Radio, Radio
January 14, 2012 1:08 PM Subscribe
Best Radio Stations Around?
Starting to get really into using Tune-In Radio, in need of recommendations. My favorite stations are KEXP out of Seattle and the Current in Minneapolis. What are other stations in this vein that I should be checking out?
Also, if you're in the know:
-What's a great, diverse (i.e., spinning a little bit outside the standard cannon) oldies station?
-What are some great, reliable (i.e., not populated by dj's just looking to out obscure each other) college radio stations?
-What international stations should I be checking out?
Starting to get really into using Tune-In Radio, in need of recommendations. My favorite stations are KEXP out of Seattle and the Current in Minneapolis. What are other stations in this vein that I should be checking out?
Also, if you're in the know:
-What's a great, diverse (i.e., spinning a little bit outside the standard cannon) oldies station?
-What are some great, reliable (i.e., not populated by dj's just looking to out obscure each other) college radio stations?
-What international stations should I be checking out?
WFMU. Former college-affiliated station, listener supported, chock full of DJs who love music in all its forms. Caveats: can be a bit too self-referential and in-jokey; DJs tend to talk a long time, which can a good or bad thing, depending on whether you like him or her.
(on preview: radiocontrolled beat me to it!)
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:28 PM on January 14, 2012
(on preview: radiocontrolled beat me to it!)
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:28 PM on January 14, 2012
WONC, which is the radio station from North Central College in Naperville, IL. They have a very diverse playlist, actually take requests, and there are no commercials.
You may also like WXRT in Chicago.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:50 PM on January 14, 2012
You may also like WXRT in Chicago.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:50 PM on January 14, 2012
In addition to WFMU, check out WFUV, also out of New York. They're not quite as eclectic - it's more of an indie/alt-rock kind of place, though there are shows that do very different stuff (most Saturdays seem to be dominated by Celtic music, for example). And at the end of the day, if it's interesting, they'll play it. I remember them playing that Adele song that got so huge way before Top 40 discovered it, for example.
I don't know if you listen in the car or while commuting at all, but my favorite thing about FUV is that instead of the usual drive-time talk bullshit, they do this vaguely request-ish format called "Question Of The Day" where the DJ asks a topical question and listeners are invited to answer in the form of a song. This can often get very oldies-ish, because answers are open to just about any song, from any point or genre of pop music (though again they skew rock/pop/alt/indie - I don't think I've ever heard them play hip-hop, even for Question Of The Day).
posted by Sara C. at 2:02 PM on January 14, 2012
I don't know if you listen in the car or while commuting at all, but my favorite thing about FUV is that instead of the usual drive-time talk bullshit, they do this vaguely request-ish format called "Question Of The Day" where the DJ asks a topical question and listeners are invited to answer in the form of a song. This can often get very oldies-ish, because answers are open to just about any song, from any point or genre of pop music (though again they skew rock/pop/alt/indie - I don't think I've ever heard them play hip-hop, even for Question Of The Day).
posted by Sara C. at 2:02 PM on January 14, 2012
For actual oldies, I like WCBS. Though sometimes they can be really bad in that predictable oldies way. Other times they will play Cher's "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" just at the moment I hit the BQE at 11PM, and I want to kiss them.
posted by Sara C. at 2:03 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by Sara C. at 2:03 PM on January 14, 2012
Not sure what your definition of "posies" is but I love KBRD and listen to it via TuneIn every single day,
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2012
I'm very partial to KHEN out of Salida, Colorado, and WOVV, from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Both are eclectic community radio at its best.
posted by itstheclamsname at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by itstheclamsname at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2012
Backyard that should be "oldies " not posies.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:34 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:34 PM on January 14, 2012
Ack. Not backyard, stupid autocorrect!!
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:35 PM on January 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:35 PM on January 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Some of my TuneIn faves...
posted by Currer Belfry at 3:46 PM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
- WCBN, University of Michigan, is great. Check out "Nothin' But The Blues" on Saturday afternoons - I think the DJ has been hosting the show for nearly 30 years now and it still sounds good - or their Sunday afternoon/evening lineup, especially if you like Indian music.
- For international, check out RTBF Musiq 3 (Belgium) if you like classical, FIP Direct (France) for eclectic pop/jazz/oldies/R&B.
- WHRB, Harvard's radio station. Their winter and spring "orgies" (several hours or days devoted to one artist, composer, or style) are legendary. More info here.
- WMBR, MIT's radio station. If you like R&B, Sunday afternoons and evenings will really appeal to you. There's a soul oldies show, "R&B Jukebox," on Sundays between 6-8 p.m. that is one of the few "oldies" shows I can stomach these days.
- WZBC, Boston College's radio station.
- WERS, Emerson College
- CKUT, McGill University. Great funk/hiphop show called WeFunk late Friday nights.
posted by Currer Belfry at 3:46 PM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Theres also KFAI in Minneapolis, great stuff!
posted by wheelieman at 4:51 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by wheelieman at 4:51 PM on January 14, 2012
KXLL, out of Alaska, and WPRB (Princeton) are good to great college radio stations that play, broadly, indie music as well as whatever genres are covered by specific DJs.
Northwestern's WNUR is another solid college radio choice.
Tucson's KXCI community radio is roughly similar to WFMU in that it's wildly eclectic, independent, and staffed by veteran DJs, but instead of all the new york bohemian influence there's a strong passion for the desert. FMU is awesome, I grew up listening to it, but KXCI is a true community station, with shows dedicated to local artists and national acts passing through town, wheras WFMU has become an independent beast of international stature. Also, while KXCI has some shows I don't listen to because of the genre (zydeco), WFMU has lots of shows I _hate_, because that's just how they roll.
posted by unmake at 4:53 PM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Northwestern's WNUR is another solid college radio choice.
Tucson's KXCI community radio is roughly similar to WFMU in that it's wildly eclectic, independent, and staffed by veteran DJs, but instead of all the new york bohemian influence there's a strong passion for the desert. FMU is awesome, I grew up listening to it, but KXCI is a true community station, with shows dedicated to local artists and national acts passing through town, wheras WFMU has become an independent beast of international stature. Also, while KXCI has some shows I don't listen to because of the genre (zydeco), WFMU has lots of shows I _hate_, because that's just how they roll.
posted by unmake at 4:53 PM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
U92FM, out of Morgantown, WV from West Virginia University! It's 91.7 on the dial, and they stream online. I like their regular rotation the best, where they play mostly indie rock. They do have specialty shows and even play a new release album in full every Monday night.
I'm from Morgantown and went to school there, so take this advice knowing it comes with a hearty dose of nostalgia.
posted by shortyJBot at 6:08 PM on January 14, 2012
I'm from Morgantown and went to school there, so take this advice knowing it comes with a hearty dose of nostalgia.
posted by shortyJBot at 6:08 PM on January 14, 2012
WDVX from Knoxville, TN is the absolute best in bluegrass/roots/murder music. It's a community station so the programming is a little uneven but it's always worth tuning in to. They webcast, of course. If you should find yourself in Knoxville on a weekday, check out their Blue Plate Special, which is a free noontime concert held in the Knoxville Visitors Center and broadcast live.
posted by workerant at 7:26 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by workerant at 7:26 PM on January 14, 2012
WSOU: Seton Hall University pirate radio. They play metal. \m/
posted by Renoroc at 9:24 PM on January 14, 2012
posted by Renoroc at 9:24 PM on January 14, 2012
Like what you're already listening to: WXPN
International: BBC 6
posted by knile at 1:35 AM on January 15, 2012
International: BBC 6
posted by knile at 1:35 AM on January 15, 2012
If you like those, you'll probably like KDHX, St. Louis' independent station. It tends to be best in the morning and afternoon on weekdays and towards the evening on weekends, just as a heads up!
posted by limeonaire at 8:12 AM on January 15, 2012
posted by limeonaire at 8:12 AM on January 15, 2012
Oh, and for college radio, I really like KCLC, The Wood, at Lindenwood University. I pretty much just switch between that and KDHX when I'm in the car.
posted by limeonaire at 8:20 AM on January 15, 2012
posted by limeonaire at 8:20 AM on January 15, 2012
I have auditioned most of the top 'eclectic' stations along the lines of KEXP, WXPN and for my bandwidth you can't beat KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic & its 24-hr stream.
For college radio I'm really happy with Drexel's WKDU here in Philly, though I think 'DJs looking to out obscure each other' kinda goes with the territory.
If you're moderately risk-tolerant maybe you can get the college radio experience with more highs and less lows by checking out some of these streams not affiliated with actual broadcast stations:
http://www.newtownradio.com/
http://erika.net/
posted by sudama at 9:27 AM on January 15, 2012
For college radio I'm really happy with Drexel's WKDU here in Philly, though I think 'DJs looking to out obscure each other' kinda goes with the territory.
If you're moderately risk-tolerant maybe you can get the college radio experience with more highs and less lows by checking out some of these streams not affiliated with actual broadcast stations:
http://www.newtownradio.com/
http://erika.net/
posted by sudama at 9:27 AM on January 15, 2012
A note about WFMU - no recorded commercials on the station - the ads are read live by the jocks. Also, it's an unusual mix of commercial and listener-supported. Refreshingly practical.
For oldies, my go-to is The Doo-Wop Express - 50's and early 60's, not your run-of-the-mill playlist, but they do run through their catalog a bit too quickly for my taste. And for some strange reason they play a lot of 'remakes' by the original artists, not the hit radio versions.
posted by DandyRandy at 8:45 AM on January 16, 2012
For oldies, my go-to is The Doo-Wop Express - 50's and early 60's, not your run-of-the-mill playlist, but they do run through their catalog a bit too quickly for my taste. And for some strange reason they play a lot of 'remakes' by the original artists, not the hit radio versions.
posted by DandyRandy at 8:45 AM on January 16, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by radiocontrolled at 1:28 PM on January 14, 2012 [3 favorites]