Having only lived in Milwaukee for some 15 months and finding the collection of CDs crammed in the center consol of my 2002 Saturn falling out of favor and growing ever-more stale with every listen, I decided to take to the airwaves in hopes of finding a local radio station that best suited me. Looking to reset my Fox Cities presets, I decided allowing stations an arbitrary hour-long opportunity to appeal to me was both a thorough and fair way to find a favorite station – which to a music snob is akin to choosing a favorite child… when all your kids are ugly and blatantly derivative of Nickelback.
Defining a good portion of my musical cache to fall within the fairly broad classifications of either “independent” or “alternative,” I figured FM 102.1 – which bills itself to be “Independent. Alternative. Radio.” – would be a good place to begin the hunt. Additionally, the few times I’ve listened to Kramp & Adler, the station’s morning show, I didn’t regret tuning in instead of listening to my burned copy of Osker’s Idle Will Kill for the six thousandth time. So on Monday, Dec. 6, between the times of 8:41 a.m. and 9:41 a.m., I gave FM 102.1 its first real shot. Here are the songs I heard, and my reactions to them.
“Comedown” by Bush (1995) – Playing a song that was popular when I was in fifth grade isn’t a way to fast become my favorite new radio station. And even fifth grade me would’ve rather heard “Everything Zen” or “Glycerine.”
“The Kill” by 30 Seconds to Mars (2005) – I once told (I think?) Kevin that I’m glad Jared Leto made the decision to focus on music instead of acting because it was much easier to avoid his work. At that time, I didn’t envision any music features like this one in my future.
“All Apologies” by Nirvana (1993) – All apologies to Nirvana, as this was the best song the station had presented me to this point, but the legendary grunge outfit who sold millions of records while (reluctantly) part of a major label satisfies neither the independent nor alternative criteria. Also, this song is 17 years old. Perhaps a rebilling to “Milwaukee’s Oldies Station” might be a better fit?
“Low” by Cracker (1993) – Also from the era in which I pissed my sweatpants in Mr. Thompson’s third grade social studies class comes this minor hit about such important issues as being with a girl and how being with that girl is similar to being stoned. Forgetting that the band’s name is deeply offensive to me, a white, this downtrodden chaser to one of Nirvana’s bleakest singles was less of a way of easing into my morning and more an inspiration to run my car off the Hoan Bridge.
“How You Like Me Now?” by The Heavy (2009) – Despite being featured on numerous commercials, television shows and receiving (as shown here) regular radio play worldwide, this song by English band The Heavy was the track most fitting of the independent and alternative tags to that point. It only took a few Horny Goat Hideaway commercials and reliving Bill Clinton’s first term via music to get here. About a half hour in, I feel like things are starting to look up.
“Jeremy” by Pearl Jam (1991) – Never mind.
“Animal” by Neon Trees (2010) – This contemporary hit is the type of song that FM 102.1 is bound to keep in regular rotation long enough to be exposed to and subsequently annoy my unborn children’s unborn children. That said, it’s a catchy enough tune and (for a change) brand new. But based on remarks by Kramp (or Adler? They’re like the Cagney and Lacey of Midwestern radio, in the sense that I cannot and will not take the time to even try and differentiate between them), it’s already nearing overplayed status. “It’s almost been ruined,” one of the morning DJs said of the single, “It’s played like every 45 minutes.”
“Miss Murder” by A.F.I. (2006) – Finally, this radio block that was entirely made up of male-fronted grunge or radio-rock bands makes room for a punk band fronted by a woman… a fetching woman at that. Wait, her name is “Davey.” What kind of name is that for a goth girl? OH GOD!
“Scar Tissue” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) – This song won a Grammy in the category of Best Rock Song. Jethro Tull’s 1989 Grammy for Best Metal Performance thinks that’s a bit fishy. However, compared to the audio events of the 50 minutes leading up to this point, “Scar Tissue” is an apt addition to the morning mix. Sure, the Peppers have songs that are better and more recent (though not both at the same time), but I’ll let this one slide.
“Basket Case” by Green Day (1994) – Green Day’s Dookie was the first CD I ever owned. At that time, “Basket Case” was my favorite song. Not to second guess my musical taste back then (even though I bought a Hootie and The Blowfish album the following week), but I find it odd that such a meaningful and formative song from my past proved in all its outdated, overplayed and thoughtlessly incorporated inclusion to this morning playlist that FM 102.1 probably wasn’t in my regular listening future.
Maybe I tuned in during an off hour. Perhaps I was expecting too much. It’s possible that my definitions of “independent” and “alternative” don’t seem to mirror the station’s onslaught of 10 major label hits averaging a release date of 1999. But sometimes-funny morning show occurrences aside, I’ve decided that FM 102.1 is not the radio station for me.
