Saturday, July 16, 2011

Time to Get Your HD2 radios!

Or go streaming -- the much anticipated Emmis massacre is upon us! Q101 and WRXP are both biting the dust. RXP is going female oriented news talk despite the fact that two prior attempts to bring talk to New York City FM were miserable flops. Not sure what Q101 is going to become. Not sure I care, as I wasn't a big fan of what that station had become -- I prefer WXRT myself -- I had a lot less trouble finding a cool song on that station. Both will continue streaming if that's any consolation and there may be two competing alternative on HD radio in Chicago. The new owner of Q101 is continuing the format on another HD2 frequency, at the same time selling the Q101 name to another entity. Nevertheless two big holes opened up in terrestial radio

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Essential 11 for July 2011

Skipping June to go into July.

1) Death of Communicaton --Company of Thieves They're obviously looking to pack the stadiums, their style has gone sprawling, the vocals soariing.

2) Up Up Up -- The Givers They sorta sound like Arcade Fire with a sense of humor.

3) Unkind -- Sloan Power pop at its finest.

4) Every Teardrop is a Waterfall -- Coldplay. With a downbeat title like that you wouldn't expect music that seems to dance on air.

5) Fragile Bird -- The City and the Colour The City and the Color/Alexis on Fire = Stone Sour/Slipknot. I read somewhere it's about the lead singer's wife, which just goes to show you that you should never marry a songwriter. Love that guitar hook.

6) Losers -- Belle Brigade A folk-rock anti anthem about renouncing being the coolest kid on the block as a life goal, with a video about freeing dogs from a pound, which ironically makes this duo the coolest kids on the block.

7) Cough Syrup -- Young the Giant The Coldplay influence is a ltttle more blatant on this track, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Strong lyrics and a good grasp of melody and a willingness to experiment around the edges of a pop song is never a bad thing.

8) What You Know -- Two Door Cinema Club Just a stunning pop song with a haunting guitar line and a subtle African influence, plus a killer video with perfectly coordinated dancing by some lovely women -- one of those videos that hook you into the song even more.

9) Bulletproof Heart -- My Chemical Romance This band is always ambitious, but they're at their best when they keep it simple, like they do here.

10) You've Got the Love -- Florence and the Machine More proof that alternative rock radio is getting woman friendly again.

11) Favorite Colour -- Tokyo Police Club Don't ask me what the lyrics mean, but sorta like the Stokes they always get by with attitude and killer hooks.