Good Music on Area 108

[Jay_F]

As I monitor the radio dial each day I find myself surprised at how much I like the music on AREA 108. I was an alternative fan in the early 80s, enjoyed the EDGE in the early 90s, but by the late 90s current rock and alternative was my least favorite genre of music. Angry sounding bands that KXTE played like Limp Bizkit and Korn really turned me off to alternative, although I realized I was aging out of the rock demo.

On the other hand, I'm not a fan of the "tortured soul" type of alternative Hot ACs like MIX play. I think Creed was one of the first to usher in that sound. There have since been many soundalikes such as Nickelback/Staind/Lifehouse/Calling... "You and Me" by Lifehouse and "Right Here" by Staind are my two worst songs of any format right now (although I would imagine they test through the roof with women).

When AREA came on I figured I would enjoy their gold (which I do), but wrongly assumed I would dislike any current music they played. Was I ever wrong. For example, they play a very cool reggae song with uplifting lyrics, I did a little research and discovered it was "King Without a Crown" by Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jewish act with a big cult following in NYC. Hasidic Jewish reggae? now that's what I call alternative lol. The singer looks like a rabbi, but it's not a novelty act at all, it's real quality music.

Another very good current KVGS plays is "Steady As She Goes" by The Raconteurs, it has a retro early 80s new wave sound yet at the same time is really fresh and innovative, the song has a killer hook. I would have never known songs like this even existed if it wasn't for AREA. Thank you AREA 108 for restoring my faith in ALT, now get that signal upgrade so others can discover you.

 

[spinner]

This is called REAL alternative music. Nice to know stations are re-learning this again.

 

[Jay_F]

> This is called REAL alternative music. Nice to know stations
> are re-learning this again.
>


Yes, over the past decade rock and alternative sort of blended together. I can recall looking at charts where the top ten songs on active rock and alternative were nearly identical. Now alternative seems to be getting it's own unique identity back which should be healthy for the format. AREA is doing their part to make it happen.

 

[Dmc3de1508]

> > This is called REAL alternative music. Nice to know
> stations
> > are re-learning this again.
> >
>
>
> Yes, over the past decade rock and alternative sort of
> blended together. I can recall looking at charts where the
> top ten songs on active rock and alternative were nearly
> identical. Now alternative seems to be getting it's own
> unique identity back which should be healthy for the format.
> AREA is doing their part to make it happen.
>


WOW, its good to see more people are realizing how good AREA 108 is for the Las Vegas radio scene. I remember the first song I heard when I first tuned into 107.9 (after reading a blurb in the Las Vegas Sun inset), in October 2005, and heard Cracker's Low...I was hooked at that point. This is just a list of the songs that I probably would have never even listened had it not been for AREA 108:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Gold Lion
Dresden Dolls: Coin Operated Boy and Sing
Blue October: Hate Me
She Wants Revenge: Tear You Apart

and some of the songs that were popular in the day (early 1990's) that I havent heard in Vegas since The Edge skipped town:

White Town: Your Woman
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Cities in Dust

I also find myself strangely addicted to the Sunday morning Raegae (sp?) show. Perhaps Area 108 can add an 80's only (maybe ET themed) program, that would be cool (and also get alot over from Star 102.7 hooked).

David C.