17. Jaydiohead

I like Jay-Z. I love Radiohead. Seems like an easy winner, yeah? Well, I've been debating this for almost a month now, and I've finally come to terms with it.

A couple months ago, the obnoxiously named DJ Minty Fresh Beats fused Jay-Z vocals with remixed Radiohead music, and offered his creation to the masses on his website. When my friend told me about Jaydiohead, I fell in love with the idea. When I listened the first few times, I was mostly impressed. Some songs were great, some were decent... but then I started to overthink. Sure, mash-up albums aren't exactly creative wonders. Yes, the few successful ones seem to always feature Jay-Z (see Danger Mouse's Grey Album and MTV's Collision Course), but that's no surprise given his name recognition, as well as the availability of a cappella versions of his albums. I wondered if this was just a cute bastardization of two definitive sounds, forced together to create a catchy mongrel stripped of the purity that made its parts so dynamic. But then I just kept on digging it, almost as much as I dig that last sentence I just wrote. And I'm ok with that.

Jay-Z enthusiasts will likely be more receptive than pure Radiohead fans, but if you like either one there's no reason you won't find this record at least interesting, a change of pace on a familiar sound. If you're lucky, it might even turn you on to the other act. And for those who enjoy both, I'm finally able to endorse this as a quality piece of mixed-genre ear candy.