If you don’t currently subscribe to or buy  the literary magazine The Believer, now is the time to start.  In its upcoming yearly music issue there is a mixed tape (a literal tape) compiled by K-Records one and only Calvin Johnson.  If you’re not familiar with The Believer, it’s a magazine that was started back in 2003 by writer Dave Eggers and is edited by his wife Vendela Vida. It began mainly as a magazine about writers and writing, but has become a home for all things, shall we say, hipster and artsy.

Every year they publish annual Art, Film, and Music issues that come with a disc of some sort (generally).  This year in honor of all things becoming popular once again, the issue will come with a cassette tape.  If you’re like me and your walkman/boom box/fisher price recorder was tossed out long ago, then you’re in luck because this issue will come with a digital download code.

That right there is probably enough to get most music fans excited, but there’s more.  This mixed tape, is actually pretty awesome.  It includes some favorites here at the website, including Baby Island (a project that includes members of LAKE), Ruby Fray (Emily Beanblossom of Christmas), Lovers Without Borders (a side project of Karl Blau), Shana Cleveland and the Sandcastles (Shana of The Curious Mystery), Skrill Meadow (Markly Morrison of LAKE), and many others.

If you’re looking to bone up on your super-indie music than this is an awesome place to start.  Congratulations to everyone included on the mixed tape and a big hand to Calvin Johnson for a job well done.  This looks like it is going to be awesome.  The issue hits shelves July 1st.