Category: Tape Collecting

This Tape Just In: Jason Trachtenburg “I Really Love You Tonight” / “Frankie It’s Me! Waiting In The Wings!”

Mike Seay
Left side is the jewel case with a cassette jcard and Jason on the cover. The right side is a yellow cassette of the album

I really didn’t know what to expect from Jason Trachtenburg’s tape, “I Really Love You Tonight”. Getting to listen to something in the literary folk genre might be a first for me. But holy crap, the talent here can’t be denied.

Honestly, I was expecting something experimental and was pleasantly surprised to find out it’s only a little bit. Very catchy but with some weight to it somehow.

I hear the fun side of the Beatles mixed with some Oingo Boingo, Dave Edmunds, and the Bakersfield sound.

Familiar, but with a flair I think only Trachtenburg can deliver.

Find it on Bandcamp.

Frankie It’s Me! Waiting in the Wings!

You’re not going to find many cassettes that have a piccolo trumpet, flutes, a conch shell, and a cow horn. A fun cassette to play for the tikes in your life.

Find it on Bandcamp.

-Mikey

This Tape Just In: Fat Concubine “Empire”

Mike Seay

I had a good time, having this tape on, as I did some writing and wandering around the Internet.

After reading the self description of this album by the band, I feel they sum this up better than I can:

EMPIRE isn’t just a record — it’s an arena. Rooted in friction — and dance. Raw, hard-hitting beats, trumpets, synths, melodic swing, guitar, — all driving forward with sharp precision and pure adrenaline. Each track pounds through power struggles, inner battles, submission, obsession, and resistance. Playing the fiddle while Rome burns — and being serious about it. It’s about the empire inside every one of us. Watch your fools. Your front door. Your tiny pills. Your peace. And take good care of your dogs.

There are only 50 copies of this tape to be had, so head over to their Bandcamp and pick up a cassette, quick.

New Tape Pulls: Minecraft, Ukrainian Hardcore, Castle Rats

Mike Seay

I filtered through some new albums and recent indie releases to give you some new tapes to listen to.

Flower by Dead Drugs

A punk and lo-fi garage band out of Los Angeles:

The Bestinary by Castle Rat

Hard rock with some Doom Metal influence, for sure. Heavy duty.

Big Feeling by PYNKIE

A New Jersey alt-rock/bedroom pop artist who is a registered nurse.

New Rules by Kakerlaken

Hardcore punk from Ukraine. Yep, Ukraine. Seems like supporting anything coming out of Ukraine is the most punk thing to do right now.

Incomprehensible by Double Infinity

Alternative love rock out of Brooklyn.

Minecraft – Volume Alpha by C418

Damn enjoyable and interesting ambient experimental stuff, even if you are not into Minecraft.

Okay. That’s a little taste of some new cassettes I thought you might like. I hope you enjoy one or two, and I’ll be back later with more.

New (and old) Cassette Releases: Lightsabres, Bon Iver, LAGS!

Mike Seay

None of the new albums (that I could see) out today (Friday, Feb 14th) had cassettes available. So I sorted through some fresh cassette releases, future album releases, and re-issues, that you (a fellow cassette nerd) might want to have a look at:

Lightsabres “Beheaded”

The album was originally released way back in October of 2015, but has been given new life with new physical media to buy. See on Bandcamp if you dig it.

Bon Iver “Sable,fAble”

Find it on Bandcamp. (It doesn’t ship until April 11th)

LAGS “Soon”

This is another release of an older album. I don’t know that this would be considered a reissue but more like a new physical release. Italian post-hardcore band, pretty nice stuff. On Bandcamp.

Caput Medusae’s “You Can’t Negotiate With Zombies”

New wave and post-punk from Germany, their debut album with cassette on Bandcamp.

Zachary Reid “My Return To The Ground Will Be Lonely”

I had to find something Ambient to get in here. Another old one but new one tape, this is from Tucson’s, Zachary Reid and can be bought through (you guessed it), Bandcamp.

Hope you discovered something worthy enough to buy or it sent you down a rabbit hole of new-to-you music, at least. Don’t forget your blank tapes.

-Mikey The Tape Player

I Got a New Tape: Tele-Electrica Superbas Vol 1.

Mike Seay
tele electrica cassette tape superbas

Big thanks to Chris for sending me his new cassette Tele-Electrica Superbas Vol 1.

I listened to it, sides a & b, in one sitting while scrolling the internets and writing blog posts.

I have to say that it is excellent music to scroll and write to. I especially liked “Praying”, “Pothole Musique” and “I’m All of What I Can’t Be”. Chris felt this music would sound best on tape and I agree.

Sounds, shades, and tone wonders, it truly is, in the best way.

Remeber, I love getting free cassettes to listen to. If you are a musician or label and want to send me a tape because you are super cool, send to:

The Tape Player co Mike Seay
2037 W. Bullard Ave #153
Fresno, CA 93711

New Cassette Release: Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear

Mike Seay

I noticed today, as I read on one of the music websites (okay, it was Pitchfork), that Franz Ferdinand has a new album out, The Human Fear.

Of course, my first question was “Did they make a tape?” Most of the time it is “no” but not today, they did make a tape!

The cassette is going for $16, which is pricey, especially when the CD is $17 (and only $14 on Amazon). I am not sure what to say about that, does that mean the cassette is getting so much respect the record company feels it is nearly as valuable as a CD?

This is cool. But also, the cheaper price is a major factor in collecting tapes – I hope these prices are only a major release of a new album, prices, and not the new norm.

Of the three free preview songs on their Bandcamp, my favorite is “Night Or Day”

Heads up!: At the time of posting this, there are only seven cassettes left.

P.S. Look at what tickets are going for FOR their album-supporting tour, here.

-Mikey

Oh look, an affiliate!; search for tickets, yo!:

A Record Store Owner’s Top Ten of 2024

Mike Seay
Zack Bryan’s “The Great American Bar Scene”

G.I. Sanders owns North Texas Vinyl and I saw him come across my Instagram feed today, listing what he thinks are the top ten albums of 2024.

I don’t know Mr. Sanders or anything but it seemed like a good list that I wanted to pass on to you.

Of course, there is not going to be cassettes available for all of these (I am pretty upset there is not Cassette for Pearl Jam’s “Dark Matter”). In fact, I only found one cassette on this list. Bummer. Enjoy still:

  1. The Great American Bar Scene – Zack Bryan
  2. Dark Matter – Pearl Jam
  3. I Want Blood – Jerry Cantrell
  4. Passage Du Desir – Sturgill Simpson
  5. All Born Screaming – St. Vincent
  6. No Name – Jack White
  7. Happiness Bastards – The Black Crows
  8. Al La Sala (on cassette!!) – Khruangbin
  9. Live From the Ryman Vol. 2 – Jason Isbell
  10. Leon – Leon Bridges

Here is the list from G.I. himself:

I have not been listening to enough new music this year to come up with my own top ten of the year, so I am defaulting to this one and many others in music media – for instance, check out Bandcamp’s various lists of 2024 essentials.

Somehow, even though I love Jerry Cantrell/Alice In Chains, I forgot he had a new album out this year. I played it through my Amazon Music app as I compiled this post. I will have to go out and get it as it’s good.

I will agree with Pearl Jam’s “Dark Matter” high ranking. I have the CD (sadly there is no cassette) and love it.

Hopefully, there will be more tapes made from new albums in 2025, but for now, this is what we have.

Looking forward to whatever music and new cassettes come our way this year!

-Mikey