The Mix-Up

You know the type of person that likes every single thing produced by their favorite artists? I mean all the garage tapes, out takes, jam sessions - they somehow find worth in every utterance. If you're not one of those types you probably won't enjoy this CD.

This is an all instrumental album by the Beastie Boys. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Despite that fact, it's not really a "pop" album, it's a funk album. Almost all of these funk instrumentals are about three and a half minutes long. They are pretty good instrumentals, although the Beastie Boys aren't the best funk instrumentalists of all time. If you take it for what it is, it's pretty enjoyable.

If you are like me and love the 80's and 90's Beastie Boys, then read carefully. This is not a traditional release for them. It's instrumental - no vocals. It's cool, mind you, just not what you would expect. The Gala Event is a cool track.

If you've fancied Sounds From Way Out, you'll definitely be satisfied with the performance of The Beastie's latest.

The Besties have abandoned their strengths and are now playing pretend in the deep end of the pool. Take a listen to Medeski Martin and Wood, or Garaj Mahal. In the vernacular, they are now biting some styles, and the result is WACK. As a hip hop crew, they are untouchable, as a funky jazz combo, they're a joke.