MeFiSwap Summer 2009

June 28, 2009 8:09 AM

MeFiSwap Summer '09
Believe it or not, it's been about that long. Let's mail each other good music.

I think these work best if some guidelines are set out right at the beginning:

• Email me at tediseasy asper@nd gmail stop. com if you would like to participate. Please include your mailing address and your username. If you would prefer not to use email, memail me. However, things are much simpler from an organizational standpoint if I can use the robust features afforded by email rather than barebones memail, so email is preferred.
• Sign-up deadline is 2 weeks from today, July 12th.
• If there's enough interest, I'd be happy to set up side swaps for tapes or whatever (how many of you cut vinyl?), but let's stick to swapping CDs for the most part and mixes of music for sure (not teddy bears or tshirts or wevs).
• If you signed up to participate last time but didn't mail out your mix, you are not invited to swap again. If you sign up to participate this time, do so with the full intention of mailing out at least 5 mix CDs. You may be asked to mail overseas (and if you live outside the USA, you will most definitely be asked to mail packages to foreign countries). Communication is important; if you can't get your mixes out by the deadline (see below), let me or the other members of your swapset know.
• Once sign-ups are closed, everyone will be broken up into swapsets. Swapsets are ideally 6 members big, so each swapper will mail out 5 copies of their mix. If you're in the mood to mail out more (and receive more in return!), lemme know in the email.
• There's generally a deadline set for mailing swaps out, so let's set that to Saturday, August 15th.

As usual, I feel like I'm leaving a lot out of this, so if you have any questions I'll be skulking around here all day and/or email me.

posted by carsonb to MetaFilter-Related at 8:09 AM (121 comments total)

This as good as a place as any to mention that I always read carsonb as carbomb.
posted by item at 8:21 AM on June 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

If you ever show up to one of these LA meetups, Item, you'll no doubt have ample opportunity to hear me curse the user of the carson account. I mean, they haven't even asked any questions since 2006, and before that it was a solid nada all the way back to two weeks before I signed up. Bah.
posted by carsonb at 8:31 AM on June 28, 2009

I think last time we did a bit of spreading so that we'd have one or two non-US (non-North American?) Mefites in each group.

My group was something like 4x US, 1x UK, me (Netherlands), IIRC. I believe we had a guy in Kenya or somewhere in another group, which was awesome.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, go Earth! You're my favourite planet.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:23 AM on June 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

If you signed up to participate last time but didn't mail out your mix, you are not invited to swap again

Karma, I love you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:35 AM on June 28, 2009

Is there a way of participating and being in a group with no USA'ns? Every time I participate in these things the American entries make me think I'm listening to the radio. If I wanted to listen to the radio... I'd turn on the radio.

*ducks*
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 9:40 AM on June 28, 2009

Thanks for posting this! Are there any general guidelines -- ie, try to be obscure and local?
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 9:54 AM on June 28, 2009

Also-and I hate to sound like a total n00b re this sort of thing-what is the legality in general of making mixes? I honestly don't know. I'd love to participate if conscience permits.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 10:21 AM on June 28, 2009

Is there a way of participating and being in a group with no USA'ns? Every time I participate in these things the American entries make me think I'm listening to the radio.

Yup, it's true. Every American I've ever met is exactly the same, particularly when it comes to mixtapes.

Also-and I hate to sound like a total n00b re this sort of thing-what is the legality in general of making mixes? I honestly don't know. I'd love to participate if conscience permits.

To quote a weird 80s movie, Rosalie Goes Shopping - "There's nothing in the 10 Commandments about the electronic penetration of classified data". I think that would apply to filesharing as well.
posted by philip-random at 10:27 AM on June 28, 2009

Aw yiss. I was just thinking about this the other day.
posted by boo_radley at 11:56 AM on June 28, 2009

what is the legality in general of making mixes

The legality of sharing mixes is not good. Perhaps you could make an imeem playlist instead.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:00 PM on June 28, 2009

Last time I also got pop rocks with one of my CD's. My mother wouldn't have approved. But I certainly do.
posted by not_on_display at 12:27 PM on June 28, 2009

This was so fun last time! I dunno if I've got another one in me just yet, but maybe I can cop a listen from carsonb if I lick his stamps.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:56 PM on June 28, 2009

Is there a way of participating and being in a group with no USA'ns?

Probably not. I suppose it depends on what ratio of non-USA'ns sign up. Also, your favorite band sucks.

Are there any general guidelines -- ie, try to be obscure and local?

You mean for what to include in your mix? Music is good. Music you like is better. I prefer to leave any thematic choices up to the individual, but hey—whatever bumps your grind.

what is the legality in general of making mixes?

I don't know. Maybe by considering it an outreach opportunity you could quell any concerns of conscience.
posted by carsonb at 1:10 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm in.
posted by klangklangston at 1:21 PM on June 28, 2009

The legality of sharing mixes is not good.

...and I think you're already in enough trouble for throwing two dozen spouses into the mix.
posted by gman at 1:29 PM on June 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

Sorry for the confusing email listed in the post.

tediseasy ASPERAND gmail STOP com

where
ASPERAND = @
and
STOP = .
posted by carsonb at 1:38 PM on June 28, 2009 [3 favorites]

I'm so in, but i think everyone who participates should be forced to make an 8tracks account too.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:44 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm in!

I'll overlook carsonb's jab at late 90s electronica, or endeavor to educate the kid (he's younger than me, so I can call him a kid). Is 8tracks any different from Uplister? Does it actually host audio?
posted by filthy light thief at 2:12 PM on June 28, 2009

jab at late 90s electronica

Electronica has always been jab-worthy, a meaningless term invented by music industry marketing types so that they could justify putting Portishead + Massive Attack in the same section in the record store as Autechre + Aphex Twin, because ... ummm, they all used drum machines.

Music's just music.
posted by philip-random at 2:28 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm in again too also. I've bought two new CDs since last time so as well as the same old crap as before there'll be two new pieces of crap!

Small request: can it be organised so as to swap with different people from the last time. Not that I didn't enjoy the mixes, but variety is the lice of spife and all that, y'know?

Ambrosia Voyeur: maybe I can cop a listen from carsonb if I lick his stamps
Is that what you kids are calling it these days?
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 2:29 PM on June 28, 2009

Apologies to carsonb for the mis-placed claims that he's a young punk who should watch his mouth when talking about electronica from the 1990s.

philip-random - I concur. But the mysterious cromag could be enlightened about some greatness of the past decade.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:30 PM on June 28, 2009

I am tentatively offering my services as a ghost-mixer or co-mixer, should someone feel that their collection or knowledge of music is lacking. I'm not claiming to know a lot, just have a lot that's worthy of sharing.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:32 PM on June 28, 2009

can it be organised so as to swap with different people from the last time?

Sure! I only organized the last swap though (around wintertime), so I can't promise you won't see some familiar names from years past. If you have any special requests—you don't want to swap with a particular user, or don't want to mail overseas, or whatever—just mention it in your "I'm in! Here's my addy!" email and I'll do my best to honor them.

Another clarification: You will not be considered 'In' until you send me your mailing address. Eg, those of you who've emailed me but didn't include your street numbers are not yet 'In'.
posted by carsonb at 2:48 PM on June 28, 2009

Ponyrequest to have the Swap Groups named after a recognizable MeFi meme. For instance: tl;dl , beans, spouses, taters, etc. If this was already done in a previous swap, then I propose we name the Swap Groups after something like Cheeses.

Thank you. [sits down]
posted by not_on_display at 3:02 PM on June 28, 2009

Personally, I'm just going to go down the letters of the alphabet and give you one thing per letter, using the artist's name.³ So something from the first 4% of artists starting with A, 5-8% of B, ..., 96-99% of Y, and the last Z.

You may expect ABBA, ZZ top, and uh-oh, it seems like I have nothing in Xs¹. Any suggestions?²

1. Really.
2. Not really.
3. Really, really not.
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:10 PM on June 28, 2009

Lemurrhea, for you I present Xiu Xiu. I really like what they do with Fast Car (though I think I like the CD version more than this live take). Yes, it's a cover of Tracy Chapman's version.

And if Xiu Xiu doesn't do it for you, here are ~2,000 "X" artists. Happy Sunday!
posted by filthy light thief at 3:40 PM on June 28, 2009

Also also: history of MeFiSwap threads, including the Mystery Mix of '07.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:07 PM on June 28, 2009

boo_radley: "Aw yiss. I was just thinking about this the other day."

Yeah, perfect timing, so was I.

More specifically, I was wondering if I could make an entire mix tape of bands I've been introduced to because they opened for other bands I've paid money to see. The answer is either yes or almost, so I'm going to do it.
posted by Plutor at 4:08 PM on June 28, 2009

There's a kind of thing here where on the one hand I think a mix cd made entirely of Mefi Music could be a totally solid goddam thing but where on the other hand that feels kind of like cheating and just putting a Music Podcast on a disc and mailing it out. I am conflicted.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:23 PM on June 28, 2009

1) Cheating
2) Isn't that what the MeFi Compilation was?
posted by Plutor at 4:51 PM on June 28, 2009

1) Yeah, but is it cheating or is it cheating cheating? If I pretend it's a tiny local label, I'm like a huge music snob guy all of a sudden instead of just lazy, is what I'm thinking here.
2) And there's no way I'm going to another one of those like the first one, so this'd be, like, a limited edition followup and shit.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:03 PM on June 28, 2009

Word.
posted by NikitaNikita at 5:40 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm in. This sounds great.
posted by friendlyjuan at 6:10 PM on June 28, 2009

Cool, I'm in. (Emailed.) Any rules or suggestions on music types, languages, etc?
posted by wiskunde at 6:42 PM on June 28, 2009

Cortex: I think it's really important that you do it on limited play vinyl, the kind that DJs use where it self-destructs from running the needle over it. Then fanboys in Japan can buy it from your swapmates for obscene amounts of money and keep it in a special lead-lined leather sleeve until they finally break it out in 2029 for some debutante's dance part. (The crux of the plan is that we won't tell the otaku that it's all available digitally, you see?)
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:49 PM on June 28, 2009

Is there a way of participating and being in a group with no USA'ns? Every time I participate in these things the American entries make me think I'm listening to the radio. If I wanted to listen to the radio... I'd turn on the radio.

Then do I have a mix tape for you!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 6:59 PM on June 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

How does this work? Will there be a super-secret forum for this thing, with super-super-secret sub-forums for the groups (of 5)? Do we talk with the people in our group to see what other people like and know, or is it wholly a mystery to all involved?

anotherpanacea, I think you're talking about acetate discs, referred to as dubplates in some circles. That would be amusing and awesome. It won't matter that the music is also available digitally, because music sounds better on wax (or acetate, in this case).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:02 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm gonna pass on this one, but I owe some folks swap CDs from a few years back and I'll be making good on them before the 10 year meetup.
posted by mds35 at 7:09 PM on June 28, 2009

Yeah, filthy light thief, that's the one. The fact that it's not actually vinyl explains why my googling failed me.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:14 PM on June 28, 2009

"Is there a way of participating and being in a group with no USA'ns? Every time I participate in these things the American entries make me think I'm listening to the radio. If I wanted to listen to the radio... I'd turn on the radio."

Even if I don't universally like the CDs I've gotten, I can't think of anything on them that shows up on the radio. And the furriners have just as MOR taste as anyone. The reason why I'm in again was that Carson's was really good and that a couple other ones were pretty solid. But aside from freeform college radio, I can't imagine you'd hear a lot of the music off mine on the radio, and freeform college stuff doesn't really count, right?
posted by klangklangston at 7:32 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm in! Fair warning, though, my taste in music is peccable. I've enjoyed every swap I've participated in so far. DON'T LET ME DOWN SUMMEFISWAPPER 09!
posted by Kattullus at 8:41 PM on June 28, 2009

You Should See the Other Guy: Every time I participate in these things the American entries make me think I'm listening to the radio

In my physical wanderings around Massachusetts this past week I came across a radio station that played nothing but a capella music. RADIO IS DEAD TO ME!
posted by Kattullus at 8:44 PM on June 28, 2009

Ooo! I even already have my mix made! I just need people to send them to!
posted by hippybear at 10:03 PM on June 28, 2009

i'm in! i'm excited!

(& now that i no longer live somewhere where the bills are in my name, i don't get a lot of mail.)

no guidelines for what kind of music or anything? just "heeey.. i like this! here, listen!!"?
posted by gursky at 10:06 PM on June 28, 2009

Yeah, about the guidelines, what kind of music should we be mix-taping? Stuff we like? Stuff we have, don't really listen to, but imagine would impress others? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated, and most likely cause me to join in.

Possibly unrelated: any demand out there for a Lawrence Welk centered mix?
posted by Ghidorah at 10:46 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm sure mine was horrible crap with no redeeming value. That's why I also sent pop rocks. ;)
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:58 PM on June 28, 2009

Lawrence Welk centered mix? I'm intrigued.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:50 PM on June 28, 2009

I'm interested in participating, too. This would be my first MeFi CD swap. For fellow newbs: jessamyn wrote this comment in a past CD swap thread and I found it to be a good (and entertaining) overview...of course for this round, carsonb is the one organizing the swap (thanks, carsonb!).

any demand out there for a Lawrence Welk centered mix?

Don't know about anyone else, but that sounds a-wun'erful, a-wun'erful.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 1:07 AM on June 29, 2009

Ah yes! Are we doing candy this time round? Please tell me we're doing candy.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:32 AM on June 29, 2009

Kattullus: "In my physical wanderings around Massachusetts this past week I came across a radio station that played nothing but a capella music. RADIO IS DEAD TO ME!"

If it was the Boston area, you probably picked up WERS, which is the Emerson College station. They only do the all-Acapella thing on the weekends. During the week, it's actually a great mix of a bunch of local and otherwise non-standard-radio music. (You know, stuff the kids would probably all categorize as "indie", but which under other conditions wouldn't be anything close to a single genre.)

If it wasn't the Boston area or it wasn't the weekend, yeah, that's odd.
posted by Plutor at 3:52 AM on June 29, 2009

Yeah, it was WERS. Thanks for clearing that up, Plutor.
posted by Kattullus at 4:38 AM on June 29, 2009

I've enjoyed all the mixes I've taken part in (thanks again to carsonb for organising the last few) but I won't have the time this time around, thanks to an upcoming international house-move.

Ambrosia Voyeur: the pop rocks were much appreciated and in any case there was nothing wrong with your mix, even if it did get The Rubettes' I Can Do It stuck in my head for about three weeks thereafter...
posted by misteraitch at 4:48 AM on June 29, 2009

In the previous post jessamyn says "CD not MP3". Is this still true? Because I don't have a CD player, a CD doen't hold as much stuff, and my music catalogue is all MP3s.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:20 AM on June 29, 2009

You can just burn an audio CD (i.e. not a data CD) from MP3s though, right? I think most disc burning packages do this now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:49 AM on June 29, 2009

You can, I guess my question is why would you want to?
posted by Meatbomb at 5:57 AM on June 29, 2009

Yeah, about the guidelines, what kind of music should we be mix-taping? Stuff we like? Stuff we have, don't really listen to, but imagine would impress others?

Pick music you like. I use to sweat over what to put in these mixes, but then just decided to go with stuff I like, usually wrapped around a theme. I'm gotten mixes with a spring theme, all female, old time country and just a random assortment. One of my favorites, by Asbestos McPinto, starts off with a sort of lazy, sleepy vibe, picks up a the tempo with a variety of fun songs, then does a right turn into a crazy 911 call before easing into spooky fun Halloween theme. It's really great.

My only suggestion would be to make sure the songs fit together from song to song i.e. capture and sustain a mood, so that the listener can just pop the CD in and press play and rock out.

Of course some would disagree with that, but they're wrong and broken and you can ignore them.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:18 AM on June 29, 2009

Meatbomb: "You can, I guess my question is why would you want to?"

The biggest reason is that's it's still the lowest-common-denominator format. It's easier for people who prefer MP3s to rip or request them from the author than it is for people who prefer discs to burn them from sent MP3s. Plus there are some of our backwoods brethren still rocking the dialup for whom sneakernet is faster.

Most modern burning software have the ability to make hybrid audio/data discs, so you could include the "original" MP3s if you're worried about two-pass encoding artifacts.
posted by Plutor at 6:21 AM on June 29, 2009

Brandon Blatcher: Of course some would disagree with that, but they're wrong and broken and you can ignore them.

I like mixes that sound like someone's iPod on shuffle, but artfully put together so that the songs flow together. That said, some of my all time favorite mixes don't sound like that at all.
posted by Kattullus at 7:09 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm in! Brace yourselves for indie jpop!
posted by emmling at 7:37 AM on June 29, 2009

Lemurrhea: You may expect ABBA, ZZ top, and uh-oh, it seems like I have nothing in Xs. Any suggestions?

Uh—isn't this easy? X, perhaps the greatest first-wave west-coast punk band.
posted by koeselitz at 8:06 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm sure mine was horrible crap with no redeeming value. That's why I also sent pop rocks. ;)

Awesome. I think I just overcame my fear of sending mixes people don't enjoy (again). I've been making an awful lot of running mixes lately - intoxicating, shameful shit. This'll be a good palate cleanser.
posted by carbide at 8:14 AM on June 29, 2009

(X pretty much invented punk-rockabilly. See, for instance, their iconic Johnny Hit And Run Pauline, a profoundly disturbing song.)
posted by koeselitz at 8:22 AM on June 29, 2009

I might be in, I haven't decided yet.

My last mix was more angry than I would have expected, and with my mood even worse this time around, I might accidentally put together a collection that, when listened to, causes insanity, scarring, spontaneous combustion, and a mildly bad headache.

I mean, some of the stuff I listen too is just so fucking hard-core; I don't want anyone else's shattered soul on my conscience.
posted by quin at 8:33 AM on June 29, 2009

I've been wanting to do one of these for a while, I'm not sure why I didn't sign up for the last few. Also, I apologize in advance for subjecting my swapmates to the latest genre niche that I've been into lately.
posted by burnmp3s at 8:40 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm in.
posted by Dr-Baa at 8:48 AM on June 29, 2009

burnmp3s: "I've been wanting to do one of these for a while, I'm not sure why I didn't sign up for the last few. Also, I apologize in advance for subjecting my swapmates to the latest genre niche that I've been into lately."

Alterna-nerd-folk? Hasidic Hyphy? Sea Shanties? Inquiring minds want to know.
posted by boo_radley at 8:52 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm in! Emailing now.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:55 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm in. I hope everyone likes demonic circus music.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:09 AM on June 29, 2009

So... are there bonus points given for excellent "album flow"? What about obscurity? Are we supposed to aim for stuff nobody has ever heard of before, or construct a good mix regardless of song popularity?

I can go several ways on this, need just a TAD of guidance.
posted by hippybear at 9:16 AM on June 29, 2009

Here's a tad, hippybear.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:24 AM on June 29, 2009

Well, don't overthink it, I think, is the key thing.
posted by boo_radley at 9:28 AM on June 29, 2009

No, overthinking is key. Also, do not accept guidance, that's the most important part.

Just make a mix that you'd like to receive
posted by Kattullus at 9:29 AM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

shakespeherian: I'm in. I hope everyone likes demonic circus music.

Hell yeah.
posted by koeselitz at 9:30 AM on June 29, 2009

What I like to do* is create a mix intended specifically to piss some fictional nemesis off, and then pretend that I'm the nemesis and have just received that mix and listened to it, and then create a response mix as a form of musicological revenge. And then send that out to the group.

*I am lying**.
**But that would be kind of awesome, I think.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 AM on June 29, 2009 [2 favorites]

If YouTube wasn't blocked at work, I'm sure that would have just changed my life.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:37 AM on June 29, 2009

cortex: did you just invent a form of mixtape exquisite corpse game?

Can we play that?

Can it be a separate event from this one?
posted by hippybear at 9:45 AM on June 29, 2009

Okay, I have the Mixtape Exquisite Corpse rules figured out:

You're sending out "one side of a 60 minute tape", meaning you have 30 minutes to fill.

The next person in line creates a response to fill "the other side of the tape".

This will limit the amount of material a person has to process for coming up with their response, but also gives enough time to allow things to develop, as it were, across the side of the tape.

This will be a very slow, organic process, with people signing up and then having to put their response together and mailed to the next person within a week. If you can't meet the deadline, mail what you received forward and step out of the chain.

Beyond that, I don't know if these two mixtape events should overlap, but I want to try this. I'm not sure what I'm hoping for, but it could be amazing.
posted by hippybear at 9:50 AM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Hrm. okay. my brain tells me that exquisite corpse isn't quite the term I'm looking for... but you know.. that surrealist game... where you only see a fragment of the whole and contribute your part. Anyway... yeah... back to our regularly scheduled programming.
posted by hippybear at 9:58 AM on June 29, 2009

You're right, that's exquisite corpse you're thinking of.
posted by Plutor at 10:05 AM on June 29, 2009

X pretty much invented punk-rockabilly.

Are you sure you don't mean The Cramps, there?
posted by Grangousier at 10:12 AM on June 29, 2009

hippybear lets play that on 8tracks! then we could link to the previous one in the comments!

Filthylighttheif: It's pretty similar to that except it does host audio and lets you follow people's output and get updates and search their database for songs/artists people uploaded

(i swear i dont work for that site i just love making mux mixes instead of working)
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:23 AM on June 29, 2009

Assuming I can remember to email when I get home, I am so in. It's cool if I just burn the latest Nickelback album onto a blank CD and mail it to my group members, right?
posted by owtytrof at 10:28 AM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

How aggressive is 8tracks at enforcing their TOS? There are numerous reasons why I couldn't sign it, not the least of which are the number of NIN remixes I have which were never "released" by NIN even though they have the full blessing of Trent to exist.
posted by hippybear at 10:51 AM on June 29, 2009

I'm terrible at making mixes. But I've signed up, anyway. So, enjoy!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:09 AM on June 29, 2009

hippybear: sent you a pm, but i think you're fine.

i love this exquisite mix idea...no need for it to me to be mefi only if it operates by email list. we could extend it for just x amount of entries to all and sundry.

Someone maintains the list, when one side is uploaded (Side A₁ we email the next person with the link to A₁, then when they are done Side B₁ we post the link in the comments of A₁ to B₁. So you can move forward on the chain but not easily backward to see where you've been. There could be repeats, convergences, reinterpretations of the intention of previous sides (wooing becomes breakup, romance becomes friendship becomes history lesson becomes nerdfight becomes romance again, and so forth).
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:21 AM on June 29, 2009

hmm the last two mefiswaps I participated in subjected my group members to my obsession with JRock ... I am still obsessed with JRock, but now I will have to throw into the mix some Kpop, K(indie)Rock and KHipHop.

I think I am just obnoxious enough to do that to a new group of people - count me in!!
posted by Julnyes at 11:52 AM on June 29, 2009

Does Creed count as obscure?
posted by shakespeherian at 12:01 PM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

filthy light thief: How does this work? Will there be a super-secret forum for this thing, with super-super-secret sub-forums for the groups (of 5)? Do we talk with the people in our group to see what other people like and know, or is it wholly a mystery to all involved?

No, I don't do a forum for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I don't have the time and am not of the inclination to set one up. Second, and even forer, it's too easy to leak mailing addys out to the wide internet if we do a forum. (This has, sadly, happened before, though not by my hand.) Extraneously, I like the data entry practice I get between email + spreadsheet. So, I keep it simple and assign swapsets via email. Each swapset will get a group email that'll contain all relevant contact information (emails in header, mailing addys in body), and if y'all must you can hash things out that way. Nobody not in your swapset will get your information.

Speaking of data entry, though, if anyone gets their swapset info in a few weeks and there's an error in your address, my apologies in advance. To fix it you can either go through me or directly contact your swapset with the correct info.

In other news, if you're 'In' but you haven't received a response email—Yo! You're signed up to swap!—from me confirming as much (or requesting further information/clarification), please email me again with your username and physical mailing address.
tediseasy ASPERAND gmail STOP com
If you're in a country other than the USA, please format your address as it would go on the envelope, with all appropriate line breaks, country name, etc.
thx
posted by carsonb at 12:09 PM on June 29, 2009

Oh, also, we've got an excellent turnout so far with ~ 60 participants.
posted by carsonb at 12:15 PM on June 29, 2009

Yay! I'm in again.
posted by thivaia at 1:03 PM on June 29, 2009

Wow - I'm excited. carsonb, kudos for bringing this back and taking charge of it all.

In some past threads, people mentioned being in more than one group. How did that work?
posted by filthy light thief at 1:07 PM on June 29, 2009

and what happened to dreama (I am out of the loop)?
posted by boo_radley at 1:10 PM on June 29, 2009

Does Creed count as obscure?

Hey, whoah now. We were all just playing around. But you had to go TOO FAR.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:13 PM on June 29, 2009 [2 favorites]

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing: Hey, whoah now. We were all just playing around. But you had to go TOO FAR.

Too far would be mentioning Scott Stapp's solo career. YEAH ROCKIN
posted by shakespeherian at 1:55 PM on June 29, 2009

He's got a solo carreer? Who signed him, Bernie Madoff?
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:57 PM on June 29, 2009

Scott Stapp's solo career.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:59 PM on June 29, 2009

I'm in. I've had some excellent disks (and some not so good) over the years, but most of them have had at least a few tracks worth keeping.
posted by salmacis at 2:00 PM on June 29, 2009

In some past threads, people mentioned being in more than one group. How did that work?

Mention it.
posted by carsonb at 2:38 PM on June 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Or, oh, if you mean 'what are the logistics of such an endeavor,' then it's just that you mail out 10 copies of your mix rather than 5. Being in two groups costs more (in time and money) but the return is greater and you're helping. I use the eagers to even out odd-shaped swapsets.
posted by carsonb at 2:40 PM on June 29, 2009

I'm totally in. I have to share the magic that are my favorite tunes.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:01 AM on June 30, 2009

I'm eager! I'm eager!

Honestly, I've been thinking about the suitability of all the music I've been listening to recently, pondering potential themes, and wobbling back and forth on MP3s being burnt as audio vs mixed mode CDs.

I like music. I like to share music. This will be awesome.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:33 AM on June 30, 2009

I'm in. Prepare to receive a misture of vague awesomeness and utter dagginess, fellow swappees.
posted by andraste at 5:02 AM on July 1, 2009

That would be a miXture. Although misture is a good New Word.
posted by andraste at 5:02 AM on July 1, 2009

Is it important/required that all 5 mixes be the same?
posted by two or three cars parked under the stars at 12:44 PM on July 1, 2009

Is it important/required that all 5 mixes be the same?

I was thinking about this, and I assumed that most folks make burn one mix 5 times, to be fair and to save time. I think there are no real rules in MeFiSwap, except that you really should swap music on an audio CD, unless otherwise agreed upon by your small group of swappers.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:45 PM on July 1, 2009

Yeah, I'm toying with the temptation to cannibalize some wayback mixes into ubergrooves and then send out a few different discs. It's a lot of work, though, especially considering that I'd like to actually put some effort into the case/liners this time around. Historically swappers just make 5 copies of one mix to send out, but there is no steadfast rule.

Also, apologies to those who have emailed to sign up in the past two days and haven't had a response. Today was my weekend. So, soon, I promise! Soon!
posted by carsonb at 12:05 AM on July 2, 2009

Anyone know the secret of burning a CD in iTunes with the songs in a specific order i.e. not organized by Name or Artist etc.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:49 AM on July 2, 2009

Click the arrow tab farthest to the left in the playlist window. The arrow pointing up should be the order in which you want it. If the order is off you can move things around by selecting and dragging.
posted by Kattullus at 5:54 AM on July 2, 2009

You are genius personified, thanks!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:26 AM on July 2, 2009

I knew I couldn't stay away from the Filter for a whole two weeks... and boy, this was worth it! I am so in!

And now: back to my regularly scheduled Portuguese tourism.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:43 PM on July 3, 2009

Man I keep forgetting to sign up for this!
posted by jinjo at 4:12 PM on July 4, 2009

Hey everyone, signups are closing so if you've been putting it off do it now or wait 6 months till we swap again.

I've been out of town/away from my computer the past few days, so my apologies to those of you who have emailed me recently to sign up and haven't gotten a response. I have your emails, and you will get a confirmation email as soon as I get back set in front of my desk and can put your names on the actual list.
posted by carsonb at 11:38 AM on July 12, 2009

Crap. I was in 2 swap sets 2 years ago and then a family crisis came up and I was delayed and ultimately never got around to sending the mixes. Anyone here have the lists for the Spring 2007 swap? I'd like to make good on it with bonus disks for interest, but I don't know who to mail them to since I no longer have the emails.
posted by mds35 at 6:54 PM on July 14, 2009

The cruel truth of this is, the day I signed up for this mixtape exchange, every one of my 15000 tracks became stale, uninspired, and completely trite. *sigh*
posted by hippybear at 11:49 AM on July 15, 2009 [4 favorites]

YAY, meme-flavored swapsets!

I'm in The Spouse swapset!

I just wanted to say that: Spouse Swapset. I am not a swinger, except in the musical sense.
posted by not_on_display at 9:50 AM on July 16, 2009

The cruel truth of this is, the day I signed up for this mixtape exchange, every one of my 15000 tracks became stale, uninspired, and completely trite. *sigh*

Don't worry hippybear, we'll treat your mixtape as an archive of the music we used to find fantastic. If kept around for 10 to 20 years, your music will be in fashion all over again, and you will be considered ahead of your time.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:59 AM on July 16, 2009

If kept around for 10 to 20 years, your music will be in fashion all over again, and you will be considered ahead of your time.

It is entirely possible that this has already happened.
posted by hippybear at 10:22 AM on July 16, 2009

If I get anything other than A Collection Of Lost 4-Track Recordings From 80s Garage Bands That Only Twelve People Know Of, Yet Are Better Than Anything You Have Ever Heard I will be very disappointed.*

*This is not true
posted by starman at 10:48 AM on July 16, 2009

Fuck, starman. *goes back to the mixing board*
posted by carsonb at 7:22 PM on July 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's a pity you didn't make it into either of my swap sets, starman.

I would have loved to have disappointed you so.
posted by owtytrof at 10:16 AM on July 21, 2009

Holy fuckfuck no! My track 4 ultra-catchy totally obscure track from disc 2 of a no-label release from 8 years ago was just in a fucking Axe commercial. le sigh.
posted by carsonb at 4:52 PM on July 21, 2009 [2 favorites]