Showing posts with label beastie boys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beastie boys. Show all posts
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Cliff's Cosmos Intergalactic Playlist



I've been all about the new Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey series on FOX. Yes, FOX. Say what you want about Seth McFarlane, but they guy used his Hollywood mojo to get a Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan produced update of the Carl Sagan classic made on a network that thanks to corporate synergy insulates it from attacks from Fox News, and that's beyond heroic. More importantly though, it's brilliant television that expands the mind through... get this... the imparting of scientific knowledge, and boffo CGI that's in true Sagan fashion rather trippy. Colbert Report favorite deGrasse Tyson has been hitting it out of the park these last few weeks, and in honor of his service to America and humanity I've compiled a playlist celebrating space and it's psychedelic virtues. Enjoy.


 "Space Oddity" performed by Scott Hadfield on the International Space Station. This dude got everything right for this one, a wondrous fusing of art, taste, and science.


Daft Punk, "Contact." This one is for the die hard Sagan fans out there, fans of the dubious screen adaption of his book with Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughy, Buffalo native William Finchner, and fans of Kubrick.


The Flaming Lips, "Vein Of Stars." This fan made video amazingly makes this already sexy Flaming Lips ode to oral sex under the stars even sexier.


Sun Ra Arkestra, "Face The Music" and "Space Is The Place." Sun Ra's deeply soulful and liberating space jazz is a perfect vehicle for freeing one's self from the static checking and holding you back, a metaphor for the societal backdrop for DeGrasse Tyson's "journey of imagination."


Kate Bush, "Hello Earth." Part of the joy of Cosmos is how it provides a universal context for where our planet and the life on it fit into it, providing a new way to view us. Also, welcome back Kate Bush, who's slated to perform live this year for the first time in decades!


Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic." Another "journey of the imagination," with the Beasties, a giant robot, and Godzilla.


David Bowie, "Life On Mars?" Alas, the answer is no.


Cliff Parks
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Picking Up The Slack For MTV: Titus Andronicus & The So So Glos - No Sleep Till Brooklyn




The Beastie Boys made better albums than their 1986 debut Licensed To Ill, as future releases would feature more experimentation, and less immature lyrics. But if all we're talking about is pure fun, that album is pretty unmatched. Just about every track is hilarious, and has an instantly memorable hook.

 "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" is one of the most entertaining songs on the debut, which is why it was natural that it would be fun choice to cover. On their recent Bring Back The Dudes tour, New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus, along with opening act The So So Glos, did a rollicking cover of this tune, bringing the spirit of the original to life. To make the scene complete, they even dressed up in outfits similar to what the Beasties were wearing back in 1986. A great cover, and yet another reminder of ridiculously fun License To Ill is.




John Hugar
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Albums In Need Of A Reissue


I still buy CDs. I suspect I'm the minority when it comes to that. It seems like most of my friends fall into one of two groups: people who only get their music from the internet, and the more hardcore fans, who pay the big books for that shiny, 180-gram vinyl. I see the advantage in either of these choices, but I just like CDs. Admittedly, they don't have an immediate cache. They aren't the obvious preferable choice of casual fans or hardcore fans.

So, what keeps the CD from being completely dead? The reissue! There's nothing I enjoy more than hearing that one of my favorite classic albums is being reissued in a glossy two-disc set, with fancy liner notes, and long forgotten live tracks. It just makes my day. When the Beatles were given the remastered treatment in 2009, I was there on the day of release, upgrading my copy of Abbey Road. I was similarly thrilled for the Pink Floyd reissues last year. It's a fun thing for music nerds, and people who still enjoy CDs.

Unfortunately, many legendary albums still go un-remastered, which is a shame. Seeing an immortal album rotting away in a dusty CD case from the late 80s just bums me out. That's why I present you with this list of classic albums that are in dire need of a modern-day upgrade.

Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
Every song here is great, from the big hits like "Welcome To the Jungle," and "Paradise City," to deep cuts like "Rocket Queen," and "Nightrain." Once more, the album turned 25 this year. Shouldn't it be celebrating its anniversary in style? Surely there's some old chestnuts of Axl and the boys jamming while stoned off there asses that would make for nice bonus tracks. Come on, people! Let's give this album the deluxe treatment it deserves.

Beastie Boys - License To Ill
As popular as the Beasties' first album is, the group hates it. In a way, that's understandable. It's juvenile, occassionally sexist, and not at all representative of the music or the attitudes they would express in the future. It's also a really, really fun album. Who's never fought for their right to party, or gotten funky with a certain monkey? Sure, this might not be the quintessential Beastie Boys album, and it lacks the diversity of their later works, but it's a much-beloved album, and an important part of hip-hop history.


All Of Metallica's First Five Albums
While their later works have been inconsistent, pretty much anything Metallica put out between 1983 to 1991 is gold. From the sped-up head rush of Kill 'Em All to the intricate math-metal of ...And Just For All, these guys were pretty much infallible in their early years. That's why it sucks to see the same copies of these albums that were on shelevs in 1992 still there today. Come on, let's get some outtakes! Surely you have some late-night jam sessions with Dave Mustaine that he'll eventually sue over. Let the fans get in on some of that!
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Petty's works have been horribly ignored by the remaster gods, with only Damn the Torpedoes getting the deluxe treatment in 2010. The rest of his albums rot on the shelves, with some of the his most popular albums dying a slow death in the discount bin. Surely the album that gave us "Free Fallin'," "I Won't Back Down," and "Runnin' Down A Dream" deserves better than that. I'm guessing Petty has plenty of stuff in the vaults; jams with the Wilbury's, live recordings with Dylan, maybe even a few Apple jams with George Harrison. Whatever he's got lying around, I'm sure it would make for an excellent bonus disc of this classic album.


The First Three Stone Temple Pilots Albums
Loathed by critics at first, people have finally discovered that STP are actually pretty damn good. the first three album rank among the best (and most overlooked) albums of their era. Tracks like "Interstate Love Song," "Sex Type Thing," and "Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart" have become well-deserved classics. Unfortunately, the most likely place to find the albums those tracks come from is in the used bin at record stores, gasping for air next to Deep Blue Something and Sister Hazel. Let's treat STP better than that! their debut, Core, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Let's give it the gift of a shiny new remaster.


Anything By The Dave Clark 5
Now this one is a real tragedy. The DC5 were a great British Invasion band, but they've been all but forgotten. More importantly, their albums don't exist on CD. I did see one old greatest hits in the used bin at FYE, but it was $60, because of how hard it is to find. Surely the band that gave us "Glad All Over," "Bits And Pieces," and "Catch Us If You Can" deserves to be discovered by new listeners. In an ideal world, we'd get a fresh new greatest hits on CD, and high quality vinyl reissues for the hardcore fans. The DC5 released tons of killer songs, but there's a whole generation who hasn't heard any of them. Let's try to fix that.


John Hugar

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The Next Generation of Cool Old Dudes


Bob Dylan’s new album Tempest comes out Tuesday, and while I haven’t had a chance to hear it yet, the early buzz has certainly been positive. Rolling Stone gave it five stars, and the consensus seems to be that Dylan has came out with yet another late period gem. Of course, Dylan’s continued excellence isn’t much of s surprise at this point, but it is pretty astonishing when you consider that he’s 71 years old, and a full 50 years removed from his self-titled debut. Dylan’s ability to remain relevant at this age is pretty amazing. He’s music’s quintessential Cool Old Dude.

It’s hard to say exactly when the Cool Old Dude phenomenon began, but my best guess would be right around 1994, when Johnny Cash released the first American Recordings album. It was a brash, bold reminder that his music still mattered. The image that came along with it, of a 61-year-old Cash flashing the middle finger amplified the statement considerably. Cash continued putting out strong albums until his death in 2003, and remains a posthumous Cool Old Dude to this day.

While Dylan and Cash might be the most obvious examples of this concept, they certainly aren’t alone. Bruce Springsteen’s late-period work has been incredibly strong, and often times, even on-par with 70s and 80s heyday. His most recent album Wrecking Ball is one of the best albums of 2012, and his epic live shows tell us that he hasn’t lost any of his trademark energy. Paul Simon also keeps putting out gems, as does Neil Young, and somehow, despite being 78, Leonard Cohen churned out yet another brilliant record this year with Old Ideas.

But as amazing as all these juggernauts are, none of them can last forever, and that begs the question: who will the torch be passed to? Which musicians currently in their 40s and 50s have the best chance of stretching their careers well into old-age? Let’s take a look at some middle-aged rockers who will likely be among the next generation of Cool Old Dudes.

Eddie Vedder:  If last year’s Ukulele Songs, and 2007’s Into The Wild soundtrack have told us anything, it’s that Eddie is feeling mellow these. Sure, he can’t still belt out “Even Flow” with the same fire that he did, but his recent recordings have been a lot more relaxed, and it suits him well. He’s always been a laid-back surfer dude, in spite of Pearl Jam’s heaviness, and write introspective acoustic tunes might be has true calling. Vedder is a big Tom Petty fan, and I think his career will take the same shape that Petty’s did after the release of Wildflowers, where the songs aren’t quite as loud, but many of them are more rewarding.


Morrissey: He’s already 53, and does anyone doubt that he’ll have interesting things to say when he’s 80s. Morrissey is one of those guys who will never change. I highly that there will ever be a time when he isn’t causing a stir with his politics, and releasing songs with hilariously cranky titles including recent favorite: “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore.” Moz will never settle down, and he’ll never stop being interesting. Also, he’s going to be immaculately dressed the entire time, too.

Jack White: As this year’s excellent Blunderbuss has told us, White has placed the White Stripes firmly in his rearview mirror, and there’s no telling where he could go next. The fact he’s still in two other bands means that his next endeavor could pretty much go anywhere. As for longevity, let’s consider two things: in almost 15 years in the business, Jack White has yet to put out a single weak record. And getting old shouldn’t be an issue since his gritty blend of blues and punk is timeless. By the time he’s reaches 60, we’ll likely be talking about astonishing discography of 50 or 60 albums, made with 20 or 30 bands. There’s no telling where he’ll go in the future.


Michael Stipe: When R.E.M. broke up last year, Stipe told Rolling Stone he had no plans to do a solo album. I really hope reconsiders, or at the very least, gives us some sort of side project. Stipe is a great songwriter, with one of the most beautiful voices in rock, and I’d be stunned if he didn’t have anything left to say. He claimed that he didn’t want to make a solo album that would be “watered-down R.E.M.,” but that certainly wouldn’t have to be the case. Many of his longtime fans would enjoy a mellow, introspective album from Stipe, like the records made by one of his biggest heroes, Leonard Cohen. Hopefully, he’ll reconsider the thought of a solo album, and grace us with a post R.E.M. masterpiece.

Dave Grohl: The Foo Fighters are the most well-oiled machine rock, and they show no sign of letting up. Dave is already in his 40s, but he has the same knack for writing catchy, headbang-worthy tunes with big, anthemic choruses. I can’t any reason why he won’t still be doing that 20 years from now. However, if Grohl ever gets tired of rocking out, he just as easily thrive by going the mellow route. Some of the Foos’ most rewarding tunes are gentle ballads like “Miracle,” and “Walking After You.” Either way, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t remain relevant well into his 60s.

Ad-Rock/Mike D.: Let’s all agree that without MCA, the Beastie Boys can no longer exist. That doesn’t mean the two surviving members can’t still make great music though. Throughout the Beasties run, they were an unstoppable creative force, and I’d hate to say Ad-Rock and Mike D. never make another album. Whether they continue to work together – under a different name, of course – or experiment with so discs, these are two of the most talented people in music, and if they stick around, whatever they do will probably be excellent.
John Hugar
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Are you Beastie? Performers needed for cancer benefit



Buffalo based independent hip-hop label DTR 45 brought Allentown "Being B.I.G.," a Biggie Smalls inspired fundraising event.  They're at it again this September with a night dedicated to the music of the Beastie Boys and hopes to raise funds for blood cancer awareness.

"Being B.I.G. was so successful that we wanted to figure out where to go with it next. In the wake of Beastie Boys founder MCA's untimely passing after his own bout with cancer, Damon [Bodine] and I both agreed it was a good time to pay tribute to one of the most popular musical groups in history… and Being Beastie was born," said DTR founder Tony Caferro.

Do you have what it takes to be Beastie?  It's a night meant for community and togetherness, thus the event is open for local performers to do their favorite Beastie Boy covers.  Whether you're a practicing performer, or can recite all the lyrics to "Brass Monkey" while you drive to work, everyone is welcome to sign up. Just email your information to being.signup@gmail.com. 

Being Beastie
Friday, September 7, 2012
Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar (253 Allen St)
10 pm - 4 am
$5 cover (100% of the donations go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society)

Check out the event page on Facebook.


Alicia Greco
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Rest In Peace Adam Yauch

Yesterday we lost one of this generation's greats in Adam Yauch, aka MCA, after a long bout with cancer. As a member of The Beastie Boys he totally changed music... repeatedly, and American and world culture is definitely the better for it. Along with Run DMC and Aerosmith, the Beasties popularized hip hop music in the mid 80's with their debut album Licenced To Ill in 1986, selling that nascent art form to white America at exactly the right time for themselves and for the music. Brilliantly, instead of being a one trick pony and exploiters of hip hop music and African American culture, they returned with Paul's Boutique, a true masterpiece that celebrated hip hop and gave back to the music a testament to it's history and potential. They played their own instruments on Check Your Head and Ill Communication in the early and mid 90's and remained utterly blameless for the rap-metal craze that ruined music in the late 90's; closed last century with Hello Nasty, one of the purest and sweetest hip hop albums of all time; and became keepers of the (true) hip hop flame with Back To The Burroughs and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two this century. The Beastie Boys moved and grew from party rappers to righteous, socially conscious MC's seamlessly as they evolved gracefully through the years. They were also the only band, the only band that everybody liked when I went to UB in the early-mid 90's (at least in the Media Study Department). Even though I hope Adrock and Mike D continue is some form, The Beastie Boys will be missed.




Adam Yauch was also a brilliant filmmaker, responsible for some of the Beastie's most memorable music videos. Indeed, Nathaniel Hornblower was a memorable fixture on MTV during the 90's (back when MTV showed music videos). Later as founder of Oscilloscope Laboratories he became a force for independent film distribution, bringing films that would've languished otherwise to audiences. As a humanitarian, philanthropist, and practicing Buddhist, Yauch founded the Milarepa Fund in 1996 and helped organize the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco, elevating awareness worldwide about the plight of Tibet (especially on college campuses). After 9/11 Milarepa organized a benefit to raise funds for the New York Women's Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund. He is survived by his wife Dechen and daugher Tenzin.

As an artist, taste-maker, cultural icon, humanitarian, and as a human being, Adam Yauch is irreplaceable, and his loss, and ours is profound. Rest in peace Adam, and thanks.

Also recommended:

The New York Times obit for Adam.

An official statement from The Beastie Boys, via Brooklyn Vegan.


Cliff Parks
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