This post has been stewing in the back of my mind for a while and I am going to try and get it out correcly here. I have noticed a trend on the radio lately (more lately because I actually listen to the radio now, as opposed to just CDs) that really bugs me. I hate the fact that they overplay artists and more so specific songs from artists. This has been going on forever, they get a hit song and just keep playing it and playing it. The trend that I notice now is that they don't move along when an artist tries to move on from that song and release new songs. One case in particular I have noticed lately is Avril Lavigne. She came out with the song "Complicated" some time earlier this year, I can't remember exactly when. Well, she has released a new single Skater boy (though it really is something like sk8ter boi or some such spelling), which I think is just as good, if not better than complicated (shows more of her raw edge than the rather poppy "Complicated"), but I still can hear "Complicated" at least 3 or 4 times a day in the hour an a half I listen to the radio. Why can't these stations just move on? As someone who really loves music, I woudl rather hear more than just one song by an artist and would like to really hear even more artists. I feel the more music we can listen to, the more people can see what is really good music as opposed to just listening to what the record companies tell us to listen to. Most of the music I listen to on a normal basis people who just listen to the radio have never even heard of, though it is some of the best music out there. Obviously you have cases where radio airplay means nothing to a band (eg Phish), but this is the exception rather than the rule, so I wish that more people could be exposed to more music and decide what they want. I know some of my favorite bands are bands that I either saw open for someone (eg Guster or was told about my friends (this list goes on forever as there are always music suggestions on the Ytsejam Mailing Lists). I just wish some of these bands could get the exposure they deserve so that more people could be exposed to them.
NP:Dave Matthew & Tim Reynolds - Live at Luther College
