Musically speaking, Lansing radio is currently in a terrible state, especially for listeners working on a tight budget who can't afford satellite radio.

I know this because, being a fifth-year student, I have next to no money in the bank. I listen to an abundance of free radio — my '89 Oldsmobile doesn't have a CD player and the tape player has been broken for years, so I depend on the radio.

First of all, the oldies station is gone. "Oldies 97.5" was dropped last September for "The New 97.5 — Playing the Hits." I don't yearn to hear the Top 40 contemporary hits when Billboard has the corny albums of Jamie Foxx, Nickelback and Chris Brown all in its top 10 lists.

I'm really not interested in some movie star with a gigantic ego that sings about being rich. I want to sing along to early Beatles, hip-swiveling Elvis and uplifting Chuck Berry ditties while cruising around Lansing. But now I can't. Thanks a bunch, "New 97.5."

OK, for classic rock Lansing has two stations — WMMQ (94.9-FM) and WVIC (94.1-FM). The problem with both of these stations is they are under the illusion classic rock comes solely from the '70s. I've listened to way too much Journey, Styx, John Cougar Mellencamp and Kansas.

And why doesn't classic rock include The Velvet Underground, MC5, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Leonard Cohen, The Clash, Tom Waits or The Ramones? I mean for crying out loud, MC5 and Iggy and The Stooges were all born and raised in Michigan — they should be played on Michigan classic rock radio. I don't understand why some classic rockers from Michigan get played like Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper and Bob Seger, but others don't.

Not to mention, the classic rock stations around here play the same Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones tunes everyday. The word of the day for the classic rock stations should be "diversification."

But, there is a bright spot in the monotony of the classic rock stations. The station WMMQ recently added "Little Steven's Underground Garage," a national radio show. The program runs from 6 -8 p.m. on Sunday, and is fresher, with more variety than a bag of Chex Party Mix.

Little Steven has the smoothest, coolest voice I've heard on radio and he strictly plays musicians that are raw and rock. Not only does he play the best jams around, the jams are too cool to be played anywhere else. Rare songs from well-known musicians and great jams from lesser-known musicians embody the show.

I would recommend it for anyone who wants to spread their classical rocks wings and rock-out before another manic Monday.

Now on to the WDBM (88.9-FM) — yes, it doesn't have any commercials, but the Impact still has its problems. My first and main concern is with the DJs. I understand the DJs are students and aren't professionals, but do they have to stutter over their words like they're speaking a foreign language? Just slow down, remain calm and promote the specialty shows in a polished tone.

I really like the specialty shows on the Impact because they are very insightful and play a wide variety. But the blues program, "The Accidental Blues," has gotten progressively cornier since I've been in college. I don't want to hear corny covers of Rolling Stones and Janis Joplin songs on a blues show.

And I don't I think imagined it, but one of the DJ's cell phones was ringing while they recounted the playlist about a week ago. I don't even like it when my own phone rings, and I don't want to hear cell phones ringing on the radio.

Also, I still think the Impact could have a larger array of songs. I'm tired of hearing some lousy version of a Modest Mouse song and Ween has much more to offer then just that "Gabrielle" tune.

So, my main complaint with radio in Lansing is there isn't enough variety and very few songs are played that were recorded before 1970. I would love to buy satellite radio, but I haven't even bought my books for this semester, and The State News isn't paying me until the end of January.

I might not be missing too much on satellite radio, because I don't really care which girls Howard Stern thinks should have breast implants. But, I would like to listen to Bob Dylan's show on XM radio.

Radio doesn't cater to people with limited dough, but what does in the U.S.?