Idolator

As you might have noticed, we've been a little mash-up crazy at the Idolator flophouse, a psychosis probably brought on by taking in massive amounts of new music at once. (Damn you, elbo.ws!) It's been about five years since the DJ known as the Freelance Hellraiser mixed the Strokes' "Hard to Explain" with Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle," and the result—aptly titled "A Stroke of Genie-Us"—ushered in a new era of slapping together songs. With recording technology becoming more widely available and the pop-cultural universe growing crazier by the minute, mash-ups have turned into an expected part of the musical universe. If you don't believe us, just ask Danger Mouse.

But mash-ups, while being easier than ever to make, are also a delicate science—we've heard way too many that are fine in theory, then resemble interfering radio signals after the first chorus. The Kylie/New Order mash-up above is a fine example of the genre, mainly because it doesn't merely slap the two songs over one another in hopes of "making a point." After the jump, we present more of our favorites—and yes, we know that there are tons more out there, so send us your forgotten favorites over the weekend and we'll post more on Monday.

Evolution Control Committee - Rebel Without A Pause: This Public Enemy/Herb Alpert collision actually predates the current mash-up craze by a few years—we first found the 7-inch that contained it in the mid-'90s—but it's still one of the best examples of the genre, thanks to its on-its-face absurd, yet on-record sublime pairing.

Freelance Hellraiser - A Stroke Of Genie-Us: Why were so many of our favorite mash-ups the ones that brought together ringing guitar chords and pouty pop singers? The Freelance Hellraiser's Strokes/Christina Aguilera hybrid was not only masterfully matched, it filled a rocker-girl sphere that, in 2001, was only inhabited by the power-popping soundtrack for Josie and the Pussycats.

Lionel Vinyl - You Gonna Be My Love Machine?: We talked about Lionel Vinyl's Jet/Girls Aloud mash-up a few weeks ago, but it's still one of our favorites. It even made Jet's ripping off of "Lust For Life" a little more forgivable.

Basement Clash - Magnificent Romeo: Probably an easy pick, since the Jaxx specialize in slip-sliding through genre (and they actually included this remix on their two-disc singles comp last year), but adding the popping bass line from the Clash's "Magnificent Seven" to "Romeo" turns it into a pogo-worthy riot.

Girls On Top - We Don't Give A Damn About Our Friends: Richard X's mix of Gary Numan's new wave and Adina Howard's freaky pick-up song is grimy and sexy—and we love the Sugababes' X-produced cover, too.

Girl Talk - Minute By Minute: Pittsburgh's Gregg Gillis, who goes by the nom de remix Girl Talk, probably deserves his own entry (even if he is doing remixes for Good Charlotte), but this track—which hits every Pitchfork reader's sweet spot by mixing the Ying Yang Twins, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Juelz Santana, among others—is head-spinning.

Aggro1 - URAQT In The Ladies Room: Smash together two he's-mine tracks from M.I.A. and Klymaxx—two artists whose musical approaches couldn't be more different—and what you get is a snarly, hair-pulling throw-down in some decrepit club's loo.

Go Home Productions - Paperback Believer: A Monkees/Beatles mix that proves, once and for all, that the songwriting chops possessed by "I'm A Believer" scribe Neil Diamond are on par with the greats.