The Cassette Deck

A$AP Rocky

thecassettedeck — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:47:01 +0000

Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky has been making a lot of waves in the web-o-sphere, including a tour with Drake, not to mention a $3 Million record deal. So he had quite a bit to live up to with his debut mixtape.
However, it almost seems like he didn’t hear the hype. For most people $3 Million would be a gauntlet. Most people would have something to prove. Not A$AP. Who, along with his crew of beat-makers (Clams Casino being among them) mash together drudgy, smoke-and-syrup filled Houston rap with East Coast lyrical flow.
It remains to be seen whether A$AP can stick around for the long haul or if he will blow by like most buzz-darlings.

Grab A$AP Rocky’s debut mixtape here.

Check out a video for the single “Peso” below.

New Track to make it over the hump

thecassettedeck — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:01:06 +0000

Not-New-Years-Yet Resolutions:

Lose weight
Eat right
Keep up with friends/family
Build a birdhouse
Run a marathon
Donate $5 to charity
Start a religion
Buy a hat
Dissolve invented religion
Post to my blog more

Here’s a song to get you through the rest of the week.

thecassettedeck — Sun, 29 May 2011 23:35:05 +0000

Check out this excellent track from London producer Deadboy. He takes a Bon Iver sample and turns it into something completely different. Sweet action.

via Gorilla vs. Bear

Long Due Update

thecassettedeck — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:16:58 +0000

Hey all.

I’m back.

Just wanted to give you an update.

So here goes.

Glad to see such a nice response to my absence. Makes me feel like you guys really care about me. I’m currently in NYC, the city that never sleeps. Somebody famous said that about this city. I’m working at two different internship, busting my ass for no pay, but gotta pay those dues.

Missing my radio show, hope you all are too. In order to make up for the loss of a great show I’m going to start posting tracks more often here. Keep you relevant. Keep you up to date on what’s going on in the music world. Since we can no longer be together at KTCU.
The Cassette Deck is no more. We had a good run. You commented on my blog and maybe even called in once or twice to request a song or chat. It’s nice to feel like people listen. Feel like people are interested in what you have to say. Positive reinforcement. Some day we might be together again. Some sort of “reunion tour” or “special appearance,” as a “last hurrah.” Just like James Murphy/LCD, we might say we’re quitting, but secretly we know we’ll be back. Music is our drug. We’re senseless addicts and continue to come back for more.
Hope you had a good Spring. Hope you’re glad I’m back. I’m glad I’m back.
The Cassette Deck rises. Coming 2011.

Here’s a Casino Clams track to get you started. Get hooked. Welcome back.

thecassettedeck — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:23:37 +0000

Enjoy the playlist. I will post a blog tomorrow (I promise) when I’ve had more than 4 hours sleep and can formulate complete sentences/coherent thoughts.

Greek Style (Digital Bonus) – Gold Panda
Get Up – Washed Out
King of Spain – The Tallest Man On Earth
Badlands – Growlers
Coastal Brake (Lusine Remix) - Tycho
Let Me Go The Right Way (Mono) – The Supremes
The Eraser – Thom Yorke
Nothing Can Change This Love – Sam Cooke
Hey Cool Kid – Cloud Nothings
Throw Aggi Off The Bridge – Black Tambourine
Three Legged Dog – Harlem
Kingfisher – Joanna Newsom
Juliet’s Son – Son Ambulance
Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun
Private Eyes – Hall & Oates
Wasting Time – Reading Rainbow
Mayfly – Belle & Sebastian
Bang Pop (Fool’s Gold REMIX) – Free Energy
Love Is A Many Splendor – Nat King Cole
Go It Alone – Beck
Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down – Interpol
To Be Alone With You – Sufjan Stevens
Space Cowboy – Jamiroquai High Times Singles 1992-2006 Funk 9/6/09 7:00 PM
Get Innocuous! – LCD Soundsystem
Martin Luther King Day – Times New Viking
West Coast – Junk Culture
Two Dancers – Wild Beasts
The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) – The Flaming Lips

Vinyl Countdown

10. Sunshine – Lupe Fiasco
9. Took My Lady To Dinner – King Khan & The Shrines
8. Edmonton – The Rural Alberta Advantage
7. Lemonworld – The National
6. I Am A Rock – Simon & Garfunkel
5. Take Me Somewhere – Tennis
4. Savannah Howl (Hard Mix Remix) – Twin Shadow
3. Vanilla Minus – Gold Panda
2. Hydra – Small Black
1. Soak It Up – Houses

Alternative Transportation

thecassettedeck — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:47:02 +0000

Rode my bike to work today. Just trying to show that I care about the environment/mother earth/god.

Just trying to make a difference in my community/environment/social group...

When I picked out my bike, I struggled with what type to buy. “Which type will make me seem relevant and alternative, without breaking my parents budget?” I wondered. I saw several options:

1. Mountain Bike

Just cuttin' through the woods on my way to "Into to Macoeconomics"

A mountain bike seemed like a good option. They’re pretty cheap. They have sweet shocks and tons of gears, figure I could do some “sweet jumps” on campus to score points with ladies/prove my superiority over other guys. They’re pretty comfortable. They’re not very alternative though. Seems like every “frat douche” rides one around campus. Not really looking to be lumped in with that class.

2. BMX Bike

...cool...?

A BMX bike was another good option. Not sure what “BMX” stands for. Maybe “bullemix.” Not sure what kind of statement a BMX bike would make about me. They’re small and light, but also seem to be ridden by “little white punks” who wear affliction tees and hats backwards. Not sure if I want to be lumped in that category either.

3. Vintage Cruiser Bike

Vintage and Ironic

A Vintage Cruiser sounded like a good idea. Go to thrift stores, avoid “poor” people and grab a bike. This would be good for several reasons. Definitely different that most people’s bikes. Also, “ironic” since I’m a suburban white kid riding a “piece of shit” but in a cool way. Feel like this is a good way to stamp yourself with an alternative stamp. But, they are “heavy as shit”, and I couldn’t carry my bike into coffee shops/whole foods/urban outfitters to prove how much I love the earth.

4. Fixed Gear Bike

Just another "effing hipster"...

On paper, this sounds like the best option. Light, easy to ride. Won’t break every 18 seconds. Also, super customizable, so I can show my love for “mother earth” in a unique and alternative way. However, it seems like “effing hipsters” have taken over the “fixie” bike scene. If I rode one, I’d probably have to start shopping at Whole Foods, become a Vegan, buy skinny American Apparel jeans and drink PBR, which is shit.

Such a tough decision. Just want to be able to help the earth in a public way, so that everyone will see it.

Are bikes the ultimate alternative transportation?
Are mountain bikes for “frat douches?”
If I ride a fixie will I turn into an “effing hipster?”
Should I just ride the bus?

Parisian Goldfish – Flying Lotus
hannah, please – Drug Rug
Change Of Heart – El Perro Del Mar
Section 12 (Hold Me Now) – The Polyphonic Spree Together We’re Heavy Alternative & Punk
Rill Rill – Sleigh Bells
Sir Greendown – Janelle Monáe
Streetwork – Club of the Sons
Gone To Sea – A Classic Education
Sea Talk – Zola Jesus
Lately (Deuxième) – Memoryhouse
En Esta Noche – Las Mosquitas
I’ll Build You A Fire – Seabear
The Ego’s Last Stand – The Flaming Lips
Silas the Magic Car – Mew
Streets of Fire – The New Pornographers
Never Follow Suit – The Radio Dept.
A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
You – Gold Panda
I Can’t Go For That – Hall & Oates
In My Dreams – Eels
Loved-Up – Korallreven
Ooh La La – The Faces
Watch The Glow – Museum of Bellas Artes
Psychic Chasms (BRAHMS Remix) – Neon Indian
All Out Of Tune – Real Estate
These Days – Nico
We Are Young – The Shaky Hands
Sandstone – Tamaryn
Inspiration Information – Shuggie Otis

Vinyl Countdown!!

10. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World – James Brown
9. Forget – Twin Shadow
8. Running Out Of You – Keep Shelly in Athens
7. Pretend The Devil Isn’t Real – Memory Tapes
6. Depletion – No Age
5. A Place We Like – Hooray For Earth vs. Twin Shadow
4. Always On My Mind – Reading Rainbow
3. Patterns On The Wall (Feat. Andrew W.K.) – Fang Island
2. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
1. All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem

Scared Abt Life

thecassettedeck — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 01:12:05 +0000

I’m kind of just realizing that I only have 5 more weeks before I graduate college to become a “real person.” Little nervous, not sure if I’m cut out to be “regular bro” running around balancing budgets and accounting accounts.

My Q2 fiscals went up 2/10ths of a point from last year!

Think a lot of people “give up on their dreams,” and get shitty jobs straight out of college so they can pay the bills and put food on the table for them and their families. Then I think other people don’t quite know when to give up on their dreams, like when people “totally suck” at what they really want to be. (i.e. if you’re fat you’ll never be a model) Maybe I’m more cut out for a chill art job, like just takin photos and selling them on flickr to my family members who support out of pity.

Maybe I should just be a musician and an asshole, just like the guys on the Jersey Shore. They seem like they live a pretty chill life, they just drink, show off their abs, high-five and drink. Think that might not be so bad, plus they’re “hella famous/rich” for basically no reason.

"I'm just riding the chill wave..." -Pauly D.

Maybe I should just go to grad school and prolong my decent into reality by hiding behind the doors of higher education and plunging myself into some good old fashioned American debt.

A brief approximation of my finances should I go to grad school. Scale in single US dollars.

I think maybe I’ll just drop out, not finish college, become a hippie and start a massive drum circle. Yeah…that sounds good…

Just expressing how much I hate mainstream American culture.

Dublake – Kate Simko
Tooth Factory – The Witch
Love Me Girl – Yeasayer
Feel It All Around – Washed Out
Regina Holding Hands – White Denim
I’ll Be Your Mirror – Velvet Underground
Staring At The Sun – TV On The Radio
Whaddya Wanna Know – Cloud Nothings
Hannibal – Caribou
Feeling Today – Botany
Set Your Arms Down – Warpaint
You – Gold Panda
Talamak – Toro Y Moi
Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
Carol – Rolling Stones
People – James Murphy
New Jack – Justice
Tropical Island Suite – Fresh and Onlys
I Wanna Be Your Lover – Prince
Gold Soundz – Pavement
There Are Listed Buildings – Los Campesinos!
Private Eyes – Hall & Oates
No Reasons – VEGA
Badlands – Growlers
Skeleton Boy – Friendly Fires
Simple graces – Delorean
Youth and Lust – Cold Cave
Bright Night – Crystal Stilts
Paradise Circus – Massive Attack
He’s Gone (Chantels cover) – Vivian Girls

Vinyl Countdown

10. Don’t Watch Me Dancing – Little Joy
9. Drain The Blood – The Rural Alberta Advantage
8. Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells
7. Girls – Heartbreaker
6. Get Some – Lykke Li
5. Behind Your Eyes – La Sera
4. Stealing – Chief
3. Poor Animal – Zola Jesus
2. Undertow – Warpaint
1. (What A) Wonderful World – Sam Cooke

Disco Crunk?

thecassettedeck — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:46:19 +0000

A good friend of The Cassette Deck is one hell of a DJ. She classifies her own music as “Disco/Crunk.” Not sure what that means. Then again, I’m still not sure the definition of “Crunk.”

I think it was a term coined by a shitty rapper called “Lil’ John” who wears a lot of gold a jewels and drinks a lot of “Lean” which is a way for poor urbanites to “get loaded.” It’s a drink that combines regular old cough syrup with sprite/juice and grape jolly ranchers.

Sounds like shit to me, but then again, I’m an upper middle class suburbanite who can afford Jack Daniels and a real glass to drink it out of.

You know what's in my cup...

Regardless, Lauren Blakestad mixes some “crazy good shit” tunes. Check it out.

Latest tracks by Lauren Blakestad

National “I’m Not Feeling A Blog” Day

thecassettedeck — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:57:16 +0000

Sorry guys. I’m not in the mood to post a witty blog today.
Here’s the list.
Check back later this week for a post.

Desire Lines – Deerhunter
Heart Skipped A Beat – The XX
New Theory – Washed Out
Slow – Twin Shadow
You – Gold Panda
Go Outside – Cults
Linus Spacehead – Wavves
Search Party – Small Black
Hearts On Fire – Cut Copy
Travelin’ Girl - The Bitters
Low Shoulder – Toro Y Moi
Younger Than Yesterday – Real Estate
Weak for Me – Nite Jewel
Strange Dream – WITCH
Hey Cool Kid – Cloud Nothings
Daily Routine (Phaseone Remix) – Animal Collective
Badlands – Growlers
Lucky 1 – Avey Tare
Blood Dries Darker – Woods
Never Come Around (Mastered) – La Sera
Life Magazine – Cold Cave
Should Have Taken Acid With You (Future Rock Remix) – Neon Indian
Bombay – El Guincho
Dance Yrself Clean – LCD Soundsystem
West Coast – Junk Culture
Girls FM – Happy Birthday
Hang With Me – Robyn
Endless sunset – Delorean
We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire
Martin Luther King Day – Times New Viking

Vinyl Countdown!!

10. Don’t Lie – The Mantles
9. Come Back – The Belles
8. Black Car – Black Tambourine
7. This Must Be The Place – The Talking Heads
6. Turn Into Feathers (Feat. Emily Reo) – Truman Peyote
5. Land Of The Freak – King Khan & The Shrines
4. Too Much – Sufjan Stevens
3. Stuart Gets Lost Dans Le Metro – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
2. Fever Dreaming – No Age
1. Tropical Island Suite – Fresh And Onlys

New Robyn Track

thecassettedeck — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:29:12 +0000

Robyn will be releasing her third album of 2010. It’s impressive enough if an artist can get two albums out…actually one per year. So this outpour of production from the Swedish-born Robyn is staggering.
Check out the first single from Body Talk, Pt. 3 “Indestructible” incidentally the acoustic track from Body Talk, Pt. 2.

Track courtesy of Stereogum