Taking some good advice? See the RBR observations: (7/11/07 RBR #134), (2/6/08 RBR #25).
It would be great to see this on their main signal, but a good start nonetheless: CBS Radio’s WNEW made its return on-air (102.7 HD 2 NYC) and online (www.wnew.com) yesterday. “The legendary station has been reborn for the passionate rock music fan in the spirit of WNEW-FM’s commitment to exposing the best new artists.” (Really? Read our observation).
Completely updated to reflect its historical influence on today’s contemporary rock scene, WNEW.com/HD-2 features recordings from the dawn of the album era in the late 60s and early 70s through today, as well as music from the most promising emerging artists yet to be discovered by the masses. Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Spoon, and Vampire Weekend will be among those featured along with the likes of REM, Foo Fighters, The White Stripes, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd.
In addition, thousands of hours of archival interviews by former WNEW hosts Scott Muni, Dave Herman, and Richard Neer, among others, with such artists as John Lennon, The Who, Stevie Wonder and David Bowie will be integrated hourly throughout the station’s on-air and online programming. Also finding a home on WNEW.com’s lineup will be exclusive live performances from artists who contributed to the station’s storied history.
The modernized WNEW.com/HD-2 will also offer the listening audience a complete interactive and social networking experience through the station’s website (www.wnew.com) and CBS Corp.’s Last.fm. Using these two online portals, fans can listen on demand, share feedback about the former and current station, join dedicated groups, meet fellow WNEW listeners and become a part of the station’s “staff.”
At the helm of this ambitious project is Norm Winer, CBS Radio VP/Adult Rock Programming, and, for more than 25 years, the award-winning PD of WXRT Chicago.
Originally launched on Oct. 31, 1967, WNEW-FM is considered the first free-form progressive rock station in the nation. It quickly went on to become both an institution and a piece of radio history for which it is remembered today. The station rocked New York City for three decades breaking some of the biggest artists of all time, including David Bowie, Elton John, and The Talking Heads.
RBR observation: “The new frontier—WNEW.com” is their main liner. Remember, the original WNEW was a Progressive Rock station. We listened yesterday, but didn’t hear much of anything new yet. Lots of 80s and 90s tunes; stuff we’ve heard a million times and then Norah Jones; John Mellencamp??!! Bring in more Indie Rock: differentiate. Obscure Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Pink Floyd tunes are fine, too. Don’t get us wrong, the station was programmed well as an Adult Rock format, but too much of the “same ‘ol, same ‘ol.” The snippets of past interviews are great—the heritage of the station is brought forth loud and clear!
Again, Our suggestions for Indie Rock songs:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:
Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood
Underwater (you and me)
Satan said dance
Over and over again (Lost and found)
Heavy metal
Love Song No. 7
Death Cab for Cutie:
Title and registration
A Movie Script Ending
Why you’d want to live here
Photo Booth
Technicolor Girls
Hindsight
Silversun Pickups:
…All the go inbetweens
Kissing families
Little Lover’s so polite
Lazy eye
Mates of state:
I got this feelin’
Ha Ha
Goods (all in your head)
Quit doin’ it
Fraud in the 80’s
Middle is gold
So many ways
Beck:
Missing
Nausea
Elevator Music
Black Tambourine
Que Onda Guero
Sexx laws
Motorcade
Earthquake weather
LCD Sound System:
Losing my edge
Daft Punk is playing at my house
Never as tired as when I’m waking up
Tribulations
Someone great
Disco Infiltrator
Yeah Yeah Yeahs:
Maps
Cheated Heart
Down boy
Elliott Smith:
A Fond Farewell
Needle in the Hay
Coming up roses
New Monkey
The White Stripes:
A boy’s best friend
Blue Orchid
Rag & Bone
We’re going to be friends
Modest Mouse:
Trailer Trash
Dramamine
Dashboard
Blame it on the Tetons
She ionizes and atomizes
Talking shit about a pretty su
Heart Cooks Brain
The Good Times are killing me
Lounge (Closing Time)
The World at large
Polar opposites
Ohio
Iron & Wine:
Upward over the mountain
Jesus the Mexican Boy
Mother
Beneath the Balcony
Boy with a coin
Cinder and smoke
The devil never sleeps
Bright Eyes:
When the President Talks to God
Down a Rabbit Hole
First Day of Life
Solid Jackson
Magnetic Fields:
I think I need a new heart
Village in the Morning
World Love
The dreaming moon
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
You and me and the moon
Please stop dancing
Belle & Sebastian:
Step into my office, baby
Wrapped up in books
The boy with the Arab strap
Your cover’s blown
Mayfly
Lord Anthony
Peter Bjorn & John:
Chills
Let’s call it off
Amsterdam
Eels:
Fresh Feeling
Souljacker
Trouble with Dreams
Last stop this town
Snow Patrol:
Run
Chocolate
Spitting Games
Massive Attack:
Risingson
Group Four
Interpol:
Obstacle 1
Next Exit
Say Hello to the angels
NYC
Kasabian:
Club Foot
L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever)
Processed beats
The Shins:
Kissing the lipless
Sleeping lessons
The Hives:
Two Timing Touch and Broken Bones
Walk Idiot Walk
Flaming Lips:
Fight Test
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1
Pinback:
Offline P.K.
Good to sea
Seville
Tripoli
Offcell
Neutral Milk Hotel:
Everything Is
In the aeroplane over the sea
Cocorosie:
Promise
Rainbowarriors
Japan
Hot Chip:
Over and Over
Colors (DEA Remix)
Boy from school
Ready for the floor
Ladytron:
Re Agents
Startup chime
Tricky:
Hell is around the corner
Black Steel
Track Star:
Something very winning
Sooner it dies
The Streets:
Fit but you know it
Lets’ push things forward
CSS:
Let’s Make Love and Li…
Alala
Clinic:
Harvest (Within You)
Welcome
Walking with thee
The Thermals:
Back to Gray
Test pattern
Tarwater:
Rome
Sweethome under white clouds
The Liars:
The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
Houseclouds
TV on the radio:
Staring at the Sun
Don’t love you
A method
Dreams
Of Montreal:
I was never young
Heimdalsgate like a Promethean curse
Forecast Fascist Future
Arcade Fire:
Wake Up
Rebellion
Say Hi to Your Mom:
Super
A hit in Sweden
Unicorns:
Les Os
Child Star
Tegan & Sara:
You wouldn’t like me
I know I know I know
Pavement:
Father to a sister of thought
Here
Fight this generation
Muse:
Supermassive Black Hole
Knights of Cydonia
Time is running out
The Bravery:
No Brakes
An Honest Mistake
Earlimart:
The Hidden Track
Big ol’ black
The Dandy Warhols:
We used to be friends
You come in burned
Tom Waits:
Make it rain
How’s it going to end?
Superchunk:
1,000 Pounds (Duck Kee style)
Long Dark (Alt.)
Ben Kweller:
Wasted & Ready
My Apartment
The Faint:
Drop Kick the Punks
Desperate Guys
Peaches:
Boys wanna be her
AAXXX
Simple Kid:
The Twentysomething
Love’s an enigma
Yo La Tengo:
Autumn Sweater
Little eyes
Mirah:
Don’t die in me
Body below
The Moldy Peaches:
Who’s got the crack?
Anyone else but you
The Raveonettes:
Love in a Trash Can
Aly walk with me
Film School:
P.S.
Ms. Connection
American Analog Set:
Gone to Earth
Don’t wake me
Weather report
The Innocence Mission:
Tomorrow on the Runway
Bright as Yellow
McClusky:
Rice is nice
She Will Only Bring You Happiness
The Kills:
The good ones
U.R.A. Fever
Portishead:
Sour Times
Mysterion
Rainer Maria:
Artificial Light
The Seven Sisters
Clouddead:
Pop Song
Rifle Eyes
The Postal Service:
DC sleeps alone tonight
Such great heights
Brand new colony
The starlight mints:
Margarita
The Twilight Showdown
Radiohead:
Climbing (fila brazillia)
Reckoner
All I need
Lily Allen:
Smile
LDN
Vampire Weekend:
A-Punk
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Placebo:
Meds
Runnin’ up that hill
Panda Bear:
Take Pills
Comfy in Nautica
Devendra Banhart:
Bad girl
Lover
Black Lips:
Veni Vidi Vici
M.I.A.:
Paper planes
Shotgun Jimmie:
Bedhead
Mia Doi Todd:
Autumn
Liam Finn:
Second Chance
Kunga 219:
Could it be me?
Sparklehorse:
Don’t take my sunshine away
Architecture in Helsinki:
Heart it races
Kyle Andrews:
Your tester bunny
Prinzhorn Dance School:
You are the space invader
Stereolab:
Metronomic underground
Akron/Family:
Ed is a portal
Joanna Newsom:
The book of right on
Weezer:
Tired of Sex
Cinemascope:
Desert Inn
My Morning Jacket:
Cobra
Beirut:
Nantes
Great Lakes Swimmers:
Where in the world are you
New Buffalo:
You’ve gone my friend
Flecton:
Summer down flames
Wilco:
Pot Kettle Black
Sunset Rubdown:
Up on your leopard…
The hidden cameras:
Ban Marriage
Midlake:
Roscoe
The new pornographers:
Myriad Harbour
The Strange:
Texas
White Rabbits:
The Plot
Low:
Sunflower
Calvin Harris:
Acceptable in the 80’s
The 1990’s:
You’re supposed to be my friend
The Sweet Homewreckers:
Wild America
The Saint Alvia Cartel:
Don’t wanna wait fo…
Shrink:
The Notwist
!!! (Chk Chk Chk):
Take ecstasy with me
The Radio Dept.:
1995
Grand Analog:
Around this town
Half right:
Heatmiser
Yael Naim:
New Soul
Amy Honey:
Old Reliable Death
Cat Power:
Cross Bones Style
Corrina Rapp:
No one’s telling
Thurston Moore:
Psychic Hearts
Black Fiction:
Magic Hands
The Vaselines:
Jesus don’t want me for a sunbeam
The Good, The Bad and The Queen:
History Song
The Pink Mountaintops:
Can you do that dance?
Michael Franti and Spearhead:
Yell Fire
Autolux:
Angry Candy
Damian Marley:
Welcome to Jamrock
They Might be Giants:
I’m impressed
Tim Armstrong:
Into action
The Ponys:
Double Vision
The Polyphonic Spree:
Running Away
The Blow:
True Affection
Mew:
The Zookeeper’s Boy
Annuals:
Carry Around
Great Lake Swimmers:
Where in the World are you now?
Hot Chip/Rolling Stones:
I’m Free
Gisli:
Go Get Em Tiger
John Vanderslice:
Exodus Damage
Radar Bros:
Capital Gain
Tommy Guererro:
Tomorrow’s Goodbye
Jose Gonzalez:
Heartbearts
Dead meadow:
Sleepy Silver Door
Lou Barlow:
Yawning Blue Messiah
Jennifer O’Connor:
Exeter, Rhode Island
Annuals:
Carry Around
Cold War Kids:
Hang me up to dry
Teddybears:
Punkrocker
Band of Horses:
The funeral
Page France:
Chariot
The Long Winters:
The commander think…
The Grabs:
Already forgotten
Block Party:
This modern love
The Wolf Parade:
You are a runner
Eames Era:
Could Be Anything
Band of Bees:
Horsement
Love As Laughter:
Pulsar Radio
Built to spill:
Strange
Hopewell:
Calcutta
Make Out Club:
You Were the First One
The John Spencer Blues Explosion:
She said
Viva Voce:
Business Casual
Lali Puna:
Clear Cut
Transplants:
Gangsters and Thugs
Stephen Malkmus:
Baby C’Mon
Mark Lanegan:
Hit the City
Superchunk:
Late-Century Dream
West Indian Girl:
Trip
Bloc Party:
Banquet
Karen O:
Hello Tomorrow
Mark Farina:
Cali Spaces
Seam:
Inching toward Juarez
Charles Douglas:
Splitting the Atom
Apples in Stereo:
Strawberryfire
The Wanteds:
Confess
The French:
Canada Water
The Libertines:
Campaign of Hate
Scrabbel:
Riot Series
Faultline:
Where is my boy?
Pitty Sing:
Radio
Astaire:
L-L-Love
Despistado:
A starsticks prediction
Takiko Minekawa:
Never/More
Silver Jews:
There is a place
Wormburner:
Skinny Leather Tie
Basement Jaxx:
Where’s Your Head At
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves:
Back into that room
Tilly and the Wall:
Fell down the stairs
Throwing Muses:
Ruthie’s Knocking
Guided by Voices:
Choking Tara
Sea and Cake:
The World is against you
John Wilkes Booze:
Meanwhile, at the Hideout
Mosquitos:
Dream Awake
Mouse on Mars:
Mine is in yours
Joseph Arthur:
Even Tho
Bishop Allen:
Rain
Ween:
Transdermal Celebration
Windsor for the Derby:
We fight til the death
The Hidden Cameras:
Doot Doot Plot
Singapore Sling:
My life is killing my rock ‘n’ roll
Tim Booth:
Wave Hello
The Walkmen:
Little House of Savages
Keane:
Bend and Break
Isidore:
Sanskrit
The Wrens:
Happy
The Cardigans:
Erase/Rewind
Scissor Sisters:
Take Your Mama
Go Sailor:
Silly
Secret Machines:
Nowhere again
Tulsa Drone:
Red’s Theme
Secret Square:
Sparkly Green Couch
Calexico:
Attack El Robot Attack!
Dirty three:
I offered it up to the stars
Elefant
Sunlight makes me paranoid
22-20s:
Devil in Me
The Nationals:
Abel
The Rogers Sisters:
Fantasies are nice
Tiger Saw:
RU Courageous?
Will Johnson:
Closing Down My House
Tilly and the Wall:
A Perfect Fit
Pedro the Lion:
Foregone Conclusions
Macha:
Smash and Grab
The Go Find:
“Bleeding Heart”
The Concretes:
Say Something New
All Time Quarterback:
Why I Cry
Queens of the stone age:
Turnin’ on the screw
The Parkas:
Filthy rich kids
Kings of Convenience:
Misread
Devin Davis:
Giant Spiders
A Whisper in the Noise:
Silence
Midnight Movies:
Strange Desire
Camper Van Beethoven:
51-7
Flipper:
Sex Bomb
Rilo Kiley:
Ripchord
All Time Quarterback:
Send packing
Brightblack Morning Light:
Everybody Daylight
Her Space Holiday:
Tech Romance
Boyracer:
We were wrong
Preston School of Industry:
Get your crayons out!
Mojave 3:
Bluebird of Happiness
Calla:
Don’t hold your breath
Electrelane:
On Parade
The Futureheads:
Piece of Crap
Matthew Dear:
Dog Days
Stars:
Look up
The Operators:
The old man doesn’t like it
Beat happening:
Down at the sea
Broken Social Scene:
Anthems for a seventeen year-old girl
Thao with the get down stay down:
Bag of hammers
Lilys:
Elizabeth Colour Wheel
Her Space Holiday:
My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
Dismemberment Plan:
What do you want me to say?
Midwest product:
motivator
Unrest:
Isabel
Will Oldham:
Antagonism
Virginia Dare:
Ship go down
The Russian Futurists:
Precious Metals
Portastatic:
Drill Me
Spoon
Don’t you Evah
Dead Confederate:
The Rat
Manchester Orchestra:
Golden ticket
Less rotation/burn:
The Fratellis:
Flathead
Baby Fratelli
Gorillaz:
Kids with Guns
19-2000
Feist:
My Moon My Man
1234
The Decemberists:
Valencia
16 Military Wives
On the Bus Mall
Peter Bjorn & John:
Young Folks
Stay Loose
Franz Ferdinand:
Better in Hoboken
The Dark of the Matinee
Beck:
Girl
Hell Yes
Jim Yoshi Pile Up:
Hello
The Black Angels:
Manipulation
Spoon
Don’t you Evah
Jim Noir:
Key of C
The Bees:
Listening man
Camera Obscura:
Lloyd, I’m ready to be heartbroken
The Dresden Dolls:
Coin Operated Boy
Shout Out Louds:
Very Loud
Yeah Yeah Yeahs:
Phenomena
Kings of Convenience:
Stay Out of Trouble
Robbers on High Street:
Japanese Girls
Radar Bros.:
Open Ocean Sailing
Skirts:
Criminal Art
Spoon:
Merchants of Sould
William Shatner/Joe Jackson:
Common People
The White Stripes:
You’re Pretty Good Looking
Tom Vek:
C-C (You set the fire in me)
Thom Yorke:
Black Swan
Of Montreal:
Let’s pretend we don’t exist/let’s pretend we’re in Antarctica
Classic Alternative:
The Velvet Underground:
I’m waiting for my man
Venus in furs
What goes on (closet mix)
T. Rex:
Mambo Sun
David Bowie:
Fashion
Blur:
Beetlebum
Bjork:
Human Behaviour
The Church:
Invisible
The Flying Lizards:
I Want Money (That’s What I want)
The B-52’s:
Mesopotamia
311:
Don’t tread on me
The Pixies:
Where is my mind?
Devo:
(I can’t get no) Satisfaction
Blondie:
Dreaming
Bauhaus:
Bela Lugosi’s Dead
The Vapors:
I Think I’m Turning Japanese
The Cure:
A Forest
The Cowboy Junkies:
Sweet Jane
