CD: Beastie Boys, The Mix-Up

# Beastie Boys

# Hip-hop

The original B-boys drop the mic and go instrumental again. Why?

Twenty-five years into their career, hip hop's elder statesmen return with their seventh studio album. 2004's To The 5 Boroughs was a refreshing return to programmed beats and their triangular-mic technique. This time, though, Mike D, Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch have dropped the mic and picked up guitar, bass and drums, returning to the jazz-tinged instrumentals explored on Check Your Head and The In Sound From Way Out!. Even then, such jams worked best as interludes between vocal attacks, rather than stand-alone pieces. For fans only then.

Contributor

Luke Bainbridge

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Pop review: Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique

Suddenly they were sharper than everyone, and would remain so for a decade, says Gareth Grundy

Gareth Grundy

15, Feb, 2009 @12:01 AM

Beastie Boys, ICA, London

ICA, London

Hattie Collins

17, May, 2004 @8:44 AM

Pop CD of the week: Beastie Boys, To the 5 Boroughs

Pop CD of the week: Beastie Boys, To the 5 Boroughs

Kitty Empire

13, Jun, 2004 @12:06 AM

Internet review: Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys' second album, Paul's Boutique, is among the first hip-hop classics to be remastered

Johnny Dee

14, Feb, 2009 @12:01 AM

Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two – review
The grand old men of hip-hop are back to their party-rocking best, writes Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

30, Apr, 2011 @11:05 PM

Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch has cancer

Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch, aka MCA, announces details of his illness in the run up to release of the band's eighth studio album

Rosie Swash

20, Jul, 2009 @5:17 PM

Article image
CD: Beastie Boys, The Mix-Up

(Capitol)

David Peschek

29, Jun, 2007 @10:56 PM

Article image
My 10 favourite Beastie Boys tracks

Lee Brackstone: Adam Yauch and co soundtracked my north Yorkshire adolescence and later life in New York. On the anniversary of his death, here's my pick of the Beasties' best bits

Lee Brackstone

04, May, 2013 @9:00 AM

Article image
CD: Beastie Boys, To the 5 Boroughs

(Parlophone)

Alexis Petridis

11, Jun, 2004 @12:30 AM

Article image
Music Weekly podcast: Beastie Boys special

It's a Beastie Boys special, y'all, as hip hop aficionado Angus Batey joins us to discuss Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 and reflect on the golden age of hip hop. Plus: new music from Tom Vek, Gang Gang Dance and Cosmo Jarvis

Presented by Alexis Petridis, Produced by Iain Chambers

29, Apr, 2011 @11:00 AM