will the MUSIC world care about HSC pt2?

[pesto pizza]

seeing as lots of people did'nt like TT5B,TMU and don't like the 5 new tracks will the beastie boys end their career on a low?

now I love TT5B and like TMU,but back in 1989 the beastie boys were slagged off quite abit and IT did used to piss me off and it still pisses me off when people slag off TT5B.
I know everyone has a right to say what they like,but will the beastie boys end there career like PUBLIC ENEMY,only hardcore fans liking them or will HSC pt 2 be the new "check your head" where a whole new generation get into them?

[RichieT.]

Great question. I don't know if HSC will be the new Check Your Head, but I think it will be a reaffirmation of the Beastie Boys. I think most people will end up liking the album significantly more than TT5B and TMU. I think it will have the same vibe as when Hello Nasty was released with the buzz of the track Intergalactic.

All I know is this: I'm so ready to sing Pop Your Balloon at the top of my lungs and "force" it upon my friends at parties.

[Mr. Juice]

Sadly, the Beastie Boys are victims of their own greatness. Imagine in 2004, if a young, underground hip-hop group put out To The 5 Boroughs. An effort that solid would have found its way on many year-end, Top-10 lists, but because it was from the Beastie Boys, music snobs lazily concurred, "Well it's not as good as the other stuff they've done."

With the lyric-less Mix Up and the battle-back-from-cancer return of MCA, I have a feeling Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2 is going to get a warm reception from the music community, from fans and critics alike.

[Brother McDuff]

I think Beastie Boys fans are gonna view favorably upon the record if for nothing else simply for the fact that it's the first (what some may call) "proper" Beastie record in over a decade.

It will certainly be measured up to the rest of their catalog by the more casual fans who don't follow the group as closely as us. And in that light I think much of the general public may be underwhelmed, expecting a Sabotage or Intergalactic type smash single.

Lastly, I think the critics are gonna drag it down for the most part. The Beasties have been too consistent for too long and reinvented themselves successfully so many times that there truly is no escaping certain expectations. And given their age and being that they haven't made a 'proper' record in some time, sticklers are going to bum rush the opportunity to make definitive statements about the Beastie Boys' ability to make Beastie Boys records at this stage in the game.



I think the record will be splendid though. And that's the only forecast I follow. ;)

[JoLovesMCA]

Well I am pretty active on many other social sites where just average music fans congregate and it seems everybody still loves and admires the Beasties. The guys still look great and their ages aren’t an issue. I’ve seen too many second and third generation fans in this fandom and other fandoms of celebrities even older than the BB’s. And I’ve seen so many younger BB fans at you-tube commenting on how excited they are about their new material. So with that said, I think the songs we have heard certainly have a good chance for mainstream.

I don’t really have a forecast that is definite though. I think at this stage of the game even if the critics or mainstream do not embrace the comeback they still have a huge loyal following that will go to the shows and buy the music. I mean at the end of the day that’s all that really matters. When I watch video of their early days playing in small clubs/venues I always think man those were the best shows!!! I mean I read an article months back that said festival attendees went down after the Beasties had to cancel out. What does that say? People are ready for them I think. J

[cj hood]

unless the 4 leaked trax are the only good ones on the record...my gut tells me that this is going to be just as good if not better than HN...the Tattoo You of their career!!!

[DrunkenMantis]

unless the 4 leaked trax are the only good ones on the record...my gut tells me that this is going to be just as good if not better than HN...the Tattoo You of their career!!!

thats awesome, they really are the rolling stones of rap music.

[Kid Presentable]

People are doing such amazing shit nowadays, you'd really expect only the hardcore Beastie heads to flip for this because it's post-cancer. Regardless, the music world loves them as people, and loves the idea of them, much more than the contents of any album. So it won't be too bad.

They have bound themselves to a formula of hip-hop that they don't like to deviate too far from, and one which I don't see the 'music world' getting real excited about.

Unless the tracks we've heard already are the weakest on the record, I think it will be a good, not great, album. Although there are a couple of bold ideas (Lee Majors), I fear that it may be a crack at making up for TT5B more than it will be its own statement.

As an example, Pop Your Balloon is funky, but very familiar territory. Is it really that much different to Shazam? I mean the tracks are good, but what separates them? As another thought, if given the choice between Body Movin and B-Boys in the Cut, what about the latter should make me love it instead? The routine?

If they took time to really focus on their lyrics, and mix the shit to give it its own identity (which I gather Zdar will be helping with), and the music is good-weird like we were hearing it was in 09 then yeah, past glories revisited. Wait and see I guess.

[JoLovesMCA]

I think some of you might worry yourselves sick lol. We haven't heard the album. I say give it a chance and wait till it actually comes out. They have been in the game so long, I have faith they will pull out the hits. These versions released IMO are not good enough quality to really get the feel of the songs. I think it will all be like new and exciting and good shit. call me optimistic, that's me. :cool:

[Nerd Fight]

Some elder statesman bands retain popular and critical appreciation, but usually these are rock bands. Hip hop is generally thought of as a young man's game, and I don't know how a hip hop album by a trio of 40 somethings will go down. But if anyone can pull it off, it's the Beastie Boys, cause there's a lot of goodwill towards the band, and they're still cool (at least, I think so).

Anyway, as other people have said, the biggest factor is how good the album is, which we don't know at the moment. Personally I think it's looking really promising, but I hope there a few killer tracks on the record that are even better than anything we've heard so far.

[Kid Presentable]

I think some of you might worry yourselves sick lol. We haven't heard the album. I say give it a chance and wait till it actually comes out. They have been in the game so long, I have faith they will pull out the hits. These versions released IMO are not good enough quality to really get the feel of the songs. I think it will all be like new and exciting and good shit. call me optimistic, that's me. :cool:

Not worried at all. I'm not fixated.

[Lex Diamonds]

Some elder statesman bands retain popular and critical appreciation, but usually these are rock bands. Hip hop is generally thought of as a young man's game, and I don't know how a hip hop album by a trio of 40 somethings will go down. But if anyone can pull it off, it's the Beastie Boys, cause there's a lot of goodwill towards the band, and they're still cool (at least, I think so).

Anyway, as other people have said, the biggest factor is how good the album is, which we don't know at the moment. Personally I think it's looking really promising, but I hope there a few killer tracks on the record that are even better than anything we've heard so far.
They're far from the oldest people in hip-hop. You don't have to look far to find 40 something year olds putting out solid rap albums these days so that shouldn't be an issue.

I find McDuff's comment about it being a "proper" Beastie record interesting. I hadn't thought about that but I remember being disappointed when TT5B came out that it was pure hip-hop although I still loved the album. For me, TMU was just a letdown.

[Laver1969]

Everyone seems to be on target here. Elder statesmen, proper album, 4 solid tracks so far, loyal fans, mainstream.

They'll be just fine. As long as they're having fun, the music is in their blood. And they'll put out creative tunes like Lee Majors. I get Pop Your Balloon stuck in my head when I hear that....

[gumkojima]

There's a lot going for them: six years since the last album with lyrics, their RaRHoF nomination, Yauch's recovery, that they've thankfully embraced cross-promotion (Oscilloscope film division reppin', Mike's plug for Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, Sara Moulton's recent name drop in her interview, Billy Wimsatt's inclusion of them in his new book as key players in Gen X politics, etc.), whatever interesting distribution means Capitol/Topspin/they have devised, whatever ideas get attached to the project (with TT5B, Creative Commons was a revolution), that there's a whole cottage industry of magazines that Grand Royal spawned and that continues to grow, run by folks who adore them and their work, etc.

I imagine with Yauch's foray into film, the videos should be fresh too. And, yes, I AM as interested in the ancillary stuff as the music -- especially the marketing. I must be missing what you're hearing, Kid Presentable. I hear a lot of new music I love, occasionally it's Hip Hop, but I can't really say I hear anything ground breaking. There's still a lot of new Classical and Jazz happening too, but ground breaking? Not really. Seems like Mike's line "my rhymes are not just for records anymore" has some bearing here ... or not.

As far as the youth vote, I've seen a surge of respect and interest in old school Hip Hop personalities among various demographics from the kids of the literati, to the OTP exurbanites, to the bottom dog kids. I don't think it's at the peak that classic rock had a few years back, so there's room to grow it.

As for critics, one can only hope that the new young guns learned from the ones who tried to make a name for themselves by trying to be cooler-than-thou when TT5B dropped and got called on the carpet for it. My gut feeling is that it will fare well, despite the fact that I don't personally feel blown away by anything I've heard yet. (Although, I do love "Lee Majors Come Again" and "B-boys in the Cut". Suggestion: I'd use Max's remix of "Too Many Rappers"; love the beat and the "Strawberry Letter 22" sample.)

Personally, I'm approaching the new album as a student of the band. There are few groups I've been as deep into whose later work lasted, but I've perceived all of them as genuine efforts to do something they liked, and as such, they are in my collection as meaningful artifacts. As I perceive the Boy's work to be authentic expressions by a group that has changed the music, political and other worlds many times over, I expect that even if HSC falls flat at first, I will afford it the charity that its secrets may unfold years down the line.

[M.C. Guevera]

If you're asking whether the average Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry-listening 16-year-old will like the new Beastie Boys record? Well...I don't know for sure.

But if they were able to still get new 16-year-old fans with "Ch-Check It Out" in 2004, then I guess they can do it again with this current generation of kids. All they really need for that is another fun single with a silly music video.

[Kid Presentable]

Suggestion: I'd use Max's remix of "Too Many Rappers"; love the beat and the "Strawberry Letter 22" sample



I was just thinking about how music critics and the like might see the new album. I'd hope none of them would be down with this suggestion of yours. There's plenty of good things they could do to the existing track rather than opt-out and release a pretty average remix in its place.

[gumkojima]

There's plenty of good things they could do to the existing track rather than opt-out and release a pretty average remix in its place.

Fair enough. Since the original and Max's are already out there, a new one could only add to what we've already got.

[gumkojima]

There's plenty of good things they could do to the existing track rather than opt-out and release a pretty average remix in its place.

KP, can you put into words what sort of good things you think they could do with the mix? I just listened to Max's mix again and got to say I like it a lot ... "ground-breaking" or not. (There's no attitude here at all. Just curious about your opinion.)

On an unrelated note, I forgot just how much I love B-boys In The Cut. It's got more soul than anything they've done in a while. I love the TT5B machine music too, but it's nice to have some soul sometimes. Someone mentioned memory and music a while back. I already have good ones associated with this one. It debued in it's complete form on Zane Lowe the summer I was in NYC working my first film job. In a way it marks the transition between chapters in my life. And of course I love how it was distributed assembly-required style.

[M|X|Y]

will it prove anything if the music world cares?

should we care whether or not the music world will care about it?

c'mon guys!

[MintyFreshBeats]

I was just thinking about how music critics and the like might see the new album. I'd hope none of them would be down with this suggestion of yours. There's plenty of good things they could do to the existing track rather than opt-out and release a pretty average remix in its place.

:(

[gumkojima]

will it prove anything if the music world cares? should we care whether or not the music world will care about it? c'mon guys!

It won't matter to my personal enjoyment of or reaction to the music, but as a student of music, critical and popular reaction is interesting ... to me.

[JoLovesMCA]

I think there is always going to be that part of you that worries and that’s okay because it just shows you care and you want to see the guys do well. I just base my opinion on every other time they release a new record. I mean every time they seem to do pretty well over-all. Critics can be scary though. They all think they are GOD’s when they do an album review. But like any other fan I PRAY these critics do love it. I want nothing more than the BB’s to get excellent reviews on their new material.

I also think because they are so eccentric and fun in their attitudes and it reflects in their music too, so young people are really going to enjoy it.

[Kid Presentable]

KP, can you put into words what sort of good things you think they could do with the mix? I just listened to Max's mix again and got to say I like it a lot ... "ground-breaking" or not. (There's no attitude here at all. Just curious about your opinion.)



Well, since you asked, first I think it sounds too flat. I like the way it sounds ripped off the Zane Lowe show, but that's just me. The rest is just me, so take with a grain of salt:

Open with the artificial drum fill at the end of MCA's second verse (a la Sucker MCS)

Mike's First verse (ha-ha-how many rappers must get dissed?) to open up - no bass or guitar just the two layers of drums - cut in and out from one to the other to both within the eight bars

Hook

MCA's second verse --> Adrock's first-->Nas' second verse (broader than broadway)Mike's second verse

Hook

Adrock's second --> Nas's first --> MCA's first

Hook

Break as an outro (extend it and fade it out)

ADD SOME ADLIBS SO IT SOUNDS LIIIIIIIVE

I doubt it would sound any good, but it wouldn't require much extra work and would spice it up a touch. Bring on the hate (y)

[Kid Presentable]

:(

Not for nothing, you make some amazing stuff. But would you want them deciding they're not good enough and putting a remix on in its place? If you made the track outright, then more power. But should a remix stay a remix?

[gumkojima]

I think there is always going to be that part of you that worries and that’s okay because it just shows you care and you want to see the guys do well ... I want nothing more than the BB’s to get excellent reviews on their new material.

We needed a girl's voice in here. Yes, me too, JLM. Me too.

[gumkojima]

Bring on the hate (y)

No hate, KP. Thanks for indulging me. I don't have enough experience with music creation (i.e., none) to aural-ize what you're saying, but I like a person with a strong opinion.

[abbott]

it will probably be like the Beatles release of Abby Road.

[JoLovesMCA]

We needed a girl's voice in here. Yes, me too, JLM. Me too.


B girls of the world UNITE. :o

[smith7800]

:(
Coming from a non-musician, I love your work, and share it with everyone I know. It would make me happier than it should to see your name on an official mix of the Beasties... They've had tons of remixes on their shit, and it seems they appreciate any decent effort (which yours far exceeds)

[Kid Presentable]

Paddy put me onto Dub Kweli, love that. I like his remix of TMR, but it's a remix; I don't doubt that pretty soon Max'll be producing an actual track for them. I just don't know if that track is Too Many Rappers. Whatever happens, all good. (y)

[Laver1969]

Paddy put me onto Dub Kweli, love that. I like his remix of TMR, but it's a remix; I don't doubt that pretty soon Max'll be producing an actual track for them. I just don't know if that track is Too Many Rappers. Whatever happens, all good. (y)

Maybe Minty actually has worked on something for the release... Hey Minty is there anything you want to tell us? :)

[MintyFreshBeats]

Its all good.

Its rare that you get justify use of an emoticon as your only response, but in that case it worked. :p

I appreciate any discussion, positive or negative, about anything I've done. thank you.

(y)

And as far as HSC, I'm waiting eagerly like everyone else. I'm hoping we get some of the fun + good music back into hip-hop. I don't think we'll be disappointed. :D

(man look at all of those emoticons)

[kaiser soze]

This album will need some serious attitude to stay relevant. Of course the hardcore fans will dig on it because it's their Beasties. But look who's running the hiphop show today and look how the young fan base of hip hop has evolved (or devolved).

The generation the Beasties truly tapped into are older, have different musical tastes, or have moved on. I don't even know if the Beasties are still a top act for skaters?

I still dig Sonic Youth, Beck, Tool, RATM. Acts that were killing it when the Beasties were - but I'm not expecting all the media outlets to explode when any of them release a new album, that was the music when many of us were in our primes. There's a bunch of new shit (literally) out there keeping the kids from discovering what we consider the real deal.

I hope this album gets respect, I know I'm not the only one anticipating it - but I wouldn't hold my breath if MTV (the Beastie's springboard to stardom) shows the same kind of interest as they would have a decade or so ago.

So here's to a great album that WE can enjoy - let the kids have their crap

[cj hood]

This album will need some serious attitude to stay relevant. Of course the hardcore fans will dig on it because it's their Beasties. But look who's running the hiphop show today and look how the young fan base of hip hop has evolved (or devolved).

The generation the Beasties truly tapped into are older, have different musical tastes, or have moved on. I don't even know if the Beasties are still a top act for skaters?

I still dig Sonic Youth, Beck, Tool, RATM. Acts that were killing it when the Beasties were - but I'm not expecting all the media outlets to explode when any of them release a new album, that was the music when many of us were in our primes. There's a bunch of new shit (literally) out there keeping the kids from discovering what we consider the real deal.

I hope this album gets respect, I know I'm not the only one anticipating it - but I wouldn't hold my breath if MTV (the Beastie's springboard to stardom) shows the same kind of interest as they would have a decade or so ago.

So here's to a great album that WE can enjoy - let the kids have their crap

good post, i agree....we're the heads that are going to buy and promote this record....that's why the band needs to come correct on this mb instead of posting youtube vids!

[JoLovesMCA]

I have had some of those worries too but maybe the kids go with what’s out there because that’s all there is. Maybe if they got a taste of something different and realized what they have been missing all this time they will jump on board. I mean that is my dream. Not gonna say it will happen because you really never know with this industry but I’d like to think they still have that power to captivate and recruit new fans. I hope they go strong on the marketing and promotion front. That will play a huge role in the success. Age isn’t a factor though so that’s good, plus all three Beasties are sexy HOT so the fan-girls should be ready to pounce!

[Guy Incognito]

speaking about the uk, TMR was Zane lowes "hottest record right now" when it came out and that's one of the most listened to shows over here, i still think it'll get a lot of attention over here.

[gumkojima]

The general kid is not the target audience. The weird kids are already are showing their love. The bulk of buy-in will come from the hip teen/20/30 somethings. We oldies with our love of our sagging skin will make up the rest. Yes, the skate kids still love 'em. Depending on the promotional intensity and who/what attaches itself, they'll draw a few normals.

[pm0ney]

Everything I've heard off the new record is better than anything on TT5B with the exception of Ch Check It Out. I am mega pumped for this ish.

I'd expect the album to go platinum, have a dope lead single and they will sell out arena's across the country on the tour as per usual. They are an institution at this point. They will always be commercially viable.

[JoLovesMCA]

Everything I've heard off the new record is better than anything on TT5B with the exception of Ch Check It Out. I am mega pumped for this ish.

I'd expect the album to go platinum, have a dope lead single and they will sell out arena's across the country on the tour as per usual. They are an institution at this point. They will always be commercially viable.

I love the way you think!

[Kid Presentable]

The general kid is not the target audience. The weird kids are already are showing their love. The bulk of buy-in will come from the hip teen/20/30 somethings. We oldies with our love of our sagging skin will make up the rest. Yes, the skate kids still love 'em. Depending on the promotional intensity and who/what attaches itself, they'll draw a few normals.

While I appreciate your marketing talk is coming from a good place, it's very broad and optimistic. For example, I skated for 15 years and the general consensus in my experience was at best indifference. The real litmus test is people like the ones who post on the rest of this forum, the majority of whom are also pretty indifferent to the music, loving the band aside, and are a real hard sell. They are well past impressed.

Also, 'buy-in' is a pretty nebulous term when you talk about bands; consider the fact that their best (read: best received) work came out at a time when competition from other sources was relatively low. There was a time when listening to a Beastie Boys album was the single most befuddling and random thing you could do - nowadays something like The Mix Up competes with your average everyday online experience. How digestable and memorable the music is will work towards its longer term appeal. If it were a food, it should get stuck in your windpipe whilst releasing hallucinogens into your blood.

EDIT: the true beauty of the thing is that somebody doesn't have to be like us to be considered a fan.