A little while back I wrote about satellite radio and how I couldn’t understand someone paying for it when there was/is a free equivalent. (Plus, iPod.)
The funny thing is that now I’m in a position where it makes sense, and that position happens to be in San Francisco. Last week I tried finding a radio station in the morning that did not have Wacky DJs talking about Wacky Stuff like Wacky American Idol. And I couldn’t find one! Every so-called music station was playing inane talk, and at some point I guess a song… I gave up long before that happened.
Enter Sirius. Turned it on and, poof, songs. It’s pretty nice to have such a diverse choice (which I’ll get to in a moment.) It’s good quality, the DJs don’t get in the way of the music, and of course no commercials. The downside is that while the playlists are diverse (I’ve heard old R.E.M. chestnuts that I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard on FM radio), they’re sometimes repetitive. At one point last week both the 90s channel and the pop channel were playing the same Nirvana song. And somehow, all the stations I receive that deal with the 90s think Green Day is the epitome of the decade. Lots of Green Day. Lots and lots and lots.
But on balance it’s surprisingly good. I’d have a hard time paying for it admittedly, but when offered as part of a rental car… it’s definitely worth it.
Posted in Television, Movies, and Music
jk March 4, 2007, 5:50 pm
XM came with my Ugly Jetta, free for 3 months, and I found myself unable to give it up. I really only listen to about 6 stations on a consistent basis, but I enjoy it immensely. Yesterday I heard Aztec Camera’s “Still on Fire” on FRED…you’ll never hear that on regular commercial radio.
Paul, did you find the Scandanvian punk pop channel on Sirius?
Paul March 4, 2007, 6:14 pm
Wha! No!
I did find the CBC station though, and enjoy that immensely.
jk March 5, 2007, 4:13 am
I wish there were a Deutsche Welle station.
I am serious about the Scandanavian station. It’s like all Bjork, all the time.
Adam March 7, 2007, 1:05 am
I have a couple of friends at the office who swear by it, so I don’t doubt it’s great. But I have an auxiliary input on the front of my stereo. I simply plug my iPod into it and I listen to songs I know I’ll like because they’re mine. I also listen to a lot of podcasts.
Satellite radio sounds cool, but I can’t see a reason why it would be better than an iPod.
Hjalmar Hautela March 31, 2007, 11:03 pm
I listen to Sirius. I am not a subscriber but a listener of 88.1 fm. It gets cut out by every fool who listens to Howard Stern. What is with H.S.. He was boring unless the FCC was being stupid and bothering him and not Oprah Winfrey. If I want something different I have a laptop with an air card and a wifi card. I just put on an internet radio station.