Hate People Like Us

March 6, 2005 6:07 PM

Vicki Bennett is better known as People Like Us, and just so happens to be the anointed queen of Plunderphonics. Her music is comprised almost entirely of uncleared samples and has avoided lawsuit only by virtue of their (and her own) obscurity. Similar in style and sense of humor to The Evolution Control Committee and the (amazing, really, really amazing) Avalanches, you'll find nearly her entire body of work here.
posted by StopMakingSense (11 comments total)

I tried to sneak her into this thread, but she deserves her own post. Awesome stuff.
posted by everichon at 6:45 PM on March 6, 2005

...and furthermore, the Avalanches sound very promising, I must check them out further.
posted by everichon at 6:57 PM on March 6, 2005

The Avalanches: Frontier Psychiatrist Music Video (300k streaming windows media). Highly Reccomended.
posted by sophist at 7:14 PM on March 6, 2005

Hm, "I've got you" (mp3 link) samples Frank Sinatra, Getz/Gilberto, and Doris Day, and those are just the ones I recognize offhand... obscure?

But I really dig the song.
posted by rkent at 7:14 PM on March 6, 2005

If you're discovering the Avalanches, be sure to look around and download Gimix in addition to the debut album. They have shared bits (including the same initial song), but where Since I Left You is more of a sample-happy sonic travelogue with songs in a variety of styles, Gimix is more of a straight party mix of other people's tracks.

New Avs album is rumored to be out this year... or so they sorta say.
posted by shortfuse at 8:06 PM on March 6, 2005

Her music is comprised almost entirely of uncleared samples and has avoided lawsuit only by virtue of their (and her own) obscurity.

Oh, well then, good job there, StopMakingSense.

Seriously, thanks, I'll check her out - haven't encountered The Evolution Control Committee, but anyone who bears putting in the same sentence with my beloved Avalanches certainly sounds promising. Oddly, I just listened to Since I Left You today after not doing so for months and months. It still delivers, surprises and delights.
posted by soyjoy at 8:06 PM on March 6, 2005

Nice stuff, I lke PLU, and hadn't heard of the Avalanches before ...
posted by carter at 9:04 PM on March 6, 2005

rkent - I actually noticed a number of Girl from Ipanema samples in a couple of different songs, so who knows?

But then there's also stuff like SwingLargo, a personal favorite which was featured in the travelling Illegal Art exhibit in the past few years.

But fair, fair.
posted by StopMakingSense at 9:09 PM on March 6, 2005

can't have a post like this without mentioning the masters.
posted by Lusy P Hur at 12:38 AM on March 7, 2005

can't have a post like this without mentioning the masters.

(fixed that for you, Lusy)
posted by adrien at 3:09 AM on March 7, 2005

The Avalanches are fantastic, and Dexter is possibly the most amazing DJ one can witness at a party. He still plays all his old haunts here in Melbourne, as well as being a real approachable guy.
posted by Thoth at 5:24 AM on March 7, 2005