The purpose of this monthly series is to highlight an outstanding contributor to the site as chosen by the editorial staff. Over the past three years, Blogcritics has grown tremendously, in large part due to the contributions of a stalwart group of writers who have consistently informed, engaged, and entertained us. This designation is meant to recognize and celebrate the best of the best, those writers who not only shine by virtue of their talent, but whose continual participation gives all of us a reason to tune in each and every day. As new readers are continually discovering Blogcritics, we also hope to introduce these fine writers to a new audience.
Please join me in a virtual round of applause for this month’s honoree, Mark Saleski!
Anyone who visits the music section of Blogcritics on a regular basis knows Mark. His first post dates all the way back to August 19, 2002, so he's been here since the beginning (the site launched on August 13 of that year). While he's contributed the occasional book review and cultural musing, music reviews make up the bulk of Mark's contributions to the site, and he's offered us his very personal take on music in just about any genre imaginable.
Many regular readers, myself included, don't consider the week complete until they've had a chance to peruse Mark's weekly column, "The Friday Morning Listen." The effect this column has on a lot of readers is best summed up by music editor Connie Phillips, who says, "Mark Saleski has a way of taking his writing, be it his reviews or his feature 'The Friday Morning Listen,' to a personal level. He weaves his life into the music and the result is always an entertaining anecdote. My Friday morning isn't complete until I see how Mark's life is affected by the music he's listening to ... or how incidents in his life affect his music choice."
Mark is also an active commenter on the site, and as everyone knows, that's a great way to make friends around here. Assistant music editor DJRadiohead offers the following:
Regulars around here will know Mark and I have created this... thing. Highly technical term, thing. You could call it antagonism or rivalry. There is only one tiny problem with that: Mark and I agree far more often than we ever seem to let on. Don't tell anyone, though — especially him. I guess we could just call it good-natured harassment.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Joanie
Damn that Mark! I thought I'd paid him to say I was his favorite Blogcritic. (Note to self: stop payment on check to Saleski.)
Lisa, did you bother to find out if the man has a single brother who might be interested in work as a cabana boy?
2 - Eric Olsen
Splendiferous - thanks Lisa and congrats Mark! We're certainly glad you read Dawn four years ago - thanks for being such a core of the site all this time Mark - we wouldn't be what we are without you!!
3 - DJRadiohead
I'm with Joanie. That's the last nice thing I say about Saleski. My revenge shall be terrible.
Great job, Lisa!
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
I now realize that everyone else appreciates music on a much deeper level than me. Maybe that's for the best.
I think the greatest tribute would be for the word "Saleski" to become a verb here at Blogcritics. Any nominations on what it should mean? And please use examples.
5 - Mary K. Williams
Joanie - I'm with ya.
Known this dude for a while, and all I got so far was some damn coffee.
Seriously -
This is beyond cool Mark, you cranky bastage you.
6 - Eric Berlin
Outstandingness -- great to see the Great Saleski behind the curtain, and a photo no less !
7 - Aaron Fleming
Hurrah! Mucho kudos your direction!
8 - El Bicho
Congrats, Mark. Now when are you going to get the collected "FML" published as a book?
Great job again, Lisa. I'm already looking forward to next month.
For those BCers who feel slighted at being left off Mark's favorites, I suggest you get him in trouble with TheWife by pointing out that on the desert island he wants a picture of TheWife and not TheWife.
9 - Mary K. Williams
For those BCers who feel slighted at being left off Mark's favorites, I suggest you get him in trouble with TheWife by pointing out that on the desert island he wants a picture of TheWife and not TheWife
I am SO dialing that number right now - "Hello Linda...?"
: )~
10 - Mark Saleski
how quickly they turn on you...
sheesh!!!
11 - Mark Saleski
hey, at least i didn't say "a picture of katherine heigl"
12 - Mary K. Williams
Well, must be that head cold, you're off your game.
13 - Bennett
Nothing that wasn't overdue, and Lisa did a fantastic job. Keep up the good work Sir Saleski!
14 - Mark Sahm
Saleski: Even if I don't know 75% of the musical references you make in your posts, the 25% that I do know are always tactfully written and enjoyable. The BOTM nod is well deserved. Cheers.
15 - Dawn
I am a Mark Saleski lover from WAY back in the day - glad the world has caught up to my excellent taste!
Cheers to Mark!
16 - Dawn
BC: What do you think you'd learn if you could swap to the opposite sex?
Mark: It might be nice to know, once and for all, if size really matters.
I can answer that for you, size does matter.
But only in the brain, everywhere else it's subjective.
Seriously, Lisa, great job, great subject, great read!!!
17 - Lisa McKay
I'd like to thank everyone for their comments on this piece. These are a huge amount of fun for me to do, and as nice as it is to take credit for it, most of the actual work gets done by the honoree, so it's an easy gig :-)
A great side benefit of doing this (for me personally) is to get to know each writer a bit better as we go through the process of putting it together. Thanks to everyone for reading and enjoying!
18 - Glen Boyd
Conrats Mark.
I still want IN on that Seeger Sessions pow-wow you and Lisa and DJ Radiohead have planned though.
Pretty please?
Glen
19 - Glen Boyd
oops..
That was "Congrats Mark", not "conrats"...LOL
Damned butter fingers.
20 - Phillip Winn
Mark Saleski is a giant among giants, and his Friday Morning Listen should be on everybody's weekly schedule.
Thanks, Mark, for being awesome!
21 - Jackie
You rock, Mark! Congratulations on a well-deserved honor!
22 - Mat Brewster
I'll add my congrats here. FML rules the school! We need a book then a movie starring George Wendt as Saleski and John Ratzenburger as DJradiohead.
23 - DJRadiohead
And Woody Harrelson playing Brewster?
24 - jmp
congrat,mark you are super
25 - Mary K. Williams
Sounds like a good movie! Friday Morning Listen: You Won't Know Any of These Obscure Artists' Names - But After Hearing Them, You Just Might Want To!
Kinda long title though.