As I was putting the finishing touches on a mix cd for a friend today it got me to thinking about just how long that particular ritual will continue. Has it replaced the ubiquitous mixtape? What will lovelorn adolescents and obsessive music types do in a few years when this kind of thing will be nothing but a quaint relic of the past? It was this expression that exposed our souls as much as your favourite new band. With a cd you worked out that perfect playlist to convey your message. With a tape, you were pretty much forced to listen from start to finish. There is no more honourable labour of love than making one of those. Imagine my surprise tonight then as I happened upon this… The exceptionally sweet website Cassette From My Ex which pays tribute to those compilations with featured essays about tapes we’ve held on to over the years. This is compelling stuff to say the least.There might just be hope for us yet.
5 comments:
There is hope indeed. As long as there are people who feel compelled to make the perfect mixtape/cd for friends and loved ones, the world has pockets of humanity in it.
Exactly what she said.Personally I can never imagine a better gift to receive from a friend than a lovingly, painstakingly made mixtape, especially when the tracklisting comes with their own handwritten comments on why the song is special to them.
I have to go cry now.
That site is great!
Thanks for the tip.
Thank you for showing the clip of Radiohead covering Tell Me Why! That is, of course, the song they attempted to play between flubbed takes of Faust Arp in Seattle. I had heard that they eventually played the entire thing in LA. Great find!
The "mix tape" will never die ;)
It just comes in a different format (mp3/mp4 or cd)- adoration and nostalgia has even allowed us to keep the name. I see "playlist" as one in the same with "tracklisting".
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