WTSC 91.1 The North Country’s only source of Alternative music…

The grayness of winter in Potsdam was soul sucking. For weeks on end the sun had not penetrated through the woolly clouds. Every morning the snow would materialize, and settle on the surfaces of everything, leaving behind a fine coating of dust. It was never enough to plow, or even consider as a snowfall, but it kept the sidewalks, and roads in a state of perpetual slush. We tramped back and forth from the dorms to class in our boots, slipping, and squishing through the gray muck, tracking salt into the building until the hallways were crunchy. By mid February I was ready to slit my wrists.

I was living like a hermit, holed up in my room, only taking breaks from my studying to eat, or nap. Music was my only escape. I spent every waking moment in my room, listening to tapes and CD’s. Once a week I trudged through the snow to the campus radio station, where I worked an 11 – 2am shift as a D.J. Sitting in the basement studio I’d flip through the stacks of vinyl in the archives, or the new releases in the red file, and spend 3 magical hours exploring the wondrous world of mid-80’s alternative music.

I had no girlfriend. I had no beer money. I had very little to break the monotony of my ascetic life. If I hadn’t have had music I’d have most likely walked out onto the frozen river, and chopped a hole in the ice to drown myself.

So it comes as no surprise, that when winter in Minnesota turns into a Bataan Death March to spring, I turn to music to sooth my aching soul. For the past few months I have been scraping up my spare change, and spending the occasional lunch hour flipping through the used CD bins at a nearby head shop. Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis, maybe it’s a 2nd adolescence, but whatever the reason I feel a burning desire to listen to 80’s post punk music.

So today I give you a virtual mix tape of tunes to get you through the day. Put the headphones on, and turn the volume up to eleven.

It’s time to rawk!

fIREHOSE – Relatin Dudes to Jazz

Lime Spiders – Slave Girl

Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot

Big Dipper – Faith Healer

The Connells – Scotty’s Lament

Superchunk – Hyper Enough

The Feelies – Away

Guadalcanal Diary – Watusi Rodeo

Hoodoo Guru’s – Tojo

Throwing Muses – Counting Backwards

REM – So. Central Rain

The Jam – That’s Entertainment

The Smiths – The Queen is Dead

Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-a-boo

Echo & The Bunnymen – Killing Moon

The Joy Division – Love will tear us apart

House of Love – Christine