Beastie Boys Minus One

Love them or hate them (or if you've been assailed by their music since you were sixteen, as is my situation) you can't deny that The Beastie Boys changed the musical landscape forever. With last week's tragic passing of Adam Yauch, I started reflecting on their music. Having grown up in the eighties, and then starting a career as a DJ in the Alternative music format, The Beastie Boys have always been part of my life's playlist with their obstreperous hybrid of punk, funk, rap, rock, and whatever else struck their fancy. I am the first to admit that I enjoyed, then tolerated, then became a bit burned out on the trio's constant barrage of hits, so I was slow to truly digest who they are and what they did. From 1990 on, it was always with a groan that I welcomed a new album from them, because that meant that we'd be playing the shit out of it for years.

Only yesterday did I rip their catalog into my iTunes. I think my favorites are "Sabotage" and "So What'cha Want." I always liked Adam Yauch's raspy voice cutting through a noisy bed of samples, guitars, and noise. You can't help but turn up the volume. I'd seen their constant appearances on David Letterman over the years, but never had the chance to see them in concert. Sometimes they were a punk band (with Adam Yauch putting a stranglehold on the neck of his bass guitar) and other times they were a rapping trio with only a DJ supplying the beats.

They were clever. They were unpredictable. They liked to include references to Star Trek. Whatever they were doing paved the way for hip-hop, punk, rock, and rap to merge in the most incongruous-yet-perfect ways. Their influences and admiration are shared by some of the biggest names in rock and hip hop--Linkin Park, Radiohead, 311, Papa Roach, Pearl Jam...and many others.

Adam Yauch was not that much older than I am. It is a disturbing phase of life when artists that have been around for so long are facing morality. My friends at Capitol Records always spoke very fondly of Beastie Boys and their desire to strive for uniqueness in all of their projects.

In a surprisingly moving live performance of "Fight For Your Right" Coldplay says it the best.

It's back!

Ladies and gentlemen...I am pleased to announce the return of Todd's Blog. Get ready for some fun--or as much fun as one can enjoy on an internet blog.