We Want the Airwaves: June 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

A Short Respite -- KEGE of Pocatello, Idaho

Wow. Just to remind you of what a real alternative station sounds like, here is a sample of what Pocatello Idaho's KEGE was playing last week

I've Got Friends -- Manchester Orchestra
LES Artistes -- Santogold
Bittersweet Symphony -- The Verve
Thnks fr the Mmrs -- Fall Out Boy
Semi Charmed Life -- Third Eye Blind
One Day -- Matishyahu
Wannabe in LA -- Eagles of Death Metal
Panic Switch -- Silversun Pickups
Miss Murder -- AFI
Glow -- Alien Ant Farm
The Underdog -- Spoon
Zero -- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Pale Bride -- The Von Bondis
Adam's Song -- Blink 182.

I feel a little better now. Not a bad little station

Clear Channel Playoffs - Quarterfinals KRAB v. KDGE

We're entering the quarterfinals to see which Clear Channel owned alternative station plays the lamest music. KRAB of Bakersfield CA. meets KDGE of Dallas TX

KRAB
Love Me Dead -- Ludo vs.
KDGE
Audience of One -- Rise Against
Ludo grabs KRAB the early lead

Paralyzer -- Finger 11 vs.
Outshined -- Soundgarden
KRAB again

Young -- Hollywood Undead vs.
Numb -- Linkin Park
Strong play from KDGE, but no match for the awesome lamenesss of Hollywood Undead

Rise Above This -- Seether vs.
Sound of Madness -- Shinedown
KRAB going for the kill, but a brillant counterpunch by KDGE to finally get on the board

By the Way -- Red Hot Chili Peppers vs.
Give It Away -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
KRAB picks the inferior Chili Peppers song 4-1 KRAB

Something -- Escape the Fate vs.
Fake It -- Seether
Like picking between Hitler or Stalin. KDGE by a hair

If This Was Your Last Day -- Nickelback vs.
Feel Good Drag -- Anberlin
KRAB again. Can do no worse than a tie now.

Lifeline -- Papa Roach vs.
Epic -- Faith No More
KRAB wins!

The rest
KRAB
In Bloom -- Nirvana
Let's Go Crazy -- Incubus

KDGE
Somebody Told Me -- The Killers
Polly -- Nirvana

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Clear Channel Playoffs -- Round 2 WXPX v. WXSR

WXPX Pittsburgh, PA. v. WXSR Sarasota FL. A station that got a bye just for having a section on its website called the "Red Light District" Plus a link to "947 Thongs". Cause they're so committed to the music

WXPX
Help I'm Alive -- Metric vs.
WXSR
Last Resort -- Papa Roach
WXSR takes the early lead

Heartless - The Fray vs.
You're Gonna Go Far Kid -- Offspring
WXPX wins here. I'd rather listen to Kanye West's original or any other song by the Fray.

A Dustland Fairytale -- The Killers vs.
Fine Again -- Seether
Yech. I think I threw up in my mouth. Draw.

I Almost Told You That I Loved You -- Papa Roach vs.
Sink Into Me -- Taking Back Sunday
WXPX takes the lead

Savior -- Rise Against vs.
Sometime After Midnight -- Airborne Toxic Event
In a major upset WXPX has a 3-1 advantage

1901 -- Phoenix vs.
Ain't No Rest for the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant
Tough call. Too tough, as these are twp good songs -- draw

It's Alright -- 311 vs.
Plush -- Stone Temple Pilots
I gotta go for the fauz-grunge. WXSR

Notion -- Kings of Leon vs.
Drive -- Incubus
Another tough choice, as neither song sucks. WXSR by a hair

I Get Off -- Halestorm vs.
Use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
WXPX again creeps into the lead

Contagious -- Trapt vs.
All Apologies -- Nirvana
WXPX upset!!!! Onto Round 3

Clear Channel Playoffs Round 2 -- WTZB v. WXEG

This time it's WTZB of Sarasota FL v. WXEG of Dayton, OH. I've drivem through Dayton and tried to tune into their altermatove station but couldn't find it. Now I know why!

WTZB
Know Your Enemy -- Green Day vs.
WXEG
Bat Country -- Avenged Sevenfold
WXEG wins big on this one

Wish You Were Here -- Incubus vs.
Re-education Through Labor -- Rise Against
This is a close call I like both of these songs. WTZB by a nose

Hey You -- 311
Undead -- Hollywood Undead
No competition here WXEG's choice is clearly inferior

Sex on Fire -- Kings of Leon vs.
In Bloom -- Nirvana
2 classic songs -- draw

Man in a Box -- Alice in Chains vs.
The Night -- Disturbed
WXEG wins this round

Sound of Madness -- Shinedown vs.
Remedy -- Seether
One of the few times I'll prefer Seether to something. WTZB wins this one

Toxicity -- System of a Down vs.
Sooner of Later -- Breaking Bejamin
WXEG wins this one. WXEG is ahead 4-2

Audience of One -- Rise Against vs.
The Unforgiven -- Metallica
A really good punk song vs. one of the best metal songs -- draw.

Santeria -- Sublime vs.
Death of Me -- Red
Sublime's most obnoxious song vs. Red, who's video I couldn't bear to listen more than 30 seonds of? Do I gotta choose? I call it a draw.

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant vs.
Sillworld -- Stonesour
Looks like we got a winner -- WXEG goes on to the next round to battle it for the title of lamest alternative station.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Clear Channel Playoffs -- Round 2 WEND v. WPLA

WEND out of Charlotte NC now faces Jacksonville FL's Planet Radio WPLA. WPLA, by the way got a bye for a sweet little feature called "Web Ho Wednesday"

WEND
New Divide -- Linkin Park
Shine -- Collective Soul
Funny the Way It Is -- Dave Matthews Band
Creep -- Radiohead
Use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
Through Glass -- Stone Sour
Cold -- Evans Blue
Champagne -- Cavo
Someday -- Nickelback
Let it Die -- Foo Fighters

WPLA
Miss Murder -- AFI
Low -- Cracker
Bad Girfriend -- Theory of a Deadman
Why Don't You Get A Job -- Offspring
Kryptonite -- 3 Doors Down
Helena -- My Chemical Romance
Touch, Peel and Stand -- Days of the New
Riot -- 3 Days Grace
First Date -- Blink 182
Drive -- Incubus

This deserves a closer look
Linkin Park nudges out AFI (barely)
Collective Soul v. Cracker -- I like both songs but Collective Soul a little less
Theory of a Deadman v. Dave Matthews? TOD by a rout.
I like the Offspring but they are no match for Radiohead
3 Doors Down is definitely outclassed by Kings of Leon
Helena is just OK, while Through Glass is far and away Stone Sour's best song
Evans Blue v. Days of the New? meh all around -- I call a draw on that one
I hate hate hate that Cavo song even worse than Riot and that's saying something
Nickelback clearly has the edge over Blink 182's charming "First Date" in the suck department.
Let it Die v. Drive? I lke both. another draw.
A 4-4 tie! This calls for a 3 song overtime

WEND
Sound of Madness -- Shinedown
Song 2 -- Blur
Audience of One -- Rise Against

WPLA
Feel Good Drag -- Anberlin
Today -- Smashing Pumpkins
You're Going Down -- Sick Puppies

Each station won a round and the middle one was a draw. That means --

DOUBLE OVERTIME!

WEND
Whiskey Hangover -- Godsmack
It's Not My Time -- 3 Doors Down
Sink Into Me -- Taking Back Sunday

WPLA
Champagne -- Cavo
Brain Stew -- Green Day
Pain -- Jimmy Eat World

In a minor upset WEND takes it in double overtime

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Clear Channel Playoffs Round 2 KDGE v. KTBZ

Interesting matchup here Dallas's KDGE (The Edge) vs. Houston's KTBZ (The Buzz) to see who is the lamest in Texas. They both tie for the most generic branding.

KDGE
Creep -- Stone Temple Pilots
Times Like These -- Foo Fighters
Killing in the Name of -- Rage Against the Machine
Dirt Room -- Blue October
Somewhere I Belong -- Linkin Park
All the Small Things -- Blink 182
This Is It -- Staind
Can't Stop -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Pardon Me -- Incubus
I Get It -- Chevelle

KTBZ
Seasons -- Veer Union
Fight for Your Right to Party -- Beastie Boys
Feel Good Drag -- Anberlin
Cold -- Crossfade
Audience of One -- Rise Against
What I've Done -- Linkin Park
Under the Bridge -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Careless Whispter -- Seeter
Decode -- Parammore
Indestructable -- Disturbed

This is a tough one. Let's go song by song.

Seasons is a really good hard rock song,with a strong melody and intersting lyrics. Creep is an incoherent pseudo grunge ballad. Advantage KDGE

I Love the Foo Fighters but Fight for Your Right is a classic KDGE "wins" again

Rage against Anberlin? Sorry no contest. Round to KTBZ

Cold is a generic NuMetal ballad but it pales next to the excreable "Dirt Room" KDGE is the lamest of this round

Linkin Park vs. Rise Against's best song? Are you kidding me? KDGE again

All the Small Things vs. What I've Done? Blink 182's most annoying song vs. one of the few tolerable Linkin Park songs. KDGE again.

This is It is absolutely unlistenable. KDGE

Even a weak Chili Peppers song can beat Seether any day. KTBZ wins this one.

Incubus v. Paramore? Draw.

I'll take Chevelle over Disturbed to give the last round to KTBZ, but it's too little too late. KDGE is the winner and goes onto

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Searching for the Worst Clear Channel Station -- WWDC v. WXDX

WWDC is as one might guess a station out of the Nation's capital. WXDX is out of Pittsburgh, Pa. Let the games begin...

WWDC
Vasoline -- Stone Temple Pilots
Last Resort -- Poppa Roach
Face Down -- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
You Shook Me All Night Long -- AC/DC
I Don't Care -- Apocalyptica
Learn to Fly-- Foo Fighters
Take Me Out -- Franz Ferdinand
Aint No Rest for the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant
Scar Tissue -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Just A Girl -- No Doubt

WXDX
Sound of Madness -- Shinedown
Creep -- Stone Temple Pilots
All the Small Things -- Blink 182
Careless Whisper -- Seether
one -- Metallica
Don't Look Back In Anger -- Oasis
Use Smebody -- Kings of Leon
Better Man -- Pearl Jam
You're Going Down -- Sick Puppies
Falling Away From Me -- Korn

A strong finish for KXDX and that station will go onto Round 2

Based upon this set this station COULD -- GO -- ALL -- THE -- WAY!

Search for the Worst Clear Channel Station -- WRFF v. WRXL

WRFF is the only Clear Channel station I've listened to on an extensive basis as I discovered it while driving to Long Island to visit my mother in the hospital, and to help sell her house. (She's in Louisville now and doing better, thank you. The signal's, originating in the Philadelphia area, is strong enough to be heard in the Poconos & Northern New Jersey near the Deleware Water Gap. It is quite listenable, and helped me through the drives, along with Centenary College's AAA station and to a lesser extent, hard rock formatted "The Bone". WRFF can't hold a candle to the HD2 & internet competition Y-Rock on XPN. Up against WRFF is WRXL out of Richmond Va.

WRFF
Basket Case--Green Day
In Too Deep -- Sum 41
If I Had Eyes -- Jack Johnson
Crawling in the Dark -- Hoobastank
Decode -- Paramore
Sober -- Tool
99 Red Balloons -- Goldfinger
Come As You Are -- Nirvana
Funny the Way It Is -- Dave Matthews Band
Gone Daddy Gone -- Violent Femmes

WRXL
Tripping on a Hole in a Paper Heart --Stone Temple Pilots
Feel Good Drag -- Anberlin
Girls, Girls, Girls, -- Motley Crue
(I'm calling it for WRXL right here, invoking the Mercy rule)

For the morbidly curious here's the rest of the random 10

Holiday -- Green Day
Bad Girlfriend -- Theory of a Deadman
In the Meantime -- Spacehog
I'm Not OK (I Promise) -- My Chemical Romance
Through Glass -- Stone Sour
Re-education (Through Labor) -- Rise Against
The Chemicals Between Us -- Bush

Friday, June 19, 2009

Searching for the Worst Clear Channel Station -- WEND v. WMAX

It's North Carolina v. Michigan next WEND out of Charlotte of which I hope to hear "THE END" of and WMAX of Grand Rapids MI. let's see how they stack up:

WEND
Use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
Wasting My Time -- Default
Whiskey Hangover -- Godsmack
Psycho -- Puddle of Mudd
Numb -- Linkin Park
Black Heart Inertia -- Incubus
I've Got Friends -- Machester Orchestra
Bartender -- Rehab
Feel Good, Inc. -- Gorillaz
Just like You -- 3 Days Grace

WMAX
Use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
Hey Man Nice Shot -- Filter
Long Gone -- Chris Cornell
Bright Lights -- Matchbox 20
Oxygen -- Living Things
The Boys of Summer -- The Ataris
Aint No Rest of the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant
Hey Jeolousy -- Gin Blossoms
Champagne Supernova -- Oasis
Island in the Sun -- Weezer

Wow. WEND managed to string together a set of four songs that would not only force me to switch to another station but would be an incentive to remove the station from my presets. This station definitely has Cinderella potential. The Ataris and Matchbox 20 simply don't stand up in comparison. Yeah I actually like the Gin Blossoms who are way underrated because they were pop. So It's onto the next round for WEND.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Searching for the Worst Clear Channel Station: KTCL V. KTEG

Next competition pits KTCL from Denver v. KTEG from Albequeque/Santa Fe NM

KTCL
Here in Your Bedroom -- Goldfinger
Steady As She Goes -- The Raconteurs
Clocks -- Coldplay
Girfriends -- Single File
Ain't No Rest for the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant
Lovesong -- The Cure
Typical -- Tickle Me Pint
Little Things -- Bush
One in the Afternoon -- Panic At the Disco
Rock & Roll Lifestyle -- Cake

KTEG
Cumbersome -- Seven Mary Three
Aint No Rest for the Wicked -- Cage the Elephant
Bleed it Out -- Linkin Park
She -- Green Day
All My Life -- Foo Fighters
Killing in the Name -- Rage Against the Machine
Use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
Black Hole Sun -- Soundgarden
No You Girls -- Franz Ferdinand
Toxicity -- System of a Down

In a major upset, KTEG is eliminated as the Bush/Panic At the Disco combo proved to be too much.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Searching for the worst Clear Channel station-- KCCQ v. KCNL

This is my new sacred quest. It is indisputable that Clear Channel has done more than any other radio chain to wreck the Alternative rock format. So I'm having a playoff of Clear Channel Stations to test the depths of suckitude. The first two contenders in the First Round are KCCQ of Ames, IA. and KCNL of San Jose, CA. Ten songs from the playlist of each station, loser take all.

KCCQ
Sheenah Is A Punk Rocker -- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Midlife Crisis -- Faith No More
Here In YOur Bedroom -- Goldfinger
Old Enough -- Raconteurs
No Cars Go -- Arcade Fire
Gold Dust Woman -- Hole
Flowing --311
Take It Off -- The Donnas
Too High for the Supermarket -- Uninvited
Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat -- Beck

KCNL
Help I'm Alive -- Metric
Bittersweet Symphony -- The Verve
Feels Like Teen Spirit -- Nirvana
Notion -- Kings of Leon
Wishing Well -- Airborne Toxic Event
By the Way -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Hand That Feeds -- Nine Inch Nails
Panic Switch -- Silversun Pickups
Mysterious Ways -- U2
Old White Lincoln -- Gaslight Anthem

Wow, I must admit that didn't suck at all. However the victor is clear because KCCQ is disqualified for use of Arcade Fire. KCNL goes onto the next round.

Friday, June 12, 2009

KPNT -- not quite everything alternative

If your idea of alternative is heavy doses of Puddle of Mudd, Shinedown, Three Days Grace and Hollywood Undead with an occasional Kings of Leon thrown in, then KPNT is the station for you.

Here is a typical hour:

Aenima -- Tool
Woman -- Wolfmother
Downfall -- Trust Company
Polyamorous -- Breaking Benjamin
Dirt Room -- Blue October
In the End -- Linkin Park
The Night -- Disturbed
Wrong Way -- Sublime
I Don't Care -- Apocalyptica
Big Empty -- Stone Temple Pilots
Feel Good Inc. -- Gorillaz

Alarming statistics -- Female solo artists played in 24 hour period -- 0
Bands with female members played within 24 hour period -- 5
1) Smashing Pumpkins
2) Hole
3) Silversun Pickups
4) Airborne Toxic Event
5) Garbage

Thursday, June 11, 2009

WMMM -- Closer to Lame

I really don't mind the softer AAA stations. When I'm in the mood to chill, the best of them evoke a sense of place like no other format. WDST epitomises Woodstock, KGSR is Austin personified and you can practically smell the sea breeze when you listen to WMVY out of Nantucket,

You would think that a station out of Madison Wisconsin would have a hip edge to it. You would be wrong

Kodachrome -- Paul Simon
Love Song -- The Cure
Love Sneaking Up On You -- Bonnie Raitt
In the Mood -- Robert Plant
When I Dream of Michelangelo -- Counting Crows
Come Together -- The Beatles
Snow (Hey Oh) -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Good Thing -- The BoDeans
Closer to Love -- Matt Kearney
Angel of Harlem -- U2
Lullaby -- Shawn Mullins

This hour of programming evokes a nervous Program Director, desperately trying not to offend a focus group of 30 something housewives. These songs could be put on a playlist of any adult contemporary station without anyone batting an eyelash. (And all but one or two of them already have been)

WMMM is an Entercom station and this seems to be a pattern with this chain's AAA stations -- they go soft and safe.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

WRXP -- Not great yet

WRXP of New York City bills itself as the "New York Rock Expericne" On paper it's a great idea -- combine great classic rcok tracks, classic new wave and current alternative rock with knowlegable radio personalities. How can you hate a station that has a daily feature called the "Punk trunk"? Or a station that reports as AAA but plays the Silversun Pickups and Iggy Pop?

Why then is this station not in my top 10 favorite stations?

Here's a sample hour:

Come Out and Play -- Offspring
True Faith -- New Order
use Somebody -- Kings of Leon
Welcome to the Jungle -- Guns n Roses
One Love/People Get Ready -- Bob Marley & the Wailers
Where the Streets Have No Name -- U2
You Never Know -- Wilco
Everlong -- The Foo Fighters
Peace Frog/Blue Sunday -- The Doors
Stay Positive -- The Hold Steady
Smells Like Teen Spirit -- Nirvana
On the Turning Away -- Pink Floyd

1) When you have a very eclectic playlist and format, you need to be careful about sequence and transitions, otherwise you have a random sounding "Ipod on shuffle" effect and some jarring musical contrasts,

2) Friends don't let friends play post-Roger Waters Pink Floyd.

3) Has anyone else noticed that the new Wilco single sorta stinks? Ok that was a bit off topic, but still...

In short this is a station I love to have on, but when I have it on, I always have my finger ready to push the other preset buttons.

Monday, June 8, 2009

WRLT TOP 100 of 2008

WRLT is a AAA based in Nashville, TN. Much like KGSE very rootsy and singer-songwriterish.

1. If I Had Eyes -- Jack Johnson
2. I Will Possess Your Heart -- Death Cab for Cutie
3. Supernatural Superserious -- R.E.M.
4. I'm Yours -- Jason Mraz
5. The Way I Am -- Ingrid Michaelson
6. You Can't Count on Me -- Counting Crows
7. Long Road to Ruin -- Foo Fighters
8. Hard Sun -- Eddie Vedder
9. Dream Catch Me -- Newton Faulkner
10. I'm Amazed -- My Morning Jacket
11. Hope -- Jack Johnson
12. Love Song -- Sara Barilles
13. Come Around -- Counting Crows
14. Shattered (Turn the Car Around) -- O.A.R.
15. 27 Jennifers -- Mike Doughty
16. Violet Hill -- Coldplay
17. Old Enough -- The Raconteurs
18. Dirty City -- Steve Winwood
19. Falling In Love in a Coffee Shop -- Landon Pigg
20. Mercy -- Duffy
21. Listen -- Amos Lee
22. New Soul --Yael Naim
23. Viva La Vida -- Coldplay
24, Lost! -- Coldplay
25. Rich Woman -- Robert Plant & Alsion Krauss
26. Take Back the City -- Soul Patrol
27. You Are the Best Thing -- Ray La Montangne
28. Scare Easy -- Mudcrutch
29. Love Remains the Same -- Gavin Rossdale
30. Hollow Man -- R.E.M.
31. Rock & Roll -- Eric Hutchison
32. More Time -- Need to Breathe
33. Love is Free* -- Sheryl Crow
34. Life, Love & Laughter -- Donavon Frankenreiter
35. Believe -- The Bravery
36. Nothing Ever Hurt Like You -- James Morrison
37. Peace Love & Happiness -- G Love & Special Sauce
38. Please Read the Letter -- Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
39. Jigsaw Falling Into Place -- Radiohead
40. Orphans -- Beck
41. Sweet & Low -- Augustana
42. Say Hey (I Love Yor) -- Michael Franti & Spearhead
43. That's Entgrainment -- Van Morrison
44. Funplex -- The B52's
45. Trashcan -- The Delta Spirit
46. Until You -- David Barnes
47. Bottle It Up -- Sara Barilles
48. What's been Going On -- Amos Lee
49. Say -- John Mayer
50. Free Fallin' (Live) -- John Mayer
51. My Sweet Love -- John Mellancamp
52. Something Good This Way Comes -- Jakob Dylan
53. Pork and Beans -- Weezer
54. Madly -- Tristan Prettyman
55. A-Punk -- Vampire Weekend
56. Pony (It's OK) -- Erin McCauley
57. Make You Crazy -- Brett Dennen
58. Till You're Gone -- Gabe Dixon Band
59. Lover of te Bayou -- Mudcrutch
60. Until the Day is Done -- R.E.M.
61. Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt 1 -- My Morining Jacket
62. Boots of Chinese Plastic -- The Pretenders
63. Realize -- Colbie Callait
64. Real Love -- Lucinda Williams
65. Fix It -- Ryan Admas & The Cardinals
66. Shine Over Babylon -- Sheryl Crow
67. Be OK -- Ingrid Michaelson
68. I Came Around -- Annie Minello
69. Sex on Fire -- Kings of Leon
70. You Don't Know Me -- Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor
71. Dance with Me -- Old 97's
72. Goodbye Daughters of teh Revolution -- Black Crowes
73. Freeway -- Aimee Mann
74. Bring It On -- Lenny Kravitz
75. All In My Head -- Shawn Mullins
76. Always A Friend**-- Alexandro Escovedo
77. Human -- The Killers
78. All That I Know --Collective Soul
79. Sweeter Than This -- Katie Herzog
80. Lilacs -- Matt Costa
81. You Found Me -- The Fray
82. Gone in the Morning -- Newton Faulkner
83. Cigarette Eyes -- Matt Costa
84. Staying With Me -- Los Lonely Boys
85. Motivation -- Sheryl Crow
86. Cath...-- Death Cab For Cutie
87. Working on a Dream -- Bruce Springsteen
88. Strange Overtures -- David Byrne & Brian Eno
89. Little Favours -- KT Tunstall
90. Burn You Up, Burn You Down -- Big Blue Ball
91. It's Alright -- Dar Williams
92. Round Here Soemwhere -- Bodeans
93. Cruel Fate -- Big Head Todd & the Monsters
94. Broken -- Tift Merrit
95. True -- Susan Tredeschi
96. Song For You -- Tracy Chapmam
97. Shine On -- The Kooks
98. Out of Our Heads -- Sheryl Crow
99. Boys With Girlfriends -- Meiko
100. The Litle Things -- Colbie Callait

* Listed as "More Time", listed song is educated guess
** Listed as "Always in my Head"

Inside the belly of the beast

Just happened to stumble across a magnum opus written by Alex Cosper, who is a former PD at KWOD and WLUM. He is very opinionated about the state of modern rock radio. Whether you agree with him or not it's a very interesting look inside a music professional's head.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

I'm bored -- let's play a game

I'm sure it's happened to you. You're listening to your favorite station and you hear a song and you shake your head and say: "I can't believe they're playing this crap." OK the word you'll use probably will start with the letter "s" but I don't feel like informing Blogger to activate the "adult content" screen just so I can type that word.

Anyway, if the station in question is an alternative station or "adult alternative" you may add "that's not alternative" Well the object of this game is to define the line that separates "alternative" from "not alternative". You take two artists that have some similarities and sort out which one is really "alternative", broadly defined, and which is not. And remember, just because it's played on alternative stations doesn't necesarily mean it's alternative. And just because it's not played on alternative stations doen't mean it isn't

Good way to start arguments at parties. "Dude, Liz Phair is totally alternative. You ever heard "Exile in Guyville?" "No way, she sold her soul after her first two albums!"

Obvious Example: the Beastie Boys are alternative and Vanilla Ice isn't

OK. Let's play

Tom Waits is alternative and the Eagles aren't
Los Lobos are alternative and Los Lonely Boys aren't
Green Day is alternative and Good Charolette isn't
Bob Dylan is alternative and Donovan isn't
Depeche Mode is alternative and Duran Duran isn't
The Black Crowes are alternative and Hinder isn't
Death Cab For Cutie is alternative and Snow Patrol isn't
Gnarles Barkley is alternative and the Ting Tings aren't
Prince is alternative and Lenny Kravitz isn't
Peter Gabriel is alternative and Phil Collins isn't
Neil Young is alternative and David Crosby isn't
REM is alternative and 3 Doors Down isn't
Aimee Mann is alternative and Sheryl Crow isn't
No Doubt is alternative but Gwen Stefani isn't
Bush (lamentably) was alternative but Gavin Rossdale isn't
Mike Doughty is alternative and Paolo Nuiti isn't
Jack Johnson is alternative (if only just barely) and Jason Mraz isn't
Amy Winehouse is alternative and Duffy isn't (I do love "Mercy" however)
Johnny Cash was alternative and Garth Brooks isn't
Papa Roach is alternative and Godsmack isn't
Eminem is alternative and Kid Rock isn't
Jimi Hendrix was alternative and Eric Clapton isn't

Anyone wants to join in the fun, leave a comment

Friday, June 5, 2009

Now this is more like it.

Since last fall, Vancouver, BC finally got its own commercial AAA station. I didn't realize how awesome it was until I finally gave it a listen:

Boulevard of Broken Dreams -- Green Day
Robots -- Dave Mangan
Civil Twilight -- the Weakerthans
Funny the Way It Is -- Dave Matthews Band
When the Sun Goes Down -- Arctic Monkeys
The Lonely End of the Rink -- Tragically Hip
Say It Ain't So -- Weezer
1985 -- Golden Dogs
Scar Tissue -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Don't Talk Down -- The Stills
Satellite Scar -- Modest Mouse
Cigarette -- Jeremy Eller
Beat on the Brat -- The Ramones
Hard Sun -- Eddie Vedder

The Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, Modest Mouse and the Ramones in one hour and no Norah Jones or Jason Mraz? Now that's my kind of AAA station. This set sounded even better than it looks on paper. Bonus: I heard them play Bruce Cockburn, which is a rarity these days. Does anyone know how it's doing in the ratings?

The thoroughly average alternative station

If I was asked to give an example of a generic alternative station, KITS in San Francisco would fill the bill nicely. Here's a sample hour:

Mr. Brightside -- The Killers
Lightning Crashes -- Live
Sex on Fire -- Kings of Leon
Drive -- Incubus
Otherside -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hey You -- 311
Paralyzer -- Finger Eleven
About A Girl -- Nirvana
Personal Jesus -- Depeche Mode
Kids -- MGMT
In hte End -- Linkin Park
Viva La Vida -- Coldplay
Beverly Hills -- Weezer
Santeria -- Sublime
Grapevine Fires -- Death Cab For Cutie

Don't get me wrong. This station would definitely be on my presets if I lived in hte area, but everything on that list has been played to death, It's a shame that one of the stations that used to be one of the leaders is now a follower, playing what KROQ was playing last month and the greatest hits of alternative rock. A real mayonaise on white bread sandwich. No specialty programs to spice it up. I will say however, that KITS is not going to be mistaken for an active rock station. It has a distinct if not distinctive programming personality. I just wish the station had a little more personality.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

My favorite stations

To give you an idea of my taste, here's a list of my favorite alternative/AAA commercial stations, roughly in order of preference

1. WWCD "CD101", Columbus, OH
2. WEQX, Manchester, VT
3. WRNR, Annapolis MD
4. KNRK, "94/7" Portland OR
5. WFNX, Boston, MA
6. CKPK, "The Peak" Vancouver, BC
7. KTNI, "Indie 101.5", Denver, CO
8. WXRT, Chicago IL
9. WIYY-3 Baltimore, MD
10. KBZT, "FM 94/9" San Diego, CA
11. CFEX, "92.9x" Calgary AB
12. WXRK-2 "K-ROCK" New York, NY
13. WXPK, "The Peak", White Plains, NY
14. KSLG, "K-SLUG" Eureka, CA.
15. BRRU, Providene, RI
16. WBOS-2, Boston, MA
17. KPRI, San Diego, CA
18. KNDD, "The End" Seattle WA
19. CILV, "Live 88.5" Ottawa, ON
20. CJZN, "The Zone", Victoria BC
21. KROX, "101X" Austin, TX
22. WRXP "The New York Rock Experience", New York, NY
23. KXRK, "X96" Salt Lake City, UT
24. KRXF "92/7 FM" Bend OR
25. CFNY "The Edge" Toronto ON
26. KROQ "K-Rock" Los Angeles, CA
27. CHDI "Sonic 102.9" Edmonton, AB
28 WDST "Radio Woodstock" Woodstock, NY
29. XETRA Tujana, Mexico/San Diego, CA
30, WRLT, "Lightning 100, Nashville, TN

Favorite Non-Commerical stations (not an exhaustive list, in no particular order)

WXPN-2 "Y-ROCK" Philadelphia, PA
WTMD Baltimore, MD
WFUV New York, NY
WBER -Rochester, NY
WAPS Akron OH
CFML "Evolution 107.9" Vancouver, BC
WERG, Erie PA
WMVY, Nantucket, MA

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Record Conglomerates Seek License to Kill Local Radio

The recording industry is at it again. They mamaged to intstitute royalty fees last year for internet streaming of local music. They didn't get the extortionate (is that a word?) amounts they at first sought, which would have effectively shut down internet radio, but they did manage to put a lot of smaller operators out of business.

They weren't content with that now they are seeking to impose new royalty fees on radio stations that play music, not only compensationg songwriters, but artists as well. Sound nice? Well who's going to be able to afford these fees? Not your small stations, not minority owned stations. It will Clear Channel, Entercom, CBS, Cumulus -- the usual suspects. That means even tighter playlists, less variety more talk radio and less of any formats that are percieved as marginal -- classical, jazz and yes, alternative rock.

The details are here. Write or call your congressman and senator and tell them not to mess with the music! The bill to charge teh extra royalties (HR 848) has already passed a vote in the House Judiciary Committee. So there's no time to lose!

Monday, June 1, 2009

TOP 106 Songs of 2008 --KPNT

KPNT is an active rock leaning alternative station in St. Louis. Have your earplugs ready because this one is really loud. "Viva La Vida" does not even appear until #80!

1. Psycho -- Puddle of Mudd
2. Love Me Dead -- Ludo
3. Rise Above This -- Seether
4. Inside the Fire -- Disturbed
5. I'm Not Jesus -- Apocalyptica
6. Given Up -- Linkin Park
7. Fake It -- Seether
8. Afterlife -- Avenged Sevenfold
9. Let It Die -- Foo Fighters
10. You're Gonna Go Far Kid -- The Offspring
11. I Don't Care -- Apocalyptica
12. Pork & Beans -- Weezer
13. Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold
14. Icky Thump -- The White Stripes
15. Long Road to Ruin -- Foo Fighters
16. I Get It -- Chevelle
17. Addicted -- Saving Abel
18. Falling Down -- Atreyu
19. Troublemaker -- Weezer
20. The Pretender -- Foo Fighters
21. Hammerhead -- The Offspring
22. Second Chance -- Shinedown
23. Re-education (Through Labor) -- Rise Against
24. Bad Girlfriend -- Theory of a Deadman
25. Sex on Fire -- Kings of Leon
26. Devour -- Shinedown
27. The Day That Never Comes -- Metallica
28. Believe -- Staind
29. What I've Done -- Linkin Park
30. Breakdown -- Seether
31. Indestructable -- Disturbed
32. I'm Not Over -- Carolina Liar
33. Shockwave -- Black Tide
34. Undead -- Hollywood Undead
35. Champagne -- Cavo
36. The Stone -- Ashes Divide
37. Ten Ton Brick -- Hurt
38. Wake Up -- Story of the Year
39. So Happy -- Theory of a Deadman
40. Train -- Three Doors Down
41. Do What You Do -- Mudvayne
42. Empty Walls -- Serj Tankanian
43. Beautiful -- 10 Years
44. Slow Burn -- Atreyu
45. 18 Days -- Saving Abel
46. Salute Your Solution -- The Raconteurs
47. The Fad -- Chevelle
48. Sky is Over -- Serj Tankanian
49. Handlebars -- Flobots
50. Psychosocial -- Slipknot
51. Too Drunk -- Buckcherry
52. Love Hurts -- Incubus
53. Dead Memories -- Slipknot
54. Always Be -- Jimmy Eats World
55. They Say -- Scars on Broadway
56. Feel Good Drag -- Anberlin
57. Don't Stop -- Innerpartysystem
58. G.L.O.W. -- Smashing Pumpkins
59. Sitting At a Bar (Bartender Song) -- Rehab
60. Hard Sun -- Eddie Vedder
61. Hell Yeah -- Rev Theory
62. Crushcrushcrush --Paramore
63. It's Not My Time -- 3 Doors Down
64. Hearts Burst Into Flame -- Bullet for My Valentine
65. Wild International -- One Day as a Lion
66. I Will Possess Your Heart -- Death Cab For Cutie
67. Discipline -- Nine Inch Nails
68. Tranquilize -- The Killers
69. Bodysnatchers -- Radiohead
70. Shadow of the Day -- Linkin Park
71. Something is not Right With Me -- Cold War Kids
72. Help Me -- Alakaline Trio
73. Cyanide -- Metallica
74. Rock & Roll Train -- AC/DC
75. Scream, Aim, Fire -- Bullet for my Valentine
76. Livin' on Borrowed Time -- Puddle of Mudd
77. Lollipop -- Framing Hanley
78. Wannabe in L.A. -- Eagles of Death Metal
79. I Don't Care -- Fall Out Boy
80. Viva La Vida -- Coldplay
81. Leave Out All the Rest -- Linkin Park
82. My Turn -- Hoobastank
83. Go Getter Greg -- Ludo
84. The Shock of the Lightning -- Oasis
85. Never Enough -- Five Fingered Death Punch
86. Always Where I Need to Be -- The Kooks
87. You Better Pray -- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
88. Falling On -- Finger Eleven
89. Use Me -- Hinder
90. Stop! -- Against Me!
91. Family Reunion -- Saliva
92. The Western World -- Pennywise
93. Rise Today -- Alter Bridge
94. I'll Keep Your Memory Vague -- Finger Eleven
95. Missing Cleveland -- Scott Weiland
96. Decode -- Paramore
97. Strange Times -- The Black Keys
98. Kristy Are You Doing OK? -- The Offspring
99. Rise -- Flobts
100. Nine In the Afternoon -- Panic at the Disco
101. Yesterday -- Copperview
102. Cath...-- Death Cab For Cutie
103. Becomming the Bull -- Atreyu
104. Violet Hill -- Coldplay
105. Chinese Democracy -- Guns 'n' Roses