UltraNormal

This one's for Heather. Max and I went to dinner with my mom, brother and sister last night and we ended up talking about mashups and podcasts. Heather wanted me to send her some links, but I'd hate to go through all that effort only to repeat it when someone else asks me. So, this post will get e-mailed around to folks (hi, folks) when they ask me what a mashup or a podcast is or how they can get some.

mashup

Taking any musical work or works and turning them into something else. This isn't a cover, which is someone performing a song. It's usually taking the recorded version of the song and combining it with other recorded elements (usually other songs... you know, mashing them up!).

podcast

Recording an audio file and posting it to a website. I know, it's more than that, but that's it, really. The real hook to podcasting is syndicating those audio files and producing them on a semi-regular basis so people can use their feed reader of choice to download them automatically to their iPod (hence "pod"casting) or to their music player of choice.

I've only recently gotten into listening to podcasts, and have just a couple favorites:

1. Radio Clash: This is first for good reason. Tim puts together a fun show, with just the right balance of talk and music. He picks the best mashups out there and throws them together with interesting conversation about what's going on in his world. Good stuff. Show 38 (the most recent) isn't a good representation of a "normal" show, so you might want to start with Show 37
2. Coverville: Not mashups, but this guy is funny, and he picks some hilarious covers to play. Covers are another secret passion of mine. It all started in Tucson listening to KXCI (the best radio station ever) and hearing Social Distortion's cover of Ring of Fire followed by an accordian-laden cover of the same. I was hooked.
3. Odeo: They don't make 'em, but they're the easiest way I've found so far to find 'em and download 'em.

As for mashups, there are a few folks who produce world-class stuff (at least that I've found). Here are my faves:

• The Kleptones - A Night At The Hip-Hopera is probably my all-time favorite mashup. I can listen to it for hours and hours.
• Pheugoo: Some really good techno mashups, my favorites being La Naughty Femme, Dip It Joe and Roses for Lindy.
• DJ BC (link not working at the moment): dj BC and The Beastles is priceless. He mashed Meet The Beatles with The Beastie Boys and it's magical.
• Pop Razors: They've got some stinkers, but Climbin' Deeper is unbelievable. You will shake much booty.

Of course, the music industry hates mashups and it's not quite sure what to do with podcasts. But, they hated the CD at first too, and same folks thought that the VCR would kill them. They don't have a very good track record with being right, do they?

Enjoy 'em while you can!