Magical Mystery Mash-up
There are certain things that were simply meant for each other: peanut butter and jelly, Jack and Coke, Hall and Oates. Then there are things that work, but on an “acquired taste” level: chicken and waffles, Clamato, melodic hardcore. But sometimes, there will be a mix so unorthodox that it succeeds more for its novelty and creativity than for how good it really is. DJ Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album is this kind of combination.Until recently, DJ Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) was best known for his work on the acclaimed underground album Ghetto Pop Life. Today, this DJ/producer is making heads turn with his “art project/experiment” appropriately named The Grey Album. Using only material from the Beatles’ legendary White Album as the background music, DM adds vocals from Jay Z’s (supposed) final record, The Black Album. The Beatles’ songs are spliced and rearranged to form the beats and melody while Jay Z’s accapella raps go untouched.
“What More Can I Say” and “December 4th” are two songs that work better than others. The prior is set atop the looped piano interlude of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” while “Mother Nature’s Son” gently caresses the latter. By contrast, George Harrison’s Disney Electrical Parade-sounding “Piggies” sample simply makes “Change Clothes” sound goofy. “99 Problems” sounds bizarre with the Fab Four’s rocking “Helter Skelter” in the background.
In the end, The Grey Album is both an awkward and interesting, though an ultimately fun, listen due to DM’s bold attempt to combine both rock and rap’s greatest. Fascinating idea? You bet! Does it work? Eh, sometimes.
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