Monthly Moderation

As the loading screen tip tells us: "Take everything in moderation (even World of Warcraft)."

Most of my Monthly Moderations to this point (and I've been terrible about tossing them out on a Monthly basis) have revolved around music. This one is no different.

Today I want to point you to a pair of musical acts that, admittedly, are not for everyone. But they make me feel warm and fuzzy in all the right places. And they've both released new albums in the last few weeks, which has me on an absolute aural high.

The first of these is Ludachrist. The second is Girl Talk. I can link them together like this because they have very similar styles.

Both are glitch/mash-up artists/groups. Specifically they tend to mash up lyrics and beats from modern hip-hop to melodies from popular 80's songs. Usually of the pop variety. But there's also snippits of electronica, rock, video game themes, tv show themes, etc.

You may be saying, "San, this is called sampling. It's all over hip-hop/rap. What makes these guys different than that?"

What makes these guys different is that rather than a collection of full songs, they release mixes that run around the 55 minute range. Each mash-up lasts, on average, just over a minute before it's mixed into the next one. There's a very dance club vibe to the whole thing.

It's addicting in the same way action sequences in movies are addicting. Just as you're starting to pick out the tune through a certain section, it's mixed out for the next one. Throughout their stuff I'm constantly thinking, "I know the original, but I'm just not quite hearing enough of it to actually remember!" It's frustrating, but fun.

Neither of these acts are ones you'll want to be listening to at work without headphones. Or with small children around. There's a fair amount of swearing, sometimes more obnoxious than others.

But if that doesn't bother you and you want to know what's been playing through my headphones non-stop this month, go check 'em out.

Here's some samples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73NxuNhFsFg#t=5m (Worksafe for about 1:30)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwl75jfBDfI#t=7m9s (Worksafe for about 1:26)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMM7tGV9MI#2m46s (Worksafe to the end of the clip)

Comments sections probably not worksafe at all...