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

Mix Tape Monday, Volume Video Killed The Radio Star

A rain-soaked hello and a late day welcome to August, Dear Readers!

It is indeed the first day of a new month, and a Monday to boot, making today Mix Tape Monday. We're changing things up a bit this time around, because today marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of MTV. And though I was but a wee small girl on that long-ago day, I still have hazy memories of watching those first few videos with my dad and my mom's brother (who was living with us at the time).

Which begs the question-what was I still doing up at midnight? Who was in charge there?

I came out of the womb loving music. So it's no wonder that actually seeing the songs that I loved so much made such a huge impact on my formative years. So, friends, today I invite you to take a little trip down memory lane with me, and watch some of the songs that shaped who I am today.

Enjoy.

The Pretenders, Brass In Pocket. There was really nothing special about this video. At all.

But my tiny self loved it. And has had a love/hate affair with bangs ever since.

Fleetwood Mac, Gypsy. I was obsessed with Stevie Nicks. I saw this, and my whole world changed.

To this day, I still answer the question "What do you want

to be when you grow up?" with these two words:

Stevie Nicks.

We didn't have cable for very long while I was growing up, so I missed a lot of videos. Jump ahead to 8th grade.

The Cure releases Disintegration, along with oddly colorful videos for a large number of the songs. Sunday nights are spent sleeping at friends' houses so I can see them all on 120 Minutes.

A new obsession has been born.

The Stone Roses, I Wanna Be Adored. A lifelong love affair with dreamy britpop began here.

And a good many hours were spent laying on the living room floor, listening to this album on the big headphones.

So there it is, a tiny slice of my life in music videos. I could probably have filled an entire day with little snippets of song, but these left the biggest mark.

What about you, Dear Readers?

On this MTV-aversary, what videos have made an impact on you?