Cassette = Crap?

Here of late there has been a growing interest in cassettes. The demand for old tapes on the Internet is surprising. Also, more and more underground bands are doing cassette only releases. Is it for budgetary reasons or nostalgia? Will it return to a prominent medium? Absolutely not, however it is an interesting trend that has taken hold.

The cassette is a unique format that can make it cumbersome for the listener to skip around searching for their favorite song. This creates an atmosphere were the listener is almost forced to experience the entire album. The argument can be made that in the past this method forced bands to create a great album from beginning to end. From personal experience, yes with a cassette I would listen to it in that manner. I did so to hear the album as a whole, but also because I hated fast forwarding.

Another point I’ve heard is the appreciation of the cassette sound. It is said to have a unique warm sound not found on CD or vinyl. I’ve talked to some who enjoy the flat tones with the fuzzy, hissing background noise. In their mind it is said to give character the same way the popping sound does for vinyl. Yes that sound may bring the listener back to years past, but it does not enrich the quality of the listening experience.

Honestly, I am not a fan of the cassette. I was glad when its mainstream format went extinct years ago. It’s not a reliable source to preserve music. Besides regular degradation, you have to be on guard watching for your player to “eat” the tape. If you grew up with cassettes you definitely know the aggravation of an “eaten” tape. Even if you’re able to repair it, the sound quality will never be the same. With that being said, I don’t think it had a great sound in the first place. Of course an unworn cassette definitely sounds better than an Mp3, but that still doesn’t win the favor of being a zenith of listening.

As mentioned earlier, lots of independent bands are going the cassette route. They like the low fidelity feel. Plus it’s way cheaper to press cassettes versus doing vinyl. I like it in the sense of it being collectible and nostalgic. These types of releases are a hot commodity to collectors that must have all the limited edition releases: color vinyl, picture discs, special booklets, etc. Collectible music items are meant to be just that, collectible. So I feel the same way about bands doing limited cassette releases. This may seem hypocritical approving of these types of releases because earlier I completely belittled the cassette format as a whole.

My final thought is the cassette is a fun novelty for limited releases but I do not understand the collectors who scour the earth searching for old tapes. Who am I to judge? If it brings them pleasure, then so be it. Who knows, maybe next the 8 track will make a comeback…..