Mash-ups -- two songs stuck together that were never meant to be stuck together -- have their roots in the bedrooms and basements of computer-savvy music geeks who spend countless hours sticking
Christina Aguilera
's vocals over
the Strokes
' chugging backbeat or
Missy Elliott
's raps over
George Michael
,
Joy Division
the Cure
, and about a thousand others. MP3s were the medium of choice, white-label 12"s a distant second. It seemed like it was time to put a fork in the pranky genre when collections like
The Best Bootlegs in the World Ever
and
Soulwax
's
As Heard on Radio Soulwax
series exposed the mash-up to a wider audience, but then
Danger Mouse
came along. His headline-making
Grey Album
--
Jay-Z
Black Album
vs.
the Beatles
'
White Album
-- inspired a ton of spirited imitations, and most likely the
MTV
-spawned, artists-involved
Collision Course
. The fact that the artists are involved with the project totally goes against the mash-up philosophy, but luckily
Linkin Park
-- who are revealed through the DVD as the main architects of the EP -- have that
pop
-loving prankster spirit and don't let their high-profile, well-funded life ruin it. The liner notes talk of a "once-in-a-lifetime performance" and "music history," but
is just plain old fun and all the better because of it.
"Dirt Off Your Shoulder"
sits nicely on top of
"Lying from You"
on the CD's studio version, but it's the fist-pumping live version on the DVD that really justifies
's existence.
The Z-man
-- who's "retired" from the
rap
game while being busier than ever -- has had his excellent
"99 Problems"
rocked up before, so the version here with
"Points of Authority"
"One Step Closer"
isn't so much the revelation the liner-note hyperbole makes it out to be, but it's got an awesome beat and you can still dance to it. If the CD were released on its own, the collection wouldn't be as exciting.
's genuine excitement about the project on the "behind the scenes" segment of the DVD is infectious, and watching the furious and fast teaming of
"Jigga What/Faint"
teeter on the edge of falling apart is gripping. Check the DVD first, and then throw the CD in the car for when you feel half-mack, half-
punk
. It's doubtful mash-ups will survive corporate handling this well again, and to paraphrase a post-show
Linkin Parker
is awesomely fun. ~ David Jeffries