Rock on the radio
What to listen for when choosing between familiar hits, alternative music and album discoveries.
The label classic rock usually suggests familiar music from past decades, but each station decides its own boundaries. An alternative channel might focus on new artists or on music that has already become established. It is better to judge a station by several consecutive songs than by one familiar performer.
Listen to how the sequence works. Do fast and quiet tracks alternate? Are there long compositions or spoken segments? These details can have more effect on everyday listening than the broad word rock in the station's description.
The station's official website can help you find playlists and schedules for specialist shows. Radio can be especially interesting when a presenter connects recordings through a theme or explains an unexpected pairing. Keep the name of a programme you enjoy: its character may differ from the same station's daytime output.
Keep listening
Different schools and decades of rock, from album-oriented stations to channels built around heavier guitars. Choose a station.