iCringe: Irrational Behavior, Analog Hole Gaming, Rebel FM and MBMBaM

After an excruciatingly long hiatus, iCringe is back, baby! In the time since our mega-sized Podcast Review Round-Up, the list of recommended shows has grown quite long. You can expect a new iCringe every week this month, each and every Saturday in May! We’ll return to our bi-monthly release schedule once we finish our spring cleaning, assuming the continental United States still exists in June. It’s been over a week since we lost the Eastern Seaboard to a heretofore unknown lizard-creature.

Le sigh.

In celebration of the birth of Nukezilla and the return of iCringe, I’ve decided to throw something new into the mix. Just as I’m sure every regular reader does more than play games and listen to gaming podcasts, I’ve decided to throw in some of my non-gaming related regular favorites into the mix as well. These shows will still receive a “review” but the initial batch will all receive my highest commendation, “Still Subscribed!” as they are all close to my heart and soon to be yours as well.

Feel free to weigh in below with your feedback on the new addition and with any suggestions of new podcasts you’d like reviewed, gaming or otherwise. Finally, for NG and Nukezilla user, James_El: You’re welcome!

Irrational Behavior – Episode 5: What Are We Afraid Of (?)

This week’s show is a bit underwhelming, considering the high notes the show launched on. Hundreds of sound bites from around the studio on what scares you delivered a surprisingly banal set of responses. Even the show’s host and narrator, Sean Elliot (of former GFW Radio a.k.a. 97.5 The BRODEO fame) reflects on this strangely homogeneous response from his peers. With that said, I get the feeling they may be building a subtle portfolio of hints directed at their still unannounced next project. Only time will tell.

Irrational Behavior is a great studio culture focused show that employs the NPR style of audio presentation which is growing in popularity these days (see also: A Life Well Wasted and This American Life). Each episode discusses a broad topic with a strong mix of humor, insight and straight talk. I for one will never tire of hearing Ken Levine discuss his and others’ games, but the “Ken Levine Show” this is not. Irrational Games seems to be a bitchin’ place to work making games and Irrational Behavior spotlights the talent and life contained within those hallowed walls.

Analog Hole Gaming – Episode 159

One of my first observations and admissions regarding my taste in podcasts was that “in-jokes” and incessant self-mocking humor can be a death knell for any gaming podcast. While it’s the first episodes I’ve listened to, the early part of this week’s show was consumed early on by World of Warcraft raidplaining and call backs to indecipherable references by my virgin ears. Thankfully, there is a lot of broad coverage of games, D&D and strangely enough US economics towards the middle and latter parts of the show, however I don’t anticipate a majority of the listening audience will make it through the first 15 minutes and the constant            dead           air.

Sadly, the production values and overall pacing of the show is top notch, by most gaming podcast standards. With some focus and a newbie friendly approach to the delivery, Analog Hole has major promise. This is one that I will have to come back to for the next Round Up in the hopes that I just chanced upon the show in an off-week. Seeing that they’re already on episode 159, it’s unlikely that this is the case.

Rebel FM – Episode 60

“Vaginal Companion”. This is not a phrase I’m familiar with in polite conversation and I’m far from being a stuck up prude. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a “gaming dad” with two girls that causes the general tone and vocabulary employed herein to nauseate my audio palette. There a dissection of Alan Wake to be enjoyed, if you’re into having narrative focused games described in detail before release. Avoid at all costs of you’re like me and can’t relate to the stoner-chic that provides the foundation of Rebel FM’s current cast of rogues.

I used to listen to this show for the first month it started. There were news posts all over the gaming blogs and I liked the initial vibe of the show. Clearly, for me, something’s changed from Episode 1 to 60 and this one is a pass. Depending on your sensibilities this may be totally up your alley and in that case please enjoy.

My Brother,  My Brother and Me – Episode 4: Hey Jeffrey

Easily the creepiest episode thus far, “Hey Jeffrey” will assault your ears with subliminal messages of friendship and inappropriate touching. If you’re interested in becoming part of the ever-growing MBMBaM cult, start out at Episode 1. This one may leave the unprepared in a fragile mental state. In all seriousness though, they’ve got to drop the use of the term “mamba” as the phonetic pronunciation of this phenomenon. Everyone knows it’s pronounced “EmBee-EmBee-AhMmmmmmm”…what, no takers?

This show has been my podcast highlight of this year. Justin McElroy, riding tall from his top-notch antics on the Joystiq Podcast has roped in the rest of the Generation Y McElroys: Travis and Griffin. Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to use shampoo as a body wash? What IS the haunting cord progression featured in ABC Family’s hit show GREEK? All these questions and more will be answered on a weekly basis. Be careful though, more than one listen a day is harmful to your emotional and spiritual health. If your nerd boner lasts for more than four hours, contact your nearest family physician.