FNX Playing the Tried and True Leftovers During The Weekend

[Retro]

The people who criticize FNX on this board obviously don't ever listen.

You are obviously mistaken!

 

[Neanderpaul]

No WBCN playing alt songs.

Here's where it all went wrong:

"Alternative" was given a definition in the 90's.

The argument that WBCN didn't play "Alternative" during that period may be valid because the label didn't really exist prior. But, if you look back at WBCN, they were absolutely embracing "different" music prior to WFNX.

Bands like The Police,U-2, Psychedelic Furs, and Elvis Costello were all "alternative" before it had a label. WBCN played English Beat and The Clash. To be honest, and I know he has his critics (me not among them) Oedipus practically invented the format.

So, when the industry decided to package bands like Nirvana, and Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins etc. It no longer could be termed "alternative." And then we can get into the "what is alternative" argument for days.

I contend that bands like 3rd Eye Blind, and Marcy Playground were never alternative, but Pop bands. No different than the Bay City Rollers were in the 70's. Corporate creations intended to mask their vapid music under the guise of "hip." And in 1994, I could totally see 'BCN avoiding the texture. It wasn't "alternative." It was Top 40 Pop in Allston Beat-bought clothing. I'd include Offspring, and Green Day in that category as well. I recently heard "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and though to myself "In what world is this 'punk?" I hear Linkin Park and (as a longtime fan of Heavy Metal...thank Beradini!!) and wonder; "Is this what they call 'metal' now?"

We've given everything a label. Look at yesterday's announcement of the new designation of "Smooth AC."

What?

So...I get why WBCN didn't knee-jerk and immediately add the disposable pop/alternative that's actually diluted the format to the point where WFNX has to play Peter Gabriel. If more stations had stood their ground, and been more selective about the crap they fed the audience during that time, we might have a better state of radio today.

Just watched "End Of The Century" again last night. The story of the Ramones is a great parallel to what happened to Rock radio. The kids loved it. We played it too safe.

We still do.

WBCN didn't. They saw that the stuff that was "big" in 1994 was crap. Look at how many of those bands remain...Anyone?

Soundgarden...gone
Nirvana...grossly overrated...gone.
Smashing Pumpkins....reunited and nobody cared.
Candlebox...back together...most of you just found out by reading that.
Smashmouth?
Goo Dolls?
Dishwalla?
The Refreshments?
Self?
Dinosaur Jr....Yeah they have new song...it's pretty good.

Here today...gone later today. WBCN knew it. Problem is. Everyone else loved it because we live in an entertainment world where, in 1994, we saw "The Real World" dominate MTV instead of music. The "gods" were conspired against WBCN and every music station. Thus, the rise of the hack, shock-jock morning show. The Big Mattress was so superior to the Bubba's and Greasemen, and all the other shows...and yeah...Mishegas was funnier than almost everything Stern did too. But....little by little we sacrificed creative execution for "shut up and play the vapid 'hits'" and d*ck jokes.

We have only ourselves to blame for the state of confusion that exists at your favorite radio station of the moment.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Semantics. Today's "cutting edge" is tomorrow's "oldies".
Problem is, to me, is that the newer music just plain sucks.
I've heard it - I just don't like it...
Having been an avid music listener for alot of years,
I have to go back 30-plus years to recall anything that
I heard as new at the time, where I just had to hear more.
I don't bemoan the fact, I just get my CD's out, and listen to what I like...

Look at the top touring bands out there. How far back do they go?
If it's good stuff, they stay around - not here today, gone tomorrow...

 

[Eli Polonsky]

"Alternative" was given a definition in the 90's.

The argument that WBCN didn't play "Alternative" during that period may be valid because the label didn't really exist prior. But, if you look back at WBCN, they were absolutely embracing "different" music prior to WFNX.

Bands like The Police,U-2, Psychedelic Furs, and Elvis Costello were all "alternative" before it had a label. WBCN played English Beat and The Clash. To be honest, and I know he has his critics (me not among them) Oedipus practically invented the format.

Before "Alternative", it was called "Modern Rock" (also known as "new wave" and/or "punk").

So, when the industry decided to package bands like Nirvana, and Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins etc. It no longer could be termed "alternative." And then we can get into the "what is alternative" argument for days.

They were called "grunge", which was still lumped in with "Alternative". Now, they're called "Classic Alternative" :

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

Not to get off the subject too much, but I'll bet that more people have heard of Cheryl Lynn than have heard of Disturbed (who have the current #1 hard (i.e. active) rock hit! In fact, I'd bet (if I had any money - LOL!) that there are more people who can name another Cheryl Lynn tune (besides "Got To Be Real") than there are people who can name another Disturbed tune besides "Down With The Sickness"! Don't bother - I'll name four right here:

Star Love
Shake It Up Tonight (with Ray Parker, Jr.)
Encore
Georgy Porgy (with Toto)

Now I had to go back to my hard drive to come up with Disturbed's current "Inside The Fire"!

 

[Retro]

I only know Star Love, and that is only because someone that I knew had the single once. I ended up inheriting it from them as well.