The Mix-Up

Beastie Boys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000PY32CE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,970 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #77 in Music > R&B > Funk > Jazz Funk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Having long since shed their image as hip-hop's clown princes, the Beastie Boys now bring what feels like their emeritus recording, a celebratory instrumental memoir of all of the influences (except punk) that brought them to their secure place among hip-hop's fickle elite. The party opens with the aptly titled "B for My Name," its plodding bounce staking claim to the mid-tempo path the album treads almost throughout. "14th St. Break" picks up the pace, especially in the auxiliary percussion breakdown, complete with rally whistle. Then, beginning with "Suco de Tangerina," the album drops into a deep groove cut from dub- and dancehall-tinged ostinati that carry through a full third of its tracks. Among these, "The Gala Event" suffers from a lack of developmental motion that characterizes many of these tracks, but highlights still abound. "Off the Grid," for example, departs from the otherwise unbreakable chill and rips the proceedings wide open, blooming again and again in a series of pulsing riffs that celebrate the very institution of the instrumental groove. More than 20 years since Licensed to Ill took a long, irreverent piss into the mainstream, it seems you can still fight for your right to party. --Jason Kirk

Product Description

The Mix-Up is Beastie Boys' first-ever full album of all-new instrumental material. The follow-up to 2004's To The 5 Boroughs, The Mix-Up features Diamond, Horovitz and Yauch back on drums, guitar and bass, with able assistance from Keyboard Money Mark and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz, on 12 brand new wordless, sample-less, scratchless originals. Sure to please fans of the instrumental cuts from Check Your Head and Ill Communication and the cult hit compilation album made up largely of those tracks, The In Sound From Way Out!, The Mix-Up finds NYC's favorite sons drawing on one of their arsenal's primary strengths and pushing it into bold new directions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

141 of 160 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars three sets of listeners, three sets of reviews, July 14, 2007

By 

C. Henke - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mix-Up (Audio CD)

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.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars B-Boys Continue to Evolve, July 2, 2007

By 

Scott Culbreth - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mix-Up (Audio CD)

Another great release by the B-Boys which will stand the test of time yet be dismissed and criticized by those who insist on comparing it to previous releases. Everyone NOW says how great "Paul's Boutique", and "The In Sounds From Way Out" are, (and I agree - from day one) however, when first released THOSE were criticized for not being like previous B-Boy releases. It's unfortunate that the decline of an artist is often related to the public's inability to accept that true artists must try new things to grow and evolve. Repetition is nothing new.

You can hear how much fun the guys had recording this. It's a funky, fresh release. It's great chill out music. Buy "The Mix-Up" now; you won't regret it. Plus, you'll enjoy and appreciate it long before the Johnny-come-latelys come around and start singing its praises!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bad reviews are WRONG!, November 29, 2007

By 

Tim Rockwell "It's all in there..." (Gainesville, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mix-Up (Audio CD)

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.