Audio Autocracy

Mix 09: Pulling for a Pulse - 1994 Revisited (Part IV)

2010-04-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

As the final entry in this collaborative, explorative venture, Pulling for a Pulse searches in multiple directions for the heartbeat that drove 1994 to be one of the great years in our collective musical history. As Chris correctly noted, 1994 seems to be, in many ways, the apex of the scene. Some of the major players such as Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Soundgarden recorded their final noteworthy albums while former foundation musicians of great bands, such as Frank Black of the Pixies, attempted to recreate or expand their image and style as solo artists or with new incarnations. Simultaneously, a few new artists emerged and gave us a glimpse into things to come.

Pulling for a Pulse attempts to capture both the twilight of the music that was and the dawning of the music that would become. Lush's first track is the only song off of their album Split that seems to harken back to their beautifully dark album Spooky. Pearl Jam follows with "Corduroy" from Vitalogy to remind us why we all fell for this band as soon as Ten hit the shelves back in 1991. Live's Throwing Copper remains one of my favorite albums (the only really good, consistent one from the band) and "I Alone" is a highlight on their sophomore breakthrough. The Cranes are a mixed bag as a whole but "Beautiful Friend" is an insanely enrapturing song. The next two songs underline how Bob Mould and Frank Black removed the shackles from their previous efforts and moved in new directions as a band (Sugar) and as a solo artist respectively. Beck's album Mellow Gold exposed the irresistible, avant-guarde, lo-fi pop that he would continue for the next 15 years and "Snoozer" seems to encapsulate this style perfectly. And finally, the last three songs punctuate what I consider to be each artist's final profound execution.

I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have putting it together with my longtime friend. Onward we go while reflecting on where we came from.

01. Lush - Light from a Dead Star

02. Pearl Jam - Corduroy

03. Live - I Alone

04. Cranes - Beautiful Friend

05. Sugar - Your Favorite Thing

06. Frank Black - Headache

07. Beck - Snoozer

08. Jesus and Mary Chain - Sometimes Always

09. Nine Inch Nails - March of the Pigs

10. Ride - How Does It Feel to Feel

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Mix 08: Style and Substance - 1994 Revisited (Part III)

2010-04-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Trying to find time to write an introduction to this week's mix has been difficult, so we'll make this short and sweet. Style and Substance, the third entry in our series, is intended to showcase a few bands that defy conformity and challenge expectations.

For some listeners, these songs may be mere forays into stylistic expression, nothing more and nothing less. I would argue, however, that even though style is paramount to the execution of this material, each song is substantive in its own right. Scratch beneath the surface, and you'll find creative artists at the top of their game. Style and Substance... Is the title of this mix making sense now?

The mix begins with a sample of dialogue from Pulp Fiction, a film rife with style and substance; it contains one of the most popular and influential soundtracks of all time. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion kicks off the music and is followed by one of my favorite tracks by the Beastie Boys. Marilyn Manson turns up the volume with an Alice Cooper-influenced tale of a drug-addled magician (hey, it's a creative song), followed by an acoustic number by the Violent Femmes (a band who has incorporated nearly every musical style available). The rest, my friends, will speak for itself. Enjoy!

01. Ezekiel 25/17 • Samuel L. Jackson
02. Bellbottoms • The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
03. Sabotage • Beastie Boys
04. Dope Hat • Marilyn Manson
05. I'm Nothing • Violent Femmes
06. Possum Kingdom • Toadies
07. In The Mind Of The Bourgeois Reader • Sonic Youth
08. Biscuits For Smut • Helmet
09. Hole In The Bucket • Spearhead
10. Screenwriter's Blues • Soul Coughing
11. Safeway Cart • Neil Young

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Mix 07: Tumbling into Texture - 1994 Revisited (Part II)

2010-04-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Just prior to embarking on his journey to Vietnam, Carl Beach managed to put together and submit the second volume in our series exploring the sounds of 1994. Though he didn’t have time to write an introduction, Carl commented that the mood of Tumbling into Texture aptly captures the way he felt in 1994. Poetic? Melancholy? Sensitive? Reflective? Disillusioned?

One look at the artists presented here, and you’ll know the correct answer is "all of the above." From Massive Attack to the Cure, Tumbling into Texture finds beauty in darkness, colors in sepia tone, hope in despair. “Burn” remains one of my favorite Cure songs, and I’m always stunned by the sadness that ultimately displaces and haunts the seemingly callous encounter in “Chopsticks.”

Though I have many of these albums in my collection, there are a handful of tracks that are completely new to me (Stina Nordenstam, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco); a reminder that there are so many great artists, songs and albums yet to grace my eager ears. Enjoy.

01. Protection - Massive Attack
02. When Debbie's Back From Texas - Stina Nordenstam
03. Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
04. Chopsticks - Liz Phair
05. Strangers - Portishead
06. Thirteen - Johnny Cash
07. Past The Mission - Tori Amos
08. If He Tries Anything - Ani Difranco
09. Fear - Sarah McLachlan
10. Burn - The Cure

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Mix 06: Aged to Perfection - 1994 Revisited (Part I)

2010-03-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

Aged to Perfection is the first volume in a multipart series set to explore the musical environment of 1994. To help in this undertaking, friend and blog contributor Carl Beach has agreed to alternate weeks and mixes with me—giving you an overview of 1994 from two distinct perspectives.

Looking back on the 1990s, I find at least two exceptional years for music: 1991 and 1994. In 1991, college radio and alternative music crept into the mainstream and began its meteoric rise to cultural dominance. Grunge would destroy the already imploding bands of hair metal, while bands like U2 would help ignite a renaissance in musical experimentation. In the next couple of years, a plethora of new and exciting bands would debut, substituting formulaic stock with more original ingredients.

The scene would essentially peak in 1994. In that year, Kurt Cobain took his own life, placing a final exclamation mark on grunge—a genre marked by angst, despair and nihilism. But 1994 was also a year marked by exceptional albums, debuts and artistic triumphs. In the years to follow, radio and MTV would succumb to the sounds of recycled post-grunge, watered-down “alternative” and teen pop. But for a few years in the early 90s, the music scene was ripe with remarkable work.

Aged to Perfection is primarily rooted in classic rock—capturing the authenticity of spirt and the musical exploration first mined by veteran bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones. That bands like Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and The Black Crowes would borrow heavily from these masters is simply a testament to the timeless appeal of the music generated in the late 60s and early 70s.

Hope you enjoy this first volume in our series. I’m not sure what Carl has planned for Volume Two, but I can tell you that Volume Three (tentatively titled Style and Substance) will be vastly different from this first entry. Stay tuned...

01. Vasoline • Stone Temple Pilots
02. A Conspiracy • The Black Crowes
03. Backwater • Meat Puppets
04. Struttin' • Primal Scream
05. What Do You Want From Me • Pink Floyd
06. Head Down • Soundgarden
07. Moon Is Up • The Rolling Stones
08. Send Me On My Way • Rusted Root
09. Friends • Page & Plant
10. Where Did You Sleep Last Night? • Nirvana

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Guest Mix 05: Synth Pop

2010-03-03T10:14:00.001-08:00

As promised, this week's mix comes courtesy of Travis Dyer. Known as DJ Illustrious to his Charlottesville, Virginia, radio show listeners, Travis's musical tastes run the gamut. From hip hop to electronica, industrial to metal, Travis delivers the goods. His first contribution to this blog is a journey back into the sounds of 80s synth pop — a sound that a slew of contemporary bands (Killers, Dandy Warhols, MGMT, more) have successfully been revisiting. Eschewing more popular 80s gems, Travis dug a little deeper to give us a mix that doesn't sound nearly as dated as you might think (my horrible album cover doesn't give this collection much justice).

So, what is synth pop?

Synth Pop emerged during the early '80s, as a variation of New Wave. Where New Wave utilized guitar considerably, Synth Pop often pushed that traditional rock and roll instrument completely out of the picture and moved keyboards, drum machines, and samplers to the forefront. Synth Pop has its own stylistic tendencies which differentiate it from other music produced by the same means. These include the exploitation of artificiality (i.e., the synthesis of sounds from waveforms) where the synthesizers are not used to imitate acoustic instruments, the use of mechanical sounding rhythms, vocal arrangements as a counterpoint to the artificiality of the instruments.

Enjoy the mix!

1. Forever Young - Alphaville
2. The Great Commandment - Camouflage
3. Blasphemous Rumours - Depeche Mode
4. Save A Prayer - Duran Duran
5. Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
6. Everlasting Love - Howard Jones
7. Walking Away - Information Society
8. Never Ending Story - Kajagoogoo and Limahl
9. True Faith - New Order
10. Don't Go - Yaz

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Upcoming

2010-02-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

Alas, dear listeners, I've failed to deliver on my weekly commitment. Rest assured, Audio Autocracy will return next week with a guest submission from Travis Dyer, AKA DJ Illustrious—a bona fide DJ from Charlottesville, Virginia. Travis turned in a really cool "synth pop" mix many days ago, but due to child-rearing responsibilities and a subsequent lack of sleep, I've been unable to post it. Look for it next week.

Shortly thereafter, Carl Beach and I plan on alternating weeks with a series of mixes that explore some highlights from music released in 1994. In addition, I hope to have a folk-country mix ready which will feature tracks from the newly released Johnny Cash album (his last recordings), the Avett Brothers, Ryan Bingham and others.

But first, dear listeners, comes sleep. I'm overdue.

Guest Mix 04: a.fluid.affect: volume V

2010-02-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a recent week off from work, I am able to rejoin this project again. My newest mix begins with some smooth electronica and quickly moves into contradictory pop territory: from a song recently featured as a Starbuck's single to one of my favorite longtime artists, Suzanne Vega, to a funky cover of Beyonce's 'Halo' to a song featured on a Korean Gap ad (and one I couldn't get out of my head for weeks) to some indie rock to pure, unadulterated K-pop that I hear incessantly from my students' iPods (and therefore, can't get out of my head for weeks). Thus, to say the least, this mix is all over the place. So, like a venereal disease, in the name of sharing for pleasure, get the latest goods. Yiggay'all, Carl.

Download Here

Mix 05: In the Court of the King

2010-02-11T08:30:00.001-08:00

Every budding dramatist and fledging writer is familiar with Joseph Campbell's paradigm for the hero's journey. Our most beloved novels and films, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, are examples of modern mythology that utilize Campbell's definition of a hero. In summary, the hero starts in an ordinary world, receives a call to adventure, undergoes a series of tests and trials (often with assistance of a wise sage or learned warrior), and then faces an ultimate challenge or test, often resulting in the discovery of an important self-knowledge.

My personal journey began when I left the familiar terrain of Wyoming for the rolling hills and sunshine of San Diego. Though hardly a distant land, the move was a symbolic journey of sorts. It was my first venture into the real world—a journey that would transform my youthful ideals into adult realism.

This journey could have been disastrous without the aid, friendship, and brotherly advice I received from one learned warrior, Mr. Trevor Hill. Together, Trevor and I battled jobs in two of the same arenas (Auto Trader & WildStorm), traveled the endless roads, highways and freeways of San Diego County, drank good wine, ate wonderful food, and attended a slew of concerts and street festivals. For a few years, life in San Diego was truly mythical.

Older, wiser, and more stubborn, Trevor is everything this young hero could ask for in a stalwart brother and this mix is dedicated to him. The songs were chosen to reflect the soundscape of the time. We commuted to work together and spent many hours listening to these artists (and a ton more not featured here). Six of these bands we saw live. After a few listens, I noticed that a lot of these songs deal with resignation, loss and moving on. Maybe my subconscious is allowing me to let go of a wonderful adventure... and to remind me that even if I am no longer a resident in the Court of the King, he forever remains a brother and best friend.

01. Aerials • System Of A Down
02. Nice To Know You • Incubus
03. Place For My Head • Linkin Park
04. Rise • The Cult
05. Laughing • Sprung Monkey
06. Maybe Someday • The Cure
07. We Used To Be Friends • The Dandy Warhols
08. You Speak My Language • Collective Soul
09. Get In or Get Out • Hot Hot Heat
10. San Diego Shutdown • Los Straitjackets
11 - 12. Larry Berry Bonus Tracks

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Mix 04: Battle of the Sexes

2010-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

If you've seen the film High Fidelity, you will know that it's a story of a record store owner who searches for meaning and maturity while in the midst of a crumbling relationship. He is obsessed with music and is convinced that each of us is defined by our individual tastes in pop culture. "These things matter," he claims. He soon learns, however, that here is much more to life than records, mixtapes and good taste in music (and despite the existence of this very blog, I think I've learned that lesson as well).

In the spirit of High Fidelity, I thought it would be fun to explore the complexities of romance by juxtaposing love songs performed by both male and female artists alike. I began working on this mix a few weeks ago in anticipation of releasing it the week of Valentine's Day. But then something happened. I had compiled a playlist of 20 or more contending songs when I learned that one of my good friends was undergoing some relationship woes of his own. Suddenly, life began to imitate art and I found myself crafting this mix with my friend foremost in mind.

By no means is this mix meant to make light of a very serious matter. On the contrary, I thought a mix of venom-laced breakup songs might just be a little therapeutic. After all, I would bet that the majority of lyrical music written has something to do with love, the opposite sex, or the end of a romance. Relationship woes have plagued mankind from the very beginning (just ask Adam and Eve). For those of you, dear listeners, who are fortunate to have a solid relationship... count yourself lucky. For those who don't, this mix is to remind you that you are never alone.

01. Good Times Bad Times • Led Zeppelin
02. High Fidelity Dialogue Part One
03. Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) • Dramarama
04. Point of View • D.A.D.
05. Understand Your Man • Johnny Cash
06. Ciao! • Lush
07. Ever Fallen In Love? • Nouvelle Vague
08. I Can See For Miles • The Who
09. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone • The Monkees
10. I Just Wanna Get Along • The Breeders
11. High Fidelity Dialogue Part Two
12. Ball and Chain • Social Distortion

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Guest Mix 03: a.fluid.affect: volume IV - part 2

2010-01-27T00:46:00.000-08:00

How could I possibly add to such a flattering introduction as the one given by Chris below? I just don't think I could...but I will try. The feelings of influence and critique on music and artistry are mutual between Chris and myself. For years we have traded, discussed and even argued a bit about the merits of various artists and their abilities to move us, define us, and construct us. The results of this long standing exchange seem to ebb and flow as we continue to push each other into new, and sometimes old, terrain. Regardless, I think both of us are better for it, which is exactly what we have friends for.

However, despite Chris's high acclaim of my tastes, I am never convinced of my musical understanding. This mix simply puts together some alt with some indie with some pop...whatever that means. The first song, "Heart to Fool", by Natureboy killed on first listen. Haunting and visceral, the song contrasts heavily with Neon Indian's pushing lo-fi electronica on "Psychic Chasms." The female duo The Pack A.D. follows to rock with blues inspired goodness and confirms that Becky Black is a voice to be reckoned with. Rob Crow smooths out. The Boxer Rebellion pops rock. daranyck previews the upcoming season. The Rocketboys make intelligent pop. Finally, Sleigh Bells make for fun.

Hope you enjoy it and thanks Chris...for everything.

Guest Mix 03: a.fluid.affect: volume IV

2010-01-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

This week's guest mix comes courtesy of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Carl Beach. Quite possibly one of my most influential friends, Carl has been instrumental in introducing me to many of my favorite artists (The Cure, Pixies, and Concrete Blonde to name a few). I still have a cassette tape that he gave me years ago (and yes, dear listeners, we shall revisit that mix in due time).

All of Carl's mixes come highly recommended and he plans to be a regular contributor to this blog. You can find more music and a series of his essays by visiting his blog at http://thefluidaffect.com. And finally, let it be known, here and now, that Carl was the FIRST to lambast, critique and poke fun of my obsession with hair metal. The rest of you naysayers have some catching up to do!

An introduction from Carl as well as track listing will be posted shortly. The download is available now.

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Mix 03: Infrequency

2010-01-19T12:53:00.001-08:00

For the past 30 years or more, artists have bemoaned change as they wax nostalgic for the days when rock and roll was at its most pure. For Don McClean, singer of “American Pie,” the music died with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. Some critics would argue rock and roll ended with the Beatles, or would cite the date of death somewhere between 1972 and 1974. Others would claim disco killed rock and roll. Or punk. Or MTV. Others blame Kurt Cobain.

So, is rock and roll really dead?

According to Nielsen SoundScan, CD sales dropped 45 percent from 2000 to 2008. Tower Records, Sam Goody, and a score of other music outlets sank into oblivion during the course of the last decade. Major big-box stores like Wal Mart and Best Buy continue to cut back on CD shelf space while mom-and-pop record stores are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. It truly is the end of an era.

So, with that in mind, I thought I would put up a mix that celebrates the evolution of music. This one focuses primarily on the days of rock and roll radio—using a mixture of tunes that span four decades. You get two Ramones tracks, a rousing rocker by the Boss, a folk ditty by Tom Petty, a couple of F-bombs from Steve Earle, and a collaboration between Stone’s guitarist Mick Taylor and one of my favorite bands, Dramarama (doing “Classic Rot,” a song protesting the monotonous classic rock format —you know, those stations that have played the same four Dylan, Zeppelin and Rolling Stone songs over and over again for the past 30 years).

Finally, I was originally going to write about why I chose the title “Infrequency,” but I’ll opt to let you figure it out. Note: it has nothing to do with bowel movements.

Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? • Ramones
Classic Rot • Dramarama
Radio, Radio • Elvis Costello
Telstar • The Ventures
Let There Be Rock • AC/DC
The Last DJ • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Radio Nowhere • Bruce Springsteen
F the CC • Steve Earle
Pumping on Your Stereo • Supergrass
Stay Positive • The Hold Steady
We Want the Airwaves • Ramones

Available Upon Request

Guest Mix 02: Captain Captain Vs. the Holy Mountain

2010-01-15T07:49:00.001-08:00

Audio Autocracy's second Guest Mix, courtesy of Josh Whitehead.

Part II of the Whitehead takeover, as we’re prone to do, just ask Chris (wink wink). This mix has no theme other than I listen to a lot of hip-hop, and not the stuff you hear on the radio, but the stuff that you should be hearing on the radio. The kind of hip-hop that reminds me why I first loved NWA and Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, etc etc. So this is just a small collection from a rather large playlist I’m constantly compiling so I don’t lose track of the good hip-hop that I come across. Originally I started mixing it with interludes of my own beats, but decided against it, but stay tuned for a future mix with music by yours truly. For now, enjoy the work of professionals. So go rent the Holy Mountain and remember:

DRINK YOUR SCHOOL, STAY IN DRUGS, AND DON’T DO MILK.

1. Oh No – Midnight Missions
2. Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
3. Black Milk – Keep Going
4. Q-Tip – You
5. Strong Arm Steady – Questions ft. Planet Asia & Fashawn
6. Brother Ali – Us
7. Self Scientific – Designer Music
8. Fashawn – Life As A Shorty ft. J. Mitchell
9. BK-One – The True & Living ft. Raekwon & I Self Divine
10. Kam Moye - Reborn

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Guest Mix 01: Live For Today, Because Tomorrow...

2010-01-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Audio Autocracy's first Guest Mix, courtesy of Mr. Jon Whitehead (AKA JLeopard).

Well, well, well, guess I'm the big nerd who jumped on the offer to post his own mix on the autocratic audiophile site. The theme for this mix is all-live tracks from some of my favorite bands. There is one(I think) cool cover on here and otherwise just good live stuff. Are there better live tracks out there? Most likely, but these were the ones I had and could find. I love live music, and hearing live tracks that are well recorded because they remind you of being in the audience and either hearing your favorite music done by your favorite bands. Or when your favorite bands stretch outside their catalogue and play something that they like by another band, always a cool moment. Hope you enjoy, hope it helps the blog, let me know what you think.

Tracklist
1. Foo Fighters- Keep The Car Running
2. Neil Young- Cinnamon Girl
3. Wilco- Handshake Drugs
4. Lou Reed- Sweet Jane
5. Pearl Jam- Daughter
6. Black Crowes- Cursed Diamond
7. Arcade Fire/David Bowie- Wake Up
8. The Band- The Shape I'm In
9. Wilco- California Stars
10. Allman Bros. Band- One Way Out

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Mix 02: Walk Believer Walk

2010-01-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

"I don't know which will go first—rock and roll or Christianity," John Lennon once quipped. The end result was a conservative backlash against the Beatles, one that resulted in a legion of betrayed fans burning their albums and denouncing Lennon as a Satanic heretic.

Throughout the subsequent decades, parents continued to wage a morality war against rock and roll. From John Lennon to Ozzy Osbourne, to Prince and Marilyn Manson, the "devil's music" has taken many shapes and forms. But if the parents had really listened, if they had looked beyond the shock, beyond the noise, they would have discovered artists searching for spiritual direction.

What does this all have to do with this week's mix? Not much really. The songs presented here are all contemporary, but each harken back to the sounds and spirit of the late 60s and early 70s, when artists like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Neil Young took rock and roll into a different era. An amalgamation of the blues, gospel and folk filtered through amplifiers. This is rock and roll. Yesterday's parents would surely find this all very objectionable. But I suggest, dear listeners, that sometimes a little rebellion is our only means home. Keep walking...

01. California Queen • Wolfmother
02. Angels • Black Mountain
03. Strange Times • The Black Keys
04. Things Fall Apart • Built To Spill
05. Walk Believer Walk • The Black Crowes
06. Scumbag Blues • Them Crooked Vultures
07. Malignant Narcissism • Rush
08. Treat Me Like Your Mother • The Dead Weather
09. (Get Off Your) High Horse Lady • Oasis
10. Top Yourself • The Raconteurs

Available Upon Request

Origins of the Mixtape

2010-01-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Wikipedia.

A mixtape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a theme or mood, to a highly personal statement tailored to the tape's intended recipient. Essayist Geoffrey O'Brien has called the personal mixtape "the most widely practiced American art form", and many mixtape enthusiasts believe that by carefully selecting and ordering the tracks in a mix, an artistic statement can be created that is greater than the sum of its individual songs, much as an album of pop music in the post-Beatles era can be considered as something more than a collection of singles.

With the advent of affordable, consumer-level digital audio, creating and distributing mixes in the form of compact disc or MP3 playlists has become the contemporary method of choice, but the term mixtape is still commonly used, even for mixes in different media (CD, MP3, MiniDisc, audio cassette 8 track, etc.). Video mixtapes have emerged as well.

Homemade mixtapes became common in the 1980s. Although the compact audio cassette by Philips appeared at the 1963 Berlin radio show, the sound quality of cassettes was not good enough to be seriously considered for music recording until further advances in tape formulations, including the advent of chrome and metal tape. Before the introduction of the audio cassette, the creation of a pop music compilation required specialized or cumbersome equipment, such as a reel-to-reel or 8 track recorder, that was often inaccessible to the casual music fan. As cassette tapes and recorders grew in popularity and portability, these technological hurdles were lowered to the point where the only resources required to create a mix were a handful of cassettes and a cassette recorder connected to a source of prerecorded music, such as a radio or LP player. The 8-track tape cartridge was more popular for music recording during much of the 1960s, as the cassette was originally only mono and intended for vocal recordings only, such as in office dictation machines. But improvements in fidelity finally allowed the cassette to become a major player. The ready availability of the cassette and higher quality home recording decks to serve the home casual user allowed the cassette to become the dominant tape format, to the point that the 8 track tape nearly disappeared shortly after the turn of the 1980s. The growth of the mixtape was also encouraged by improved quality and increased popularity of audio cassette players in car entertainment systems, and by the introduction of the Sony Walkman in 1979.

A distinction should be drawn between a private mixtape, which is usually intended for a specific listener or private social event, and a public mixtape, or "party tape", usually consisting of a recording of a club performance by a DJ and intended to be sold to multiple individuals. In the 1970s, such DJs as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, Kool Herc and the Herculoids, DJ Breakout, the Funky Four, and DJ Hollywood would often distribute recordings of their club performances via audio cassette, as well as customized recordings (often prepared at exorbitant prices) for individual tape purchasers. These recordings tended to be of higher technical ability than home-made mixtapes and incorporated techniques such as beatmatching and scratching. One 12 October 1974 article in Billboard Magazine reported, "Tapes were originally dubbed by jockeys to serve as standbys for times when they did not have disco turntables to hand. The tapes represent each jockey's concept of programming, placing, and sequencing of record sides. The music is heard without interruption. One- to three-hour programs bring anywhere from $30 to $75 per tape, mostly reel-to-reel, but increasingly on cartridge and cassette." Club proprietors, as well as DJs, would often prepare such tapes for sale.

Throughout the 1980s, mixtapes were a highly visible element of youth culture. However, the increased availability of CD burners and MP3 players and the gradual disappearance of cassette players in cars and households have led to a decline in the popularity of the compact audio cassette as a medium for homemade mixes. The high point of traditional mixtape culture was arguably the publication of Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity in 1995. Since then, mixtapes have largely been replaced by mix CDs and shared MP3 playlists, which are more durable, can hold more songs, and require minutes (rather than hours) to prepare. While some mixtape enthusiasts bemoan the obsolescence of the cassette tape, others concede that the greater convenience offered by the mix CD has expanded the possibilities and accessibility of the medium, as indicated by the recent resurgence of mix-swapping clubs that trade mix CDs by regular mail. Some mix enthusiasts also appreciate the potential of the mix CD for extended, continuous mixes and creative album art.

From an artistic point of view, many creators of mixtapes seem to regard them as a form of emotional self-expression, although whether a mixtape retains the same web of emotional associations when passed from its creator to the recipient is, at best, debatable. Some argue that in selecting, juxtaposing, or even editing originally unrelated tracks of pop music into a new work of art, the "author" of a mixtape moves from passive listener to archivist, editor, and finally active participant in the process of musical creation. (Some legitimacy for this viewpoint was provided by Cassette Stories, a 2003 exhibition at the Museum of Communication in Hamburg, Germany, which featured stories and submissions from eighty mixtape enthusiasts.)

However, this perception of the mixtape as a work of art has been criticized as resulting in a sort of elitism, with creators becoming more concerned with finding arcane and surprising combinations of tracks than with creating a tape that is listenable, enjoyable, or appropriate to its intended recipient. (In High Fidelity, for example, the narrator's girlfriend complains that his mixtapes are too didactic.) On a very basic level, the creation of a mixtape can be seen as an expression of the individual compiler's taste in music, often put forward for the implicit approval of the tape's recipient, and in many cases as a tentative step towards building the compiler's personal canon of pop music.

Mix 01: Panoramic By Design

2010-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

Panoramic By Design, the first mix to be offered on this site, is a collection of some of my favorite songs released during the past couple of years. Most of these songs are optimistic, even anthemic, others are more subdued and reflective—a suitable sendoff to a decade marked by hope and resignation. For many of us, the past ten years was the end of an era—an end to innocence. We went to sleep as children and woke up as adults. Suddenly, the world became a very frightening place. Yet, not all is lost. There are moments when our inner child rises to wage war with the bitter monsters of the grownup world. And if we are lucky, love, hope and a sense of adventure will prevail. For this coming decade, let's let the kids win.

01. Life In Technicolor • Coldplay 2:30
02. No Line On The Horizon • U2 4:04
03. Knocked Up • Kings of Leon 7:08
04. Windowsill • Arcade Fire 4:10
05. My Body's A Zombie For You • Dead Man's Bones 4:07
06. Kids • MGMT 4:53
07. Garbage Heap • Black Francis 2:45
08. Of Monsters, Heroes and Men • James 4:36
09. DLZ • TV On The Radio 3:38
10. Heads Will Roll • Yeah Yeah Yeahs 3:41

Available Upon Request

Welcome to Audio Autocracy

2010-01-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Audio Autocracy, a site dedicated to the preservation of sharing music. It was illegal then, and it's illegal now. But there has always been something quite wonderful about giving and receiving mixtapes. I have a box of them still. Like tiny time capsules, they take me back to the days before IPods and the internet, back into a time when it was still cool to scrawl the names of your favorite bands onto your notebook and slip the girl of your dreams a cassette filled with sentiment you could only dream of saying aloud.

Cassette tapes gave way to the compact disc, and now CDs are on the verge of extinction. Someday, an archeologist will unearth my home and discover close to 1,000 of these shiny artifacts and wonder what primitive man would waste so much money on such trifles? Actually, my children will probably wonder the same question in just a few years.

Yet, I remain dedicated.

My first mixtape was given to me by my father many years ago. It was then when I first heard the Beatles, Cat Stevens, and other artists my dad deemed safe for my listening ears. Twenty-five years later, he still sends me music—introducing me to Arcade Fire, Dr. Dog, TV on the Radio, and a ton of other great artists. And then there were the CDs and tapes given to me by close friends and allies, ladies and gentlemen alike. I've kept them all. And perhaps, dear listeners, we shall revisit some of those mixtapes together.

So join me, once a week, as I unleash a new mix onto the world. There will be a variety of genres and sounds—moods and themes. Each mix will be contained to ten songs so as to alleviate boredom. This blog will also feature mixes from special contributors—a select group of friends whose tastes have influenced my own. Feel free to comment, make suggestions or send requests, and, above all, enjoy the tunes.