Sunny

"My loathings are simple: stupidity,
oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music."
Vladimir Nabokov

Do you yearn to hear music that's most often found in a dentist's office? Then Sunny is just the channel for you. When you want to listen to something then tune into almost any other XM channel, for nothing lock the dial onto Sunny. This is as close to musak as XM gets. One light inconsequential song slowly merges into another (several times today I didn't even notice that the song had changed). Every so often, a serene voice reminds you that you're having a Sunny day (or some such nonsense). Sunny, inoffensive yet uninspiring.

Sunny, beautiful music, XM 24
My previous experience with channel: none.

Heard on Sunny:
"This Train Adapt", Percy Faith; "I Can See Clearly Now" (musak version), Norm Geller; "Even Now", Nana Mouskouri; "A Song for You", John Fox; "Paradise", Skitch Henderson; "Blue Tango", Michel Le Grand; "Any Dream Will Do", Michael Crawford; "Love After Midnight", Herbert Rehbein; "Key Largo", Ronnie Aldrich; "If I Loved You", Johnny Douglas; "How Deep is the", Bert Kaempfert; "All I Ever Need", Chet Atkins.

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.

Luna

I'll listen to Luna when I want a light jazz channel that can hold my interest (Watercolors puts me to sleep). I like Luna but not enough to earn a pre-set.

Luna, Latin jazz, XM 95
My previous experience with channel: very little.

Heard on Luna:
"Every Time We Say Goodbye", Rumba Club; "From This Moment", Giovanni Hidalgo; "Hot Barbecue", Pucho & Latin So; "Canta Bajo", Mongo Santamaria; "Agua de Beber", Antonio C. Jobim; "Miranda's Smile", Paquito D'rivera; "How Insensitive", Charlie Byrd; "8 Timbales", Tito Puente; "El Ministro", Humberto Ramirez; "Take Sarava", Silvia Torres; "Black Orchid", Tjader/palmieri; "Afro Blue" Dave Valentin; "Samba Triste", Eliane Elias; "Manteca", Big Band of Shor.

Time spent listening: a little over an hour.

Tomorrow: Sunny, beautiful music, XM 24

Mix

What's your mood: Heart, Blend, Mix. That's what the channel promo asks. The Heart is sappy love songs, the Blend is very soft adult contemporary music and the Mix rocks out a little every now and then.

Of the three, I like the Mix the best. But that's like saying the Mix is the tallest jockey at the stable. If you listen to XM Radio in an office and they listen to the Heart or the Blend all of the time, suggest the Mix to them. Otherwise your only choice is to change jobs.

Mix, contemporary hits, XM 22
My previous experience with channel: not much.

Heard on Mix:
"On the Way Down", Ryan Cabrera; "I Gotta Girl", Tripping Daisy; "Sand in My Shoes", Dido; "Plush", Stone Temple Pilots; "Breakaway", Kelly Clarkson; "Fast as You Can", Fiona Apple; "Stupid", Sarah McLachlan; "1985", Bowling for Soup; "Save Me", Dave Matthews; "Let Her Cry", Hootie & the Blowfish; "Pain", Jimmy Eat World; "Underneath It All", No Doubt; "Run", Collective Soul; "The Devils In the Wi", Five for Fighting; "Eighth World Wonder", Kimberly Locke; "Bigger Than My E", John Mayer; "Linger", the Cranberries; "Ocean Avenue", Yellowcard; "What You Waiting For", Gwen Stefani; "Stuck In A Moment", U2.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: Luna, Latin jazz, XM 95

The 90's

In general I don't care for the decade channels and the 90's is no exception. The 90's plays the hits from the decade. Pop hits in addition to being boring and forgettable most of the time also come from many styles of music. Take a look at what I heard in my short time listening today (see below). Journey, Concrete Blonde, Salt-N-Pepper and Ice Cube were just a few of the artists that I was subjected to. It's this jumping from style to style that I really don't like. Finally the DJ seemed to be trying too hard to be wild and crazy. (RIP John Peel)

The 90's, nineties hits, XM 9
My previous experience with channel: very little.

Heard on The 90's:
"I'll Be", Edwin McCain; "Mr. Jones", Counting Crows; "No More Lies", Michel'le; "Coco Jamboo", Mr President; "Ghetto Cowboy", Mo Thugs; "Bad of the Heart", George Lamond; "The Way", Fastball; "You Gotta Be", Des'ree; "When You Love A Woman", Journey; "Bog Gun", Ice Cube/feat. G; "Someday", Mariah Carey; "Joey", Concrete Blonde; "Whatta Man", Salt-N-Pepper; "Where Do You Go", No Mercy; "Back to Good", Matchbox 20; "Come Baby Come", K7; "Rosa Parks", Outkast; "Warm It Up", Kris Kross.

Time spent listening: roughly an hour.

Tomorrow: Mix, contemporary hits, XM 22

The City

The channel description (urban top 40) is fair and accurate. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but it's still not for me.

The City, urban top 40, XM 67
My previous experience with channel: none.

Heard on The City:
"Charlene", Anthony Hamilton; "Confessions Rmx", JD; "Breath", Fabolous; "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", Eve F/Gwen Stefani; "I Try", Talib Kweli/Mary; "U Should've", Monica; "Head Bussa", Lil Scrappy; "Breath, Stretch", Ma$e; "If I Ain't Got U", Alicia Keys; "Wonderful", Ja Rule ft Ashan; "Where Da Hood", DMX; "Flap Your Wings", Nelly; "Bang Bang", Kardinal Offishl; "Freek A Leek", Petey Pablo; "Drop It Like", Snoop Dog; "Turn Da Lights", Tweet; "My Neck My Back", Khia.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: The 90's, nineties hits, XM 9

Music Lab

Did you ever wonder what set off the punks? Well, it was pretentious self-absorbed music like this. By the early to mid-seventies a lot of rock music ceased to be fun and many thought it should be serious art. Gone were the three chords and simple song form (verse, chorus, verse chorus - instrumental break - verse, chorus), they were replaced with esoteric chords, key changes and music forms only a true professional musician or an intellectual rock fan could appreciate. No more three minute enjoyable songs about girls and cars, now we had plodding twenty minute epics about space travel and mythology. No thanks. I didn't like it then and I don't like it today.

Initially punk was about getting back to the basics. Thank you punks. Who knows what type of music I would have resorted to if Jonathan Richman, Patti Smith, or the Ramones hadn't come along.

Music Lab, jam bands/progressive rock, XM 51
My previous experience with channel: none.

Heard on Music Lab:
"Pictures of a C", King Crimson; "Xanadu", Rush; "Snap Crackle Pop", John Scofield; "De Anza Jig", Primus; "Silent Scream", Gov't. Mule; "The Gates of del", Yes; "Little Green Men", Steve Vai; "Gotta Jibboo", Phish; "Hunch", Stanton Moore.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Tomorrow: The City, urban top 40, XM 67

Spirit

This channel is not for me, but it did surprise me in how modern it sounded. Although it's still all about that old time religion, it does update the sound somewhat for the new millennium. Some of the songs utilize drum machines and synthesizers (very lightly) and others sound almost like light rap or hip-hop songs. Of the three Christian channels, this one was the most interesting to me. So if your a regular listener to the Torch or the Fish then certainly try out the Spirit, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Spirit, Gospel, XM 33
My previous experience with channel: none.

Heard on Spirit:
"Consecrate Me", Corletta Vaugh; "Oh Peter", Donald Lawrence; "I Still Love You", Texas Boys; "He's Alright", Fortitude; "Cry No More", Cross Movement; "Taste 'N' See", Tye Tribbett; "Everybody Ought", Nancy Wilson; "He'll Make A Way", Calvin Suggs; "Jesus You Are", His Voice; "In Your Presence", La. Mass Choir; "Your Word", Tonex; "Walk With Me", Pamela Rankin.

Time spent listening: about an hour.

Next Up:
Mon. Music Lab, jam bands/progressive rock, XM 51
Tue. The City, urban top 40, XM 67
Wed. The 90's, nineties hits, XM 9
Thu. Mix, contemporary hits, XM 22
Fri. Luna, Latin jazz, XM 95
Sat. Sunny, beautiful music, XM 24