In Praise of Satellite Radio

In Praise of Satellite Radio
by Vance Macdonald

Satellite radio kicks ass, and for myriad reasons. I happen to have XM, but I'm sure Sirius is equally impressive. I've heard a few people use the "why would I PAY for radio?" rationale, but XM is to traditional radio almost exactly what modern digital satellite/cable TV is to the rabbit-eared, 3-networks+PBS TV of my youth.

The true beauty of XM is difficult to quantify in terms of just "more channels, more choices", because it goes beyond that obvious advantage. XM changes behavior. I had virtually stopped listening to radio (insert typical rant against watered-down, lowest-common-denominator, corporate radio here). In the post-XM era, however, not only have I removed all CDs from my car, but I usually listen to XM on my computer as well (instead of my mp3s). Everyone looks to broaden their musical tastes, but before XM I was in a decade-long rut because it was just too difficult to find the needles in the commercial-radio haystack.

Okay, the real reason for this blog entry is to rave about how XM's channel 12 has flung me headlong into an obsession with alternative country. (No, please not that "alternative" word again!) I have always had a soft spot for non-Nashville country and folky country/rock, but I was only marginally aware of the renaissance that has been going on for the last 15 years. The genre seems too expansive to survive with just that label (sort of like saying you like "rock music"). Most people seem to think of Wilco when you mention alt country, but I like XM-12's very broad umbrella, ranging from folky to grinding.

Here are some recommendations from a neophyte:

Mellow mood (replacing my Gordon Lightfoot, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou afflictions):
Jayhawks (Save it for a Rainy Day, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, Eyes of Sarah Jane, I'd Run Away)
The Sadies (with or without Neko Case)
The Flatlanders (Julia)
Wilco - Son Volt - Uncle Tupelo (just about anything from this royal family of the genre)
Freakwater (Ugly Man, Picture in My Mind)

Middle of the road:
James McMurtry (Larry's son is the real deal: Choctaw Bingo, We Can't Make It Here, Childish Things, Levelland)
Ray Wylie Hubbard (Conversation with the Devil)
Deadstring Brothers (especially if you like early-70's Stones)
Bottle Rockets (Radar Gun, Thousand Dollar Car, Indianapolis)
Dave Alvin (anything and every side project he's involved in; and his last album "Ashgrove" is very strong throughout)
Guy Forsyth (105, Long Long Time, and anything with Asylum Street Spankers)
The Knitters (Baby Out of Jail, Silver Wings, Give Me My Flowers)
Donna the Buffalo (Family Picture, Funky Side)

Harder edged Outlaw mode:
Hank Williams III (Trashville, Mississippi Mud)
Wayne Hancock (sort of a slightly more respectable version of Hank 3)
Reverend Horton Heat (Big Red Rocket of Love, Texas Rockabilly Rebel, Hillbillies on Speed, Marijuana)

The Reverend, of course, is pure rockabilly–which seems to be an honorary member of the alt country genre. And I am grateful for that, since XM-12 has really bolstered my exposure to modern rockabilly/psychobilly. Legendary Shack Shakers, The Meteors, Nekromantix, Batmobile, Big John Bates. Pure fun. But a topic for another day.

Vance can be reached at vance@babblog.com.