As I prepare to make my surgical holiday shopping strike this weekend I was wishing this piece would armor me with some insight into why I feel so alienated and creeped out by the malls. Ok, a bit of a tall order, but this short piece (that could easily expand into and really informative and fascinating longer piece) answered a bit of my wondering. Hollow fabricated fashion offerings (no surprise there) propped up by preprogrammed chords of "conversation" by the young adults helping sell the stuff that they generally cant afford, either. I will make a point of going into one of these stores this weekend and see what happens....The Youth radio stuff generally sounds so refreshing in its reality. It reminds me of old live recorded rock, BuddyHolly-like 3-minute songs. The best have innocence and knowing.
I've had this one in my bookmark list to listen to for a while. Wow, it is so much better than I guessed a first person piece about liver donation could ever sound. The story is amazing and the telling and production is just so smooth and real. Makes me almost want to donate something....blood will have to do for now.
Has this really not aired nationally! Unbelievable. Airing and hearing this will positively touch people positively. Positive.
This piece will literaly haunt you unexpectedly like a friendly memory. I first heard this on the radio, back when it first was produced over a year ago. I seem to remember that I only heard a portion of it at the time and I wanted more....A few weeks back I happened upon this piece on PRX and listened to it whilst applying a silicone seam sealer to my tent in prep for a camping trip but the wind came, my battery died on the laptop streaming the piece, and I wanted more....This morning after getting back from an intense 6day Zen retreat (Sesshin) I find myself on PRX as I catchup with my world and there is a review of this piece on the homepage. I am surprised to hear that the train melodies were inspired by the function and form of a Zen temple bell. I listen to the piece three times through and through and still I wanted more and I realize that I have heard the entire piece in its 3:12 entirety every time. I would like to hear more about the dissonance that is mentioned in the spaces of colliding melodies. More about the form and function of the melodies and if they really work (I know they work in the very controlled envirionment of temples and sesshin): Translated dialogue and tracking of people on the trains *feelings* and thoughts of the melodies....I wanted more but am mostly thankful for hearing this at all. I shall go listen one last time, now, and just see if it haunts me in the future. Its nice not to be alone when you are haunted, so please listen I think you will find it follows you to through your soundrich life and, well.... All Aboard!
Intellectual Property. A topic that gets far too little play in the thinking culture of radio. We think about this issue constantly in the course of producing stuff for radio or release to the wider world on CD/MP3: pick your format and medium... Graphic artists too. Yet the issue is not heard so much on the radio. FLASH: if you are successfully operating in the rarified world of Fine Art (i.e. not commercial) you actually don't worry about IP so much! At least according to a curator at the Mass MOCA. Why the difference? Hmmm, I bet you can guess that it is about the Benjamin's (and I don't mean the producer ; | ) but to hear this piece is to illuminate it with feeling...
I was not certain how wide an appeal this topic would have but after listening to the piece I am convinced that Mr. Walker has shown a way to make the topic less Academic and more Street for a wide variety of people, voices and histories...
The guests coming along with Walker are a great way of bringing me the listener along too...real voices and thoughts... Fred is priceless and to hear his position and interpretation of things compared to fascinating voices of the women riffing with 80k Grad School phrases such as "activated objects" and it has the "texture and color of falayed skin" make this all the more memorable...
A fabulous mix and deft editing with some real nice, somewhat unconventional, but totally appropriate flourishes herein. Oh, and the music actually hits the right emotional buttons and there is a delightful bit of credit info regarding the music rights that will get you thinking and maybe even feeling deeper at the conclusion of the hour...
In the spirit of full disclosure I feel the need to say that I kinda know Mr. Walker (I did a weekly radio show after his shift for about a year). But then again I suppose a significant percentage if not the majority of reviews written on PRX are written by associates of the producer's. I wonder if the PRX God's could facilitate a system or something that would take this into account and also encourage anonymous review writing, as it really feels like there a lot of people who use The PRX but don't post for perhaps fear of offending or stubbing their job potentials...
Listen to the remix yourself: you will learn something, be entertained and hear time bend.
Fascinating topic on so many levels: food, politics, culture shifts, global economy, animals... I don't hear enought of this stuff in the US.
Great editing and environmental situating. Super tight and sharp.
Would love to hear a longer piece on this topic. Umm, makes me hungry for more info. whilst reminding me what an alienated relationship many of us have to food...
Comment for
"Pop Vultures #15: Crunk & Radio Disney" (deleted)
I've listened to all of the PV shows (via PRX) with great interest and hope - I think they may have something. The NPR dialect is most thankfully absent, the music mix is interesting and generally informed and would add some Today to npr ...
Having regular guests, in the know of the subject of the talk of the show would help ground the show immensly. Otherwise the talk at times comes off as, well, a bunch of near-in's or there-in's 30somethings of the 21st jabbering. I mean, like, it is not enough to just be informally informed and be somewhat entertained but, like, rather, people want to be exposed to something other than opinion of pop - people want to hear from the pop subjects themselves or odd relations.... You my Dear Pop Vultures are not pop stars. And if I just pulled into my home driveway I would not feel the need to hang in the truck to get to the end of the show...But if I was in the car I would listen and hope around the dial using you as a base.
I notice that you may be at the end of your pilot run I hope you continue on...Keep it up and coming. Hey ! Mr. G.K. , pull some strings and get a PR person to get them some regular guests appropriate for their topics.... Well, I've said too much. I'll leave you alone now. Thanks.
I had no idea that such a place existed never mind in the Towers' Location. A centralized bazaar of technology and dreams bulldozed for unprecedented high-rises which would later be decimated by an entirely different league of fanaticism and nightmares. UltraSoundRich. Analog warmth. Surly dispositions softened by time and memory. Listening to this piece I felt the warm glow of the "black magic" tubes...
An impressive distillation of about 1000 pages of report and an untold amount of audio source material edited and pieced into a 60 minute can. I have had an interest in reviewing the Commissions report but its size and the dry tomblike quality that I have imagined constituted the report has at best delayed my reading of the government issued work. This piece and the medium of sound has brought to life events and memories that have not been presented nor fully touched upon in the mediasphere up until now. Smooth editing. Rich and varied voices. Disturbing source excerpts. Untold Hero. Stranger than fiction account and testimony to close. This is a fabulous effort and execution. It will undoubtedly win some awards.
With just a single listen, at times I did have difficulty following all the threads of the very complicated facts and reality of the situation - and I wasn't even drivin' or flying! One technique that I have generally found helpful though I encounter it ironically more in the Film/TV pieces is the use of sonic or musical themes (original scores are always nice if you can afford Philip Glass a la Errol Morris) to underscore story threads that weave through a piece. This could perhaps have been employed successfully in this piece but then again there is always the seriousness of the words and rough source recording being compromised.... And since I am asking for everything, I would have liked to have heard where Bush was in all this. Hmm, I guess the fact that Cheney's role was explained speaks silent volumes.
Anyway, this great piece should rock the fiction that many people are carrying around concerning the events and the US government's role in that Sunny day. If only this piece were to get as much air as the NPR Fundraising Crows ...
Clear voice and perspective relayed through first person narrative.
I always find it interesting to hear the thoughts and experiences of a decade-younger-individual. Traveling abroad I found similar experiences so I could relate. I think anyone who has travelled outside of the US and interacted with individuals of non-US countries will have similar experiences but perhaps wonder if their experience was isolated or unique...
On its own, the piece is interesting but not really grounded; as part of a series it is solid and memorable.
Have you ever fantasized about owning a vintage Jag, baby?
Well, I have. After listening to this piece I feel I have lived that life to its fullest and, well....I think my fantasy of sliding around a curve with perhaps the most Phallic of all models is no longer necessary. The Cream Puff thoroughly brought me from 60 to zero so clearly, with such delicacy and knowing that I feel liberated from yet another Viagra weekender.
Thank You Mr. O'. You have provided a great public service. What I am trying to say is that you saved me a lot of heart-ache. I only hope that your toil can be afforded to the greater masses as I know the lure of the fraternity is Huge...
An honest to goodness slice of life. If you have camped you have been real close to here. Perhaps in the next "stall" over.
Those offended by the body, well, you wont like. But there are a lot of folk who will both cringe and smile and ultimately reconsider their vacation one way or another after hearing this.
I was recently camping and it was memorable in a similar but totally different way, if you know what I mean? You dont know what I mean? Well, then listen and let others hear this truth.
The reality of this piece is like something out of P.K. Dick story or maybe its all satire or something. Real interesting. I have not noticed any of these machines but perhaps I was writing off the machines in my life as less than artful. Well no, I actualy love popping money in machines with the faith that something interesting will slide down. And the Art-O-Mat would surely deliver. How often do you buy stuff from machines, analog machines that is? Neat use of sound. The how and why of the machines is nice and gets you thinking. Mention of a web site - I will have to check it out just to make sure...
Wow. This hits all the right notes of a beautifully crafted piece. Wonderful topic. As a kid and adult I continue to spend a lot of time at services wondering about the invisible music machine. How does that thing work and where is it exactly? And does the guy or gal playing the music repair the organ? Where did it come from and, and is it *supposed* to sound that way? Are those real?
So many questions are answered with a very specific organ and man in this fascinating story of an organ's resurrection and the organ repairer.
This piece will have wide appeal across generation and age. Surprising subtle story in what of course could have been a bit bombastic...
I have a fascination with music, instruments and especially pipes of various sorts so I have been primed for such a topic. But I have also read and heard lots of other people present and talk of their instruments in a less engaging and overly complicated fashion. This piece is exceptional in opening all the stops and hitting the right keys leaving you wondering if you can hear it again. I better get up early this Sunday and find a pipe organ.
The First Person's (was that Polly?) voice is wonderfully different: hmm, maybe and aged Scarlet O'hara tripping on impersonating Mike Myers doing Keith Richards, whilst drinking Mint Julips on the dirty old banks of the river Charles Burns.
Well, actually not that strange or is it.
Her voice will stay with me for quite some time. I loved the first person presentation...
Wow, y'all know about the KungFu, Karate, Tai Chi martial arts and of course the public radio junkies are into the Yoga but have you heard of Capoeira? I have not and dang if I have not done all the previous martial arts...
The body work folk and general sports minded will be fascinated while also drawing the music lover and historically minded listener. And the sounds are just juicy with life.
Simple intriguing idea superRich with ideas and sound tweaking all the senses with nice production.
Yah, the T's are slanted but it is a convention they are wearing about....despite this the presentation of the wearers is well edited and keeps your attention and has your mind drawing pictures.
Comments by paul cheevers
Comment for "Teen Retail Psychology: Playing the Popularity Game at Work"
paul cheevers
Posted on December 17, 2004 at 06:32 AM | Permalink
Review of Teen Retail Psychology: Playing the Popularity Game at Work
As I prepare to make my surgical holiday shopping strike this weekend I was wishing this piece would armor me with some insight into why I feel so alienated and creeped out by the malls. Ok, a bit of a tall order, but this short piece (that could easily expand into and really informative and fascinating longer piece) answered a bit of my wondering. Hollow fabricated fashion offerings (no surprise there) propped up by preprogrammed chords of "conversation" by the young adults helping sell the stuff that they generally cant afford, either. I will make a point of going into one of these stores this weekend and see what happens....The Youth radio stuff generally sounds so refreshing in its reality. It reminds me of old live recorded rock, BuddyHolly-like 3-minute songs. The best have innocence and knowing.
Comment for "Independent Minds: Peter Sellers"
paul cheevers
Posted on December 03, 2004 at 03:03 PM | Permalink
Review of Independent Minds: Peter Sellers
Genius! Have you not heard this yet? I demand to speak with the person in charge.
Comment for "His Holiness the Karmapa and me"
paul cheevers
Posted on December 01, 2004 at 12:20 PM | Permalink
Review of His Holiness the Karmapa and me
I've had this one in my bookmark list to listen to for a while. Wow, it is so much better than I guessed a first person piece about liver donation could ever sound. The story is amazing and the telling and production is just so smooth and real. Makes me almost want to donate something....blood will have to do for now.
Has this really not aired nationally! Unbelievable. Airing and hearing this will positively touch people positively. Positive.
Thanks.
Comment for "Tokyo "All Aboard" Melodies"
paul cheevers
Posted on October 11, 2004 at 07:54 AM | Permalink
Review of Tokyo "All Aboard" Melodies
This piece will literaly haunt you unexpectedly like a friendly memory. I first heard this on the radio, back when it first was produced over a year ago. I seem to remember that I only heard a portion of it at the time and I wanted more....A few weeks back I happened upon this piece on PRX and listened to it whilst applying a silicone seam sealer to my tent in prep for a camping trip but the wind came, my battery died on the laptop streaming the piece, and I wanted more....This morning after getting back from an intense 6day Zen retreat (Sesshin) I find myself on PRX as I catchup with my world and there is a review of this piece on the homepage. I am surprised to hear that the train melodies were inspired by the function and form of a Zen temple bell. I listen to the piece three times through and through and still I wanted more and I realize that I have heard the entire piece in its 3:12 entirety every time. I would like to hear more about the dissonance that is mentioned in the spaces of colliding melodies. More about the form and function of the melodies and if they really work (I know they work in the very controlled envirionment of temples and sesshin): Translated dialogue and tracking of people on the trains *feelings* and thoughts of the melodies....I wanted more but am mostly thankful for hearing this at all. I shall go listen one last time, now, and just see if it haunts me in the future. Its nice not to be alone when you are haunted, so please listen I think you will find it follows you to through your soundrich life and, well.... All Aboard!
Comment for "The Creative Remix"
paul cheevers
Posted on October 01, 2004 at 03:38 PM | Permalink
Review of The Creative Remix
Intellectual Property. A topic that gets far too little play in the thinking culture of radio. We think about this issue constantly in the course of producing stuff for radio or release to the wider world on CD/MP3: pick your format and medium... Graphic artists too. Yet the issue is not heard so much on the radio. FLASH: if you are successfully operating in the rarified world of Fine Art (i.e. not commercial) you actually don't worry about IP so much! At least according to a curator at the Mass MOCA. Why the difference? Hmmm, I bet you can guess that it is about the Benjamin's (and I don't mean the producer ; | ) but to hear this piece is to illuminate it with feeling...
I was not certain how wide an appeal this topic would have but after listening to the piece I am convinced that Mr. Walker has shown a way to make the topic less Academic and more Street for a wide variety of people, voices and histories...
The guests coming along with Walker are a great way of bringing me the listener along too...real voices and thoughts... Fred is priceless and to hear his position and interpretation of things compared to fascinating voices of the women riffing with 80k Grad School phrases such as "activated objects" and it has the "texture and color of falayed skin" make this all the more memorable...
A fabulous mix and deft editing with some real nice, somewhat unconventional, but totally appropriate flourishes herein. Oh, and the music actually hits the right emotional buttons and there is a delightful bit of credit info regarding the music rights that will get you thinking and maybe even feeling deeper at the conclusion of the hour...
In the spirit of full disclosure I feel the need to say that I kinda know Mr. Walker (I did a weekly radio show after his shift for about a year). But then again I suppose a significant percentage if not the majority of reviews written on PRX are written by associates of the producer's. I wonder if the PRX God's could facilitate a system or something that would take this into account and also encourage anonymous review writing, as it really feels like there a lot of people who use The PRX but don't post for perhaps fear of offending or stubbing their job potentials...
Listen to the remix yourself: you will learn something, be entertained and hear time bend.
Comment for "EQ Segment: Halal Chicken at French KFC"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 29, 2004 at 09:45 AM | Permalink
Review of EQ Segment: Halal Chicken at French KFC
Fascinating topic on so many levels: food, politics, culture shifts, global economy, animals... I don't hear enought of this stuff in the US.
Great editing and environmental situating. Super tight and sharp.
Would love to hear a longer piece on this topic. Umm, makes me hungry for more info. whilst reminding me what an alienated relationship many of us have to food...
Comment for "Pop Vultures #15: Crunk & Radio Disney" (deleted)
paul cheevers
Posted on September 17, 2004 at 07:34 AM
Notes of Pop Vultures (deleted)
I've listened to all of the PV shows (via PRX) with great interest and hope - I think they may have something. The NPR dialect is most thankfully absent, the music mix is interesting and generally informed and would add some Today to npr ...
Having regular guests, in the know of the subject of the talk of the show would help ground the show immensly. Otherwise the talk at times comes off as, well, a bunch of near-in's or there-in's 30somethings of the 21st jabbering. I mean, like, it is not enough to just be informally informed and be somewhat entertained but, like, rather, people want to be exposed to something other than opinion of pop - people want to hear from the pop subjects themselves or odd relations.... You my Dear Pop Vultures are not pop stars. And if I just pulled into my home driveway I would not feel the need to hang in the truck to get to the end of the show...But if I was in the car I would listen and hope around the dial using you as a base.
I notice that you may be at the end of your pilot run I hope you continue on...Keep it up and coming. Hey ! Mr. G.K. , pull some strings and get a PR person to get them some regular guests appropriate for their topics.... Well, I've said too much. I'll leave you alone now. Thanks.
Comment for "The Sonic Memorial Hour Special: A September Story"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 10, 2004 at 02:41 PM | Permalink
Review of The Sonic Memorial Hour Special: A September Story
Its great to hear this again...
Wonderful mix of emotions, smells, feels, tastes, sights and sounds.
Treat yourself: listen closely: its all here.
Comment for "Radio Row: The Neighborhood Before the World Trade Center"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 10, 2004 at 05:57 AM | Permalink
Review of Radio Row: The Neighborhood Before the World Trade Center
I had no idea that such a place existed never mind in the Towers' Location. A centralized bazaar of technology and dreams bulldozed for unprecedented high-rises which would later be decimated by an entirely different league of fanaticism and nightmares. UltraSoundRich. Analog warmth. Surly dispositions softened by time and memory. Listening to this piece I felt the warm glow of the "black magic" tubes...
Comment for "Witnesses to Terror: The 9/11 Commission Hearings"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 07, 2004 at 08:26 PM | Permalink
Review of Witnesses to Terror: The 9/11 Commission Hearings
An impressive distillation of about 1000 pages of report and an untold amount of audio source material edited and pieced into a 60 minute can. I have had an interest in reviewing the Commissions report but its size and the dry tomblike quality that I have imagined constituted the report has at best delayed my reading of the government issued work. This piece and the medium of sound has brought to life events and memories that have not been presented nor fully touched upon in the mediasphere up until now. Smooth editing. Rich and varied voices. Disturbing source excerpts. Untold Hero. Stranger than fiction account and testimony to close. This is a fabulous effort and execution. It will undoubtedly win some awards.
With just a single listen, at times I did have difficulty following all the threads of the very complicated facts and reality of the situation - and I wasn't even drivin' or flying! One technique that I have generally found helpful though I encounter it ironically more in the Film/TV pieces is the use of sonic or musical themes (original scores are always nice if you can afford Philip Glass a la Errol Morris) to underscore story threads that weave through a piece. This could perhaps have been employed successfully in this piece but then again there is always the seriousness of the words and rough source recording being compromised.... And since I am asking for everything, I would have liked to have heard where Bush was in all this. Hmm, I guess the fact that Cheney's role was explained speaks silent volumes.
Anyway, this great piece should rock the fiction that many people are carrying around concerning the events and the US government's role in that Sunny day. If only this piece were to get as much air as the NPR Fundraising Crows ...
Comment for "World View"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 05, 2004 at 06:51 AM | Permalink
Review of World View
Clear voice and perspective relayed through first person narrative.
I always find it interesting to hear the thoughts and experiences of a decade-younger-individual. Traveling abroad I found similar experiences so I could relate. I think anyone who has travelled outside of the US and interacted with individuals of non-US countries will have similar experiences but perhaps wonder if their experience was isolated or unique...
On its own, the piece is interesting but not really grounded; as part of a series it is solid and memorable.
Comment for "Ode to the Cream Puff (A Jaguar XJ6L)"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 03, 2004 at 01:11 AM | Permalink
Review of The Cream Puff
Have you ever fantasized about owning a vintage Jag, baby?
Well, I have. After listening to this piece I feel I have lived that life to its fullest and, well....I think my fantasy of sliding around a curve with perhaps the most Phallic of all models is no longer necessary. The Cream Puff thoroughly brought me from 60 to zero so clearly, with such delicacy and knowing that I feel liberated from yet another Viagra weekender.
Thank You Mr. O'. You have provided a great public service. What I am trying to say is that you saved me a lot of heart-ache. I only hope that your toil can be afforded to the greater masses as I know the lure of the fraternity is Huge...
Comment for "Smells Like Camping"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 03, 2004 at 12:49 AM | Permalink
Review of Smells Like Camping
An honest to goodness slice of life. If you have camped you have been real close to here. Perhaps in the next "stall" over.
Those offended by the body, well, you wont like. But there are a lot of folk who will both cringe and smile and ultimately reconsider their vacation one way or another after hearing this.
I was recently camping and it was memorable in a similar but totally different way, if you know what I mean? You dont know what I mean? Well, then listen and let others hear this truth.
Comment for "Art-O-Mat"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 02, 2004 at 10:43 AM | Permalink
Review of Art-O-Mat
The reality of this piece is like something out of P.K. Dick story or maybe its all satire or something. Real interesting. I have not noticed any of these machines but perhaps I was writing off the machines in my life as less than artful. Well no, I actualy love popping money in machines with the faith that something interesting will slide down. And the Art-O-Mat would surely deliver. How often do you buy stuff from machines, analog machines that is? Neat use of sound. The how and why of the machines is nice and gets you thinking. Mention of a web site - I will have to check it out just to make sure...
Comment for "The Organ Builder"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 02, 2004 at 05:28 AM | Permalink
Review of The Organ Builder
Wow. This hits all the right notes of a beautifully crafted piece. Wonderful topic. As a kid and adult I continue to spend a lot of time at services wondering about the invisible music machine. How does that thing work and where is it exactly? And does the guy or gal playing the music repair the organ? Where did it come from and, and is it *supposed* to sound that way? Are those real?
So many questions are answered with a very specific organ and man in this fascinating story of an organ's resurrection and the organ repairer.
This piece will have wide appeal across generation and age. Surprising subtle story in what of course could have been a bit bombastic...
I have a fascination with music, instruments and especially pipes of various sorts so I have been primed for such a topic. But I have also read and heard lots of other people present and talk of their instruments in a less engaging and overly complicated fashion. This piece is exceptional in opening all the stops and hitting the right keys leaving you wondering if you can hear it again. I better get up early this Sunday and find a pipe organ.
Comment for "Polly's Boa"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 01, 2004 at 10:00 AM | Permalink
Review of Polly's Boa
Strange life all around and in our midst.
The First Person's (was that Polly?) voice is wonderfully different: hmm, maybe and aged Scarlet O'hara tripping on impersonating Mike Myers doing Keith Richards, whilst drinking Mint Julips on the dirty old banks of the river Charles Burns.
Well, actually not that strange or is it.
Her voice will stay with me for quite some time. I loved the first person presentation...
Comment for "Cat Show"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 01, 2004 at 07:04 AM | Permalink
Review of Cat Show
If you are a lover of the most popular pet in the US you will of course love this piece.
I happen to have a Sphynx so I guess I am biased.
Lots of fun listening. The characters you will meet here, my oh my.... I hope I dont go here as my cat years move along.
You will want to make cat sounds - Meow - listening to this. Has an upbeat quality, not as "straight" as the Best of Show take on this kind of scene.
Hypoallergenic listening. Fun. It will make you smile and perhaps cringe too.
Comment for "Capoeira Tourism"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 01, 2004 at 06:46 AM | Permalink
Review of Capoeira Tourism
Wow, y'all know about the KungFu, Karate, Tai Chi martial arts and of course the public radio junkies are into the Yoga but have you heard of Capoeira? I have not and dang if I have not done all the previous martial arts...
The body work folk and general sports minded will be fascinated while also drawing the music lover and historically minded listener. And the sounds are just juicy with life.
I want to go to Brazil with my iPod. Now.
Wonderful editing.
An audio vacation.
Comment for "T-Shirts at the RNC Protest"
paul cheevers
Posted on September 01, 2004 at 06:26 AM | Permalink
Review of T-Shirts at the RNC Protest
Simple intriguing idea superRich with ideas and sound tweaking all the senses with nice production.
Yah, the T's are slanted but it is a convention they are wearing about....despite this the presentation of the wearers is well edited and keeps your attention and has your mind drawing pictures.
I love Tshirts, perhaps you do too?