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CD Review: Beastie Boys' The Mix-Up
By Michael Cartwright: 2007-06-25 01:33:46
It’s been over two decades since three young punks from New York City released the hip-hop classic Licensed to Ill. Each current member of the Beastie Boys has now celebrated his 40th birthday and the hair of bassist Adam Yauch, a.k.a. MCA, has gradually turned grayer than Anderson Cooper’s. One wonders if any other gray-haired Jewish men are crafting rap albums these days? Probably not, but one thing’s for sure: The Beastie Boys are still doing their goddamn thing. To The 5 Boroughs brought the boys back in 2004 following a six-year absence after Hello Nasty hit shelves. This time around, the peerless pioneers present us with an instrumental album, something they haven't done since 1996’s The In Sound From Way Out!. Before The Mix-Up kicks off, you hear one of the Beasties exclaim “I feel naked!” And well, without any of the trio’s trademark rhymes or subtle samples, one might start to think this album could, very well, feel naked. Not to worry though, the disc appears fully dressed in its unique brand of organ-soaked funk. (The Beasties employed the help of Alfredo Ortiz and Money Mark on the keys.) Hardcore fans of funk will likely find themselves bored and unimpressed throughout the album, but others will surely take to the relative freshness of the NYC group’s efforts. “14th St. Break” is a strong, neck-snapping second track, one busting out a conga-style whistle over an old-school break; guaranteed to keep heads nodding. “The Gala Event” is backed by a banging bassline, and packed with disorienting synths, reminiscent of the type of sound introduced on Ill Communication. “Freaky Hijiki” is filled with soft, hypnotic beats that beg to be played in the middle of the day with a pair of headphones, or at night in a late 1960s automobile, with the windows down. Unfortunately, “The Kangaroo Rat” closes out the disc on a spastic, slightly annoying note. But despite the slight trip-up at the finish line, the fun-filled tunes provide one hell of a ride. Without a doubt, the Beastie Boys are back.
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