Blogcritics

Magic Junk Radio 9: Cover Me Porkins

Mark Sahm — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:16:35 EDT

If life is a giant hog, MJR is a crispy slice of bacon. It also plays on your iPod. Tasty!
We just hunted down and killed that fifteen month old cold turkey. After all, it's not easy to describe podcast withdrawal, especially since few are suffering from it. While you might call it 'audiosexual frustration', I'd prefer to just paraphrase Robert Plant: It's been a long time since we did the stroll. Ooh, let us get it...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Magic Junk Radio 8: The Way Is Shut

Mark Sahm — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:57:50 EST

Oscar Wilde once said, "Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative." It's a rather ominous quote for any creative person still trying to find their big break. Nevertheless, since the first 7 episodes of Magic Junk Radio were consistent on a level of composition, it was only natural that we avoided relaxing into any refuge. So a choice had to be made: either retire the podcast or evolve our compositions. Thus, we chose to take the Darwin route. Of course, you could counter that Wilde was a scandalous anarchist and we shouldn't believe a word he said. But hey, doesn't the reasoning sound much better than "We got some new equipment to aid our podcasts, so this is the last one using the old stuff"? After all, you could say it was only 'Logical'. If you've haven't tuned in before, MJR can best be described as an all-original eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices, and samples. #8 finds the creative duo of M. Sahm and Ms. S.Rod trading songs, barbs, and finishing each other's sentences (as only a young married couple can do). This episode is a serenade to their stepping stones, as they try to keep each other laughing about an uncertain future. It clocks in at a mega-quick 26:55 with all the funk riffs, hard rock beats, orchestra samples, and pop culture references that you've heard us pimp for the past year. Nothing is restricted. Not our former masters. Not our heroes. We even do a 'celebrity roast' style piece of one of Blogcritics' editors. Although be warned -- it's not for playing out loud in the office, or in front of your mini-me. Be sure to leave us some feedback if you have a minute. It could help save an artist from BASE jumping for fun. Thanks. Take it easy. - - - - - - - - - - [ Download the MP3 ] - 37 MB (high quality sound... because we care about your eardrums) [ Subscribe to the RSS feed ] - - - - - - - - - - INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven’t updated in a while.) MJR 8 Content of Tables: Six Mill Four Shadows Mr. Darcy At The Limelight Six Years Gone Between Curses The Curse Anthem Festival Live At The Stadium The Way Is Shut Westchester Funk Farewell

Mark Sahm is a creative soul lurking around New York City.
His various projects include: Somrod (art), Creative Psychosis (blog), and Magic Junk Radio (podcasts). His first novel, The Art of Getting Bent can be purchased at Amazon.com, or through his site. Despite all of this, Sahm will not save you any money on car insurance.

Magic Junk Radio 7: Gods, Drones, and Cereal

Mark Sahm — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 05:35:02 EDT

Never let it be said that I cannot share my creative process. After doing 99% of the work on the first six episodes of Magic Junk Radio, I decided to take in a group of refugees last month. I promptly gave them each a laptop and some headphones, and put them to work in my digital studio with a simple direction: "Make music that sounds like the lovechild of TV Theme Songs and Kid A."I'm kidding of course. But I have finally gotten a "sidekick" so to speak. I think the results have turned out quite wonderfully and I hope she continues her contribution as long as the podcast goes on -- which probably won't be for much longer, since change is always omnipresent. So it goes.If you've haven't tuned in before, MJR can best be described as an all-original eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices, and samples. #7 travels a little further down the rabbithole of life's purpose. It clocks in at another all-time high 37:15 -- with the funk riffs, hard rock beats, and pop culture samples you're used to. We even try doing a spontaneous segment like normal podcasters do.Be sure to leave us some feedback if you have an opinion. Thanks. Take it easy.[ Download the MP3 ] - 42.7 MB (I blame the larger file size on my co-host)[ Subscribe to the RSS feed ]INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven’t updated in a while.)Content of Tables:Hulking OutGod Eat GodWelcomeDirty TalkSugar Smacks FairyToucan Sam On SpeedThe God-Drone SpectrumNeoprene LatinaStop Keeping ScoreCorporate DronesBreaking The FastWKRP in Sin CityRejection 77Live at the S-Rod LoungeFarewell

Magic Junk Radio 6: A New Set of Rules

Mark Sahm — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 05:01:23 EDT

Four months of podcast silence has felt like an eternity for me, but no longer. The time to take cherished samples and theme songs and make them into electronic madness is now.Of course, four months ago, the belief was to confine myself to a dark room with the goal of finding magic creative mushrooms growing in the enchanted meadows of my mind. But with such a premise, one is almost doomed to run into something else by accident, which is why I'm here now.Rather than spill what magical thing I ran into (and no, it wasn't Eva Longoria mud wrestling with Salma Hayek), I'll leave that in the hands of my sonically produced calling card, Magic Junk Radio 6: A New Set of Rules.If you've haven't tuned in before, MJR can best be described as an eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices, and samples. #6 finds me back to my old tricks, but hopefully I've learned a little more since we last met. It clocks in at an all-time high 31:36 –with the funk riffs, hard rock beats, and pop culture samples you're used to. Even some old favorites get revisited through the MJR filters, including a couple guilty pleasures.And there you go. Be sure to leave me some feedback if you have an opinion. Thanks. Take it easy.[ Download the MP3 ] - 37.4 MB (Hey man, sound quality has its price...)[ Subscribe to the RSS feed ]INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven’t updated in a while.)Table of Contents:Welcome BackPodcast SecurityBrush JamThe New JobInterludeWeird MatrixCats In A Canvas BagA New Set of RulesAM SmoothPositively 4th BeerVisit The SidebarWhen The Rain Became AcidPsychic GraffitiFarewell

Magic Junk Radio 4: Holiday Complex

Mark Sahm — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:03:46 EST

Outside of the obvious monotony of the season, I have my reasons to hate the holidays. I call it the curse of being born on the day after Christmas. Thus, celebrating my introduction to the world was always overshadowed by traveling hangovers and shopping binges. Luckily, over the years, I've become more apathetic than angry about it. Right. That's it. I swear. Anyway, while composing some twisted takes on holiday music for this podcast, I was visited by the Ghost of Podcast Past. He tried to steer me towards a more positive attitude about the holidays. Unfortunately, he failed. The subsequent result was Magic Junk Radio 4: Holiday Complex.If you've haven't tuned in before, MJR can best be described as an eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices and samples. #4 jumps around through musical genres, as I decide holiday music should have no limits, but still keeping an ear to the past. It clocks in at a jolly ol' 20:19--- with some funk grooves, mellow jams, a little hip-hop, electronica, rock, and even a laid-back acoustic jam. As always, some of it was meant to be intentionally funny. But since my ego is already scarred, I don't have to tell you which parts. All jokes aside, try to enjoy the rest of the season as best you can. It's not always ideal, but effort goes a long way--- even for cynical arrogant bastards. Cheers.- - - - - - - - - - [ Subscribe to the RSS feed ] [ Download the MP3 ] - 19 MB- - - - - - - - - -INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven't updated in a while.)Content of Tables: Holiday Mission 1:53 Intro 1:20 Red Nose Funk 2:02 Time For Balance 0:49 Traveling Sucks 2:20 What Else? 1:10 How The Pimp Stole XXXmas 3:00 Walking In Fresh Snow 2:45 The 12-24 Panic Shop 1:49 That Lady O' Mine 2:08 Farewell 0:52- - - - - - - - - -Love it? Hate it? Confused? Let me know. Leave a comment below.Missed the first three episodes of Magic Junk Radio? For shame! Fear not, redemption is just a click away: MJR 1 --- MJR 2 --- MJR 3.

Magic Junk Radio 3: The Bachelor Must Die

Mark Sahm — Tue, 8 Nov 2005 09:52:45 EST

By making a 3rd installment of Magic Junk Radio, I've now officially committed myself to podcasting. After all, one or two episodes could be explained as a happy accident or a fluke. But with three, I'm out of excuses until I reach at least seven or so. Oh my dear black star in the sky, what have I gotten myself into?Commitment (in one way or another) seems to be a recurring theme for me though. Since Magic Junk Radio 3 is subtitled "The Bachelor Must Die," you could say it's art imitating life. Yes, it is my own bachelorhood that will be getting the axe, as I'm getting married this weekend. *insert sound here of Shaggy and Scooby going "Gulp!" with dramatic fear* But it's all good.Anyway, MJR 3 is our first voyage into a 'concept' podcast. So I hope that can be the Jell-O mold for future shows, since it would help maintain my severely fractured focus. At least, that's the pipe dream I'm smoking right now. But it sure sounds inspirational, so I'll stick with it.If you've haven't tuned in before, MJR can best be described as an eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices and samples. #3 is a little tighter musically than its predecessors, and clocks in at a respectable 18:23--- with a heavy dose of electronica, some rock, new jazz, and even a 1970's-style power ballad! (yes, it's meant to be intentionally funny) If that isn't proof I'm subconsciously suffering from wedding stress, then I don't know what could be. Cheers.- - - - - - - - - - [ Subscribe to the RSS feed ] [ Download the MP3 ] - 16.8 MB- - - - - - - - - -INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven't updated in a while.)Content of Tables: Perform and Restore 0:31 My One Ring 1:58 Distress Call 0:47 The Bachelor Must Die 2:24 Too Much Too Late 4:02 Who's Your Master? 0:33 Nothing But The Past 2:43 Honeymoon Cruise 3:05 The Six Month Panic 2:12- - - - - - - - - -Love it? Hate it? Confused? Getting hitched too? Let me know. Leave a comment below. A horse called Joe. Hustle and flow.Missed the first two episodes of Magic Junk Radio? For shame! Fear not, you may redeem yourself by going here and here.

Magic Junk Radio 2 - Humble As Ever

Mark Sahm — Mon, 3 Oct 2005 14:19:58 EDT

[ Download the MP3 ] - 24.3 MB [ Subscribe to the RSS feed ]Missed the first Magic Junk Radio? Go here.- - - - - - - - - - Okay, okay. I know I said Magic Junk Radio was an experiment, just a one-time creative crossover from a non-musician. But in pushing my limited skills to make the first MJR, I found I really enjoyed the process. The beauty of being creative, for me, is that I find things in myself that I didn't realize were there. Thus, it was worth it to create a sequel. Composition is king, and I gladly bow before it.Magic Junk Radio 2 is subtitled "Humble As Ever", since I make no boasts, no sales pitches, and no long winded soliloquies on the state of the world. It really is just an eclectic maelstrom of sounds, voices, and samples. Some parts might make you laugh, tap your foot, bob your head, cry, fear for my mental stability--whatever. In the words of the long lost Sugar Smacks Frog, just "dig 'em." Like its predecessor, MJR 2 is a fast food podcast (now with appetizers and dessert), clocking in at just under 26 minutes.INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click the MP3 link above to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in a new web browser window (unless you haven't updated in a while.) If you have dial-up or would like to download the tracks individually, visit the Magic Junk Radio website.Content of Tables - 25:58: A Phone Call - 1:08 Intro Theme - 0:55 Welcome - 0:51 Eclectic Maelstrom - 1:31 Cubicle Song - 2:39 Interlude 1 - 1:10 Where I Was Not - 2:33 Tech-Noir - 2:01 Interlude 2 - 1:28 Absence of Movement - 2:36 The Deadliest Kind - 2:36 Interlude 3 - 1:04 The Puertoruvian - 1:57 Imperial Remix - 2:29 Farewell - 0:43- - - - - - - - - - Mark Sahm can normally be found dabbling in all things creative at Blogimus Prime.

Magic Junk Radio 1 - A Creative Crossover

Mark Sahm — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 11:54:45 EDT

Subscribe to the RSS feed for Magic Junk Radio Among the creative people of the world, there are many who dare to crossover. Those who try their hands at genres within the arts that they were not instructed on, or gained their fame in. Just think of actors like J.Lo or William Shatner who have made music albums, while inversely musicians such as LL Cool J or Roger Daltrey have appeared in movies. When celebrities do a crossover, it's essentially a crapshoot in terms of marketing. While the general public knows the name of the performer immediately, it is difficult to accept a celebrity doing something different.For those of us fortunate enough to be devoid of fame, we can try any and everything we want within the creative hemispheres, and suffer all the same. How gratifying! Nevertheless, the creative area that I have no formal training or experience is music. I love hearing music, and am constantly surrounded by it no matter what I am doing. But when it comes to actually composing or playing the music, I have mostly avoided it for lack of natural talent and coordination. My encounters with playing are limited to three months of saxophone lessons in fourth grade, and a brief stint of singing terribly in a tenth grade rock band, to which I got kicked out of at the end of the summer. I know wholeheartedly that I did not apply myself in either case. But redemption was always waiting for me. Of course, by admitting that I am a writer and artist first, that puts a big scarlet C for crossover on my chest when it comes to me producing a podcast of semi-melodic tracks. But brand me all you want--- producing compositions of words and sounds was as fun as new Christmas toys. For all of the tweaking and timing issues and triple takes that it took to make it happen, I highly recommend it to any creative soul looking for something fun and challenging to do.- - - - - - - - - - Magic Junk Radio 1 is a creative fusion of spoken word, samples, sounds, and beats. I didn't play any instruments, but you're welcome to pretend I did. MJR 1 has no aspirations other than amusement and an occasional foot tap. At 17 and a half minutes, it's a fast food podcast. But I'm perfectly content with that. Clog your arteries and enjoy.INSTRUCTIONS: Right-click this link to download the full podcast in MP3 format, which will play in any iPod or MP3 music player. Left click and the MP3 will begin playing in your web browsers (unless you haven't updated in a while.) The file size is 16.2 MB.Content of Tables Intro Music - 0:51 Welcome - 1:18 Identifying the Train People - 4:53 Interlude 1 - 1:12 Serico's Wake Up Call (from The Art of Getting Bent) 2:02 Not Going Gently - 1:51 Interlude 2 - 1:14 Magically Delicious - 1:40 Mushroom Cloud - 1:52 Farewell - 0:37 To download the tracks individually, go to Blogimus Prime.- - - - - - - - - - Mark Sahm writes, paints, draws, and makes self-depreciating jokes. This post is part of his Creative Psychosis series. Read the other parts here:1, 2