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We just got hit by a great thunderstorm. If there's one thing I miss about the midwest, it's thunderstorms. I love those.
Yesterday Mitsubishi replaced the steering wheel in my Lancer under warranty. It wasn't a huge deal, but the bottom of the original wheel felt like there was no finish. I was afraid it was just going to spontaneously combust in the sun at some point. I mentioned it the last time I was having my oil changed, and the guy, without quibbling at all, said that they'd warranty it. I couldn't believe it. Now I've just got to ditch the bling-bling rims for some smooth riding ones, and I'll be set. I look back on the decision to buy a car, and while I pay for the privilege, I still have no regrets.
Les has a good write up on the state of alternative music radio on his blog. I totally agree with him, and here's my two cents: I like Nirvana enough to not let the Trend ruin it for me, so I just quit listening to the End and that did the trick. And his friend had it right on KEXP. It's way too damn pretentious. It was much better as a poor colllege radio station than it is now, and the wankers took out the commercial free classic rock station in Tacoma that I enjoyed, and that had a great metal show on Thursday nights. KEXP has a decent show every now and then, but I think it's just trying to be too many things.
But Seattle = Nirvana...
You know you miss having Nirvana played every other song...
Not that it matters much to you, but Seattle is in radio upheaval again. The End, 96.5 (formerly "The Point")... even my personal preference of C89.5 is going through a small identity crisis, although their music is still pretty much the same.
Glad I have an iPod.
still in flux?
That was beginning the last winter I was in the Seattle area. 96.5 switched formats to "classic alternative" and so did the Trend.
C89.5? C'mon man...how much bad techno can you handle?
Radio
Since last summer when both 96.5 and 107.7 went 'back to roots' a few things have happened.
96.5 dropped the alternative altogether and Shitfinity went JACK on them, even their DJ's didn't find out until after it happened (scroll down to almost the bottom, I didn't realize that Andy was keeping up his blog since he's not on radio).
107.7 has gotten a bit better at least in terms of hearing new song every 45 minutes, now it's only Nirvana that they reserve that for. The Trend also only plays maybe 3-5 new songs an hour now. They have a new punk show on Saturday nights.
While I like Loveline I think it should have stayed on 100.7 the 'talk' station but since they moved it to the end they don't have to pay a DJ to play for those hours and they get another talk show on the buzz.
Essentially the only 'alternative' rock stations left in Seattle are KSIW and KNDD both Entercom stations.
C89 is still pretty much the same, a station ran by a highschool that plays trance and some variety shows through out the week. When I delivered pizza I listened to it quite a bit because it's the station that plays the least amount of commercials, most of their money comes from donations. Wether or not I'm always in the mood for trance I'm not going to gripe about a station that's giving kids a chance for hands-on experience in front of and behind the mic at a production radio station. Power to them.
Sadly, the JACK-type stations are probably the closest thing to putting all your albums into mp3, throwing them into the software player and hitting 'random', the bad thing is it's like being stuck in the mythical land of 'lite' FM. According to friends that know, we'd all be ashamed of the numbers lite FM produces but then again what other types of stations are work friendly for your musical wallpaper?
Lastly as I said in my blog, I know part of it is me. Whether it's because I'm getting older or just not listening to the radio as much as I used to (I'm not in my car as often which in my 20's was the primary place for me to listen) which is bittersweet. I remember the days/nights spent waiting to get 'perfect' recordings of songs off the radio and then using those tapes to make mix tapes. The MP3 has made all of that MUCH easier provided you don't get thrown in the pokey or shook-down for $3K because you downloaded Air Supply.
Music is subjective and pretentious, I'm going to go to hell for putting Tiffany's 'I think we're alone now' over and over again on one side of a 90 minute tape back in 7th grade but I know everyone else has committed their FUBARs as well. Besides, Tiffany was hot (and still is. Did you see her in Playboy?).
-Les
-Do you ever walk alone like a drifter in the dark?
kexp was pretty pretentious,
kexp was pretty pretentious, but when it comes to music, so am i and so are most people. yeah, a lot of the time it sucked, but i got exposed to some really great bands i would never have heard of otherwise. i miss that. the punk show in norfolk was good for that too, but punk can be limited, whereas kexp could play whatever. (even though they almost never played punk). it was still the best radio station i've ever heard.
Gotta be better than here!
One thing I've learned in all my travels is that with regards to FM broadcasting in major metro areas - Chicago is the armpit of radio. Every station is owned by the same company. They all play their commercials at the same time on every station. (Hmm... a bit of strategic planning there?) Oh, and the BS to music ratio is terrible! It's almost a guarantee that if you tune in at any given time, you won't hear music! And when they do play music, it's the same drivel over and over again until you want to puke. The only good station is the one not owned by Clear Channel Entertainment, and it's just a small classic rock station out of Crown Point, IN.
Chicago radio blows. My MP3 player in the Jeep is my only salvation.
I agree
It's really no different here in Phoenix. There's basically one classic rock station, KSLX, and they play more commercials and talk than music, I swear. There is another, KDKB, that occasionally plays some cool music, but all evening and most of the night, it's an "Alice Cooper" show with tons of commercials. I've listened to enough of Alice Cooper's views to decide that he is a total prick. And most of the music he plays is garbage.
There are two bright spots in Phoenix radio. KEDJ 103.9; they're an independent station, and they have a great, intelligent morning crew. They play decent music most of the time, and they have cool shows, such as a ska-punk show every night. They have a "declaration of independence" where they list the things that they will and will not do, such as they will never talk over songs, etc.
The other one is a commercial free classic rock station. 103.1 (I don't know the call sign.) It's totally automated, and just breaks for the station ID. The only problem is that some of the music is kinda weird, since it will play anything from a given album; even the songs that were stinkers.
It has been 10 years since I
It has been 10 years since I have lived in Chicago, But WNUR always seemed to be incorruptable, as long as laid back pot smoking DJ's are your thing. http://www.wnur.org/