Three 8tracks mixtapes
Sunday, January 31, 2010
I used to create mixtapes and CD compilations all the time, but in this era of streaming music and MP3s I had gotten out of the habit. However, since sharing user-crafted mixes online keeps getting easier (and legal) with new service providers, I thought it would be fun to start making mixtapes again.
(That reminds me: Feeling nostalgic for the days of cassette tapes? Watch the award-winning short film Mixtape by Luke Snellin. I love the moment where the kid exits his house and the Heart song kicks in. Brilliant.)
This month I evaluated various free online services for streaming music and creating social playlists. I was looking for a simple, legal way to share and discover music through online mixes. Most sites I looked at were recommendation-based radio (like Pandora and Last.fm), which was not what I wanted.
(If you want to do your own research on mixtape sites, these two articles are good starting points for further exploration: “8 Best Ways to Share ‘Mix Tapes’” (October 26, 2009) and “Social Music: Top 5 Sites to Build a Playlist” (February 9, 2009). Also see:Â Quarkbase.)
Anyway, after all that searching, my favorite service for creating and sharing personal mixes is 8tracks. And this weekend I got a chance to upload some MP3s to my new 8tracks account. I created three mixes of 12 songs each. The track listings are below. Most songs were released in 2008 or 2009.
What I wrote in my 8tracks profile is true: “Music is how I remember time.” Have a listen.
12 Memories: Autumn 2009
Twelve tracks including music by Camera Obscura, The Twilight Sad and Zola Jesus. Some songs I’ve been listening to since the weather turned.
- Florence and the Machine – Dog Days Are Over
- The Duke Spirit – This Ship Was Built to Last
- Holopaw – Abraham Lincoln
- Fruit Bats – When U Love Somebody
- Ben Folds – You Don’t Know Me (Feat. Regina Spektor)
- Meiko – Boys with Girlfriends
- Camera Obscura – Away with Murder
- Zola Jesus – Sink The Dynasty
- Gina Young – The Boy on the Bus
- Bye Bye Bicycle – Footsteps (Pt. II)
- Noah and the Whale – The First Day of Spring
- Twilight Sad – At the Burnside
12 Memories: Sasquatch 2009
Twelve tracks including music by Crystal Castles, The Decemberists and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Studio songs from my favorite artists that played on Saturday at Sasquatch 2009 in Washington.
- The Decemberists – The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid (Feat. Shara Worden)
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Down Boy
- Crystal Castles – Courtship Dating
- Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
- Animal Collective – Fireworks
- DeVotchKa – Head Honcho
- Blind Pilot – Go On, Say It
- Doves – Kingdom of Rust
- M. Ward – Headed for a Fall
- Crystal Castles – Untrust Us
- The Decemberists – The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing (Feat. Shara Worden)
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runaway
(Read my blog post about last year’s Sasquatch! Music Festival.)
12 Memories: Bumbershoot 2009
Twelve tracks including music by Metric, Mirah and Say Hi. Studio songs from my favorite artists that played on Monday at Bumbershoot 2009 in Seattle.
- Metric – Empty
- Anomie Belle – How Can I Be Sure
- Say Hi – Northwestern Girls
- Mirah – The Garden
- The Cave Singers – Dancing On Our Graves
- Soulsavers – Revival
- Modest Mouse – Little Motel
- Franz Ferdinand – Die On The Floor
- Mirah – Cold Cold Water (Electrosexual & Abberline)
- Anomie Belle – Down
- Say Hi – November Was White, December Was Grey
- Metric – Help I’m Alive
(Read my blog post about last year’s Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival.)