I'm 31. I grew up listening to music at (arguably) the end of the age of vinyl and the smackdab in the middle of the heyday of cassette tapes. Ah tapes. You remember, those wonderful, spindly little pieces of plastic filled with magnetic ribbon that you would chuck all over the place in your car, leave out of the cases 'cause god knows, those suckers wouldn't get ruined like your precious LPs or your new fangled CDs.
Only, those new fangled CD's are looking like they're going to last forever like we thought they would. And that vinyl you've got stored away? Good thing you didn't throw it away, 'cause at least you can still find record players. Also, those new albums you keep hearing bloggers talk about are becoming easier to find on vinyl than they are on CD. Heck, some of you are still pressing 7" singles. Good on ya.
But good luck finding a cassette deck, let alone a ghetto blaster to play your tapes on.
Or even better, one to play your mixtapes on.
Oh, how I miss thee, thy beautiful work of art.
Yes, we can now make CD mixes and with a lot less effort and time. But you've gotta wonder, wasn't that time worth it? As Rob, the protagonist/anti-hero in Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, there is something to be said for sitting down, making a list of songs, arranging them in order, creating a feel, a vibe throughout the mix. But the most important (and now forgotten) part of the mixtape is actually listening to it as you're making it.
Now, with mp3s, you still make the list, you still arrange them, BUT you don't listen to it while it's being created. Nay, you can't do that. The magic of the creation has been replaced by instant programs made for people who don't want to "waste time". The programs we use to create such mixes are made to be fast and efficient. Insert CD here, press button here, out pops CD here.
I'm not saying I'm against CD mixes, nor am I waxing nostalgic over loops of cassette-deck-eaten-tape. I hated it when the tape inside got loose, making the music warbly and warped. I happily enjoy being able to make a mix for a random car ride in less than 10 minutes - including selection, arrangement and execution. But I miss sitting there, pondering the subject (either musical or personal, in the case of the mix tape for someone you like or wish to impress) throughout the entire 60, 90 or 120 minute process. TDK, Memorex, we salute you, you love gods of yesteryear.
About a month ago, someone told me about Muxtape.
Muxtape is a site where people can upload their favorite songs (in mp3 format) to create their own mixtape. The site allows you up to 12 songs, and no song should be over 10 megabytes. You then click on each track and the site uploads it through a script which allows the song to play, as well as continue playing the other songs, just like your old mixtapes.
Muxtape doesn't replace the old cassette or the CD mix, but there is something wonderful about sharing your favorite songs. Which is what mixes are all about. But instead of only one copy of that cassette, or losing a CD, you can just click a link and let as many people as possible listen to your mixes. YOUR mixes. YOUR choices. Your gift.
A mix I made for someone when he is away.
My first mix,made for my friend Hank
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