The Mix-Up

by

Beastie Boys

Edit

Wow, I can't believe the number of people that don't "get" this CD nor do I understand why people insist on saying that music is bad just because it wasn't what they expected. Then there are the people that compare one thing to something else just because it has a few similarities.

Maybe the Beasties weren't trying to sound like Medeski, Martin & Wood. Maybe they were just doing their own thing. Expanding on a sound and style they had already established if only hinted at on previous albums. And maybe you could write better music yourself right chief? I highly doubt it.

This is a great album and a natural progression from a band that has long since earned the right to do whatever they want to do. I hope this becomes a trend and we see more instrumental releases from them.

More than likely you will fit into one of these three categories, each with a different take on this album:

1. You like the BB's as hip hop artists, especially the funny lyrics, and enjoy the old school beats. You like Hello Nasty and To the Five Boroughs more than Check Your Head. Chances are good that you won't care for this album---don't buy it.

2. Your favorite album is Check Your Head and you really like the funky instrumental interludes on that and other albums of that era. BUT, you are not an avid listener of funk/acid jazz and are not familiar with Medeski, Martin, and Wood, etc. You will probably like this album and should buy it.

3. You fit into Category 2 EXCEPT that you ARE familiar with MMW, recent collaborations by John Scofield, Grey Boy Allstars, etc. You will be disappointed in this album because it just doesn't measure up. Frankly, this album comes off as very amateurish and shows that, though the BB's have developed some chops, they can't pull off a full album of instrumentals. The interludes in Check Your Head were just that---interludes---and you can't support a full album on interlude music. Not being a hater---I love the BB's too---but check out any of Stanton Moore's albums and you will see exactly what I mean.