#mix CDs

[90s-2000s-barbie]

March 2, 2007 💿

[musiccokeandfrench]

Let's fuck in the car to the mix cds we make for each other

[thepapergirlandthespiegelman]

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person in the world who still remembers and loves CDs. Vinyl records have made a comeback and are now considered cool among certain varieties of hipster and audiophile, but CDs haven't had the same treatment.

And like, to some extent, I kinda understand that. CDs aren't cool. Records are cool. They're big and textured and elegant and they're objectively old enough to feel vintage rather than dated. They're not exactly durable but they make up for their fragility with their other positive qualities, and you could certainly argue that warping and scratches add exactly the kind of character to a record that we've lost with digital music and therefore crave from physical media. A slightly damaged CD pretty much always just becomes totally unplayable.

So I get it. And I'll readily admit that the biggest reason why I like CDs is simply that I grew up with them and have fond memories of them. But I do also think it's objectively true that there are certain positive features unique to CDs. I will never tire of the experience of giving and receiving mix CDs. You can't do that with a record. (I mean, I don't think you can? Not easily, at any rate.) And it's not the same as a playlist! It's not the same. When you make a mix CD, you not only curate the music for the recipient, you burn the disc, you decorate it, you make the sleeve or pick the jewel case and make the paper insert for it, figure out how to wrap/package it. I mean, obviously you don't have to do all of these things, but the opportunity is there for a lot of creativity and love. And in the end the person gets both the physical object as well as being able to make digital copies of the songs on their computer (which also allows them to use those songs in their future mix CDs, continuing the cycle!).

The mix CD is just so unpretentious, wholesome, and kind. It gave the average person unprecedented power over how music was curated and shared. (I mean, of course mix tapes did something similar, and maybe they deserve more credit than I give them, simply because they're from before my time; but I kind of have to assume that CD mixing is a much simpler and more efficient process.) The mix CD creates a loving context for experiencing music. Here, I made this! Special from me, for you! I think context is one of the things which we most desperately miss in this modern age, where we're fed our newest songs by the goddamn algorithm (whether that's Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever). The mix CD is personal, human, earnest and sweet.

(And yes, to some extent, playlists do this as well, and they have their own advantages. But I think the shareability of playlists, while making it possible for many more people to experience your creation, has ended up discouraging the intimate act of making something just for one other person and instead promotes the idea that what is most desirable is to have your work seen by the greatest possible number of people.)

I started thinking about this because I saw another post talking about the removal of CD/DVD drives from computers and it really does make me sad thinking that this may be the final nail in the coffin of the mix CD. I've had to depend on external disc drives to make my mixes, and I'm sure that for most people, CDs have passed totally out of their awareness.

I'm not saying the mix CD is the end all be all of sharing music. There are already lots of other ways to share music and I would quite like to think that we will continue to invent new ways. But I do find it very sad that the art of the mix CD is dying, and while the mix CD itself may be doomed, I really hope that we don't forget its virtues, and find a way to keep the spirit of the thing alive. Physical object as well as digital copies that can be shared with others, permanent ownership of the music (rather than just streaming/renting), the burning and reading of this object being cheap and accessible, personal touch/high customizability (not being limited simply to song order, a single cover image, and a short description), intimacy. These are what I don't want to lose.

[nimuetheseawitch]

I miss mixtapes and mixed CDs. There are some very specific songs that I hear and I can see the cover of the mix CD that my friend made for me 15 years ago, or I think about when they gave it to me, or I think about singing along in the car on a road trip.

[stefandstuff]

I truly wish I could get back every single mix CD I ever made someone.

I’d love to take a glimpse back at little ol’ me

💿

[sarahthecoat]

still use mine.

What was your first source of portable music? Walkman? CD player with headphones? MP3 Player? iPod? Phone? 

[invincible-selfxmade-punk]

Is there anyone out there that still rips or broom CDs ?

I have not had a computer with a functioning CD burner in about a decade. I started looking at the cost of CDs on Amazon and some of it is absolutely ridiculous especially when most people don't buy CDs anymore.

However I really like to listen to CDs in my car ---the only place I have a CD player.

So if any Pirates out there want to make a little booty by burning a few CDs for me please let me know.

[inmylifeyesterday]

Over the weekend I found a bunch of mix CDs from middle and high school that I made and that friends made for me and I honestly don’t think there is a better type of time capsule.

I still knew all the words to the songs and I got surprised by like 4 Glee covers that I about died laughing. My car couldn’t read the metadata on the discs so each song was a surprise. I can’t wait to listen to more. I miss this era

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

[literallyneurodivergentandaminor]

once again made a mixtape with @nauseant4xx!!!! this time based on vittorino from the game 8:11 by @du-buk

also important context the stickers are 1. vintage and 2. i found them in the church basement/bunker which i think adds even more to it. and yes the cover slips paper is a bunch of ripped german bible pieces <3

artwork of vittorino done by @nauseant4xx

[zegalba]

susumu yokota: mix (1999)

[ittyybittybaker]

To celebrate Neil's birthday, here's a time-period accurate emo/pop punk love song mix I made inspired by this post by @wuzeio (featuring only songs released in 2007 or earlier)

1. Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard | 2. crushcrushcrush - Paramore | 3. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance | 4. My Bloody Valentine - Good Charlotte | 5. Just Tonight - Jimmy Eat World | 6. Count 'em One, Two, Three - The Maine | 7. Of All The Gin Joints In All The World - Fall Out Boy | 8. I'd Do Anything - Simple Plan | 9. First Date - blink-182 | 10. Give Me Anything - The Maine | 11. The Promise - New Found Glory | 12. G.I.N.A.S.F.S. - Fall Out Boy | 13. Work - Jimmy Eat World | 14. Only One - Yellowcard | 15. Until The Day I Die - Story Of The Year | 16. Bang The Doldrums - Fall Out Boy | 17. MakeDamnSure - Taking Back Sunday | 18. Demolition Lovers - My Chemical Romance

[musiccokeandfrench]

Let's fuck in the car to the mix cds we make for each other

[couch-house]

Fleebay Beepo playlist! [youtube link] [zip link]

it's been foreverrr since i finished a character playlist--i missed doing this! tracklist and director's commentary under the cut teehee :)

if you disagree with any of my choices, just remember: 1) this is my playlist for me to listen to made of songs I like for me 2) you just don't see my vision 3) you don't know him like i do 4) make your own so i can disagree with yours too.

WDKYWMYAK -- Rabbit junk

This is a Killing Game After All -- Gadgetor

chance bought this cd from the comic store. i think the album is Doom-inspired? pretty cool! check it out! anyway this first section is pretty obviously all violence killing and maiming etc

3. All Futures -- The Armed

4. Bears -- Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

5. You Know What You Are -- Ministry

6. 1969 -- Boards of Canada

we're coming down out of the chaotic songs into some confusion for the amnesia arc, starting with ministry and boards of canada. 7 references an unwilling change of the self, and just fits the vibe right now. 8... should be obvious lol.

7. Long Road Home -- Oneohtrix Point Never

8. I Don't Remember -- Peter Gabriel

9. Come Back June -- Pussy

sorry i heard a psychedelic rock song that starts with a big cat meow and blacked out. EBONY MOMENT!!! this and the next couple songs are again more about contributing to the Feeling of the groovy train than a direct relation to the lyrics. though 10 can be justified by the fact he's british.

10. Hey, Mister Sun -- Bobby Sherman

11. Baby All the Time -- Julien Love (NOTE: NOT IN YT PLAYLIST)

12. Handlebars -- Flobots

i didn't think i would end up keeping this song when i threw it on here but it just... works really well structurally. sigh... okay well it kind of works thematically. we're moving into some merger au territory at this point, which is my way as a fan to give fleet more of a self-actualization arc. establish his own identity, make friends, accept his existence a bit more. 13 is again more focused on the caring environment of groovy train (and the idea that this won't last forever) but we'll come back around to merger in a second.

13. Cursis Melodías -- Natalia Lafourcade

14. Flagiolletes -- Billy Mahonie

15. Wake Up To Be You -- The Aesthetics

i'm so obsessed with this as a song from fleet to sonic. esp focused on the idea of fleet being the trauma dump that everyone wants dead and sonic being the one who gets to keep their friends. another lucky cd find--this time thrifted. this band still has their old website up--you can contact them if you'd like to get ahold of your own copy!

16. Every Home a Prison ft. Jello Biafra -- DJ Coldcut (Inevitable Alien Nation mix)

i'm in love with this song. we're back in merger au btw. fleet is now a goddamn hooligan in the street (teenager socializing outside with his friends).

17. Default -- Django Django

we're getting to the end of his life! canon, not au. once again on the idea of fleet (dying, cringe) being a comparative failure. the next two songs are our big explosive end! 18 is another band i found from a thrifted cd. lucky!

18. Werewolf -- Progger

19. light speed drift ft Kasane Teto + Adachi Rei -- frog96

the end! thanks for listening! ^_^ as a treat, YOU get to see the special bonus track: The Adventures of Little White Baby -- No Soap, Radio.

[thisisrealy2kok]

Miru Takayama With Two-Mix – Rhythmic Youth (1999)

[webdiggerxxx]

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