The Days of Lore

ODB and Sir Paul: A Love Story

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | musiX | 4 Comments

I was never very keen on Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album. A couple of listens and I was done. I give credit to the process of creating it, and there were some interesting parts—but overall it sounded pretty ham-fisted, and ultimately received more attention (lots from Entertainment Weekly … ’nuff said) for the novelty than the actual art.

Six years later and the Fab Four are mingling with another New York crew—the Wu-Tang Clan. This time it’s not a DJ bringing these two institutions together, but a 28-year-old music teacher from Brighton, England. And rather than sticking with one specific album from each as the source material, Tom Caruana used the artists’ entire catalogs. And I must say what I’ve heard is much more interesting than Danger Mouse’s take. Add the fact that Wu-Tang is far more interesting to listen to than Jay-Z.

Caruana posted Enter the Magical Mystery Chambers on his Web site in early January as a free download. And with it, of course, comes his whirlwind 15 minutes of fame. Caruana recently told the New York Times that it’s been downloaded close to 30,000 times, and even got the proverbial Wu-Tang hand sign from Chef Raekwon.

My favorite of the bunch is Caruana’s reworking of ODB’s “Got Your Money,” with a little help from Sir Paul and “You Never Give Me Your Money.” Now I love the Beatles, but how about mashing up some Stones? Maybe with The Roots? How about Elton John and Eminem … wait. Have a better idea? Post it in the comments section. And download the entire album here free.

“Got Your Money” - Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles

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Tags: Danger Mouse, Enter the Magical Mystery Chambers, the Beatles, The Grey Album, Tom Caruana, Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles

The Black Keys attack and release live DVD

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

I could never get over the fact that The Black Keys were only a two-piece. The young men who make up the Akron, Ohio band deliver that good ol’-fashioned swamp boogie that never goes out of style. Loudly. Even more interesting was the fact that Danger Mouse produced the Keys’ latest album Attack & Release … yes the Danger Mouse responsible for The Grey Album, producing Beck’s Modern Guilt and the producer of his own records with Gnarls Barkley. But enough of that.

The Black Keys released Live at the Crystal Ballroom on DVD this week, recorded at the band’s sold-out April 4 gig at, you guessed it, that historic rock venue in southeast west Portland. The performance captures the band in its loud and sweaty element. Check out the clip of “I Got Mine” at Nonesuch Records. And listen to the song for yourself here … although for full effect might I suggest you turn up the heater in your apartment, turn up the speakers, buy a case of beer, and pack 30 of your closest friends into your bedroom with you.

“I Got Mine” - The Black Keys (Live at the Crystal Ballroom)

Tags: Attack & Release, Beck, Danger Mouse, Gnarls Barkley, Live at the Crystal Ballroom, Nonesuch Records, The Black Keys