The Art Of The Mix Tape

It took hours to make: every free moment curled by the boombox, the local radio station's song-request line set to speed dial, the volume knob turned loud enough to hear, but quiet enough not to wake Mom and Dad. Then, finally, the master product: a flawless combination of Alanis Morissette, Nirvana and Boyz II Men--decorated, doodled on and packaged in that familiar square case--that would become the soundtrack to a fleeting eighth-grade romance.

Ah, the mix tape.

Read more of the Newsweek story...

To some, the mix tape is a cherished art form, the last bastion of a dying era. To others, the mix tape is a relic, out-of-date and utterly unnecessary.

Some say the mix tape is a tool of manipulation, a breaker of hearts. I say that love is a mix tape. And I am not alone.

For all you mix-tape virgins out there, here are some step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect mix tape. Remember, you always want to decorate both the tape itself, and the liner. (I mean, I even decorated the tape player itself. So that should say something.)

Wondering who on earth still uses tapes? Or better yet, where does one even get a tape player? Well, the other HuffPost Living editor swears by her Record / Tape player combo, which she found for $60 on eBay.

The mix tape is the eternal perfect gift. And while we're sticklers for the vintage style and hours of effort that goes into the making of a mix tape, CD compilations work too, and if you're really pressed for time and / or born after 1990, a dedicated iPod playlist is a suitable last resort.
So what is the best mix tape you've ever received? Who gave it to you? Do you still make mix tapes? Are there any songs that you consider mix tape must-haves? We'd looooove to know.

On that note, I still owe my boyfriend a Valentine's Day present...

Happy Mixing!

Comments

[BearsGrl8]

The best mixed tape I ever got was from one of my two best friends when she moved in the middle of eighth grade (from Chicago to Baltimore). Bon Jovi, Arizona, a healthy dose of Blue Oyster Cult, and a bunch more, it grouped the songs we played to death all day every day from fifth through eighth grades. We're still best friends, and I am glad my car has a cassette player so that I can still listen to the tape.

I do still make mixed tapes, though I confess I've made mix CD's as well since tape players are harder to find. My most recent tape came about a year ago from my other best friend, complete with the liner made from a postcard we got on a spontaneous road trip to SC.

I think any mixed tape has to include some 1980's Bon Jovi. It's the perfect combination of angst-y ballads and roll-down-­the-window­s-and-blar­e-the-radi­o anthems. Axton's "Joy to the World" is wonderful and should be part of the mandatory curriculum. :)

[Mizfitz]

I was a Mix Tape Queen! Now I do cd's. Lots of them. Can't stand the radio, so I make my own for driving, working at my desk, etc. Must admit, it's a lot easier to decorate the jewel case and cd with a computer than it ever was with just art supplies and attitude. Long live the Mix!!!

[QFE]

Sorry, previous comment posted in error.