Are the cassette tapes gonna be the new LP?

LP are super trendy these days, and for a part of people, it is for the sound. But for the vast majority, it is because you finally own (again) your beloved album. But now, the LP of your favorite artist are super expensive? You feel like you missed the train? Well, maybe it’s time that we talk about cassettes.

Nostalgia

I won’t talk about the fact that the 80s and 90s are coming back, because it”s been almost 10 years now and everyone knows it. Yes, retro is cool, so is everything from this time. Vinyls got their glory back, retro video games and clothing too. Even toys. What is it gonna be next?

Now, if you look at movies from this era (Back to the Future) or movies that surfs on the 80s wave (Guardians of the Galaxy), stakes are high that you’ll see cassette. Like a lot of them. Even people who weren’t born back then are starting to feel a certain nostalgia.

Because cassettes are a really important part of the music History. They redefined the way humans consumed music. You could move while listening music, with the Walkman. It was revolutionary, even if it’s hard to picture it right now.

The hype has taken off

As I was saying, since it’s getting a lot of representation these days, a certain hype started. First, it was just the hipsters, who already influenced quite a lot the vinyl revival. But now, some artists (Dua Lippa, Lady Gaga or Selena Gomez) are also releasing their album on cassette. It added credibility to the sparks of the trend. As a result, the cassette tapes sales doubled in 2020.

It just looks good

Why people are buying cassettes? It is for the item. Just like the vinyl, you own the music, and a piece of History. Also like vinyls, the way you listen cassettes is a bit exclusive. Most of times, you have to get through the entire album, just the way the artist wanted it. With streaming platforms, you only listen hits mostly, and you consume musics really differently.

But, unlike vinyls, cassettes are bit more human in a way. The sound is not great, it’s aging faster. Some music lovers prefer tapes over the rest. You are “feeling” it more with a cassette, with the flaws. Plus, when it’s broken, you can fix it yourself.

Finally, contrary to vinyls, cassettes are a bit more decorative. We are collecting cassettes at The Curious Picker, and it just looks wonderful. It’s smaller than an LP, and you can stack them easier. It gives a great look to a room or a living room.

No matter why you would like to do it, after this post, you may want to fill your shelf with old cassette, right?