beastie book (spoilers)

[Micodin]

looks like some people on my ig feed have been getting their books today. the cover we’ve seen since day one is the real cover (not sure what the strombo guy was talking about). looks big. if peoples are getting them please share info and whatnot.

[cj hood]

the story about the answering machine message before Maestro is in there, but i thought that was already common knowledge...

[Brother McDuff]

the "look inside" feature on amazon reveals a good deal. had to stop myself. can tell right away its gonna be ill though, from the rare photos and chapter titles alone. very excited

[brooklyndust]

Posted this in the other thread:

If you go to the link on the back of the book from the video they have a post with the Ad-Rock's Danceteria playlist: https://fabersocial.co.uk/2018/10/11...eria-playlist/

Also, if you're a huge geek like me and just can't wait for the book, you can adjust the speed of the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2de-Gu0ekmg
by going into the playback settings. This slows the flipping of the pages and you can pause it to read the table of contents and a bit of the book too!

[Kid Presentable]

My only problem is going to be skipping to 2007 to start learning new things, and also reading about the final years. I’m sure the whole thing will be an interesting read with their inimitable style, though.

[Brother McDuff]

one can imagine there will be plenty of new stimulating anecdotes to enjoy from pre-2007

[Kid Presentable]

Sabotage as a traditional rap song was a decent wrinkle to a well-known yarn, to be fair.

[brooklyndust]

going to compile more spoilers here from other threads, just to keep it organized.

an excerpt of a chapter about Paul's Boutique: http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/excerpt-beastie-boys-book-michael-diamond-adam-horovitz.html

And also as Brother Mc D mentioned Amazon's inside look: https://www.amazon.ca/Beastie-Boys-Book-Michael-Diamond/dp/0812995546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539998697&sr=8-1&keywords=beastie+boys+book

[dave790]

New excerpt: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/21/beasties-boys-book-extract-adam-horowitz-london-1986

Interview: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/21/beastie-boys-book-memoir-interview

[dave790]

A few more little snippets in the NY post: https://nypost.com/2018/10/21/the-beastie-boys-have-kept-a-giant-penis-is-storage-for-30-years/

For the record the Guardian / Observer excerpt posted above is fucking excellent.

[dave790]

Audio book readers:

Steve Buscemi
Tim Meadows
Ada Calhoun
Bette Midler
Bobby Cannavale
Mix Master Mike
Exene Cervenka
Nas
Roy Choi
Yoshimi O
Jarvis Cocker
Rosie Perez
Elvis Costello
Amy Poehler
Chuck D
Kelly Reichardt
Nadia Dajani
John C. Reilly
Snoop Dogg
Ian Rogers
Will Ferrell
Maya Rudolph
Crosby Fitzgerald
Rev Run
Randy Gardner
Luc Sante
Kim Gordon
Kate Schellenbach
Josh Hamilton
MC Serch
LL Cool J
Chloë Sevigny
Spike Jonze
Jon Stewart
Pat Kiernan
Ben Stiller
Talib Kweli
Wanda Sykes
Dave Macklovitch
Jeff Tweedy
Rachel Maddow
Philippe Zdar
Michael Diamond
Adam Horovitz

[Laver1969]

Wow! Can’t wait to see and hear the book!

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

Audio book readers:

Steve Buscemi
Tim Meadows
Ada Calhoun
Bette Midler
Bobby Cannavale
Mix Master Mike
Exene Cervenka
Nas
Roy Choi
Yoshimi O
Jarvis Cocker
Rosie Perez
Elvis Costello
Amy Poehler
Chuck D
Kelly Reichardt
Nadia Dajani
John C. Reilly
Snoop Dogg
Ian Rogers
Will Ferrell
Maya Rudolph
Crosby Fitzgerald
Rev Run
Randy Gardner
Luc Sante
Kim Gordon
Kate Schellenbach
Josh Hamilton
MC Serch
LL Cool J
Chloë Sevigny
Spike Jonze
Jon Stewart
Pat Kiernan
Ben Stiller
Talib Kweli
Wanda Sykes
Dave Macklovitch
Jeff Tweedy
Rachel Maddow
Philippe Zdar
Michael Diamond
Adam Horovitz


Holy shit.

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

But also weird that Hurricane isn’t apart of this

[Brother McDuff]

wait, no Ted Dansen? fuck this.

jk

super sweet roster there. cant wait

[YoungRemy]

Ad Rock audio sample, introducing the book, introducing MCA

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232195/beastie-boys-book-by-michael-diamond---adam-horovitz/?ref=PRH717FD20A36&aid=randohouseinc9765-20&linkid=PRH717FD20A36&utm_source=RH&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=BeastieBoys_FB_Pre

[brooklyndust]

Wow! that was fucking great!

[brooklyndust]

https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/a24053840/beastie-boys-fashion/

[MIKEtotheD]

Ad Rock audio sample, introducing the book, introducing MCA

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232195/beastie-boys-book-by-michael-diamond---adam-horovitz/?ref=PRH717FD20A36&aid=randohouseinc9765-20&linkid=PRH717FD20A36&utm_source=RH&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=BeastieBoys_FB_Pre

That was amazing to listen to. Thank you for posting this.

[dave790]

Cheers Remy 👍 great find

But also weird that Hurricane isn’t apart of this

Hard to complain with such a list that goes above and beyond but, in addition to Hurra, I find Mario C’s absence glaring.

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

Ad Rock audio sample, introducing the book, introducing MCA

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232195/beastie-boys-book-by-michael-diamond---adam-horovitz/?ref=PRH717FD20A36&aid=randohouseinc9765-20&linkid=PRH717FD20A36&utm_source=RH&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=BeastieBoys_FB_Pre

I just tested up. This is so great.

[sharonm]

Ad Rock audio sample, introducing the book, introducing MCA

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232195/beastie-boys-book-by-michael-diamond---adam-horovitz/?ref=PRH717FD20A36&aid=randohouseinc9765-20&linkid=PRH717FD20A36&utm_source=RH&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=BeastieBoys_FB_Pre

Thanks for posting this, a great teaser. I'm freaking out this is going to be so awesome. Also pretty teary eyed listening to that. Can't wait for Tuesday, heading to Brooklyn from Toronto. Psyched!

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

I meant teared up, not tested up.

[Brass Monk]

Great to see that audiobook list of contributors.
Not sure why Amy poehler has been the headlining contributor when there are so many more relevant and appropriate contributors than her .

[Kid Presentable]

Got the audio book. Thoroughly enjoying it.

[pip07]

Got the audio book. Thoroughly enjoying it.

Just downloaded it for free from audible. Gonna read and listen on my flight home from NYC show

[dust monkey]

cbs this morning (https://www.cbsnews.com/video/beastie-boys-raps-most-enduring-group-releases-new-book/)

[abbott]

its been fun hearing and seeing so much,

Leaning a few things. Guess I did not know it all

[paulb]

Im impatiently waiting for the KingsRoad merch official bboys store preorder to eventually come. I should have just walked in to a book store, I was hoping it would arrive the day the book came out. Also the book costs 32.00 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and the official store is 49.99, does that seem right?

[BBboy20]

Do I just read it or actually listen to it?

[brooklyndust]

Do I just read it or actually listen to it?

I got the audio book and listening to it already. I am waiting for my copy in the mail says it should be around Nov 2nd.

I'm planning on listening to it and reading along with it. The pics and imagery will compliment it well.

[Kid Presentable]

Do yourself a favour and listen to it.

[Bradleystp]

Cheers Remy 👍 great find



Hard to complain with such a list that goes above and beyond but, in addition to Hurra, I find Mario C’s absence glaring.

I also wonder why these two were not involved as well. Two very involved people in Beastie history.

[Laver1969]

As I patiently wait for the actual book to arrive, I just finished the audiobook. Anyone who is on the fence about spending money on it- I highly recommend it. It’s pure gold to hear these guys and special guests tell stories from their history in their own voices. This was definitely worth the wait...as usual. Went down several google machine rabbit holes with this thing.

I agree they should have had Mario in the audiobook. Barely discussed Hurra at all. I’d be interested in hearing their thoughts on his contributions and departure.

I’m looking forward to the LA event!

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

I got my audiobook and I’m getting the actual book st the show on Monday. I want to listen to it and I’ve also thought of going to a book store and just buying it and returning my copy from the show, but I’m also wanting to just wait to hear the stories told by them first. I don’t know if I can make it through the weekend. Ha

[pshabi]

Do yourself a favour and listen to it.

I just listened to the Horovitz sample of the Yauch intro and lost my shit. It hit me just like it did watching Fallon. As much as I can be, I am a Beastie Boy. These guys shaped me and now I feel like I’m watching and listening to myself. It’s hard I explain and so weird.

[M|X|Y]

i understand how you feel, pshabs(y)

[brooklyndust]

So in the hot sauce section, they talk about making fake samples. I knew those were real samples.

[M|X|Y]

I may listen to it while reading to get the full audio visual experience

[Jiberish]

I finished it earlier today. What a read! I laughed out loud and giggled many many times. I choked up a couple of times (the Dave Psrsons story, and Kate's essay, and some of the obvious love the three of them have for each other)... but probably the best bit, or at least the bit I keep thinking about in the 7 or so hours since I last put it down were Adrock's thoughts on TT5B.

It's honestly really cool and refreshing for him to shit on it the way he does (while still showing it a lot of love. And I totally agree, and I think a lot of you do too, that if it had been a little grimier and a little more dubbed out/psychedelic (I forget how he phrased it exactly) it would have been more special.

I think a lot of us felt/feel exactly the same way.

and he laments Mario's non-involvement. That was nice to hear. I disagree that they sound "hesitant" on tt5b. I like that album, sometimes I think it's great, but it's always my least favorite. They do not sound hesitant at all.

I kind of wish they went more in depth of the working relationship they had w/ Mario and Matt Dyke and the Dust Bros. and Money Mark and MMM etc. I mean they do talk about all of that, but not in any real tangible "I can now sink my teeth into this relationship" kind of way. (there are great interviews and articles all over the internet from most of those people on their perspective of being part of the Bboys club. so I guess that's fine.)

But that is OK. That "Mitchell" story is fucking hilarious.

re: the fake samples and Adrock thinking nobody "got it". I'm pretty sure like 90% of the board were involved in a conversation about just that idea when the record first came out. I remember holding the vinyl sleeve and looking at the sample list in my laundry room and thinking "how have I never heard of Suped Up by Pump?" (or whatever.)

I was most bummed by how few pages were devoted to the last 4 albums, and by how little Mike was chiming in towards the end. But man, Adrock had some fucking funny shit to say. All in all, it was worth the wait and a more than decent read.

and it sucked that they didn't do a blurb about every song on every album. But I guess it's nice to see which songs stick out to them enough to write about.

I know I will be picking it up and leafing through random sections for years to come.

[dave790]

I get a book at the signing so I'm holding out, but man it's tough! I might delve into the audiobook on the meantime or something.

Cool write up though. I was expecting them to rush through the latter era but it is still a shame in many ways. TT5B for me - as I've rambled on many times - is a classic, I love it to pieces. But I understand the complaints - will be interesting to read Adrock's take looking back. Even if I disagree!

[Kid Presentable]

I get a book at the signing so I'm holding out, but man it's tough! I might delve into the audiobook on the meantime or something.

Cool write up though. I was expecting them to rush through the latter era but it is still a shame in many ways. TT5B for me - as I've rambled on many times - is a classic, I love it to pieces. But I understand the complaints - will be interesting to read Adrock's take looking back. Even if I disagree!

Absolutely 100% listen to the audiobook.

[brooklyndust]

Will Ferrell reading the Syncopation's review of Ill Communication is great!
Totally nails how pretentious it is.

[brooklyndust]

And.... I just realized that Syncopation is a fake magazine as is the review. Thought the cover looked like Mike behind the drum kit.

[Jiberish]

And.... I just realized that Syncopation is a fake magazine as is the review. Thought the cover looked like Mike behind the drum kit.


Ha! You know, I googled Tim Willoughby, and syncopation after I read that chapter. I wanted to know what else he reviewed in "popular music" and if he actually liked anything. And nothing came up... I just figured I was bad at googling. hahaha That's great. This book is amazing.

[cj hood]

Finished last night.............B/B+
-adrock carried it; D disappeared at the end
-not enought about Yauch at the end of his life
-no Hurra AND he was in L.A. last night....
-don't care for cook book, what Amy P thinks of their vids or the other fluff

-liked the focus on pre LTI, LTI & PB era's
-like Ian's website history
-liked all of Adrock's stories
-pics were great
-loved their admiration for Run DMC
-loved all the MCA stories

like the live show it sort of peters out after IC....

[brooklyndust]

For my fellow Torontonians who have a library card, you can get the Ebook for free here: https://toronto.overdrive.com/media/3971221

If anyone wants the audio book for free, you get a free book when signing up with audible. That's how I got it for free.

[brooklyndust]

The audio book really compliments the graphic novel. Their is more of the story on the audio book.

[Bradleystp]

Finished last night.............B/B+
-adrock carried it; D disappeared at the end
-not enought about Yauch at the end of his life
-no Hurra AND he was in L.A. last night....
-don't care for cook book, what Amy P thinks of their vids or the other fluff

-liked the focus on pre LTI, LTI & PB era's
-like Ian's website history
-liked all of Adrock's stories
-pics were great
-loved their admiration for Run DMC
-loved all the MCA stories

like the live show it sort of peters out after IC....

I agree with all of this, and will add - What about Country Mike? There has to be good stories from this time too!

[YoungRemy]

Lol Mike casually calls Billy Corgan “Billy Pumpkin” in the lollapalooza chapter

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

Finished last night.............B/B+
-adrock carried it; D disappeared at the end
-not enought about Yauch at the end of his life
-no Hurra AND he was in L.A. last night....
-don't care for cook book, what Amy P thinks of their vids or the other fluff

-liked the focus on pre LTI, LTI & PB era's
-like Ian's website history
-liked all of Adrock's stories
-pics were great
-loved their admiration for Run DMC
-loved all the MCA stories

like the live show it sort of peters out after IC.... they said in an interview that they weren’t going to write about the end of Yauch’s life because that wasn’t anyone’s business besides theirs and his family. I have no problem with that

[Kid Presentable]

Nice touch tho that he was rocking a bad brains t-shirt to the very end y’all.

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

It be dope if the audiobook came out on vinyl

[Bradleystp]

It be dope if the audiobook came out on vinyl

That would get quite expensive....13 records or so!

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

That would get quite expensive....13 records or so!

Oh true.

[YoungRemy]

The Hello Nasty “after that” explanation makes sense to me how the book doesn’t touch much upon the final years. They moved back to the City, released HN, started their families. and then 9/11 happened after that, and then they put out two more rap records and an instrumental album also happened. They continued epic tours. Bush, Obama, Trump, and here we are 20 years later. Yauch gets sick and the Beasties legacy is cut short.

It kind of feels that way to me personally, Hello Nasty was a turning point and crucial part of my life and also as a beastie boys fan so I am happy with what we were given content wise. Through the internet, they made themselves accessible enough (Oscope Cam comes to mind) and seemed like an open book unto themselves through their blogs, websites, and touring videos. They were always putting shit out. I was happy to connect with them and learn about the early years.

[Brother McDuff]

The Hello Nasty “after that” explanation makes sense to me how the book doesn’t touch much upon the final years. They moved back to the City, released HN, started their families. and then 9/11 happened after that, and then they put out two more rap records and an instrumental album also happened. They continued epic tours. Bush, Obama, Trump, and here we are 20 years later. Yauch gets sick and the Beasties legacy is cut short.

well stated.

Through the internet, they made themselves accessible enough (Oscope Cam comes to mind) and seemed like an open book unto themselves through their blogs, websites, and touring videos. They were always putting shit out. I was happy to connect with them and learn about the early years.

i’d be hardpressed to identify another group as rewarding to follow as beasties, via inciteful, forward-thinking means of sharing auxiliary content, fan interaction, and just good ol fun ways of coloring the fan experience. and yeah, their live show prowess developed so strongly there down the stretch there.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

I'm only up to the Paul's Boutique era but there seems to be a glaring omission as far as Rickey Powell is concerned. Don't know much about their friendship but it seemed like they were cool for many years and then I heard Rick criticize them for being too "PC", for lack of a better word. I haven't seen him mentioned at all in the book so far.

[Brother McDuff]

among those omitted:

ricky powell
dj hurricane
eric bobo

im sure there's more.... anyone?

[Micodin]

cey really wasn’t mentioned much.

[Bradleystp]

cey really wasn’t mentioned much.

For how involved Mario was, there wasn't much said. I would have loved to hear his point of view on things.

[M|X|Y]

Hurricane must've really pissed someone off, the silence about him is deafening!

[brooklyndust]

Favourite chapters so far?

I really liked "that's the life I wanted" I can relate to it the appeal of it. Just a nice chill relaxing living.

Thought the fake ill communication review was hilarious, but even better when listening to Will Ferrel do the audio. as is the graphic novel. There is more story in the audio of the graphic novel.

Loved the breakdown of all the gear they had.

Didn't like the video review at all by Amy Poehler and I'm usually a fan of her work.

Also will probably not re-read the oral history of cookie puss.

[Micodin]

i LOVED the book don't get me wrong. loved it!

but.....

i still have questions.

how did they choose their rap names? how did mike get the vw medallion? what's in the vault? how did mike get into surfing and adam into snowboarding? why the dj switch? the break-up with mario?

i could go on. but, i have questions bro.

[Bradleystp]

i LOVED the book don't get me wrong. loved it!

but.....

i still have questions.

how did they choose their rap names? how did mike get the vw medallion? what's in the vault? how did mike get into surfing and adam into snowboarding? why the dj switch? the break-up with mario?

i could go on. but, i have questions bro.

All very great questions. And again, I say there should have been something on the recording of Country Mike!!!

[brooklyndust]

There also wasn't a lot of talk about John Berry and his death or Dave Scilken for that matter.

I know they didn't want to delve too much into their personal lives and it's none of our business, but it would have been interesting to hear them talk about that and be more venerable then having the cook book and other stuff. But, also the beasties have never been quite that way.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

i LOVED the book don't get me wrong. loved it!

but.....

i still have questions.

how did they choose their rap names? how did mike get the vw medallion? what's in the vault? how did mike get into surfing and adam into snowboarding? why the dj switch? the break-up with mario?

i could go on. but, i have questions bro.

I've heard interviews with the Hurra where he says the Beasties weren't touring enough to allow him to earn a steady paycheck. I would have liked to see a chapter on the Hurra's career though.

[tuc70021]

I think the book was extremely Beastie-like: it didn't really answer any questions and they didn't really seem to care about focusing on anything "important."

A lot of the stories have been told before (those 2009 audio commentaries on the remastered albums had lots of the same stories in them), and the new ones didn't seem to have much rhyme or reason.

Things I'd like to have read about:
1.) John Berry leaving/getting kicked out of the band.
2.) How much of the music on Paul's Boutique was already made by the Dust Brothers and how much was "new."
3.) What were some songs that never made it to an album, but that either Adam or Mike really liked?

Things I actually read about:
1.) Hippie Fucking Steve.
2.) Mitchell
3.) Cassette tapes

But you know what? That's exactly what I thought this book was gonna be. These guys don't owe the readers anything, and to write a book that both the general music-listening population and the intense Beasite nerds could have enjoyed equally would have been impossible. Mike and Adam recently did some interview where they were saying if Yauch was involved in writing the book, it would have taken 10 years and when you opened it, it would have folded out into a full size theater and you'd then watch a 12 hour movie about the band. I mean, I would have fucking LOVED it if Yauch had creative control and made it into a bachelor's degree program in Beastienomics, but he didn't, and I get that they probably just wanted to tell some stories about their good times. They don't focus on Hurricane and the breakup, Adrock's or Mike's divorces, Dave's death, Yauch's death, etc. It's a fun book. I'm totally happy with it being kind of like reading a Chinese restaurant zodiac placemat.

[cj hood]

i LOVED the book don't get me wrong. loved it!

but.....

i still have questions.

how did they choose their rap names? how did mike get the vw medallion? what's in the vault? how did mike get into surfing and adam into snowboarding? why the dj switch? the break-up with mario?

i could go on. but, i have questions bro.

THIS.

[Brother McDuff]

All very great questions. And again, I say there should have been something on the recording of Country Mike!!!

oh yeah, was that country dude they allegedly shared G-Son with a real fellla, or were they alluding to the legend of country mike?

[Kid Presentable]

The heavy focus of the book on those formative years has really reframed everything they did post 86 for me. I feel like I’m hearing their catalogue with new ears, in a way.

[brooklyndust]

was surprised to know that Yauch did the drums for Too Many Rappers. I love that drum beat, especially the original version.

[Kid Presentable]

was surprised to know that Yauch did the drums for Too Many Rappers. I love that drum beat, especially the original version.

I think the Led Zeppelin backbeat part is his, since they ‘sampled’ it.

[YoungRemy]

Yauch played and recorded that Too Many Rappers drumbeat himself, that’s what made the earlier references in the book to recording techniques and LZ samples come full circle.

[Kid Presentable]

Yauch played and recorded that Too Many Rappers drumbeat himself, that’s what made the earlier references in the book to recording techniques and LZ samples come full circle.

There are two beats playing. Yauch’s was the backbeat, though. Right? The part that sounds Led Zeppelin-esque. The perfect little bar or so of music.

[brooklyndust]

There are two beats playing. Yauch’s was the backbeat, though. Right? The part that sounds Led Zeppelin-esque. The perfect little bar or so of music.

I'm pretty sure it's just the one. As the book mentioned, it was the only beat that Yauch knew how to play and did play for the past 20 years, and on Too Many Rappers it finally worked.

[Kid Presentable]

I'm pretty sure it's just the one. As the book mentioned, it was the only beat that Yauch knew how to play and did play for the past 20 years, and on Too Many Rappers it finally worked.

No. There are two beats playing on the song. The little sampled sounding Bonham beat which backs the track, and the ‘live’ sounding drums with the accents all over them.

Yauch was a terrible drummer. I’d bet the backbeat is him.

[Jiberish]

No. There are two beats playing on the song. The little sampled sounding Bonham beat which backs the track, and the ‘live’ sounding drums with the accents all over them.

Yauch was a terrible drummer. I’d bet the backbeat is him.

^ There two beats playing at the same time. I agree with KP.

[cj hood]

TMR is one of the weakest tracks on HSC2....a ruined opportunity.

[Kid Presentable]

TMR is one of the weakest tracks on HSC2....a ruined opportunity.

I love it.

[Extra Cheese]

TMR is one of the weakest tracks on HSC2....a ruined opportunity.

guest feature for the sake of having a guest feature. while the thought of nas on a track was exciting and had me anticipating it eagerly, it always seemed pretty random. Plus in interviews they said they emailed music back and forth with nas. That never seemed like their thing, tip and biz were in the studio and they were down with the band.

that said I dont hate the song.

[WesleyOHSnaps!]

I love it.

It’s not my favorite but I think Mike has some excellent lines in it.

[Jiberish]

It’s not my favorite but I think Mike has some excellent lines in it.

Mike is Hilarious on that song. I think it's a really good beat, one of the best hooks they ever came up with, everybody has one or two good lines, and I dig it as a song.

At the same time, I was also a little disappointed. The collab bar they set after GIT and any appearance by Biz (and even Lee Perry, PHd) is very high.

Don't Play No Game... is a damn good collab and all around great track though.

[M|X|Y]

too many rappers, awful clunky beat with some good lines

[Kid Presentable]

Now I think it was probably all the drumming.

Lol

[Jiberish]

Now I think it was probably all the drumming.

Lol

:D


Too Many Drummers

[ClarenceAlabama]

Mike is Hilarious on that song. I think it's a really good beat, one of the best hooks they ever came up with, everybody has one or two good lines, and I dig it as a song.

At the same time, I was also a little disappointed. The collab bar they set after GIT and any appearance by Biz (and even Lee Perry, PHd) is very high.

Don't Play No Game... is a damn good collab and all around great track though.

Da fuq?... Don't Play No Game is in my top 2 worst Beastie Boys songs ever. Number 1 being Dr. Lee PHD.

The only collabs I liked were the ones with Biz, Q-tip, and Hurricane.

The great thing about the Beasties was they didn't need a bunch of collabs. Every song they did with just the three of them was usually perfection.

[dust monkey]

Da fuq?... Don't Play No Game is in my top 2 worst Beastie Boys songs ever. Number 1 being Dr. Lee PHD.

The only collabs I liked were the ones with Biz, Q-tip, and Hurricane.

The great thing about the Beasties was they didn't need a bunch of collabs. Every song they did with just the three of them was usually perfection.

kinda with you on DPNG's and Doc Lee, though they really seem to like these a lot. especially the lee perry jam.

i've never liked colabs, so much hip hop today (if that's what it's still called) are colabs and it's as diluted now as ever and colabs are a big reason why. i know there are still rappers out there but you gotta dig and they certainly don't get a lot of love.

[Jiberish]

Da fuq?... Don't Play No Game is in my top 2 worst Beastie Boys songs ever. Number 1 being Dr. Lee PHD.

The only collabs I liked were the ones with Biz, Q-tip, and Hurricane.

The great thing about the Beasties was they didn't need a bunch of collabs. Every song they did with just the three of them was usually perfection.

I dunno. To each their own.

[dust monkey]

I dunno. To each their own.

agreed...

[Brother McDuff]

the Nas element in TMR def feels disconnected to me. could tell from jumpstreet that it was an email affair. the bboys' versus border embarrassing at times as well, if im to be completely honest. Nas phoned his verse in too (almost literally), and im pretty sure they chopped his verse down from what he originally offered up, as the cadence is glaringly unnatural at times.

ultimately Nas feels shoe-horned into this one, whereas strictly our boys would have been more forgiving. that said, super duper psyched that they collabed with him anyhow, as it indicates a high degree of respect from both parties that they teamed up in the first place. a crossover of legends.

DPNG i thought was more fluid by comparison. didnt surprise me that Santi was more involved in the process for that joint, as indicated in the bible.....err, autobiography.

[Jiberish]

DPNG i thought was more fluid by comparison. didnt surprise me that Santi was more involved in the process for that joint, as indicated in the bible.....err, autobiography.

That's how I feel about DPNG. To me it has a similar feel as GIT, where they fit their rhymes around their collaborator. She feels like she belongs on the track. She feels like a part of the track. Plus, it's a totally different type of beat/style of song for them, but it still sounds amazing.

[Extra Cheese]

that said, super duper psyched that they collabed with him anyhow, as it indicates a high degree of respect from both parties that they teamed up in the first place.

Samesies but I also feel it was an easy road to take for the band. I honestly don't think anyone would've turned down an invitation from the band to get on a track. Especially from that 90's era, not cuz they necessarily like their music but rather they just have huge respect for the bboys.

[dave790]

^ There two beats playing at the same time. I agree with KP.

I think there are three! The Bonham one, the beat played over the top, and also the hi-hat rhythm on the choruses.

I like TMR, but only the original version. New Reactionaries version is just a mess for me, and I never had any issue with Yauch's original verse. I understand we've all heard 'til the break of dawn' a zillion times but it's almost like a trademark.

One thing I'm not sure about is the write up in the book. It labels the song as the NR version, yet if you read what Horovitz writes he seems to be referring to the original version (and, indeed, a version of the song that existed before Yauch added the fuzzy bassline). There is nothing about why the remix came about - unless I'm reading it wrong.

edit: I also feel Mike D really delivers on TMR.

[pm0ney]

I finished the book last night. I thought it was amazing, really. It was like, a much more fleshed-out version of the small booklet that came with Sounds of Science (which I read, and re-read constantly as a teenager). A few thoughts:

I thought Adrock's critique of To The 5 Boroughs was dead-on. It was exactly what everyone had said about the album all along. Way too computer-ish compared to the monoliths they had released before. I also thought it was sort of...curious that Adrock's favorite album was Hello Nasty. It's pretty well known that he was the major creative force behind the majority of that album. I'm not complaining, it's an amazing record. Just thought that was funny.

An editorial mis-step was definitely that Mike disappeared for the last quarter of the book! Where was the editor saying "Mike, you're input fell off a cliff here..." By the time I was nearing the end it didn't really feel like a Beastie Boys book as much as an Adrock memoir. He's a more natural writer than Mike, and his pieces were definitely more entertaining to me, but it was still great to hear Mike's opinions on stuff. It was actually pretty ironic... Adrock always came off as the one guy in the group who didn't really give a shit about the history of the group, or the music. He always had the attitude of like, "yeah, I don't really remember that, what's for lunch?" It was beautiful to see him as an endless reservoir of memories and anecdotes. All the while, he was immediately present in all of it.

I thought they covered the relevant time periods with appropriate measure. The formative years and early success are obviously the most immediately visceral for a band, and I think the amount of time dedicated to Rat Cage and Licensed To Ill-era was nice. Even the Beasties themselves, who clearly view their later work with more love, can't get around the fact that Licensed To Ill was fucking huge and is still an immortal record.

I really envy the lives they have lead. Reading about how they lived at the G-Spot, and worked out of G Son for all those years is the stuff of legends. I think their gratitude for such an absurdly blessed life came off well. Hearing about how Yauch lived in a tiny little apartment as a multi-millionaire, or how Adrock drove around in a beat up Toyota Carolla was very endearing.

The one thing that came through more than anything else in this book, was just how fucking obsessed and in love with music these guys are. I've never seen a band as obsessed with music as our three guys. Their love for music just drips off every page. You can't hide from that sort of authenticity. It's impossible. This is, fundamentally, why I believe they are so revered and loved. Authenticity is in their bone marrow.

Finally, I loved hearing about the sweet sixteen party in Roslyn, Long Island. I grew up two minutes away from there and I just imagine being in the baby seat of my moms car at some point in the mid 80's, and some how, some way, a limousine pulls up next to us at a red light, and the Beastie Boys are in the backseat, drunk and on their way home from a house party down the street.

Seriously though, as a life-long fan of the group, I couldn't imagine a better capstone to a career. And hey, New York Times bestseller! It was amazing. I'll be reading this book for another fifty years.

Yauch with the bass strapped to his back... Perfect.

[dave790]

Great write up (y)

I actually think Mike D is the MVP of the book though. Horovitz is entertaining throughout and, yes, perhaps more of a natural. But I still think Mike writes really well and actually covers more actual info. I feel like it was harder for him to write (as interviews have testified), but I really think he brings the narrative back into line throughout. A crying shame that he went missing for the final stages though, and personally I’d have liked more coverage of the post-1998 years in general. It reads like an Adrock overview - no bad thing, but I wanted more.

And, if I’m being completely honest, I wish there was more overall... It sounds ridiculously entitled in the face of near 600-page book. But if you break down Adam and Mike’s contributions (brilliant as they are), what are we looking at? 100-200 pages max? Some of the contributions work well (eg. Luc Sante) but many are dispensable for me. The white boy bouillabaisse is nothing, as is the oral history of cookie puss. Wasted pages! Just my opinion, but they are not even necessary diversions, yet alone good ones.

Can’t argue with the majority of the photos though (y) And I’m knowingly being very harsh overall, I’m glad the book exists - but I’m just a sucker for hearing from Mike and Adam above all else. It’s a gift to the fans for sure and a brilliant process for both of the to go through. I’ll also never forget meeting them. I ultimately finished the book wanting more, which betrays both its undoubted strengths as well as its regrettable weaknesses.

[pm0ney]

Great write up (y)

I actually think Mike D is the MVP of the book though. Horovitz is entertaining throughout and, yes, perhaps more of a natural. But I still think Mike writes really well and actually covers more actual info. I feel like it was harder for him to write (as interviews have testified), but I really think he brings the narrative back into line throughout. A crying shame that he went missing for the final stages though, and personally I’d have liked more coverage of the post-1998 years in general. It reads like an Adrock overview - no bad thing, but I wanted more.

And, if I’m being completely honest, I wish there was more overall... It sounds ridiculously entitled in the face of near 600-page book. But if you break down Adam and Mike’s contributions (brilliant as they are), what are we looking at? 100-200 pages max? Some of the contributions work well (eg. Luc Sante) but many are dispensable for me. The white boy bouillabaisse is nothing, as is the oral history of cookie puss. Wasted pages! Just my opinion, but they are not even necessary diversions, yet alone good ones.

Can’t argue with the majority of the photos though (y) And I’m knowingly being very harsh overall, I’m glad the book exists - but I’m just a sucker for hearing from Mike and Adam above all else. It’s a gift to the fans for sure and a brilliant process for both of the to go through. I’ll also never forget meeting them. I ultimately finished the book wanting more, which betrays both its undoubted strengths as well as its regrettable weaknesses.

Agreed about the vast majority of the supplemental material. I couldn't care less about most of it. The only thing I did enjoy was the cookbook. I would have rather had a breakdown of more album cuts, or some more material about the group than Amy Poehler's dumb quips about their music videos. Like you said, it would have been better to hear more from the boys themselves in replace of that stuff. Then again, it took them a hundred years to write this, so I think what we got was the absolute best they could do, for better or worse.

[dave790]

Yep, can't argue with that. And what we actually got from Adam and Mike was nonetheless excellent (y)

[abbott]

so I have gone a budget that means I buy very little stuff for myself and I thought maybe someday I will find a BB Book at goodwill or some shit.

But, Merry Christmas ... I got the book as a gift so now I own it.

I have already read a few pages of shit you have not spoiled.

happy to be an owner

Now I just need run into one of the guys while I have the book in my hand to get it signed. I doubt it happens, but I doubted I would own the book.

[ericg]

i am fucking loving this book!!!!!!! i can't get enough.. i just pick it up and turn to any page and bam.. great stories and animated thought.. beautiful!was sick all day yesterday in bed so got a few hours of reading in.. not finished with it by a long shot. i mean it's transcendental transit central? lol

[Brother McDuff]

i am fucking loving this book!!!!!!! i can't get enough.. i just pick it up and turn to any page and bam.. great stories and animated thought.. beautiful!was sick all day yesterday in bed so got a few hours of reading in.. not finished with it by a long shot. i mean it's transcendental transit central? lol

dont forget to do the audio book too! a whole different experience altogether. (y)(y)

[Laver1969]

dont forget to do the audio book too! a whole different experience altogether. (y)(y)

Cosigning. The audio experience is amazing. To hear Mike and Adam tell the stories is great. A few of the guest readers are clunkers but overall it’s absolutely worth the extra $ for the audio version.