Mouse & The Mask by Danger Doom (CD, Oct-2005, Epitaph Records USA)

“Why did you buy this album? I don't know why you did, you're stupid,” are the first lines spoken on Danger Doom's “The Mouse and the Mask” by none other than Brak from “The Brak Show” on Cartoon Network's “Adult Swim.” Now, a hip hop album featuring cartoon characters (The Gorillaz immediately come to mind) seems a bit corny at first thought; but, let us take a quick look at Danger Doom's credentials: Danger Doom is simply a combination of MF Doom (A hip-hop artist/rapper who wears a Dr. Doom mask and has a comic book villain persona), and one Danger Mouse (a superb record producer famous for “The Grey Album” and The Gorillaz' “Demon Days”). Now this meeting was not totally unexpected; after all MF Doom appeared as a guest on “Demon Days.” However, what is unexpected is the teaming with pretty much all of Adult Swim's characters. The Aqua-Team Hunger Force, characters from Sealab 2021, Space Ghost, Harvey Birdman, and the fore-mentioned Brak make hilarious appearances, and make what might be only a sub-par album into a smash hit.
Carl from Aqua-Team says it best: “Where's the keyboards and the tambourine and the guitar and you know, I mean, the stuff that like white people like, something bad-ass, like uh, REO Speedwagon or something?” (people whom, at this point, know who/what Carl is will drop dead laughing on the spot). No, this is not a classic rock album, and with the wicked drum beats and instrumental tracks, “The Mouse and the Mask” is purely a hip-hop record. Ghostface, Cee-Lo, and even Talib Kweli make surprise appearances, however the most entertaining are still the vocal tracks from the cartoon characters. Master Shake rants after almost every other track begging Danger Doom to record an album for him, and Brak attempts to act “Cool, G,” (fans of Adult Swim will immediately pick up on these quirky aspects of the characters). Harvey Birdman's line “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we all lived through the seventies, the clothes, the music, the heartwarming but rarely amusing Ziggy cartoons...” is classic Birdman, and the Sealab 2021 skit on the following track is almost too funny to be put into words.
No, this is not a record for everyone; even though the rapping is clean for the most part (the minimal swearing is bleeped-out, and oddly enough there is not even a Parental Advisory version available), it is still a rap record and listeners who do not care much for this type of music will not find this album as enjoyable as others will. But if anything, “The Mouse and the Mask” is a great introduction to hip-hop, even if it is just because Meat Wad's hilarious attempt at rapping at the end of the album is one of the funniest things I have ever heard in my entire life.
The entire forty minutes of this **** album are almost as entertaining as forty minutes of Adult Swim (maybe even more if one considers the idea of there being absolutely no commercials). This record is a must for Adult Swim or MF Doom fans; everyone else should maybe borrow a friend's copy before purchasing.

This is a great hiphop album. Danger Doom is sharp and witty with left field lyrics that are spate over uncommonly creative beats. Guest starring a few good guys but the stand out is Cee-lo Green laying the hook on one of the best songs on the album. Sprinkle in the mind boggling magnificence that is Adult Swim and, well, you've got yourself one heck of a good time.

The only reason that I didn't rank this a 5 is because the few cuss words that there was on the CD were beeped out. I really hate that. Perhaps I just got the kid friendly version, but since I already have this one I was to lazy to check if that was the case. At any rate, mighty strong stuff.

NOT RECIEVED NOT RECIEVED NOT RECIEVED YET. HOW CAN I WRITE A REVIEW IF I HAVEN'T RECIEVED THE ITEM.

MF doom, Danger Mouse, they have it together on this one. with collaborations with Ghostface Killah & Talib Kweli you can't lose. Notable tracks are The Mask & Mince Meat. An album you can actually listen all the way through.

When Danger Mouse and MF Doom come together, and spin out a series of recordings delving into the obvious greatness of Adult Swim, how in the F#*% can anything bad happen? Well, let me tell ya', there's no possible way something bad could happen... because I've heard it in it's entirety, and it is fantastic all the way around. What more can I say?... BUY IT! :P

you gotta love adult swim to want this...(my opinion)...thats why i got it. i think mf doom is ill but this album to me is lacking for car playability... but a good knock for your headphones