Radio, what kind are you?

Posted by Brandon Kim on May 29th

Never been a huge music radio fan. Fond memories exist from childhood car trips and the pale amber glow that emanated from my brother’s stereo receiver at night. But where there was once diversity there has long been conformity, and too many product jingles. Played with satellite radio a bit, but unless I buy a car again I don’t have much use for it. My intentional radio listening has increased to daily levels again but it’s all on the web.

Actually, I’m kind of a public radio junky. Specifically WNYC. It’s their pledge drive by the way, I wish you’d give them money so they’d stop. If I wasn’t concerned about our world, or what other people think I doubt I’d listen to that station. But I’m so much less Republican than I used to be.

For straight musical pleasure, nothing beats WFMU. That’s 91.1 fm for you old schoolers in the NY/NJ area. They’re the longest running free form radio station in the USA, and they’re the cat’s pajamas. Once I was listening to it in the backseat of my friend Vanessa’s Mom’s Mercedes when a DJ dropped the needle on a beat up old 45 – some melodic mid 60’s wickedness that sounded like they strung their guitars with piano wire that had once strangled someone while harmonizing about young love. I’m so glad no one was in that crappy diner on Union and Metropolitan when we crashed through the wall.

Another good one is Break Thru Radio which features a collaboration of DJ’s not only from the US, but Canada, the UK and Germany. They have a bunch of free mp3’s up right now that you can take at your leisure. Studio recordings from Ra Ra Riot, Chairlift, and The Rosewood Thieves among others.

If you got any good ones let me know, preferably the dirty channel variety if you get my meaning.