Premature Evaluation: Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up
You've likely already heard: The Mix Up comprises a dozen "post-rock," dub, or "post-whatever" instrumental tracks. As every b-boy knows, the Beastie Boys take their chops seriously, inserting instrumentals between the kinetic rhyme schemes that earned (and have kept) fans listening for the past two decades. Nothing wrong with live instrumentation in rap (see: the Roots) or flat-out instrumental hip-hop (hello Madlib or pre-indie rock RJD2), but the Beastie Boys were given a license to ill, not to make generic punk-funk.
Like the trio's past rap 'n' sample-free work (revisit The In Sounds From Way Out!, if you will), The Mix Up finds Mike D, MCA, and Adrock (with Money Mark's keys and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz) treading water in a realm dozens do better. One shift: The predominant mode is often less '70s soul-jazz, more outer-realms cocktail spy music (see "Suco De Tangerina") or mellow-ass post-Slits/P.I.L. dub minus the spy (see "The Gala Event"). But, um, why vocal silence now? Who knows, maybe they ran out of things to say about Tibet.
Even if they aren't talking, seem like they're digging the Big Apple. Picking up To The 5 Boroughs' map of New York City, "14th St. Break" lays kraut-rocky drums, outer-space organs, and phased guitar over tambourine until the official "break," a cowbell and tooting gym-class whistle. Or, how about the two songs with "rat" in their titles: Sexy, organ-sliding "The Rat Cage" (is that a rat squeak in the back?) and raucous jingle-belling "The Kangaroo Rat" (OK, not officially indigenous to NYC … but fun song nonetheless).
Finding a theme is pushing things, but by the time the mid-point, mid-paced funk of "Freaky Hijiki" creaks into place (shakers, hand drums, human bird-whistling) the most enjoyable thing to do is to start imagining these sorta specious connections. That, or to tag the different sounds that pop-up within the framework: Whoa sitar! Bongos! Is that Moog? Never thought "The Cousin Of Death" would come armed with such fuzz-crunch!
On a more positive note "Freaky Hijiki"'s followed by the album's first single, "Off The Grid," the most dynamic track on the record: Great room chatter, rattling percussion, fluid bass line, another dose of guitar phase. The unexpected lift ought to wake you up a bit to check out what follows: Basically adequate background music for when you're doing something else, like reminiscing about Paul's Boutique, or placing the needle down on a James Brown record.
The MIx-Up is out 6/26 on Capitol.
Posted at 11:53 AM in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Beastie Boys | Money Mark
It's unfortunate that the originality and new sound that Money Mark brought to his new album didn't rub off on the Beasties for this. This album will score the background of online Flash games for years to come.
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whoa! unnecessary Tibet dig!
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'Beastie Historian' here,
You can't be throwin' out comparisons to other albums out my son. The B-boys gotta breathe (like any respectable artists) and there's no better way to do that than through some ill instrumental tracks. (I've got 'er on repeat)
As much as I love the doo-doo rhymes and the newly rekindled political raps, we gotta sit back and chill. It takes a second to wreck it. There's no doubt they still got the nayborhood on LOCK!
I speak of the boys to people around town and they've always got it wrong in some way shape or form. . . "Didn't the Beastie Boys go nuts and redo all of their songs to respect women?" . . . "The Beasties are old and they've just gotten real political". . . let me just say they like their lettuce, tomato and munster on rye and yea, like all honorable men who grow up, they're allowed to regret some silly statements made in the past.
Anyways, it was a well written review nonetheless.
Beastie Boys in the online community VVVVV
http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=4550
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I love the beastie boys, there great, and i was really looking forward to a new album, but i think they should stick to hip-hop. I admit i do like there new stuff, but i'd enjoy it more if they sang along.
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Are you kidding me? The Beastie Boys haven't been relevant since Check Your Head. That being said, the most notable thing that the boys could do would be to disband and cash their royalty checks. Total and utter shite!
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Of course they're not "relevant" (i.e. consistently innovative / ground-breaking). They formed in '81 and released their first major-label album in '86. Name me one band that's been around that long and is still "relevant."
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Um, no. I will not respond to your "bait" posting. However, I will mock your stupid name. "Markus! Come and get yo self some grits and applesauce!" Markus, Markus, Markus, Markus, Markus, Markus.
Do I really need to go on?
Markus!!!
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hey, what's wrong with grits and applesauce? add some bacon fat and you've got yourself a fine meal.
oh yeah and beastie boys make me vomit.
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Rarr!
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What the hell is wrong with you Motherfuckers? Everyone knows that it's applesauce and grits. Not the other way around. How I love to be contrary!
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