Making A List: Collaborations

One of the coolest, and in many cases, most interesting things about music is when bands feature musicians from other bands in their songs. Sure, this has happened in rap/hip-hop for quite a long time and is still a huge part of that genre. I mean seriously, try to find a hit song in that genre that doesn't feature at least one other person in it. But in any case, we've seen numerous bands slide other people into their songs to create some interesting art (or in some cases, just a ridiculous melding of sounds) that might not be achieved. Here's just a short list of some of my favorite guest spots in music.

"Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" - Norma Jean
Bless The Martyr and Kiss The Child

While this release can be debated up and down as far as where it stands in Norma Jean's discography (I still say it is one of their two best if not their best depending on my mood), this particular track features a short cameo from mewithoutYou vocalist/instrumentalist Aaron Weiss. I seriously get chills just listening to that part of this track. You can be on the fence all you want about Weiss' vocal delivery, but he absolutely KILLS it on this short spot that wraps up a jagged track featuring Josh Scogin and company at their dissonant, raw nature.

"Santana DVX" - The Lonely Island
Incredibad

E-40 somehow fills the role of fabled guitar player (and apparent ladies shoe producer) Carlos Santana in this short track about his mocked up brand of champagne. With flowing lines like 'I'm probably ya daddy, I probably nutted in ya mammy', it is hard not to laugh without thinking of Santana saying all of these things. His vocal tone even matches pretty well. This is ALMOST good enough to make me forget about that song he did with BrokenCYDE.

"Dirty Pillow Talk" - The Fall of Troy
In the Unlikely Event

We didn't know it at the time, but in what would end up being this band's last record, the guys brought in Protest the Hero's Rody Walker to anchor the funky, jaunted chorus-like sections of this track. Strange enough, Walker's voice is a perfect match for the sound and it really makes this track stand out if only for these small sections of Walker's raspy croon.