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A Mixtape Will Still Get You Laid

Mixtapes are sweet, cuddly, nothing-but-good-vibes pieces of plastic and sound. If anything is left over in the wreckage of a bad breakup and dividing of the stuff, that's it. And no matter how hard you try, you just can't hate it. Cassette From My Ex...
Ellis Jones
London, GB

The inaugural mixtape was surpassed long ago by wondrous advances in the world of magic, more boringly referred to as technology. Nowadays, you can “station gift” that special someone with an individually tailored radio station from Pandora. But c’mon! Station gifting might as well be a new code word for, “I made something for you, it’s called herpes and sorry if you don’t like the way it sounds, but you are stuck with it. Forever.” …Because nothing comes close to the blissful state of nirvana you enter into when someone mouths to you, “I made you a mixtape.” These are sweet, cuddly, nothing-but-good-vibes pieces of plastic and sound. If anything is left over in the wreckage of a bad breakup and dividing of the stuff, that's it. And no matter how hard you try, you just can’t hate it. In fact, you will probably bear an emotional tattoo of nostalgia for it.Cassette From My Ex is proof that this is true, and it is also proof that the internet is a powerful tool of alchemy. What started out as a cute website is now a new book coming out this month reminiscing on mixtapes and the stories and soundtracks of lost loves. The release party is tonight from 7 to 8:30 at Housing Works Bookstore Café and features a variety show/panel including editor Jason Bitner (also of FOUND enterprises) and contributors Claudia Gonson (The Magnetic Fields), Joe Levy (Maxim Magazine), and Michael Hearst (One Ring Zero). They’ll discuss the allure of sharing personal stories while actually doing so. Illustrator Arthur Jones will also be there to tell the tale of his own virginity loss. It will be really touchy-feely, perhaps heartwarming and/or educational. It'll definitely give you some ideas for strange and killer playlists.