Look Again

The song "Look Again" by Bill McClintock is a creative mashup that blends Steely Dan’s "Do It Again" with Mötley Crüe’s "Looks That Kill," showcasing McClintock’s signature approach to combining seemingly incompatible musical genres. This track, featured in the compilation "Bill McClintock Mash-Ups, Volume 4: 2021-2022," has intrigued listeners with its seamless integration of jazz-rock and heavy metal. One fascinating piece of trivia comes from a blog post on Albums That Should Exist, where a commenter expressed a peculiar sense of déjà vu, swearing they had heard "Look Again" before despite it being a unique creation. The commenter noted they could anticipate the song’s progression, describing the experience as “odd AF,” highlighting the track’s ability to feel both familiar and novel. McClintock’s meticulous craftsmanship ensures that the intricate chord progressions of Steely Dan meld effortlessly with Mötley Crüe’s raw energy, creating a sound that feels like a classic hit from an alternate universe.

Another layer of intrigue surrounding "Look Again" stems from McClintock’s broader approach to mashups, as discussed in a 2021 InsideHook interview. McClintock revealed that he often incorporates additional elements, like guitar solos or snippets from other songs, to keep his mashups dynamic and surprising. In "Look Again," listeners might catch subtle influences from other artists like Ted Nugent or Van Halen, as McClintock is known to weave such cameos into his work. This technique adds a layer of discovery for Zoo Freaks tuning into THE ZOO, as they might pick up on these hidden musical nods. The song’s inclusion in fan-curated collections, like those shared on Albums That Should Exist, underscores its popularity, with fans praising how McClintock transforms heavy metal into something accessible and enjoyable even for those not typically drawn to the genre.

Bill McClintock, the mastermind behind "Look Again," began his journey as a mashup artist after being inspired by other creators, notably Dj Cummerbund, as mentioned in a 2019 Reddit post on r/musictheory. A self-described music enthusiast with over 20 years of guitar-playing experience, McClintock saw mashups as a way to express his creativity without performing live, which he had no interest in doing. His background in music theory, combined with a love for ’80s rock, gave him the tools to start experimenting with vocal and instrumental tracks he found online. In a 2018 interview with Stagepass, he explained that his goal was to combine songs that “should in no way, shape, or form go together” and make them work, a philosophy that birthed tracks like "Look Again." His breakthrough came with the 2018 mashup of Ratt’s "Round and Round" and Marvin Gaye’s "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," which went viral and established him as a pioneer of the “soul metal” genre.

McClintock’s rise to fame has been fueled by his YouTube channel, Bill McClintock, where he shares his mashups with a growing audience of over 309,000 subscribers. His official Facebook page, with over 4,800 likes, serves as a hub for fans to engage with his latest releases and share their favorite tracks. On Instagram, McClintock connects with 51,000 followers, posting snippets of his work and behind-the-scenes content. His presence on X allows him to interact directly with fans, who often suggest new song combinations. Fans have also created communities to celebrate his work, such as the McClintock Mashups Patreon, where supporters can access exclusive content. While no dedicated fan websites were found, the blog Albums That Should Exist acts as an unofficial archive, compiling and sharing McClintock’s mashups in album format for enthusiasts to download and enjoy.