The Mouse and the Mask – Danger Doom

Year	Album	Artist	Stars	Score	Genre
2005	The Mouse & The Mask	Danger Doom	★★★½	76	Hip-Hop

An entire album themed around Adult Swim shows that was promoted heavily by Cartoon Network and that includes features and sketches by fictitious characters has no business working in any artistic way beyond it being a mildly-humorous gimmick that’s sure to feel dated in no time at all. 

So how does The Mouse And The Mask work so well? Because MF Doom and Danger Mouse are the perfect duo to pull off the stunt in a way that makes it feel authentic and creative. 

A self branded supervillain himself, Doom’s always abstract lyricism and reference-heavy similes make it so the names drop of Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters, cartoon lawyers, crime fighters and scientists, and pixelated space aliens feel natural. And, as an artist who consistently created an overall comic-book aesthetic on his past albums by mixing samples and clips from old monster movies, radio broadcasts and television shows to add color, comedy, the cartoon clips and vocals fill that role here perfectly. 

Coming off producing The Gorillaz’ Demon Days earlier in 2005 (in which Danger Mouse and MF Doom collaborated on “November Has Come”), Danger Mouse brings a similar consistent, colorful but intentionally flat mix here that also helps the record stay grounded despite its fictional narrative. It requires a slight of hand to weave together the different voices, sketches and metta commentaries about making the album itself without sounding phony or too comedic. The traditional drum and bass loops, mid-tempoed horns and electronic embellishments bring the album to life in a way that feels sophisticated. 

The few real featured guests here —  Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli and Cee Lo Green — also bring a level of credibility to the project. It’s not just Doom having a good time and spitting smart lines, everyone brings something to table. 

Most importantly, it is really funny when it needs to be, and as a result brings a level of nostalgia too that makes it a worthwhile listen even if the shows referenced ended long ago.