This is the thread where Nate listens to and, ergo, comments on his local college radio station

The great thing about this station is that they are prone to playing non-Western music every so often, so occasionally they'll play something from Iceland or whatever. Whatever it is they're playing now, it sounds like a traditional-arrangement version of the Kinks. It might be a while before the DJ actually says who it is.

they all.

speak like this?

and, yeah.

Chappaquiddick Skyline were responsible for the shitty New Order cover. I have no idea how to spell the name of the Kinks-esque "international" song but I think it was Greek.

Oh hey, the Kills. I bet this song will be great if it lasts no longer than two minutes.

Do the Breeders really work as a jug band (without a jug)?

Another band that sounds kinda like the Breeders! Maybe this is the Breeders.

obvious joke xpost shocker

WNUR is pretty rad too. Their jazz programming is definitely better than WHPK's/

So yeah, my experience with college radio has pretty much totally kicked ass. Maybe jess was forced to listen to Olympia Community College's "Kill Rock Stars Hour" or something, in which case I can see where his frustration might originate..

xpost ha i was waiting for you two to show up

DJ: "thanks to technical difficulties, I was unable to play the 'K'" (the bumper sound that, when heard, is supposed to get people to call to win things)

MARK FARINA? OH DAMN

I like some of Princeton's programming a lot, when I can get it in. I could do with less classical and jazz during the day, but it's hard to grudge that since there isn't much around for those who want to listen to it.

Nope, it was FM.

I should also mention that I love Mark because he's one of the other big David Gedge fans at the station.

It's the only time I've heard Peter Murphy, Mission of Burma, MBV, etc. on the radio.

Also: NO. COMMERCIALS.

thats jay bee, he used to live in milwuakee and have a show on the college station here. the white barry white.

But the DJs are okay. I can relate to them, to their shortcomings and insecurities. I feel about the DJs on Radio K the way those DJs probably feel about that kind of music that they always play that sounds to me like emo but is actually probably considered more mature and stuff by the people that listen to that sort of thing.

Let's hear what that was: Tikee Ottmar (?) ("What did I play before that? What did I do with that?"--she actually said that almost verbatim.)

Krduer & Dorfmeister. No wonder I hated it.

Charlie Parker Bird Remixed Project produced by Dan the Automator.

Wanobo (?) "Flutter"

Upcoming shows: Government Cheese, The Tighties, Head-on, Canadian Invasion, One-Star Hotel, The Thrills, Thirteen Even, Bonk, etc.

Was this any good, Rockist?!

I think they are some high school kids

Now I feel bad. (Not really.)

TCU's college station is weak - most of the day it's classical, drivetime is "greatest hits of the '50s-90s," a couple of other shows throughout the week, one decent hip-hop show Sat. nights, and one indie-rockish program on Sunday nights. Oh, and a three-hour weekend call-in show that's all about comic books. Nerdiest thing ever.

UNT's college station is all-jazz all of the time, great except for when they dip into the smooth/lite jazz bin.

And my former/current/future alma mater, UTA, doesn't even have a real radio station, only an Internet broadcasting thing.

KUNM last night ("Music to Sooth the Savage Beast"):

Boredoms (good start)
Robert Pollard and His Soft Rock Renegades
Beavis Frond (the DJ says this was recorded in somebody’s bedroom in 1988—well it sounds like it)
Rain Parade

Last three all sucked.

Then I decided to write descriptions before the DJ announced what had been played.

Something or other 500: something that sounds like Neil Young and sucks

Neu – Negativland: shitty neo-motorik thing

New Poc (sp?) [Monopause doing Thai covers] – Cheer: some insane cheesy Asian ska thing (okay this is actually pretty good compared to everything else)

Red Crayola – Born in Flames: less than technically competent female singer with primitive beats, kind of post-punk, sounds upset about things, not so bad I guess

Pram: funky beat/space sounds/Enja? gentle female vocals, vaguely folkish maybe, but just the vocals—there’s something to be said for people who can write songs (this is not an example)

*

Harmonia: Blippy, coiling and uncoiling sounds. Maybe more Krautrock? Kind of reminds me of Agitation Free or something. Wait, why was it suddenly cut off? Okay was that a radical edit on the album or was there a problem in the radio studio? Adequate background music. A little long to actually just listen to. Time for a new idea. Even Fuck Buttons is better than this. Michael Rother? [Yes, DJ, we did notice that was a “double dose.”]

[I missed the band name] - TBI: Screamin’ primitive punk. Well okay. I don’t like it, but it’s a needed change of pace. “She got a PBI on me” is that what he’s singing? Is that some kind of police code? Guitar sounds pretty good. It is not the convention to enunciate clearly in this music.

Velvet Underground – Rock and Roll [still not sure if this is the one from Loaded or what but I think that’s what he said, so I would have heard it before]: Is this the Velvet Underground “Rock and Roll”? Well that is Lou Reed, so it’s either Lou Reed or the Velvet Underground. I think this is probably Lou Reed, because I don’t recognize it and it doesn’t really sound like the Velvet Underground. Uh oh, I shouldn’t have said that because it probably is and I probably have a copy of it. But I’m sticking with guessing it’s Lou Reed. I do think this is a good song. No I’m not gonna listen to you now.

Roxy Music: Wait I know this. Roxy Music. I was thinking of requesting them. Or is this solo Bryan Ferry? I think Roxy Music yeah, I will know in a second and feel dumb. I mean, I never claimed to know them inside out at all. This show plays more older music than I had expected, which is okay, except I’m trying to find new rock music which I might actually like. Oh this is that I would do anything song, right? I don’t even know the proper name. “I would climb mountaAAAIIIIIIns. . .” Can’t argue with this one. I actually thought this was the Beatles when I heard the first couple notes, just for a brief moment.

*

Budgie (&?): Rock and roll guitar. Promising beginning. Power chord. Hey it’s a female vocalist. I don’t know who this is but I bet Chuck Eddy would know.

Brooding acoustic guitar. Another female vocalist. I don’t know who this is, but I like it. Could be old, could be new, could be an old singer doing something new. Surprise! It’s still the same song as above. I think I like this. Too bad I can’t play it as loudly as it should be played at the moment.

Pilon – Working is No Problem: Thump thump thump thump thump thump. Guitars. Scrapey guitar sounds. Female vocalist. Broadly punk, though not strictly. Might be one of those riot grrrl groups I mostly never really heard, but it could also be something I probably should know from the 80s or something that I probably shouldn’t know from the past few years. (This show does cover a pretty broad range of rock at least. Doesn’t seem like there’s that much they are afraid to touch, at least from the relatively alternative side of things.)

Thinking Fellers Union – Cup of Dreams: Distortotronic sound. Keyboard. Stops completely. Straight guitars. I like how this song keeps moving from one distinct part to another. Now vocals join band. Weird group vocals distorted. Is this one of those bands with “Bear” in the name? This is okay. Maybe this is Panda Bear? (I’ve never actually heard a whole album by them.) Maybe my defenses are lowering because I am getting sleepy, but I kind of like this. Okay this part is a little too ironically whimsical. But overall, the construction of the song (I should probably say track) is interesting.

Soft Boys - Insanely Jealous: Lots of words. Lots of words. Fast paced delivery. Uhm. “I’m insanely jealous of you” gets repeated a lot. I don’t like this.

Super Furry Animals: Very electronic but sort of organic sounding too and now a harmonium or accordion, unexpectedly. Old timey. Not bad, we’ll see what happens with the vocals. Americana. I don’t really hate it, but don’t like it so much. The chorus is kind of nice in an old 70s way, almost CSNY, but there are probably closer models. But it’s you know it’s just kind of alright.

Neu – Negativland: shitty neo-motorik thing

^^^ ban

dude hates neu & mystikal what else do yall need

[I missed the band name] - TBI: Screamin’ primitive punk. Well okay. I don’t like it, but it’s a needed change of pace. “She got a PBI on me” is that what he’s singing? Is that some kind of police code? Guitar sounds pretty good. It is not the convention to enunciate clearly in this music.

I hope this is a joke.

dude hates neu & mystikal what else do yall need

Yup. I stand by both of those hates. I don't think this is the first time I mistook Neu for a third-rate Neu imitation. It's pretty hard to tell the difference.

I hope this is a joke.

An overly strained attempt at one, yes.