WBOS 92.9 FM

Finally a radio station that is half way decent. They get it that we ALL hate commercials and they keep them down to a minimum. They even say «more music and less blah, blah, blah.»
Their playlist is decent, they don’t overplay songs to death like WBRU and they have a wider variety of music played over other channels. Like I’ve said before, commercialized radio stations nation wide are all pretty bad but this is one of the few I can tolerate.

OK, this station is enraging. In as much as I like G ‘n R, I don’t need to hear Sweet Child or Jungle every single morning at 8:10am. Jesus, could you play more than 6 fucking artists. What the hell happened here? Radio has definitely gone down the shitter. Probably because I can’t envision any scenario where I would purchase a product or service advertised over the radio. Who would and why would anyone advertise on radio? It’s worse than email spam. Also, die, 800-​karz4kids. Just die.

I thought I’d actually be the only one on here trashing this pathetic excuse for a radio station. Apparently not. My biggest complaint seems to be mentioned quite often: you hear the same 30 songs all day long, every day, ²⁴⁄₇. I have actually driven to work in the morning, worked all day and then got in my car in the evening to go home and the same song is playing. WTF? Worse radio station in the Boston area.

I can only get about 3 stations in my concrete-​walled apartment on my tiny Coby radio, and this is the only one that isn’t talk-​focused so I put it on.
I get the focus of the station, I really do. I’m probably even their target demo (white, late 20s «child of the mid-​90s» alternative fan). But, come on. Chuckie T nailed it: it’s like listening to a 30 song iPod.
I listen to the radio in the shower and in the last two weeks I’ve heard The Proclaimers «I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)» no less than 7 times. I don’t think I’ve heard this song more than 7 times in the last decade before this!
In any given hour you’ll hear at least 1 Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Green Day song. And there are only 3 or so songs from each of these bands (i.e. you better like hearing Under the Bridge). You’ll also likely hear Lightning Crashes by Live and Good by Better than Ezra in the same hour.
It’s not even an exaggeration. In the 25 minutes or so I had the station on today I got Green Day, RHCP, and Nirvana back-​to-​back.
This is garbage radio. Clearly someone doesn’t care and just has the same songs looping.

This is all I listen to now.
I hate commercials, they don’t got that. I love good music all the time. The variety is amazing! I love 90s music and honestly can’t deal with a lot of the «popular» genre anymore because it’s just not my style. I know when I turn on 92.9 I will hear my favorite artists and not be dissappointed. Big Thumbs up!

This station has the best mix of songs, mostly, with the occassional looser tune negative vibe. I’m a fan with my finger on the change-​channel button.

Locally owned, minimal commercials, no morning or afternoon show with the annoying prank calls, and you play songs that I really like and forgot existed.
You would have gotten a perfect score if you didn’t play Sublime or Everclear at least once every time I listen (they’re good and all, but better when used sparingly).

Three stars for your mix of music, which is about 80% on the ball.
*BONUS* star for not having a morning show, and being a wonderful companion during my commute! Pulling into work rocking out to Jane’s Addiction? Yes pleeease.
I admittedly miss your late-​night acoustic-​y stuff, but we can still be buddies!

At one time was the best radio station in the city.
Sadly, times have changed. What was once a progressive radio station that played the best artists FIRST, we are now subjected to the same 90s nonsense as many other stations.
The city’s best free concert, Earthfest, had a joke line up this year.
Way to blow it guys.

I have no idea what this radio station is about, or what kind of music they play. No idea at all.
Earthfest is ridiculous, however! It’s this huge party on the Esplanade purportedly aimed at bringing people together with the magical medium of musical mayhem to promote awareness of sustainability and greenness. In other words, bring in tons of excited, freebie-​loving college students (like me) to exuberantly trash the Boston side of the Charles. Stomp the trees and grass, throw plastic in the river, feed the ducks packing peanuts, put soda can rings on their offsprings’ necks, oh who knows what else.
Cake was a hoot, though, despite lead singer’s efforts to constantly get the crowd to sing with him.

I hate this station. Admittedly, my strong opinion may be influenced by my deep sadness over the loss of 92.9 WBOS. I loved that station; they actually played quality music that was not in the cheesey ‘adult contemporary’ genre. I discovered lots of great singer-​songwriters through their station like Brandi Carlile, Chantal Kreviazuk, etc. I used to love their Sunday Over-​Easy acoustic show, and they had a similar After-​Dark program at night where they would play tunes and discuss them intelligently with a local music critic. They also promoted Paula Cole’s back-​to-​the-​spotlight concert, and continued to play Sheryl Crow’s recent albums even though they didn’t garner much attention from Top 40 stations. Can you tell I like female singer-​songwriters, by the way?
Anyhow, back to its current programming: I call this station «Nineties– two nine,» since they play all 90s alternative rock. It was nostalgic at first, and I enjoyed singing along to some of the older tunes [while simultaneously feeling horrified that I’m so old that the decade of music I grew up listening to now needs its own station.] But they seem to only repeat the hits of the 90s, and really, I ask you this: how much Offspring can one person take?
The pre-​recorded female radio announcer sounds smug and self-​righteous. I want to reach into the radio and slap her face. She recorded really stupid one liners to introduce the commercials like, «Raise your hand if you want to hear more music in just sixty seconds.» Asinine! or, «We play great music, and our advertisers pay our electric bill. Good deal!» or some sh*t to that effect. It makes me want to die.
So, in conclusion: Hate it. RIP WBOS, and to the awesome artists they used to book at Earthfest. This year it’s Cake, Cracker, English Beat, and The Bo-​Deans. And if they do the free Copley concerts this summer like WBOS used to, I’m sure it’ll be more washed-​up 90s acts. Ugh.

The ONLY reason why I docked WBOS a star is because they seem to have changed things up a bit by adding too much Jack Johnson and too little 90’s alternative. I know, I know, no one is really into 90’s alternative as much as I am, but the run that they had last year of 3EB, Matchbox 20, U2, etc. was wonderful. They’ll still throw some in here and there, but they’ve changed their format a touch.
Everything everyone else has mentioned is right — they don’t overplay songs, which is a blessing in a time of «Bleeding Love» and «Love Song» which I have heard on three stations all at once at one point. Awful. Also, their «one minute advertising» is great. I’m always surprised that WBOS isn’t a more popular station, as their ratings are consistently lower than most other stations in Boston. Too bad!

WBOS is like WXRV (92.5, right next door) on lithium. The music has the same basic personality, but without the bipolar mood swings. It seems to be the nature of their format that you’ll hear lots of the same stuff (this week it’s Snow Patrol & David Gray) and while it’s good for commuting, it’s impossible to listen to it all day at work if you have a job where you can pay attention to the background music. At least with mood swings you have some really good days, but south shore people won’t have a choice because of the two station’s different coverage.

I love this station. There is variety, and I usually love everything that they play. I’ve discovered a lot of new favorites by listening to WBOS, and they run Earthfest which is pretty much one of my favorite events of the year, so that definitely cements the five star rating!

Look it’s 10:00! Time to play something from The Cars first album.
I’m not knocking The Cars (I think I would grow to hate any songs I had to hear at the same time on every single workday).
I’m not nearly as upset with the DJs for playing the same songs over and over again and shilling for laser hair removal centers as I am with Alan for making me listen to them play the same songs over and over again and shill for laser hair removal centers.

At first, I really liked WBOS… but after having it on in my office for a week was more than I could stand. They have staple songs that they seem to have to play at least once during *every* work day, and they were always accompanied with the same commentary from the DJs. By the end of the one week, I could called it all word-​for-​word.
Can’t comment on the non-​office-​hours stuff, but I doubt I’ll ever turn in for it.

LOVE WBOS!
I’m definitely going to Earthfest on May 26^th at the Hatchshell! Seeing Guster and the John Butler Trio for FREE?!? LOVE it!
Guster is ALWAYS a great show, just saw them last month at the Opera House, and they played an amazing show and were hilarious.
But anyway, WBOS is one of my favs, always playing new music. Rarely play a song to death like some of the other Boston-​based stations. There’s always a nice variety, which the other stations aren’t too keen on either.

WBOS is my favorite radio station in Boston. Sure, I don’t love every song they play, and maybe it’s become more mainstream over the past few years. But the fact that they play a diverse music collection, and not the same Rihanna song 30 times a day, is a huge check in the plus column.
Putting my taste in music aside, there are 2 major reasons why WBOS is amazing: the free summer concert series and Earthfest. I’ve been able to see some of my favorite artists/​bands up-​close at Copley Sq and the Esplanade for free, which obviously is a big factor in attracting crowds. The Copley series is a great way to get a quick introduction to new artists, while Earthfest is draws more popular acts and is sort of an organic outdoor trade show.
In conclusion, I heart WBOS.

Love WBOS’s Over Easy After Dark and Sunday Morning shows — a great mix of funky, old, new, live and different. Ditto on listening online! And they scroll song title and artist as it’s playing so you know what you are listening to. 5 Stars for George Knight.
UPDATE:
Starting 2÷1÷08 WBOS has changed its format to AAA, an alternative format «projected to reach a younger, more dynamic male-​skewing audience in their 20’s and 30’s. The reach of the station’s previous AAA format skewed towards females in their 30’s and 40’s.» (according to Wikipedia) Because Unilocal requires a star for a review, I have given the new format one star but I would prefer to give it NO stars. They are obviously right about skewing away from women (age regardless) as I absolutely HATE the new format and have deleted 92.9 from all of my stereo memory buttons (car, home, alarm clock). What a bummer, I now have to find a new station.

In addition to free summer concerts — they also run Earthfest every year — I believe that’s the huge Festival on the Esplanade. Best way to break out of the winter blues and into some springtime rock.