplicity and modularity its strengths. Having produced music reviews for All Things Considered, in some ways I prefer ASC's approach: no more than a handful of details about the artist, then on with the music. That way, I actually remember the details rather than get lost in the reviewer's own desire to turn a cute or slick phrase. And I hear the music, rather than get stymied by the producer's (yes, me too) tendency to forget to let the music breathe.
It depends on what you're looking for. If you want in-depth essays about the artist, you won't find them here. If you want to learn about a wide range of new music from trusted curators (Bob Boilen was All Things Considered director for many years, and Robin has worked with him for several of those years and I'm sure has other credentials that I don't know about), this is perfect. I like the show's wide range of genres, too.
As for the production quality and format, to me Bob sounds simply like a real enthusiast. (That may be colored by the fact that I know him.) His read works fine for me. Amusing things sometimes happen when he brings other reviewers on board, and he lets those air, too. The simple intro-music structure works well for online streaming and for podcasting, and they archive well on ASC's site. I have never heard the show broadcast, and I imagine that would need a more thorough intro. But otherwise, I highly recommend this series.
I loved the premise of the piece, since I love Creature Comforts and I also love people's voices. Besides, there simply aren't enough public radio pieces about contemporary, pop, and/or media culture. The producer's parents have adorable voices, which she captures pretty well (though I kept hoping for a laugh out loud moment that never came). I liked being able to switch my mind's eye between an older couple of people, and an older couple of bees. Overall, however, Lu's read lacked some energy or presence, and the overall pacing of the production was kind of loose. I think the piece has enormous potential for fun and originality which it only partly fills.
This is the kind of documentary that will serve the public record for years to come, an account of how scientists at the ends of the earth were piecing together a big picture of climate change from tiny bits of data. It is well-researched, well-traveled, and clearly reported. Walter Cronkite's introduction frames the documentary extremely well - I much prefer that to simply starting the piece on location. The sound is woven throughout very well. At times I found the descriptions of various procedures too detailed, but that also served to transmit the message that from these meticulous and tedious actions, something really important emerges. I particularly like the use of storytelling in the Peru (middle) segment.
Easily one of the best public radio pieces I've ever heard. I remembered this piece from when I first heard it three years ago and sent it to everyone I knew. The producer captures the essence of a fact of so many peoples' lives in a way that gives us each something to relate to, and something new to think about. It is serious without being a downer, and edgy without trying too hard.
I was predisposed to like this piece because I really enjoy bad weather. Maybe not floods, blizzards, and hurricanes, but a gray day or a hard rain. I thought the producer did a great job weaving in various themes - a commentary on the media, on our culture, and on our everyday lives, with sound-rich production. Fun without sounding like it's trying too hard.
I really enjoyed this. I do wish it was longer, and had some punch line or narrative arc (while staying vox-only), but I loved what was there. And it made me laugh out loud, which is always good.
Comments by Rekha Murthy
Comment for "The Emperor's New Onesie"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 08:13 PM | Permalink
The Emperor's New Onesie is now a video
https://vimeo.com/51611834
Comment for "Grumpy Crankypants And His Magic Soapbox"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on August 01, 2011 at 07:02 PM | Permalink
Very satisfying
A major pet peeve of mine, and I found great satisfaction in the way the producer handled it. Nicely done!
Comment for "Our Ups and Downs"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 08:43 AM | Permalink
Well done!
I saw this posted on the PRX Facebook wall, and I want to congratulate the reporter. The voices are clear and varied and give me a good perspective on Adam's daily life and future desires as well as his family's hopes for him and their awareness of his limitations.
Comment for "Different, Not Disabled: The Perception of My Mind"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on November 26, 2010 at 10:21 AM | Permalink
'It's Pretty Cool to be Me'
This piece is clear, thoughtful, with a take on Asperger's that I hadn't known before. Well done.
Comment for "Eat Cake"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 08:32 PM | Permalink
I want the sequel
I like their dynamic. What happens next?
Comment for "The Magic Tent. A Celebration of French Language Popular Music"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on June 11, 2010 at 01:33 PM | Permalink
Perfectly engaging tour of French chanson
I listened on an overcast, late-spring day, which put me into a Parisian mindset. On any day, though, I would have thoroughly enjoyed Charles' survey of French music. I had heard of many of the artists, and heard their work, but I never had context - who was contemporary with whom, who influenced whom. This piece is great for structuring my understanding of the music, presenting the artists in loose time sequence and drawing connections of influence among them. I enjoyed hearing stylistic shifts across artists and over time. I'd like a piece like this for many music traditions worldwide.
Charles' writing is simple, clear, and interesting - a great combination that made it much easier to remember what I was hearing. The production quality is high. Nothing fancy, just professionally done, and a reminder that simplicity can work well. The piece does start to feel rather long after 40 minutes or so - Charles himself acknowledges there's a lot of music to go through. It might be worth breaking it up by decade, even at risk of losing the stylistic comparisons over time.
Comment for "Snap Judgment 105: Warning Signs"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 21, 2010 at 06:09 PM | Permalink
Danger and unexpectedness = great listening
This is a great show. I love the music, Glynn's offbeat style and energy, and the stories themselves. With this one hour, I now trust Glynn's taste in stories. All three were winners. The connection of the first two to the Warning Signs theme was very clear; the last one, less so, but I didn't mind because it was gripping. After an hour of mental and physical danger, I came away feeling safer, because I have nothing in common with the three protagonists. But that's also what drew me in, because I am perfectly happy to keep the experiences vicarious through them.
The stories were creatively produced, too. In the second story, I liked having the female observer to add a different angle. I'm painting my house now, and her presence reminded me of a complementary accent color.
As for Glynn's style, it's different and refreshing. But it also seems to come naturally, and as a listener I feel secure that he won't lose me along the way.
The only thing missing in this superb hour was a little more from Glynn, maybe a personal reflection to take the topic deeper. Something that ties it together a little more, or makes me think about things in a new way. Never mind, though. I'm being picky. Air this.
Comment for "Spring Peepers"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on March 26, 2010 at 10:00 AM | Permalink
Unexpectedly compelling
I listened all the way through. I don't usually have the attention span for that. Made me feel optimistic, for some reason.
Comment for "PRESEASON Snap Judgment: Warning Signs"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on December 30, 2009 at 05:52 PM | Permalink
Danger and unexpectedness = great listening
This is a great show. I love the music, Glynn's offbeat style and energy, and the stories themselves. With this one hour, I now trust Glynn's taste in stories. All three were winners. The connection of the first two to the Warning Signs theme was very clear; the last one, less so, but I didn't mind because it was gripping. After an hour of mental and physical danger, I came away feeling safer, because I have nothing in common with the three protagonists. But that's also what drew me in, because I am perfectly happy to keep the experiences vicarious through them.
The stories were creatively produced, too. In the second story, I liked having the female observer to add a different angle. I'm painting my house now, and her presence reminded me of a complementary accent color.
As for Glynn's style, it's different and refreshing. But it also seems to come naturally, and as a listener I feel secure that he won't lose me along the way.
The only thing missing in this superb hour was a little more from Glynn, maybe a personal reflection to take the topic deeper. Something that ties it together a little more, or makes me think about things in a new way. Never mind, though. I'm being picky. Air this.
Comment for "HUMANKIND: Universal Health Care"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on December 12, 2009 at 11:19 AM | Permalink
An excellent, multidimensional survey of our healthcare problems.
For anyone who doesn't understand what all the fuss is over healthcare, have them listen to this. The two doctors who are interviewed are clear and passionate - though they remain calm, you can hear the anger and frustration in their voices, which adds to the power of what they're saying. My father has been a doctor for 45 years; my mother has managed his practice for much of that time. I can relate when the doctors say their children get to hear their frustrations all the time. I did, too, and this interview supports so much of what I heard.
When people talk about waste and corruption in the system, they generally focus on the exorbitant cost of unnecessary procedures, as did the doctors here. There's also the cost of missed time from work, and the human cost - even a "minor" procedure can cause anxiety, pain/discomfort, and time to recover. While that was implied or mentioned throughout, I wouldn't have minded it being more explicit. But that's a minor quibble with an otherwise powerful program.
Comment for "A Crazy, Convoluted Journey: Getting Water to Tucson"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on December 08, 2009 at 08:40 PM | Permalink
A true journey in just a few minutes
A simple, elegant piece that flows smoothly like the water it follows. The music is perfectly chosen. The pacing and substance of the narration are gentle and at times unexpected, too. This is an excellent production that I would recommend to any station.
Comment for "Heat Of The Moment: Inside Out"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on October 13, 2009 at 05:00 PM | Permalink
Takes you there
Daniel Grossman gets at the effects of climate change both creatively and thoroughly. I had always wondered about the Paris heat wave, and the segment answered pretty much all of my questions - the cultural, social, and meteorological aspects of the tragedy. It took a little too long to tie the Paris story into the climate change angle, but that wasn't the case for the other two segments, and the story was so interesting it didn't really matter. This sound-rich piece gives a sense of travel and includes a lot of local voices, helping me to understand climate change from perspectives I rarely get to hear. As with "Meltdown", the production values are extremely high. Sometimes the narration is heavy, but I do enjoy his style, and generally it enhances rather than impedes the sense of place. I highly recommend this report.
Comment for "Fresh Greens: Teens and the Environment"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 02:50 PM | Permalink
Marvelous energy
I listened to bits and pieces in various segments, and really liked what I heard. I am particularly struck by the energy and movement of the production. They use music judiciously and well. The hosts, reporters, and commentaries go between fun, relaxed, earnest and serious. They get at "Environment" from many directions. As a grownup, I want to hear what they have to say.
I personally would have been curious to hear from Van Jones, as I had never heard him speak, and his impact is impressive: As one commentator notes - 'He's famous for making the environmental movement more fashionable for more people'. Too bad circumstances rendered his interview outdated. However, I am sure the Alaska Teen Media piece is a very good substitute.
Comment for "The Subcontinental, Episode 1: Bollywood"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on September 15, 2009 at 10:53 AM | Permalink
Brilliant tour of Indian music and culture
This piece is pretty much perfect. I don't know Bollywood well, but I know it enough to know that the producer has covered the major points, the lesser-known points, and then some. The host has a great voice and energy; the interviews are also energetic and wide-ranging. Best of all, there's lots of music. This is a top-quality production.
Comment for "Cassavetes' Blessing" (deleted)
Rekha Murthy
Posted on September 15, 2009 at 09:28 AM
A lot of fun and passion (deleted)
A fun, inspiring story told by someone full of enthusiasm. I am assuming that comment #1 comes from her mom, and I start to understand where that passion comes from.
Comment for ""Do Something!": An Interview With NPR's Jacki Lyden (Part One)"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on July 04, 2009 at 01:26 PM | Permalink
Thoughtful and inspiring
Rebecca does an excellent job of lightly guiding Jacki through reflections on war, journalism, making good radio, and simply 'doing something', whatever that might mean for a particular person. I say "lightly guiding" because Jacki needs little help revealing deep thoughts in an eloquent manner, and Rebecca respects that and responds to what's being said rather than trying to overmanage the conversation. A great piece for students of journalism, of radio production, and for anyone trying to break out of whatever box they feel they're in.
Comment for "the brothers booth" (deleted)
Rekha Murthy
Posted on June 25, 2009 at 09:32 AM
How did I not know at least some of this? (deleted)
This piece is yet another reminder of how narrowly history gets taught and retold. How could I get to this point in my life, having heard about Lincoln's assassination countless times, and not known at least some of the details that Nate reveals? A couple of these details gave me chills - one of fateful coincidence, and one of sympathetic catharsis. Well done.
Comment for "How much water do we use?"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 01, 2009 at 11:06 AM | Permalink
Great way to describe quantities
This piece uses sound and a touch of humor (at the gentle expense of his wife) to breathe life into a bunch of numbers that would have made my eyes glaze over in print. I appreciate, too, that the producer went beyond the standard 'take shorter showers' approach to home water consumption in order to look at the water used in the manufacturing of milk and clothing and other items. Obviously, we can't control a lot of those uses, but it does help to be aware.
Comment for "Fake City, Real Dreams"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on January 22, 2009 at 10:54 AM | Permalink
Over the top in the best of ways
Bicycle lanes that promote sociality and a local music store's business, a 28-year-old half-Vietnamese-, half-Nicaraguan- American mayor who uses words like "metaphor" while cutting the ribbon on a new bridge, an elementary school that gets empowered while learning how to recycle. "Q: How are they doing on standardized tests? A: They do ok, but the important thing is they're learning to think." My goodness, enough already! I can't take it anymore. My progressive index is off the register. And I'm smiling the entire time.
I listened to this while walking to work in my own city, rolling my eyes fondly at yet another progressive fantasy brought to life by Zak's inspired storytelling. The piece's production style creates a sense of place as much as the content does. In a way it reminded me of the film Russian Ark, the way it moved from 'room' to 'room'. Or maybe now I'm going over the top, too.
Love the music you use, too (e.g. Tin Hat Trio).
The only challenge for the listener is knowing just when we're in fantasy mode, and just when the narrators have stepped out of it for a minute. But I will be generous and say it could be deliberately in support of the dream/reality blur that makes this so fun.
At the dawn of a new federal government that might actually generate *real* good news from time to time, this piece has a very relevant place on everyone's air.
Comment for "Barack Obama-The Remix"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on January 07, 2009 at 09:20 AM | Permalink
A Walk Down Short-Term Memory Lane
This is a great assemblage of some of my favorite parts of the campaign. It also gives me plenty of audio that I hadn't heard before. The production quality is top notch. I do wish there were a way to identify some of the speakers and singers (celebrities and regular folks) without interrupting the flow. That might be a good use of an accompanying multimedia player... a simple text label for the duration of each clip.
In any case, well done, and a great way to pay homage to an exciting time.
Comment for "JOE STRUMMER'S LONDON CALLING - EPISODE 1"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on November 25, 2008 at 09:01 PM | Permalink
I had no idea.
All I knew about Joe Strummer was that he played music I listened to in middle school.
The balance and energy of this production, from beginning to end, is perfect. It takes a lot to keep me going through a story about a musician I never cared about. This was effortless.
Thank you for playing so many songs from beginning to end, and somehow doing that without compromising any of the piece's narrative motion.
What can I say? I had no idea.
Comment for "Sit With Me"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on November 19, 2008 at 03:01 PM | Permalink
Review of Sit With Me
Everything about this piece is excellent. The narrator's voice, what he says, the balance his and his father's voices are given throughout the piece. This is a piece about a child's experience with a depressed parent. about depression. It also gives a portrait of depression that is unexpectedly profound, given how little the father speaks. But when he speaks, and perhaps because he is speaking to his son, not to an outsider, you hear the fragility and the struggle in his voice. I highly recommend this piece.
Comment for "Homebrew Cellphones"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on November 04, 2008 at 11:18 AM | Permalink
Review of Homebrew Cellphones
This is a piece about a geek subculture. It's really well done; sound rich, lots of different voices, and great detail that gives substance without weighing the piece down. I truly connected with the group when the reporter noted that one of the engineers calls his customized phone the "Squeaky MoFo". I also loved the detail that they use a 3D printer to make the phone cases. Clearly not your average bunch of tinkerers!
Comment for "Molecular Gastronomy"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on November 04, 2008 at 11:17 AM | Permalink
Review of Molecular Gastronomy
I really like the premise of the series... chemistry in everyday life. This episode was very good. Informative in an accessible way about things we all encounter: Pepto Bismol, hardboiled eggs, and chocolate mousse. While the first two were good, they were straightforward essays. The chocolate mousse segment was great. It was a kitchen show without the visuals, and it was very well produced. The two hosts worked well with each other, asking the right questions and making sure accelerating the passage of time (e.g. 5 minutes to whisk the mixture0 didn't disorient. The ambiance was fantastic. I particularly loved the sound of water being poured onto chocolate. And now I know that chocolate mousse doesn't need eggs and cream to taste like chocolate mousse. Though I admit I'd still have to try it for myself to believe it.
I'm going to check out more pieces in this series..
Comment
Rekha Murthy
Posted on May 19, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Review of All Songs Considered from NPR Music (deleted)
I have listened to All Songs Considered for years. I find its simplicity and modularity its strengths. Having produced music reviews for All Things Considered, in some ways I prefer ASC's approach: no more than a handful of details about the artist, then on with the music. That way, I actually remember the details rather than get lost in the reviewer's own desire to turn a cute or slick phrase. And I hear the music, rather than get stymied by the producer's (yes, me too) tendency to forget to let the music breathe.
It depends on what you're looking for. If you want in-depth essays about the artist, you won't find them here. If you want to learn about a wide range of new music from trusted curators (Bob Boilen was All Things Considered director for many years, and Robin has worked with him for several of those years and I'm sure has other credentials that I don't know about), this is perfect. I like the show's wide range of genres, too.
As for the production quality and format, to me Bob sounds simply like a real enthusiast. (That may be colored by the fact that I know him.) His read works fine for me. Amusing things sometimes happen when he brings other reviewers on board, and he lets those air, too. The simple intro-music structure works well for online streaming and for podcasting, and they archive well on ASC's site. I have never heard the show broadcast, and I imagine that would need a more thorough intro. But otherwise, I highly recommend this series.
Comment for "Meet the Bees"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 28, 2008 at 12:44 PM | Permalink
Review of Meet the Bees
I loved the premise of the piece, since I love Creature Comforts and I also love people's voices. Besides, there simply aren't enough public radio pieces about contemporary, pop, and/or media culture. The producer's parents have adorable voices, which she captures pretty well (though I kept hoping for a laugh out loud moment that never came). I liked being able to switch my mind's eye between an older couple of people, and an older couple of bees. Overall, however, Lu's read lacked some energy or presence, and the overall pacing of the production was kind of loose. I think the piece has enormous potential for fun and originality which it only partly fills.
Comment for "Meltdown: Inside Out"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 14, 2008 at 02:30 PM | Permalink
Review of Meltdown: Inside Out
This is the kind of documentary that will serve the public record for years to come, an account of how scientists at the ends of the earth were piecing together a big picture of climate change from tiny bits of data. It is well-researched, well-traveled, and clearly reported. Walter Cronkite's introduction frames the documentary extremely well - I much prefer that to simply starting the piece on location. The sound is woven throughout very well. At times I found the descriptions of various procedures too detailed, but that also served to transmit the message that from these meticulous and tedious actions, something really important emerges. I particularly like the use of storytelling in the Peru (middle) segment.
Comment for "Chasing Love"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 09, 2008 at 07:25 AM | Permalink
Review of Chasing Love
Easily one of the best public radio pieces I've ever heard. I remembered this piece from when I first heard it three years ago and sent it to everyone I knew. The producer captures the essence of a fact of so many peoples' lives in a way that gives us each something to relate to, and something new to think about. It is serious without being a downer, and edgy without trying too hard.
Comment for "In Defense of Bad Weather"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 08, 2008 at 02:32 PM | Permalink
Review of In Defense of Bad Weather
I was predisposed to like this piece because I really enjoy bad weather. Maybe not floods, blizzards, and hurricanes, but a gray day or a hard rain. I thought the producer did a great job weaving in various themes - a commentary on the media, on our culture, and on our everyday lives, with sound-rich production. Fun without sounding like it's trying too hard.
Comment for "Who Killed Santa Claus For You?"
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 06, 2008 at 01:49 PM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
I really enjoyed this. I do wish it was longer, and had some punch line or narrative arc (while staying vox-only), but I loved what was there. And it made me laugh out loud, which is always good.