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May 14, 2007

New Beastie Boys - "The Rat Cage"

They weren't kidding about the all-instrumental part. But as far as Mike D saying it'll be straight "post-punk instrumental" and sound nothing like their last sans vocals effort ... well, with Money Mark on keys, you're bound to get The In Sounds From Way Out!'s groovy flavor. Anyway, Reader Becky sent us this taste of The Mix-Up, saying "Personally, I love it." Have a listen...

Beastie Boys - "The Rat Cage" (MP3 via Sendspace)

The Mix-Up is out 6/26 on Capitol.

Posted at 5:31 PM in
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17 Comments

Wooooooooow. New Beastie! This one is pretty damn cool. I´m glad to see those guys are still feeling the vibe. Thanx for this!

Posted by: Dexter at 05/14/07 5:58 PM | Reply
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sounds like a spy movie theme song.
i hear the beasties are wearing suits for the whole tour.

Posted by: sharp cheddar at 05/14/07 6:00 PM | Reply
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Is that the new Beastie Boys or a live feed from Guitar Center in Arlington Heights, IL? Jesus Christ is that some terrible shit. Are the Beasties actually good at anything?

Posted by: Qdubz at 05/14/07 6:16 PM | Reply
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It does sound like a movie soundtrack--a b movie at that. I sure hope the rest of the album is better...

Posted by: dudeasincool at 05/14/07 6:57 PM | Reply
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There's no MP3 there. Just an ad for Spider Man or some shit. WTF?

Posted by: Borth Grobian at 05/14/07 7:22 PM | Reply
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sounds like it's from the Check Your Head, Ill Communication era. it's not a hip-hop record, but i'll take what i can get.

and yes the beasties can do something right

i.e.: make great records, put on great shows, wear cool shoes, etc...

Posted by: Mikey T at 05/14/07 7:47 PM | Reply
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i have to say. i really don't like this. the bass line at the begninning sounds like he's only been playing for a few months. it gets annoying quick.

Posted by: Morgan at 05/15/07 2:19 AM | Reply
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hardly post-punk.

i think they started a new category: lounge-punk.

i wish they hadn't.

Posted by: zach at 05/15/07 10:07 AM | Reply
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Agreed! HARDLY post-punk. This song is absolute drivel... very, very bad. I don't know what people see in the Beastie Boys. I've never found them particularly talented, and THIS "song" isn't changing my opinion.
And to say that the bass line sounds like someone who just began playing is an insult to the folks who just began playing. It sound like a drunken cat walking on a detuned Squire P-bass.

Posted by: Chris at 05/15/07 11:07 AM | Reply
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I am confused. These guys have been together for twenty something years now? This track makes it seem like they're going backwards. Even "Egg Raid On Mojo" was more interesting than this...
This sounds like a sub-par, Gotham!-era Radio 4 outtake.
Having said that, I can't fault anyone for doing what they love...even if it doesn't suit my taste.

Posted by: Dave-o at 05/15/07 1:00 PM | Reply
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Further proof that the Beastie Boys will always rule (like we needed any).

And nay-sayers; sorry to burst your bubble, but you're wrong.

Posted by: Chris at 05/15/07 6:23 PM | Reply
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If you don't get the Beasties, that's fine. If you dismiss they becuase they "can't do anything," you are plain ingnorant.

Hmmm, a crucial, classic contribution to the early hip hop canon (Licensed to Ill)? Check.

A trend setting mindblower so far ahead of it's time it took about ten years to land on every critics top 100 albums list (Paul's Boutique)? Check.

Set the pace not only for hip hop, but the alt and Lollapalozza sets (Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty)? Check.

Still going strong after 20 years? (To the 5 Boroughs)? Check.

Should I go on and on and on about their acclaimed videos, side ventures under Grand Royal, clothing line...???

Posted by: Jim C. at 05/16/07 12:39 AM | Reply
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The Beastie Boys have done it again, and by done it I mean shit on mainstream trendy shit.
These guys always go agains't the grain, and this album is getting to be sick. This isn't the best song on the record, but it has a very nice build up and outro bass line riff.

Posted by: I to the blah blah at 05/17/07 12:31 PM | Reply
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Like the mentions above, the Beasties are always way ahead of their time. This time they tap into a Booker T & the MG's groove. Sweet!

Posted by: Scott at 05/18/07 7:05 PM | Reply
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The mp3 that you have posted is an audio rip from a 7-part video posted at Beastieboys.com, edited together by a fan, and submitted to my Beastie Boys blog, Mic to Mic, for the Beastie Boys fan community as a preview. The mp3 does not represent the true audio quality of the song. The person who submitted the mp3 to Stereogum failed to relay this important piece of information, which is a disservice to the Beastie Boys. If you would like to hear quality audio clips from "The Mix-Up," visit Beastieboys.com, where the band have posted 20-second audio clips of every song on the album.

"The Mix-Up" is a fantastic album. Get it on June 26.

Posted by: Hot Sauce at 05/22/07 9:48 AM | Reply
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I f***ing LOVE LOVE LOVE The Rat Cage! For me, To the 5 Buroughs was going backwords...I already have License to Ill. That CD dissapointed me because Beastie Boys consistantly reibvent themselves but manage to still keep their sound and vibe. To the 5 Buroughs was a lazy album. This new instrumental shit is just that....the shit. No one does instrumental like the B Boys. Their instrumental tracks on Check your Head and Ill Communication are some of my favorites. I went to all of their shows in L.A. and they set the shit off like they always do...just 3 MC's and 1 DJ. No one does it like that anymore, tossing it back and forth and with a DJ on the 1's and 2's. If you're a fan of REAL hip hop, not today's "I'm the shit with alot of cars and bitches" who do shows with 25 other people on the stage and rap along with a pre-recorded track, then I don't see how you don't love and appreciate the B Boys. Morgan, Chris, Dave-O and etc...you're straight trippin boos. You must be young.

Posted by: jennifer at 03/28/08 4:40 AM | Reply
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Morgan, Chris, Dave-o and etc...your straight trippin or most likely kinda young, like maybe early 20's and in that case you're forgiven because you're too young too really get the genius of the B-Boys. Despite To the 5 Buroughs which was the only album ever that I didnt buy because I already own License to ill and don't need a remake of it, NO ONE does it like Besatie Boys does. 3 MC's and 1 DJ tossing it back and forth with old school lyrics yet consistantly managing to re-invent themselves at he same time. Hello Nasty is a perfect example of that. I took a friend of mine to their L.A. show at the Forum who was about 23 and he just didn't get them. I enjoy alot of today's hip hop but so much of it is about "money, cars, and bitches" and the artists are 1 hit wonders. You gotta give props for any group with the saying power that B Boys have. And I f***ing LOVE LOVE LOVE The Rat Cage! They rock the shit shit out of some instrumental jams. The instrumental tracks on Check Your Head and Ill Communication are some of my favorites. Give love where love is due.

Posted by: jennifer30 at 03/28/08 5:06 AM | Reply
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