Amplirecathon - Recs from an adict...

[mjluvspolar.livejournal.com]

My ‘discovery' of podfics coincided with the purchase of my first iPod just over a year ago. I knew that recordings of fanfiction existed of course because quite a few of my favourite fanfic writers have had links to them for years. I just didn't realise how many truly fabulous podfics where out there. When I discovered general_jinjur website the amount of squee-ing I did was pretty embarassing for a woman of my age! I admit I may now be a little obsessed. :D


~~PODFICS THAT CHANGE THE WAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE STORY

Title: Ordinary Life by astolat and cesperanza
Reader: zoetrope
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Length: 1:49:22
Link: MP4 file

This podfic is my comfy jumper - I've stopped counting how many times I've listened to it. It's a wonderful story anyway right? Exciting as hell to read, but I confess that I love it more as a podfic. A big reason for this is the fact that zoetrope is such a polished reader and her clear, calm narration makes listening to this podfic a joy in and of itself. It is very obvious that she gets why this pairing works and that is reflected in her reading. But I think the main reason the fic works better for me as a podfic is because I actually experienced the story fully. Part 3 of the story, where basically all that is going on is John Sheppard kicking ass, was obviously a section I skimmed while reading but it toally rocked to listen to! Go listen to it...and then download everything else zoetrope has recorded.


Title: Our Tree by dacro
Reader: rhicauldrie
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Length: 51:14
Link: MP3 file

Okay I feel I need to mention up front that this podfic is one that you will have to work to enjoy due to issues with the recording. I think it's worth it or I wouldn't be reccing it, but the fact of the matter is the sound quality of the mp3 is scarily reminiscent of a 60's jazz album being played on an original turntable! I persevered because the story is so amazing that I was, frankly, desperate to at least experience it as a podfic, but OH MY GOD. If you can find a way to improve the sound (please share if you do!) or do what I did and listen to it through computer speakers rather than earphones, rhicauldrie reading will blow you away. Her vocal choices are extraordinary - her Draco Drawl (tm) is a Thing. Of. Beauty. But for me it's the raw, understated emotional depth she has in her narration that added layers of meaning to the story I didn't get when I simply read Our Tree. Now I can't read the story without hearing rhicauldrie voices in my head and I know I love the story that much more because of this.


~~WRITTEN AND READ BY...

I have to admit to really, really having a thing for listening to authors reading their own work. For me, it's like the podfic version of those 'DVD commentary' things so many of my favourite authors are doing now. A few I wanted to mention have already been recced, but here are a few more...

Title: Second Course Written and Read by danceswithgary
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clex
Length: 42:00
Link: MP3 file

Man do I love danceswithgary whiskey and honey voice! Seriously, she could read the phone book and make it both compelling and, oh my GOD, sexy. Out of all the podfic's danceswithgary has recorded though, I love Second Course the most because it's utterly mesmerizing. The fic is kind of experimental in that the story is being told from Clark's pov and Clark is suffering from long term insomnia (and a broken heart). danceswithgary narration has a dreamlike quality to it that seems to invite you into Clark's dream, which at times, is actually a nightmare. Everytime I listen to this story I find myself being lulled into a sort of dreamlike fugue that sucks me straight into Clark's lethargic, heartbroken, sleep deprived mindset. It always makes me cry, even though I know how it ends, but I keep coming back to this podfic because it is so overwhelming - in the best possible way.

Title: Laphroaig Written and Read by kadiel_krieger
Fandom: CW RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Misha Collins
Length: 33:04
Link: MP3 file

Laphroaig is a Porn WITH Plot story that goes down smooth and leaves a warm glow of satisfaction in it's wake - we're talking seriously top shelf here! Now I'm the sort of person who can get flustered just reading anything steamy so I was not only delighted, but kind of in awe of the way kadiel_krieger manages to draw the tension of the story ever tighter with her beautifully unselfconscious but very erotic narration. Yeah, this is RPS, not work safe and not one for the kiddies, that's for sure, but WOW. Laphroaig is sinfully intoxicating and totally worth a listen. Also? I'm so hoping kadiel_krieger records the other stories in this series!


Well that's me done. Thanks for letting me play in the sandbox!

Comments

[brimtoast.livejournal.com]

Heh. I, in fact, have just downloaded everything zoetrope ever recorded. I listened to Written by the Victors a couple days ago, and then Junk Cheap today, and the combination was just so amazing that I could not resist grabbing the rest. I am starting to realize that I am happiest when I find a reader I like and then listen through their whole body of work.

[yukisherry.livejournal.com]

thanks for the recs! it's a real shame that "our tree"s sound quality is so bad. :(

[danceswithgary]

Thanks so much for the rec! I only wish I could have recorded more before I lost my voice permanently. I'm thrilled whenever I read that people enjoy the podfics. :-)

[oliver95.livejournal.com]

Daphne Oxenford had the perfect reading voice as I remember from "Listen with Mother". However, very few people know how to use their voices so, unless I were listening whilst ironing, I prefer to read. That also prevents me from ironing so is a double advantage. I'm not averse to new toys but have stopped at DVDs, CDs and computers; an iPod is a fiddle too far.

[kriari.livejournal.com]

OH! I just now found this!

*is late to the party*

I do plan to pod the entire Scotchverse eventually, I've just gotten behind and have a lengthy podfic I'm doing for a friend's birthday pressie.

Thank you so much though! I enjoy podding even though I have to have a couple of beers in me before I do any of the stuff in this particular series.

[mjluvspolar.livejournal.com]

Yay! *does snoppy dance* You have those drinks hon - whatever gets you through it! Seriously, I've been really, *really* bad with feedback this last year (barely have time to read actually, thus podfic!) but I LOVE this series and THANK YOU so much for recording it because I probably wouldn't have even know it existed it otherwise.