Intermission.
Between Summer and Fall. Have a great Labor Day Weekend.
Analogged.
While we wait to see if Muxtape will ever reboot, I’d like share a few other cassette tape-related sites with you.
With their collection of audio tape cassettes, Tapedeck.org will take you back to the time when deciding on which blank tape to use was the first step in creating your mixtape. My favorite was the TDK SA-X 90.
To create your own version of the classic cassette tape cover use Says-it.com’s cassette tape generator.
If you want an Old School feel with 64 megs check out SuckUK’s cassette package USB Stick.
To convert your old mixtapes as well as all those Ready for the World, Rippingtons and Take 6 cassettes you’ve holding on to for all these years, Ion Audio (nice name) offers a series of products to help convert your analog collections to digital. With their Tape 2 PC deck you can import from cassette to mp3s and with their LP to CDR turntable you can burn direct to CD from vinyl.
Tape Popped.
This past Monday Muxtape went down. On their site it simply reads “Muxtape will be unavailable for a brief period while we sort out a problem with the RIAA.”
The RIAA‘s position is that Muxtape is hosting content illegally. In a statement regarding the closing of the site the RIAA said, “Muxtape was hosting copies of copyrighted recordings without authorization from the copyright owners. Making recordings available for streaming playback also requires authorization from the copyright owners.”
It’s too bad. The site was a great way to share, learn and listen to new music, we really enjoyed using it. Though, I can’t say that I’m surprised, we’ve all had this conversation before, this is what happens when the music industry meets new technology.
Over There.
This week’s mix is an electronica filled chill out set. The photography used on the CD’s packaging is by our good friend, photographer Jillian McAlley. To listen go to chmstry.muxtape.com.
Muxtape went down shortly after we uploaded this mix.
The Deuce.
This week’s (aug 8th – 14th) mix is a 70′s inspired set that will take you exactly where you need to go. To listen go to: chmstry.muxtape.com.
Enjoy.
Top Most.
One night while walking past a public school, I noticed several chairs put out for trash pick up. First thing that came to mind – Skellzies. I’m sure a few people passing by wondered what I was doing wrestling with discarded school chairs, but if they grew up playing in the city’s parks and streets, they would understand.
Skellzies, also called Skully, Skelsy, Tops, Caps, or Loadies, was a game we would play for hours, sometimes for the entire afternoon. The rules varied from neighborhood-to-neighborhood, but basically the object of the game is to flick your top (playing piece) through a series of numbered boxes on a Skelly board, working your way up from 1 through 13.
The smoothest, fastest, most prized tops were those created from the foot of a school chair. Having one meant you popped it off at school without getting caught. We’d add color by melting crayons in them.
From time-to-time I’ll see a Skelly board painted in a playground, but I’ve yet to see any kids playing. Maybe they’re just there to pay homage and stir memories. Like Ring-a-levio, stickball and stoopball these street games just aren’t played any more. Icy Smooth has a online version, but if you want to try the real thing, well, I’ve got tops.
Flight.
This week’s (aug 1st – 7th) mix, the second one we’ve posted to Muxtape, has an eclectic downtempo groove. To listen go to chmstry.muxtape.com.
Enjoy.