On a lighter (and more musical) note!

I have rediscovered the joy of community public radio -- or college radio, in this case. Down with the corporate suits who want to brainwash me with their homogeny! Give me something different; give me something fabulous!

Driving home from Walmart at 11:30 on a Saturday night, a half gallon of ice cream struggling not to melt next to me in the warm Texas air, I hear the lilting strains of Nouvelle Vague doing a cover of "This is Not a Love Song." It was a moment. [Becca, I think you in particular would like this one.]

Thanks to KTXT 88.1 FM, I've also recently been introduced to the melancholy loveliness of The Weeds and the oh-so danceable "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" by (I think) Norman Cook.

It's been such a long time.... The last place I lived had only corporate stations, but I came of age listening to community public radio in Salt Lake City. In the era of grunge, KRCL 90.9FM led me in many directions at once, exposing me to folk and bluegrass and jazz and ska and punk and even -- one late night driving around with my best friend Becky -- the Eskimo Rubber Band choir (oooh, how I wish I could find a link for that one!).

The folk music is what seemed to stick, and I veered off into the land of singer/songwriters for the next several years. For old time's sake, here are a few of my favorites you should check out:

• Leonard Cohen
• Nanci Griffith
• Lyle Lovett
• the Nields
• Dar Williams

~RCH~