Listen to the radio
 

Do you? I mean, really, like, via a tuner in your stereo system? Not via your computer?

It's different when you twirl the dial on your stereo and tune in that great college rock station or alternative NPR-based fringe station. Or even, for the lucky among you, that increasing rarity of the fiercely American independent spirit, the humble pirate radio station.

There's a commitment on your part. There's also the glow of that receiver dial in your darkened room.

For me, the glow comes from a 1970s-vintage Pioneer TX-7500 tuner with knob dials and flip switches and wide FM dial with two VU meters.

I'm fortunate to live near a great FM station that goes by the call letters WNCW. I get to hear a lot of new stuff. A lot I don't like, a lot I do. But a lot I'd never get exposed to without the station.

only in the shower.

Serious replies only, please.

i hate the radio. it reminds me of how much i hate mainstream american music and advertising.

i've found a few good stations in the cities.. 106.5 is pretty boss. &the current is ok. but overall i'd rather listen to cds or ze ipod.

I listen to my college radio station sometimes. There's one or two good shows on there (other than mine :7P) out of like...fifty. I also tune into WFMU pretty often - AKA "the only real rock 'n' roll station left in America." (Thurston)

I used to pick up some really neat college and pirate radio stations when I lived in NYC. I remember one of them played all of Kid A before it came out, which started my love with Radiohead.

Only talk radio, most likely the NPR kind. Also only in the car.

when my friends and i can't settle on an ipod to plug into the car stereo, we listen to the top forty (blarghhh) or the impact (college/indie/alternative station.)

edit: my family is into talk radio, but my mom sometimes goes for oldies/classic rawk/top forty(?!?)

No. Even the college radio station sucks. They have a fucking Jam Band Tuesday where it's nothing but jam bands all day. The only goods things I've even heard on there are like 3 Pixies songs and "Fri/End" off of Trees Outside the Academy right after it came out, the rest of the stuff is fucking lame indie shit and jam.


Oh, but I will say that it's a guilty pleasure of mine when I'm on a long driving trip alone to speed and listen to classical on NPR. There's nothing like doing 80 mph and listening to Mozart's Jupiter symphony.

I can't stand the radio. If I have to resort to the tuner I seek out oldies, and if that fails classic rock. I've tuned into some morning talk stuff, but not since I left Detroit.

Driving cross country I've tuned into some a.m. at times because they air some pretty messed up shit like radio plays, crazy fanatic religious programming or bizarre talk about aliens.

Sometimes when I'm driving with friends/family, but otherwise, no. I rather pick what I listen to, then wait by the radio hoping that a song I like will come on.

Look into my eyes listen to the radio
I turned up the radio
But I can't hear it
No, I can't hear it
It's that same sing song, and the DJ sucks
It makes me sad
I tried to turn it off...

I guess I'm pretty fortunate then. I must live in the only place in the country with a decent radio station.

Do you guys seriously not even tune at least to The World Cafe?

92.9 FM - ABC Classic, which is Classical music.

NPR in the car.

OKC used to have the best station I've ever heard, with Tyson Meade from the Chainsaw Kittens as DJ.

they were owned by Clear Channel who pulled the plug after only a couple years.

:(

I don't know how it is nationwide but sadly here in Los Angeles, CA terristial radio is pretty sad. All the good stations are being taken over by spanish language stations. Literally every other FM station is spanish speaking. We have the well known KROQ, and the only bright spot there is Rodney on the Roq on Sundays from 12 Am-3AM. For about five years we had Indie radio which was pretty awesome. Basically take Rodney on the Roq's show and they play those songs on thier normal playlist but they were taken over a few months back by a spanish speaking station. Now they got this new station called "The Sound" which is pretty cool. They play a nice mixture of good 80's rock.

while cooking / doing the washing up and driving.
FRANCE INTER only.
Elitist left-wing for teachers.

sometimes if i can find good pirate stations that play arab music, the best ones are the ones that one finds when randomly turning the dial in east jerusalem. there is a really good classical radio station.
but i dont listen to much on a regular basis, except for my show, and sometimes the guy that comes on after us.

I used to listen to Triple J, but it's all Lady Gaga and the Presets these days.

So it sounds like most of you get some kind of NPR station. NPR carries The World Cafe show. Times vary by station, but there's a new show daily, and it's a good two full hours of great mostly new music. It does tend toward alt-country, Americana stuff but it plays a variety of things and features great in-studio live performances.

There's no excuse for not checking this out. See link below.


http://www.npr.org/templates/rundown...prgId=39&agg=1

I listen to the radio far more than I watch television. Not really for music though, more for sports-related phone ins and the news. I have Talksport on right now actually.

In the mornings I listen to a local hip hop station, mainly because I think the deejays are funny. I generally wait to hear them spit the news, gossip and sports scores. By then, I'm pretty awake, and throw on a CD usually.

moan moan moan

So, what do you go on the internet for, then?

Anyone here ever listen to New Zealand's alternative radio station 95bFM?

I live too far out to get anything good. I would listen to NPR if I could.

That's a very thoughtful question.

Answer it, then.

I agree. I can't get my own station on the radio in my house, so I listen to it online.

I love being on the radio and listening to the radio when I need a voice in the night and all, but the online options let me be in every city in the world at once. So many great stations, and they do everything that "real" radio does, in fact are often being broadcast simultaneously over airwaves.

When I do listen to radio, it's more often AM than FM, so it's not about being techy. It's about seeking out what's most interesting through whatever means is readily available.

There's something about feeling a connection to a great local station, though.

I agree with that, that's why I dj at one. But, like I said, I have to listen to it online at home because Portland is all hills and rivers and shit.

Mmm, I be in Portland soon to see my honey. I have to fly across the country to see my honey, ya know. Play something for us, dj dead-air.

Unfortunately, I won't be on the air this week because of a stupid mandatory work meeting. So are you going to be living here, or just commuting for sex?

The latter. Unfortunately. The plan is eventually I'll be a Portland resident but I'm not sure that will happen in the next year or so. For the time being, I'm stuck in Asheville.

That's gotta suck.

Yeah. It does. But hey, I'm not in Iraq. Could be worse.

Sorry. That sounds inane. In reality, it does suck, but we're trying to make the best of it and are determined it's temporary.

Fair enough. I've used that argument on myself while my wife was working and going through grad school at once actually. Now it's just one of those activities at a time, and instead I say, "Hey, I'm not in Michigan. Could be worse." Cuz the finances are shit.

Michigan would suck bad.

Hey, Ashevilled tied with Portland as best beer city. It ain't all bad here. For every time I could be having sex with my wife, I'll just drink some good beer. I'll be enormous next year at this time, and an alcoholic, but, hey, I won't be in Michigan.

I would if I felt I had time for your nonsense.