Three Stars

This unnarrated profile of singer and bandleader David Berman includes some interesting bites and performances bits.

But, perhaps because of the length, the story line jumps, rather than builds. Not all listeners may stay with this. But the payoff is there for those who can endure.

Here's an example. The first half of the segment is about David, his band, and his attempts to avoid "the real world" of work. Addiction isn't really emphasized.

Then, about three minutes into the five, we learn David goes into rehab. Sure, we know David's life isn't going great. But the dive into rehab comes as a bit of surprise. And David's back out as quickly as he goes in. Again, for some, the payoff will be this interesting angle: how does he deal with the $50,000 in debt accumulated during his addiction?

So it's twists like these that make David a worthwhile subject. He's also an engaging performer. In the piece's second half we get to hear David return to the stage after rehab. It's the piece's true payoff moment to hear him fumbling for lyrics and asking the audience to bear with.

At a little over five minutes, the segment might work as a topper to a talk segment about creativity and mental illness -- or about mental illness survivors.

Alternatively, I could see this being uploaded as a web extra on those subjects, especially if David's story were somehow worked into the hosts' conversation.

Anthea Raymond
Former PRX Editorial Board Member
Los Angeles -- May 20, 2007