top 20 on 20

If you like monotonous drum machines and senseless lyrics repeated over and over again ("I like that, I like that, I like that, I like that . . ."), then you'll love top 20 on 20. I would rather puncture my eardrum with an ice pick than listen to this channel.

For the record, top 20 on 20 plays the top twenty songs as voted on by listeners. You can vote at the channel's web page at XMradio.com or call their toll free request phone line.

top 20 on 20, XM 20
My previous experience with channel: I avoid it like the plague.

Heard on 20 0n 20:
"Goodies", Ciara/P. Pablo; "Ocean Avenue", Yellowcard; "One Night Stand", Misteeq; "My Happy Ending", Avril Lavigne; "Car Wash", Christina/Missy; "The Reason", Hoobastank; "Rumors", Lindsay Lohan; "Yeah", Usher/Ludacris; "One Thing" (the #1 song), Finger 11, "Let's Get It Started", Black Eyed Peas; "Headsprung", LL Cool J; "Move Ya Body", Nina Sky; "Breaking the Habit", Linkin Park; "Slow Motion", Juvenile; "Lose My Breath", Destiny's Child; "She Will Be Loved", Maroon 5; "I Like That", Houston f/Chingy; "Dare You To Move", Switchfoot; "My Place", Nelly; "Broken", Seether/Amy Lee; "Sunshine", Lil Flip; "Breakaway", Kelly Clarkson; "Turn Me On", Kevin Lyttle; "Nasty Girl", Nitty.

Time spent listening: one cycle, about 1 hour

Tomorrow: no channels are scheduled for Sundays. I'll reflect on the past week and look ahead to the upcoming week.

XM Cafe

Several years ago when I first read the channel name 'XM Cafe' I thought to myself that XM is copying the World Cafe. And I was right. A little background: David Dye started World Cafe at the University of Pennsylvania's college radio station (WXPN) in 1991. It's currently syndicated by Public Radio International (and is available on that other satellite radio service).

XM Cafe is a good background channel. The music is soft and interesting but doesn't put me to sleep. While I was listening this afternoon, I stumbled on Artist Confidential, Bonnie Raitt at XM. I missed this show Sunday night because I was watching the NFL. The Bonnie Raitt show was mostly an interview with her without much of her playing music. She only played two songs in the first 40 minutes of the show. Although she was a good interview, I was expecting more music.

XM Cafe, XM 45
My previous experience with channel: listen to often, it's a preset

Heard on XM Cafe:
"Days Like This", Van Morrison; "Boom, Like That", Mark Knopfler; "They're On to Me", Ari Hest; "Mr. Jones", Counting Crows; Artist Confidential, Bonnie Raitt at XM (an hour long); "I Did"; Louque; "Sleeping Satellite", Tasmin Archer; "Mama's Trippin'", Ben Harper; "At It Again", Pat McGee Band; "Stumble and Fall", Blues Traveler; "Ok", Ani Difranco; "What A Good Boy", Barenaked Ladies; "Lost in Space", Glenn Tilbrook; "Questionably Red", John Price; "I Want It Back", Shawn Colvin; "I Got the News", Steely Dan.

Time spent listening: about 2 hours

Related web sites: WXPN, World Cafe

Tomorrow: 20 on 20, top 20 hits

Soul Street

I started to listen to Soul Street a little after midnight. Shortly after I began my listening, I got the sad news that Johnny Ramone passed away. After a sound night's sleep, I spent the afternoon listening to the Johnny Ramone tribute on Fungus. This evening I got back to listening to Soul Street and it really has picked up my mood. The music is bright and lively (it's got soul!) and the DJs are upbeat and positive. It will probably be a preset when I get the new SkyFi 2 (ten more presets than my SkyFi 1).

Soul Street, XM 60
My previous experience with channel: occasional listen

Heard on Soul Street:
"Since I Lost My Baby", the Temptations; "Hello Stranger", Four Tops & the Supremes; "Reggae Woman", Stevie Wonder; "Good Timin'", Jimmy Jones; "Feel Like Makin' Love", Roberta Flack; "Hit the Road", Ray Charles; "Dancin' Machine", Jackson Five; "A Groovy Thing", People's Choice; "Games People Play", the Spinners; "The Watusi", the Vibrations; "Get Out My Life", Lee Dorsey, "Funny", Joe Hinton; "Quicksand", Martha & the Vandelas; "Baby Don't Do It", Marvin Gaye; "Back Up Train", Al Green; "Wang Dang Doodle", Koko Taylor; "Sunshine", the O'Jays; "Clapping Song", Shirley Ellis; "Ain't That a Groove", James Brown; "Found a Girl", Eddie Floyd; "All Laughing", the Spaniels; "Easier Said Than Done", Essex; "Get Down Get Down", Joe Simon.

Time spent listening: about 2 hours, late night, early evening

Tomorrow: XM Cafe, modern/soft alternative

the 60's

I started listening at 4:00 pm because I wanted to listen to Terry "Motormouth" Young. In the early 1980's he was a DJ in Philadelphia at the old WCAU (98.1 FM). The station at the time had a "hot hits" format (or such) and played the top 20 pop songs over and over (and over) again. I didn't listen to him a lot back then, but he had an entertaining show and I would check in a few times a week to see what was popular. His voice sounds a little deeper now, but his style is still the same.

Like the other decades channels, the 60's has some real good songs mixed in with the fluff, also known as boring pop hits. Like the 50's channel, the 60's is a nice break for me. I may listen in the future when I want to listen to something different for a change. Motormouth repeatedly talked over the music, which bothers me. Yes, I know it's part of setting the mood for the 1960's, but it still bugged me.

the 60's on 6, XM 6

Heard on the 60's:
"Let's Lock the Lock", Jay & the Americans; "Good Vibrations", Beach Boys; "Sweet Talkin Guy", Chiffons; "A Must to Avoid", Herman's Hermits; "Bossa Nova Baby", Elvis Presley; "Bad Moon Rising", Credence Clearwater Revival; "Not Me", Orlons; "You've Made Me So Very Happy", Blood Sweat & Tears; "Eli's Coming", Three Dog Night; "Hang'em High", Booker T & the MGs; News Reel 9/17/62; "You Keep Me Hanging On", Vanilla Fudge; "Baby I Love You", Ronettes; "She's Not There", the Zombies; "Walk on By", Dionne Warwick; "Take Good Care of My Baby", Bobby Vee; "Just Like Romeo and Juliet", the Reflections; "I Go to Pieces", Peter & Gordon; "Mr. Tambourine Man", the Byrds; Top 6 9/19/64; "The House of the Rising Sun", the Animals; "A Hard Days Night", the Beatles.

Time spent listening: 1 to 2 hours, afternoon and evening

Tomorrow: Soul Street, classic soul

the 50's

It's still Rock 'n Roll to me.

The 50's is a nice break to my usual XM routine (sports talk and alt music). The music is still interesting after all these years, especially the well known stand-outs: Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. It doesn't rate a preset, but I'll try to listen every now and then.


the 50's on 5, XM 5

Heard on the 50's:
"The Time", Baby Washington; "I Don't Know", Willie Mabon; "Sad Movies", Sue Thomas; "Peanut Butter", Marathons; "Trouble Blues", Charles Brown; "I'm a Man", Bo Diddley; "Mary Lou"; Ronnie Hawkins; "That'll Be the Day", Buddy Holly & the Crickets; "Stand By Me", Ben E. King; "Break Your Heart", Jerry Butler; "Butcher Pete", Roy Brown; "You Must Have Been", Bobby Darin; "White Port Lemon Juice", Belaires; "Sweet Little 16", Chuck Berry; "Sister Sookey", Turbans; "Everybody's Somebody", Heartbeats; "Robbin' the Cradel", Tony Bellus; "That's Enough", Ray Charles; "My Dad", Paul Petersen; "Whole Lot of Shaken Goin' On", Jerry Lee Lewis.

Time spent listening: 1 hour plus, evening

Tomorrow: the 60's

the 40's

"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.", Louis Armstrong.

This is XM's 1940's decade channel and I expected some serious swing music however I was diapponted. Maybe I just caught a bad hour or so, but very little of what I heard really swung. It was mostly melancoly big band music with uninspired singers - too white toast and milk. The 40's was very bland and boring this afternoon. Maybe I will use it as a falling-asleep channel, but I doubt it. Definately not a preset.

On the plus side, the 40's does a lot to set the mood of the 1940's. The Savoy Express railroad channel theme is catchy and the time-period news pieces are a really nice touch. This past summer's weekend long D-Day broadcast was well done. However ultimatelty it's the music that matters and I find it lacking based on my listeninmg today.

the 40's on 4, XM 4

Heard on the 40's:
"Play a Simple Melody", Bing and Gary Crosby; "I Cover the Water", Harry James; "Travelin' Light", Whiteman/Holiday; "Bei Mir Bist Du", Andrews Sisters; "Beg Your Pardon", Francis Craig; "Woodman, Spare That Tree", Phil Harris; "Do Nothin' Til You Hear from Me", Woody Herman; "Night Must Fall", Xavier Cugat; "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", Glenn Miller; "The Gypsy", Sammy Kaye; "Merry-Go-Round Broke Down", Russ Morgan; "You Can't Be True", K Griffin/ J Wayne; "Tangerine", Jimmy Dorsey; "My Baby Just Cares for Me", Mel Torme; 9/13/1940 News; "I'll Never Smile Again", T Dorsey/Sinatra; "Six Flats Unfurn", Benny Goodman; "Love Letters", Dick Haymes; "I Cried for You", Glen Gray.

Time spent listening: 1 to 2 hours, afternoon

Tomorrow: the 50's

Reflection and Projection

The first week of Bootcamp was well chosen. The decades channels are generally easy listening while Lucy and Ethel aren't offensive even if you don't like alternative music. Kiss is what it is - a top 40 pop music channel - you like it or not. My rankings of the week's channels: 1. Ethel, 2. Lucy, 3. the 80's, 4. the 70's, 5. Kiss.

Next Week:

Mon. the 40's, big band/swing
Tue. the 50's
Wed. the 60's
Thu. Soul Street, classic soul
Fri. XM Cafe, modern/soft alternative
Sat. Top 20 on 20, top 20 hits

This should be an easy week for me. The decades channels are fun to listen to every now and then, Soul Street I often listen to and XM Cafe is a preset already.


Sunday Spotlight

Sporting News Radio
With the recent start of football, I thought that I would feature what I feel is the best overall sports talk on XM - Sporting News Radio, XM 143. Just avoid the horrible morning show (listen to Tony Bruno on Fox Sports instead) and you can't go wrong. Real sports talk for real fans.

Check out: James Brown (especially good for NFL talk), 10:00 am to Noon ET weekdays; Rick Ballou (especially good for college football talk), 10:00 pm to 2:00 am ET, weekdays; Chet Coppock, 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, weekends.

for more info: Sporting News Radio web site