edit: I'll be posting pairings tonight. If you want in, please let me know prior to then. Conversely, if you want out let me know too. end edit:
I was recently going through a post by iamfight that he titled, "What is the greatest song that I've probably never heard. It's a good older music post and it made me nostalgic for the days when I used to make mixed tapes and CD's. People still make playlists, but it's not the same. Not even close. The limitations of tape and CD help shape the experience as does the cover art.
Not too long ago BLOB_CASTLE organized a group of us to become pen pals to mixed results, it turns out some people followed through and others didn't. I have enjoyed writing both humanodon and zebra2.
That get's me to my idea, I was wondering if any of you would be interested in participating in an "old school" music exchange. This would be a one time correspondence where you made either a mixed tape or a mixed CD (special points to those of you with tape capabilities --which require.. tape) and then sent it to the person you were paired with. I will literally pair people out of a hat, just like BLOB_CASTLE did.
The mix can be anything you want. You are in complete control of what you want to share. If you are like me, you used to love to choose the theme, the tracking, make the cover art etc.
I think one thing that scared away some people from the pen pal is it's ongoing nature and commitment. No such concern here, this is just one time.
So who is in? This is open to anyone, but below I have shouted out to a formidable list of people that I have either shared a music post by or have had conversations about music with. I will say that should cgod and sounds_sound participate, I envy whomever receives their mix. This should be fun, I hope people participate.
insomniasexx, kleinbl00, mk, b_b, ecib, flagamuffin, lil, theadvancedapes, sounds_sound, steve, cW, cgod, JakobVirgil, AlderaanDuran, StJohn, forwardslash, StephenBuckley, bgood79, scrimetime, bfv, Owl, briandmyers, BrainBurner, caio, alpha0, Mindwolf, minimum_wage, AshShields, resukureipuru, lil, mike, thundara, fuffle
Cliche image below specifically for b_b:
I'm in. I'd be willing to make as many as needed to trade with multiple people, there might be a few people who might want to take this option. I don't think I have the equipment to make a tape anymore but one of my friends owns a cassette label curlycassettes. I'm sure I can get him to dupe a bunch of mixtape copies for cheap.
Oh wow, cgod I've been listening to your friends label and I'm loving it! I've been perusing the bandcamp and can't seem to find an email to contact him at...do you know of any? I'm asking because two of my roommates and I recently started a label and I'd love to talk to your friend about running a label and music in general.
Sure I can probably get you two in touch. He booked a show at my work last night, which I worked. The guy from Old Light played and really knocked my socks off. His band, Au Dunes, played. Au Dunes always puts on a good show. A few other bands ranging from really great to terrible also played. His label is a little odd. For one they mostly record in an old trailer, the results are on the low-fi side. He isn't the main label for most the bands he records, more of a second creative outlet that brings bit of local exposure. And of course the albums come on tape with most tapes having a CD download code. The biggest act he has recorded is Little Wings, not sure if that tape is up on the website yet or not. Carcrashlanders's Born in a Hospital outtakes album is one of my favorite albums that he sells. I'm sure I'll talk to him later this week, I'll PM you with his e-mail if he is interested.
That would be great. Sounds like a pretty sweet show, even terrible bands can be...entertaining... I've noticed that from what I've listened to. Our label is going to be mostly lo-fi punk influenced music, and chiptune music, but not recorded in a trailer. Some of it's likely going to be recorded in our basement come September though. We're going to be doing releases in the form of cassettes or cd's (artists choise), and digital releases. Definitely let me know if he's interested in talking.
THE MIX(ed) TAPE: Now there's a walk down Romance Lane... yes, the boys I was dating would give me mixed tapes and, by 2000, mix-CDs. I'd even get these from boys I had only met through ads but hadn't actually met. These tapes were great!! The mix tape sent by mail (late 1980s, early 1990s) served as an introduction to the boy's inner landscape and deepest feelings in a way that words and letters could never do. The tapes said, "I'm tongue-tied around you - but this music shows you that I have deep feelings." Then there was that one guy who wasn't on my dance card so he stayed up late making mix tapes and dropping them off in my mailbox. I heard the longing in songs like this that one boyfriend put on his tape - this song says, I love you, but I want to be alone. Or maybe it says, I wish I had a boat. I wish you were a pony. The mix tape is about musical tastes but it is also a kind of autobiography of love and pain. tng: I will not play - but I would like to receive the mix tape you make for someone else. I'll send you something appropriate in return. Note: you posted two shout-outs to me in the list above. I feel so special!
The girl I referenced in this poem was one of the first recipients of a mixed tape from me. I made her MANY of them. I was head over heels for that girl, obviously I still have dreams about her. She made me a mix once too and for the most part it was a steaming pile of poo, but I still LOVED it. I remember it had Journey's Faithfully. I figured out how to play that on the piano as a young man, just in case I found myself alone with her in a room with a piano. Unfortunately, that never happened. Some of the first songs I wrote, I wrote for her and put on those mixed tapes for her. I would record on to a tape, then put that tape in another tape deck and record myself playing another track over top of it on another tape deck etc. Essentially multi-tracking in the crudest way possible. What I wouldn't give to hear those songs now. I wonder if she kept those tapes? I'd be more interested in hearing those tapes than I would be in seeing her. -Okay, that's kind of a lie. Is my wife on Hubski? jk As for me sharing my mixed tape I make for my exchange with you, I'm afraid I must decline. As you mention in your comment, these things are personal and when done properly, should be specific to their intended recipient. It would detract from it if I sent the same one out to others. That said, I would be happy to have a mixed CD exchange with you lil. You send something my way and I'll gladly reciprocate. :-)
The first mixtape I ever got was all Tori Amos. It started with this. To this day I have no idea what, if anything, she was trying to tell me. I interpreted it as "head for the hills". The first I ever gave started with this and went downhill from there, so I can't really talk. That one worked out in spite of me though.
After checking out your music recs for the last few months, the idea of someone giving you a Tori Amos mix is almost too hilarious for words. EDIT: lil - tell us about your first mixtape, made or received, would make a solid hubski post, if it's never been done.
YES -- you've no idea (or maybe you do). That strikes me as a stinking good writing topic, although I feel bad even suggesting one because of how rarely I actually write for them.On the other hand, the present is so intense I may not have time for the past.
Anyone can use the #todayswritingprompt tag and suggest something. I love the past - what a place!! whoo-hoo. And not just my past. Whenever I can, I hang out in 1944 in my uncles' war letters or in the 1909 London census where a genealogist (not me) discovered the cousins -- my cousins -- that my grandfather stayed with when he escaped from Siberia. Shit, when I get into the past, I'm lost. Mixed tape relationships and the stories in them... there's a deep pit I could fall into and spend the night. Meanwhile, back to the intense present.
Romkeh and thundara, ike will be orchestrating round 2. Follow the #hubskimusicclub tag to stay abreast.
Any recent word on the next round? I'd be keen to take part.
Yes, the seed for round two are being planted. I'll shout out to you there.
number 1: Did you get married? Hell yeah dude! number 2: Three weeks shouldn't be an issue, I would just be sure to let whomever you are partnered with know so that they're not anxiously awaiting something that hasn't yet been sent. number 3: Again, congrats pal!
Great news! Enjoy this Saturday and the ensuing honeymoon. Give my best to M, you two have always struck me as a good fit for whatever that is worth :) Where in Mexico? I was just in Tulum and I really enjoyed it.
Two questions before making my decision. 1. What time frame are you hoping for for people to have their tape created and sent out? (asking because my mailing is going to be in limbo for a couple weeks starting at the end of this month). 2. Is there any length in particular for the mix?
As far as I'm concerned you can work all that out amongst each other. I, for one, will not care if someone sends me one song two months from now so long as they communicate such to me so I'm not waiting around for it to arrive. Oh... and that one song better be damned good :)
Awesome! Is it still easy to find tapes? I can't remember the last time I saw them in a store.
It's still easy, not so sure about in stores but you can purchase them online for cheap. Same goes for decks...I should really purchase both of those things.
I'm in! I'm really sorry I haven't been on Hubski in a long time, life is a hectic thing. But yes, please count me in.
No worries. How is everything going? You're in the midst of a move, right?
Yeah, my girlfriend and I just moved into a new place with two new roommates. Things haven't quite settled down yet, but I imagine it'll take some time.
It looks like Meriadoc was a little late to the party and got no partner too. Fate!
Hey! I think that we both hopped in a little too late, want to be music partners? Also, my pen pal went MIA as well. Pen pals too?
flagamuffin and @rezzej@, are you two in? You both shared the post but didn't specify in comments. I didn't want to assume. Let me know please. Thanks.
Sadly, I do not have the technological capacity. Edit : Fuck it I'm in if there's some way to do this digitally like spotify list. I don't have a CD burner or a tape deck or anything. Edit 2: Someone fill me in on this last.fm thing that people are talking about
Last.fm is another site along the lines of Spotify, Pandora, and all those other sites. You create a profile, and can set up Spotify and iTunes to scrobble plays on Last.fm, which basically keeps track of your song plays from each source and compiles them. What it's great for is recommending similar artists, and you can view other people's profiles to see what they've been listening to. There's also a small Hubski group.
last.fm and spottily are both great, and I would be glad to get recommendations on music from you digitally. That is AWESOME... however, this is about sending an artifact to someone. Something physical that you put time and effort in to crafting both sonically and to an extent, visually too. I'm literally pulling out an old mac book so I can use the CD drive to burn this. Let me know if you can do something similarly and I'll add your name.
I'm in. I'm also still pen palling with my pardner, and it's become something I look forward to getting in the mail. This sounds like a good idea.
That's great, I feel the same way regarding my two pen-pals. It's great to receive mail that isn't a bill or some sort of solicitation. Glad you're on board for the music swap too.
is exchanging last.fm info regular protocol with things like this? Seems like it'd be a good idea, to avoid awkward 'I've already heard all of these songs' situations. Also, do you guys normally exchange home addresses, or get PO boxes or what?
No last.fm. That's obviously more convenient and in some cases may be a really cool way to exchange music easily. This isn't just about the music though, this is about the medium. Making a physical object for someone, decorating that object and then sending it via the mail to someone's home, or PO Box (if you prefer) is not easy. It's this lack of ease that makes it a special act. Ideally people will take the time to consider the recipient and craft something that they think they'd like. Also, for me, the artwork can be a big part of this too. What is your tape or CD cover going to look like? There are a lot of ways to impart your own creativity in to this exchange. I have not had a problem giving out my home address to select members of the community. Use your best judgment. I can't personally vouch for everyone here, but I can for most. Let me know if you are down.
hard to resist thenewgreens endorsement. i'm in.
You've made me some awesome mixes in the past and are definitely responsible for introducing me to some of my favorite artists.
jonaswildman, you interested in participating in this?
Going back and reading the guide lines right now
He'd be a great addition to this, for sure. He stopped by a long while back. Not sure if he gets notifications or not. Let's see... Hey edisonbaines, you there?
I hope I get you so I can make you an all #beatles mix.