Cheap Trick’s The Latest certainly sounds promising so far, but will its potential awesomeness inspire people to scour garage sales for eight-track tape players? And then shell out an additional $30 for the limited-edition version of the album that will be made available in that format? Eight-track tapes–the bricklike music-delivery methods that forced many a windy band to figure out just how to chop their longer songs in two–are still made in limited runs, and given that Cheap Trick’s back catalogue is still out there–if not entirely in demand–in the format, it makes sense. Still, $30 seems a little steep… unless there’s a download bundle attached? I’m only half-kidding here.
The Latest 8-Track [MusicToday via Fark]
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I can see the charm of the cassette revival popping up in certain corners of the market, but 8-tracks are even more useless and inconvenient now than they were then. Like, unless you drive a 1977 Buick with a player already in the dash and the AM dial is stuck on Limbaugh, I can’t see any real target market for this.
If this came with a download voucher, I’m in.
@brasstax:
I still have a cassette player in my car and I frequently dig out old mix tapes to listen to. There is something very comforting in it.
@whoneedslight: Oh yeah, but I’m talking about in-dash 8-track players.
I won’t buy an 8-track in this day and age, but I must say…Fuckin’ Awesome.
I could see buying this purely as a conversation piece. Like buying the promo items I couldn’t get the label reps to just give me (or selling the ones they would give me in Goldmine, am I dating myself here?), this would be a cool thing for the avid music fan that likes to display some of their rare schwag. I’ve still got an unopened bottle of Mr Bungle Bubble Bath somewhere. Probably shouldn’t open it…
This idea isn’t new, as pointed out in the article, although it certainly isn’t wide spread and well known. It’s kind of neat for old school geeks like myself who own functioning 8-track players. Nardwuar has issued a lot of music on 8-track (via his various musical affiliations such as The Evaporators). These are limited runs of material that’s also available in digital, CD, and LP format. However, he charges a lot less than $30 and these 8-track releases always sell out.
@revmatty: Weird, I just remembered Goldmine the other day out of the blue. Is it still published?
Yeah, I’m bummed that neither the 8-track nor the vinyl come with a download, I would have definitely bought one of them that way.
@LostTurntable: Once you buy the vinyl, it comes with a free Rapidshare of Megaupload download. ;)
For $30 it better Quadrophonic!
I won’t have to scour garage sales. My Harman/Kardon 8+ is ready.