Oh, the cassette tape; teacher of trust, professor of failure, creator of confusion, lover of bubble baths. Oh, holy proprietor of youth, where art thou?
If you, like me, miss the days of bathing in the gentle hiss and splutter of cassette tapes, you may be asking your self, maybe in a less eloquent manner, the very same question. So, what happened to those days? What happened to the period of time where you could spend hours spread across the tiles, dubbing a carefully selected group of tracks for that current object of your affection? (Whether it be a man, woman, dog, cat, or mustache). In our culture of convenience, the once mighty and majestic cassette has been reduced to dollar bin thrift store material, like so many of us will be. Why did a tragic end have to come to this once heavy hitter in the music medium scene? The truth? It didn't. Cassette tapes are still alive and well today, not only snuggling the bottom of bargain bins around the world, but residing in the hearts, minds, souls and desks of people all around the world who refuse to let go of a piece of their youth.
So, how can I attempt to convince you that cassette tapes even stand a fighting chance against your "holier-than-thou" iPods? I don't have to because No Name No Slogan decided to do it for me.
http://homepage.mac.com/danielturek/PhotoAlbum50.html
Name No Slogan
So, after that convincing article, how could one STILL be against cassette tapes? (Please don't answer that question in the comment box, because I know you'll find a way to argue it)
The Importance of the Cassette
If the above subheading were to be asked in a question format, it would be a stupid fucking question. What ISN'T the importance of the cassette!? Besides being the ONLY legitimate form of mixtaping technology, the cassette tape has carved a culture onto its own in almost every country around the world.
When you take a step back and examine why cassettes have been/remain prominent in music, it's really not a difficult task. Not only are cassette tapes incredibly personal, but are a perfect way to showcase one's artistic capabilities. If you don't believe me, consider this question; how much time/effort/love does it take to drag 14 songs into an iTunes playlist, compared to the countless hours and preparation put into dubbing a cassette? Perhaps now you see what I mean.
I'm also rather convinced that the feeling one garners when dressing up their mixtape and attaching it to a snappy title is just short of ethereal.
But, you may be asking yourself, why can't I just make a mixtape and draw a cover for it? I'm certainly not stating that the cassette is superior to the CD overall, but I think it must be recogized for the indent that it left on our ability to mix our own music, and for leading the way for CD's and MP3's as well.
Therefore, I think a couple songs that have nothing at all to do with cassette tape are in order, to celebrate the tape in all it's spasmodical glory!
Swimming in Hiss, Drowning in Fidelity;
A Looks Like Coffee, Tastes Like Juice Celebration/Lament for the Cassette!
Bein' Green (en francais) - Andrew Bird
Starting Over - The Black Lips
All The Weird Kids Know - Built By Snow
So, in conclusion, what's the best part about cassettes?!
Never knowing which side is side A.
Love,
Norman J. Nehmetallah
