I've read a lot of negative reaction to GTA IV's radio stations. I had some too, but I think most people that gripe about it are missing the point. They compare these radio stations to Vice City and San Andreas, as opposed to real life radio stations. It's much easier to pick tracks for VC and SA because of the historical nature of the setting. GTA IV is modern day. Next Sunday A.D., I believe. Let's analyze:
The #1 station R* got right was the reggaeton station. I can't go one fucking half hour without hearing someone bump reggaeton, and I live in California where theres hardly any Puerto Ricans. I can only imagine how bad it could be in NYC.
The jazz station. Reminds me of NPR. Liberal baby boomers eat this with a spoon. One of the most hilarious moments in GTA IV came from jacking some young man for his nice car. He screamed "I'll fuck you up, motherfucker!" as I hopped into his whip and struck off. This hard-ass dude was bumping the jazz station. I chuckled as I imagined the ped's life: psuedo-intellectual, weed smoker, lives in Alderney, thinks he's hard and cool.
The Beat. No, theres no fucking Jay-Z or 50 Cent. This is the streets. People in NYC don't even like 50 cent. They like shit like Mobb Deep and Ghostface and MOP. Also, whats the name of the station? It's all about the beat. The production on the songs on this radio station is so fucking New York I don't see how anyone can hate on it. Living in California, I don't hear anything like this on the radio, so I really feel like I'm listening to some really real shit.
Talk radio, pure comedy, nuff said.
Radio Broker. Hahahaha, I love this station. Pure hipster shit, commodified. However, I would've expected more of the electro shit to be on this radio station a la LCD Soundsystem et al. Justice and Boys Noize should be on here.
Electrochoc is a fucking misnomer. I was actually really let down by this station. The vast majority of tracks on here are just deep spacey grooves-- not electro. Once again, R* fucks up the techno station with deep grove bullshit. I can't blame them though, techno/dance music is so fucking immediate it's hard to build a station that wouldn't be played out by the time the game already came out. cough Justice cough.
And finally, my #1 radio station, that for some reason I didn't get into at all until I was bored with the other stations-- The Journey. This is by far the best radio station in GTA IV. Steve Roach, AFX, Tangerine Dream, Philip Glass are you fucking kidding me? And it fucking works, it somehow brilliantly matches the pace of the gameplay.
I really dont see how you guys can hate. These are just a few of my favorite stations. Let's face it, The Vibe is the best Slow Jam/R&B radio station in GTA history. Liberty City Rock is also really fucking dope-- Iggy, ELO, Bowie, Elton John, Black Sabbath, etc etc.
If you guys don't like the music thats in this game, I suggest you fucking grow up and stop listening to your middle school schlock and get with the program. Use that ZIT shit. IRL Go to that pandora website or even take a dip into www.hypem.com to see what everyone else cooler than you is listening to.
PS the worst radio station is Fusion FM. I mean really WTF Rockstar you ball licking bitches.
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Dude, The Classic kicks ass. Hosted by Dj Premier it's all good. Gangstar ftw
My only disspointment with GTA IV's radio stations was sadly Integrity 2.0. What happened to Lazlow, 2.0 is not very funn, and its more about how Lazlows life sucks now. L.C.H.C is awesome.
I'll wait for PC. It has the best radio station ever: Custom Track Player!
Fuck your taste in music for ragging on Justice. I think they're one of the better acts coming out of France. If you've got a problem with someone small going commercial, don't be bitter 'cause someone's making the money you aren't.
I think the Electrochoc station's a good representative of what I was listening to last year in electronic music, so I've got no problem listening to it at all.
I was listening to Kavinsky, Justice, and Simian Mobile Disco last year. If any electronic music leads me to something good, I could care less how old it is. Do you know how great it is to find good cuts on old shit? It's like finding a good old wine that no one's drank. It's amazing. If someone gets that out of a relatively new group like Justice, I see no problem with that. I'd like to know what you consider to be new and compelling electronic music if you're turning your nose up at Justice solely because they're selling records to more than just the people hanging out after their set.
Also, Radio Broker's a new rock station. What kind of music would you expect? LCD Soundsystem's new album is a great fit for this. If you'd ever been to one of their shows before you'd see that they're a rock band, albeit with a techno sound. Don't confuse anything that James does as DFA remixes with anything to do with LCD Soundsystem.
For someone claiming to have the answers about how wonderful music is, you're not too open to all comers. "Jaded hipster shit" to paraphrase...
Oh, and the jazz station is all big band era jazz. The crowd for this skews a hell of a lot older than your "liberal baby boomers" listen to. Every baby boomer age person I know list more likely to listen to your precious Liberty Rock playlist. Is it just amazing to you that you think you know people's taste in music so well?
Break off of the New Release wall of your local record store, and stay the hell out of the hip-hop area, and learn some new artists that had their day years ago. You may actually find something old that you really like.
Look, would you and dvddesign just set aside your differences, get together, and tell me what's cool? I can't be relied on to choose my own musical preferences. I'm going to an Iron Maiden concert next month, for god's sakes.
I swear, if I have to make up my own mind one more time...
I say make up your own mind about music and don't take suggestions from Mr. California. Music appreciation is a process of self discovery and people who beat other people over the head with music suggestions are usually too self absorbed in making sure their favorite band succeeds to care about the rest of it all out there.
I miss the drum n' bass station from GTA 3 even though it was kinda crappy. It would have been so cool if they had some of the new dnb acts like Evol Intent, Gremlinz or TeeBee. The gameplay goes well with that kind of music.
My favorite is either LRR or The Journey. Listening to The Journey while trying to lose a 4-star wanted level can be pretty epic.
I think there's a really good selection of stations there. I love The Journey, Broker and Liberty Rock. The two talk radio stations are also really good, execpt when you keep hearing the same section over and over again. That gets annoying.
All in all, thumbs up. :)
i like justice a lot. theyre just played out for me. i think its good theyre making tonso cash now, its just annoying to hear the same singles over and over for years. kavinsky is a fucking joke tho. my favorite producers on ed banger are oizo and sebastian. as for the new shit out of france that i'm digging right now? i've been bumpin sebastian tellier's newest album nonstop since it came out a couple months ago. as far as dance shit-- surkin right now is my favorite producer.
mr dvdesigner i think you misinterpreted my statement on radio broker, i was saying lcd is a perfect fit, and i think justice boys noize et al should be on radio broker, and let electrochoc be something else.
dont get it twitted, i love all the bands i mentioned, it's just way played out for me. ive been listening to simian for years. i love them, but tits and acid is 2 years old. can they get away with that shit on the beat? dance music is just as immediate as rap music. i dont want to listen to a song that i danced my ass off too much to two years ago. i dont care if it exposes people to good artists, i just dont want to listen to it.
as far as liberal baby boomers... sorry, i guess im just thinking of the urban ones, cause the ones i know listen to jazz of all stripes and love NPR. classic rock is meth addict mommy shit where i live.
and bmdubya, exactly. without the journey i dont think i couldve possibly got that achievement for going 5 minutes on 6 stars. epic indeed.