Stephen Mejias

The TEAC">http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/cassette_decks/w-600r/">TEAC W-600R double auto-reverse cassette deck plays tapes(!), offers all sorts of unnecessary conveniences (like Fast-Forward and Reverse), costs $149, and is available NOW.

The Onkyo">http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TA-RW255&class=Cassette&p=i">Onkyo TA-RW255 dual auto-reverse cassette deck plays tapes(!), offers all sorts of unnecessary conveniences (like Fast-Forward and Reverse), costs $199, and is available NOW.

The Pioneer">http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/Audio… CT-W208R double auto-reverse cassette deck plays tapes(!), offers all sorts of unnecessary conveniences (like Fast-Forward and Reverse), costs $194, and is available NOW.

Might as well add this one to the list.

Just this morning, I was thinking about the Magnetic Fields, and specifically about how I haven’t really enjoyed their work since 1999’s inspired 69 Love Songs. While i had plenty of fine moments, I can’t stand to listen to it anymore. It strikes me as mawkish and false. Distortion bothered me from the very beginning. There was nothing to hold on to. And though I’m mildly interested in the new one, Realism, I'm not excited enough to add it to “the list.”

Here's the video for 2009's "Single of the Year" (as determined by me), the undeniably catchy "Life Magazine," by Cold">http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/love_comes_close/">Cold Cave.

And, dang it, just when I thought it was safe to check my e-mail, it turns out that Gang">http://www.myspace.com/ganggangdance">Gang Gang Dance’s long out-of-print 2005 release, the highly acclaimed God’s Money, is available again&#151and on vinyl, hallelujah. A note from The">http://www.thesocialregistry.com/index2.html">The Social Registry, another one of my favorite labels: