Comments on: A Cassette Valediction: Part One of Two http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/ Los Angeles based mp3 & music blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:18:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 by: Mixtapes « Life of Amy http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-300793 Sat, 31 May 2008 07:38:58 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-300793 [...] Mix Tapes The Tape Hasn’t Run Out on Cassette Mixes Just Yet Mix Tape Song Hall of Fame A Cassette Valediction: Part 1 of 2 A Cassette Valediction: Part 2 of 2 [...] […] Mix Tapes The Tape Hasn’t Run Out on Cassette Mixes Just Yet Mix Tape Song Hall of Fame A Cassette Valediction: Part 1 of 2 A Cassette Valediction: Part 2 of 2 […]

]]> by: ivan cardona http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-284924 Sun, 18 May 2008 14:41:00 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-284924 I always liked using the song "Totally" by screeching weasel. http://warsaw48.muxtape.com/ I always liked using the song “Totally” by screeching weasel.
http://warsaw48.muxtape.com/

]]> by: Keith http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-263936 Mon, 05 May 2008 03:54:55 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-263936 you've stirred up memories of my untitled "1991-high-school-Z-28-wreckless-drive-home" mixtape. as i recall, songs by- too short, eazy-e, bachman turner overdrive, ac/dc, uh, and the Humpty Dance! Digital Underground (i had to google that) scary. very scary. p.s. i too had recently revisited the same LEMONHEADS cassette you spoke of. i think the more times i listen to it the more perfect that 'album' becomes. crashing in with-""""lover, don't turn your head!"" so i gotta ask what was the LAST cassette you bought? mine was radiohead-pablo honey. i hated that tape for about a year before it grew on me. you’ve stirred up memories of my untitled “1991-high-school-Z-28-wreckless-drive-home” mixtape. as i recall, songs by- too short, eazy-e, bachman turner overdrive,
ac/dc, uh, and the Humpty Dance! Digital Underground (i had to google that)

scary. very scary.

p.s. i too had recently revisited the same LEMONHEADS cassette you spoke of. i think the more times i listen to it the more perfect that ‘album’ becomes. crashing in with-”"”"lover, don’t turn your head!”"

so i gotta ask what was the LAST cassette you bought?
mine was radiohead-pablo honey. i hated that tape for about a year before it grew on me.

]]> by: Canada http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-246744 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:59:28 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-246744 i know i know. i've got satellite radio and a cassette deck in my gas guzzling truck, which is going up for sale on this very earth day. i've made mix cd's but those just get scratched and put in a pile somewhere (i am also a pack rat) but my mix tapes always have a place. Some of them are played so much that they are barely listenable anymore but i still love that 30 second song that gets cut of on the second to last note of side a. building this muxtape was fun tho. it's what we've been up to the last year or so and it still defines the spirit of my original mixtapes with an evolutionary spin.......oddball songs that nobody else knows that put me in a sweet ass driving mood. www.outsidemusic.muxtape.com i know i know. i’ve got satellite radio and a cassette deck in my gas guzzling truck, which is going up for sale on this very earth day. i’ve made mix cd’s but those just get scratched and put in a pile somewhere (i am also a pack rat) but my mix tapes always have a place. Some of them are played so much that they are barely listenable anymore but i still love that 30 second song that gets cut of on the second to last note of side a.

building this muxtape was fun tho. it’s what we’ve been up to the last year or so and it still defines the spirit of my original mixtapes with an evolutionary spin…….oddball songs that nobody else knows that put me in a sweet ass driving mood.

www.outsidemusic.muxtape.com

]]> by: Steva http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245485 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:52:47 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245485 I love how a mixtape to a prospective always made me feel smarter. I opened once with "Tupelo Honey" - Van Morrison. The dude in question, loved it, but not me. I think he used it on someone else. That, ironically made me realize how much he actually sucked. Thanks for talking about mixtapes. It is an art, that can not really be conveyed in a mix-cd, but we all try don't we? I love how a mixtape to a prospective always made me feel smarter. I opened once with “Tupelo Honey” - Van Morrison. The dude in question, loved it, but not me. I think he used it on someone else. That, ironically made me realize how much he actually sucked. Thanks for talking about mixtapes. It is an art, that can not really be conveyed in a mix-cd, but we all try don’t we?

]]> by: kiki http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245463 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:41:16 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245463 My car, too, has only a tape deck, and I prefer it that way. You can toss tapes around, drop ‘em on the ground, and they always rebound, with the same old sound. Years ago I made mix tapes from the radio – that took time. Now I too start with a CD mix, and make a tape of that. For years (before ITunes) I wanted to do a mix of different artists singing “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” and finally did it recently. This is my analysis of that sorry mix: Best arrangement: Blue Feat (but they did have Elton John participating) Best sorrow in voice: Richard Marx (with Kenny G) Best high note at the end: Clay Aiken Most touching version: Ray Charles and Elton John duet (Ray’s last album) Most surprisingly good version: Kenny G and Sung Si Kyung Most forgettable version: Barry Manilow (he added runs that made it too “loungey”) Funkiest version: Re4mation (but I didn’t like it) Freakiest version: The St. Christopher Ensemble (Gregorian Chant - spooky) Worst arrangement: Fiona (flattened out the melody too much) Worst version: Wolfgang Petry (sung in German; too harsh a language for this beautiful song) I have a muxtape if anyone is interested – probably way too tame for any of you, though. It’s at www.4kiki.muxtape.com. (kiki is my childhood nickname. The program wouldn’t let me use it until I added the 4 in front of it.) My car, too, has only a tape deck, and I prefer it that way. You can toss tapes around, drop ‘em on the ground, and they always rebound, with the same old sound.

Years ago I made mix tapes from the radio – that took time. Now I too start with a CD mix, and make a tape of that. For years (before ITunes) I wanted to do a mix of different artists singing “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” and finally did it recently. This is my analysis of that sorry mix:

Best arrangement: Blue Feat (but they did have Elton John participating)
Best sorrow in voice: Richard Marx (with Kenny G)
Best high note at the end: Clay Aiken
Most touching version: Ray Charles and Elton John duet (Ray’s last album)
Most surprisingly good version: Kenny G and Sung Si Kyung
Most forgettable version: Barry Manilow (he added runs that made it too “loungey”)
Funkiest version: Re4mation (but I didn’t like it)
Freakiest version: The St. Christopher Ensemble (Gregorian Chant - spooky)
Worst arrangement: Fiona (flattened out the melody too much)
Worst version: Wolfgang Petry (sung in German; too harsh a language for this beautiful song)

I have a muxtape if anyone is interested – probably way too tame for any of you, though. It’s at www.4kiki.muxtape.com. (kiki is my childhood nickname. The program wouldn’t let me use it until I added the 4 in front of it.)

]]> by: Nathan http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245356 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:59:51 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245356 The opening song on side one of my favorite mix entitled "Tentacles of Destruction" was Mr. Bungle's "Quote Unquote", which really starts things off with a kick. I think my favorite closing song had to be "Moonlight Mile" by the Stones. Thanks for the great post as this is something I think about often. The opening song on side one of my favorite mix entitled “Tentacles of Destruction” was Mr. Bungle’s “Quote Unquote”, which really starts things off with a kick. I think my favorite closing song had to be “Moonlight Mile” by the Stones. Thanks for the great post as this is something I think about often.

]]> by: Toyota Motor построит новый завод в Китае - Интерфакс | Новый 2008 год http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245044 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:03:00 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245044 [...] A Cassette Valediction: Part One of Two [...] […] A Cassette Valediction: Part One of Two […]

]]> by: streetlamp http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245037 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:55:09 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-245037 Of all the mixes I've had the pure, unadulterated joy in crafting, I'd have to say my favorite opener must be Yo La Tengo's luscious cover of "Be Thankful for What You Got," from their Little Honda EP. Having said that, there are so many great ways to start... "Time Has Told Me," off of Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left LP, was a stroke of genius too. Of all the mixes I’ve had the pure, unadulterated joy in crafting, I’d have to say my favorite opener must be Yo La Tengo’s luscious cover of “Be Thankful for What You Got,” from their Little Honda EP. Having said that, there are so many great ways to start… “Time Has Told Me,” off of Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left LP, was a stroke of genius too.

]]> by: Neil Cake http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244953 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:37:36 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244953 I still make mixtapes because our car only has a tape deck. I cheat a bit though by making a playlist on my iPod then recording it onto a tape. But that's ok. The mix tapes are only for me, since I seem to be the only person left with a tape deck, so I don't have to listen to the tape when I make it. I save it for when I'm in the car. I still make mixtapes because our car only has a tape deck. I cheat a bit though by making a playlist on my iPod then recording it onto a tape. But that’s ok. The mix tapes are only for me, since I seem to be the only person left with a tape deck, so I don’t have to listen to the tape when I make it. I save it for when I’m in the car.

]]> by: Kaley http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244604 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:31:03 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244604 I like to use The Avalanches' "Extra Kings" as the closer for the majority of my tapes. The Weakerthans' "My Favourite Chords" is another staple on most of my tapes (I tend to end side one with it). I like to use The Avalanches’ “Extra Kings” as the closer for the majority of my tapes. The Weakerthans’ “My Favourite Chords” is another staple on most of my tapes (I tend to end side one with it).

]]> by: danielle http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244036 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:43:09 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-244036 nothing like a good mix tape :) nothing like a good mix tape :)

]]> by: Satisfied '75 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243762 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:09:41 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243762 "a call to action that she couldn’t avoid. She’d have to answer. And she did. Someone else drove her home that night." awesome. “a call to action that she couldn’t avoid. She’d have to answer. And she did. Someone else drove her home that night.”

awesome.

]]> by: Y2 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243559 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:03:24 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243559 I was attempting to woo a chick my sophomore year of high school. She had been stringing me along for months--since the beginning of the year. By the time Valentine's Day rolled around, I thought I had a real shot. I made her a tape. Songs that meant something to her that I hated. Songs that said something of our pseudo-relationship. Lame, obvious ones like "With or Without You." But I closed it out with something from left field, that she didn't know about: The Cars' "Drive." At 16, I thought it was a genius bit of poetry, a call to action that she couldn't avoid. She'd have to answer. And she did. Someone else drove her home that night. I was attempting to woo a chick my sophomore year of high school. She had been stringing me along for months–since the beginning of the year. By the time Valentine’s Day rolled around, I thought I had a real shot. I made her a tape. Songs that meant something to her that I hated. Songs that said something of our pseudo-relationship. Lame, obvious ones like “With or Without You.” But I closed it out with something from left field, that she didn’t know about: The Cars’ “Drive.” At 16, I thought it was a genius bit of poetry, a call to action that she couldn’t avoid. She’d have to answer. And she did. Someone else drove her home that night.

]]> by: Craig http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243552 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:48:33 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243552 I've been broken up with by being asked to sit down an listen to "Side of the Road" by Lucinda Williams. And "Passionate Kisses" helped secure my engagement. I'm sure if I ever get divorced it'll be to Lucinda's "Changed The Locks". So imho opinion you can't have a great mixtape without at least one song from Lucinda William's self-titled record. I’ve been broken up with by being asked to sit down an listen to “Side of the Road” by Lucinda Williams. And “Passionate Kisses” helped secure my engagement. I’m sure if I ever get divorced it’ll be to Lucinda’s “Changed The Locks”. So imho opinion you can’t have a great mixtape without at least one song from Lucinda William’s self-titled record.

]]> by: J. Neas http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243480 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:49:57 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243480 I'll talk about this in part two of this article next week, but cassettes continued that dual structure that had started with 33 vinyl records. You make a good point, Stella. It's always fun to listen to older albums on CD and try to guess where the break between sides came. People used to structure albums with that very thing in mind. I don't know why this comes to mind, but I always loved the vinyl version of Aztec Camera's <i>Stray</i> album. It's a classic example of building. It opens with the soft and demure title track, then into the big pop of "The Crying Scene." Side Two opens with "a corker" in "Good Morning Britain." It's brilliantly structured with sides in mind. Can't do it with CDs, sound quality be damned. I’ll talk about this in part two of this article next week, but cassettes continued that dual structure that had started with 33 vinyl records. You make a good point, Stella. It’s always fun to listen to older albums on CD and try to guess where the break between sides came. People used to structure albums with that very thing in mind.

I don’t know why this comes to mind, but I always loved the vinyl version of Aztec Camera’s Stray album. It’s a classic example of building. It opens with the soft and demure title track, then into the big pop of “The Crying Scene.” Side Two opens with “a corker” in “Good Morning Britain.” It’s brilliantly structured with sides in mind. Can’t do it with CDs, sound quality be damned.

]]> by: Stella Splice http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243475 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:15:58 +0000 http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/19/a-cassette-valediction-part-one-of-two/#comment-243475 My favorite song used to end a mixtape was The Nixons' "Silence After the Song. I started one with Jurassic 5's "Quality" intro, which really gets things crankin'. And on one that I loved very much from 1999, I named the faster side "Speeding Ticket" and the more mellow side "Tire Groove." With that single tape, you could tackle any day. A mix CD cannot offer that duality/complexity. With a tape you get TWO starting songs, not just one -- two chances to build a roller coaster of emotion. With a CD, it's gotta be one continuous stream. My favorite song used to end a mixtape was The Nixons’ “Silence After the Song.

I started one with Jurassic 5’s “Quality” intro, which really gets things crankin’.

And on one that I loved very much from 1999, I named the faster side “Speeding Ticket” and the more mellow side “Tire Groove.” With that single tape, you could tackle any day.

A mix CD cannot offer that duality/complexity. With a tape you get TWO starting songs, not just one — two chances to build a roller coaster of emotion. With a CD, it’s gotta be one continuous stream.

]]>