Mixtape for the End of the World
1999 was a wild year. Computers were ubiquitous enough that the world had begun relying on them, but they were still widely misunderstood by the public. There was a fear that when we rolled over from 1999 to 2000, the systems that held the more tenuous strings of our reality would snap under the crushing weight of programmatic failure.
It was probably Bill Gates’ fault.
It was my first experience watching mainstream news really screw with people’s emotions, convincing all of us that we were going to die.
Some things never change.
Brandt’s latest novel “Mixtape for the End of the World”, feels like a nostalgic rollercoaster of highschool emotions and drips with 90s era music references and snacks from my childhood that I’d all but forgotten. Set in 1999, in the months leading up to this computerized disaster, we get a story of a kid in a new town, discovering music and himself. Inside this time-capsule of a book, is a coming of age story written with heart and sincerity that tugs on your heartstrings. (And I’m purposefully not using that as a segue into talking about the lead character tugging on guitar strings or whatever because I respect you.)
I remember the first time I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I think I was 23 or 24, and it stuck with me as a cathartic exploration of so many awkward moments in the self-discovery phase we all trudge through during high school and early college. Brandt hits some similar beats in his story and manages to navigate what could have easily been a fluffy highschool drama, with a skill that elevates the story to something more.
The halting flirtation with girls, the struggle of navigating friendships, the formation and naming of a high school band (They call the band, STEALTH, and while I can’t explain why, this is also 100% 90s kids naming. It was also, coincidentally, what I called my notebook superhero that I drew throughout elementary school). It all rings with a truth and earnestness that adds dimension to each of Brandt’s characters.
The most clever piece of this book is the musical pairings for each chapter. Chapter 6 is subtitled referencing Eve 6’s song - Inside Out. Which, if you hang out on Twitter at all, should ring as both a blast from the past and a pretty modern reference.
These memory bites could have easily dipped into Ernest Cline territory and felt like nostalgic data dumps that add nothing to the story (Hey there, Ready Player Two), but they manage to do the opposite for me. Brandt offers glimpses into familiar pieces of his own youth, providing a touchstone of reality that grounds his diverse cast within something concrete and relatable. I won’t give away the story, this isn’t a book report, but it’s a fun ride with some dramatic twists that really pull the reader in and refuse to let go.
It’s a coming-of-age novel that strikes all the right notes. Brandt has crafted lovable characters and a story full of heart and genuine passion. For anyone that's old enough to have made a mixtape, this nostalgia trip will be every hug your parents forgot to give you. Pre-order now at the link below to snag it when it drops May 18th.
Also, I designed the cover art, so please help my dopamine by telling Andrew how cool it looks. Thanks.
Preorder: HERE
Check out his other books: HERE
I will be on a podcast with Brandt to discuss music and other things of small consequence this Thursday (January 21st at 8pm). See ya then.
