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In Music Blogs
I still love the '90s
I bought this sweet new radio last month, but haven't used the FM dial much.  
By Andrew Wagner
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author
More articles by Andrew Wagner

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published June 5, 2009 at 9:24 p.m.
Tags: fm radio, kzbc, sacramento, 90s music, green day, pearl jam, nirvana, no doubt, wlum

I honestly can't remember the last time I turned on the radio, at least with the intent of listening to music.

Sure, I'll tune into listen to Drew Olson wax poetic on WAUK-AM's "D-List" and, if I'm up early enough, I'll try to catch a bit of Bob & Brian over on WHQG-FM. And if I'm not at the ballpark, I'm usually tuned into Bob Uecker and Cory Provus when the Brewers are playing. Other than that, it's rare that I mess around trying to find a station that's not in commercial and actually playing music I enjoy.

With my iPod always handy, there's no need. Why sit through five minutes of spots, listen to some DJ that's not even in Milwaukee crack wise about something going on in the news or fake giddiness at the Brewers' latest victory when I can make up my own playlist that suits whatever mood I'm in.

I'd be willing to come around, though, if Milwaukee got a station like the latest to hit the airwaves in Sacramento, Calif.

Entercom Communications, which owns WXSS-FM (103.7), WMYX-FM (99.1) and WSSP-AM (1250) here in the Brew City, recently launched "The Buzz" on KZBC-FM (106.5). After getting tipped off to the new station by a poster on a local radio message board, I logged on and tuned in.

Perfect.

Green Day, Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Arrested Development, early No Doubt, some Run DMC. All in all, an excellent mix of obligatory grunge, classic hip-hop and rap (before it required parental advisory stickers) and a little bit of the then-emerging singer/songwriter styles. And, for good measure, the goofier songs of the era (Flagpole Sitter, Mambo No. 5, that annoying Chumbawumba song ... I even heard Fastball's "The Way") get some spins, too.

It reminds me a lot of "The Point," which broadcast here on 106.9 FM during the late '90s with a touch of old-school "Hot 102/New Rock 102.1.

With Milwaukee's radio offerings overflowing with "Classic Rock," "'80s hits" and other genres that leave little to the imagination, a '90s station would bring an excellent change of pace. Personally, I've never understood why people my age (31, in case you want to know) and especially those younger than me have such an obsession with the 1980s.

From what little I remember of that decade, I spent it watching "Sesame Street" and trying to learn math. Now, the '90s ... well, that's another story. Those were my formative years; I discovered all kinds of things I won't mention here in the hopes that my mother doesn't find out. The music of that decade provided the soundtrack to my transition from childhood to adulthood.

One of my favorite T-shirts says "Milwaukee Radio Sucks." A station like The Buzz would go a long way, at least for me, of changing that attitude.

In the meantime, you can listen live from the station's Web site, or on your iPhone with the App from FlyCast.



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8 comments about this article.
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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by terrabrown on Sept. 25, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. (report)

You really think another corporate station with a 15-song playlist... regardless of the era the songs are from... is really gonna add something to radio in this city? And to the person who says the DJs at 88.9 are boring... you're clearly missing the point of the station. DJs in 2009 are as relevant as 8-Tracks.

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Posted by whynottry on June 8, 2009 at 4:14 p.m. (report)

I have recently become a fan of the new 88.9 - it could almost fill the hole in my heart for Chicago's WXRT 93.1... if only 88.9's DJs weren't so DARN boring! We need our very own Lin's Bin.... MKE style! :)

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Posted by matsfan on June 7, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (report)

How is a station like this any better than the crappy commerical choices we have here in Milwaukee? It focuses on one decade and seems to play only songs that were at least minor hits and got commericial radio play. Just because it focuses on the 90's and not the 80's or another decade doesn't mean it isn't the same old story. Any station with such a narrow focus would be better served as a satellite radio option. Thank God for the IPOD and for WMSE.

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Posted by matsfan on June 7, 2009 at 8:02 a.m. (report)

How is a station like that any better than the crappy commercial choices we have here? It is a playlist focusing on one decade and seems to include only songs that were at least semi popular and got radio play at one time. Just because they focus on the 90's instead of the 80's or another decade doesn't make it any better. However, as you noted; thank God for the IPOD and I'll add WMSE (in particular for the Chicken Shack and the Blues drives.)

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Posted by klwillis45 on June 6, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (report)

I'd say I feel your pain but 90s on 9 on SiriusXM has me covered.

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