Amplirecathon 2012: Podfic for people with time on their hands

[anotherslashfan]

(First of all, sorry for the posting delay! I did a complete reinstall of my OS and it took me hours longer than planned to finish so I felt like going to bed (at four am) instead of posting.)


I'm a person with the luxury of having rather a lot of time to listen to podfic, and I love long stories so I have no problem with trying out hours-long podfic. Hoping that there are others similarly inclined, I'm going to rec two types of stories here: Podfics that are long, and podfics that I (admittedly, this is a matter of taste) can listen to over and over (thus also spending a lot of time on them). (In the interest of reccing newer stuff, all podfics recced here were made public in the last year or thereabout.)


The Long... (4+ hours)

Tomorrow Belongs to Me [Avengers (Movieverse); Reader: Kalakirya; Author: valkyr; 9:56:04]

When I saw someone had put so much time into recording, I knew I had to try it - even though I had already fallen into mostly exclusive monofannishness (with Bandom) at that time. The podfic is outstanding in every way - done so well that I didn't want to stop listening until I'd reached the end. Kalakirya reads in a way that makes me forget anything else going on, riveted by the story she tells. It's perfect for taking a leave from the real world for a while.


Screaming Down the Starlit Sky (series) [Bandom (Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is..., My Chemical Romance, Cobra Starship, The Cab, Hush Sound, Amanda Palmer, Mindless Self Indulgence, Phantom Planet, Gym Class Heroes), American Idol Season 8; Reader:reena_jenkins; Author: herlovewasajoke; 32:15:33]

When I saw this posted at podficbigbang, I was a bit conflicted: On the one hand, reena_jenkins is such a talented podficcer (impressive in her range of voice and her ability to express emotions) and a podfic series this long just needs to be listened to (it's a bit like a challenge) - on the other hand, I usually dislike vampire stories. After listening, I can just say that anyone even remotely interested should check out these podfics. The intros and outros fit perfectly, and reena_jenkins outdid herself in performing the individual stories. She manages to nail each character voice (William's drawl!) and the pacing is spot on and the overall product is really riveting.


If Music be the Food of Love (I'll have the veggie burger) [Panic! at the Disco; Reader: pennyplainknits; Author: sunsetmog; 4:26:52]

If you love having your heartstrings tugged at, this is the story for you. Penny makes you hurt with Brendon, captures all his desperation and excitement and determination. Often when I really like a story, I feel sad that it may never be podficced because it's long - and then I find a gem like this one. It's a bit easier to scedule for a re-listen, too, what with being only four and a half hours long :)


The Still Very Long... (2-4 hours)

Tell Me to Stop [Panic! at the Disco; Reader: crazybutsound; Author: airgiodslv; 3:44:49]

This should have gone into my last category because I guess I'm addicted to this podfic. I've listened to it over ten times, I think, and it's my comfort podfic that I go to whenever I just want to relax and forget everything else. I love crazybutsound's voice, her accent, the way she interpretes the story, and her amazing ability to make sex scenes sound incredibly hot.
In reccing this, I must also rec podklb's podfic of the same story, Tell Me to Stop [3:26:52], which I also listened to several times. Klb's amazing at setting up the atmosphere of each individual scene, and she really nails the tension between Spencer and Brendon. Honestly, I can't say that I prefer one version and I think one really gains by listening to both. Several (dozen) times :)


The Happiest Fuckin' Place on Earth (tm) [My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy; Reader: argentumlupine; Author: roxy_palace; 2:42:48]

Argentumlupine really outdid herself stylistically in this podfic - she does so many different voices, and also stretched herself to input even more emotion. The effects are also very well done. In many ways, this is a perfect example of what makes podfic so awesome, and why podfics are their own work of art.


It Came from Within [My Chemical Romance; Reader: takola; Author: turps; 3:20:28]

This is takola's first foray into Bandom, and she did a wonderful job with a wonderful story. Her slightly understated emotionality is a perfect counterpoint to the many exaggerations this story contains, giving it a very realistic flair.


The Absolutely Addictive...

In My Blood Like Holy Wine [My Chemical Romance; Reader: Sylvaine; Author: Sena; 1:26:41]

Tension, urgency, and sex scenes hot like burning... Sylvaine tends towards a faster speaking pace, but still with many well placed pauses, and a raw emotionality in her dialogue that always draws me in, no matter how often I've listened to a podfic by her already. She often chooses stories that focus on moral dilemmas, with characters that know what they are (or are doing) is not likely to be accepted, and she nails their conflicted feelings perfectly. This and the following podfic are prime examples.


Before and After [My Chemical Romance; Reader: Sylvaine; Author: desfinado; 1:06:19]

Every time I listen to this story, I find another nuance that Sylvaine managed to put in by her performance. Honestly I don't quite know how she does it, but her reading a character makes me connect to what's going on in their head immediately. Plus - Gerard's sex voice. Kills me every time.


Bottoming from the Top [Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco; Reader: crazybutsound; Author: jedusaur; 22:48]

Although relatively short and technically too old to be included in this post, I couldn't pass up the chance to rec this podfic again because it's one I've listened to so often. As I said above, crazybutsound adds a huge amount of hotness to sex scenes by her performance, and this is a perfect example of her strengths, already shining through in one of her earliest podfics.

Comments

[idella]

I'm intrigued by your description 'If Music Be the Food of Love (I'll have the veggie burger)', and I love pennyplainknits' performances, so I am definitely checking that podfic out. I'm eyeing a lot of the rest of these, too. Thanks for the recs!

[anotherslashfan]

I hope you'll enjoy :)

[onthehill]

Neeed moar time! Bookmarking this. I've listened to 'Veggie-burger' a couple of times and oh! heart-clenchy goodness. But I haven't listened to (or read) most of the others. \o/\o/\o/

[anotherslashfan]

Most of these stories are heart-clenchy goodness --- getting me to hurt a little from the emotion is the surest way to make me love a podfic (or story in general).

[anna_unfolding]

I will definitely look up lots of these; thank you so much! I also love that you highlighted TMTS which was podded at the same time by two really talented podfic artists (and friends of mine). :) Your rec of both versions highlights the benefits of re-podding. Thanks for sharing all these recs!!! <3

[anotherslashfan]

Thank you for taking the time to reply :) Reccing is one of my favourite pastimes, but usually not one that garners much feedback.

[yue_ix]

WEEE, awesome rec list! Long podfics are my saviours from repetitive work, and I've gotten into a bandom mood just yesterday. I've bookmarked this page and have downloaded a couple of these already to hear out. Thank you for sharing your likes; I enjoyed reading the reasons you've recced each. =D

[argentumlupine]

Ooooooh. *scurries off to download*

And thank you for the rec! ♥

[fire_juggler]

Awesome list! I haven't been listening to long podfics recently. I used to listen to only long podfics, but then my schedule changed and my listening habits changed with it. BUT, I have a couple really long plane flights coming up, so I'll be looking for some long podfics to fill the gap!! *goes to download* Thanks for the recs!!!!

[crazybutsound]

I have missed all of amplirecathon because I've been without an internet connection for the past two weeks, which is a big shame because I could have listened to so much stuff while I was cut off from the online world, lol. Bah, I will come back and DOWNLOAD ALL THE PODFIC YIS!

But most importantly, I wanted to say thank you for the recs. <3 I love that you enjoy TMTS and took the time to rec both, because I think our purpose when we worked on and released at the same time was to show just how cool it is to have several readings of the same fic. Repods are love and your rec I think highlights that which, yes, thank you SO MUCH for that.

As for Bottoming from the Top, heeee! it's one of my first and one of my fave stories and it gives me such a thrill to know you've listened and love it so much. Jedusor's stories are often so porny and so fun to record, hehehehehe.

Again, thank you for the recs! <3

[kalakirya]

oooo awesome rec list! And I've so very glad you enjoyed 'Tomorrow Belongs to Me'! I had so much fun recording it, and it's nice to know people like listening to it as well!