I have no Smash Mouth, and I must mash.
July 21, 2014 3:56 AM Subscribe
Hot on the heels of his mindblowing mashup extravaganza Mouth Sounds (prev. on MeFi), resident internet demiurge Neil Cicierega (also prev.) has released a "prequel" album: MOUTH SILENCE.
Whereas Sounds was largely taken up with various hilariously mashed meditations on Smash Mouth's "All Star" and other '90s ephemera, Silence is a more diverse affair, mashing NIN with the Ohio Players ("Rollercloser"), Billy Joel with R.E.M. ("Space Monkey Mafia"), and System Of A Down with Elton John ("Crocodile Chop"), and many, many more.
Like Sounds, Cicierega has released Silence as an MP3/FLAC download and Soundcloud stream, as well as on YouTube (playlist):
Whereas Sounds was largely taken up with various hilariously mashed meditations on Smash Mouth's "All Star" and other '90s ephemera, Silence is a more diverse affair, mashing NIN with the Ohio Players ("Rollercloser"), Billy Joel with R.E.M. ("Space Monkey Mafia"), and System Of A Down with Elton John ("Crocodile Chop"), and many, many more.
Like Sounds, Cicierega has released Silence as an MP3/FLAC download and Soundcloud stream, as well as on YouTube (playlist):
i think i said this last time, but as mashups these are pretty technically brilliant. they might be really silly, or at times even really really silly, but they're tight and silly.
posted by emptythought at 4:48 AM on July 21, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by emptythought at 4:48 AM on July 21, 2014 [7 favorites]
Rollercoaster was hilarious, and I really want to go to a club where they play this. Space Monkey Mafia is pretty impressive until it hits the chorus, at which point it kind of turns into just REM and Billy Joel being played at the same time.
Bonus for Doctor Who fans: his cover model answers the question of what would happen if David Tennat and Matt Smith had a baby. (Apparently Smith's genes are dominant.)
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:06 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Bonus for Doctor Who fans: his cover model answers the question of what would happen if David Tennat and Matt Smith had a baby. (Apparently Smith's genes are dominant.)
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:06 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
That's not just any cover model, that's Neil himself. (Or, Neilyourself, rather.)
That Pokemon song is going to make a slow steady roll towards generational anthem, mark my words.
posted by Mizu at 5:11 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
That Pokemon song is going to make a slow steady roll towards generational anthem, mark my words.
posted by Mizu at 5:11 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best quote from the Twitter stream: "William P. Davis @williampd I can't decide if @neilyourself is brilliant or an audio terrorist." Why can't he be both? And some of these specific combinations (not to mention that row of dancing hamsters on the homepage) could be diagnosed as serious psychosis. A wonderful psychosis, but still...
The beginning of "Sexual Lion King" reminded me that 'Mufasa's death scene.' is one of my most useful Cards Against Humanity and gave me a hint where he got much of his inspiration (his "Furries" got a lot from the 'Furries' card set and I suspect the short "Friends" clip came straight from the 'Dining with cardboard cutouts of the cast of Friends.' card).
If the Monty Python Farewell Tour doesn't make use of "It's", those old Brits are missing an opportunity.
"Numbers" and its 'call now' voice tracks reminded me of Gotye's semi-obscure and wonderfully weird Ode to Customer Service "Thanks For Your Time". (Dammit, De Backer, why'd you have to be a one-hit wonder?)
Is it just me or does "Space Monkey Mafia" have a touch of 'Weird Al Polka Medley' in its style (at least its tempo)?
Okay, mind fully melted... carry on without me...
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:32 AM on July 21, 2014
The beginning of "Sexual Lion King" reminded me that 'Mufasa's death scene.' is one of my most useful Cards Against Humanity and gave me a hint where he got much of his inspiration (his "Furries" got a lot from the 'Furries' card set and I suspect the short "Friends" clip came straight from the 'Dining with cardboard cutouts of the cast of Friends.' card).
If the Monty Python Farewell Tour doesn't make use of "It's", those old Brits are missing an opportunity.
"Numbers" and its 'call now' voice tracks reminded me of Gotye's semi-obscure and wonderfully weird Ode to Customer Service "Thanks For Your Time". (Dammit, De Backer, why'd you have to be a one-hit wonder?)
Is it just me or does "Space Monkey Mafia" have a touch of 'Weird Al Polka Medley' in its style (at least its tempo)?
Okay, mind fully melted... carry on without me...
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:32 AM on July 21, 2014
Okay, I may be naive, but is there any way to see a listing of the artists/songs used in each of these?
(I'd rather get a sense of what these things are before enragening my fellow cube dwellers.)
posted by mean square error at 5:45 AM on July 21, 2014
(I'd rather get a sense of what these things are before enragening my fellow cube dwellers.)
posted by mean square error at 5:45 AM on July 21, 2014
Neil posted a link on his Twitter to a more-or-less definitive list of samples.
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:54 AM on July 21, 2014
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:54 AM on July 21, 2014
There's a specific point in "Best" when it surpasses mere technical skill and cleverness and becomes, well... transcendent.
posted by logicpunk at 5:57 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 5:57 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
Great, thanks!
As a bonus, inclusion of the Ohio Players and Zapp & Roger renewed my interest in the pervasiveness and history of funk in southwestern Ohio, and I found that there is an effort to establish a Funk Hall of Fame in Dayton.
posted by mean square error at 6:19 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
As a bonus, inclusion of the Ohio Players and Zapp & Roger renewed my interest in the pervasiveness and history of funk in southwestern Ohio, and I found that there is an effort to establish a Funk Hall of Fame in Dayton.
posted by mean square error at 6:19 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
"I get knocked down
But I get up again
But I get knocked down, again
But I get up again
You're never gonna get knocked up again
You're never gonna get knocked down."
Brilliant.
posted by The White Hat at 6:51 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
But I get up again
But I get knocked down, again
But I get up again
You're never gonna get knocked up again
You're never gonna get knocked down."
Brilliant.
posted by The White Hat at 6:51 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Today, dadaydaday day dadadadadaday day day
by now, nownownownow now nownownow nownownow now now
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do, do do, do do-do.
this is a work of genius I am not even kidding
posted by NMcCoy at 7:19 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]
by now, nownownownow now nownownow nownownow now now
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do, do do, do do-do.
this is a work of genius I am not even kidding
posted by NMcCoy at 7:19 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]
Obscure: same guy as did The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny.
posted by Leon at 7:40 AM on July 21, 2014
posted by Leon at 7:40 AM on July 21, 2014
Strange Interlude: "Neil posted a link on his Twitter to a more-or-less definitive list of samples."
Earlier tweet: "Confession, I haven't read a book in years (except How Music Works by David Byrne)"
Based on these two releases, that's one impressive book.
Ursula Hitler: "Rollercoaster was hilarious, and I really want to go to a club where they play this."
Oh, there was a place in Denver that did this for a while. People hated it because people are basically terrible.
posted by boo_radley at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Earlier tweet: "Confession, I haven't read a book in years (except How Music Works by David Byrne)"
Based on these two releases, that's one impressive book.
Ursula Hitler: "Rollercoaster was hilarious, and I really want to go to a club where they play this."
Oh, there was a place in Denver that did this for a while. People hated it because people are basically terrible.
posted by boo_radley at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, from the list of samples: "Joe Esposito - You're the Best"
Greatest Mashup of 2014??????????
posted by boo_radley at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2014
Greatest Mashup of 2014??????????
posted by boo_radley at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2014
If I put Love Psych on repeat for three days I expect I would not require solid food for the duration.
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:07 AM on July 21, 2014
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:07 AM on July 21, 2014
Man, you can really hear the dick fingers whenever a commentator says pokemon in that song.
posted by boo_radley at 10:10 AM on July 21, 2014
posted by boo_radley at 10:10 AM on July 21, 2014
Ursula Hitler: "Rollercoaster was hilarious, and I really want to go to a club where they play this."
I believe you're looking for Bootie night at the DNA Lounge.
posted by jferg at 11:26 AM on July 21, 2014
I believe you're looking for Bootie night at the DNA Lounge.
posted by jferg at 11:26 AM on July 21, 2014
resident internet demiurge Neil Cicierega
This is so very, very correct.
Also, that time that Herman Cain quoted the Pokemon movie? Never forget.
posted by mhum at 11:37 AM on July 21, 2014
This is so very, very correct.
Also, that time that Herman Cain quoted the Pokemon movie? Never forget.
posted by mhum at 11:37 AM on July 21, 2014
I love these, so well produced.
posted by chrispy108 at 12:36 PM on July 21, 2014
posted by chrispy108 at 12:36 PM on July 21, 2014
I'm just glad the Full House theme was reprised in there. It really ties the thing together.
posted by jferg at 12:50 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jferg at 12:50 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh man it's been a long time since I've heard the theme to Carmen Sandiego but I recognized it instantly.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:49 PM on July 21, 2014
posted by Space Coyote at 2:49 PM on July 21, 2014
Yes, Neil Cicierega/Lemon Demon did the Ultimate Showdown, but I like even more:
Geeks in Love
Word Disassociation
and, of course, Brodyquest (of all the remixes of that, why haven't we seen "Bronyquest" yet?).
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:56 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Geeks in Love
Word Disassociation
and, of course, Brodyquest (of all the remixes of that, why haven't we seen "Bronyquest" yet?).
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:56 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
I liked Mouth Sounds but I thought it focused a bit too much on being clever over being listenable for me to bother with more than once or twice. Most of these though.. these are clever AND catchy. I would have had no idea this album existed if not for this post -- thanks!
posted by jess at 4:35 PM on July 21, 2014
posted by jess at 4:35 PM on July 21, 2014
Holy shit, "Crocodile Chop". I mean "Best" is the best song hands down so far but "Chop" is a very close second.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:52 PM on July 21, 2014
posted by jason_steakums at 5:52 PM on July 21, 2014
I wish "Close to the Sun" was longer. It astonishes me that "Black Hole Sun" and "Close To You" sound so natural together.
The genius in these mashups is not just in the technical wizardry in assembling them, but even moreso in identifying what will work in the first place. Pure brilliance.
posted by rifflesby at 7:01 PM on July 21, 2014
The genius in these mashups is not just in the technical wizardry in assembling them, but even moreso in identifying what will work in the first place. Pure brilliance.
posted by rifflesby at 7:01 PM on July 21, 2014
Rollercoaster was hilarious, and I really want to go to a club where they play this.
You would really like a Girl Talk live set then. I don't know if he's as great as he used to be, but seeing it surrounded by a crowd of people ready to go pretty crazy is very entertaining. He puts plastic wrap over his laptop for a reason.
He was mainly, at least in past years, very good at not beating the joke to death either. He'd play a combo just long enough for you to appreciate it and then subtly add in a third or fourth song and start mixing away from it before it got tired or trite. It was really quite fun, especially since he could do it for a ridiculously long time. Like, hours. Dude was pretty much what michael jackson was to dancing, but with laptop/controller rocking. He was one of the earlier people to really get into that seriously, too.
posted by emptythought at 7:23 PM on July 21, 2014
You would really like a Girl Talk live set then. I don't know if he's as great as he used to be, but seeing it surrounded by a crowd of people ready to go pretty crazy is very entertaining. He puts plastic wrap over his laptop for a reason.
He was mainly, at least in past years, very good at not beating the joke to death either. He'd play a combo just long enough for you to appreciate it and then subtly add in a third or fourth song and start mixing away from it before it got tired or trite. It was really quite fun, especially since he could do it for a ridiculously long time. Like, hours. Dude was pretty much what michael jackson was to dancing, but with laptop/controller rocking. He was one of the earlier people to really get into that seriously, too.
posted by emptythought at 7:23 PM on July 21, 2014
Space Monkey Mafia is badass through headphones. It's amazing how well It's The End Of The World As We Know It and We Didn't Start The Fire line up.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:26 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:26 PM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Piss" might be the most amazing thing I've heard all year. It feels like Neil is parsing out the beginning and end of all pop culture, mapping out the territory and exploding it from inside. This is hilarious, dumb, brilliant, important stuff.
posted by naju at 7:53 PM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 7:53 PM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
I've been listening to this compulsively for the last couple of days and although Piss and Rollercloser are works of undeniable towering genius, it's Born to Cat that really gets me. 43 seconds of perfect timing that is exponentially more than the sum of its parts. Brilliant.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 3:22 AM on July 23, 2014
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 3:22 AM on July 23, 2014
I've listened to Mouth Sounds probably a dozen times at this point, and was thrilled to see this come along the other day and was not disappointed. Was fun hearing Crocodile Chop put into context after hearing it in the wild on its own previously.
See also the Zingle Ladies out-take.
If I were to try to make mashups, this is how I would want to do it. I really really love the work he's doing on this shit.
posted by cortex at 10:09 AM on July 23, 2014
See also the Zingle Ladies out-take.
If I were to try to make mashups, this is how I would want to do it. I really really love the work he's doing on this shit.
posted by cortex at 10:09 AM on July 23, 2014
Did anyone else hear Stephin Merritt singing at the start of "Born to Cat?" I wonder if I can do the reverse, getting new Bruce Springsteen songs by speeding up songs from The Magnetic Fields.
I'm okay with looping for a bit. On Mouth Sounds, I liked "I like big butts and I cannot lie, butts and I cannot lie, butts and I cannot lie" and "don't take no *credit* card to ride this train" more than perhaps I should have.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:33 PM on July 23, 2014
I'm okay with looping for a bit. On Mouth Sounds, I liked "I like big butts and I cannot lie, butts and I cannot lie, butts and I cannot lie" and "don't take no *credit* card to ride this train" more than perhaps I should have.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:33 PM on July 23, 2014
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posted by oneswellfoop at 4:27 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]