Sunday’s Blessings: Danger Mouse

God Bless Danger Mouse.

The word collaboration has taken a new meaning, especially in the music world. The change can be attributed to a guy
who was once so nervous while performing at parties that he used to wear a mouse outfit.

As ironic as it is for a timid man to disguise himself as a timid creature in order to combat his nervousness, that facade has long since disappeared. To the benefit of music lovers everywhere, the music whiz known as Danger Mouse has taken on a daring musical identity, and it is that unique characteristic that is the reason for a lot of new intruiging music that seems to have no end in sight.

It has been reported this past week that Danger Mouse aka Brian Burton is going to release an album with the Irish mega band U2 early next year. This is the White Plains, New York native’s farthest stretch yet. Generally leaning his abilities to a hip-hop direction, his musical career has now gone full circle with the news that his working with a full-fledged rock band.

Danger Mouse’s breakthrough came in 2004 when he decided to blend an a capella version of Jay Z’s The Black Album with samples from The Beatle’s White Album. The Grey Album, as it was dubbed became an underground music sensation. It inspired many other producers, in particular, amateur producers, to create their own mash-ups (for some reason several have been done with The Black Album).

There are two main facets of his work ethic, the ability to produce records for a diverse group of artists and the ability to play band member, creating collaborative groups all around. Burton has been credited with salvaging the career of musician Beck by producing his 2008 album Modern Guilt. As well as taking on the task of producing an album for cartoon musicians, he was at the helm for The Gorillaz’ Demon Days. He even dabbled in blues rock by working with rock duo The Black Keys for their 2008 album Attack and Release.

As prestigious and quirky as his production credits go, his artist alter ego is just as fine. He formed hip-hop project Gnarls Barkley with Goodie Mob’s Cee Lo Green, releasing two albums and paving the way for perhaps the best song of the 2000’s with “Crazy.” He joined with indie music artist, the late Mark Linkous aka Sparklehorse, to put out an album of dark songs that featured the likes of Iggy Pop, Julian Casablancas and Wayne Coyne. The record Dark Night of the Soul, was famously released in 2008 with a picture book and a blank cd that read, “For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.” A relationship birthed from the Sparklehorse album, Danger Mouse and Shin’s front man James Mercer formed psych pop group “Broken Bells” and released their self titled debut record earlier this year.

With the news of his collaboration with U2, Burton is itching closer and closer to the Hall of Fame. His abilities are so vast it was only a matter of time before rock gods like U2 utilized him. As the date for the album release approaches and the anticipation increases one can only sit back and imagine what type of music he is yet to make. Whatever the outcome, thank lord…or allah, whichever you prefer.