Knee-Jerk Snap Judgment: KXT

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Nov. 9 2009 at 8:00 AM

Categories: Media, Music

OK, so KERA's musical youth been on the air for, what, 60 minutes? First song played: Santana's "She's Not There" (probably a little too classic-rock for a new-station kick-off, you ask me), followed by Monsters of Folk, Ingrid Michaelson, Telegraph Canyon and ... well, look, the playlist is here, so there. (Hey! Rhett Miller!) The missus listened for a few minutes before laughing: "It's so ... NPR, like a Saturday Night Live sketch. Little bit." Pete wonders in this week's paper what it all means; hard to say 15 songs into its existence. But ponderin' is fun. So too is Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa," better than a cup of coffee before 8 a.m.

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This is the perfect station for my eclectic taste buds! Next best thing to moving Austin's KGSR to our "pitiful radio town!" Makes one think the of good old days of KERA when Chris Douridas was around.
KERA was like this over 20 years ago, until Abby Goldstein and Jeff Luchsinger ruined it by turning it into the indigo girls' jewish lesbian of color talk-therapy torture station.
Too bad there used to be a station like this in Dallas over 20 years ago called KERA 90.1. They used to play tons of great local and international music, that is until Abby Goldstein and Jeff Luchsinger turned it into the 24-hour indigo girls jewish lesbian of color talk-therapy torture station.
The Big Guy identifies radio stations with certain times, like the background music to the movie that is The Big Guy's life KFRC, KSJO, KZEW, KGSR, WWOZ, KKJZ, even The Little Ticket The Big Guy got a little choked up (seriously!) when The Big Guy got in the car this afternoon and locked into KXT. It just seems to make Dallas so much more....civilized...and it gave The Big Guy hope
Yes, the Current. Welcome to real radio Dallas. I am so excited.
I missed this morning's broadcast, but I remember Gini on the Ticket way back and she was very down to earth and likeable. Very psyched there's finally a good music station around these parts and hope people support it!
While I'm not ready to give up on my old favorites streaming online just yet (WFUV in NYC, WFMU in New Jersey, WXPN in Philly and, yes, KCRW in LA), KXT-FM gave me a pretty decent first day on the air. The on-air folks will find their way, and it's just incredibly refreshing to have a good radio station on the air in Dallas, one of the worst radio towns I've ever encountered (with notable exceptions for KNTU in Denton and KNON in Dallas). Yeah, I'm encouraged.
World Cafe is A-OK, except when David Dye plays Tori Amos and Sarah McLaughlin ad nauseum, which is too often. Another comment. Ditch NPR news and keep it on 90.1 FM.
Think we can set up some kind of moratorium on auto-tune vocals?
I spent 20 years listening to WXPN in Philadelphia and it was the best non news station in the city. KXT is already the best in Dallas, it even has the World Cafe. You might quibble with some music choices or announcers but they have done their homework. Good job...I'll be a supporter.
My biggest complaint was that they were, I think, 30 seconds late in starting. If I have to swallow a little McCartney to hear Telegraph Canyon, Rhett, etc., I can deal. I see Jeff Tweedy's picture on the website, but haven't yet heard his voice. Does that count as a complaint?
So far so good! Finally, a DFW FM station worth listening to. Support KXT!
It so beats any other local music station. Can you believe it, there is actual variety in what is played. SOrry to say I missed the very begining due to being a kinda P1; but after Gordo finishes his morning rant it's KXT for me.
Bingo, Wilonsky. You are spot on about the announcing. More context, less listing. Work on the on-air "smiling."
Indeed, best music I've heard on the radio for many moons, and that's just one morning. way to go
Trust me...Gini Mascorro is no one-trick pony so she'll keep up the pace and continue to gain speed ongoing. That said, I hope everyone...pro and con...sees that this is a daunting thing to launch a new station, especially when your gig is the opening act knowing musical tastes are always a battle cry of opinionated side-taking. I'd have anxiety attacks that would make outtakes from Grey's Anatomy look like an ifo-mercial for sedatives. Meanwhile, Gini glows in the dark so there will be sparkle plenty. Cannot wait to hear Joe Kozera's afternoon tag-team follow-up. Let's all blow this crew a big ole Dallas kiss. We all need options and unpredictable musical airways.
People will be quick to question and criticize, save for what they don't appreciate or care for. Perhaps a little lattitude for this, the maiden voyage?
I agree with Chris & Dave. They've already played more local music, ON A WEEKDAY DURING THE DAY, than any one else around here - big points for that! And - they're a new station that isn't playing the crap that 93.3 plays. Two thumbs up! Give them time to evolve people. I think they're off to a great start - let's see where it goes...
Pete'll have his day-end wrap-review on DC9 at Night. Till then, a few question: When did "Music to the Core" become its motto? And why? And is it me, or does this feel a bit too ... I dunno ... classic-rocky? And a suggestion: Gini would be better served by explaining why she's playing a song -- maybe provide some backstory, not just a list of what she played. Right now, she's just announcing records. Not an ounce of passion in that delivery. I love the Stranglers -- but does <em>she</em>?
CoB, I have major respect for KNON, but just don't spend much time on 89.3 because of the jarring format changes every few hours and haphazard on-air presentation. It can be a difficult listen.
KNON plays music? I thought they just broadcast announcers who like to hear themselves talk for 10 minutes b/w each song.
This is a new radio station that isn't playing Lady Gaga, Rascal Flatts, Rihanna, Three Doors Down, Boston or the Steve Miller Band. Isn't that enough? This is a win.
"KXT has already played more local music in their first three hours than all other Dallas stations play all year " Sorry you never listen to KNON, 89.3FM. KNON has been playing local artists for over 26 years. Many major artists had their radio debuts on KNON. Just pick a format you like and tune in at that time.
Yeck. KCRW is souless smarmy, and it makes me wanna vomit. Aspire to KCMP (The Current), please.
The music has been pretty good. The DJ on the other hand is struggling and very SNL skittish. It's like listening to my mom talk about Telegraph Canyon, Rhett Miller or even worse The Black Joe Lewis. Strange on that end! I'll give them a B+ on music so far and a high F for DJ talk:)
Reasonable aspiration: the soul of WWOZ in New Orleans, the range of KNDD in Seattle, and the aesthetic of the NPR affiliate KCRW in Los Angeles. So far, so good... we're blessed here, you know?
The playlist is about as I expected based on other public radio stations using the AAA format. That's a good thing. I would expect this evening's drive time to sound a little younger, with newer music and sharper elbows. Re: announcing. Overall, fine. But remember, you're playing music, not forward announcing which policy wonk will be on Diane Rehm's show. Loosen up on the non-emotive announcing and sound like yourself. On back announcing songs, role through them a little faster. Drop the "before that," "and we heard," etc. More forward announcing of music. In some cases, don't back announce at all. We can look it up on your Web site. I do very much like the local music. Keep it and good luck on a successful launch. Sounds great.
reminds me of WKRP in Cincinnati.
KXT has already played more local music in their first three hours than all other Dallas stations play all year ... ok, slight exaggeration really but not by much... so, epic win as far as I'm concerned.
Love it. I certainly want to see this kind of interaction carried over to kxt.org and....on the radio! I'd love to see KXT create a Dallas version of 'peer to peer' radio, with local guest djs and interaction methods, such as discussing/acknowledging forum/twitter activity. NPR.org did something similar, with the help of Leapfrog. Find ways to make radio and interactive completely integrated so that it's not your usual radio-anonymity.
It is Lilith Fair meets Woodstock meets Winstar Casino.
Also thought Santana was a strange choice for first song but the playlist has been varied enough to keep my attention most of the morning. Was hoping there would be a little more KGSR vibe but it's only two hours old - I can wait and listen. Already think it's better than what currently represents Dallas music radio.
dammit, now that you made the SNL reference I can't help picturing the DJ as maybe Ana Gasteyer or Kristen Wiig. also, reminds me of the only episode I watched of Mike Judge's Goode Family where the liberals group together to raise funds for an NPR station in town.
Pixies! Yay for Pixies!
Long way to go to match my favorite streaming radio, http://www.prairiepublic.org/radio/roots-rock-and-jazz/ I think the best thing about NDPR's dj Mike Olson is that he will play three versions of the same song. Its very interesting to hear how different musicians approach the same song. I can't recall any other radio stations doing that.