The best college radio stations

St. Louis is not the most exciting city in America, but of all the places I've lived, it has two of the best college radio stations. I recently heard St. Louis referred to as the "Back Door of the East" (instead of the "Gateway to the West," as it is commonly known) because there's not much here anymore. While I understand the sentiment, I would say that it also might be the portal to quality college radio stations east and west of the Mississippi River.

Lindenwood University's KCLC, 89.1 FM, "The Wood," just west of St. Louis in St. Charles, Mo., is arguably the best college radio station in America for mainstream "radio rock" (David Sessions over at Patrol Magazine helped me settle on this category). This may sound like an overstatement, but this student-run station plays songs from a wonderful variety of artists spanning the last 20 years or so. You can hear everyone from Steely Dan to The Police to Okkervil River. For those captured by the variations on the theme of "rock music," The Wood certainly hits the sweet spot for a large generational demographic. In 2006, KCLC was recognized as the best radio station in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times newspaper. Who needs satellite radio when you have KCLC?

Here's a recent sample playlist from December 12: "Right as Rain," by Adele; "Show You Love," by Jars of Clay; "Sing for You," by Tracy Chapman; "Bittersweet Me," by R.E.M.; "Headfirst Slide," by Fallout Boy; "Breathe Your Name," by Sixpence None the Richer; "Don't Panic," by Coldplay; "You Were Right," by Badly Drawn Boy; "Think I'm in Love," by Beck; "2 Days of Christmas," by Relient K; "Thick as Thieves," by Dashboard Confessional; and "Come Down," by Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Now, I am well aware that KEXP 90.3 FM at the University of Washington probably has the best collection of new and independent artists (especially Indie rock) that you will find anywhere in America, but the station is in Seattle. How could it be otherwise? New artists are low hanging fruit in the Emerald City.

The other amazing college radio station in the St. Louis area is "The Jazz Station," WSIE-FM 88.7 FM, on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Having been exposed to jazz stations in Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other major cities, WSIE is the best station in America for hearing the best bop and hard bop artists from the peak of American jazz as described in David Rosenthal's book Hard Bop: Jazz and Black Music, 1955-1965 (Oxford University Press, 1992), among others from the '50s and '60s.

Having said that, I am well aware that WCLK 91.9 FM, "The Jazz of the City," on the campus of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, is excellent at contemporary jazz, but WSIE is the best at reminding us of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Ella Fitzgerald, and others.

Here's a sample playlist from November 30: "Hallelujah," by Horace Silver; "On the Sunny Side of the Street," by Dave Brubeck; "Delilah," by Bobby Hutcherson; "Milestones," by Miles Davis; "Three J's Blues," by Duke Ellington; and "Bluesology," by Modern Jazz Quartet," to name a few.

My calling these two St. Louis-area radio stations "the best" is not a hill I'm willing to die on so I am open to other honorable mentions. I am simply encouraged that we still have quality radio stations operated by the next generation.