Notes On This Tape

My friend, Jonathan, who sent me the last tape I posted is perhaps the most neurotic human being I've ever met. I don't think I knew this at the time, but the "Notes on this tape" outline he included with the tape should have been a heads up. There are two full pages of remarks on what he would have done different and justification after justification. I'd say a healthy person may have all of these thoughts. He's the guy who actually put it to paper.

This also happens to be one of my favorite tapes I've ever received. This tape was sent to be in the mail, and I'm still not sure to this day if the bubble wrap surrounding the plastic case was for protection or for my amusement. 10 years later, and I've kept it on.


Re-reading these pages makes me feel like I'm listening to it again for the first time. My favorite section is towards the end in "III: Other qualms:"

C. Space between songs unusually short
1. I like that, though, because (if you listen to the tape enough) every time you hear the song thereafter, you expect the starting of the next song (from the tape) to chime in, but it doesn't, and you feel empty inside

And after two full pages of critiques, he writes:

IV. Justification
A. These quirks are what makes the tape personal
B. Mixtapes are a reflection of the soul

And on the final page:

C. Here is my soul