Beastie Boys (The Mix-Up)

[Slim Zaddy]

Released June 26, 2007
Recorded 2006–2007 at Oscilloscope Laboratories, New York City, New York
Genre Funk, Post-punk, Instrumental
Length 42:43
Label Capitol
Producer Beastie Boys

overview:
The Mix-Up is the seventh studio album by the Beastie Boys, released on June 26, 2007. It consists entirely of instrumental performances and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
On May 1, 2007, an e-mail sent to those on the Beastie Boys' mailing list revealed the album is all instrumental.

“ OK, here's our blurb about our new album — it spits hot fire! — hot shit! it's official... it's named THE MIX-UP. g'wan. all instrumental record. "see i knew they were gonna do that!" that's a quote from you. check the track listing and cover below. you love us. don't you?" ”
On June 21, 2007, a legal stream of the entire album was released on BrooklynVegan.com. Snippets of all the songs on the album can be found on BeastieBoys.Com along with the video for one of the songs, "Off the Grid". The video for "The Rat Cage" has also been released.
Band member Michael Diamond said that "even though The Mix-Up is a 'post-punk instrumental' album, the Beasties have no plans to ditch vocals for good. In fact, they are currently planning another version of the album that will feature collaborations with 'a pretty wide array' of 'mostly newer' vocalists."Two singers speculated to be featured on the vocal version were Jarvis Cocker and M.I.A., with Mark Ronson somehow also involved. The idea for this version of the album has since been abandoned.[citation needed]

Reception
The album debuted at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 44,000 copies in its first week.[5] As of April 27, 2008, the album has sold 258,000 copies worldwide[6] In Australia, the album debuted at number 42. In the UK, the album debuted at number 79. It is by far their lowest charting album in the UK so far, the highest being Hello Nasty, which debuted at number 1.[7]
According to BallerStatus.com, The Mix-Up was the highest selling "hip hop album" of that week. On September 15, the Beastie Boys sent a newsletter listing the last of the shows associated with The Mix-Up; within the newsletter it was joked The Mix-Up was a platinum record.
Uncut magazine gave it four stars out of five, saying "The Mix-Up is the best record collection ever thoroughly digested and re-imagined by a bunch of guys in love with sound."


Track listing
"B for My Name" – 3:31
"14th St. Break" – 3:34
"Suco de Tangerina" – 3:17
"The Gala Event" – 3:47
"Electric Worm" – 3:15
"Freaky Hijiki" – 3:05
"Off the Grid" – 4:36
"The Rat Cage" – 3:37
"The Melee" – 3:10
"Dramastically Different" – 3:57
"The Cousin of Death" – 3:06
"The Kangaroo Rat" – 3:28
"Biscuits and Butter" (iTunes exclusive) – 4:19

The Mix-Up Bonus Tracks
Politickin' (3:57)
Beasley Is a Beast (3:49)
LTD (3:12)
The Panda Rat (3:40)
The Mix-Up (3:34)
Fibonacci Sequence (3:13)

Music Videos:
there are no music videos for this album

Billboard Albums
2007 Mix Up Top Internet Albums 15
2007 The Mix-Up The Billboard 200 15
GRAMMY Awards
2007 The Mix-Up Best Pop Instrumental Album Adam Horovitz
Adam Yauch
Beastie Boys
Jon Weiner
Mike Diamond

My Review:
This is a fusion of sounds cool organs, elastic guitars, loping basslines, rolling rhythms where all of the elements are integrated together, turning into a style that's recognizable as uniquely, undeniably the Beastie Boys, even if they don't utter a word on this record. As always, they're more about feel than instrumental acumen, but they've sharpened as players, creating tighter, assured grooves and seamlessly blending their fascinations with funk, dub, soul, and Latin rhythms. Even if the instrumental interplay is tighter, the overall atmosphere is alluringly warm and friendly it's music that flows easily and it's a perfect soundtrack for a slow summer afternoon. Most of all, the Beasties sound relaxed and comfortable, enjoying the process of making this music, and if you're on the same wavelength, it's hard not to get sucked into it too