Rankings and "do NOT play" suggestions

[DodgerMatt]

Is there some protocol for suggesting certains bands/songs NOT be played? I don't mean to start a thread where people jump in and mention all the bands they hate, but there are some that I've heard on AM (one notable--Godspeed You Black Emperor) that I find absolutely nothing good about about and turn off as soon as I see them in the queue. Especially long songs that are really bad (synonymous with GYBL stuff) should require at least three people within an hour to request them before they are entered in the queue, only to be played in the wee hours...or some other restrictions.

Sorry to rant. But is there some way to set up a ranking system for registered members? I am constantly hearing really good music from bands I had only heard of before, or from bands entuirely new to me. If I had a chance to rank these bands/songs and found that others had ranked them similarly, I would get a real good idea of the quality of some of the songs in the queue.

Thanks. Great site BTW.

[DodgerMatt]

Yikes, a 25 and a half-minute GYBE "song" at 4:38pm. I'll be back in a half-hour.

:(

[Rick and Roll]

There is plenty I do not like in prog. I dislike Magma, and most RIO (although Miriodor is fine), and most space rock.

The problem here is, no two people like the same thing. Hard to set a specific rule.

I've never heard Godspeed - I may hate it, but I should have no say over it's right to be played.

I rarely request tunes (I mostly rant, and sometimes listen). I find a lot of stuff I never heard played, which I like to hear - good or bad.

I don't find a lot of what I think others would like on AM - a lot of Djam Karet, Discipline, Ozric, Vai, etc. - is missing. That's why I post so much.

Heard a song from a bass player (may have been Greg Howard), a 60-minute song about the water on the Moon or something like that. I thought it was repetitive after 20 minutes, but I still defend its right to be played.

My suggestion - let the playlist do its thing and use the Shoutbox or the Forums for this - I guarantee you will get the feedback you need!

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by DodgerMatt
Is there some protocol for suggesting certains bands/songs NOT be played?
<snip>
Thanks. Great site BTW.

This is as good a place as any. We are not likely to set up anything as elaborate as you mention - but all suggestions, both positive and negative, are considered. Many people have requested GYBE, and in fact, at this point, more people have requested that we ADD more of their music than that we remove any.

I'm not personally crazy about them - but I think their music is artistically valid enough, and different enough, that I've included a selection of them. If a lot of people asked to remove them, I would consider downsizing the selections - but like I said, at this point, the "ayes" outweigh the "nays".

Keep the feedback coming...

[zvinki]

I am one of those that requests GYBE but I must admit that it is an acquired taste. As a matter of fact it is thanks to AM that I have grown to like them (among many other artists). This is to me one of my greatest benefits of AM (aside from chatting with the many fine people on the shoutbox).

[KeithieW]

I agree with jim in that there are a LOT of people out there who like GYBE (I'm in the take or leave category) and to set up a set of parameters to decide when certain bands will play is a bit unfair on them.

I look on AM as a sort of family (see zvinki's post) and even though you might not agree with everything that the faamily does (It would be very tedious if you did) you have to respect their thoughts.

Taking your idea to the extreme, if you had to wait for a track to be requsted "X" times we'd end up with nothing but requests for Yes, Genesis and Crimson being played or as EP would have it, you'd get Triumvirat's 'Mr 10 percent' every couple of hours......only kidding Tommy. :D

I listen to hear new bands and have discovered, literally, scores of them that now sit proudly on my CD shelves.

Let's leave the request policy as it is, I say. If something comes on that you don't particularly like, go make a cup of coffee or, if it's a long track, make out with your girlfriend..........much nicer idea.

[Yesspaz]

This is an absurd topic. AuralMoon is my favorite internet radio station because it is generally so positive. Let's not get into a "this-band-sucks" mode, please. Since I am the one responsible for getting Godspeed on AM (virtue of my donation), I'll say phooey: PHOOEY! If I hadn't just made a request I'd go request some Godspeed. Taste is relative and there's no accounting for it. I don't particularly like Genesis. They're "take or leave" to me. I loathe ELP. I love Gentle Giant. There are folks here who love Genesis and hate Gentle Giant. Isn't that great, we all love art rock. And that's what Godspeed is: Art-Rock. I'd be hesitant to call Godspeed prog, but art-rock is appropriate.

Also, as a Godspeed fan, let me point out that only their first album is on AM, and their first album pales in comparison to their second, third, and fourth albums.



BTW, ProgDirJim will be getting a Christmas present that may make this Godspeed topic..., um.., interesting.

[Rick and Roll]

Keith, Zvinki, Jim, and I tried to spin this question into a consructive issue. We all know that there's no way to set up the requests any more fairly. We were just looking for a solution to Matt's issue - the shoutbox, forums, requests - they are positive answers.

Please don't assume Matt was being difficult. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't find his ravings negative. Negative was the Philip Glass thread (although I found that perversely entertaining).

Please don't be inconsistent by saying "lets be positive" and then slam the dude by calling his topic "absurd".

I do find that a lot of the prog bands that I really like do not have their best material represented on this station. I can only make suggestions, not get frustrated - people are busy, you need to let them discover it on their own.

At some point, I may sing the virtues of certain bands I feel are underappreciated, and I also was requested to talk about some concert memories. But they will have to wait until a more appropriate time.

Godspeed you Aural Emperor!

[zvinki]

I agree with you Rick but for Matt's sake I just want to point out that he should not take offense at Yesspaz' comments. Yesspaz is an honest and informed person on the topic of progressive rock, which is why he is one of the most important members of our little family. We are rather informal with each other so some things may come across harsher than intended.

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
or as EP would have it, you'd get Triumvirat's 'Mr 10 percent' every couple of hours......only kidding Tommy. :D


Actually, I was making a point about how I hear it so damn much. So, every other day would be fine with me. Thanks :cool:

As for the actual topic . . . Feedback is a good thing, but only what's deemed to be workable by the station can be done. Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't complain. Just be prepared to be told no from time to time. (that's why I only play prog metal every once in a while, maybe :D )

Tommy

[Rick and Roll]

hey, it's your show.

I hate hearing the same song over and over - especially if I like it!

[Steady Stan]

about AM is the variety. I feel like any song that has prog or art rock elements is worthy of being on the playlist. "Good" art will always be in the eye of the beholder.

[Yesspaz]

Didn't mean to be harsh, I just think campaigning to get an artist removed is rediculous. I questioned Enya's belonging here, but I don't think I tried to get her off.

[Rick and Roll]

I see now - that's a good point.

I don't think I've ever tried to get Enya off either.....:eek:

[KeithieW]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
I don't think I've ever tried to get Enya off either.....:eek:

And people have a go at me for being a perv..........Ho ho!!

Shame Doris Day isn't a prog artist.;)

[Steady Stan]

You don't go to a museum and say, "Take down this painting! It sucks, & I don't want to see it anymore!" :D

[Rick and Roll]

I am top perv! Got to keep the crown! That Enya was too easy....

[KeithieW]

ProfundoStan...........

It's all true though.

[Steady Stan]

for the top perv title, but I don't want podakayne to get the correct impression of me. :eek:

[KeithieW]

Originally posted by Steady Stan
for the top perv title, but I don't want podakayne to get the correct impression of me. :eek:

I get the impression she's got a pretty good idea about all of us as it is Stan:D

<Yoda voice> Very wise girl she is......

[Rick and Roll]

wanted to make sure that Yesspaz's & Stan's points were not glossed over - very true!

[DodgerMatt]

You don't go to a museum and say, "Take down this painting! It sucks, & I don't want to see it anymore!"

Who says? I do that at the MOMA all the time. But I say it in French so nobody knows what I'm saying. They just think I'm an art critic. :D

I didn't mean to stir up any GYBE fans. Shoulda guessed there must be at least ONE here for it to get so many requests. If all I can do is make a negative request then consider that one done.

As for the variety, I agree. That's one thing I find appealing here. I've heard a lot more bands here I've liked than disliked.

I'm also thinking of how you run your playlists. Do you have some sort of counter that cycles some of the songs or otherwise keeps track of air frequency? For instance, last month I heard Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" for the first time in about thirty years. Wow. That was an odd throwback. And while it is a repetitive tune, I listened through it...for old time's sake. Then I heard it again two days later. (I think I'd enjoy hearing it again in thirty years.)

Point is: There are (how many?) a LOT of tunes in your archives. Do you have mechanism for cycling a recently played tune to the bottom of the list (unless it is requested, recently released and hence probably more "timely", or a listener/program director favorite)?

[Rick and Roll]

I also hate to hear a song I like over and over. But make requests or use the mute button. The PTB (Avain and Jim) have enough to do!

When we get some of the tracks on here I've been asking for, I will request it quite a bit.

Here's a good example - I love Finch. Two of their four releases finally made it on AM. One of the songs has been requested to my count three times (and most likely more, since I'm not listening to AM more than an hour a day). I don't want to hear it more than once or twice every six months. But I'm glad someone is requesting/enjoying it. I can always turn it down/off!!!

And finally - if it's a "favorite", as you mention, does it get put at the bottom of the list because it's been recently played, or at the top? You seem to state both.

[DodgerMatt]

Rick and Roll: I also hate to hear a song I like over and over. But make requests or use the mute button. The PTB (Avain and Jim) have enough to do!

I always seek to improve what I think is good. and worth the effort. Turning the mute button on people at work might be a good thing, but it doesn't improve their performance.

I know a lot of times, I will go to extra lengths to automate tasks that might not pay off in timed saved fore a long time. I don't want to create work for Avian or Jim, but you never know until you try.

And finally - if it's a "favorite", as you mention, does it get put at the bottom of the list because it's been recently played, or at the top? You seem to state both.

My example would allow a list of favorites to bypass FIFO sequencing. If you have 1000 tunes, for example--configured in a random hierarchy from 1 to 1000--I imagine you could flag 100 as favorites that, instead of cycling down to #1000 after they are played, could be inserted at #100.

Just thinking out loud....

[Rick and Roll]

SOS!

[zvinki]

You seem to have a knack of remembering Neil's more embarassing lyrics, Rick. Pick on someone else!:mad:

[Rick and Roll]

problem is I remember all things Rush. Have a younger sister who's nuts about them, a son who's crazy about them, the best man at my wedding knew all the notes, etc.

I'll tell you what, every time I bring up a hackneyed Neil quote, I will put a clever one in. So, I'm -2 in the clever depatment:

1) "eyes wide open heart undefended innocence untarnished"
2) "there's no swimming in the heavy water, no singing in the acid rain"

There - we're even.

In high school I did a variation of "2112" called "21 shelves", and how there's a space prohibition and there's an underground distillery. Alas, the main character loses the fight, and has alcohol poisoning after drinking himself silly in a cave.

I always was a little jaded.

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
problem is I remember all things Rush. Have a younger sister who's nuts about them, a son who's crazy about them, the best man at my wedding knew all the notes, etc.

I'll tell you what, every time I bring up a hackneyed Neil quote, I will put a clever one in. So, I'm -2 in the clever depatment:

1) "eyes wide open heart undefended innocence untarnished"
2) "there's no swimming in the heavy water, no singing in the acid rain"

There - we're even.

In high school I did a variation of "2112" called "21 shelves", and how there's a space prohibition and there's an underground distillery. Alas, the main character loses the fight, and has alcohol poisoning after drinking himself silly in a cave.

I always was a little jaded.

Again, I'd like to hear your variation - I enjoyed the alternate history awhile back. And I sort of object to you calling #1 "hackneyed" - yeah, that's weak compared to most of Neil's lyrics, but in context - that's when he was just starting to really get into lyrics beyond the context of basic rock songs - and I think that's a pretty nice rhythmic progression (4,5,6) for a basic song.

In a cave, hah? What was he drinking?

[Rick and Roll]

the printed word can lose a lot to translation...

The two lyrics of Neil's I mentioned before in the shoutbox were "Excitement so thick you could cut it with a knife" and "stuff" (both from "Countdown"). Zvinki was just ribbing me a bit (I usually deserve it!).

The two lyrics from "Cinderella Man" and "Distant Early Warning" are examples of GREAT lyrics, not hackneyed ones. In fact, 99% of Neil's lyrics ar better than most of anyone else's!

That "21 shelves" was long lost after college. I think the alcohol was only beer, as I was just a snot-nosed high school boy. Molson was our beer of choice (it's tough to exist in a Budweiser world)!

I do have a printed article about King Crimson's "Discipline" that I can send in the future.

[zvinki]

I'd love to hear your "21 shelves" as well. I'm a freak for all things Rush.

And what's with you Americans drinking Canadian beer!? Jnighting likes Labbatt and you drink Molson. Never mind the fact that there are MUCH better Canadian beers (Sleeman comes to mind but be careful how you pronounce it), I also know there are some very good American ones (although most of the microbreweries that I've tried are too hoppy).

[Rick and Roll]

Ice hockey is my favorite spectator sport (but you can have the fighting), I honeymooned in Toronto, and a lot of cool music comes from Canada. Plus out west there's the cool town names like Flin Flon, Medicine Hat, and Moose Jaw.

However, aren't you from the Quebec province? If so, I've never experienced that aspect of Canadian life. It would be cool to meet a French Elk.

Which one is the "Budweiser of Canada", Labatts or Molson? I remember Molson being susceptible to the "skunk effect" quite easily. Moosehead is good too.

But give me a Catamount, Fling Dog, Mackeson Stout, or Calsburg Elephant, and I'm happy.

When did Yuengling go from a crappy PA beer to top of the Microbrews???

If I can remember anything from "21 shelves" I'll do it. But it not soon.:(

[KeithieW]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll

But give me a Catamount, Fling Dog, Mackeson Stout, or Calsburg Elephant, and I'm happy.



Mackeson Stout???? I didn't think that got any further west than Lands End, Cornwall.

Man, you have great taste in beer as well as music. It's practically impossible to get in a pub these days............Tragedy.

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
Mackeson Stout???? I didn't think that got any further west than Lands End, Cornwall.

Man, you have great taste in beer as well as music. It's practically impossible to get in a pub these days............Tragedy.

Mmmmm, Mackeson's not that hard to find over here, surprisingly enough. Of course, I got spoiled in the pubs in Salisbury and London. There's no way I can ever appreciate a US bar after that. Of course, I don't think I ever could before. Mmm, just gimme some Bombadier and a Guinness or two or three.

[KeithieW]

Originally posted by Extended Play

Mmm, just gimme some Bombadier and a Guinness or two or three.

Tommy,

You get over here quick, man and I'll treat you to some of the best beer you'll ever drinK.

Wadworths 6X, Marstons Pedigree, Young's Ordinary and Young's Special.

Christ!!! I'm thirsty now. Gotta crack open a can or three to quench the thirst.

Just managed to catch the Floyd on todays show. Great memories of Floyd at that time. Cheers for that.
:D

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
You get over here quick, man and I'll treat you to some of the best beer you'll ever drinK.

Wadworths 6X, Marstons Pedigree, Young's Ordinary and Young's Special.

Next time I'm over there, it's on. I just wish we could drink at lunch over here. I'm fiending for a beer now.

Tommy

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by DodgerMatt


I'm also thinking of how you run your playlists. Do you have some sort of counter that cycles some of the songs or otherwise keeps track of air frequency? For instance, last month I heard Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" for the first time in about thirty years. Wow. That was an odd throwback. And while it is a repetitive tune, I listened through it...for old time's sake. Then I heard it again two days later. (I think I'd enjoy hearing it again in thirty years.)

Point is: There are (how many?) a LOT of tunes in your archives. Do you have mechanism for cycling a recently played tune to the bottom of the list (unless it is requested, recently released and hence probably more "timely", or a listener/program director favorite)?

the playlist plays through all the songs in the playlist in an essentially random order, but will play every song before repeating, unless 1)a request comes through or 2) one of us (Avian or myself) manually cues up a tune. For technical reasons I have not done so for months. So, if a tune is repeated, you can be pretty sure someone or someones are requesting it.

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll


When did Yuengling go from a crappy PA beer to top of the Microbrews???


this one, and Rolling Rock, crack me up - a microbrew should imply a modicum of quaity, not just a brewery that stayed small because no one wanted to drink their crappy beer!

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
the printed word can lose a lot to translation...

The two lyrics from "Cinderella Man" and "Distant Early Warning" are examples of GREAT lyrics, not hackneyed ones. In fact, 99% of Neil's lyrics ar better than most of anyone else's!


ahh, I understand now. I've also had a lot less to drink than when I made my prior response...

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by progdirjim
this one, and Rolling Rock, crack me up - a microbrew should imply a modicum of quaity, not just a brewery that stayed small because no one wanted to drink their crappy beer!

In the grocery yesterday, I found it extremely funny that there's now a Rolling Rock Light. Huh? It's not light enough already? It makes Budweiser look like a full-bodied lager.

[Rick and Roll]

I knew that would get a response!

1) To drink Young's over here you need to take out a 2nd mortgage!

2) Gotta love the water PA beers - add Iron City and Schaefer to the list.

3) I have a can of Generic Beer and Generic Light. No s***.

Jim - how's the fire situation? It must be pretty bad.

[progdirjim]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
I knew that would get a response!


Jim - how's the fire situation? It must be pretty bad.

Thanks for asking. It is much improved today, from my perspective. While my home was never really in danger, the fire did come within just a few miles of it. I have 5 good friends who were evacuated. One of them, family of 3 plus their dog, stayed with us until just a little while ago when they were allowed to go home. 2 others are not home yet, but I've heard that they've confirmed that their house is still standing. the final two just don't know, and one in particular lived in one of the worst hit areas. Their house has not showed up on the list of destroyed houses yet, although several of their neighbor's houses have. We are still hopeful.

I haven't seen the sun in two days because of the smoke. There is up to a half inch of soot and ashes throughout my yard. My nose has started running from all the crap in the air. But, the fire, while still out of control, has moved away from the most populated areas of San Diego, which is good, and it looks more and more promising that none of my good friends were directly affected.

It's been kind of spooky, and fairly emotional the last two days, but things are starting to feel closer to normal.

[KeithieW]

It must be a nightmare for you all out there.:(

Hope you're friends are OK.

[progdirjim]

I am pleased to say my friends' house survived. If you could see the neighborhood around them, you'd understand just what a miracle that is. We are all very grateful...

[Rick and Roll]

Take the good news as you get it!

[the_original_ib]

Hey,

One thing that might help the original poster's issue would be to limit the number of long songs that can be requested. If someone requests a GYBE tune and it's 10 minutes long they might stick around but if it's 25 minutes long they'll probably find something else to do.

I'm not really proposing this, just throwing it out for people to talk about.

Regards,
Sean

[spedblavio]

Best american beer:

Widmer Hefeweizen

especially on tap, of course, but good in the bottle too.

And you don't have to like hefeweizens, I don't particularly myself, it doesn't taste like a typical hefeweizen at all, just happens to me made with wheat instead of barley.

A very flavorful but well balanced brew, both interesting and quaffable. Kicks butt on any other microbrew I've tasted (so many are too hoppy, and I like hops, or too syrupy sweet, or both).