I’ve loved making mixtapes since I was a kid holding a clunky tape recorder next to the stereo speakers. As my technique grew more sophisticated, I’ve followed the progression of the art form from cassette to CD. At long last, the essence of making a mixtape has come to the web.

Muxtape strives for “a simple way to create and share mp3 mixtapes.” They succeed brilliantly with a dead simple interface, clean design, and fast music load times. There are a few rules: you’re limited to one mix per account, 12 songs per mix and no multiple songs by the same artist. The track restriction certainly harkens back to the days of cassettes and limiting repeat artists keeps things fresh. As I mentioned, the songs load quickly and can play in order until the mix is done. A clever, and again simple, Flash interface allows play/pause functionality. In true web 2.0 fashion, the resulting mix has it’s own URL and RSS feed.

Another cool feature, some would say oversight, is the lack of a song search. I’m guessing this is to quell the inevitable legal issues. Random mixes are available on the homepage, you can refresh the page for more. This creates a wonderful kind of serendipity and opens the doors to discovering lots of music outside your normal sphere of influence.

Legally, this sort of things is always on shaky ground. Since the mixes are user generated, no songs can be searched for by name or downloaded, it seems they are at least trying to cover their bases. In any case, I would jump on and claim your free account before somebody pulls the plug.

My tip: use the fastest connection you have access to when you upload your mix or have a good book handy.

My Muxtape: Under The Covers

Beautiful South – Don’t Fear The Reaper
The Polyphonic Spree – Lithium
Poe – My Lips Are Sealed
Twelve Girls Band – Clocks
The Postal Service – Against All Odds
Aimee Mann – One is the Loneliest Number
Johnny Hollow – People Are Strange
Dolly Parton – Shine
Reel Big Fish & Save Ferris – Come On Eileen
The Moog Cookbook – More Than a Feeling
Coal Chamber – Shock the Monkey
William Shatner – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Tags: flash, mixtape, mp3, music, muxtape, web2.0