Piece Comment

Review of NPR's All Songs Considered: From The White Stripes to Elliot Smith


This is a half-hour of music with a bit of commentary thrown in. I would much rather have the ratio be the other way around. There are so many places to hear new music these days, that I look to NPR to help me learn about music, musicians and bands. I heard one track from the Battles. I didn't know who they were before this show, and I still don't know anything about them.

This show is also weak on formatics. It needs more resets and to better tell listeners who the hosts are, what we're listening to and why. People don't listen to radio programs continuously from start to finish - and even for the few that might, this program doesn't give listeners enough information to stay engaged.

Host Bob Boilen needs to slow down while reading his script and be more conversational.

These shows need some radio 101 work before they are ready for broadcast.