Feed The Animals : Girl Talk : Review : Rolling Stone

Big ups to the fair-use principle of United States copyright law: Pittsburgh DJ Gregg Gillis says that's what allows him to use hundreds of unlicensed samples in his music. On 2006's breakthrough, Night Ripper, Gillis proved he was a true party-starter, effortlessly combining dozens of hip-hop, pop and rock hits in every song. Feed the Animals ups the ante, implementing more than 300 samples to make an utterly virtuosic mash-up record. On "Like This," one 90-second sequence alone works in Beyoncé, Rick Astley, Nine Inch Nails and Yo La Tengo, among others. But the album is more than just a gimmick: Gillis makes some samples sound like brand-new music with a more complicated message: One striking sequence on "Play Your Part (Pt. One)" pairs "Hunger Strike," Temple of the Dog's shout-out to poor folks, with Ludacris' cash-celebrating "What's Your Fantasy." And when Gillis sets Jay-Z's "Roc Boys" over Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" on "Set It Off," Hova's words take on darkness not apparent in the original. Rarely is postmodern art such bloody good fun.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Jul 10, 2008)

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Review 1 of 4

4of 5 Stars

I am not usualy into this type of music. But I honestly have to say this is the most amazing thing I have heard in a LONG time. The most fun is trying to figure out what samples youre hearing before they end and other one begins.

Who would've thought you could put The Carpenters up against Metallica and have it work?

Genius in my book.

Sep 8, 2008 09:31:29

Review 2 of 4

5of 5 Stars

As a Generation X’er well past the wrong side of 30, the idea of immersing myself in a sea of gyrating bodies moshing to blow-your-ear-drums house music at a packed dance club no longer holds much appeal.

But I do live in the city that never sleeps, so I find myself in the occasional club, with friends that are ready to dance, and thus the third ingredient is the music. I have to say, hearing something that you’re familiar with really makes a difference.

And that's where this music comes in. Mixing 1993 one hit wonder “Whoomp! There It Is” with 1983 #1 hit “In a Big Country?” Brilliant.

But I also appreciate the marketing angle and the legal issues he's facing, whcih I write about in my Hopkinson Report Blog: http://tinyurl.com/5628hg

Bottom line is that this has instantly become my favorite dance music.

Aug 25, 2008 09:41:26

Review 3 of 4

3of 5 Stars

I like GirlTalk, but this is the first CD I've heard as a whole. The songs he samples are great, but I like a DJ with a discerning ear--give me something obscure, something I haven't heard in a while! The RS review mentioned the Jay-Z/Radiohead mash, and rightly so; it's amazing. Unfortunately, it ends before you get to truly enjoy it.

Jul 8, 2008 18:38:24

Review 4 of 4

4of 5 Stars

Well in all honesty I can not review it properly with 4000 characters at my disposal only. But please check out the full review at my blog Noosic:

http://noosic.wordpress.com/

Over there you will find the very in depth review of "Feed the Animals" with tons of video too of Gillis.

Peace
IASIIS

Jul 1, 2008 03:36:11

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