Seriously, there were so many ads.

Jan 1992, p.28

the alternative music scene has grown to the point where it's no longer the alternative anymore; it has in fact become part of the mainstream.

Which is both good and bad. No, rock isn't dead--if it were, there wouldn't be much point in this magazine-but it is, as Paul Westerberg said in our Soul of Rock'n'Roll issue, going underground. True innovation is being pushed farther and farther from the mainstream, while the mainstream itself expands to encompass fringes it once scarcely noticed. Five years ago the thought of Sonic Youth being on a major label would have been as unthink. able as it would have been undesirable; today it would seem a gross injustice if they weren't. And hell, why not- seems like the majors these days are buying up anything that moves, or at least moves noisily, as long as the band in question has some sort of independent credibility and/ or following. This is good for the bands in the short run, and for some even in the long run, but the overall effect is hardly salutary, especially as it concerns the health of the independent system, which until now has developed and nurtured these bands.

Most likely, this mainstream bloat will deflate somewhat in the next couple of years as the majors realize that it's probably not a good idea to sign every half assed jangly guitar rock band that comes their way.

It’s the Grammys, so that’s not unexpected!

3RRR (AKA Triple R), Melbourne, Australia

• Live stream at their home page
• List of programs that can be listened to, on demand.

Starting off as the station of RMIT (University) in Melbourne with an Educational licence in 1976, it became closely associated with the Melbourne post punk and new wave subcultures…e.g Nick Cave etc. It's now part of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and funded by community sponsorships and public subscribers (I am one). It's not just music and there's a lot of variety, with talk/educational shows on subjects ranging from marine biology, gardening, the arts, cooking, philosophy, science and lots in-between.

Here are some specific music shows that might suit this community that you can listen to on demand:

• Local And/Or General. Australian and NZ music
• Respect the Rock
• Teenage Hate. Punk, garage, hardcore, noise and psych with an emphasis on Australian releases and bands
• The Australian Mood. New and old Oz stuff
• The International Pop Underground
• The Distant Sky AU/NZ music
• The Golden Age of Piracy Eclectic stuff featuring influences of guests of the show
• Live Wire. Live music
• Far and Wide UK Indie

Right, now I REALLY need to do some work!

Don't forget WKRP in Cincinnati. LOL.

But seriously, maybe we can start a mega-thread of good radio station streams and podcasts?

Edit - Reader, I started the previously mentioned thread

I read his latest memoir where he says this:

“I know the style of performance on my albums is not typical of singer-songwriters; it is more of a spoken-word poetry set to music.” — Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner

He also went into detail about his intentions when he first recorded music, which did actually make sense.

Well, any Norwegians here can probably comment more accurately/from their perspective. From my own perspective, the humour I derived was in:

• the antics that riffed on all of the guitar band motifs like, guitar solos behind the head while sat on the bass player's shoulders, fake blood, capes, double denim
• the irony they point out in the hard rock/metal community being so homo-erotic but also -phobic
• their light-hearted takes on the music industry
• their regular self-deprecation e.g the subject of this song, or having an opening song to an album that was all about the pizza shop the keyboard player owned
• poking fun at nationalist tropes. This was the main thing that I was concerned about, but then I realised that it was satire and was able to enjoy the other points listed above, which are all mostly some form of satire/parody/burlesque.

I'm lucky that I live in Melbourne and got to see Courtney Barnett gigs in the early days, as well as a fair few times since then. I first clapped eyes on her when she was guitarist in Brent De Boer's band, Immigrant Union, and then several times during the early EP days when Jen Cloher and Dan Luscombe from The Drones were in her band. When Sometimes… was released, it was a great continuation of those first couple of records. In the great indie snob cliché, I probably do think her old stuff is better than her new stuff. Maybe.

Looking at the track listing, here are a few random observations:

• Elevator Operator - I think I remember that the video was actually shot in the Nicholas Building, which is mentioned in the song. It's a well known, old-ish building in the Central Business District of Melbourne. The kind of building that was one of the last holdouts to have someone working the lift/elevator. You would indeed take the 96 tram from the northern suburbs to get to this building.
• Pedestrian At Best - This video was shot at a small "adventure" theme park on the outskirts of Melbourne. It used to be called Alpine Toboggan Park, I forget what it is called now. I drove past it a few weeks ago and commented on its notoriety. The song is so droll about the whims of taste and opinion, as is the video
• Aqua Profunda! - There is a sign painted on the wall at the deep end of the Fitzroy open-air swimming pool that reads, "Danger. Deep Water. Aqua Profonda" and there is also a mural on the outside wall that also reads "Aqua Profonda". The spelling is slightly different, but I choose to believe that there is a connection given the lyrics…which The Guardian confirms…see #2
• Depreston - I used to live not too far from Preston and I have a couple of friends who live there. You need more than a spare half a million to buy a fixer upper there, even back then. The other thing I also always pondered was, "What combination of coffees were not purchased to save "23 dollars a week?"
• Dead Fox - This references driving on the Hume Freeway between Melbourne and Sydney. Some of the freight trucks on that road are operated by the Linfox company. They often say "You are passing another Fox" on the back of them, as well as "If you can't see me, I can't see you", referring to the safety mirrors of the trucks.

Although references to places in songs can sometimes be clichés, I do get a kick out of the ones that I pick up in Courtney Barnett's music as they are usually quite subtle and she has a great knack of making the mundane, unusual, while also avoiding sentimentality.

I remember hearing an interview where she mentions that the title was from an embroidery that her grandma had on her wall or on a cushion

Red Oaks

Awkwafina is Nora From Queens

Isn’t this what the whole community is about!? 😝

I see New Pornographers, I upvote.

The Beths are one of my favourties. HAve all of their albums but have somehow missed them play live! Good choice.

I went to a show some time ago when they supported Television who played Marquee Moon in its entirety". The Breeders did the entirety of Last Splash and it was very cool!

That was pretty cool

In case you're interested in that vinyl re-issue. I had it on cassette and possible, later on CD, but never on wax.

You’re welcome!

I left Spotify for similar reasons. I chose Tidal because comparatively more is paid to artists (still tiny amounts per play). Just like switching from anything (Reddit to Lemmy, PC to Mac, Coke to Pepsi, underwear to commando, iPhone to Android), there are differences to get used to but it's not too bad. They do have curated playlists by editors, radio station based on your taste, "rising" track by genre etc. I think they have a free tier if you live in the US. but unfortunatley not yet available outwith.

Try the jangle pop My Bloody Valentine? This album was a compilation of music that came out before their first Creation Records album.

Ecstasy and Wine (1989) - Yewtube or Youtube

My picks from Loveless would be Only Shallow, When You Sleep, Come In Alone but basically most of the album.

They can't be everyone's cup of tea, so it's fine if you don't get into them. I'm the same with a lot of bands. I came to MBV at a formative time in my life and they were pretty much the first "famous" band that I ever saw live, but even now, I can't say that I listen to them all the time.

Nice

I have the CD single!

This most recent one was from Craftzero.

Uncanny. I listened to Brubeck a few hours ago.

You're welcome! Thanks for the response.

I have that album!

Review in The Guardian. I’ll have to listen a few more times but kisses is an early favourite for me.

I have also never seen this rather fun video. Wikipedia tells me that Hoppípolla is a variation of the Icelandic "to hop in puddles" and the video was shot in the suburbs of Reykjavik. I was lucky enough to go there once, and I'm glad I did.

Double J - ABC (Australia)

Listen live/homepage

List of programs

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, or ABC, morphed its Sydney based radio station 2JJ into a "national youth broadcaster" called Triple J. In 2002, they started a channel called dig that was announcer-less (I think). This really only existed on digital TV on digital radios and online. I don't imagine many people listened because of access to these modes of listening.

Fast forward to 2014/15, dig morphed into Double J, with a lineup of presenters, both radio DJs and musicians, and a mixture of older and more recent music. As I typed this, they played Wild Nothing, Kojey Radical, Hüsker Dü and Daft Punk on the morning show. This is presented by Karen Leng, who I first encountered on the awesome show she used to have on 3RRR. In many ways, it's quite similar to BBC Radio 6 Music.

Live at the Wireless. It's worth checking this program that has new and old, live recordings from over the years

Eleven. The heavier side of rock

The J Files Audio documentaries

MainFM

MainFM is a little station based in a country town/city called Castlemaine, on the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, in Victoria, Australia.

My favourite/the only show I really listen to on this station is It's a Jangle Out There. Its web page has links to the archive of previous episodes to listen to and playlists of tracks.

The show is hosted by a long time acquaintance of mine who has played in a couple of really good, jangly indie bands. The most notable was The Sugargliders, who put out several releases on the legendary (to some) label, Sarah Records.

I haven't listened to the show One Crowded Hour but it looks like it could be one to try out, as well…and it looks like there are some other shows that would play interesting tunes.

Excellent!

I get up when I want, except on Wednesdays when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen. I put my trousers on, have a cup of tea and I think about leaving me house. I feed the pigeons, I sometimes feed the sparrows too, it gives me a sense of enormous wellbeing. And then I'm happy for the rest of the day, safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it.

Yea! Always found this one very catchy.

…and with that, I REALLY have to do some work!

You’re welcome!

You must have been reading my mind. I have almost posted this one a couple of times. Believe it or not, I once went to a Magick Heads gig. Every so often, I listen to this album as well as the follow up. Have you heard Bob Scott's Electric Easter Blood stuff?

Belly are also deeply ingrained in my affections 👍

I’m currently watching their Glastonbury set on BBC iPlayer. They are sounding good.

I’m currently watching their Glastonbury set on BBC iPlayer. They are sounding good.