LETTERS

War Is Heck
Regarding Patricia Calhoun's "War of the Words," in the July 19 issue:
Color me confused.

I've reread your column about Jay Ambrose twice...what are we supposed to conclude from the various passages you reprinted? There don't seem to be misspellings or grammar goofs.

I never considered the Ambrose box on page two to be anything more than a promotion for what was inside the paper, and I was never offended that it didn't contain great prose or pontification--that didn't seem to be its purpose.

I realize it's your nature, as editor of the "alternative" paper, to disdain the "mainstream" media. But if this is the best stuff you've got on Ambrose, you probably should have turned over your own blank hole on page three this week to the advertising department.

D.W. Garfield
Englewood

With Jay Ambrose's departure, Denver has lost the Gomer Pyle of the newspaper war. No wonder the Denver Post signed up so many Colorado newcomers--one look at page two of the Rocky Mountain News and they probably thought they'd moved to Hooterville.

Cheryl Fine
Denver

ADX Marks the Spot
Regarding Alan Prendergast's "End of the Line," in the July 12 issue:
Thankfully we have places like ADX! When people prove to society, by their actions, that they cannot live within the laws, they go to prison. When they further prove that they cannot follow the rules of that particular prison, they go to ADX. At that point they give up any "rights" they had.

Jim Balfanz
Littleton

Radio Daze
In reference to John Jesitus's "No Alternative," in the July 19 issue, I pose this question: Just what the hell do you expect the radio stations in the area to play? Quite frankly, the new "alternative" music that is being released lately sucks, and sucks badly. I can't even listen to KTCL for more than an hour at a time anymore.

Acts like PJ Harvey, Green Day (Dookie was just too obvious), Elastica, some preadolescent whiner telling me to "watch (the) daisies come up," Pearl Jam (Vedder has gotten completely out of control), and too many others to bitch about right now just don't cut it for me. Most of the music listed in your article are what those of us who dared to be different before it was cool had to listen to. However, you're correct in that what was once "alternative" is now "adult contemporary."

I did notice that you didn't list overplayed bands like Live, Green Day, Pearl Jam, U2, Elastica, Melissa Etheridge and Weezer.

With so many good bands to choose from, I'm at a total loss as to why the local radio stations insist on playing crap and repetitive crap. I've never been so unhappy with the music I hear--ever.

My suggestion: Call the radio stations and let them know that we don't appreciate being force-fed the same thing over and over, on every station, every day. How about a show that focuses on (I really despise labels, but so that the masses can follow along...) "industrial rock," "folk," "local bands" and the plethora of other categories of music they don't play much of on the air?

Daryl Boyd
Denver

Overplayed modern-rock suggestions:
1. Any stupid redo of a Led Zep song, by anyone.
2. Anything by those yawn kings Hootie & the Blowfish or the Dave Matthews Band.

3. That Alanis Morissette tune. Whoever the guy is she wrote that about, I just hope he's running far away and not looking back. Maybe my ex actually wrote the lyrics...

4. Oh, and this is just a given--toooo much Pearl Jam!
5. Okay, thought of one more: The Peak does seem to be playing that Spell tune a lot. Don't get me wrong--I love to hear Chanin Floyd and her great band on the airways, but there are other great songs on that CD. Hello! Give 'em a try!

Madison Lucas
Denver

Found your article on overplayed alternative songs amusing. I was working in radio during the late Seventies to mid-Eighties; I thought it an exciting time. Listening to Denver radio now is quite boring--some stations I pass right by, but those I do listen to (i.e., The Peak) have to be taken in somewhat short doses. Yeah, they do tend to play the same stuff. It amazes me that they determine a particular song no longer merits airplay; I can't recall the last time I heard the Kingbees' "My Mistake," Peter Godwin's "Images of Heaven" or Jo Boxer's "Just Got Lucky," and so on.

Perhaps playing a certain song may elicit groans from a few listeners, but others, including myself, may say "Wow, most impressive" to a song not heard on the radio in years.

So many options, so who needs to hear the same music over and over?
Paul Sandquist
Denver

More overplayed modern rock:
1. "Every Day Is Like Sunday," by Morrissey. It sure is! Every time I hear this, I would rather be watching golf or fishing shows.

2. "Blue Monday," by New Order. It sure is a blue Monday.
3. "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths. Not soon enough, because it is being played again!