Just Another Mash-Up Monday

"A lot of people just assume I took some Beatles and, you know, threw some Jay-Z on top of it or mixed it up or looped it around, but it's really a deconstruction. It's not an easy thing to do. I was obsessed with the whole project, that's all I was trying to do, see if I could do this. Once I got into it, I didn't think about anything but finishing it. I stuck to those two because I thought it would be more challenging and more fun and more of a statement to what you could do with sample alone. It is an art form. It is music. You can do different things, it doesn't have to be just what some people call stealing. It can be a lot more than that." - Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton


Mash-Ups, like covers songs can be a thing of beauty....they can also be a frickin apocalyptic-level disaster.

Run DMC started the ground work for the mash-up game over two decades ago but I don't think people really understood the impact they have on the music industry until Danger Mouse released The Grey Album in early 2004.

Jay-Z followed with the mainstream mash-up blueprint (pun intended) when he brought Collision Course, his collaboration with Linkin Park and claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 200 chart later that same year.

In recent years, we seen the emergence of Viva La Hova, Jaydiohead and countless other mash-up releases that have been widely praised by audiences and critics alike.

Both Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne have said that they feel Drake is poised to rise to the top of hip hop. So it was only a matter of time before someone decided to take his rhymes and set them to a new soundtrack. Enter producer Chi Duley and here's what you get...




While I'm not feeling all the tracks on "October's Very Cold", due to the fact they lack the imagination of The Grey Album and the seemlessness of Collision Course, I still found this 10 track offering well worth a listen or two. There are some high points ("The Fly Scientist", "The Best Strawberry", "Troubles Over") and some downright silly moments ("Money to Fix", "Viva La Forever"), but overall let's call this what it is...A great way to spend some time on a Monday morning.

Here are a few of my personal favorites..and you can click here to hear "October's Very Cold" in it's entirety.

Just Another Mash-Up Monday by EmoSarah

Advanced Warning - June 15th, 2010

June 15th 2010 by EmoSarah

Brandon Flowers - "Crossfire"

I have to admit, the first time I heard this track I immediately wondered if this was a B-side from "Sam's Town". But upon further review, I started to come around and appreciate this song. For everything negative thing people have said about Brandon Flowers, there is a something that is unmistakable about his talent. We all have our missteps in this life (Does "Day & Age" ring any bells?) but I for one am excited to see what he has instore for us when his first solo album "Flamingo" hits stores in September.

Stars - "Fixed"

Oh, Canada. Somedays I think that you must have been secretly observing my adolescence because how else would your musicians be able to write its soundtrack? A few years ago, Stars replaced Alanis Morrisette as my Canadian heart song writers and I'm unashamed to admit I've cried my way through 2005's "Set Yourself on Fire" and 2007's "In Our Bedroom, After the War" on more than one occasion. I've only heard two tracks from "The Five Ghosts", which is set to be released next Tuesday, but from what I've heard my interest has been peaked.

The Roots featuring Monsters of Folk - "Dear God 2.0"

I know I already told you about this song a few weeks back, but now that the album "How I Got Over" is set to hit stores next Tuesday I'm jumping at the chance to talk about it again. The Roots are artists, pure and simple. No pretension. No club-bangers. Just real music. This song gets to me...and I mean that in the best possible way.

The Gaslight Anthem - "American Slang"

Geez, I just love this band. There's nothing about them that I don't like, other than the fact that I haven't seen them live yet. Luckily, I've been tied over until that day by their full Bonnaroo set, which I posted earlier this week. The new album is in stores and available for download today.

Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start"

So if you are anything like me, you spent yesterday feverishly scouring the interweb looking for full versions of the 2nd set of new songs from "The Suburbs". (It's release date has been set as August 3rd) Well, I was finally successful and I figured I'd share the love with you guys.

Team Eric

So some of the ladies at the radio station (myself included) have been, and will continue to be, in a perpetually good mood over the next several weeks and that can be a reflection of only one thing....




HBO's True Blood is back. Which means more quality time with our favorite vampire that we love to hate, Eric Northman...known to the world as actor Alexander Skarsgard.

Alli also recently pointed out that while he's received much attention from fans and the media for his work on True Blood...we've actually seen him before...in one of my all-time favorite movies come to find out...

Here he is displaying some of the most awe-inspiring acting of our time..."ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCCINOS!!!"

Missed Bonnaroo?

Hate camping? Couldn't afford the trek to Manchester, TN? Whatever your reason for missing out on Bonnaroo 2010 this weekend...never fear.

Thanks to the fine folks over at NPR, it can be like you were actually there. Here are some highlights...


The Dead Weather -

Set List: "Forever My Queen" "60 Feet Tall" "Hang You From The Heavens" "You Just Can't Win" "So Far From Your Weapon" "I Cut Like A Buffalo" "No Horse" "A Child Of A Few Hours Is Burning To Death" "The Difference Between Us" "I'm Mad" "Hustle and Cuss" "Die By The Drop" "New Pony" "Will There Be Enough Water" "Blue Blood Blues" "I Can't Hear You" "Treat Me Like Your Mother"

She & Him -

Set List: "Thieves" "Black Hole" "Lingering Still" "Sentimental Heart" "Home" "Change Is Hard" "I Thought I Saw Your Face Again" "Magic Trick" "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" "In The Sun" "Don't Look Back" "Over It Over Again" "This Is Not A Test" "Ridin' In My Car" "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

Dave Matthews Band -



The Avett Brothers -



Against Me -



Mumford and Sons -



Regina Spektor -



The Gaslight Anthem -



The Temper Trap -

As promised...

Here's the link to where you can hear the Eclipse soundtrack in its entirety nearly a week before its release.

FYI - My favorite tracks thus far are the ones from The Dead Weather, Metric, The Black Keys and Florence + The Machine.

But honestly...

It's no secret that I have, shall we say, an affinity for the Fighters of Foo. Some people would call it an obsession. I like to call it a "heightened appreciation".

Either way, I know many of you are fans of what could easily be the greatest rock band of our generation, so I thought maybe you'd be interested in spending an hour with them...for free. This show is like a year old, but then again they've been on hiatus, so I guess it really doesn't matter. Plus this episode of Austin City Limits features some honorary Foos from the Skin and Bones dvd, including the musical baller known to the world as Rami Jaffee.

Enjoy.

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.