SUMMERTIME ROLLS

Summer is here and the time is right for NEW WAVE SUMMER.  We are about 12 hours away from launching New Wave Summer on KJRW as we sit here typing this.  By the time you read this, it may have already begun.  You will hear Joy Division, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Tears for Fears, and many other New Wave bands all summer long on KJRW.  

New wave is a genre of rock music popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s with ties to mid-1970s punk rock. New wave moved away from blues and rock and roll sounds to create rock music (early new wave) or pop music (later) that incorporated disco, mod, and electronic music.  - Wikipedia

Taking its name from the French New Wave cinema of the late 1950s, this catchall classification was defined in opposition to punk (which was generally more raw, rough edged, and political) and to mainstream “corporate” rock (which many new wave upstarts considered complacent and creatively stagnant). - Britannica

During the late '70s and early '80s, New Wave was a catch-all term for the music that directly followed punk rock; often, the term encompassed punk itself, as well. - AllMusic

No matter your definition, get ready for a fun summer with KJRW.

Listening time is up 20% in June.  That places us at 75% of our goal to stay online at the end of October.  Thanks for listening to KJRW!

WHAT'S GOING ON (In the Middle of August)

Over 1500 people listened to KJRW the first half of August.  Most of that was during the first week.  Just 3 weeks left of the LAST New Wave Summer ever.  Catch it while you can.

All Request Fall begins after Labor Day Weekend.  There are several ways you can request a song  during the month of September:  email kjrwwestseattle@yahoo.com, tweet it to @KJRWwestseattle, comment on this blog post, or send a message on our Facebook page.

WHAT'S GOING ON (at the End of July)

It's the last Monday of the month. That means KJRW provides the music round of the Shadowland Pub Quiz! Come Out and Play at the corner of California and Oregon in West Seattle at 8 p.m. Celebrate the last month of New Wave Summer by naming that New Wave tune in the audio round.

Yep, there's just one month left of New Wave Summer.  Get the T-shirt before it leaves the KJRW Corner Store.

And there are only two months left in our contract with Radionomy.  We're going to need a huge increase in listening to stay online past September.  So listen early and often! 

Folks in the U.S., Germany, Canada, France, Spain, Poland, U.A.E., China, Italy, U.K., Greece, and Israel spent the most time with the station during the past month.

If everyone that checked out the station during the month of July had stuck around for at least an hour, KJRW's listening time would be at 100%.

Would you do that?  Spend just one hour a day with KJRW? 

WHAT'S GOING ON (in the middle of May)

We are on track to reach our goal of 2 thousand listening hours this month. Listening time is highest in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Mexico, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, France, Brazil and Germany. Inside the U.S., folks spend the most time with KJRW in Seattle, Detroit, Orlando, Denver, Charlotte, Chicago, Greensboro, San Francisco, Boston and Cleveland.

You don't have much longer to get in on the Grand Giveaway. Be sure to email kjrwwestseattle@yahoo.com to enter right away. Please include your name and the city in which you live.

Pull up those parachute pants, straighten that skinny tie and wind your Swatch watch because it is almost time for New Wave Summer. We're getting ready by uploading plenty of Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Missing Persons and more.

Stop by the KJRW Corner Store for shirts, stickers, key chains and hats.

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for more frequent station updates.

Thanks for listening to West Seattle's Only Alternative - KJRW.

KJRW ROCKS COLLEGE THIS FALL

80's Alternative Rock was once known as College Rock.  It was underground, played only on student-run radio stations in the United States and Canada.  College Rock was a combination of Post-Punk and New Wave music.  

And now that New Wave Summer has ended, it's time for KJRW to go to college.  Soon you will hear from R.E.M, The Cure, The Replacements, The Smithereens, They Might Be Giants and much, much more on KJRW...

RIDE THE WAVE

re-posting this for the last week of NEW WAVE SUMMER:

When the first wave of Punk Rock receded, Post-Punk and New Wave music rose in its wake.  New Wave was one of the definitive music genres of the 1980's, gaining popularity through videos aired on MTV.  In turn, New Wave led to the development of College Rock and Grunge of the late 1980's/early 1990's.  You could say that New Wave is the bridge from Punk to Grunge.  We cross that bridge on KJRW.  We are at midspan of New Wave Summer.  Please continue to enjoy songs from the Cure, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Blondie, the Smiths and more.  Get the commemorative T-shirt at the KJRW Corner Store.

TOP TEN

There are a few changes to the list this week, but the Happy Song remains at the top spot on KJRW:

1. The Happy Song - Poets of the Fall
2. Whip It - Devo
3. What You Say - Sugarcult
4. Minor Threat - Minor Threat
5. Miss World - Hole
6. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
7. Neat Neat Neat - Damned
8. Kiss Them for Me - Siouxsie and the Banshees
9. One Thing - INXS
10. Potential Suicide - Wipers

KJRW favorites from Soundgarden, White Stripes, Iggy and more just added back into the mix.

RIDE THE WAVE

re-posting this for the last week of NEW WAVE SUMMER:

When the first wave of Punk Rock receded, Post-Punk and New Wave music rose in its wake.  New Wave was one of the definitive music genres of the 1980's, gaining popularity through videos aired on MTV.  In turn, New Wave led to the development of College Rock and Grunge of the late 1980's/early 1990's.  You could say that New Wave is the bridge from Punk to Grunge.  We cross that bridge on KJRW.  We are at midspan of New Wave Summer.  Please continue to enjoy songs from the Cure, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Blondie, the Smiths and more.  Get the commemorative T-shirt at the KJRW Corner Store.

New Wave Summer T-shirt

JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES

In honor of the Oscars (didn't they used to call it the Academy Awards?), Forbes recently made a list of Ten Great Movie Soundtracks:

1. Judgment Night (full of strange collaborations like Helmet + House of Pain)
2. Spawn (more strange collaborations)
3. Singles (we love that Seattle sound)
4. SLC Punk (sounds a lot like KJRW)
5. Saturday Night Fever (made Disco mainstream)
6. Pretty in Pink (the best New Wave)
7. Dazed and Confused (great Classic Rock)
8. Purple Rain (Prince's masterpiece)
9. High Fidelity (obscure good stuff)
10. Trainspotting (two soundtracks of Alternative Rock)

Honorable mentions went to:  Grosse Point Blank, American Graffiti, A Hard Day's Night, Lost Highway, Pulp Fiction, Romeo + Juliet, Kids, The Virgin Suicides, 8 Mile, Quadrophenia, The Crow and Batman Forever.

We think these should be on the list:  Tank Girl, Pump Up the Volume, Apollo 13, Light of Day and The Big Chill.

Any more great movie soundtracks we missed?

KJRW TOP TEN

Suprisingly, "Too Shy" remains at the top the first week of September.  The only New Wave Summer song on the list.  That makes room for classics from the likes of the Clash and Ramones.  The Hives (from Sweden) drop down one place.

1. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
2. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
3. B Is for Brutus - Hives
4. Waiting Room - Fugazi
5. Andres - L7
6. Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
7. Dancing with Myself - Generation X
8. I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
9. London Calling - Clash
10. New Radio - Bikini Kill

COLD WIND IN AUGUST

KJRW did set some records in August, but nothing to brag about.  People spent the least time listening to the station since it launched at the end of 2010.  The play button was pressed the fewest amount of times.  Some still listened to KJRW in:

• U.S.
• Israel
• Italy
• Canada
• Germany
• Mexico
• South Africa
• Australia
• Brazil
• Portugal

Inside the U.S., these places were tops in listening:

• Seattle, WA
• Raleigh-Durham, NC
• San Antonio, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• Manchester, NH
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Cleveland, OH
• Detroit, MI
• Phoenix, AZ
• Norfolk, VA

Maybe KJRW fans were on vacation.  It seems as if the audience has been coming back over the past week.  Let's hope it's better in September.  New Wave Summer ends soon.  Preparations have begun for the Top 112 of 2012 countdown.

KJRW TOP TEN

Two freshly added New Wave Summer songs make it into the KJRW Top Ten this week.  The two songs kicked out were the subject of last week's trivia question.  The cool thing about Bikini Kill and Beastie Boys being next to each other in the previous list is that Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Ad Rock of Beastie Boys have been together since 1997.

1. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
2. B Is For Brutus - Hives
3. Waiting Room - Fugazi
4. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
5. Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
6. Shout - Tears for Fears
7. Destination Unknown - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
8. Sugar Kane - Sonic Youth
9. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Go's
10. Lips Like Sugar - Echo and the Bunnymen

Trivia Question:  What country are the Hives from?

Listen to KJRW for new songs from Green Day and Jane's Addiction!

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

How do songs make it into the Top Ten on KJRW?  Listeners click the "thumbs up" icon while the songs are playing.  The songs are then rated on a scale of 1 to 10.  The tracks closest to a perfect 10 make it to the top.  Here is the list for mid-August:

1. B Is for Brutus - Hives
2. Can't Stand Losing You - Police
3. Fight for Your Right - Beastie Boys
4. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
5. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
6. New Radio - Bikini Kill
7. Fascination Street - Cure
8. Infected - Bad Religion
9. Talking In Your Sleep - Romantics
10. Never Say Never - Romeo Void

Songs just added to the mix from Blondie, Devo, Joy Division and more!  Check here next week to see if they make it into the Top Ten.

CATCH THE WAVE

There are just a few weeks left of New Wave Summer on KJRW.  Show that you have been there, listened and got the T-shirt.

Pick one up at the KJRW Corner Store
http://www.cafepress.com/kjrwwestseattle.676446879
 before they wave goodbye.

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

The cops are still the tops.  Here are the top ten songs on KJRW this week:

1. Can't Stand Losing You - Police
2. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
3. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
4. Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
5. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
6. New Radio - Bikini Kill
7. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
8. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
9. Destination Unknown - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
10. Sugar Kane - Sonic Youth

New Wave Summer songs by New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Missing Persons and more just added!

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

It's the first top ten list of August!  Recently added New Wave songs sneak into the bottom.  Here are the tracks getting the "thumbs up" on KJRW this week:

1. Can't Stand Losing You - Police
2. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
3. Fight for Your Right - Beastie Boys
4. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
5. New Radio - Bikini Kill
6. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
7. Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
8. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
9. How Soon Is Now - Smiths
10. It's My Life - Talk Talk

More New Wave Summer songs coming soon...

JULY - NO, I'M TELLING THE TRUTH

Since that celebration of nationalism, the Olmpics is going on, let's start with a list of countries that listened the most to KJRW in July:

1. U.S.A.
2. Italy
3. Philippines
4. Germany
5. Canada
6. Mexico
7. Japan
8. Australia
9. U.K.
10. Sweden

The top ten cities in the U.S.A. that listened to KJRW in July:

1. Raleigh-Durham, NC
2. Manchester, NH
3. Seattle, WA
4. Eugene, OR
5. Los Angeles, CA
6. Cleveland, OH
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. Nashville, TN
9. Montgomery, AL
10. Denver, CO

KJRW set some records in July.  On the 24th, we achieved the highest rank yet among the hundreds of rock stations on Live365.  We reached the highest rank ever in all the thousands of stations on Live 365 on the 14th.  The average time people spend listening to KJRW was also the most it has ever been during July.

Let's keep this momentum going.  Listen now:  http://www.live365.com/stations/member_10222739915?play=1

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

Big turnaround for the song, "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs.  It had been receiving the "thumbs down", and I was getting ready to remove it from play, but now it's number one!  Here is this week's top ten songs on KJRW:

1. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
2. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
3. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
4. Get Over You - Undertones
5. Rock Lobster - B-52's
6. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
7. Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
8. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
9. Surrender - Cheap Trick
10. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls

 More New Wave Summer songs from Devo, Madness and more next week!

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

Ooh, it's the super scary Friday the Thirteenth list!  "Bleed Together" shoots back up to number 2.  Here are the songs getting the "thumbs up" on KJRW as we approach mid-July:

1. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
2. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
3. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
4. Radio - New Hell Republic
5. Rock Lobster - B-52's
6. Surrender - Cheap Trick
7. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
8. Rock the Casbah - Clash
9. Save It for Later - English Beat
10. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger

More New Wave Summer songs soon from Modern English, Echo and the Bunnymen and more!

KJRW TOP TEN

Same list, different order.  Here are the songs getting the 'thumbs up' on KJRW the first week of July:

1. Girl U Want - Devo
2. Unite - Mancie
3. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
4. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
5. Rock the Casbah - Clash
6. Rock Lobster - B-52's
7. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
8. Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel
9. Radio - New Hell Republic
10. Surrender - Cheap Trick

New Wave Summer continues with additions from ABC, Psychedelic Furs, Thomas Dolby and more!