at a glance...

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Year Formed: 1981

Members:
Adam Horovitz -mic, guitars, decks, etc.
Michael Diamond -mic, drums, decks, etc.
Eric Bobo -percussion
Biz Markie -Bizness
Adam Yauch -mic, bass, decks, etc.
"Money" Mark Nishita -keyboards
Mixmaster Mike -decks on "Three MCs and One DJ"

Bands in the Family:
Money Mark, Luscious Jackson, The Dust Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Biz Markie, A Tribe Called Quest, Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Invisible Scratch Piklz

Notes:
Formed in New York City in 1981 by Mike Diamond and Adam Yauch, with drummer Kate Schellenbach and guitarist John Berry, The Beastie Boys began as straight ahead punk rock band, joining the burgeoining underground club scene. In 1983, Schellenbach and Berry left, and Adam Horovitz joined; one year later they joined forces with aspiring record moguls Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons and their fledgling Def Jam Records. Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, was released in 1986, and the mix of heavy metal riffs, punk attitude, and hip hop sensibility made the album an overnight sensation and the best-selling rap album of the 1980's. After a three-year hiatus, the Beasties took a monstrous leap forward artistically with Paul's Boutique, a groundbreaking masterpiece that introduced the world to the inimitable production style of The Dust Brothers. In 1992, the band formed their own record label, Grand Royal, built their own studio, G-Son, and picked up their instruments again to record Check Your Head, which catapulted them back into the spotlight. Followed (relatively) closely by 1994's Ill Communication, and a massive world tour, it would be another four years before the release of a full length album of new material, 1998's Hello Nasty. The Beastie Boys are also the founders of the Tibetan Freedom Concert, The Milarepa Foundation (dedicated to raising awareness and money in an effort to end Chinese oppression of Tibet and its people), Grand Royal Magazine, and X-Large Clothing.

Let's face it, Sounds of Science is mostly an artefact. Not only do you already own the best of these songs, you know them by heart. The Beasties are part of our collective subconscious, and every few years they release a new record that reminds us how great it is to know them. So this one's all about the packaging, and they did it right. The sleeve revisits Paul's Boutique in black and white, and there are plenty of priceless teen and pre-teen photos. The box contains two fold out cardboard CD thingys (no annoying jewel cases), and the booklet has detailed, personal and occasionally hilarious commentary on each song that works as a band history too. Amateur musicologists, college kids spending the day in bed and anyone who claims to have a CD "collection" will be in heaven.

Oh yeah, the music. Like I said, the best stuff here ("Gratitude," "Sure Shot," "Shadrach" etc. etc.) has been essential listening for years, so don't expect any big surprises. Their best album (Paul's Boutique) is only represented by three songs, but you should have that CD glued into your Discman anyway. You don't need it here.

The Beasties instinctively understand their genius, which is to say that they are totally dismissive of any pretensions to genius. This allows them to pepper their Anthology with fun throwaways like "Boomin' Granny," "Country Mike's Theme" and the opening self-titled punk salvo, while leaving off classics like "Paul Revere," "Johnny Ryall" and "Groove Holmes." Because, you know, it's more about running wild than covering all the bases.

Essential? Maybe not. But for anyone who fell in love with music during the last 15 years, Sounds of Science will be a joy to behold. Go on, you deserve it.

If you like The Beastie Boys, check out:

The Beastie Boys Ill Communication
The Beastie Boys Check Your Head
The Beastie Boys Hello Nasty
The Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique
Beck Midnite Vultures

-- jf

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