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Top 5 Mashups of 2009

Edward — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:04:16 +0000

It’s alright. You can lean back from the edge of your seat. Our year-end lists are coming to their long, drawn-out conclusion in the form of our favorite mashes of 2009. It was certainly the year of the long-form mashup, with not one but two fantastically different and perfectly executed albums dropping, both of which placed in our favorite albums.

The list sort of reads like it was intended to just be our favorite Hood Internet tracks, but I’m going to go ahead and blame that on the fact that there is no one out there executing as effectively or consistently as those guys, and I really do think they’ve earned all 3 of the spots on this list (and I should probably mention that my own list had “Comfortable Up In Here” filling out the #5 spot, so I’m certainly 100% behind anything and everything Hood releases). Anyway, enjoy, and then help me in looking forward to 2010’s exciting first quarter releases.

#5: Hathaway – “Party and Bullshit in the USA” – There are some mashups that exist only out of the hilarity of their titles — in fact, for a long time, that was what I thought the most of mashups were, due mainly to icebergxc’s constantly asking me (way back in 07) if I’d heard “Walking in Memphis Down The Boulevard of 99 Broken Problems” or “Kiss You Through the Bananaphone” or “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Panther” — and this one certainly exists out of the merits of its overlapping titles. The strange part is that it works. Really well. Maybe it’s because everyone loves the synth backing of “Party in the USA” or we all like to shout “I’m a bad boy” along with Biggie. Or both. Sometimes, though, it’s best not to question, and to instead complacently enjoy “could you be kicked, pushed, loved, and then take on me while running so far away.” – Edward

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Hathaway – Party And Bullshit in the USA (YSI)

#4: The Hood Internet – “Cult Logic Forever” – This is a great mashup without a hint of kitsch. “Forever,” on its own, is a disappointment. It’s got the right rappers, but the beat wrecks it mercilessly with sirens and other garbage noise. Stripping the mess off and bringing it up to speed with some talented instrumental from Miike Snow was the best thing that has ever happened to it. Now it’s as smooth as it is sharp and hangs together tighter than BFFs sharing a straightjacket. – icebergxc

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The Hood Internet – Cult Logic Forever (YSI)

#3: The Hood Internet – “Make The Loop Say Aye” — I’ll admit it: I was one of the Vampire Weekend fanboys who nearly peed his pants the first time he heard “Osaka Loop Line.” I thought Discovery’s LP was going to be my favorite album of 2009. And I swear to god, the tattoo pen was not inches from my upper thigh when I finished the cd for the first time and realized that it was definitely not ink-worthy. But, as the saying goes, those that can’t do teach. And those who don’t know that “who” is the personal pronoun probably shouldn’t be calling others inept. And those who may not have the force to sustain your interest on their own ought to be mashed up. Yes, the song ruled on its own. But this was the late-inning pep-talk it needed. In October, long after I had grown tired of Discovery (although the fantastically polyrhythmic “So Insane” even to this day continues to impress me), I heard this for the first time, and my faith was restored. The Hood Internet perfectly match breaks and builds in every song they assemble, though this may showcase it the best. Beauty, grace, Ms. Mashup #3 of 2009, ladies and gents. – Edward

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The Hood Internet – Make the Loop Say “Aye” (YSI)

#2: The Hood Internet – “Two Weeks of Hip-Hop” — As Matthew Whipple of the 2009 breakout Cymbals Eats Guitars said, “[“Two Weeks” is] pure ear candy… what a song… I want to be Chris Taylor’s bass line.” So when the Hood Internet’s ABX threw Dead Prez over one of the best songs of the year, chaos ensued in the form of “Two Weeks of Hip Hop.” The opening features two of my favorite intros of all time, the now classic keyboard progression of “Two Weeks” and Dead Prez yelling, “it’s bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop.” The track seamlessly combines genres in a strikingly natural fashion, one which I believe Ethan Ward once said was the ideal goal of mashups (clearly he’s the freaking authority on this matter). A few of my stunningly brainless friends even believed “Two Weeks of Hip Hop” to be the original (don’t fear, I no longer associate with those morons). But in their defense, this is because the two wildly disparate tracks come together like Ben & Jerry’s delicious and all-natural Half Baked to create earth-shattering awesomeness. -DFJacobs

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The Hood Internet – Two Weeks of Hip-Hop (YSI)

#1: E-603 – “If You Wanna” — On ‘If You Wanna’, international superstar E-603 saves a potentially generic mash-up affair from mediocrity by adding the only possible ironic element to a mash-up: a narrative. Mash-ups and bootleg, by definition, are anti-narrative, deconstructing source texts and transforming them into a work that is based in pure aesthetics. Taking a vocal sample and chopping out pieces and parts, as E-603 does at the beginning of the track, leaves you with nothing but a glorified DJ set. But by adding the song long crescendo, ending with the full story of City High’s gritty ‘What Would You Do?’, the song develops a more full structure that leaves the listener in awe of E-603’s ability to create true songs, rather than mere mash-ups. Bringing the song’s two distinct parts together is a fantastic showcase of technical ability, in what one internet critic called, “some of the most fluid mixing I’ve heard.” A sublime track in itself, it is by far the most accurate representation of E-603’s mature mash-up opus.- Marquis Meowmers

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E-603 – If You Wanna (YSI)

Top 10 Songs of 2009

Edward — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:27:39 +0000

It’s time to refocus, kids. Yes, we’re all excited that it’s finally 2010 and Lost will be returning soon and that maybe the Apple tablet will be released and hovercrafts, etc. But the Show is not done looking back. No, in vintage .org form, we have returned to the task at hand much later than promised. I would make another promise to continue to post regularly, but I don’t make promises I can’t keep (New Year’s Resolution 20-10, y’all). Today we bring you our 10 favorite songs of 09, and tomorrow you’ll get our favorite mashups. It was one smash-banger of a year, and I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say I miss the hell out of it. Oasis, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. You and I are gonna live forever, Noel. Team Noel forever. Liam can go straight to h-e-double-hell.

Oh, and here are the songs we liked:

#10: Drake – “Best I Ever Had”

The best thing about the year-end lists, in my opinion, is that it often gives us a chance to talk about guilty pleasures we would otherwise be too embarrassed to share. By my count, there are 3 such songs on this list; I’m writing about 2 of them. Drake has it all, ladies and gentlemen: the blessing of Lil’ Wayne and Kanye, the sort of street cred attainable only by appearing as a regular character on Degrassi: The Next Generation, and a voice that could make angels shit their pants (do angels wear pants?). “Best I Ever Had” is derivative, it’s repetitive, and it will stay with you, so that whenever anyone does anything you appreciate you find yourself saying (depending on whether you favor the radio-friendly version, or, like this foul-mouthed writer, the real version), “you da fuckin’ best” in your best Drizzy voice. It’s a hot jam, and leads me to believe that the R. Kelly signature only-somewhat-subtly-sexual-song approach to music may actually be the apex of musical composition. -Edward

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Drake – Best I Ever Had (YSI)

#9: Grizzly Bear – “While You Wait for the Others”

There are many reasons why a song is the most popular song off of the album, and many times, they are not the same reasons why a song is the best song off of the album. But, in the case of “While You Wait For The Others,” these reasons do seem to be in concert. I’ll explain. Veckatimest is a very good album. What keeps it from greatness is an inability to put together all of their skills—good orchestration, dynamic contrast, catchy melody—in the same song on a consistent basis. Incidentally, these are the same reasons that many songs get radio play, because put together, these traits form a sweeping melody with emotion to carry it along. “While You Wait For The Others” is one of the few places where Grizzly Bear gets it all together, and it sounds great. It makes it the best song off of a good album, radio worthy, and shoo in for top ten tracks of the year. -Dave

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Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others (YSI)

#8: Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros – “Home”

Look at them in that picture. They’re so happy! All that energy and excitement you see in that picture, I feel in this song. The driving backbeat under whistling and trumpets give the feeling of trekking over previously unchartered territory, but Edward Sharpe and the gang are willing to take you along for the ride. You’re in the wagon, and they tell you a story with folksy honesty, evident from the girl/boy interplay to the less-is-more philosophy in the simple chorus of, “Home/Let me go home/Home is wherever I’m with you.” You tap your feet, hum along, sing along, and before you know it, you’re smiling. “Home” is a prescription dose of happy pills shot right through your ear canals into your brain, and while you’re smiling, you’re thinking that there’s nothing wrong with that. -Dave

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Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros – Home (YSI)

#7: The Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feelin’”

This song is completely retarded! But you knew that already; negative reviews, serious and comedic, abound for this track. Its inclusion in this list is thanks to the uncanny way that it touches any listener with the same reassuring and convincing message: tonight IS going to be a good night. Just watch the Oprah season opener again with any individual middle-aged or better — they’ve seen it already — and observe them boogie modestly to the inescapable beat. While you’re at it, notice that the Peas lack talent as live performers, but immediately forgive them because they gave the world a song that delivers unfailingly the message that it is now time to party. -Icebergxc

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Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feelin’ (YSI)

#6: Girls – “Lust For Life”

Late in 2009, Edward sent me a message that was like “hey have you heard of Girls you tend to like things that people desribe as ‘jangly’ so you might like this.” I was like “well yeah I’ve heard of Girls they’re all over Pitchfork’s best new everything list how could I not have heard of Girls numbnuts?” But the problem was, while I had heard of Girls I had not heard Girls. And so I went and got myself a copy of The Animal Show’s 8th favorite album of the year, ‘Album’. I listened to it. And the first thing I said to Edward after hearing the album in it’s entirety was ‘man, I wish they had just released a 7″ EP of Girls/Laura.” And that’s because every track after “Lust For Life” is totally forgettable due to “Lust For Life”’s greatness. You hear it, and its catchy jangling guitars rip apart any want or will to hear anything else. You must hear the bizarre croon of Christopher Owens over and over again as he sings about the harsh reality that clashes with our most desirable dreams. You must feel the beams of sun hit your face again and again as you travel about in San Franciso’s Mission District. And right as the repetitive garage-surf riffs start to get slightly annoying, the song jumps off the pool deck and into an aquatic sounding, finger-picked soft outro. Simply sublime. -Marquis Meowmers

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Girls – Lust for Life (YSI)

#5: Miley Cyrus – “Party in the USA”

Could every person who has never lost their voice singing to this at a party please raise their hand? If you’re raising your hand, congratulations, you probably look like a moron. I hope nobody’s watching. The nice thing about “Party in the USA” was that it was a guilty pleasure you didn’t have to hide. Everyone loved this song. Everyone loves this song. Everyone will continue to love this song. Oldies stations will devote entire hour-long blocks to this song in 2020, and we’ll still be sad when the hour’s up. This song reminded us that it’s cool to love our country. We stood and saluted Wal-Mart, KFC, and liposuction, and the tears rolled silently down our cheeks. We danced pantsless around a fire of Dixie Chicks albums, and we were glad. We tea-partied, surged, and gave shout-outs to God in our tweets. We stuck our thumbs in our belt-loops and hootenanied like there was no tomorrow. It was a damn good year, and it’s all thanks to Miley. (Oh, and also the poor nameless male-pattern-baldness sap stuck somewhere in a 1960’s office building who wrote the song under the flickering hum of a flourescent light.) We salute y’all. -Edward

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Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA (YSI)

#4: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

As a New Yorker, Jigga’s unendingly epic ode to the greatest city in the world was an integral part of my year. Getting to blast, “Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than the Yankees can/ You should know I bleed blue but I ain’t a crip though” as I popped bottles to celebrate the Yankees was a fantastic gift. Who cares if it was played at Game 2, the ticker-tape parade, every other NYC event, and on every radio station in the country 237 times too many. Does that detract from how incredible it is? No way. This track has too many extraordinary rhymes to be ignored, from “Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out/ Everybody ride her, just like a bus route” all the way to “MDMA got you feeling like a champion/The city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien.” Not to mention how Alicia Keys belts the inspired chorus, and Stephen Colbert’s rap debut for “Empire State of Mind Part 2″. All in all, this song will forever be associated with ’09 and its ass-kicking greatness. – DFJacobs

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Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind (YSI)

#3: Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West and Common – “Make Her Say”

Every facet of the hella hot “Make Her Say” screams best rap song of the year. The beat, like the song itself, is catchy and imaginative, improving upon everyone’s favorite Lady, the Gagski. Cudi’s supporting cast is top notch with Kanyeezy and Common spitting sweltering hot verses. And while both are impressive, Kanye’s submission is possibly his best since he signed up late for college. “I’ve got seniority with the sorority/ so that explains why I love college/ getting brains in the library ‘cause I love knowledge” and “fuck the bus, the Benz is parked like Rosa(osa)” explode out of his mouth and into your ear like one of Weezy’s hand guns (too soon?). “Make Her Say” was indubitably one of the more iconic and quintessential 2009 songs, and is more than worthy of its place near the top this list. – DFJacobs

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Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West & Common – Make Her Say (YSI)

#2: Phoenix – “1901″

Tainted as it was late in the year by its appearance in a Cadillac commercial, 1901 shines as an anthem. When it first dropped, many were predicting that it would be one of the big songs of the summer. However, by avoiding a seasonal meteoric rise, it has settled into a hot slow burn that will keep it fresh for a long time to come, despite its dangling above death by advertisement. – Icebergxc

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Phoenix – 1901 (YSI)

#1: Animal Collective – “My Girls”

Are you shocked? If you don’t like this song it’s probably because, “hey it’s pretty good but it just got overplayed” which is my own pretentious diatribe about brilliant songs that get too popular, and thus are not cool to like anymore (’Paper Planes’, I’m sorry). So, yeah, Animal Collective isn’t making ‘Sung Tongs’ anymore. Bummer. And everyone (and I mean everyone) likes them now. Bummer. But you have to face the truth at some point: bands that are THIS good will almost certainly get mainstream exposure sooner or later. In the animal kingdom that is popular music, bands can either evolve or die. Part of evolving is exposure. And, yup, Animal Collective evolved. But what they haven’t evolved into is shitty husk of their former greatness, crapping out the same mediocre money maker after the other. Instead, Animal Collective has evolved into an unstoppable pop machine capable of ruling the earth with an iron fist of infectious rhythms, catchy hooks, and brilliant song composition.

The first time I heard ‘My Girls’ was when it was inexplicably leaked on various blogs and music forums in the waning weeks of 2008. Having spent a solid month or two checking the internet twice a day for MPP leaks (and getting Rick Roll’d not once, but twice in the process), I finally got a hit around December 14th. I found a stream of ‘My Girls’ on a message board, and naturally, I listened to it. And then I listened to it again. And again. The first time had access to ‘My Girls’, I listened to it so many times that I was 20 minutes late to my first class. And then, in between classes, I listened to it two more times. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS THAT FUCKING GOOD. I wrote about it in my personal blog. I claimed that ‘My Girls’ would be the best song of 2009. And here we are. The best song of 2009.

I shouldn’t have to describe this song to you. You’ve heard it. You’ve rated it a ‘5′ on your iTunes, favorited it on you Last.FM, and clicked the ‘heart’ button next to it on HypeMachine. It was on every mixtape you gave to your crush, you heard it 5 times a day on your college radio station, and it got played at least thrice at every party you went to. It’s just that kind of song. The infectious bass brings together the layers of electronic melody in an amalgamation of ‘experimental sub-cultural capital’ and ‘pop accessibility’. In other words, this song has something for everyone: the synth nerd, the lyrics freak, the girl who ‘just wants to dance’, the guy who is trying to get with her, and all those people who have “everything” listed under the ‘music’ section of the Facebook ‘About Me’ page. And it’s because they all love this fucking song, regardless of whether or not it’s for the same reason you love it. So go ahead, scoff a little bit and then give it another listen. You and I both know it wont be your last. -Marquis Meowmers

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Animal Collective – My Girls (YSI)

More Than a Few Feelings

icebergxc — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:38:33 +0000

I wish they'd just say "I've Got". Would that be so hard?

Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” is a great song, and a pillar of rock. I have mixed feelings about whether it should be legal to mash it up or remix it, or if these acts should be regulated so that only professionals are permitted even to try.

On the other hand, you’ve got to break some eggs to make a pretty cake, so let’s explore.

MadMixMustang (MMM) deftly recognized the overlap in the titles of “More Than a Feeling” and the Black Eyed Peas hit “I Got a Feeling”, and did what anyone should do: mashed them up. The result is “I Got More Than a Feeling”, which certainly warrants a listen or two. The BEPs take the lead in this mash with Boston contributing mostly vocals, which can lose the strict beat somewhat over the bridge. The chorus, though, sounds great on the Peas’ carefully optimized beat, meaning that you’ll want to dance to it. It took me two listens to get over the changes made to Boston’s bits, but it was worth it.

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MadMixMustang — “I Got More Than A Feeling” (mp3) (mediafire)

For the sake of comparison and expanding the discussion of bastardizing classic songs, here are a couple more versions of Boston’s epic tune. The first is a solid remix of the Stranger cover, the second is sort of a house-y remix of the original with some sweet laser noises and pumped power chords – definitely a great track.

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More Than a Feeling (XTC Remix) — Stranger (YSI)

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More Than a Feeling — 2-4 Grooves Mix (YSI)

Michael Jackson, R.I.P. Seriously. Please.

icebergxc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:24 +0000

He was missed even before he died.

This was never the way it was supposed to end. One of music’s undeniable giants has passed on, leaving us for his reward in (fill in your own destination here). I won’t lie, my nose is running a little bit right now, and I think it may be sadness related. In Memoriam, I’d like to post a couple of songs that have been with me through some good times and also some other times that were pretty good too.

Let’s put on a strong face, using ComaR’s Billie Jean, My Love for support. Timbaland’s beat updates Michael’s timeless advice with an authority you’ll need to hear to feel. This is the only song I’ve ever been forced to play twice in a row at a party. She’s just a girl.

Billie Jean, My Love — ComaR (YSI)

Now let’s reverse the trend and take the classic beat from BJ and let Justice D.A.N.C.E. to it for awhile. Oh, C&C Music Factory pays some homage here as well. Thanks DJ Schmolli for keeping Michael d.a.n.c.ing for just a little longer, if only in our hearts.

Justice for Billie Jean — DJ Schmolli (YSI)

No point in beating Billie Jean (regardless of the claims she may make) when there’s Beat It. This time DJ Gizmo lays TI’s lyrical threats in lieu of MJ’s over the Beat It beat with great success, and Divide and Kreate picks up what Gizmo left out, pairing MJ’s threats with the psuedo-regretful strains of Hive’s Hate to Say I Told You So. This track in particular sounds like a good fit to me.

Michael Jackson vs. TI — DJ Gizmo (YSI)

I Told You to Beat It — Divide and Kreate (YSI)

Second to last, but certainly not second to least, we have DJ Gizmo yet again pairing MJ’s tunes with a new vocalist, this time Lady GaGa gets the Thriller treatment. Now you finally have something to play at Halloween besides Monster Mash.

Lady Gaga vs. Michael Jackson — DJ Gizmo (YSI)

In closing I’m putting this increasingly sentimental mash with Soul VI that I already had in my “To Be Blawged” folder. I freaking dare you not to sniffle when Michael playfully asks you “I dunno, what you wanna try?”. Yes, Mr. Jackson, I do remember when we fell in love. And it still is heaven.

Do You Remember (Michael Jackson vs. Soul VI) — DJ Gizmo (YSI)

wow it’s Gizmo again dude probably won’t stop crying all weekend. poor guy

The Show is an open-arms kind of community, so feel free to seek solace from each other in the comments. It’s a tough time, guys, and we’re stronger together than alone.

If You Like It, Have It.

icebergxc — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:31:31 +0000

I WILL turn this into a car blog.

While it may be exciting and all to break releases like E-603’s long-awaited new album, let’s go back in time for something less fresh but no less delicious. In that spirit I’m bringing DiscoTech’s remix of Whatever You Like by T.I. to you this post. Be sure to crank your bass before you start it up, and strap yourself in for four and a half minutes of high-quality synth that nestles T.I.’s lyrics like the cockpit of an F-1 racer. Hopefully you’ve had this one stressing your speakers since last year, but if not, welcome to the club.

Whatever You Like (DiscoTech Remix) – T.I. ft. Rihanna (YSI)

And here’s a little bonus track, not really worth its own post, but a really fun listen. Remember D.A.N.C.E? There were so many mashups of it that I don’t actually recall what the original sounds like, and yet I still like this song. Thanks to Sebwax for this slick A+B.

Song 2 D.A.N.C.E. – Blur vs. Justice (YSI)

Don't Get Too Comfortable

icebergxc — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:20:21 +0000

This will make more sense in a minute

I have no air conditioning. This is kind of a drag, because the best I can do is move outside-temperature air around me with fans and drink cold adult beverages all day. Not so bad, right?

I live in Houston. The Houston that’s in TEXAS.

So it’s kind of hot here, but I’ve been cooling off with this tight mashup of Royksopp and everyone’s favorite Lil’ guy (Wayne). Everyone please thank The Hood Internet for another sweet, sweet track. This one’s like riding in a pink Cadillac convertible through a 75˚ land of rainbow waterfalls and dry ice. Seriously, this bleepy beat underscores Wayne with seamless aptitude and should be awarded a permanent spot on that CD you burn at the beginning of summer and forget to take out until September.

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Comfortable Up Here (Lil’ Wayne vs. Royksopp) — The Hood Internet (mediafire)

Weezy Weezy Weezer

icebergxc — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:37:21 +0000

This picture gives me the willies.

….And suddenly I show up out of nowhere after abandoning my friends and our reader(s[?])! Let’s skip the awkwardness and get right back to the music.

It’s a well known fact that everyone worth talking to loves the shit out of Weezer. Also, I’m pretty sure that Lil’ Wayne got a few plays in the last 6 months or so. Lucky for everyone everywhere, Molestar has brought the two together through the power of mashups!

Although I’m not a huge fan of Weezy, let’s hope that you are, because it’ll probably make you like this album more. I haven’t actually made it all the way through it yet, but it seems like a great idea (in point of fact, anything to do with Weezer is a great idea), and I’m counting on Edward being pleased enough that I’m contributing again to let it slide if it’s a dud. BONUS: I recently acquired another Weezer mashup, but it’s pretty terrible, so I’m not posting it here. You’re welcome!

Weezyer (full album) (.zip)

If that wasn’t persuasive enough, try this song on for size:

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Don’t Let Go of that Lollipop (Weezyer) – Molestar (YSI)

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Mrs. Officer Turned and Left Me Here (Weezyer) – Molestar (YSI)

HEY! LINK! HEY! OVER HERE! LINK! HEY!

icebergxc — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:37:42 +0000

This post’s album is called Ocarina of Rhyme, which means that some of you are ready to knock down your own grandma to get to it! I know I am!

If you know how to get the Goron sword and what song to play in the middle of a circle of rocks (especially if you know the button sequence), then prepare to crap your pants with giddy joy like it’s 1999. This is rap and Ocarina of Time tunes together, one of those mashup concept albums that is just SUCH a good idea. As a bonus, this doesn’t sound like it was thrown together in that half an hour between the final bell and when your mom picks you up. It’s great to be able to say that: the internet nowadays has almost as many talentless mashup “artists” as the entire Zelda canon has Stalfos. You’d think this album would be kitschy as Bombchu Bowling, and you might be right, but a couple of the tracks just have a certain quality of flow that makes the album more than a one-and-done investment, so permit me to be your Lens of Truth in this treasure chest game/album. MF Doom and Slim Thug with Mike Jones in particular sound like they were made for Horse Race at Lon Lon Ranch and Great Fairy’s Fountain. I already made a ringtone out of “Knockin’ Doorz Down (Hyrule Field).” “I Used to Love H.E.R (Hyrule Market)” is slick too, but watch out for “Still D.R.E (Getting Treasure),” as that will grate on the nerves of all but the most tone deaf. So you know, Team Teamwork is the outfit with their name on this, but I can’t seem to find anything about them, which makes me like them more.

It really is amazing what can be done with well designed instrumentals, a drum kit or two, and some tested lyrics. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time got a lot of attention for its score, and building on top of that puts you in a high place to start. This sort of project wouldn’t have happened back in the late 90’s when the game was released, but the world is ready now for just this sort of project. I for one am hoping for many more projects like this one.

Check the tags for artists.

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Knockin’ Doorz Down (Hyrule Field) – Team Teamwork

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I Used to Love H.E.R. (Hyrule Market – Team Teamwork

Ocarina of Rhyme – full album (.zip)

The Loneliest Number

icebergxc — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:08:26 +0000

I'm taking a class in MS Paint soon, maybe I'll learn a new trick.

I was reading another blogger’s blog where they had blogged a blog about The Hood Internet’s “The Hood Internet vs. Chicago” album, and it reminded me that my initial reaction to the album was disappointment because only the intro song relied heavily on songs by the band Chicago instead of the entire album being mashups of Chicago classics. In time, I came back to it and realized that it kicked some serious butt regardless, but it still makes me wish there were more Chicago mashups.

Which is where Katie Enlow comes in. Although I can’t find it on her website, I have this track purportedly (we know how these things get) of her singing “One Is the Loneliest Number” over a souped up cut of the epic rhythm from Chicago’s hit “25 or 6 to 4″ decked out with some sweet drums and a little guitar and some synth whine. And as much as I dig the instrumental, Katie Enlow’s voice (which does some pretty nifty things; seriously, check out her website) makes this really special. She puts this convincing update into the piece as a whole that the original just wouldn’t have been able to bring, so huge kudos to her. Moreover, unreasonably large kudos to whomever with the time and talent makes a little something something out of her a capella tracks (especially Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About). Do that, tell me, and let’s all get internet famous together.

In the meantime, dig this.

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1-up – Katie Enlow

Where'd My Indie Friendies Go?

icebergxc — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:52:55 +0000

Isn't this a nice picture? It just didn't seem right to put obnoxious glasses on her. Maybe I've gone soft.

It’s time for an update, blog-gonne it!

A lot of the recent stuff has been mashups and whatever so I guess we’ll just leave it up to the least hip author here to say something about some hipster music. Or maybe it’s indie music. I don’t know, this isn’t my thing.

Which is what makes this so special! This is a track that I’m NOT supposed to like, but I do anyway! It must have some sort of hidden appeal. For me it’s mostly that she sounds like she’s singing with a small mouthful of marbles, and she has a slight accent, and I guess that just does it for me. Plus it’s all clappy and there’s a nice horn in there. So peep this and head over to their website for more of the same. Wasn’t high school romance fun?

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
(Download) this music.

Highschool Stalker – Hello Saferide