NY Times Cast:
This was one of the first podcasts I began to follow when it started in 2007. I guess you could say that it's the umbrella podcast on the website because it is updated every morning and takes a closer look at the major stories by sitting down with the editors and beat reporters themselves for their perspective. For instance, today's TimesCast has video updates from Haiti about the upcoming presidential elections, a brief conversation between two editors about the highly anticipated New York governor's debate and then a moving photo slide show with audio about living to 100. All of the video is shot in HD, every segment is formatted differently to keep your eyes interested and the graphics aren't in anyway overdone. Grade: A
Not Your Usual Bollocks
This podcast comes from the other side of the pond and features music you would never hear on mainstream radio, because as they put it "it's shit". They usually have around 10 to 15 songs that they feature and then the two hosts come in on about every fifth song to add some much needed commentary. They also give you links to other websites that offer free downloads of some of the songs they just featured. This podcast is entirely aural unfortunately but it's just as pleasing to the ears as it is to my heart. This is an excellent way to hear new bands that haven't even been signed yet and though it lacks all the bells and whistles of higher-end podcasts, it gets the job done. Grade: B-
The Schwagcast
This is definitely one of the more entertaining podcasts I have ever listened to. The show is emceed by three ex-musicians, Bob, Jerry and Kevin who play their own instruments during the broadcast, play a few songs from extremely obscure bands and let off a little steam. Here are just some of the topics they discussed last episode: NYPD vs. Iraq Troops, Jerry talks about his fantasy cabin in the wood, and how to find Area 51 on GoogleMaps. Jerry is an older guy that sort of serves as the aloof comic relief and never fails to deliver in that department. Bob and Kevin spend most of their time trying to decipher what exactly Jerry is talking about and tryand keep the show on course. In other words it's musical comedy gold. Grade: B+
The Tipsy Diaries
This is another NY Times podcast that follows former restaurant critic Frank Bruni around New York to find the hidden gems in the seemingly endless bar scene. He has a very dry sense of humor and always begins his usually two minute long podcasts with extremely interesting hooks like, "This is the last place I'd expect to have a mojito" and "Hipsters aren't sure how to react to a guy playing ragtime in the corner." His video clips capture the essence of the bar showing the hustling behind the bar to fill orders and he manages to interview the most intriguing barflies. Once again this is at the upper echelon of podcast quality since it's backed by the Times, and maybe the only complaint that I have is that they're just a little too short. Grade: B+
Critic's Picks
This is probably my favorite podcast of all time. Renowned New York Times movie critic A.O. Scott picks a classic movie each month to spend five good minutes on. He alternates between his own opinions about the film and memorable 30 second clips from the film that always elevate his claims to near infallibility. One week he'll review Donnie Darko and the next he'll look at a much less mainstream English film like Howard's End. He never reveals too much about the film, for all of you worried about spolier alerts, and always has a powerful way of getting at the heart of the film right before the last clip, usually the best one. This satisfies all the criteria for a great podcast, superior technical quality, neat quick writing and the reassuring voice of A.O. Scott. Grade: A+
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