Beastie Boys The Mix Up by: Tom Bradbury Mon:23-Jul-07 Label: Year: 2007 WB rating 71 out of 100

Three years after To The 5 Burroughs, the Beastie Boys have gone off on yet another one of their musical tangents, again indulging their fondness of instrumental music. The Mix Up demonstrates that MCA, Adrock and Mike D are still in the game, but the reality is the main attraction of this album is that it’s the Beastie Boys – a group fortunate to be in the position where they can afford to produce these curiosities. The main interest of this album lies in identifying all the influences that have gone into making the Beastie Boys the group that they are. There is more happening musically on The Mix Up than what might initially be apparent.

There is no doubting the talent and versatility of the Beastie Boys. How many bands have managed to produce hip hop, punk and funk albums without sounding completely ridiculous on at least one genre. The Mix Up is essentially volume 2 of The In Sound From Way Out!, the groups 1996 instrumental album. Compared with that album, however, The Mix up is a bit livelier, and there is less of a porn music vibe. It’s a jam album, and it’s good to know that a bunch of guys who are now into their 40s can still produce edgy music. That being the case, it should be noted that the Beastie Boys were not without aid in creating The Mix Up, and they rely heavily on long time collaborator Money Mark for groove - its fitting that all songs are credited to Mark Nishita alongside the Beastie Boys. Money Mark simply has a great sense of timing and a knack for creating extremely melodic key parts.

Album opener, ‘B For My Name’ shows Nishita at his best, and its easily the most accessible track on the album. An ascending line of tension filled organ provides the song’s hook, with the Beasties providing admirable support – MCA’s bass work is simple but effective, and he demonstrates a crucial degree of discernment in just how to play a supporting role. ‘B For My Name’ is the most straight up funk track on the album, from here on in the Beasties explore other, less defined styles. ‘The Gala Event’ enters dub territory – delayed guitars echo with ominous intent, like some sort of fragmented siren. It would make a great addition to any Grand Theft Auto soundtrack – a companion piece to criminal mischief and under the radar dealings

The Mix Up is great driving music, or to have as background vibes at a party, and from that perspective it fulfills its function more than competently, yet it’s probably not anything you would listen to purposefully or give close attention to. A good portion of the album, especially middle tracks like ‘Electric Worm’ or ‘Freaky Hijiki’, are without any defined melodic signature that would hold your interest – music more suited for a film scores than anything else. Those wanting traditional Beastie Boys sing-alongs are going to be extremely disappointed, for it is atmosphere that The Mix Up concerns itself with rather than tunefulness.

In an album so directed towards vibe and organic improvisation, it is no surprise that The Mix Up should take on some of the qualities of the setting that produced it and influenced its creators. There is very much a New York feel to the entire album. 2004’s To The 5 Burroughs may have been a tribute to the city in content, but The Mix Up is a tribute in sound, reflecting NY’s packed streets, steaming subway grates and kaleidoscopic mix of people and ideas. Album closer, ‘The Kangaroo Rat’ is unmistakably urban, and Brooklyn griminess seeps through every clang of Alfredo Ortiz’s percussion. The song plays like a post-punk apocalyptic haze, MCA’s foreboding bass and Adrock’s feedback producing a disorientating effect.

The Mix Up, despite initial appearances, is very much a characteristically Beastie Boys album, for their ability to push forward and try out new ideas while revisiting old ones is one of the reasons they have remained relevant, avoided stagnation and so massively influential. This is not an album for the ages, and it does not possess the Beastie Boys traditional infectiousness, but it is, however, a lot of fun. The Mix Up, in its fusion of stylistic vignettes with vintage Beastie Boy instincts, proves the Beastie Boys may still have more to say.