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DangerDoom The Mouse and the Mask Release Date: 10/11/2005 Score: 8.4 out of 10.0 |
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When the news was announced that star-studded producer Danger Mouse and underground samplin' genious MF Doom were joining forces in a side project, the underground rap world shook. How was a semi-pop world producer (Danger Mouse - Grey Album; Gorillaz) going to perform with a crazy mad rapper (MF Doom)? Then came the news that Adult Swim cartoon characters were going to join forces with the duo and this project was building up into either a fantastic mesh or a complete break down.
Well, I'm happy to report that the collaboration of masterminds came out on top. The Mouse and the Mask features some of the best pure underground rap of the year, and while its a toned-down MF Doom, and a different Danger Mouse, it's still a wonderful blending of the two. The Aqua Teen Hunger Force share their rapping skills along with Space Ghost and other cartoon characters with mostly positive results.
Ghostface's cameo on "The Mask" is the best performance on the album and Talib Kwelli's guest appearance on "Old School" maybe the worst, surprisingly.
The beats and melodies that Mouse puts on this record are a bit more bass-driven than his typical work, and does resemble a more pop-influenced MF Doom/Madlib production (see Quasimoto). MF Doom's use of sampling and story-telling is a bit lax on this record, but Master Shake's voicemails add a nice comedic value to the album as a whole.
And yes, the Moon People are fantastic. Check this album out if you like pure underground rap, if you like MF Doom, if you want to hear a different Danger Mouse, and if you just like funny antics in general.
-Anthony Nguyen
November 5, 2005
