Satellite Radio: Not So Bad

A little while back I wrote about satellite radio and how I couldn't understand someone paying for it when there was/is a free equivalent. (Plus, iPod.)

The funny thing is that now I'm in a position where it makes sense, and that position happens to be in San Francisco. Last week I tried finding a radio station in the morning that did not have Wacky DJs talking about Wacky Stuff like Wacky American Idol. And I couldn't find one! Every so-called music station was playing inane talk, and at some point I guess a song... I gave up long before that happened.

Enter Sirius. Turned it on and, poof, songs. It's pretty nice to have such a diverse choice (which I'll get to in a moment.) It's good quality, the DJs don't get in the way of the music, and of course no commercials. The downside is that while the playlists are diverse (I've heard old R.E.M. chestnuts that I'm pretty sure I've never heard on FM radio), they're sometimes repetitive. At one point last week both the 90s channel and the pop channel were playing the same Nirvana song. And somehow, all the stations I receive that deal with the 90s think Green Day is the epitome of the decade. Lots of Green Day. Lots and lots and lots.

But on balance it's surprisingly good. I'd have a hard time paying for it admittedly, but when offered as part of a rental car... it's definitely worth it.