Has anyone else found themselves searching recently for something remotely decent on the FM dial around Chicagoland? I can't even fill out my six presets anymore, let alone the second set of six presets. You have to love all their slogans like we play anything, mix of today's music, and we're on shuffle. First of all, when I turn on a station I want to know remotely what I'm going to get. If you follow Nirvana with the Safety Dance, that doesn't make for palatable radio. Secondly, you can't say that you have a mix of today's music when your "new" music is already on its way down the charts. Someone tell me when the Mix turned into the Lite. Finally, if you actually want to hear some new rock music now, you can count on one or two tracks per hour as the rest of the time is spent rehashing the many successes of Nada Surf and Marcy's Playground. God love those guys for their one hit, but leave it up to me and my iPod as to whether or not I ever want to hear them again.
Now if a crappy playlist isn't enough, you have these stations pestering you about HD radio. I don't need radio in HD; I just need one decent song during my 3 mile trek home for lunch. Let's run down the list of popular stations: 95.9 the river has an average mix of classic rock and somewhat modern rock if modern means the 90s, 96.3 is just flat out awful with bleeped out rap music and remixed dance crap, 97.1 is probably one of the better stations with mixing in some deep cuts from classic albums and old favorites (just cool it on the Steely Dan a little), 101.1 is still my favorite despite constantly trying to reinvent itself (at least they brought back top 9 at 9), 101.9 used to be ok to find some average newer music but they're about six months behind reality, and 103.5 just plays fast paced dance music. Sprinkle in a host of country stations and channels with too low of bandwidth to recognize and you see my dilemma.
What is the answer to all these problems? Buy a new vehicle with an AUX connector to hook up your iPod. If you can't afford that, you should probably just go out and buy yourself a real album. I know call me crazy with iTunes available to only download popular singles, but it might behoove you every once in awhile to actually try and like a band. It certainly makes going to concerts much more interesting. If you fail at both of thoses, turn over to AM radio and you have three options: Angry sports talk guys talking about how bad all the teams in the city are, assholic, pompous, self righteous right wingers and left wingers each telling you how to live every moment of your life, or radio disney. Good luck in your musical escapades through Chicagoland.
Digital Ditty
This week I've got a similar style of music for you to check out. Even though they haven't released anything new recently, give the english gents Keane a spin on your iPod. I would personally suggest Nothing in my Way. It's a catchy tune with some pretty deep lyrics. A few other, more well known tracks from these guys are Somewhere Only We Know and Is It Any Wonder. They're all worthy of the meager online fees or feel free to grab a whole album. Easy listening for a warm summer day in the hammock with your favorite beverage.
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No XRT love? Sure they don't play a whole lot of hard rock, but they have a track list that goes more than 10 deep. They even play Keane.
ReplyDeleteI do have XRT as a preset. That was a miss by me. I love when they'll give me some second string tracks off Vs. or Vitalogy, but the eight minute Velvet Underground tunes throw me off. They have potential, but they could split themselves into two radio stations: older deep cuts and modern college radio. The combination gets confusing.
ReplyDeleteFM radio has gone Shitty and that is why i listen to AM radio like the news or now that the SCore is overnight i listen to that. I know i sound like a old person but if i want to listen to music i have my ipod car adaptor or my CDs in my car. dont get my wrong I have my presets like 103.5 for the Drex but i rather listen to the music i like. PS i like Keane i have a few of there songs
ReplyDeleteFrom Tom Quinn
Drex is a must listen in the morning on the FM dial, but other than that XM is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThe rap game wants you back Sweet Pete. Go get "Always Strapped" for a welcome back present.
Of course, WCSJ could bring back the Sunday Show to Morris radio.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the timing of the CSJ post, we may have some nepotism at play there, but yes Morris would be a brighter, shiner place with their Sunday show back. Apparently, I do have to take a peak at some rap again as former MCHS pom standout and current Miami Heat dancer Kenya Patterson is part of Flo Rida's latest video.
ReplyDeleteShe was featured in "Elevator" last year.
ReplyDelete