Since Gregg Gillis’ music sounds like it’s been created by a mad scientist, it should come as little surprise to know that Gillis (aka Girl Talk) is actually a mad scientist of sorts - working as a biomedical engineer by day (a career he recently gave up to pursue Girl Talk further). Gillis’ approach to music is a combination of schizophrenia, ADD, a perfect understanding of pace, and the vision to blend tracks from across the musical spectrum. Depending on your perspective, he’s either the best or worst thing to happen to music.
I happen to see potential and evolution in the music Gillis creates. He’s not afraid to utilize technology and play his laptop like you would any Les Paul. The thing that seperates Girl Talk from the hords of bumbling laptop DJs is that he’s extremely talented and each track highlights the level of obsession and precision that goes into making his music. He never uses technology to mask a lack of skill, whereas most people only use it for that purpose.
Much like Night Ripper before it, Feed the Animals, Girl Talk’s second full length album, has one track that shines above the rest. “Hold Up” held that stature on Girl Talk’s debut album and “Still Here” takes the prize here on his latest release. While the hard hitting hip hop heavy tracks hold there on amongst the best dance mixes, it’s the more precariously balanced crossovers that feel the most innovative. By the middle of “Still Here” you have Kayne and Radiohead handling percussion duties for “No Diggity,” while Gillis unexpectedly serenades us with The Band’s “The Weight.”
He may not be making music in the traditional sense, but Girl Talk has mastered the art of collage and pastiche. I’ll dance to that.
[mp3] Girl Talk - Still Here
| Artist Page | Buy Feed The Animals |
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