If you’ve seen any of my iPod Random Ten posts, you know that my musical preferences are a bit hard to classify, and I like it that way – which is one reason I tend to find radio so frustrating. I’m old enough to remember when radio stations weren’t locked into as specific formats as they are now. Granted, the “Top 40” stations frequently did play the same songs every few hours, but there were other stations that could catch you by surprise by playing something you hadn’t heard for a long time, or never expected to hear on the radio at all, because it was buried as Track #4 on Side 2 of that album (you know, back when you had to turn over the tape, or the record, to hear the whole thing).
My iPod car adapter broke earlier this year, so I’ve been sent back to my car radio. Even the “music mix” stations seem to “mix” the same things, they all go to commercials at the same time, and the morning shows rarely bother with music at all. If I want talk instead of music on the way to work, I’ll switch to an AM news station (their traffic reports are reliable, anyway) or Morning Edition on NPR (which at least makes me feel a little smarter) rather than listen to the rants and the call-ins.
But a recent addition to local radio has made me a bit more cheerful, and I’m wondering if I’ve found a station I might stick with for awhile – which of course makes me wonder if they’ll stick around for awhile. And thanks to the wonders of 21st-century technology, almost nothing is strictly local anymore, so you don’t have to be in the LA area to sample 100.3 The Sound. (For the record, I’m just telling you about this because I like it – no one has asked me to promote it in any way.)
The Sound is about simply one thing, it’s about the best “rock” music made to date. Notice the quotes around the word rock, because our definition of rock is a lot broader than most and it knows virtually no time frame. On The Sound you’ll hear everything from the geniuses that gave birth to the seminal rock of the ’60s and ’70s to the ever evolving offspring of that music, including great stuff that came out last year…or even last week.
If we do it right, you’ll find us surprising you every once in a while; sometimes with a great song that you haven’t heard in a long time, or a new song you haven’t heard elsewhere, maybe even sometimes with a song you didn’t think of as “rock”. Our goal is to provide music that’s comfortably hip. To be familiar without being stale, new without being obscure. (It is still commercial radio, after all…)
This is the station’s playlist for twelve hours last Thursday (everything they play is listed on the website, and includes links to iTunes and Wikipedia for each track/artist). It’s a little bit classic rock, a little bit alternative, a little bit of a throwback to the days of “album oriented progressive FM radio” (raise your hand if you actually remember that), a little bit of “new stuff that’s actually pretty good,” the occasional “did they get hold of my iPod?” track and a dash of “where did they find THAT one?” There’s very little repetition unless the song is a new release, and at the end of a set, the deejay (!) will actually announce the list of all the songs that were in it(!!) – but if you miss that, the online playlists are very helpful.
“Life, Love And Laughter (Sound Session)” by Donovan Frankenreiter
“Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam
“The Stake” by Steve Miller Band
“When The World Is Running Down” by The Police
“When You Were Young” by The Killers
“Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” by Paul Simon
“December” by Collective Soul
“Fascination Street” by The Cure
“Touch Me” by The Doors
“Angels Want To Wear My Red Shoes” by Elvis Costello
“Troublemaker” by Weezer
“Houses Of The Holy” by Led Zeppelin
“Ants Marching” by Dave Matthews Band
“Sowing The Seeds Of Love” by Tears For Fears
“Trashcan” by Delta Spirit
“Just What I Needed” by The Cars
“Jackie Brown” by John Mellencamp
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen
“Tempted” by Squeeze
“Take Back The City” by Snow Patrol
“Castles Made Of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day
“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
“Who Are You” by The Who
“Disarm” by Smashing Pumpkins
“Shadow Of A Doubt” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
“See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” by B.B. King
“No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
“Let It Bleed” by The Rolling Stones
“Breaking The Girl” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Love Struck Baby” by Stevie Ray Vaughan
“Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson
“Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp
“Will The Wolf Survive” by Los Lobos
“Can’t Find My Way Home” by Blind Faith
“Violet Hill” by Coldplay
“Hunger Strike” by Temple Of The Dog
“The Resolution” by Jack’s Mannequin
“Europa” by Santana
“Sunday Papers” by Joe Jackson
“Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel
“Shattered (Turn The Car Around)” by O.A.R.
“I Got You” by Split Enz
“Bittersweet” by Big Head Todd And The Monsters
“Feelin’ Alright” by Traffic
“Gold Dust Woman” by Fleetwood Mac
“Big Me” by Foo Fighters
“Alive And Kicking” by Simple Minds
“Owner Of A Lonely Heart” by Yes
“Cover Me” by Bruce Springsteen
“Jigsaw Falling Into Place” by Radiohead
“You Lear by Alanis Morissette
“Sailing Shoes/Hey Julia/Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” by Robert Palmer
“Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots
“Walking In Your Footsteps” by The Police
“Crooked Teeth” by Death Cab For Cutie
“Let’s Go” by The Cars
“Shout” by Tears For Fears
“Break Up The Concrete” by The Pretenders
“Revolution # 1” by The Beatles
“Lake Of Fire (acoustic)” by Nirvana
“Walk Of Life” by Dire Straits
“Say Hey” by Michael Franti & Spearhead
“Lola” by Kinks
“Save It For Later” by The English Beat
“Statesboro Blues” by The Allman Brothers
“Hello” by Tristan Prettyman
“Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS
“Lookin’ Out My Backdoor” by CCR
“Your Woman” by White Town
“Don’t You Evah” by Spoon
“The Pretender” by Jackson Browne
“Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage
“People Are People” by Depeche Mode
“Heart Songs” by Weezer
“Cocaine (live)” by Eric Clapton
“Yellow Moon” by Neville Brothers
“Tonight, Tonight” by Smashing Pumpkins
“Do Ya” by ELO
“Supernatural Superserious” by R.E.M.
“High” by The Cure
“In The Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
“Everlong (acoustic)” by Foo Fighters
“R-O-C-K In The USA by John Mellencamp
“Heart Won’t Tell A Lie” by Los Lonely Boys
“Bitch” by Rolling Stones
“Trying To Throw Your Arms” by U2
“Laid” by James
“For You” by Manfred Mann
“Orphans” by Beck
“Like The Weather” by 10,000 Maniacs
“Everybody’s Got Something To Hide” by The Beatles
“Gone Gone Gone Done Moved On” by Robert Plant / Allison Krauss
“Low Rider” by War
“Champagne Supernova” by Oasis
“Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
“Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon
“Come As You Are (unplugged)” by Nirvana
“Sometime Around Midnight” by Airborne Toxic Event
“Middle Of The Road” by The Pretenders
“Monday Morning” by Fleetwood Mac
“Babylon” by David Gray
“Motivation” by Sheryl Crow
“Heart Of Glass” by Blondie
“Spirit In The Night” by Bruce Springsteen
“Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam
“Evangeline” by Los Lobos
“Love Remains The Same” by Gavin Rossdale
“Heavy Fuel” by Dire Straits
“Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots
“Jean Genie” by David Bowie
“Lost (acoustic)” by Coldplay
“Alison” by Elvis Costello
“Waiting On A Friend” by The Rolling Stones
“There She Goes” by The La’s
“Take Back The City” by Snow Patrol
“Small Town (acoustic)” by John Mellencamp
“Over My Head (Cable Car)” by The Fray
“Takin’ It To The Streets” by The Doobie Brothers
“Kiss This Thing Goodbye” by Del Amitri
“Pretty In Pink” by Psychedelic Furs
“Hey Hey What Can I Do” by Led Zeppelin
“The Sweetest Thing” by U2
“2AM” by Slightly Stoopid
“Stay (Wasting Time)” by Dave Matthews Band
“After Midnight ’88” by Eric Clapton
“Thorn In My Pride” by The Black Crowes
“Believe” by The Bravery
“Karn Evil #9″ by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
“De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” by Police
“Behind The Sun” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Dreamer” by Supertramp
“Come Around” by Counting Crows
“Why Can’t I Be You” by The Cure
“Badfish” by Sublime
“Rock & Roll” by Eric Hutchinson
“Good Times Roll” by The Cars
“Cuban Slide” by The Pretenders
“Band On The Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings
“Saved By Zero” by The Fixx
“Troublemaker” by Weezer
“No Rain” by Blind Melon
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by Rolling Stones
“That’s All” by Genesis
“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
“The Distance” by Cake
“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
“Solid Rock” by Dire Straits
They’re not all winners, of course – although you might like some songs that aren’t favorites of mine, and vice versa – and I’ll be curious to see just how much variety there turns out to be after listening for a few weeks or so. But if I ever find them playing Fountains of Wayne, they’ll have my undying affection. In the meantime, I’m cautiously optimistic that I may have found something new and good for one of my car radio’s pre-sets – and then I’ll hope they don’t give it up and go urban-contemporary in six months. Of course, then I guess I could always revisit the iPod-adapter thing…
Do you even listen to the radio any more?
OMG, I just found this station a week ago and I love it! Between that and Jack FM, I’m all set…
I hope it lasts…
Anna L – There’s a decent alternative station in Santa Barbara, but I can only pick them up on my car radio closer to home. Jack FM is also one of my go-to’s, but I really hope The Sound sticks around! Glad you’ve already found them too :-)!
You guys have Jack FM too? I was going to say that this station sounds a bit like them, but The Sound (kind of a lame name, but so is Jack) has a better mix. At least as far as I can tell from all the way in Chicago. 🙂 It’s always nice to find a good radio station. There aren’t many out there.
I NEVER listen to the “regular” radio-NEVER. I got a Sirius setup for Christmas two years ago and I LOVE it. I would really like the above station’s songs, it looks a bit like my Playlists, but we don’t get anything like that here!
Yikes, I haven’t listened to terrestrial radio in years.
The sound almost hurts my ears. I’m so spoiled with Sirius.
Mike – No, there aren’t many decent stations around these days, which is why it’s so cool to find one. But I agree that “The Sound” is a bit lacking in imagination :-).
I think there are actually quite a few cities that have Jack stations. I’ve occasionally picked up the signal from the one in San Diego, and it’s a little different (in a good way) from the one in LA.
Kori – We’ve kicked satellite radio around but haven’t done anything. We’ve also thought about putting iPod-friendly stereos in our cars. Both options would cost up front, but Sirius would also have the subscription charge…I don’t know. It’s not like we have the spare change right now anyway :-), but either one would be a big improvement.
Jessica – Yeah, I’m afraid I’d get really spoiled by it too – kind of like I have with my DVR – so it may be best to stay away from it :-).
I love NPR in general, but our local affiliate, not so much. That said, I still listen for news.
If my 14 year-old is in the car, we’re listening to the local pop station.
My car has a built in iPod adapter, which I LOVE – it was one of my only requirements when we bought the car – but my husband’s doesn’t and he LOST my iPod adapter. Grrrr.
That station sounds awesome, Florinda!
Shana – So far, it’s living up to its promise, but it’s still new. We’ve got a 14-year-old too, though, and she probably won’t like it :-).
My next car is definitely going to be iPod-ready!
I do still listen to the radio, but I admit it’s so much more mellow now because little ears are listening and it’s hard to explain when a kid asks, “Mommy, why does she wish your girlfriend was hot like me?”
I like to listen to Pandora.com when I’m on-line. You can create your own radio station. It’s very cool.
Karen H – I keep meaning to try Pandora, but streaming audio is blocked at work and I always forget about it when I’m online at home.
It’s true, you do have to be a little more careful what’s on the car radio when the kids are around :-).
Thanks! I’ll have to check that out.
April – Yes, you do :-). Let me know what you think!
When I got my “new” (used) car, I had to return to listening to the radio, too. It’s dreadful! Some mornings on the way to work I’ve scanned the whole dial and found nary a station actually playing musing, which, for some reason, is what I crave from a radio station (imagine that!). Looks like you found a good station, good for you! I still need a good one to tune in on the radio in NE Pennsylvania, though…. 😉
Megan – Wish I could help, but I don’t know the area too well, and aren’t there mountains around that interfere with more distant signals? (Theoretically, you could pick up New York City stations, I guess, but the geography interferes.)
If I get truly desperate, my car does still have a CD player, at least.