Radio On: A Listener's Diary
Vowell's survey of the current state of American AM and FM radio concentrates on the Chicago-area airwaves and Montana State University's KGLT in Bozeman. Aside from Nirvana, Hole, and KGLT, Vowell doesn't find much to like. NPR is too stodgy, Garrison Keillor too sappy, Republicans and Rush Limbaugh simply too much. She likes Chicago's quirky, low-powered WZRD, though, especially its airing of the Church of the SubGenius'Hour of Slack, and also establishment rock critics Greil Marcus and Jim DeRogatis. Vowell expresses her opinions strongly and forthrightly. Her criticisms of NPR and Keillor, for that matter, are hard for even their fans to disagree with, but panning Keillor while praising smarmy NPR elder newswoman Susan Stamberg seems odd, and getting the call letters of Chicago's all-sports station wrong casts doubt on her objectivity and thoroughness. Oh well, if you worship at the altar of the media god Alternative and take radio really, really seriously, Vowell's rant is just the thing. If you don't, it is still stimulating reading.Mike Tribby--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.