The Deal: Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, releases latest mash-up creation featuring more than 300 samples/"snippets."
The Good: It's amazing this guy hasn't been sued – he uses more than 300 other songs to create his songs that generally blend from one into the next. It's a walk through just about everyone's CD collection – Nirvana, Kelly Clarkson, Pearl Jam, Jay-Z, Spencer Davis Group, Twisted Sister, Sly and the Family Stone, Public Enemy, Steve Miller Band, Jimi Hendrix, Flo-Rida, Metallica, LL Cool J and the list goes on. The "fun" part is listening to the disc and trying to recognize the lyrics, beats and sounds.
The Bad: OK, the songs he creates are entertaining and impressive, but it comes down to the fact they aren't his. Gillis claims he can use the songs based on "fair use," and it's possible the record companies are afraid to sue because it might set a bad precedent. The songs aren't really "songs" in the classical sense – the album's 14 tracks blend seamlessly together for one extended experience.
The Verdict: It's entertaining and his shows are often sold-out parties with masses of people dancing and singing along. His show at Bonnaroo in 2007 was the talk of the festival – I'm still sorry I missed it. It'll be curious to see how long he can do this.
Illegal Art; Release date: Sept. 23, 2008