Check out the Weblogger CD Swap

March 19, 2002 6:40 PM

Check out the Weblogger CD Swap Now this seems like a really fun idea to me: basically you put your name and address in a "hat" and get the names/addresses of 5 other bloggers and burn a CD of summer music for them. Your reward? Get CD's from 5 other bloggers... is that swanky or what? via Ernie at Little Yellow Different
posted by crankydoodle (110 comments total)

I'd do it. Anyone else??

This'd be so fascinating. 5 hours of music that's a total mystery to you, lovingly crafted by someone who probably has taste (does not apply to fark.com)? Awesome idea. Come on people.
posted by Settle at 6:56 PM on March 19, 2002

What I meant was that it'd be cool if it was Metafilter centered. But I might do this one anyway. I just hope I can buy Creed insurance.
posted by Settle at 6:59 PM on March 19, 2002

Wonder if you can join if you don't have a blog? Like the idea, let's hope there's no intrusion from the RIAA & it's pundits.
posted by riffola at 7:07 PM on March 19, 2002

I'm so there. I wonder if you can up the ante by 5's. You know send out 10, get 10 etc... Maybe sign up 2wice or something.. I love hearing new and cool stuff. Unless it's Creed or Oasis. But then again, maybe I'm "missing out" or something. Doubtful, but maybe :)
posted by RubiX^3 at 7:20 PM on March 19, 2002

I'm up for it! Again, no blog, but...

Wouldn't this count as "fair use," as far as copyright goes? I think making "max tapes" for friends has trtaditionally been a tolerated practice (within reason).
posted by arco at 7:22 PM on March 19, 2002

(Sorry, gang, I'm gonna spill the beans)

There's actually a CD swap going on as we speak, amongst a small group of friends in one of those long-lost-but-still-active threads. If there's a genuine interest in doing one on a larger scale, I'll be glad to organize it.

Or you could just do the Weblogger swap.
posted by jpoulos at 7:24 PM on March 19, 2002

Having said that, Matt should probably give his blessing. This wouldn't be a MeFi sponsored ™ or anything, but it is a little hairy from a copyright standpoint...
posted by jpoulos at 7:26 PM on March 19, 2002

I'd love to. Who wants to buy me a CD burner?
posted by aaron at 7:30 PM on March 19, 2002

*kicks jpoulos*
posted by eyeballkid at 7:31 PM on March 19, 2002

shhh!
posted by eyeballkid at 7:31 PM on March 19, 2002

I have no idea what you're talking about. Oh, and just don't ask Miguel to make you a mix. Trust me.
posted by ColdChef at 7:33 PM on March 19, 2002

I don't think the RIAA would really mind. This is promotional material if anything.

This would be seriously awesome on a 5CD scale in the mefi community.
posted by Settle at 7:36 PM on March 19, 2002

(Re: Copyright issues. "The Supreme Court has, in the past, ruled that I could, for instance, make a mix tape for a friend..." From Harvard Law School.)
posted by arco at 7:37 PM on March 19, 2002

This would be cool. I don't like the idea of "summer-themed" though. I know a lot of good music, but when I think of summer, all I can think of are The Beach Boys and LFO's "Summer Girls"...things I wouldn't want to put on a mix CD because everybody already knows them.
posted by jacobw at 7:45 PM on March 19, 2002

In Canada, the code is very specific: you need to have your friend's CD in your own greasy little hands, and burn a copy for yourself exclusively, giving him back his original CD when you're done. He can't do it for you, you can't do it for someone else.

That said, I'd love to participate. Anyone want a Gumby CD? :-)
posted by five fresh fish at 7:47 PM on March 19, 2002

This is a real trust issue. Can you trust your brothers and sisters of MetaFilter to not only burn a non-sucky cd for you, but mail it at their own expense in a timely manner? This is what community is all about, people.

Don't mind me. I'm drunk.
posted by ColdChef at 7:55 PM on March 19, 2002

Sounds like Secret DJ to me.
posted by Neale at 7:55 PM on March 19, 2002

Umm...I mean...er...

My little brother must have logged on to my account. I don't know anything about a Swap. Really.
posted by jpoulos at 8:06 PM on March 19, 2002

I'm in. Let me know when, where, and how.
posted by keithl at 8:07 PM on March 19, 2002

i'm in. definitely.
posted by grabbingsand at 8:10 PM on March 19, 2002

does not apply to fark.com

ouch.
posted by KnitWit at 8:11 PM on March 19, 2002

If this is on, definitely count me in. I am the mix making master. For those without burners simply substitute a mix tape, I suppose.
posted by jonmc at 8:17 PM on March 19, 2002

No. No tapes. I don't even have a deck anymore.
posted by jpoulos at 8:29 PM on March 19, 2002

All those interested email me at [e-mail]. Include your mefi name and snailmail address, along with any suggestions you might have on how this should be run. Once I have a list--say, by the end of the week--I'll send out instructions to everyone.
posted by jpoulos at 8:33 PM on March 19, 2002

oo, i am definitely in.. for the love of god though, please hold back on the radiohead songs... also, i second jacobw's suggestion for a non-summer themed cd... and.. yeah.. carry on.
posted by lotsofno at 8:38 PM on March 19, 2002

I hope I get a jonmc CD.
posted by riffola at 8:45 PM on March 19, 2002

Can foreigners play?
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:50 PM on March 19, 2002

riffola, my man since you took the time to go back and comment on my debut post, send an e-mail and I'll get crackin'
posted by jonmc at 8:51 PM on March 19, 2002

I think it should be international, have each person mail out atleast 1 CD to someone outside their continent.
posted by riffola at 8:51 PM on March 19, 2002

Wow, my chance to showcase local talent - Kylie and Jason, Farnsey and Barnsey, Sleek from 'Pizza'...
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:58 PM on March 19, 2002

I like that idea, riff.
posted by jpoulos at 9:04 PM on March 19, 2002

obiwanwasabi: You forgot the best Aussie import Inxs.
jonmc: You rock!
posted by riffola at 9:05 PM on March 19, 2002

I run CD Swaps regularly in other places on the net. Some notes:

-People will renege and not send anything. This is to be expected. I have had no recourse but to ban people from future swaps and wish painful but non-life threatening injuries on them.
-I have gotten some very good music when the swaps work.
-I have gotten some music I really didn't like at all when the swaps work.
-That's life.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:12 PM on March 19, 2002

and as for what you can all expect from me, i only have five words for you:

"It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!"

::ducks:: hey, at least it wasn't that damn 'the-valid-purse' song.
posted by lotsofno at 10:00 PM on March 19, 2002

If you want to go ahead and get started trading I've been doing a "burn baby burn" challenge on my site for about six weeks now... Feb 8., Feb.15, Feb.22, March 1, March 8, and March 15 ... it all started because my boyfriend who downloads EVERYTHING kept complaining he needed "fresh" music.. so far he is still missing 1 to 3 songs out of each week and has only totally completed one of the challenges.

I'd love to find those songs I'm missing. Challenge anyone? :)
posted by oh posey at 10:17 PM on March 19, 2002

Oh:
Jewelcases required

NO CREED

Nothing by your band or your best friend's band
No Momus. No Moby. No Beatles.
etc. I sent in a bunch of tips.
posted by Settle at 10:23 PM on March 19, 2002

Oh yeah...I forgot the disclaimer.

RIAA...today I recieved in a brown box marked "Amazon" the sum of 10 new CDS at a cost of approximately $112.00.

:)
posted by oh posey at 10:27 PM on March 19, 2002

Yeah. It's a great idea to have a random music swap and then start laying down rules about what you can't include.

*sigh*
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:27 PM on March 19, 2002

Look, if you can't do a mix CD without Creed or (not even xor, just plain or) Radiohead, you should go kill yourself right now.
posted by Settle at 10:29 PM on March 19, 2002

How 'bout if I remix 'em together into some sort of new Creediohead masterpiece? How 'bout it then?
posted by youhas at 10:33 PM on March 19, 2002

Okay. Anyone who gets Settle, go ahead and put nothing but creed, and maybe "high and dry" on there. Or, better yet, just "arms wide open" 18 times.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:58 PM on March 19, 2002

Ufez, you feeling lucky?

Youhas, want me to remix your face?

side note: I just made my playlist. It is 36 seconds short of 80 minutes, and IT ROCKS. Oh my god. The transition from the obscure live iggy pop track to the obscure middle of the album roxy music track is TO DIE FOR.

PS No creed plz
posted by Settle at 11:14 PM on March 19, 2002

I'm up for this....and a DJ....so expect obscurity from the UK....thats iff the english are allowed in!

Name and Address in the email....
posted by mattr at 1:11 AM on March 20, 2002

Great.
Have any Creed?
posted by dong_resin at 3:05 AM on March 20, 2002

Creed....none....its a 'phenomenon' that hasn't reached my particular part of the UK....but by the sounds of it, I shall watch out....

(actually I have heard some - and IMHO - they suck...)....now awaiting flames...
posted by mattr at 3:53 AM on March 20, 2002

If you say creed suck then you suck but if creed do suck then you don't suck.

Creed suck.

Not a very clever flame but a better tounge twister.
posted by nedrichards at 4:18 AM on March 20, 2002

Creediohead. Heh.

I got no problem with you including your band or your friend's band. As long as they rawk! And they are not Creed.
posted by ColdChef at 4:51 AM on March 20, 2002

I'm into the music sharing, but this CD swapping is a little 20th Century. 'O course, we don't need to send the cd's which contain the songs (digital information)... we could just send the songs (digital information). Unless you guys just really like the shiny round things, which explains why EMI and Tower records ( not to mention AOL) still do their business on them. :)
posted by dash_slot- at 6:04 AM on March 20, 2002

The "summer-themed" version doesn't appeal to me, but I'm in if we do a MeFi version. As long as it's honestly a swap with 5-10 people of music that they love. I don't care if it's local, personal, or mainstream music, as long as it's good music to the person who sent it to me. Gives some insight into different people as well as introduces you to new music.
posted by deviant at 6:16 AM on March 20, 2002

i love the shiny round things.
do not taunt shiny round things.

furthermore, i say "no restrictions" -- if you like this idea and trust your fellow MeFi-ers to provide you with a quality mix, then why chime in with "no this" and "no that?"
posted by grabbingsand at 6:47 AM on March 20, 2002

it's a pretty good idea. i'm in.
as for anyone sending me creed, or linkin park or whatever, be forewarned that in return you will get something along the lines of this.
posted by sixtwenty3dc at 7:04 AM on March 20, 2002

I'm setting up a server app for this ... email me your suggestions and I'll work them in and then release the URL once it's complete this afternoon. I'll set it up as an ongoing list so that once you send and receive your goodies you can do it again if so inclined.
posted by deviant at 7:32 AM on March 20, 2002

I'm signing up. I even have some great summer music.
posted by Soliloquy at 7:38 AM on March 20, 2002

so we have both jpoulos and deviant firing up lists? i'd better stock up on the old blanks then.... and perhaps acquire a pitney-bowes postage machine....
posted by grabbingsand at 9:30 AM on March 20, 2002

I forgot:

NO JARS OF CLAY

Yeah and I suppose I could tolerate something home recorded, just so long as the whole mix isn't a promotional affair, that's all I meant. We all have lame taste in music, we shouldn't force it on others.
posted by Settle at 9:55 AM on March 20, 2002

mattr, Please put me on your mailing list.
posted by keithl at 10:54 AM on March 20, 2002

I'd love to be involved in something like this.

This is gonna be fun
posted by sauril at 11:27 AM on March 20, 2002

I am in... email sent..

puga
posted by PugAchev at 11:35 AM on March 20, 2002

Okay ... here is the initial registration for the MeFiSwap. More revisions to come during the week. Be sure to let me know your ideas on how to improve the process as we go along.

Register Here
posted by deviant at 12:23 PM on March 20, 2002

Why are there two lists?
posted by riffola at 12:49 PM on March 20, 2002

confusion! I'm on jpoulos'...
posted by Marquis at 1:06 PM on March 20, 2002

On behalf of those of us without CD burners, would it be possible to have a sub-category for the exchamge of tapes? I'd very much like to participate, but my budget is already streched by impending wedding & moving plans...
posted by bmarkey at 1:17 PM on March 20, 2002

At the risk of self-linking: I've been running a blogger CD Mix of the Month swapping club from my site for the last four months. Everyone's welcome to join in.
posted by crabwalk at 1:38 PM on March 20, 2002

I'm on jpoulos' list as well.

I created the web based version simply for anyone that wants to use it ... it's automated so it can keep going on as long as there are at least 5 active users. And it will log each cd sent. The first version is purely honor system, after that you won't be able to receive CDs until you have sent CDs successfully. An eye for an eye so to speak.
posted by deviant at 1:41 PM on March 20, 2002

Deviant & Jpoulos: can you combine your talents and energies?
posted by dash_slot- at 2:03 PM on March 20, 2002

Wonder twin powers ACTIVATE!

Form of...a CD SWAP.

Deviant: How can we combine this? Should I just put the list i accumulate into your application?


On behalf of those of us without CD burners, would it be possible to have a sub-category for the exchamge of tapes?

I've been thinking about this since I bad-mouthed the idea earlier. I think that we could definitely do tapes, as long as tape-swappers only swap with other tape-swappers, and disc-swappers swap with disc-swappers.
posted by jpoulos at 2:43 PM on March 20, 2002

as long as tape-swappers only swap with other tape-swappers, and disc-swappers swap with disc-swappers.

...and thus began the Media Format War of 2002. There were no survivors. A lone DAT tape marks the scene of the battle.
posted by ColdChef at 2:48 PM on March 20, 2002

I thought jpoulos could only take the form of a mammal! Or was it water?

Where's Gleep?

I'm so confused!
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:50 PM on March 20, 2002

I am not taking the form of a bucket. Let's just be clear about that.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:03 PM on March 20, 2002

jpoulos: There are currently 19 users registered on the site ... if you're list is much longer and have a system all worked up ... I can pass the list on to you while it's still short. Setting up the registration was simple, so it's disposable at this point.

-or- you could send me a text file of the list and I'll parse it into the database. deviant AT inrudesigns.com

If we go that route I'd like your thoughts on how you were going to handle this event.

As for tapes - enough requests and you shall receive - register as normal and once it's all up and running (if enough intereset has been shown) we can make it a choice to be on the tape list or CD list (but they won't be interchangeable). That would be fine, the only thing I think we should avoid is digital formats (that could get us into trouble ;)
posted by deviant at 3:05 PM on March 20, 2002

How about we make it so that anyone with a burner who doesn't mind swapping CDs for CDs or tapes or MDs or DATs or LPs, could elect to do so.
posted by riffola at 3:07 PM on March 20, 2002

Cool by me ... I just think that it would put the people wanting TAPES back (or other formats for that matter) at a minority agianst the people wanting CDs only. As long as the people sending tapes will accept CDs (which shouldn't be a problem) then we're in business.
posted by deviant at 3:11 PM on March 20, 2002

deviant: I've got 50 emails right now. Your application seems pretty sound (no pun intended) and much more efficient than my system (the "holy shit! I've got 50 emails!" system). Why don't I just forward you what I've got, and we'll stick with yours.
posted by jpoulos at 3:35 PM on March 20, 2002

works for me jpoulos...

here's the plan ...

round 1 it's a simple trade-off between MetaFilter users (keepin' it in the family) and then we'll work out the details from there. If at anytime anyone wants their info deleted I'll make it where you can requst that or do it manually from the site.

I'll get the first round system in place this week, and we'll see how well this thing works ... with you're 50 that makes 74 registered users in under 24hrs ... not a bad start for a little experiment in "open source community" and 'honor system sociology" ;)
posted by deviant at 3:57 PM on March 20, 2002

OK. The plan is this: I'm not about to parse through all these emails for the pertitnent info, so I'd like to ask everyone who sent me an email to please go to Deviant's web application and register your information there. If you already have done so, there's no need to do it again.
posted by jpoulos at 6:17 PM on March 20, 2002

I love this! But I have a *serious* problem with a "no Beatles" rule. Come on, that's MUCH different than Creed!
posted by apollonia6 at 1:04 PM on March 21, 2002

I was modestly interested in participating, but everyone here seems to have musical tastes that are way too 1337 for me to ever hope to match. I made some mix discs for Frykitty's project, but I'm sure to get slagged for my (comparatively) mainstream tastes among you folks.
posted by kindall at 1:40 PM on March 21, 2002

Not so, Kindall. I did an "All Texas" cd recently and it seems to have been received well. Here's the trick: pick something that you love that isn't heard a lot. Pick an obscure Bob Dylan song off of one of his less famous albums. Pick a U2 song that never got any airplay on the radio.

Your picks don't have to come from some bizarre, never heard of before hipster band. They don't have to have "street cred."

But, pick songs that mean a lot to you. That's the kind of thing we're looking for here. When I listen to someone's mix, I try to look through the songs and see the person.
posted by ColdChef at 2:19 PM on March 21, 2002

Yeah, well, it's hard for me to get all worked up about participating when someone posts "No Jars of Clay" in large letters and I actually put a Jars of Clay tune on one of the aforementioned Greenshoes CDs...

(And yes, I know they're a crossover Christian band and yes, I'm not even slightly religious, and no, I do not find this to be even slightly contradictory. Music is the only part of my church experience I miss.)

I do feel a measure of sympathy for people who are deathly allergic to music they don't care for, and yet lacked the foresight to buy a CD player with a track advance button.
posted by kindall at 2:43 PM on March 21, 2002

Put whatever you want on the CD .. if a person doesn't want a specific band for some odd reason (I personnaly disagree with this) they won't get on your list.

What I hope to get is some good music references to stuff I would have never heard of if not for this swap.

And people getting my CD can expect some good new y'alternative music ;)

MeFiSwap should be live early next week ... lists go out then.
posted by deviant at 7:59 PM on March 21, 2002

Deviant is, clearly, da man.
posted by jpoulos at 9:06 PM on March 21, 2002

So um this thing kinda died didn't it?
posted by riffola at 10:21 PM on April 1, 2002

Dunno. Haven't heard a peep. Hope not.
posted by kahboom at 9:32 AM on April 2, 2002

I really, really hope it isn't, having finally decided on my music selection. doh!
posted by Andrea at 11:51 AM on April 2, 2002

deviant -- could you give us anxious souls an update?
posted by damn yankee at 5:13 PM on April 3, 2002

deviant posted an update on his blog saying lists should go out sometime this Saturday (April 6) afternoon.
posted by turaho at 12:43 PM on April 4, 2002

thanks, turaho.
posted by damn yankee at 12:45 PM on April 4, 2002

My five are done and will be shipping out tomorrow.
posted by grabbingsand at 9:40 AM on April 10, 2002

I was gonna ship mine out earlier today, but I didn't get the time, so I'll do it tomorrow.
posted by riffola at 9:42 AM on April 10, 2002

My five went out today.
posted by maurice at 10:56 AM on April 10, 2002

mine went out today, with that last-minute trepidation, "what if they're not good enough? what if everybody thinks i have sucky taste in music?"

but maybe i just invest way too much emotion and effort into my mixes.

maurice -- you're on my list. please be gentle if you think it sucks.
posted by damn yankee at 12:10 PM on April 11, 2002

Everyone is afraid their taste in music sucks. Conclusion: our taste in music sucks.

I just sent my 5 out. There is at least one song off of the Labyrinth soundtrack.
posted by Settle at 12:41 AM on April 14, 2002

Mine will go out in about 15 minutes. Here's a thought:

Since dissent has been kind enough to set this thing up, and since we're all making a bunch of copies anyway, I would suggest that anyone who is so inclined should make an extra copy of theirs and send it to dissent, to show our appreciation.

Having said that, how can we work that--without him having to publish his address here? Maybe we can email him for his address? Thoughts?
posted by jpoulos at 8:30 AM on April 15, 2002

D'oh! I meant, of course, deviant. Not dissent.
posted by jpoulos at 10:35 AM on April 15, 2002

i'm all for sending deviant a copy of my mix, though i don't know how he'd feel about giving all us freaks his mailing address.

also: does anyone know if there's going to be an interface for this round, whereby we can register who we actually received discs from?
posted by damn yankee at 12:44 PM on April 16, 2002

I got jpoulos' CD today, it's great!
posted by riffola at 5:23 PM on April 17, 2002

Glad you dig it, riffola.

Just a gentle reminder for those who haven't gotten started yet: those on your list know where you live! :-)
posted by jpoulos at 6:19 PM on April 17, 2002

I've been getting a ton of email on this ... so an update for the masses.

The web interface idea was sort of shot, I didn't figure it would be used enough to justify creating it. As for round two ... no plans as of yet, I don't really feel that round 1 has been a success. Please, let me know if you feel this thing worked out and I'll re-instate the registration and set up a date for the second phase.

And those of you with complaints - would you really want me sending your address/email to everyone that you were to send a CD to? I didn't think so. Please, don't ask who's list you where on. If they didn't hold up their end of the bargain, that's their bad karma to deal with.

Thanks to all that sent their CDs - they've replaced my daily rotation here at work.
posted by deviant at 11:19 AM on May 1, 2002

I've only received one CD so far off the five I was supposed to receive, but I think it's still to early to say whether MeFiSwap I flopped or not. We should wait for a week or two more.
posted by riffola at 8:45 PM on May 1, 2002

so far i've received:

one nice, mellow cd, comprised of familiar and new artists

one brilliant, varied cd full of unfamiliar tracks from familiar artists, unfamiliar tracks from unfamiliar artists, and lots of interesting international music

a set of *three* cds, each of a different mood, with new and mostly excellent music

and an odd pair: a disc that appears to be somebody's attempt to promote their band or a band of a friend, along with a decent mix lacking any label, track list or liner notes whatsoever.

plus an email saying that (another!) 3-disc set (from a different participant) is on the way.

and the mix i sent to miss chicky got bounced back to me; i think i'm not the only one this happened to.

all things considered, i would say this round has been a smashing sucess.

but my experience may be an anomaly.
posted by damn yankee at 9:00 PM on May 1, 2002

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My mix is complete, and discs will go out on Monday (I have to do the covers yet!). If postage times on the two I've received (thanks heaps, jpoulos and riffola) are anything to go by, they'll arive States-side in about two weeks.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 9:40 PM on May 1, 2002

deviant, we should definitely do MeFiSwap II, a whole lotta people missed out the first time around.

obiwanwasabi, glad you received the CD.
posted by riffola at 10:02 PM on May 1, 2002

My mix to Miss Chicky also got returned, but she sent the full address and let me know that she got it the second time I sent it out. The apartment number was missing in the original email. I've received three CDs so far and a note saying that another was in the works. No word on the fifth mix.
posted by maurice at 9:50 AM on May 2, 2002

I've received four of five CD's so far. I'm pretty happy with that response rate. I'd be down with round 2.
posted by MiddleSea at 8:27 AM on May 3, 2002

As of last night, I have recieved all 5 of my CD sets in the mail. From my perspective the swap was a total success.

The only reason I have said it wasn't working was due to the volume of emails I have received stating that either:
1) users have not recieved their CDs
2) complaints of the quality of music (how this is my problem I have yet to fathom).

But the majority seems pleased with the results, so ...

MeFiSwap II
Date: TBA

Please send me you suggestions for improvements and on a good date to reopen the registration for round II.

deviant AT inrudesigns DOT com
posted by deviant at 11:22 AM on May 3, 2002

My 5 will go out on Tuesday....I have recieved 2 - and will reply to the senders to say thanks...theres some new exciting music that I am vey interested in...
posted by mattr at 10:30 AM on May 4, 2002

I've gotten 2, and the emailed promise of 2 more (how long did you spend on that cover, modofo?!), and my people should hopefully be getting theirs soon. I sure am pleased with the results so far...
posted by transient at 10:48 AM on May 5, 2002

i'd say give it another week or two to let the last of the first-round cds trickle in, and to give people time to finish (or start) new mixes, then launch round two.

that's my two cents, anyway.
posted by damn yankee at 1:59 PM on May 6, 2002

A couple (or maybe more) suggestions...

1. I have tried to send back my mefiswap CD's to the people that sent me one...as a gift for following through on the 'promise'.

2. Either - if you're not going to follow through on the 'promise' - then don't get involved....or maybe in the next round we could find a way of kicking out the people that didn't come through last time?

3. A reviews page/thing - where we could review the CD's sent to us (or at least tracklist them) - and then we could see if review match up....might be fun?

Any thoughts?
posted by mattr at 8:04 AM on May 8, 2002

I like mattr's ideas. We should move MeFiSwap off MeFi. Only announce new rounds in the events page.
posted by riffola at 8:13 PM on May 8, 2002