The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Wednesday June 24, 2015
A short reflection on hip Twin Cities radio station the Current.
Good currencies
After their initial few months, in which they played a dizzying array of genres and appeared to be truly free form, Minnesota’s hip public radio station The Current has been hit and miss. At its best it has charming local warmth and plays a diverse variety of music. At its worst it’s boring and focuses too narrowly on hip, new, and ultimately gutless and disposable indie music.
Lately it’s been more good than bad. Indie rock is their foundation, sure, but they deviate from it enough to keep more casual listeners like myself interested. I especially like the morning show – I wish endearing Sean McPherson of Heiruspecs, Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra, and the Trivia Mafia gang would stay on full time – but I’ve also put them back in my presets in my car and go listen to them more often than I have in years.
I understand that a radio station needs to have a focus to survive. But the best radio stations can do that and also draw in casual listeners. The Current has been better at doing that recently and I hope they continue to trend upwards.
Staring at the Sun
TV on the Radio, from the 2003 LP Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
This was the first song I remember hearing on the Current. I was carpooling home from college of all things. When it came on my friend who was driving looked at me wide-eyed and we honestly marveled at how cool it was. Oh to be young again.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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