Cover of Beastie Boys The Mix-Up
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For fans of beastie boys, lovers of instrumental funk and hip hop, music enthusiasts interested in artist evolution and vintage groove.
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THE REVIEW

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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Summary by Bot

In 'The Mix-Up,' Beastie Boys reboot their sound with twelve pure instrumental tracks rooted in funk and groove. At 45, they revisit a signature style first seen in the 90s. The album balances nostalgia with fresh energy, delivering tunes that rival earlier instrumental highlights. A bold move away from their typical rap to a Power Funk Trio sound that impresses.

Tracklist Videos

01   B for My Name (03:32)

02   14th St. Break (03:34)

03   Suco de Tangerina (03:18)

04   The Gala Event (03:48)

05   Electric Worm (03:16)

06   Freaky Hijiki (03:06)

07   Off the Grid (04:36)

08   The Rat Cage (03:37)

09   The Melee (03:10)

10   Dramastically Different (03:58)

11   The Cousin of Death (03:06)

12   The Kangaroo Rat (03:31)

13   The Mix-Up (03:37)

14   Fibonacci Sequence (03:12)

Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys were an American music group from New York City, best known for blending hip-hop with rock, funk, punk and sample-heavy experimentation across a landmark run of albums from the 1980s through the 2010s.
14 Reviews

Other reviews

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.