UltraNormal

Jim asked, so I figured I'd try to collect my favorite mash-up sites. For the uninitiated, mash-ups are, musically, a combination of two or more musical works into a new whole. Mostly done by DJ's (or at least, the ones I've found), music editing technology has progressed to a point of simplicity (ie: Garageband) that the "normal human" can create mash-ups with some patience and willingness to learn.

They're dubiously legal at the moment, and the debate is ongoing as to whether mash-ups fall under the "fair use" provisions of copyright, or they're really really infringing. Personally, I think they're great. They're a fun look at a known quantity. It's amazing to see the combinations that people come up with, and some of them are pulled off with amazing skill.

Enough explanation, here are my favorites:

• The Kleptones - One of my first experiences with mash-ups was their unreal combination of Queen and classic hip-hop: A Night At The Hiphopera. It's seamless in all the right ways, and done an unbelievable job at combining two genres.
• dj BC Presents The Beastles - The Beatles vs. The Beastie Boys. Need I say more?
• The Party Party - Some of the most amazing voice remixing you'll ever hear. They make W sing Sunday Bloody Sunday, and many more. Their efforts are kind of uneven, but when they succeed, they're not only great musically, but hysterical. My faves are the song I mentioned above, Dick Is A Killer, Imagine, and My Name Is Rx
• Pheugoo - Mashes from all over the spectrum, with an emphasis on hip-hop/divas mixed with classic rock. Very good stuff.
• Mash-ups.co.uk - A lot of dance mashed up with trip hop (which you know makes me happy). Slow Angel (Kylie vs. Massive Attack) and Leave It Dirty (Christina Aguilera vs. Living Colour - so much greater than the sum of its parts) are highlights.
• ccc - Revolved - Mashes The Beatles' Revolver with a lot of different stuff. Other than the less-than-awesome Eleanor Ciccone, the rest are excellent.
• CCMixter - Totally legal, provides a forum for folks to create and mash-up Creative Commons licensed music. Some really good stuff. And, if you don't have it already, you can get the Wired/Creative Commons remix CD.

To get a lot of the whole albums, you'll need to be proficient with BitTorrent, but that's a subject for another post. I have to go get my Typhoid shot now.