Cassette Gods
 Issue #2

In a super-secret meeting between I and some of the CG writers, it was whispered into my ear, "We need to keep it intimate."  Amidst talk of possible CG messageboards, reader comments, and massive uploads of all kinds, this idea of intimacy seemed to be really at the core of what makes visiting somewhere fun and memorable. In an internet full of caps-locked teenagers and banner ads for the girl next door, a little bit of intimacy (and focus) can go a long way. This means there is a fine line for us to walk though. This webzine is an homage to the wide world of cassettes, from their major label golden age to their current DIY golden age and into the future. And while we can't help but speak as ourselves, it is important to me when picking the CG staff to have a wide range of voices that represent the many different experiences of listening, collecting, and releasing cassettes.
Yet, intimacy is also at the core of cassette culture itself. There is the intimate experience of holding a small handmade object. There is the intimate experience of listening to a cassette on your walkman (even my stereo just has a walkman plugged into it as a tape deck). There is ultimately the intimate experience of being a part of something away from the status quo, that requires a special kind of effort to even remain of part of.
So let this, issue #2 of Cassette Gods, be our first step towards navigating this subtle ground between intimacy and worldliness. Columns alone did not seem enough to the CG staff for saying all they wanted. So now you will find a REVIEWS link on the left-hand menu. This will take you to a Cassette Gods blog that allows the CG writers to post new cassette reviews at any point during the month. The columns will remain a place for expressing general thoughts on cassettes, doing lists, and for any idea that reaches further than just one particular release. The columns will be updated about once a month.  The reviews blog will help us keep up with the pace of cassette culture better. So many cassettes are released every day! This is a part of what makes cassettes so amazing. There is no market to be flooded, but rather just the amazing ability for anyone with the energy and love to start a label. Please continue to send in your new release updates. My apologies if I have not been that quick on updating the new release page. Perhaps that is the next thing to find a more practical solution too.. or maybe being practical isn't what we're actually after?
So here is to keeping things intimate, and to hoping you feel at home!

- Brian Miller