Ghost in the Machine

 

 

When I was in high school, I had a cassette-tape version of The Cure's Disintegration that I played to death.

I played that tape over and over again so many times that it was, quite literally, in the very state of disintegration that the name printed on its side suggested.

When I finally upgraded to a cd version, I kept the cassette.

It seemed almost poetic, a work of art.

(Dude. I was in high school.)

It is quite possibly still in the bottom of a box around here somewhere, along with a sizable stack of ticket stubs from Cure concerts going back as far as the Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me tour. They're the only stubs missing from my collection, and I'd love to know where they wound up.

But anyway. Back to the tape.

I was reminded of it recently when I happened upon the genius work of Erika Iris Simmons and her collection of cassette-tape art she calls "Ghost in the Machine ".

The collection consists of portraits that the Orlando-based artist creates from thrifted cassette tapes, depicting the bands and singers once held inside.

 

 

 

 

Mind-blowingly awesome.

xo

Ballad Of A Thin Man

There are few artists who have an oeuvre as voluminous, as diverse, as lauded, as criticized, as covered, as respected, as influential, or as wordy as that of Bob Dylan.

There are few who changed not to follow the scene, but changed, and the scene followed.

There have been many over the last five decades who have been declared "The New Bob Dylan."

But there is only one to whom the title rightfully belongs.

Happy 70th Birthday, Bob.

xo

                                   

{ps- I'd love to know...what's your favorite Bob Dylan song? My answer is in the comments!}