Customer Reviews

Crimebusters & Crossed Wires: Stories from This American Life

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THe first story alone (about an unfortunate incident involving a squirrel and a couple of rookie policemen) had my husband and I laughing SO hard we collapsed onto the nearest chairs. The rest of the excerpts from THis American Life are equally fun to listen to, but we still think the squirrel story is the topper. If you're taking a road trip, this will definitely keep you awake and its a nice choice for a snowy or rainy afternoon, when you just want to veg out. Excellent!

I you're familiar with the radio show This American Life, then you know the vibe of this CD. If you're not familiar, you're in for a treat. These stories give you the perfect excuse to turn off the TV, unplug the phone, and do something that we never really do anymore in this fast-paced world: listen to stories. Being a musician, I love the story about forming a band from the classified ads. Tragic and hilarious...been there! Get this CD, you'll really enjoy it.

This second volume of "the best" of "This American Life" is another gem! Each of these stories is amazing in its own right, and each is a perfect example of what a phenomenal show TAL really is.

Most of these stories are on the humorous side, which is really just one side of the show; however, it's still a well-rounded collection. If you are trying to turn someone on to the show, this is an excellent CD to introduce them to it.

The only thing that I didn't like about the CD was the time between Vols. 1 & 2. Come on, TAL...give us more of the best!

I am a regular and avid listener of This American Life (TAM) and have loved Squirrel Cop since I first heard it on the radio. Then when they paired that amazing, anonymous confession of rookie cop bravado with the equally hilarious essay of language barriers by David Sedaris...I knew I had to have this CD set.

Since receiving them, I have listened to all the stories several times (and a few range into dozens of times). Each and every story is worth listening to more than once. The son and father who work out a drug problem by simple "spying on your kid", the lessons learned by being a band geek, and the newest, greatest party/dinner question of all time - it's a collection of stories that are diverse yet centric to life as a 21st century human.

The stories never get old, as I find more in them each time I listen, like petals opening in a blooming flower. I play them while I travel, at work in my office, at home while cleaning and for anyone who has never heard of TAM.

It has now become a topic of office discussion and I've had to buy more copies to give as gifts. In fact, at a recent gift exchange, it was the most sought after present there.

You have to get these CDs! If you're life if full of stress, involves a long commute or you just need a diversion from your everyday life - then here's the CD set you need!

I recieved this CD when I bellied up to the bar so to speak and became a member of KPCC(public Radio)in California. I paid 120.00 for my member ship and recieved this cd as a thank you...It was worth every dime and I would do it every year if they had one! So at what ever this site is charging..it's a DEAL! But, Join public radio any way!

I have listened to this over and over. It's so funny. I absolutely love it!
PS
Don't take this to the gym with you because you won't be able to do any exercise from laughing so hard.

"This American Life" is fantastic, eclectic, unusual, and often funny. The art of storytelling is dying in America. This collection of stories breathes new life into it. Some of the stories are laugh out-loud funny ("The Little Mermaid") and some are thought-provoking, but all are worthwhile.

This American Life is both a great radio program as well as an amazing television program. I believe I am the biggest fan a passive listener can be. And of the three "best of" sets out there, I think the second one "Crimebusters & Crossed Wires" is the best mainly because it most accurately reflects the wide emotional balance a full episode of the program can provide. (The first set missed that mark completely, and the more recent set is a little too dark and depressing for repeat listens.)

That said, you can only listen to the same 10 stories so many times before they start to wear down. Even if these were the all-time best 10 TAL stories in the history of the show -- which not even the creators of the collection would argue -- they would get tired by the third spin. I think this is the perfect means of introduction to the show... I've let a couple friends borrow this, and when they ask for more, I lead them to the podcast or to NPR... but that's as far as something like this can go.

Basically you should buy this because you're a die-hard fan of the show, or you're basically paying $16 for something you most likely won't listen to more than twice. I'm okay with the second option, because I'm supporting a show that I want to keep going, but a free and clear donation would have done the same.

Hilarious and fascinating - great for the car or cleaning the house on a rainy day.

Contains Squirrel Cop which is the stuff of urban legends.