Arrow Through My Heart

For the most part, I cannot stand to listen to the popular rubbish played on mainstream radio stations. The new alternative rock one finds on KROQ is too acerbic and loud for my tastes---I much preferred the alternative rock of the early 90s. I certainly do not enjoy 'Pop,' the very name of which is just a saccharine abbreviation of the word popular. What sort of music category is that?
Much of the fault likely lies with the over-produced nature of recent music. Almost everything one hears is filtered and leveled and corrected to sound just right. Techno is supposed to sound electronic but rock is not. I want to hear electric guitar not electronic guitar. I want to know that the musician can really play or that he can make mistakes. I want to hear the singer's voice. I certainly do not care how beautiful the musicians are. Actually, I think I prefer ugly, depressed musicians---great art comes from great pain.
So, other than some NPR and KSPC, I have predominantly listened to Arrow 93.1 and KLOS 95.5, both classic rock stations. Arrow was always my preferred station because it usually played more mellow rock while KLOS featured more metal and hard rock. I was content, at peace, with preset number one on my car radio.
This all changed two weeks ago. Arrow became Jack FM. The station's new catchphrase is "Playing what we want!" This mission translates to a four decade spread of classics and hits, most of which I would label as pop crap. They still sometimes play some Supertramp, Beatles, and Zeppelin but the equal prevalence of Marcy Playground, the Go-Gos, and Bon Jovi makes the station unbearable. I left the station on my presets for around 10 days before it was usurped by something more reasonable.
KLOS has responded with new advertising and promotion centered on its unique role as a classic rock station in Los Angeles. Sad times indeed.
*UPDATE* I finally realized what was throwing me off about Jack FM---they have no DJs. The station is no different than listening to your uncle's iPod Shuffle. You know the uncle I'm talking about---unmarried, still trying to be cool and hip, listens to four decades of shitty music.