For some time, I have had this odd fascination with old-fashioned things. There is something strangely appealing about objects that are throwbacks to yesteryear. For some reason, I am captivated by anachronisms from the past. I like to wear a watch; I am fascinated with bow ties; I prefer using my pocket thesaurus to simply right clicking; and I like buying old editions of books.

Hahn

The most notable manifestation of this fixation came last year when I started to buy audio cassettes for my car. I drive a 1992 Subaru Legacy, a car which I love. It features some of the best technologies that the early ’90s had to offer. The car is fully equipped with power windows, locks, and seat belts — the kind that automatically draw themselves across your chest when you turn the ignition or close a door. The lack of functional air conditioning, ABS brakes and air bags is made up for by the state of the art sound system.

The built in cassette player AM/FM radio is, like the rest of the car, obsolete and outdated. I love it nonetheless. Last fall for fun, I bought an audio tape from People’s Choice Thrift Store, located at 120 N. Fifth St. That first cassette that I picked up was Supersonic by J.J. Fad, an all female hip hop group from the late ’80s; it cost me 75 cents. The tape featured such classics as “My Dope Intro,” “Let’s Get Hyped,” and “Blame it on the Muzick.” On the whole, it’s pretty indicative of the campiness of early hip hop; though it should be noted the album was produced by Dr. Dre.

I bought Supersonic originally as a joke, something to play while driving around with my friends. We would play it with the windows down, just to goof off. Eventually, however, I realized that buying cassettes was actually a really good deal.

A single song on iTunes can cost anywhere between $0.99 and $1.29. I bought Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” for $1. On iTunes, a similar recording would cost $6.93. Yes, I do understand that an mp3 has much more versatility than a cassette; I could put that same recording on both my computer and my iPod.

Still, by purchasing this cassette I am only paying 14.43 percent of the iTunes price. The only restrictions are that I have to listen to it in my car and that I have to listen to the songs sequentially.

Over the past year, whenever I visit one of the thrift stores in town I always peruse the cassette section looking for a good find. I have so far amassed a collection of 12 individual tapes they comprise an eclectic collection of music.

I have cassettes from many different genres; some notable titles include: “70 Years Of Hits With Frank Yankovic,” “The Banjo: A Collector’s Treasury” (tapes 1-3), “Biz Marke: Doin’ The Mud Foot,” “Rick Astley: Whenever You Need Somebody,” and best of all,
“Christmas Disco Party.”

Kevin Hahn