Is TT5B a headphone album?

[Michelle*s_Farm]

There has been much discussion and even division regarding the quality of TT5B. After reading the following quote by Duro it occurred to me that TT5B may sound better using headphones.

"The Beastie Boys wanted me to mix on their old Neve console, but I convinced them to do it all in Pro Tools HD. The album has an old hip-hop feel, but, sonically, it is up-to-date. I look at mixing like a collage: I try to carve the sounds and place them according to priority, which sounds I think will affect people the most and what people will gravitate toward. I did some crazy panning, delay effects, warped stuff. It is a headphone album."

http://www.grammy.com/features/pro/2004/0929_beastie.aspx

After conducting a few informal listening tests I prefer the sound of TT5B on my IPOD over my home stereo (which is quite good - Rotel with B&W speakers). Also because the Beasties were transporting sounds from their homes using their IPODS (see earlier part of article) I wonder if that helps to explain why TT5B sounds better using headphones. Not sure about this latter point - it is just an idea.

[wavin_goodbye]

i have rotel and B&W too - i thought i was special

[PaddyBoy]

There has been much discussion and even division regarding the quality of TT5B. After reading the following quote by Duro it occurred to me that TT5B may sound better using headphones.

"The Beastie Boys wanted me to mix on their old Neve console, but I convinced them to do it all in Pro Tools HD. The album has an old hip-hop feel, but, sonically, it is up-to-date. I look at mixing like a collage: I try to carve the sounds and place them according to priority, which sounds I think will affect people the most and what people will gravitate toward. I did some crazy panning, delay effects, warped stuff. It is a headphone album."

http://www.grammy.com/features/pro/2004/0929_beastie.aspx

After conducting a few informal listening tests I prefer the sound of TT5B on my IPOD over my home stereo (which is quite good - Rotel with B&W speakers). Also because the Beasties were transporting sounds from their homes using their IPODS (see earlier part of article) I wonder if that helps to explain why TT5B sounds better using headphones. Not sure about this latter point - it is just an idea.

I think all of their albums are headphone albums to be honest, maybe with the exception of LTI. There are so many freaky little sounds that you'll only hear with headphones, you get a much better feel for it all.

[dave790]

either way quality record! i listened to it o surround at my mates house and that was probably the most i've enjoyed it sound-wise. i love how it sounds, i wouldn't want the next album to be done in the same way, but i agree with duro's comments (old skool sounding but up to date with pro tools ect). either way i think it sounds propa unique!

[Chicka B]

I think every single album including non-bboys is a headphone album in my opinion because I always listen to my headphones and my stereo sucks! :p

[A. Remin' D.]

I think all of their albums are headphone albums to be honest, maybe with the exception of LTI. There are so many freaky little sounds that you'll only hear with headphones, you get a much better feel for it all.

Yeah, I agree with that, especially on PB & CYH.

[pshabi]

I think all of their albums are headphone albums to be honest, maybe with the exception of LTI. There are so many freaky little sounds that you'll only hear with headphones, you get a much better feel for it all.
Hello Nasty was, fo sho.

[SuckerMC]

yeah, hello nasty and TT5B were definately headphone albums

[rlwelch]

I get more out of the bass using speakers. I play my stereo loud, I disturb my neighbour.

[Darko]

I've always thought of TT5B as an old school 80's dance party kind of album.

[dirtydan11]

you need those bigass headphones from the ch-check it out video for the full on effect

[minorthreat]

if you listen to tt5b on over ear headphones you hear lots of stuff you can't with ear phones or on speakers

[alexandra]

all music sounds better with headphones. prove me wrong.

[FloorK]

Ch-Check it Out is def my wake up song every damn day :D

Alexandra is right, all music sounds better with headphones ;)

Me and my friend were wondering last night if there are people who play the beastie boys during sex..... is it sex music? I never tried it. But I did try Sabotage when I was really stoned and it just got me freakin' paranoid. Ya know what I mean?

[alexandra]

^ i bet someone does, but now get your ass on Msn! :D

[FloorK]

I am on msn "Fight for the chocolate tum tum!"

[alexandra]

i could've guessed. :p

[lionelcrush]

tt5b is like the mario 2 of bboy albums and i loved mario 2 haha yeaaaa boyeeeeee

[SoundScientist]

Wow. What an amazing article, thanks a lot for the link. I've read lots of interviews with the Beasties before, but that was one fo the only ones I've ever read where they went into detail about their production process. That was just amazing. And yes, to answer your question, To The 5 Buroughs sounds AMAZING with headphones....re-fucking-diculously amazing.

AHHH I love the beasties...

[minorthreat]

all music sounds better with headphones. prove me wrong.

sick of it all's scratch the surface album sounds much better on speakers. buy it and try it

[Michelle*s_Farm]

Wow. What an amazing article, thanks a lot for the link. I've read lots of interviews with the Beasties before, but that was one fo the only ones I've ever read where they went into detail about their production process. That was just amazing. And yes, to answer your question, To The 5 Buroughs sounds AMAZING with headphones....re-fucking-diculously amazing.

AHHH I love the beasties...

Yes it was a good article.

[Michelle*s_Farm]

all music sounds better with headphones. prove me wrong.

You are generally correct. However I have heard that some sound engineers specifically engineer albums for particular audio devices in the studio (e.g., a walkman; a portable stereo like the 80's 'Ghetto Blaster'; or high-end audiophile equipment). So when one listens to an album specifically engineered for a walkman on a high-end stereo the sound leaves much to be desired.

TT5B sounds OK on my stereo (much better at high volume) although TT5B is untouchable on my IPOD. I thought Duro and the Beastie Boys may be responsible for this.

[IDIOTSVILLE]

Is TT5B a headphone album

Yeah.

Ryhme the ryhme well turned up full blast

[b-grrrlie]

I really need to get some new eargoggles... :rolleyes:

[ericg]

(lb) ...Just about perfect... :)

On one hand... I believe T.T.5.B. set the stage, and provides the impetus for the next album at X-Large... as usual... It's all just so dope. Like either way... anyhow and anyway... It's all forever, and that's what it's all about. Whether the sound is peaking out from the highest wave or touches down in the deepest part of the sea, we know the Beasties will make it fresh, clean, and a straight up walkable thoroughfare in times of hard introspection... what can I say, they part the sea, rounding it up, and guide it all through so well!!! We know what's bound for the others.... They're our triangulated space ship giving us oxygen in the abyss. They occupy hell with heavenly sound and space making it their own, claiming it while turning hell out just for kicks. It's all been done before... It's all good. They spread the word and give everybody a heads up. I'll always have it to pay attention, and my gratitude is like second to none. Thanx for having been true to it all Beasties. You just keep me hangin' on. Need I say more? :D

[Brother McDuff]

Wow. What an amazing article, thanks a lot for the link. I've read lots of interviews with the Beasties before, but that was one fo the only ones I've ever read where they went into detail about their production process. That was just amazing. And yes, to answer your question, To The 5 Buroughs sounds AMAZING with headphones....re-fucking-diculously amazing.

AHHH I love the beasties...

You said it brother. Damn, when I saw that list of equipment they used, I couldn't believe how similar my own setup was to theirs. I always seemed to think that they were very secretive about their process, bu this truly was a tell-all. Thanks for the link.

Oh yeah, Paul's Boutique is a total headphone album too. If you don't believe me, check out the beginning of "Hey Ladies", their are some sweet mixing effects going on there.

[PaddyBoy]

(lb) ...Just about perfect... :)

On one hand... I believe T.T.5.B. set the stage, and provides the impetus for the next album at X-Large... as usual... It's all just so dope. Like either way... anyhow and anyway... It's all forever, and that's what it's all about. Whether the sound is peaking out from the highest wave or touches down in the deepest part of the sea, we know the Beasties will make it fresh, clean, and a straight up walkable thoroughfare in times of hard introspection... what can I say, they part the sea, rounding it up, and guide it all through so well!!! We know what's bound for the others.... They're our triangulated space ship giving us oxygen in the abyss. They occupy hell with heavenly sound and space making it their own, claiming it while turning hell out just for kicks. It's all been done before... It's all good. They spread the word and give everybody a heads up. I'll always have it to pay attention, and my gratitude is like second to none. Thanx for having been true to it all Beasties. You just keep me hangin' on. Need I say more? :D

I've been meaning to say this for a while. WHAT ARE YOU ON?!

[ericg]

Riiiight. Chill. I'm on a couch. And yeah, it's generical... and could've been said and done all better but for the land and water mines around this place I have to keep a controlled environment and blow up just to get around... Put your headphones back on though if you don't like it, and if you do, then... Who knows..? Prop good reason. You should know by now, but if you don't...

"...In the animal kingdom they call it presenting..." -T.T.5.B.: H.F.Y.

[PaddyBoy]

Riiiight. Chill. I'm on a couch. And yeah, it's generical... and could've been said and done all better but for the land and water mines around this place I have to keep a controlled environment and blow up just to get around... Put your headphones back on though if you don't like it, and if you do, then... Who knows..? Prop good reason. You should know by now, but if you don't...

"...In the animal kingdom they call it presenting..." -T.T.5.B.: H.F.Y.

"...What am i on, crazy pills?..." -I.A.W.G.M.

[ericg]

:D
;)
:)
:rolleyes:
:confused:
(!)
:p

[IDIOTSVILLE]

:D
;)
:)
:rolleyes:
:confused:
(!)
:p

spam it up

[Lex Diamonds]

PB is the best headphone album of all time.

You got like 20 dope samples all comin in from different directions and you can recognise them all separately with heapdphones.

[ericg]

spam it up

You're an idiot, fine.
"...If you don't like it then Hey Fuck You..."

[EN[i]GMA]

PB is the best headphone album of all time.

You got like 20 dope samples all comin in from different directions and you can recognise them all separately with heapdphones.

Definitely.

Espescially on the Bouillabause, all the scratching going on the background at different times, you have to have headphones on, real loud and listen closely.

[Lex Diamonds]

^ Enigma Knows It. (y)

[EN[i]GMA]

Just listening to PB and noticed a new sound in the background during Hello Brooklyn, sort of a tonal humm, it's awesome!

[Scuzzlebutt]

Yeah, I agree with that, especially on PB & CYH.


i think that of all the albums, CYH sounds the best on the sterio. turn it way up and you can feel the energy in their songs.

[hotzappa11]

I'm listening to TT5B and am like "wtf, where are all these little sounds coming from"

[Michelle*s_Farm]

I'm listening to TT5B and am like "wtf, where are all these little sounds coming from"

It is strange. I find I do not really hear them on my stereo speakers (i.e., the background sounds are somewhat muted) but shine through loud and clear using headphones.

[ericg]

WORD Like wherein the audio requires close and direct human recognition to be picked up and heard in totality... or you could just have a broken headset... and hearing things. SHHHHH

[Kid Presentable]

^ Enigma Knows It. (y)

Um, it's not a secret.

edit: I'm not hating, Padster, we all know what makes Paul's so good on headphones, I agree with you. The sound spins like a kaleidoscope.

And thanks to the poster of that original interview, it's the best one I've read. The creative process of the band fascinates me. From a listening point of view TT5B sounded simplistic to some people, but I was impressed with how complex a basic track like CCIO really was.

Awesome!!! (y)

[lionelcrush]

when mca says "were workin on the record yo so just stay patient " in check it out ,.. does that mean tt5b or the next one ... if its the next one then DAMN they been workin on it since hello nasty which means its gonna be crazy good

[jackrock]

unless your ears are right up against a apeaker .. then YES!!!