R2OK!

Blighty · Guest

Am I the only one who finds Absolute Radio a disappointment? I miss the old Virgin Radio service.

I think Absolute offers a very poor service; the quality of the playlists has deteriorated and I am not keen on the schedule changes.

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

Blighty · Guest

I have given up on Absolute (and I am not quite sure how well its audience figures are). Quite a few people in my workplace feel the same as I do about Absolute. The launch of the station last October was hyped up.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I've never listened so can't comment. I'm not a fan of commercial radio in general apart from listening to someone I know on one of them.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Rachel · Guest

First time I've heard of it.

Is there really other Radio Stations powerfull enough to get you to tune away from Radio 2? Gosh!

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

No.

To paraphrase colby's earlier comment, outside of what remains of any local input, they're all bland, like the "standardised, homogenised, pasteurised" milk now sold in plastic bottles. The local input, usually breakfast and teatime, commonly consists of a very unfunny double-act trying to out-shout one another, playing the odd chart track in between all that and the commercials.

I might be tempted by Classic FM if it wasn't for the intrusive advertising.

Not even in my confirmed-old-bachelor twenties did I want to listen to wall-to-wall Judas Priest/Metallica/Lynyrd Skynyrd, but if anyone does, and they want to join Rick Wakeman & co behind the bike sheds, there is always Planet Rock.
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Ron

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

aviddiva

I don't mind Geoff Lloyd's Hometime programme, though I can live without the constant airing of Lily Allen's 'The Fear'!
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'

aviddiva

Absolute Radio sponsored ITV2's coverage of the Isle Of Wight festival this year.

A pity they had the useless Fearne Cotton and Rufus Hound presenting. The constant ad breaks were also frustrating in mid-song, like they were going to announce that the Queen had home made apple pie for tea or that Axl Rose's cat had been stolen!
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'

aviddiva

I am also sick of that Post Office ad where Ken (also the landlord in Early Doors) speaks to Chesney Hawkes on here. I waited for Bill Bailey's interview and the same bloody ad was aired about 6 times.
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I have not been impressed by what I've heard of Absolute. It is hardly a Rock station now.
I think radio 2 is top quality. I tune into Magic for a change. Sometimes I tune into local station Jackie

aviddiva

I'm not impressed with the way they kept going on about the coverage of Michael Jackson's funeral.

I felt they should have added 'other dead musicians are available', because only ARFM's Solid Air programme mentioned the death of former Soft Machine member Hugh Hopper, and the same station's Soundscapes programme played ELO's 'Poker' and The Orchestra's 'The Fox' in memory of Kelly Groucutt.
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I've been tuning into them on my phone on the train journey home. Their musical selection not too bad at times

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

It's too formulaic to me. Content is driven by record companies' ad agencies.
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Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

I was off work today and tuned into Russ Williams this morning.

Great show with a good presenter and a great selection of music.

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

I've always liked Russ Williams actually. I used to enjoy the "Russ and Jono" breakfast show which, unfortunately, ended when that prat Evans took over the station and because he and Jono Coleman hated each other it was clear who had to go.

Russ Williams is very knowledgeable about music and it shows - in fact his music knowledge is as great as his football knowledge, and that's huge!

It still doesn't lead me back to listening to the recently re-branded station, though. The damage done by Evans has never been really repaired for me.
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Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

Colby-Could not agree more re your comments on Russ Williams.

His style re informing the listener about the song /group playing is very similar to Richard Allinsons which I was why I like him.

I always get the feeling Russ/Richard see it as part of the role to engage with the listener on the back of imparting music knowledge. Their style is completely at odds with the likes of Steve Wright, Chris Evans, Sarah Kennedy and Terry Wogan who don't give a damn about the music-I actually feel that they actually feel the music gets in the way of their pointless unfunny (most of the time) ramblings.

aviddiva

I'm absolutely sick of them playing Ian Brown's 'Stellify' every night now.
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'