Mixtapes are the ur-symbol of romantic longing for a certain subset of a certain generation. They’re also a passive-aggressive and (take note, young people) terrible way to try to get someone to go out with you, but there’s still something ineffably charming about them, even as their tweeness threatens to activate your gag reflex.
FOUND Magazine co-…er, founder Jason Bitner’s Cassette From My Ex project features writers uploading real-life mixtapes they’ve received and telling the sometimes heartbreaking stories behind them. It’s uneven, but the concept has promise; the posts also include full-length MP3s of the tapes themselves, so you can be experiencing, say, “Back In Black” in an appropriately poignant and angst-wracked context.
Hey editor, just stick a High Fidelity quote here, OK? Thanks, I’m going to lunch. (www.cassette
frommyex.com)
CLASSIC MATERIAL
Bored with Pitchfork.tv yet? No, me neither, but the fact that genres other than indie-rock are getting their own high-definition streaming video sites is reason enough to be cheerful. Medici.tv are offering a free trial of their sizeable collection of classical concerts by the likes of the New York Philharmonic and Maria Callas as well as documentaries, available for streaming as well as paid download. CBC Radio 2 listeners officially have nothing left to complain about. (www.medici.tv)
MP3 OF THE WEEK
Was Not Was, “Shake Your Head (Dub Mix)”: Why should anybody care about an old song by a little-remembered new wave band? Because the original version featured a duet between Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna, before the latter decided she didn’t like the results. And in ’92, guess whose deleted vocal track was accidentally sent to Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley for a new remix?
The resulting track was pressed as a single but soon pulled. Madge sounds fine, ironically, but Ozzy should be glad Sharon doesn’t let him do stuff like this anymore. (http://tinyurl.com/42nvln)