Bootcamp Directory

XM Radio Bootcamp 3 ran from September thru November 2004. Each day a different channel was featured. Here's a quick little directory of my Bootcamp posts. Please forgive me, I missed a few channels.

Decades
the 40's    the 50's    the 60's    the 70's    the 80's    the 90's

Country
Nashville    Hank's Place    Bluegrass Junction    X Country    America    the Village    Highway 16

Pop & Hits
Kiss    top 20 on 20    U Pop    Cinemagic    Sunny    Mix    the Blend    the Heart    On Broadway

Christian
Torch    the Fish    Spirit

Rock
Lucy    Ethel    Fred    XM Cafe    Squizz    Deep Tracks    the Loft    Music Lab    Fungus    Bone Yard    Unsigned    Top Tracks    XM Liquid Metal    XMU

Hip-Hop & Urban
Soul Street    Raw    the Flow    the City    Suite 62    the Groove

Jazz & Blues
Real Jazz    Bluesville    Frank's Place    Beyond Jazz    Watercolors

Lifestyle
Hear Music    Audio Visions    Fine Tuning

Dance
the Move    Chrome    the System    B P M

Latin
Aguila    Luna    Alegria    Caliente

World
the Joint    Ngoma

Classical
XM Classics    Vox

Watercolors

When I want a channel to help me sleep, this is one of two channels that I turn to (the other is Audio Visions). That's not to say all the smooth jazz played here is boring, it's just that it's so easy to turn down the volume and slide into a nice slumber. During the few wide-awake times that I've listened to Watercolors, it does play interesting music and not boring Kenny G-Type stuff. It's just that when I want to listen to some jazz, I prefer the jazz that's played on Real Jazz and Beyond Jazz.

Watercolors, contemporary jazz, XM 71
My previous experience with channel: it's a "fall asleep" channel for me.

Heard on Watercolors:
"Whatz Up?!", Richard Smith; "Silhouette", Euge Groove; "Out'a Nowhere", Norman Brown; "Hudson River Nig", Kim Waters; "The Lady Wants T", Michael Franks; "Steppin' Out", Paul Taylor; "Another Place", Hiroshima; "No Ordinary Love", Chris Botti; "Bridge Over the", Keiko Matsui; "Someday Soon", David Benoit; "A New Day", Michael Lington; "Drive", Russ Freeman; "City Speak", Richard Elliot; "Better Than Nothing", Braxton Brothers.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: XM Pops, popular classical, XM 113

Suite 62

This is a nice mellow channel that I tune into when I want a little something different from my usual routine.

Suite 62, urban adult, XM 62
My previous experience with channel: one of the few urban channels that I occasionally listen to (although it's not a pre-set).

Heard on Suite 62:
"Superstar", Ruben Studdard; "Call My Name", Prince; "After the Party", Koffee Brown; "There's Nothing", Luther Vandross; "Chante's Got A Man", Chante Moore; "Happy People", R Kelly; "He Loves Me", Jill Scott; "Sentimental", Deborah Cox; "U Should've", Monica; "Computer Love", Zapp; "2Nite", Vybe; "Ask of You", Raphael Saadiq.

Time spent listening: almost an hour.

Tomorrow: Watercolors, contemporary jazz, XM 71

XMU

When I first got XM (almost two years ago), I used to listen to XMU a lot. Then the songs started to jump around too much - a Squizz-like song followed by a RAW-like song followed by a mainstream alternative song (is that an oxymoron?) - so I stopped listening. However if my listening tonight is any indication, then I'll be listening to XMU more in the future. The songs seemed to flow much better than I remembered.

XMU, new music, XM 43
My previous experience with channel: I used to listen to it frequently (it's still a pre-set), but got away from it for some reason.

Heard on XMU:
"Can't Stop Now", Keane; "21st Century Rip", The Soundtrack O; "Strangely Drawn", Echobelly; "Super Powers", the Dismembermen; "C'mere", Interpol; "You Are My Bird", the Lovethugs; "The Valleys of N", The Veils; "Music Makes the", the Incredible M; "We're Not Gonna", Longwave; "Imagine", Blend Crafters; "Closet (Look Out)", Matt Pond PA; "C.M.E.M.", Service Group; "Vonal Declosion", Stereolab; "Mummy", Poor Rich Ones; "A to B", the Futureheads; "Marvelous Error", the Faraway Place; "No Damage Noctur", Q and Not U.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: Suite 62, urban adult, XM 62

the Village

I'm not a folk music fan, but I think the Village will make a decent background channel. It plays soft and interesting music that doesn't put me to sleep in ten minutes.

the Village, folk, XM 15
My previous experience with channel: very little.

Heard on the Village:
"Connaughtman Ram", Karen Ashbrook; "Come Back Paddy", Foster & Allen; "Goodnight Moon", Erica Wheeler; "The Winter Sun", Diane Ziegler at XM; "Glory Glory", Odetta; "912 Greens", Ramblin Jack Elliot; "My Father", Judy Collins; "Starman", John Stewart; "Do You Know Him", Robin & Linda; "Jesse James"; Kingston Trio; "Mobile Serenade", Tim Ericson; "Harry Truman", Dana Cooper; "Take A Giant Step", Taj Mahal; "In the Evening", Roger McGuinn; "Matty Groves", Joan Baez; "Mary Black", Mary Black; "Sleeping On Road", Neil Halstead at XM; "Word Game", Stephen Stills.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: XMU, new music, XM 43

Caliente

Another fun Spanish music channel. It almost makes me want to learn the language.

Caliente, tropical, XM 94
My previous experience with channel: none.

Heard on Caliente:
"Si En Una Palabr", N'Klabe; "Ni Como Amiga", Grupo Niche; "Hoy Daria Yo La", Alex; "La Paga", Tony Tun Tun; "Pobre Diabla", Don Omar; "Algo Imposible", NG2; "No Me Tortures", Daniel Rene; "Se Nos Fue El Am", Ruby Perez; "Yo No Queda Nada", Tito Nieves; "Rie Y Llora", Celia Cruz; "Vivi", Yoskar Sarante; "Sabroso Violin", Havana NRG; "Nadie Mejor Que", Eddie Santiago; "Cuado Yo Me", Jose Pena Suazo.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: the Village, folk, XM 15

Reflection and Projection

I rate last week's channels this way:
1. Unsigned
2. Top Tracks
3. Bone Yard
4. the Blend
5. Beyond Jazz
6. Alegria

Channels next week:
Mon. Caliente, tropical, XM 94
Tue. the Village, folk, XM 15
Wed. XMU, new music, XM 43
Thu. Suite 62, urban adult, XM 62
Fri. Watercolors, contemporary jazz, XM 71
Sat. XM Pops, popular classical, XM 113

This is the last full week of Bootcamp. The only pre-set of mine is XMU. I've listened to all of them but Caliente and the Village. This should be an enjoyable week for me.

Sunday Spotlight
Sonic Theater (XM 163) & Radio Classics (XM 164)
Sonic Theater carries the label "Books & Drama", however I've never heard any books on tape here. You will find contemporary radio plays. Look for the Twilight Zone series it was well done with actors you'll recognize. Radio Classics plays old time radio programs. Keep an ear out for The Shadow (especially with Orson Wells), Jack Benny (still funny after all these years), Gunsmoke (a western for grown-ups), and Fibber McGee & Molly (a family sit-com).

the Blend

This is a good channel for what it is, an adult contemporary channel. It mixes in artists from several genres of music. If you're stuck in an office situation then you could do worse than this channel. I'm not a big fan of the Blend but I put it on every now and then.

the Blend, adult contemporary, XM 25
My previous experience with channel: it's not a preset but I have listened to the Blend on occasion.

Heard on the Blend:
"Spirit in the Sky", Norman Greenm; "Brilliant Disguise", Bruce Springsteen; "If I Ain't Got You", Alicia Keys; "Instant Karma", John Lennon; "Have I Told You", Rod Stewart; "Talk to Me", Stevie Nicks; "Landslide", Dixie Chicks; "You'll Never Find", Lou Rawls; "A Beautiful Morning", the Rascals; "Mercy Mercy Me", Robert Palmer; "8th World Wonder", Kimberly Locke; "Everybody Plays", Main Ingredient; "That Don't Impress Me", Shania Twain; "All By Myself", Eric Carmen; "That's the Way", Janet Jackson; "Always on My Mind", Willie Nelson; "Everyday People", Sly & the Family Stone; "Shower the People", James Taylor; "Drift Away", Uncle Kracker; "Sad Songs", Elton John; "Narrow Daylight", Diana Krall.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow:
No channel is scheduled for Sunday. I will review the past week and look forward to next week. Also Sunday Spot Light.

Alegria

I didn't hate Alegria and I may have even liked it if I understood Spanish.

Alegria, latin hits, XM 90
My previous experience with channel: never listened before.

Heard on Alegria:
"Se Me Pego Tu No", Amaury Gutierrez; "Salida", Alex Ubago; "Si Tu Me Faltas", Area 305; "Superf---er", Amigos Invisible; "Fuente De Energi", Estopa; "Instinto Y Deseo", Victor Manuelle; "Superficial", Ha-Ash; "Voy Hacia A Ti", Noelia; "La Llamada", Carlos Vives; "Mujer Con Pantal", Carlos Ponce; "Evolucion", Aleks Syntek; "Try to Save Your", Alejandro Sanz; "Adios", La Oreja De Van; "Asi Soy Yo", Bustamante; "Lleva", Fito Paez; "Tan Solo Son Pal", Ana Cristina; "Esa Es La Verdad", La Ley.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: the Blend, adult contemporary, XM 25