Jazz hands, motherfunker.

Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up

[2.5/5] **1/2 Being locked in an eternal struggle against forces that would limit or destroy mankind's inherent right to party has to amount to a lot of pressure. So it's understandable that Adam Yauch, Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond (MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D, respectively) require a break from party-starting Brooklyn beats to engage in alternate interests, namely '70s-inspired instrumental jazz-funk. Eagerly awaiting a new "Intergalactic" for your summer soundtrack? Unless you actually are a super-fly midtown pimp from 1974, keep waiting. Instead, dust off your mandatory copy of Ill Communication, listen to "Sabrosa" and imagine a dozen songs just like it. That's The Mix-Up-containing none of the bratty rhymes (or any vocals), samples or scratching that made these the B-Boys we know and love. Hyped as post-punk instrumentalism, the Beasties' seventh studio album is a continuation of their 1996 foray into experimental jazz-The In Sound From Way Out!, except slightly stale, even with the intentionally retro vibe. While Mike and the Adams showcase more respect for R&B roots and musical dexterity than, say, Chingy, it's tricky distinguishing any of the tracks on The Mix-Up from the 11 others-aside from the jarring organ run by guest-Beastie Money Mark on "14th St. Break" and the score-from-Napoleon Dynamite-quirkiness of "Suco De Tangerina." You can't fault the B-Boys for musical miscues since they earned the right not to care what we think, but we'll be waiting for them to resume the good fight. (CAPITOL) Tim Karan

ROCKS LIKE:
Beastie Boys' The In Sound From Way Out!
Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters
Money Mark's Push The Button




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