Since music has launched into the digital realm, mashups are becoming an increasingly popularly genre. While the hip-hop world has been sampling other artists’ music for decades, the concept of using an array of samples to create a complete song is still relatively new. Many music aficionados scoff at the idea as being a kitschy imitation of the original artist’s work—a mere overlaying of tracks upon tracks involving little musicality. However, I would argue that to produce a quality mashup (yes, there is such a thing) takes not only a intimate knowledge of the mechanics of music but a deep musical catalog that involves years of cultivation.

The sophomore release, DETH, from Later Babes is a perfect example of this. Sampling anything from Halls & Oats to 1979 soul hits like Peaches & Herb to the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” to rappers I have never even heard of to 80s staples like “Take on Me,” Later Babes have produced a well rounded, interesting album. Not only does the album that not only holds your attention for its entire 50 minutes, it moves in such a way that you hardly realize that time is moving forward. Where some mashups feel rushed and tease the listener with only a brisk riff from a song, Later Babes managed to provide just enough of that catchy hit to sing along to without letting it become boring. Later Babes, which includes members from Sioux Falls groups Soulcrate Music and We All Have Hooks for Hands, also incorporates live keyboards and drums, a touch that provides additional continuity throughout the album.

Whether you need a new workout album, are looking for some music for a backyard rave, are planning a road trip playlist, or just enjoy geeking out and testing your music knowledge, DETH delivers on all these fronts plus some. The album will be available on the band’s BandCamp.

There has been a lot of news lately about the youtube video “The Innocence of Muslims” and the consequential “muslim rage” that has follow. Well, I am here to tell you that I may have stumbled across the album equivalent. Fortunately, fanatical indie music zealots are not prone to sudden outburst of violence. Praise be to Sonic Youth.

The album in question is In My G4 Over Da Sea is the work of Psycosis, a DJ who goes by moniker “Neutral Bling Hotel.” If you have not put it all together yet, the whole album is a series of mashups combining the tracks of Neutral Milk Hotel’s idyllic album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, with the likes of Kanye West, NAS, Jay-Z, and that guy who wants to teach you how to “dougie.” Whatever that means.

Now, I try not to be too dogmatic when it comes to my musical preferences, but I would be lying if I were to say that In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is not near and dear to my heart. However, I also love mashups and not just in a guilty pleasure sort of way. From the mega-mashups of Girl Talk or Later Babes to more conceptual albums like DJ Danger Mouse’s the Grey Album, I find well done mashups both interesting and enjoyable. I am not even opposed to mashups involving the Holy Grail of indie music – back when DJ Danger Mouse was known as Pelican City, he did a great remix of the Neutral Milk Hotel track “the Fool.” That track was fresh and original, whereas the efforts of Neutral Bling Hotel feel void of any such qualities.

Even at Neutral Bling Hotel’s best moment, such as the tracks “My 1^st Airplane” or “Miami, 1981,” when he does more than simply overlay songs with matching beats per minutes, there is not a single track that supersedes the original songs. This only caters to the critics of mashups, who claim that these songs lack the artistry possessed by originals. If you have ever had the opportunity to see DJs such as Girl Talk perform, you understand that such criticism is severely limiting. Yet, when listening to an album like In My G4 Over Da Sea it is easy understand the source of the condemnation.

On a side note, someone needs to enlighten Psycosis that breast implants went out of fashion in the early nineties. Even when spoofing, they have no place on classic album covers. The sacrilege!

Reining from Sioux Falls, SD, Later Babes is the brainchild of Isaac Show with the help of another local band members (Soulcrate Music) and including a member of his other band We All Have Hooks for Hands. Later Babes created a smash-up album that slams together classic music with hip-hop and indie songs. Now, you may be unimpressed by this, as making mash-ups is a pretty common thing anymore. However, Later Babes mashes-up music in a completely unique way, not only is it a DJ doing mash-ups but it also features live drums and keyboards. Later Babes is made up of Isaac Show, Tory Stolen, Myles Gosmire, Wes Eisenhauer, and Corey Gerlach.

Lisa as an album, is literally one continuous song that makes for almost an hour of an epic journey through music memories. Later Babes covers the spectrum of music genres: early 90’s rap, modern pop song, musicals, indie bands, and so forth. There is probably a song that they mashed into their album Lisa that you can listen to and enjoy.  Due to the nature of the album, it is hard to pick apart the album and break it down into specific songs. That being said, it is also hard to properly review Later Babes due to the nature of the music they are creating; being that a large portion of the music you hear was created by someone else. What makes Later Babes music special is that it is created in a way in which the music is blended together and combined with their own special touch of keyboards and drums added in.

Lisa is an album that needs to be listened to all at once to really experience it properly, but if you must, each song is strong enough to be able to stand on its own. The transition between each song ends in a way that the tracks can bleed together or be listened to as a singular track. But the flow of the album is amazing.

Doesn’t make sense? Take a listen to really understand what I mean. You can download Later Babes Lisa album for free from their BandCamp, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Later Babes on Tumbr.