Day 55: Sirius Blues

My Best Guess: Pull up a chair, pick up that guitar, and take a load off your mind as you pour out your heart with Sirius Blues, where you'll hear all the great blues classics, as well as some of today's blues-inspired hits.

According to Sirius: From Beale Street, Chicago, the Delta and wherever someone grabbed a guitar and poured their soul into a song - blues from the 78 RPM days to today, by masters like John Lee Hooker and B.B. King and the keepers of the flame like Keb' Mo'.

Curt's Rebuttal: Apart from naming all the specific artists and geographic locations, I came damn close again. Grabbing a guitar, pouring out something, yesterday and today...was pretty accurate, I have to say.

Sample Playlist:

• Etta James, Baby, What You Want Me To Do
• Otis Rush, Three Times a Fool
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Blue or Black
• Taj Mahal, Early in the Mornin'
• Albert Collins, I Ain't Drunk
• The Blues Brothers, "B" Movie Box Car Blues

High Point: Just finally getting to the blues portion of the dial, and away from the overload of jazz...and the one day of new age music.

Verdict: While it was fun to listen to, and I'd been looking forward to this, it was more because it would be a change of pace, as opposed to really being something that I'd tune into again on a regular basis.

Day 54: Spa 73

My Best Guess: Everyone needs a place they can turn to for a little peace and relaxation, and Spa 73 has the perfect collection of calming, soothing music towash over you and your mind.

According to Sirius: On Spa 73, we play a continuous flow of hip, soothing, spa sounds with virtually no interruption. From Moby, Dido and William Orbit to Enya and Yanni to B-Tribe and Enigma, you'll hear it all here.

Curt's Rebuttal: I nailed "soothing," and the idea of "flow" certainly meshes with what I was picturing (although I said "wash over you"). I wouldn't go so far as to say this was 'hip," though. But I guess all things are relative.

Samply Playlist:

• Riley Lee, Deer Horn
• Howard Baer, Dreams Come True
• B-Tribe, Spiritual, Spiritual
• Gandalf, Life in Love
• Chris Spheeris, Field of Tears
• Kevin Kern, Blossom on the Wind

High Point: Not only is there a group/person/musical entity called "Gandalf," but I got to see the name pop up twice on my radio during the day. Heh.

Verdict: While I would turn to this station in a heartbeat if I was trying to meditate, relax...maybe even fall asleep...it isn't ideal to be driving to (I literally almost fell asleep while listening to it behind the wheel). It really reminded me of those "Pure Moods" CDs they used to sell on TV. Ah, well...not gonna bookmark it.

Day 53: Pure Jazz

My Best Guess: Experience the foundations of classic jazz, including everything from the big band era and swing. If it's classic cool, it's the classic sounds of Pure Jazz.

According to Sirius: Classic jazz, the original American art form. Hear the masters who pioneered the music and the new artists who continue the tradition into the 21st century.

Curt's Rebuttal: Well, I did say "classic" three times in my description...although their write-up sounds a bit more similar to how I described Planet Jazz.

Sample Playlist:

• Honolulu Jazz Quartet, The Keez is in the Car
• Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Cloudburst
• Charles Mingues, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
• Modern Jazz Quartet, Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
• Oliver Nelson, Stolen Moments
• Mel Torme, It Don't Mean a Thing

High Point: Hearing music that I could groove a bit to.

Verdict: Unlike the last two stations, I was actually enjoying this. This is sound that I'd come to associate with jazz...a rhythmic foundation, with improvised riffs overlaid on top. Plus, with the classic music, you had a bit more big band and swing, which I also enjoyed. I actually almost bookmarked this one...but think it would have been just for the novelty.

By the Way...: Meant to explain, but I was in Seattle from Thursday evening through today, so it was a short review week. It will be happening again this week, as I fly back to Michigan on Wednesday evening...

Day 52: Jazz Cafe

My Best Guess: Were the smooth, melodic stylings of Planet Jazz too manic and up-tempo for your tastes? Then check out the coma-inducing riffs of Jazz Cafe...the lighter side of jazz.

According to Sirius: Sophisticated, elegant, relaxing...smooth jazz for the way you live today.

Curt's Rebuttal: Wow...I was trying to be a smartass in my opening desription, and it sounds like I damn near hit the nail on the head. Zzzzz...

Sample Playlist:

• Sting, Fragile
• Herbie Hancock, Thieves in the Temple
• Peter White, What Does it Take (To Win Your Love)
• Euge Groove, Born to Groove
• Chuck Loeb, High Five
• Four 80 East, Noodle Soup

High Point: Seeing the title of the Sting track above, and having it remind of A Christmas Story: "Fra-jeel-ay...that must be Italian..."

Verdict: Recall my excitement at having to listen to Planet Jazz for two days straight? Well, it was not a happy moment when I found out not only was I listening to more jazz...but that I was listening to the elevator music-like softer side of jazz. I expected the music to be interrupted every thirty seconds or so by a recorded voice saying "Please continue to hold...your call is very important to us." We shall see if I have more jazz awaiting me on the next channel...

Day 51: Planet Jazz

My Best Guess: Kick back and get ready to groove to the smooth, cool tones of yesterday's great jazz artists and the musicians they've inspired today. It's time to take a trip around Planet Jazz.

According to Sirius: The continuing evolution of today's jazz. Modern, progressive, acid jazz, fusion and more from the artists who are redefining jazz.

Curt's Rebuttal: Hrm...so, everything I was listening to was modern? Would never have guessed. I'd go back and check, but...well...read on...

Sample Playlist:

• Methany Mehldau, A Night Away
• Jaco Pastorius, Continuum
• Charlie Hunter Quartet, Mestre Tata
• Eldar, I Remember When
• Lizz Wright, Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly
• Stanley Clarke, Silly Putty
  

Verdict: Wow. Two days of this. I was thinking yesterday about how I felt about jazz. It was honestly hard to focus on. I personally think jazz is best served up as background music, played during a dinner party or at a club where socializing was going on. But as the center of attention? I don't think so. And I played in a jazz band in high school.

If there was any doubt as to how I felt about Planet Jazz, it immediately vanished when I learned I had to listen to it for a second day (due to failing to document it last night). I believe my knee-jerk reaction was "CRAP!" I was not enjoying having to sit through this a second time. So...with apologies to all jazz fans out there...I'm not bookmarking this. But if I have a dinner party or a sophisticated group of people over to hang out, I may tune in just to have something pleasant and interesting going on in the background...

Sirius Sidebar: Out of It

Apologies...last night was the first time ever I just went to bed without even thinking about writing this review. I woke up the next day and realized I hadn't fulfilled my duties. So...listening to Channel 70 for a second day! Sorry, folks...

Day 50: Praise

My Best Guess: Tune in every day to find all the best gospel hits, filling the rafters with the sweet soulful sounds of Sirius Praise.

According to Sirius: Soar through your day enjoying today's best Gospel. Divinely inspired music with the power to make ya sing, clap and shout!

Curt's Rebuttal: Fair enough. I should have guessed they went the singing, clapping and shouting route. There definitely was plenty of that.

Sample Playlist:

• GMWA National Mass Choir, I've Counted the Costs
• Shirley Caesar, Everything is Gonna Be Alright
• Vanessa Bell Armstrong, He is Lord
• The Mighty Clouds of Joy, If God is Dead
• Troy Sneed, Hallelujah
• Vickie Winans, Safe in His Arms

Verdict: Overall, this was very energetic and uplifting. Much more enjoyable to listen to than Spirit. And although I'm not a regular church-goer, it does give me the slight urge to attend services at a church that has this sort of music going on. Still...can't see me regularly listening to this channel...although I may be back for an occasional visit.

Day 49: Spirit

My Best Guess: A spirit-raising collection of Christian music, crossing every genre from rock to hip-hop to country. Keep the faith alive with Spirit.

According to Sirius: Pop and rock with a higher purpose. The best of Contemporary Christian music, brightening your day with the power of the Word.

Curt's Rebuttal: Okay, I do take issue with that description. I was close, granted...but there's more than pop and rock on there. And I'm curious as to their definition of "contemporary," 'cause I'm guessing there's stuff from the '80s and '90s in there, too.

Sample Playlist:

• David Crowder Band, Everything Glorious
• Crystal Lewis, People Get Ready - Jesus is Coming
• Jeremy Camp, Here I Am to Worship
• tobyMac, I'm For You
• John David Webster, Miracle
• Casting Crowns, East to West

High Point: Seeing that there is a Christian rock band out there called "4Him." With a cool text messaging-friendly name like that, you know they're hip with the kids.

Verdict: On the one hand, it was interesting to hear the cross-genre music today. Kind of reminds me of a game we played in improv classes, where you'd have to change film styles (or, in this case, music styles), while still riffing on the same topic (in this case, Christianity). On the other hand...I felt like the lyrics were trying to sell me something. Then again...I do enjoy Switchfoot, and some other bands that kind of muddy the border between Christian and Heathen rock. In the end, said three Hail Marys and didn't bookmark it.

Day 48: Bluegrass

My Attempt at a Description: Here you'll find more banjo strummin' and harmonica blowin' than anywhere else on the Sirius dial. Whether a golden oldie or a modern take on a down-home sound, here's where you'll get your fix for Bluegrass hospitality.

According to Sirius: The very finest in bluegrass, from first generation players Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs to the contemporary sounds of Blue Highway and Alison Krauss & Union Station. Born in inspiration, steeped in tradition. Handmade, heartfelt Bluegrass music on Sirius.

My Rebuttal: I really think they needed to mention the prevalence of banjos. There were a lot of them. I do like the "handmade," "heartfelt" and "steeped in tradition" desription, though.

Samply Playlist:

• The Steel Drivers, If It Hadn't Been For You
• The County Gentlemen, Where No Cabins Fall
• The Seldom Scene, Katie Dear
• Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals, Take Me To The Mountains
• Rhonda Vincent, Midnight Angel
• Dave Evans, Pretty Green Hills

Verdict: Well, it started out sounding very much like music from "O Brother Where Art Thou," which was unique, I guess, but couldn't see me listening to this steadily...only maybe if I happened to stumble upon it, and even then, only for one song.

Day 47: Outlaw Country

My Experience: Going to start this off a little differently. Rather than give the Sirius description, then comment, I'm going to see how closely I match the description given online.

So...the big question for me was what makes Outlaw Country so "outlaw." Given the trend over the last couple channels of "modern," "retro," and "classic" country, I was expecting this to be maybe "heavy metal" country or "punk" country. After listening to it...I still wasn't sure. It had artists from across time periods. The only common theme seemed to be content...booze, drugs and sex seemed to run as a thread through the songs. But I'm guessing Sirius is going to focus on the artists as the "bad boys" of country.

According to Sirius: Created by "Little Steven" Van Zandt, Outlaw Country is a sanctuary for the freaks, misfits, outcasts and rebels of country music. Tune in every weekday to hear the rantings of Mojo Nixon, "The Loon in the Afternoon."

My Rebuttal: Hrm. I guess I can see that. This isn't by any means, though, mutually exclusive from the other categories we've heard so far. Meaning, Willie Nelson may very well fit in here...but he also fits in with The Roadhouse.

Sample Playlist:

• John Anderson, Let Somebody Else Drive
• Bruce Robison, It Came From San Antonio
• David Allan Coe, Cheap Thrills
• Willie Nelson, Bubbles in My Beer
• Dallas Wayne, Bouncin' Beer Cans Off the Jukebox
• Van Morrison, Back Street Affair

High Point: I do very much like the Dallas Wayne title above. And it's cool that you can get so many booze-filled songs in one place.

Verdict: Kind of fun, but nothing I could really get into or click with.

Day 46: The Roadhouse

According to Sirius: Where it all started. Nothing but classics from Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline and more. Legendary music from the Hall of Fame to the Grand Ole Opry...it's what real country music is made of.

My Experience: The further up the dial we go in the country genre, the further back in time we go...and the more I like the music. If we started at "current" country, and proceeded through "retro" country, this can only be described as "classic" country. It reminds me of the stuff my dad used to listen to on the radio before I was even a teenager...so it kind of takes me back. And when you get back that far, you can really start to hear the origins of the music, and the influence of the times. Then you start to see how some of Elvis's tunes weren't that far off from country...

Sample Playlist:

• T.G. Sheppard, I Loved 'Em Every One (1981)
• Conway Twitty, I Can't Stop Loving You (1972)
• John Conlee, Miss Emily's Picture (1987)
• Dave & Sugar, The Door is Always Open (1976)
• Jim Reeves, Four Walls (1957)
• Jerry Lee Lewis, What's Made Milwaukee Famous (1968)

High Point: Getting to hear a song other than Great Balls O' Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis...and finding out that he wrote lyrics like "What's made Milwaukee famous / has made a fool out of me." Nice to see that even back in the '60s they were singing about the unfortunate effects beer can have.

Verdict: Came damn near bookmarking this one, for nostalgia's sake, but honestly can't see me tuning in with any degree of regularity.

Day 45: Prime Country

According to Sirius: This is where great country music from the '80s and '90s lives. Garth, Reba, Clint Black, Alabama, George Strait all play here. Hear the big country songs that made you a fan over the past two decades.

My Experience: I'm slowly beginning to catch on to the differences between channels, here. So yesterday we had New Country, also known as current hits. Today was kind of a foray into "retro" country...or stuff from the prior two decades. And here I am, with so little music knowledge, that I thought today's stuff was current. At the very least, I was more familiar with the artists from Prime Country.

A Time and a Place for Everything: Um...a country-western bar?

Sample Playlist:

• Brooks & Dunn, Rock My World (Little Country Girl)
• Keith Whitley, When You Say Nothing At All
• Mary Chapin Carpenter, I Feel Lucky
• Restless Heart, Why Does It Have To Be
• Dixie Chicks, Without You
• Garth Brooks, Standing Outside the Fire

High Point: Hearing the above song by Restless Heart...didn't even sound like a country song. Unless I'm thinking of the Mary Chapin Carpenter song. Either way, actually kind of enjoyed it.

Verdict: While I enjoyed it more than yesterday's channel...still not bookmarking it.

Day 44: New Country

According to Sirius: Today's biggest country hits from the hottest country superstars. Hear Nashville's #1 hits and exclusive Sirius Buzz Cuts - new country songs you can't hear anywhere else.

My Experience: It's no secret, I've been dreading the hip-hop and country portions of the Sirius dial since I started this experiment...but my first dip into the realm of country music wasn't all that painful. It really got me thinking about what makes something a country song. Is it something immediately identifiable about the music? The instruments? The voice? I mean, not all country singers have a southern twang, and not all have a steel guitar playing counterpoint...it's kind of a tough thing to call. Anyway, I really hadn't heard any of these songs before and thought the idea of exclusive "Buzz Cuts" was pretty nifty.

Sample Playlist:

• Rodney Atkins, These Are My People
• Tim McGraw, When the Stars Go Blue
• Billy Currington, Tangled Up
• Sugarland, Want To
• Dierks Bentley, Long Trip Alone
• Toby Keith, High Maintenance Woman

Moment of the Day: There are perpetual jokes about country music lyrics, and perhaps rightly so. The song High Maintenance Woman, by Toby Keith, tells the tale of a repairman who falls in love with a beautiful woman, in which he laments "I ain't hooked it up yet, / But I'm trying as hard as I can. / It's just a high maintenance woman / Don't want no maintenance man." Sheer poetry.

Verdict: As bearable as today was, the music was still more amusing than listenable. It's just not my genre. At least this slice isn't...

Day 43: Soul Town

According to Sirius: Time to get down! Hear all the great soul hits from the '60s, '70s and early '80s. Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Gladys Knight - the legends of classic soul.

My Experience: First off, quite disappointed that I didn't hear any Barry White. I loves me some Barry White. Second...I apologize for calling yesterday's music (Heart & Soul) the "soulful side" of R&B and hip-hop. That wasn't soulful...THIS is soulful. This was music you could just groove to...and, oh yes, I grooved. The big thing that Soul Town had going for it was a healthy dosage of classic Motown. Sure, you had a little modern day Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder...but that's forgiveable when you've got The Temptations, The Four Tops and classic Stevie Wonder.

A Time and a Place for Everything: I really think Motown fits in with any location and situation. And it's music almost everybody has heard of and can relate to.

Sample Playlist:

• Smokey Robinson, Cruisin'
• Ohio Players, Love Rollercoaster
• The Four Tops, The Keeper of the Castle
• The Temptations, The Way You Do the Things You Do
• The Spinners, I'll Be Around
• Lionel Richie & Diana Ross, Endless Love

Verdict: While I was doing some aforementioned "grooving," if this was all Motown, I might have gone for it. There was, though, a bit too much of the stuff from the '70s and '80s for me to enjoy this enough to bookmark it.

Sidenote: And so ends my tour of hip-hop and R&B. It didn't last as long as I thought it would...but next comes...COUNTRY. Wish me luck, kids.

Day 42: Heart & Soul

According to Sirius: The best R&B from today's stars and yesterday's superstars. Your favorite joints from Luther, Brian McKnight, Mary J. Blige, The Gap Band, Prince...it's on Heart & Soul.

My Experience: They forgot Whitney. If there's one thing I'll take away from my two days of Heart & Soul, it's the seemingly never-ending supply of Whitney. Ah, well...my fault for not getting this posted last night. If I had to differentiate this from other channels, it just seemed like the lighter side of hip-hop. Kind of like an SAT question...Sirius Hits 1 is to Starlite as Hip-Hop Nation is to ___________? Yep...Heart & Soul. I forced my co-worker Ben to listen to some of it on the way to lunch today, but enacted Rule Caveat #4, which states that, when accompanied by a passenger in the car, I may choose to instead listen to MP3s I've uploaded into the Sirius Radio device.

A Time and a Place for Everything: American Idol? I dunno...seems like I heard a lot of this stuff being sung by Ruben Studdard and Fantasia.

Sample Playlist:

• Chrisette Michele, If I Have My Way
• Usher, You Make Me Wanna...
• Freddie Jackson, You Are My Lady
• Heather Headley, In My Mind
• Joe, I Wanna Know
• Deniece Williams, Black Butterfly

Verdict: Pass. Sorry. I didn't really care for Starlite, and I don't really care for a more soulful version of it, either.

Sirius Sidebar: Excuses, Excuses...

Was working late tonight, got in, all ready for bed...and realized I left the list of music in my car. So, I'll deal with another day of Heart & Soul, and will get the report to folks tomorrow.

Day 41: Hot Jamz

According to Sirius: The best Hip-Hop and R&B. From unadulterated crunk to smooth R&B, if it's hot right now, it's on Hot Jamz.

My Experience: This really hasn't been a typical driving week for me. Instead of heading back to my apartment after work, I got to enjoy the rush traffic on the way to visit my buddy Ryan (a frequent commenter on this blog) in North Hollywood. Nothing like sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic with hip-hop blaring out my window. Was like a scene from Office Space.

Anyway, I'm trying to fit Hot Jamz into my overall taxonomy of R&B stations here on Sirius. For me, it was like you took Hip-Hop Nation, and just filtered out everything that you couldn't get away with playing in a club. If you couldn't groove to it, you likely didn't hear it here.

A Time and a Place for Everything: Seemed like this was the station playing in every bar back in college in East Lansing...if it had a dance floor.

Sample Playlist:

• Mims, Like This
• Kanye West, Can't Tell Me Nothing
• Alicia Keys, Karma
• Eve, Satisfaction
• LL Cool J, Doin' It
• Sean Kingston, Me Love

Verdict: I didn't add Hip-Hop Nation, so not very likely to add this.

Day 40: Shade 45

According to Sirius: Completely uncensored hip-hop radio created by Eminem and SIRIUS. No filters, no commercial restrictions. On-air hosts and mixers say whatever they want. Shade 45...the hype is real.

My Experience: Listened to this on the way to work on Thursday, but didn't get back from a concert (gotta love The Format) until about 2:00am or so, and didn't have time to do this review, so (per my rules) had to live with the channel for another day.

This was a little heavier than I'm used to...even for hip-hop. If Hip-Hop Nation is more of the mainstream Top 40 stuff, this is the equivalent of hard rock, in my mind. And because I rock out to a mean Eminem at karaoke, I was a little disappointed that I heard no Slim Shady during my time with this channel. Also...got a little tired of hearing about ten minutes straight of listener "shout outs" on the drive to work.

A Time and a Place for Everything: I guess this would be cruising down 8 Mile back in Detroit. Although I don't hail from that side of Michigan, I have plenty of folks who do, so could blast this when visiting.

Sample Playlist:

• The Pharcyde, Drop
• 2Pac f. G-Unit, Loyal to the Game
• Young Buc, U Ain't Goin' Nowhere
• Lil' Wayne, Haters (La, La, La)
• Gang Starr, Check the Technique
• T.I. f. Wyclef, You Know What It Is

Verdict: I'm not hating on this music...it's just not my style. I tend to look for music to energize me or calm me down...this music doesn't do either of those.

Sirius Sidebar: Music Made Me (Not) Do It

So, another missed day this week. So atypical of me. Anyway, just got in from a concert up in Hollywood...was there for 5.5 hours, heard five bands...and it's a bit too late for me to be updating the blog. Will spend two days with the station that I started listening to today, and will report in tomorrow evening.