12.14.2005
SHADES OF GRAY
What they don't want you to hear.
Not so long ago an obscure DJ, using the handle DJ Dangermouse made a splash with his very inventive remix album "The Grey Album" , that was an inventive fusion of The Beatles White Albumn, and Jay-Z's Black Album. Thanks to the viral nature of the net, and a bevy of P2P enthusiasts, the eventual cease-and desist was utterly useless in preventing the distribution of the remixed work. For many listeners this was their first and only exposure to a genre known as Bastard Pop, or more commonly these days - Mashups. I am not one of those listeners. I have become quite entranced by the reinvention of music by third parties. Imagine my surprise when I discovered another Full Length Album Mashup recently - AmericanEdit, a truly spectacular reworking of Green Day's American Idiot, put together by numerous remixers collectively crediting themselves as Dean Gray (clever lads). Not surprisingly the cease and desist route was put into play again, and the original source is unsurprisingly no longer functioning. Of course that won't stop other sources from making it available - torrents, direct downloads, and the ever popular P2P networks will hook you up should you be curious. I would strongly recommend that you at least take the time to find the opening track - American Jesus, which bears no resemblance to the Bad Religion song of the same name.
While DJ Dangermouse literaly stuck to his two primary sources (Jay-Z, Beatles and nothing else), the AmericanEdit album uses the entire Green Day album, but is all over the map for additional materials - George Bush, Bill Hicks, John F. Kennedy, Smokey Robinson, Oasis, and oh so many more find their way into the mix. The result is most gratifying for those who enjoy the notion of taking the listeners' expectations and turning them completely on their head.
You owe it to yourself to do a little digging and take a listen.
go and tell me all about it
Not so long ago an obscure DJ, using the handle DJ Dangermouse made a splash with his very inventive remix album "The Grey Album" , that was an inventive fusion of The Beatles White Albumn, and Jay-Z's Black Album. Thanks to the viral nature of the net, and a bevy of P2P enthusiasts, the eventual cease-and desist was utterly useless in preventing the distribution of the remixed work. For many listeners this was their first and only exposure to a genre known as Bastard Pop, or more commonly these days - Mashups. I am not one of those listeners. I have become quite entranced by the reinvention of music by third parties. Imagine my surprise when I discovered another Full Length Album Mashup recently - AmericanEdit, a truly spectacular reworking of Green Day's American Idiot, put together by numerous remixers collectively crediting themselves as Dean Gray (clever lads). Not surprisingly the cease and desist route was put into play again, and the original source is unsurprisingly no longer functioning. Of course that won't stop other sources from making it available - torrents, direct downloads, and the ever popular P2P networks will hook you up should you be curious. I would strongly recommend that you at least take the time to find the opening track - American Jesus, which bears no resemblance to the Bad Religion song of the same name.
While DJ Dangermouse literaly stuck to his two primary sources (Jay-Z, Beatles and nothing else), the AmericanEdit album uses the entire Green Day album, but is all over the map for additional materials - George Bush, Bill Hicks, John F. Kennedy, Smokey Robinson, Oasis, and oh so many more find their way into the mix. The result is most gratifying for those who enjoy the notion of taking the listeners' expectations and turning them completely on their head.
You owe it to yourself to do a little digging and take a listen.
go and tell me all about it
Comments:
You right that it is worth a listen. It is acually one of the few mashups I like.
I really like "Dr Who on holiday" with the Dalek's mixed with Bush saying you're either with us or against us. Also "The Bad Homecoming" with U2 in the mix is pretty decent.
By the way have you heard of Gogol Bordello? They are eastern european gypsy punk that would make Shane McGowen proud. "not a crime" or "under the world strike" are worth a listen if you get a chance.
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I really like "Dr Who on holiday" with the Dalek's mixed with Bush saying you're either with us or against us. Also "The Bad Homecoming" with U2 in the mix is pretty decent.
By the way have you heard of Gogol Bordello? They are eastern european gypsy punk that would make Shane McGowen proud. "not a crime" or "under the world strike" are worth a listen if you get a chance.
