XM Classics

XM Classics is one reason I got XM to begin with. Several years ago I started to listen to classical music and Philadelphia doesn't have a 24/7 classical radio station anymore. WFLN closed up shop years ago. I have not been disappointed with the classical music on XM. It's wonderful, XM Classics in particular. The DJs, Martin Goldsmith and Paul Bachmann, are great. They have a nice relaxed conversational style and don't talk down to the listeners.

Furthermore XM Classics plays complete works of a wide variety of composers. For example in several hours of listening this afternoon I heard Tchaikovsky and JS Bach in addition to two composers I've never listened to before, Westhoff and Kozeluch. This isn't a background channel for me. It plays fabulous music that's a joy to experience.

XM Classics, traditional classical, XM 110
My previous experience with channel: preset, listen a few times a week.

Heard on XM Classics:
Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky; Suite in A Major, Johan Westhoff; Violin & Oboe Concerto, JS Bach; Sinofina Concertante, Leopold Kozeluch.

Time spent listening: several hours.

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

RAW

"Only sick music makes money today."
Friedrich Nietzsche

It's been a long time since I heard the 'N' word, 'F' word and the dreaded 'MF' curse word used so frequently. Is this some sort of artistic expression that I don't get? Do any of these "artists" know how to play an instrument? To my untrained ears this stuff is nothing more than repetitious noise with a whole lot of nonsensical cursing going on at the same time. Maybe junior high school kids get a kick out of hearing all of this cursing, but to me it's so over used it becomes meaningless. I mean if someone is always using the 'F' Bomb, then how do you know when he is really pissed? Furthermore Misters Baby D and Lil Flip don't even mention what they are checking the Ho for - sexually transmitted diseases I hope! I guess that I'm just too old to fully appreciate this channel.

"Rap music, more like crap music."
Bill O'Neil, WNYX News Radio

RAW, uncut hip-hop XM 66
My previous experience with channel: slim to none.

Heard on RAW:
"Ooh Nuthin", Project Pat; "Hot Sauce to Go", Jada/Pharrell; "I Ain't Heard o' That", Slim Thug; "Aquemini", Outkast; "Ms Kra-Z", Kra-Z; "Who Dat", JT Money-Feat; "99 Problems", T.I.; "Ho Check", Baby D/ Lil Flip; "Straight Cadillac", 8 Ball & MJG.

Time spent listening: about 30 minutes

Tomorrow: XM Classics, traditional classical, XM 110

Squizz

Thanks Bootcamp! I almost forgot about this channel. Squizz used to be a preset of mine, but Fungus took it's spot. I may have to review my presets after Bootcamp is over.

Squizz, hard alternative, XM 48

My previous experience with channel: it's a former preset.

Heard on Squizz:
"Like a Stone", Audioslave; "Monster Magnet", Powertrip; "Monsters", V Shape Mind ; "Make a Move", Lost Prophets; "My Michelle", Afi; "Vitamin R", Chevelle; "In the Mood", To My Surprise; "Step Into the Light", Dust for Life; "Redemption", Third Strike; "Far Away", 12 Stones.

Time spent listening: about half an hour (I'm already familiar with this channel), evening

Tomorrow: RAW, uncut hip-hop XM 66

U-Pop

Despite my earlier entries, I don't hate all pop music. I don't like pop channels that play pop songs that all sound the same, such as top 20 on 20, Kiss and Nashville. Impossible you say? "All pop music sounds the same!" you retort. Well, check out U-Pop.

This evening while listening to a Global Hits show on U-Pop, I heard music as diverse as R.E.M., Franz Ferdinand, and the Libertines. Not to mention an acoustic song by Damien Rice. It was all handled nicely by the DJ. My only minor problem with the show is that the DJ didn't state where any of the songs was particularly popular. Give U-Pop a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised.

U-Pop, Euro & global hits, XM 29
A Worldspace channel carried by XM.

My previous experience with channel: I used to listen every weekend to a weekly top 20-like show that I've somehow gotten away from recently. I've gotta start listening again.

Heard on U-Pop:
"The Joker", Fatboy Slim/Boot; "Take Me Out", Franz Ferdinand; "Dragostea Din Te", O-Zone; "Spin the Wheel", Bellefire; "Push Up", Freestylers; "Melt", Melanie C.; "Hey Papi", Alex Cartana; "Crickets Sing", Emma Bunton; "Girls", The Prodigy; "Leaving New York", R.E.M.; "Can't Stand Me", The Libertines; "In the Shadows", Rasmus; Cannonball Live, Damien Rice at XM; "Good Times Gonna Come", Aqualung; "No Ordinary Morning", Chicane; "Can You Feel It", V.

Time spent listening: about an hour, evening

Related web page: U-Pop at Worldspace

Tomorrow: Squizz, hard alternative, XM 48

Nashville

Contemporary country music is nothing more than pop music with some country window dressing. Its singers strive to project a wholesome image and add some twang to the guitars, sometimes a little fiddle to the hooks, or maybe some banjo to the instrumental breaks; but to me it's still boring banal pop music. This is what Nashville plays and I don't care for it.

Nashville, 90's & today's country, XM 11
My previous experience with channel: never really listend to it before.

Heard on Nashville:
"Give A Little Love", Judds; "Somebody New", Billy Ray Cyrus; "Days Go By", Keith Urban; "Friends in Low Places", Garth Brooks; "Girls Lie Too", Terri Clark; "Prop Me Up Beside the Juke Box", Joe Diffie; "Don't Go Near the Water", Sammy Kershaw; "Burn One Down", Clint Black; "I Feel Lucky", Mary Chapin Carpenter; "My Second Home", Tracy Lawrence; "I Can't Sleep", Clay Walker; "Jukebox in My Mind", Alabama; "I Miss You A Little", John Montgomery; "Blame It On Your Lying", Patty Loveless; "Lesson IN Leaving", Jo Messina Dee; "Some Girls Do", Sawyer Brown; "Heart Full of Love", Holly Dunn; "Standing Outside", Garth Brooks; "John J Blanchard", Anthony Smith; "To Have You Back", Patty Loveless; "Past the Point", Hal Ketchum; "In A Real Love", Phil Vassar; "A Little Past Little Rock", Lee Ann Womack; "Blue", Leann Rimes; "Every Light in the House", Trace Adkins; "I Ain't Goin' Nowhere", Martina McBride; "Riding with Private Malone", David Ball.

Time spent listening: about 1 hour, evening

Tomorrow: U-Pop, Euro & global hits, XM 29

Cinemagic

This is one of those channels that really is unique. You won't hear anything like this on traditional radio. Cinemagic plays movie sound tracks interspersed with audio snippets from the movies. You may be surprised at how many movies you recognize just from the music. Certainly be sure to check it out if you remotely like movies. For me it's a good break from my usual background channels.

Cinemagic, XM 27
My previous experience with channel: I tune in every so often

Heard on Cinemagic:
(note: Cinemagic Moments are audio clips from the movies)
"Main Title", the Godfather; "The New Godfather", the Godfather; "Cinemagic Moment - Strictly Business", the Godfather; "The Pickup", the Godfather; "Road to Perdition", Thomas Newman; "Cinemagic Moment", Road to Perdition; "Road to Perdition", Thomas Newman; "Shawshank Redemption", Thomas Newman; "Cinemagic Moment - Only Guilty Man in Shawshank", Shawshank Redemption; "Shawshank Redemption", Thomas Newman; "Cinemagic Moment - File Under Educational Too", Shawshank Redemption; "Shawshank Redemption", Thomas Newman; "Empire Strikes Back", John Williams; Cinemagic Moment - Leia & Han, "Empire Strikes Back", John Williams; Cinemagic Moment - Vader: 'Luke, I am your father.'; "Empire Strikes Back", John Williams; "Iron Giant", Michael Kamen; Cinemagic Moment - Iron Giant; "Iron Giant", Michael Kamen.

Time spent listening: about 1 hour

Tomorrow: Nashville, 90's & today's country

Reflection and Projection

The second week of bootcamp is in the books. The only channel that I really didn't like this past week was top 20 on 20. I rate the week in this order: 1. XM Cafe, 2. Soul Street, 3. the 60's, 4. the 50's, 5. the 40's, 6. top 20 on 20.

Next Week:
Mon Cinemagic, movie sound tracks, XM 27
Tue Nashville, 90's & today's country
Wed U-Pop, Euro & global hits, XM 29
Thu Squizz, hard alternative, XM 48
Fri RAW, uncut hip-hop, XM 66
Sat XM Classics, traditional classical, XM 110

This week is a real uneven week for me. Cinemagic is usually a decent background channel. It's nice how it often mixes in dialogue from movies too. Country and hip-hop aren't my favorite types of music, so those days could be tough. I look forward to Squizz and XM Classics because they are presets of mine.


Sunday Spotlight

BBC World Service, XM 131
A very good source for world news. Be sure to check out Newshour 8 am - 9 am ET, News, analysis and commentary from around the world. Also at 4 pm ET. The BBC isn't just news. John Peel has had a rock show on the BBC for decades. He's on Fridays 10:30 am, 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm ET. Other non-news shows are aired too. BBC's schedule is online at: BBC World Service.