We’re in the full swing of Fall! As we have entered another season, we welcome another tape to the CTEP! Autumn is a time of introspection as the world slows down to squeeze the remaining sweetness out of the golden days before winter. I have compiled what I believe to be a mixtape that perfectly…
New Stuff: Bargain Bin Classics
The junkyard. The Dead Zone. The scrap heap. The junk drawer. The clearance section. The bargain bin. Whatever you call it, this is an area we can all somewhat visualize in our minds. A section of a shop (I suppose this extends beyond record shops) that is full of stuff that nobody is buying because…
What the Hell is This? Supersexy Swingin’ Sounds
You’ve found something cool, something so rad that you knew you were going to buy it the moment you saw it. You excitedly threw the tape into your deck and as the sound waves first washed over your ears, you realized that something was wrong! “What the hell is this?” For me, it was the…
O’KNC: Flipadelphia!
Today, we are in Philadelphia to play our first gig out of New England and our first in Pennslyvania. We take to the stage at Century Bar at 8pm with Swwik to follow! When you think of playing in a rock band, you probably don’t visualize getting up before 6am to hit the road to…
Update 1.0: What’s Going On?
Things are moving right along here at the CTEP! You may have noticed this address is no longer cassette tape exchange program.wordpress.com (which just rolls right off the tongue!) but is now, www.CassetteExchange.com! This new “identity” is accompanied by a new look and some formatting changes as things settle into place. This is an exciting step towards legitimacy for the…
The Space Ace Delivers!
This one is particularly exciting! This is an album I have enjoyed throughout my life; Ace Frehley’s Trouble Walkin’. I have never owned this album in any format and I was thrilled to have found it. Unfortunately, side A is fairly worn but is still listenable. Luckily, side B is alive and well, which includes the title…
Basement Trash: Worth Looking Through
Johnny Mainstream’s 2016 EP Basement Trash is actually a gem! This four track release employs themes of sun soaked struggle, drinks with friends, drinks alone, and sarcastic honesty. The songs blend elements of folk, indie, punk, and Americana to create a sound both intimately genuine and infectiously catchy. The EP kicks off with a bang from…
3 Tapes Grace: Pretty Simple Mix
I had a very specific idea for this tape; construct a mix of sounds I found to be pleasant without overthinking. I was looking for themes of simplicity, ease, introspection, relaxation, and beauty. I’m well aware that none of these songs embody each quality and I failed at not overthinking. However, I believe this is…
Another Bunch of Winners
Well, I have done it again! Success at the record shop! Sometimes, I’m looking for something in particular and other times I’m totally winging it. This time it was a beautiful combination of the two. I will acknowledge that this blog (dreadful word) is seemingly exclusive to cassettes but the truth is that I don’t often…
The Oldest Cassette I Own
Here we are, celebrating a month of sharing good music! I would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to stop by and check out what’s going on! Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty! Cassettes, I will admit (as should anyone) are vintage/retro/out-dated technology. They don’t make cars with tape decks…
Challenges of a Limited Collection
One challenge I face when making a mixtape is the limitation of my own collection. I make mixtapes by transferring CDs and tapes (and potentially vinyl!) to tape. My taste is somewhat wide in overall scope but ultimately not extremely deep. I specialize in “Classic Rock” with an appreciation for most ALL genres. Obviously, there…
Tape #2: Summer 2017
The second tape is here!
