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Annoyed by Radio

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 07:27 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 01 2007 08:12 PM

There's a relatively new station that I've been trying to lke because it's a baby step forward. It seems to be part of a new movement --- the return of classic rock, but undoing the historical errors of the format that treated punk as crude blasphemy (unless it charted), and grunge as monolithic and mostly untouchable. Basically, it's classic rock that goes past 1989, and respects the punks and grungers as being as worthy of the legacy of the sixties and seventies rock gods as the hairboys and non-rockin' pop acts with rock lineups (the Outfield, the News, post-rock Heart) they tried to turn the mantle over to. It treats them as more worthy. And they are. It's like a historical correction. But I'm still annoyed by it, as they make some other key errors that killed rock radio. Yeah, they revive some acts that shouldn't have faded, but with really shallow excavations of the catalogs, ignoring lesser hits and non-singles. Like classick rock radio in the eighties, they'll play every radio-sanitized album track and B-side from the seventies catalogs of Floyd, Zep, and 'Smith, but only go three deep into the Heads catalog and four-deep into the Police catalog. And I find myself really not liking the Heads when all I hear are three songs. So, is this new format launching in your market? Is it working? Anyhow what I really want to say is, among the latter-day songs they're playing, John Mayer's "Waiting for the World to Change" is the weeniest, most punchable song about social concern and it made me want to shit in the shower this morning as I heard it. But I can't do that so I didn't. Basically, it's "the world sucks, so me, my friends, my generation, we're going to bide our time until it gets better." These are your footsoldiers, Al Gore, go get 'em. It makes "Right Here, Right Now" sound like it can shake society to the core. You're not misunderstood at all, John. Oh, and I got a listen to the new WCBS while I was visiting Moms this last week. It sounded polished and professional and I got sad, and then I realized (actually I figured it out a week later) that what was missing was the echo in DJ's mic. It's not CBS without the echo. But in an hour of listening, they played the fourth biggest hit from The Guess Who, and Leslie Gore's last charter from 1967 --- neither great, but both a revelation, two examples of forgotten oldies that you'd never hear on out-of-town oldies radio. And I'm cranky this morning because I stayed up too late waiting for Milwaukee to beat the Mets. Sorry for the run-on.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 01 2007 07:37 AM

The new 101.1 isn't really working for me, and I think it's because the Old 101.1 and the stations that play the "new" stuff 101.1 plays, traeted the merged playlist as two different things all my life. It's jarring to hear "Pink Houses," then "Bernadette" then "Lucky Star" then "Afternoon Delight." Sorry, Radio. You screwed this up many years ago. I know not about the classic+ station you speak. K-Rock destroyed itself following their gutlessness vs. the FTC and is now playing "rock" again but I think that means, System of a Down and Seven-Mary-Three. I don't get there much. WBGO is my new girlfriend. Jazz from Newark.

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 07:41 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: It's jarring to hear "Pink Houses," then "Bernadette" then "Lucky Star" then "Afternoon Delight." Wow, it's like Greg's countdown.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2007 07:46 AM

Just about every day for the last ten days or so, there's been a letter in the Daily News complaining about listeners' disappointment with the revived CBS-FM because they don't play 50's music or doo-wop. Finally somebody wrote in and begged the News to stop printing complaints about doo-wop.

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 08:00 AM

Well, they should probably do some slotted shows. Or get a sister station down the dial. Damni it, you old farts, you're a big market but you don't buy enough Molson Goldens or Geico insurance, or Canon copiers, or whoever is advertising on radio these days.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 01 2007 08:09 AM

I should say I absolutely love it that the Daily News has a column about the radio almost every day.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2007 08:12 AM

And it's usually written by David Hinckley, too. He has a great job at that paper: Critic at large. He can write about TV, food, movies, cultural events, trends, or whatever he wants. But in addition to all that, he stays on top of that radio column, talking about DJ changes and traffic reporters. I have to think that he really loves radio to hang on to that beat.

DocTee Aug 01 2007 08:13 AM

Salvation can be found at KFOG, the Bay Area's world class rock, 104.5 fm. Check out Dave Morey's ten-at-ten, where they play ten songs from a randomly chosen year, each morning at 1000 (replayed nightly at 1000, too). Lots of variety-- good rep in the community too. Become a foghead now.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 01 2007 08:17 AM

10am your time or mine? I get a Daily News everyday and read it backwards, so Hinckley's Radio Dial is usually the first news I get every morning. Today he discussed broadcast industry lobbyists coming out against pay-for-play.

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 08:19 AM

I should say that the station is called "The Globe" and part of the station's programming is environmental advocacy, so, in lieu of news breaks, they have what's called "Green News" --- which is really tips and releases and not news at all, done by a newreader trying to pump it up, but unclear as to which words she should emphasize --- plus the latest buzz on Paris Hilton. They do have a deeper "Eclectic Lunch" mid-day set --- where they might revive The Call or Shriekback --- but I'm not listening at that hour, am I?

DocTee Aug 01 2007 08:26 AM

my time-- meaning you can hear it at 1 on the east coast they also have "live from the archives" specials, with musicians playing in the kfog studios, and "acoustic sunrise" on sunday mornings I'm not nearly as music-savvy as you guys, but for my money, it's the best radio station I've ever heard

Frayed Knot Aug 01 2007 08:33 AM

I've gone almost totally public in my music listening these days. Either WFUV out of Fordam (90.7 FM) - although I'm realizing as I go that I use it more for background/general purpose type listening and that little the station does excites me all that often. A bit of a pretenious air seeps through as well at times, but I'm probably nick-picking here. The other is the station operating out of Nassau Comm Coll of all places (WHPC, 90.3 FM); not so much for during the day listening but for various specialty shows that exist mostly on weekends. My favorites are a great 3-hour long weekly Beatles show; a similar length totally free-form segment (same DJ both shows); and a great Springsteen hour (twice weekly). There's also Dylan hour - although it's a bit too heavy on obscure muddy-sounding rarities that probably appeal only to die-hards for my taste; a Billy Joel hour (not a bad idea for a LI station though not appointment radio for me). And, for those really in need of specialization, there are shows for Doo-Wop, country, and even polka. As an added bonus, both are commercial free.

sharpie Aug 01 2007 08:49 AM

I'm pretty much all public: WFUV or WFMU. I did listen to the new WCBS and heard some things that otherwise you never hear on the radio anymore but JD is right, it all gets muddied up with later stuff. I used to listen to KFOG when I lived in SF and still do when I visit. For a commercial radio station it's pretty good. For the most part, however, commercial radio stations everywhere suck.

Farmer Ted Aug 01 2007 08:56 AM

Working in radio at an AOR station a bunch of years back, I volunteered to fill in for my buddy's overnight shift under one condition, that the PM let me have a one solid DJ cut per hour. The PM gave it a go. At the time I was dating a chick who dug Van Halen. So I threw on Ice Cream Man, catchy lyrics, good guitar riff, and a tune you never heard on the radio. Before the song ended, the PM rang me up (at 12:45 am) and said to keep it to "songs the audience knew." Fucktard. So I segued into Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo and Be My Girl, Sally by the Police. For kicks, I threw in Flashlight by George Clinton. I stuck to the format the rest of the way and mailed in a rather stale shift. Bastard took the fun out of my $5 an hour job.

metirish Aug 01 2007 08:58 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: I should say I absolutely love it that the Daily News has a column about the radio almost every day. My favorite page in the News is that one,David Hinckley keeps me up to date. Like FK I tune in to Fordam (90.7 FM) ,it's been the only music I can stream at work and I like it,they play just about everything.

SteveJRogers Aug 01 2007 09:21 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: And it's usually written by David Hinckley, too. He has a great job at that paper: Critic at large. He can write about TV, food, movies, cultural events, trends, or whatever he wants. But in addition to all that, he stays on top of that radio column, talking about DJ changes and traffic reporters. I have to think that he really loves radio to hang on to that beat. Yance, you get the Daily News down there or just the Online Edition?

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2007 09:32 AM

I get the print edition. Some days it's unavailable, but I probably only miss an issue a few times a month. There's no home delivery, but the News is available at local convenience stores.

Willets Point Aug 01 2007 09:36 AM

Sad to say, but I don't listen to the radio much anymore. I was addicted to radio growing up. These days I stick to public radio and I download alot of public radio podcasts for my iPod.

Batty31 Aug 01 2007 08:02 PM

I too enjoy Hinckley's column. I guess old radio DJ's never totally lose interest in the field, even though it's just a shell of its former self these days. I'm missing the echo as well, Edgy. It's just not the same at CBS FM. I also miss Cousin Brucie. It's kind of sad when Pat St John seems to be the most recognizable vet at the station. I was so happy when I heard that K-Rock was coming back, but the bubble burst after listening for about 2 days. Same Linkin Park and White Stripes songs every 5 minutes. Just bloody awful. I work alone in the office most of the time. Last week my boss brought in a Sirius radio just for me. Honestly, I'm not all that impressed so far. I find myself listening to the 80's New Wave station most of the time. If I wanted to do that, I could just break out the cd's. One of the metal stations is way too heavy on the death metal. The other metal station plays Linkin Park every 5 minutes. The "classic hard rock" station plays ZZ Top every 5 minutes (though they did impress me by playing Triumph and Zebra the other day). At one point I was considering trying to to get a job with Sirius/XM, but from what I've heard so far, I'm not that interested anymore.

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 08:07 PM

Keep trying. Maybe you can find a niche.

Batty31 Aug 01 2007 08:18 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Keep trying. Maybe you can find a niche. Perhaps I'll consult with one of the few radio contacts I have left and wait for the merger. I think I'd have to start my own station. I can't believe they just added a station devoted entirely to the Grateful Dead. BTW, Edgy, I'm still waiting to hear someone play The Mission on Sirius.

Edgy DC Aug 01 2007 08:22 PM

Wait for an inning break and turn it up.

Willets Point Aug 01 2007 08:23 PM

The DJ for the Grateful Dead station doesn't have to do much work. Just put on a disc, go to the john, get a cup of coffee, read a book, check in on the disc....

Batty31 Aug 01 2007 09:15 PM

="Edgy DC"]Wait for an inning break and turn it up. I waited for the game to finish....THANK YOU!!! I haven't seen that video in EONS!!! I take back the slap on the back of the head I gave you earlier this evening. :P Willets Point: The DJ for the Grateful Dead station doesn't have to do much work. Just put on a disc, go to the john, get a cup of coffee, read a book, check in on the disc Dude..that's the funniest thing I've heard in awhile...