Enjoying My XM Satellite

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:43:35 -0500

One of my two cars is a GMC Acadia crossover (white). Yeah, I know, many people despise SUV's and crossovers, whatever. Hate me, hate me. Now get over it! I chose it because it suited many of my needs, including all wheel drive for North East winters, room for 6 adults or 7 passengers (and it isn't thank god, a minivan), something that didn't guzzle gas, lots of safety features, didn't look or ride too much like a truck and finally, had the feel of being inside a luxury car.

One of the features that came standard with the car was a free 3 month subscription to XM Satellite radio. I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying it. So much so that I've already extended my subscription after only having the car a week and a half. That allows me online access to the music as well, though I still primarily listen to my own online iTunes station when I'm home, but it's nice for a change. I'd say it's programming is really geared for the 18 - 45 year old demographic with a few stations for "everyone else", but no matter how young or old, there is something for everyone.

My music taste really runs the gammut, and except for country music and hard core hip-hop, I can listen to most anything else, although of course, I have my favorites. Even though my car has an arsenal of CD's and a fully loaded 30GB iPod, I'm enjoying branching out from my typical listening fare. They do have a pretty good classic alternative station (but not as good as Gen80s, so "Don't even think abboud it!") and I do have that dialed in often. Right now I'm on a kick listening to a station that plays hits [not bubblegum] from around the world, but primarily the UK. I also must be hitting midlife crisis, as out of nowhere I've taken a shine to a station that reminds me of my old club days called BPM (Beats Per Minute), which plays amazing club dance tracks a la NYC, Miami, SF and Ibiza. I have a 10 speaker Bose system in said "ride" with a subwoofer, and I have my own virtual front seat dance party. Best of all, like my own station, I don't have to contend with any commercials and get crystal clear reception.

Definitely a nice variety of genre's, specialty stations from talk to comedy, along with real time weather and traffic for most major cities. There are several other choices for dance, ambient, dub, downtempo, chillout, and trip hop. Of course I like the pure moods station, classical, the 1940s station (big band/swing), and a few of the alternative rock and indy style stations have found there way on my presets. Too bad they don't have KCRW. I can get it online, but still not in the car. Guess I may have to resort to rippin' those streams and downloading that onto the iPod, but for now there is plenty to keep my overactive mind somewhat sated.

If you live in the NYC metro area and see some blonde biddy driving a white Acadia (there's not that many on the road right now - limited distribution) with the music cranked, and rocking out in the drivers seat, good chance that might be "yours truly". I refuse to grow up and won't make excuses. So if you're not too embarrassed, honk and wave, but I still might not hear ya over that XM Satellite. Sweeeeet!

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Enjoying My XM Satellite