Is the cassette dead?

Posts: 2
Joined: 2007-03-12
Location:

I've been watching documentaries and reading a lot lately about people like Daniel Johnston, and it seems like the cassette has played a pretty important role in the independent music world. But is there any life left in these little white plastic cartridges with the little wheels and the paper labels?

If one were to make a small stack of tapes, advertise one's tapes in a few choice indie zines, ask a price (say, $3) that covers costs of production and shipping but not much else, does there still exist in Punk Rock Land a group of people who 1.) would willingly check out extremely-DIY music, and 2.) still own a tape player?

I think i got the idea from Half Japanese, but i may be thinking of Jandek (who was doing vinyl "back then," but the method was similar).

I ask because i've been recording my own little warped version of jangly pop music for quite awhile, without any real plans to start an actual "band" type unit. I want to distribute this music because i think there are a few people out there who would like it, so the idea of a cassette "thing" popped into my head for some reason.

I have no aspirations to pop stardom, no standard "goals" involving record deals, live shows, or any of that junk. It doesn't bother me that most "kids" these days don't even care about cover art or packaging because they download single tracks from iTunes. My music isn't really for that crowd.

But should i give up on this self-consciously retro stunt, or should i plow ahead...throw it against the wall and see if it sticks?

If 10 people wanted a tape, i would consider it a resounding success.

K.C.

Posts: 12
Joined: 2007-01-29
Location: Richmond,Virginia

plow ahead

i would probably buy them. but i wouldnt expect more than 3 bux. thats a good price. and yes in the mainstream world tapes are dead. they break to easily but i have a special connection to them. my first clash album was a casette. its broken now!!!!!

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 7:44am login or register to post comments

watusi

Posts: 355
Joined: 2006-08-23
Location: Chicago

i used to be in a band

i used to be in a band called the fuck farts and we were 100 percent cassettes!

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 8:02am login or register to post comments

aaroncynic

Posts: 35
Joined: 2006-12-06
Location: Chicago, IL

8 Tracks Might Be The Retro Wave of The Future

But seriously, I still love tapes. Sadly, I have a graveyard of broken tape players and the one in my car will only take the adapter used for a CD player, nothing else, but I've got one or two somewhere that still work. Some of the best stuff I own is on tape and can never be replaced. Awww now you're making me all nostalgic - how I do miss the days when bands were all for getting out a cheap tape so people could hear their music, instead of making sure they have 15 different styles of $40 hoodies. Ah well, each generation has its own way of doing things I guess.

"Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education."

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 11:27am login or register to post comments

kat

Posts: 67
Joined: 2006-09-12
Location: Midwest

I still love cassettes,

I still love cassettes, see:

I think that cassettes are like anything else with a "niche" (sorry, I hate to use that word) market: they'll always be enough people wanting it to warrant its existence. This is not the best analogy, but I have a few cameras that take 120 film, and while I can't go to Walgreens and buy it (actually, they're pretty skimpy on any film these days), there are still a few places left that cater to a so-called "outdated" medium.

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 2:49pm login or register to post comments

The Ost

Posts: 18
Joined: 2006-10-30
Location: New Zealand

Ian MacKaye has a tape

Ian MacKaye has a tape player in his car. I know this because I made him a mix tape.

I also have a tape player in my car.

Yay!

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 9:57pm login or register to post comments

medical.sauce

Posts: 282
Joined: 2007-02-25
Location: ypsi

link it up,link it up.

http://www.fuckittapes.com/
http://nursetapes.net/
http://www.myspace.com/communitycollegerecords
http://www.dntrecords.com/
http://www.notnotfun.com/
http://www.exbxtapes.com/

enjoy.

mostly tapes and cd-r's good packaging and limited runs.

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 6:47pm login or register to post comments

Ben

Posts: 761
Joined: 2006-08-27
Location:

Pause, don't Stop

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 8:04pm login or register to post comments

medical.sauce

Posts: 282
Joined: 2007-02-25
Location: ypsi

image dot google dot com rides again.

Ben wrote:

heheheheheh

cassette generator.

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 11:48pm login or register to post comments

sfodcrew

Posts: 4
Joined: 2007-03-20
Location: Miami, FL

no sir it is not!

check this label!

http://www.flwebwizzard.com/wtfhttrecords/index2.html

http://www.myspace.com/brainpollution
http://www.myspace.com/propagandapunx

Tue, 03/20/2007 - 9:22am login or register to post comments

stabbytiger

Posts: 595
Joined: 2006-08-30
Location: dirty, sweaty south

yer a buncha pussies!

the cassette is not dead!
how do you think 3rd world kids
are going to get messages and intructions
for insurgency from baby maddox?
i prefer cars with tape players
you can find the best tapes cheap
at the thrift store/flea market
hell, people leave boxes of them for the trashmen!
the cassette tape is the last bastion
of the revolutionary
not to mention home recording/4 tracks
and mix tapes
fuck mix cds
theres no soul there
you cant judge the maker of a mix cd
the way you can a mix tape:
that is to see if they let the side run out
during a song
anyways, cassettes rule
i spent about 2 hrs mixing down
band practices and home solo demos today
losta fun and less frustration
than fruity loops or cool edit.