The Beastie Boys, known worldwide for their cheeky rhymes and infectious beats, have gone instrumental for their latest. Returning to a self-indulgence reminiscent of 1996’s The In Sound From Way Out!, The Mix-Up brings back longtime collaborators Money Mark and drummer Alfredo Ortiz.
All 12 songs are entirely sample- and vocal-free, with Mike D on drums, Adrock on guitar and MCA on bass. It’s chock full of ’60s funk, afrobeat and jazz, the highlight being “”14th St. Break,”” a psychedelic piece driven by funky Latin beats, cowbells and a whistle breakdown that simply screams, “”Samba Everyone!”” without risking any of their defiant street cred.
