RIP 106.3

As I drove to work on monday morning, nothing had changed it was monday, I was running a little late and the morning dj's on 106.3 were still on. They were playing "time to pretend" by MGMT. Got to work and went about my day. It comes time to leave at 5 so I get in my car and turn it on here comes the radio. To my dismay some sort of rap was on. I was like, ok, I must have accidently changed the station, but I pushed my preset button and there it was, 106.3 has turned into Hit 106(such a clever name). So I plugged my ipod in and listened to that the rest of the way home. 

So this is why Im kinda sad. From what I know about 106.3 it was the first real alternative/college station at the shore. They started in around 1986 and played REM and some of the other pioneers of the alternative genre. I know Matt Pinfield used to be a DJ there. I think one of the originals. Ok, so your asking whats the big deal. The big deal is that this is the only station at the shore area that played decent music. I mean Fairmont was even played once or twice. 

106.3 was the station that introduced me to bands like, Pavement, Nirvana, Green Day, REM, and countless other bands that peaked in the early 90's. Heck, I remember making mix tapes off the radio, and it was the first place I heard Kurt Cobain killed himself.  About the year 2000 106.3 changed its format, but not the drastic change that occurred monday at 12 noon. They still played semi-decent music though, and they still introduced me new bands like The Duke Spirit, the Long Blondes and some others. 

The reason I'm mad is that no one saw this coming. The 106.3 administration decided to just spring the new station on the public. From what I have read the morning dj's were fired monday, along with a few other people at the station. The owners of 106.3 feel the need to appeal to the 18-33 year olds by playing crap like Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and who ever else is in the top 40 this week, because god knows it will be different next week when the new flavor of the week is out. Im not sure who did the market research here but Im pretty sure they screwed up here. I know people listened to this station and I know these people who will no longer listen to this station because of the format change. I wish them luck and I hope they find their audience.(not really) I don't think they will the audience they want because they all listen to their ipods anyway, and now I have no choice but to do the same. So good luck Hit 106, have a nice life. I kinda feel like I just broke up with a girlfriend who I have been with for many years and we had our fights but now, its actually over. Good luck you dumb bitch.

I'll start with the new year best of list, how's that?

We should start at the top. Happy New Year, although its already 16 days into the new year its never to late to say that, right? 

I'll start with my best of  lists for 2008:

ok, the top records/cds of the year:(in no specific order)

Girl Talk: Feed the Animals. i've really been into the mash up type stuff recently, ie- Jaydiohead etc.

TV on the Radio: Dear Science-. I have to say probably #1 I cant stop listening to this.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig!!! Lazurus Dig!!!. I don't really think Nick Cave can to anything wrong(sidenote: I had the privilege to see him in Philly in '08 and he puts on one hell of a show)

Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend. Isn't it some law in the music industry that says this cd has to be in the top 10?

REM: Accelerate. Honestly REM will always be on the top of my lists. they make great music and they do it their way. we should all be so lucky.

Okkervil River: The Stand Ins. There is something about this band I love. It takes me a listen or two to really love it but, I do.

Spiritualized: Songs in A&E.  I am new to Spiritualized and everything i have heard i like. "Soul on Fire" is my song of the year

Of Montreal: Skeletel Lamping. I still enjoy OM even if they did sell a song to Outback Steakhouse. Its fun indie-electro pop.

She and Him: Volume One. Zooey Deschanel, need I say more?

MGMT: Oracular Spectactular. I can't listen to "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" enough in one day.

Stephen Malkmus: Real Emotional Trash. Almost forgot about SM. Still good even after all these years.

The Hold Steady: Stay Positive. Its like a bar band from the midwest went to brooklyn and got famous. Oh. they write good songs too. 

FAIRMONT: TRANSCENDENCE. Yes. I know Im in this band... it's a shameless plug, but, Its also our best record yet. So please go buy it so we can make another one in 2009.

Other music I enjoyed this year:

Jamie Lidell

The Black Keys

Santogold

Boston Spaceships

Ben Folds

Bands that I played and thoroughly enjoyed.

The Narrative

The Minus Scale (their cd is terrific)

The Gay Blades

The Stationary Set

The Rhodes

Hungry Tigers

Tim McCoy and the Papercuts

and last but certainly not least Keith Caputo (thanks for the great tour)

I guess thats it for now. Im thinking this will be a music themed blog so let me know what you think. I'll keep you updated on what Im listening too and what Fairmont and Terror Eyes is doing