The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Radio
We've all bemoaned the state of terrestrial radio, but Snow Patrol is really biting the hand. The band -- who have been at it for years and finally hit upon a winning formula years ago by apeing the sweet sounds of Coldplay -- find themselves with a Top 5 hit in "Chasing Cars." The song's most redeeming characteristic is appearing in Grey's Anatomy, but as expected, the US charts went nuts. And yet, Gary Lightbody laments the state of the terrestrial radio (that made his soundbite relevant in the first place) on the band's website:
So we're the first British guitar band since Duran Duran, 13 years ago, to have a top five hit in the US. Did they use guitars? If television is the new radio (Grey's Anatomy, The OC, etc) what's gonna happen to radio? We spend a lot of time in the States and you just have to turn the radio on there to know there's a problem. There is literally hundreds of stations dedicated to playing eighties soft rock: Poison, Heart, Whitesnake, Def Leppard.... There is a serious problem. The radio, as i see it, is a preview device. It's a toe in the water. A place to hear the records you may one day like to own. One day soon. NOT a graveyard for records you sold at the same car boot sale you sold your stone washed denim jacket (ahem, not based on personal experience). We did sessions and interviews in lots of great stations across America so it's not all bad news.Well, we did a lot of traveling this summer and could never find quality radio. So, if you're still with us after all of that Snow, let us know the best terrestrial radio station to dial up in your city. (To be clear, "best" also means "non nü-metal.")
Posted at 3:47 PM
CD101 in Columbus, OH. It's online as well, www.cd101.com. Being a music geek, I think they're a bit behind the curve (as most broadcast radio stations are), but they're certainly a bastion of great music in a city dominated by Clear Channel. Plus their DJs are top notch, the Big Room performances are stupendous, and they bring in listeners for guest DJ spots every friday, they even got Elvis Costello to sit in for an hour and spin some tunes.
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89.3 the current bitchez!
MPLS represent. easily the best station i've ever heard.
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In Boston, there's really only two choices:
-WFNX (101.7) is the main "alternative" station, and is actually pretty solid.
-WERS (88.9) is the product of Emerson College and is one of the most professional college radio stations around.
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In Vermont, at least the southeastern portion, the best is WVEW, community owned, community run radio. It is a utopia of democracy and the music you'll hear is all over the map: dub, indie, birdsongs, Romantic Classical, trance, goth and on and on. Check out www.wvew.org for more info. They are currently looking for donations to start streaming on the web.
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90.3 KEXP in my town of Seattle. But you already knew that.
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San Diego has two stations battling it out at the moment.
91X and FM 94/9.
While 91X was at one time Clear Channel, they're now "independent"... FM 94/9 has always pegged itself as "anti-corporate radio".
Basically, they're both trying to be indier than thou. And they have their moments. But since this is Southern California, they still play tons of Sublime, Marley, and Social D.
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whichever one doesn't play snow patrol. b/c they prob also play nickelback, hinder, and all that other garbage that blows....
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San Antonio
90.1 KSYM
or
91.7 KRTU
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Jefferson Public Radio: Rhythm & News. The NPR station run out of Southern Oregon University. I haven't found anything like it since I've left the west coast.
http://www.ijpr.org/
Thanks for this post. It made me go check their site to find that they've updated it to include a live stream.
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Radio K in MPLS is pretty solid too. It's the U of MN's radio station. It's online at Radiok.org.
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When is Stereogum coming to Sirius?
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Snow Patrol kinda sucks now, which is why they're getting airplay, I think. Sad state of affairs.
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Amen to CD101.
The only thing saving Columbus radio.
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WUNH, 91.3 FM out of Durham, New Hampshire, reaches about halfway down to Boston.
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www.wfmu.org
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Will beat me to it... big ups to Seattle's 90.3 for always keeping it fresh.
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I'll have to throw Pittsburgh's WYEP 91.3 into the mix. I'm in Cleveland (probably the worst in the nation for radio) but love getting WYEP over the internet (same for 101.1 in Columbus). Why can't these great radio waves just drive a couple miles Cleveland's way??
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91.3 WYEP is one of the public/NPR stations in Pittsburgh, and is pretty decent (on a huge Decemberists and Devotchka kick at the moment), although they're not very good for really new/obscure stuff. They do humor odd requests when they can.
92.1 and 88.3 are the college stations for Pitt and CMU respectively--much better stuff for the real indie kids, but also nearly impossible to tune into outside of their campuses (campii?).
I'd probably listen to KEXP online if my work computer had speakers and a sound card.
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I love KEXP--don't get me wrong--but I find myself not listening to it as often as I used to. When I wasn't in the mood for a CD, KEXP on the home stereo was great.
But now, other than some of their special/variety programing, I find the station is a bit stagnate. Perhaps I'm just not a cool indie kid that wants to listen to 20 bands mimic the same sound over and over again.
However, KEXP will always get my money and my support because other than a few other radio stations (most now surviving via web casts), there's shit on the radio across this nation.
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90.7 WFUV in NYC...the only consistently good thing on the dial
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in LA LA land:
103.1 (if only to hear steve jones piss off hipsters by playing all 70's rock anthems, but they are the first "commerical" radio station i have heard play a joy division besides Love Will Tear Us Apart and play a Bauhaus osng other than Bela Lugosi's Dead)
89.9 or KCRW (three words Morning Tastes Electic)
88.9 KXLU (the college radio station that plays music waaaay under the radar, but as with all college radio it is a bit hit or miss)
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103.1 in LA - Steve Jones just finished played Al Green, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Johnny Nash, Delroy Wilson and Barrington Levy in one set. You won't hear Fergie on this channel.
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Outside of some of the shows (Jonesy's Jukebox) 103.1 is just as terrible as KROQ. Don't listen to the radio.
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Atlanta radio is basically abysmal, but 88.5 WRAS(Georgia State), 91.1 (Georgia Tech), 89.3 WRFG (a community station) or NPR if you're craving classical, provide a wide variety of quality tunes. The main problem is the poorness of the reception, so you have to settle for "alternative" (Panic At The Disco!, 30 Seconds To Mars) or "classic" (Guns 'N Roses, Journey), leaving you better off without the radio for the most part.
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wyep.org
91.3 WYEP in Pittsburgh. It's pretty good most of the time. Like someone above said, they've been playing the Decemberists a lot recently.
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Rochester, NY's 90.5 WBER. Online stream available here: http://wber.monroe.edu It's the "only station that matters." Good mix of alternative music from the 80's on, saddled by a bit too much emo stuff these days, but still worth cheggin out.
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91.7 WMSE in Milwaukee is pretty solid. Although they stray into typical "community radio" territory (i.e. long blocks of jazz and blues), you can't go wrong with the mix of hardcore, electronic, and otherwise "indie" programming
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KJHK 90.7 in lawrence, kansas/kansas city. great college radio station. www.kjhk.org
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KGSR (107.1) in Austin, Texas. They stream it like they mean it.
And yeah, when IS Stereogum coming to Sirius?
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Well I'm slightly biased because I'm a dj there but 91.5 cjam Fm in WINDSOR/Detroit. online at cjam.ca.
Campus Radio WOOHOO!!!
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In Indianapolis, the choices are pretty poor. However, 92.3 WTTS does the job -- you get a really broad swatch of music. Stuff like Dylan backed up against Arcade Fire, Ryan Adams against John Butler Trio, etc etc.
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Triple J - Australia Wide!!!
Government funded so no advertisments (well I guess they do have promo's for merch, competitions and upcoming shows).
Best Radio in the world by so far there's no competition!!!
I pity all you Americans who don't have publicly funded broadcasting. You don't know what you're missing out on.
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I'll second Molly for San Diego (91X and 94/9), but we also have KPRI 102.1 which is AAA but really is locally owned. They played Zero 7 and David Gray when nobody knew who they were and are still on the cusp of the more mellow shit that alt stations won't play. They actually play Ani, Ryan Adams, and other artists that would never be on radio.
In the mornings I stream Indie 103.1 from LA. Joe Escalante kicks ass.
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The Tide, 92.3 in Williamsburg, VA. The indie-snob kiddies probably won't like this station, but they play a lot of good stuff (Beth Orton, Bob Marley, Clapton, Dylan, John Butler Trio, Mike Doughty, etc). Be forewarned, they do throw some of the current Adult Alternative stuff in there too (Aqualung, Rob Thomas). But, for my taste, they play a lot of non-mainstream music without being unbearably snobby. Like I said, the indie kiddies won't like it, but it lines up well with my tastes.
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HANDS DOWN (not open)
WXPN PHILADELPHIA.
BEST STATION EVER!!
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HANDS DOWN (not open)
WXPN PHILADELPHIA.
BEST STATION EVER!!
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HANDS DOWN (not open)
WXPN PHILADELPHIA.
BEST STATION EVER!!
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In St. Louis its 93.3 KNSX its independent and good (even if the signal is week)
In Cape Girardeau (2 hours south of St. Louis) check out the college station 103.7 The Rage, even weeker station but the programing is getting pretty good (my room mate is the manager).
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WIUX 100.3FM in Bloomington, Indiana. (wiux.org)
I'm a bit partial since I'm the MD here, but you'll love us too, unless you're not interested in IU news and sports when they happen to be on.
We just had Headlights in-studio today and the Evangelicals will be in tomorrow. We'll rebroadcast bits and pieces of both at 8pm tomorrow night if you're interested.
WFHB is another good community radio station in Bloomington.
Other stations I like that aren't close-by:
KEXP
WBAR
KCRW
WNYU
I may have screwed up the call letters, but I have them bookmarked.
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In St. Louis its 93.3 KNSX its independent and good (even if the signal is week)
In Cape Girardeau (2 hours south of St. Louis) check out the college station 103.7 The Rage, even weeker station but the programing is getting pretty good (my room mate is the manager).
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In the Denver/Boulder area it's hands-down 1190 AM, Radio1190. So good.
On FM, KCUV 102.3 which was on AM until a few months ago.
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second mention, but there should be at least 20 people saying WWW.WFMU.ORG The best station in the nation, not bound by any corporate creeds, NPR guidlines, or, best of all, hipster egos. Just dusty nuggets and fruit meat 24/7.
Here in LA kcrw is good until Harcourt's predicability turns into wallpaper (J Bentley is also too manicured for me) and KXLU is a breath of fresh air, and great on sundays, but the DJs ramble a LOT.
Wfmu wfmU WfmU WFMU wfmu wfMu wFMu
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In NYC WNYC the show... Soundcheck every day at 2pm. The last few weeks they've had some good live sets from the Long Winters, Decemberists, etc. wnyc.org
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There is a good acoustic version of Chasing Cars right here...
http://galaxyfm.blogspot.com/2006/10/es-por-el-gato-en-la-cajuela.html
94.3 fm Los Mochis has the best music in the galaxie
Have a nice day... :)
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KWVA 88.1 FM in Eugene, Oregon. We're playing Man Man right now, for what it's worth. And we had the Art Brut guys on last week.
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hands down WXRT in Chicago 93xrt.com for 30 years they have been an outlet of old and new you will hear Ray Charles into Sufjan Stevens/Calexico/TV on The Radio into REM into Alice Cooper
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Philly girl called it for Philly. Also WKDU 91.7, Drexel University's station can sometimes be okay.
Those of you in PG County Maryland, Northeast DC, and parts of Montgomery County Maryland should also listen to WMUC 88.1, University of Maryland's station. Full disclosure: I DJ there on Thursdays 12-2 in the afternoon.
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easy.
WKZE, red hook, ny
WNCW spindale, nc
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KSCR (www.kscr.org)
I wouldn't say this is the BEST, but being a college radio station, it actually plays a lot of stuff you don't hear anywhere else. the schedule is mixed up but some shows are musically solid with few mindless banter.
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indie 103.1
new stuff almost daily
but can anyone ever understand Jones on Jonsey's Jukebox.
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Denver, CO has nothing, its terrible
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93.1 XRT in Chicago
WXPN in Philly
89.3 the Current in Minneapolis
are all my faves
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AM 88.1 KDHX for St. Louis is the only truly great radio station around. They play everything from prehistoric bluegrass to old-school punk. You'll be unable to hear 93.3X as Ben said unless you're in the immediate vicinity of the antenna on the SLU campus downtown. 105.7 The Point, which is the "alternative" station, is ok and plays a lot of 90s rock. On Wednesdays at 6 PM they had a show called "Wayback Wednesday" when they'd play nothing but 90s music, and occasionally they'll have "Wayback Weekend" when they do it for a whole weekend (although it's almost always the same collection- a whole lot of Bush, etc.). Seriously, radio in St. Louis, like everywhere else nowadays, bites a big one. If you're in mid-MO (don't know why you'd ever be, but still...), check out BXR out of Columbia, MO which is the college station at Mizzou. Otherwise, subscribe to Sirius satelite radio, it's the best (the "Left of Center" all-indie channel).
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radio is dead.
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I have to third WXRT in Chicago.
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philly girl is right!
WXPN is the best.
and I listen from L.A.
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88.9, the Impact, WDBM East Lansing, if you're in the mid-Michigan area, specifically in Lansing.
http://www.impact89fm.org/
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Indie 103.1 in L.A.....simply for the "Furious Frank and Five" or KCRW L.A.
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how about wluw in chicago? only complaint is the signal strength
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Live105 in San Francisco is the only radio station I have ever heard that plays Bloc Party and the Silversun Pickups.
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95.5 WBRU in Providence is better than many. Independent. They still play grunge stuff, but I've never heard TV on the Radio or Ted Leo getting spun elsewhere
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in some of the NYC area you get 106.3 / 106.5 from the Jersey shore. Its been the only consistent alt rock station around for about 15 years or so now. Even when they change formats - its tends to come back to good alt / indie rock. You get some classics - like The clash and Dramarama - but who doesn't mind them over - let's say - Poison's Unskinny Bop
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89.3 The Current in Minneapolis. They had me on the first day when they played Buddy Holly, followed by "Buddy Holly". Plus, it's public radio so there's no commercials.
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WFMU all the way!
Triple J is definitely worth listening to (2nd mention), and Three D Radio (Adelaide local station) is sort of like an Australian version of WFMU at times.
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WPGU 107.1 in Champaign, IL
It's a commercial alternative/indie rock station run by students of the University of Illinois.
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If for some reason you happen to be in central Illinois (or even on the internet looking for a good station to stream), then by all means look into WPGU 107.1. It's a commercial station that sounds incredibly non-commercial. Yes, they're based out of Champaign, IL and the DJs aren't always of the highest caliber, but the music more than makes up for it.
Where else can you hear Belle and Sebastian, Cold War Kids, Mountain Goats, Voxtrot, Jose Gonzales, and Bound Stems mixed in with classics from Pavement, Tortoise, The Cure, Camper Van Beethoven, Talking Heads, The Flaming Lips, Bob Marley, Prince, Magnetic Fields, etc?
Really one of the best-kept secrets in commercial, terrestrial radio right now.
See the playlist here:
http://www.wpgu.com/index.php?go=music
and stream online here:
http://www.wpgu.com/
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Live 105 in SF is undoubtedly awesome...
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91.9 WNTI from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ. You can pick it up from Northern NJ and Northeast PA. Streaming: http://www.wnti.org
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wevl, 89.9 on your FM dial, in memphis is amazing. all volunteer programmers/DJs, so the format changes every two hours. on wednesdays, you get indie from 6-8 a.m., followed old-time country the rest of the morning from a guy named bashful bob who drives up from mississippi with a crate of 45s. killer blues, electronica, bluegrass and even good ol' r&b.
wevl.org for your online listening pleasure...
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89.3 THE CURRENT
MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) the next KEXP but BETTER! If you know anything about music, and good music, you KNOW about this radio station!
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KINK in Portland deserves mention, if only for its call sign. And, okay, the fact that they are about the only independent station left. It veers toward the weepy ballads, but plays so much variety that it can be pretty impressive.
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i'm a student dj at the local "college" station in champaign, so i gotta give a shout out to wpgu. looks like a guy mentioned them just earlier today, which is cool, rock on man...
i do a lot of traveling, and of course i'm biased, but it's a really good station. i give stereogum a shout out now and again, when provided the chance. :)
check it! www.wpgu.com
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I'll second KWVA in Eugene, and KRVM plays some groovy stuff, too. When I was living in Pomona, it was all about KPSC from the Claremont Colleges.
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96.1 wavf, the wave, charleston south carolina. not too shabby for this crappy music hole.
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If you're passing through Chicago, I'd avoid WXRT (recommended here several times). They're several steps behind the rest of the music world. EX: Cue up My Morning Jacket song from like a year ago, "Hey, here's a great new band!"
I'd go collegiate:
88.3 WZRD (The Wizard! Out of Northeastern Illinois Univ.)
88.7 WLUW (Loyola Univ.-Probably my favorite)
89.3 WNUR (Northwestern Univ.)
Some cities have great commercial radio stations.
Chicago is not one of them.
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bensch: I'd amend that to say, "Some cities have great commercial radio stations. The rest of us have Clear Channel."
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For Boston, in additon to the already mentioned WFNX and WERS, I have to also say WZBC (90.3), Boston College's station. Solid college rock station.
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KDGE in Dallas got bastardized by Clear Channel, but they still have an excellent Sunday night program (6-9 PM CST) called the Adventure Club. Check it out.
http://www.kdge.com/pages/ac.html
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It's been said before, but I'll second (or third) it:
In Philly: WXPN
In NYC: 90.7 WFUV (except for sunday afternoons when they play celtic music for hours)
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89.3 the Current in the Twin Cities!
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KSUA 91.5, in Fairbanks, AK is the best thing west of KEXP. The college station for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, its the only station where I can hear new music that isnt top 40 shit or country hicks.
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in lubbock, tx or any other part of west tx, there is only one choice 88.1 ktxt.
stream at ktxt.net
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current home: WNRN -- 91.9 in charlottesville, va and 103.1 in richmond -- great community radio (listen online!)
former residences: lightning 100 (100.1) in nashville, tn
kgsr, kut, kvrx, and koop -- austin, tx
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The other Atlanta person who commented is lucky. I live in the suburbs and can't actually pick up any college stations ever. Typically, I have to settle for 99x (the "alternative" station) or daveFM, which plays really random stuff and will occasionally play something decent.
I avoid the radio as much as possible, but since I don't have a cd player in my car yet, I either have to settle for something shitty or drive in silence.
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89.3 the current, minneapolis/st.paul hands down.
its funny how public radio is the only thing worth listening to nowadays.
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It would have to be XFM in London
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WVFI is pretty cool. It's Notre Dame's student radio station. They used to broadcast on the radio, but now it's all online, so go, listen! They play a lot of indie and so forth, as well as having specialty shows that play anything from folk to hardcore. It's pretty amazing. Go to wvfi.nd.edu.
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Lightning 100 (WRLT) in Nashville is the best in the mid-TN area.
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WXRT 93.1 in Chicago -- but that only shows how bad things are for music radio in Chi-town.
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