The pandemic has brought us here. Months of social isolating has led to so many different creative projects. Some inspiring yet others leave us questioning our sanity. This borders somewhere in the middle. Released on his Soundcloud on Sunday, 10/18 Portland, ME (that's right, Maine) rapper Spose mixed two landmark albums... “Black Album” by Jay-Z and “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” by The Smashing Pumpkins. It’s close enough to the anniversary of Mellon Collie, so in case there was reason enough, let’s give this odd mash up a listen. (If you can't get enough of the vocal and lyrical dexterity on “Black Album”, you might want to check out 2004’s “Grey Album” by DJ Danger Mouse an album that mixed “The Black Album” with the Beatles “White Album)

But Smashing Pumkins and Jay-Z? Ok, we’ll bite. The album has highs and lows. Ultimately it’s a very average mix, but there are some huge highs for fans of either group. Yes, music is subjective but there are moments that bring to mind someone trying to sync a movie with an album, it just doesn’t work. But when it does, “chefs kiss”. Spose decided to mix “P.S.A.” with “Cherub Rock”. Who knew that the moment we’ve been waiting for during the pandemic is Jay-Z comparing the addiction of money and fame to that of a junky looking for their next fix over James Iha’s classic guitar rhythm.

Another match made in heaven is track 4 “Allure/Tonight, Tonight”. Yes, the rhythm, flow, timing and proper mixing have to be there, but there’s something alluring (eye roll) with this track. A running theme in “The Black Album” is Jay-Z explaining his inability to kick his “habits”. Money, hustling, and unable to stay away from the game are all things Jay-Z laments, and this inability to leave also provides him with the experiences necessary to make landscape shaping music. This pairs perfectly with the artistic motivation that would drive someone to compose a track with a 30 piece string section. No matter how much one has done/accomplished/created there is always bigger, better, more challenging ways to express oneself musically.

Another highlight is “Justify My Thug/Ava Adore”. The beat is tough. Spose does an incredible job mixing “Ava Adore” and stretching the sound to match the energy of “Justify My Thug”. Gave it another listen, it's definitely the highlight of the album. Serious props to Spose for track 10 only. Ultimately this project is one to listen to out of curiosity. I doubt most listeners will give it a second or third spin, but if you’re a Pumpkins fan or Jay-Z fan, it’s a cool way to listen to some classic albums in a new light (or sound environment).