Published on Jun 16, 2000
Who would have thought that the biggest selling rap artists of
all-time would be three white guys from Brooklyn? That they would
score the first Number One rap album on Billboard’s Charts ever?
Still, the boys who would be known as MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D have
somehow carved a career full of hits and rave reviews; remaining
relevant and popular through their own musical changes as well as
the changing tides of popular music.
Now, to celebrate this long career, the boys have released
The Sounds Of Science, a compilation that serves rarities,
B-sides, and a compilation of some of their greatest hits. Packaged
beautifully and containing liner notes from the three boys
themselves, it’s amazing to find several things that you may not
have known.
For example, did you know that the Beastie Boys began as a
hardcore punk band in New York? You get a small taste of that in
the very first track, “Beastie Boys” and “Egg Raid On Mojo.” They
sound very raw and unproduced – unlike what many of their future
releases would sound like. This early version of the Beasties –
Mike Diamond, Adam Yauch, John Berry and Luscious Jackson’s Kate
Schellenbach – would later be transformed into the classic trio of
Diamond, Yauch and Adam Horovitz.
Another thing I never knew was that their seminal hit, “Fight
For Your Right (To Party)” was supposed to be a joke on all the
cheesy anthems of the 80s. When producer Rick Rubin remixed it and
made it into the song it is, the Beasties were caught into being
the frat boy jokes the video had turned them into. That seems to
color their entire
License To Ill period in a different light. Perhaps things
may have turned different if they had not found success in such a
way and had to rebel against it, but they did.
All of that said, you have to marvel at their mic skills and at
their ability to come up with rhymes that are both amusing and deep
at the same time. Here’s where your own personal tastes will direct
you to a certain period of the Beasties’ career. Are you more into
their frat boy young days (
License To Ill)? Or do you prefer their 70s funk days (
Paul’s Boutique)? How about their return to their punk roots
(
Check Your Head and
Ill Communication)? Or their subsequent return to their
old-school rhymes (
Hello Nasty)?
Whatever the case may be for you, there’s enough of each to wet
your appetite for more. Even though, we get such tracks like
“Intergalactic,” “Hey Ladies,” “So What’Cha Want,” “Sabotage,”
“Body Movin'” and on and on, you may start to wonder where your
favorite Beastie Boys song is. Where is “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”?
Or “The Sounds Of Science”? Or “Girls”? Or whichever song you
favor.
Beyond that, this anthology gives you tracks off EP’s like the
funky “Root Down” and their first single “She’s On It.” You also
get some a nice cover of “Benny And The Jets” (yeah, the Elton John
hit). Finally, there’s some great studio stuff and lesser-known
tracks that have colored the Beasties’ career. “Remote Control,”
“Country Mike’s Theme,” and the funny (but terribly disgusting)
“Boomin’ Granny.” If you know what it’s about, don’t break it to
those who haven’t heard it yet – just watch their expressions as
they realize the truth.
In the end though, this anthology serves its purpose well by
making you want to go out and find more albums from this amazing
trio. Personally, I’d recommend you pick up
Paul’s Boutique and
Check Your Head First. Then, try
Hello Nasty and
Ill Communication. Save
License To Ill for last, because, though great, it’s more of
a snapshot into their beginnings.
The Sounds Of Science is a perfect way to encapture one of
the biggest artists of the last fifteen years. Like I said at the
beginning, who would have thought? However, their talents and their
desire to succeed have managed to break whatever barriers may have
stopped their progress. What amazes me most is that, the day I
bought this anthology, my youngest brother – who was not around to
see the Beasties in their party days – picked it up and played it
all night long. This ability to connect with members of other
generations will surely ensure that the names of the Beastie Boys
is never forgotten.