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Rating: The near absence of this work from the most frequented music sites on the web is yet another confirmation of the low level reached by the three in 2004.
At an average age of 45, they take the hit and start over from Zero. Z E R O. Twenty-six years ago they were a bass, a guitar, a drum (we should spare ourselves the vocal parts, seriously). So as we were saying, Bass Guitar Drums.
A successful move in the 90s, to counter those two/three (hundred) Rap masterpieces being churned out from every corner of New York, was precisely to include instrumental interludes here & there. No one else was doing it; it was a B.Boys trademark. And what a trademark.
Sixteen years after Check Your Head, the Beasties play the same trump card. Twelve completely instrumental new tracks in pure Beastie Boys style. Just enough funk, tons of groove, a one-two loop where needed, little keyboard flourishes like cherries on top.
Stuff to make historical pieces like Pow, Namaste, Bobo On The Corner pale in comparison. Stuff to hold its own against Sabrosa, Shambala, Rickie's Theme. Okay, okay, they don't reach the peaks of In 3's & Instant Death, but they are called peaks for a reason.
To hell with Three Mc's & One DJ. The Power Funk Trio version is back to wreak havoc.
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By Lesto BANG
Nice, yes, but certainly NOT that '5-star masterpiece' that some critics promised.
An entire album played like this, in the end, feels a bit lacking. In fact, I dare say: it bores.
