Musings —08.07.2014 07:39 AM
—Bloodbuzz, Ohio, CBC Radio, Indie 88 and me
In the mornings, I listen to CBC Radio. Always have. But when they start playing “music,” I turn them off. Calling the “music” on CBC Radio “music” is inaccurate. It is more accurate to call it “coma-inducing droning that is worse than elevator Muzak.”
So, increasingly, I flip over to newcomer Indie 88. I could do without some of their Happy Talk, but their musical taste is awesome. This morn, then, they played The National’s ‘Bloodbuzz, Ohio,’ which is a bit of God-like genius. I tweeted about it, and lots of folks replied, and now they know about The National and that song. Which is a good thing.
So, I say, check out Indie 88. They’re the best place for good music. And, also, give me my own show, Indie 88. I know Diddley about politics, but my musical taste is without equal.
CBC Radio here in Halifax seems to have a knack for playing bad music.
I chalk it up to bureaucrats trying to “promote local talent”.
Which also means they rarely play music which is actually popular. I think they should get their music from Youtube, my kids get 100% of their music from there.
Here in Halifax they have a lame “one song in a row” segment where the introductory blurb and the explanation they give for playing one song is usually longer than the (usually unpleasant) song they decided to play. When they first started doing this, thinking I might please my 8 year old son, I e-mailed them last year asking them to play CaptainSparklez’ Minecraft-inspired tune Revenge for my 8 year old, but they totally ignored my request. That song has about 140 million hits right now, and Minecraft has been one of, if not the best-selling game on the ‘net for a few years now. CBC staff have no clue nor do they care. (ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJUBQd-PNM )
Now when I start hearing the introduction to “One Song in a Row” I switch to Jack FM (same formula as Jack FM in San Antonio TX), or to Rogers News Talk Radio which often just makes me angry or they talk about sports in which I have zero interest. But it’s better than CBC Radio’s musical tastes. Muzak would be better. Or how about news? We don’t get much news anymore, just tiny bits every half hour or on the hour, with bad English “this is the news TO this hour” and “take a listen” etc.
I’ve been a CBC listener for almost all of my sixty-six years, but not so much lately. I swear they are deliberately driving listeners away. Can’t stand listening to Ontario Morning with the endless sports babble and the most irritating host in the history of radio. And, of course, there’s that obnoxious “promo guy” at the top of every hour insulting our intelligence. Even Cross Country Check Up has become a bad joke with Rex Murphy dominating the show. Fortunately for me, I live close to the US border where I can tune in several American Public Radio stations.
There’s lots to complain about when it comes to how CBC Radio operates, but the music ain’t one of them. Their mandate is to promote Canadian artists, of which there are many, many great ones who don’t get squat for airplay on mainstream radio.
Thanks to the most recent budget cuts, they just canceled my favourite music show. Bandwidth was a fantastic long-running show that featured Ontario singers and musicians. It’s a godam shame!
Thanks for that Mr K. It is very pleasing when sound and poetry come together so fittingly. A bit of God-like genius indeed.
For some reason, this seemed like an approprite follow-up piece:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YdMAC0vXIA
Reminds me of a huge lock of Canada Geese flying over
You will love High Violet, and their follow up Trouble Will Find Me. Elegiac but lifting. Sweeping and operatic. Simply amazing.
Why have I not heard of these guys until today? Man, I really gotta poke my head out from time to time, if only for the music.
Anyone whose musical taste is beyond equal, please raise your hand
I don’t know man, that National song is pretty close to elevator music for me, at least elevator music for depressive hipsters.
Got my Spotify streaming service for Canada access code yesterday. All of music, anytime and on any platform that has net access. Spent two hours with the late J J Cale playing in the background. What a joy. It took five years to get here but finally I can enjoy what the rest of the world already knows.
I’ve had a hard time listening to Indie 88 since they did away with the Rick Astley infinite loop.
But seriously, while the “Happy Talk” is quite irritating, the music is far and away better than any of the other stations.
On another note, anyone know why cottage county stations (The Dock, The Moose, etc…) are stuck in the ’70s? Seems like every time I head up north, I have to endure an endless barrage of April Wine, Trooper, BTO, Chilliwak, Joni Mitchell and Guess Who.
good song, Matt B, reminds me of someone from the 80’s not sure who Im thinking. The moment I heard the song it was reminiscent of another band/song. Its probably the melodic baritone.
Love CBC radio and wonder why the television isn’t as good but their “song” of the week is usually awful and forgettable. I get the promotion of “local” talent but do they only promote those who have their mothers send in the CD’s. To be fair I’d say that Gomeshi does a great job promoting music on his show. He should have had you on for your “Our Mayor’s on Crack”. That would have been a great interview.
The Harper Government does NOT like CBC. CBC has had to put up with cut back after cut back. Doesn’t take Rocket Science to figure what is going on.
I have to agree that the CBC is pushing me away. Well done, Cons. Death by 1000 cuts and a bad play list.
We’re outside Toronto, so all we get is B-level hillbilly stuff that I swear is being played just to keep the Duck Dynasty quacks something to be happy about. Don’t bother: they hate you 99% of the time, so playing down to their musical standards isn’t going to ‘lure’ them in while you alienate so many other loyal listeners.
As an aside, with all the social media tools and stuff at hand, it amazes me how poorly organized ‘news’ is with the CBC. Surely they can do better, even with the cuts. You could probably get a dozen volunteers in each community and I’m sure they’d rock our worlds much better than the current crop is.
And please don’t get me started with the juvenile nature of the hosts in the morning. Prudish – 100%. Naive – 100%. Informed and relevant – 0%.
Try Radio 2. Lots of cutting edge stuff there. There’s even classical stuff for you oldsters….. 🙂
Haven’t heard of Rdio, Spotify or SirusXM?
Alt-Radio on SirusXM has been playing this song for the past four years.