This is the second of the two part "Why wasn't I a bigger fan of this band?" feature. I'm sorry it's a little late. I have to start with a confession: I was only a casual Beasties fan until Adam Yauch passed away 3 years ago. I always respected them as a band, and it just seems like they've always been a part of our lives. I had heard that they were really great to their fans, and were socially conscious (including organizing the Tibetan Freedom Concerts), but that was the extent of my knowledge and interest.
And then I heard that Yauch got cancer, and it was sad but I think everyone felt that he was going to be okay. And then, in 2012, when I heard that he passed away, there was an overwhelming sense of mourning among so many people who loved their music. I had an immediate emotional reaction that was not proportional to how much I liked them at that point. I bought every one of their albums that I didn't already own. I don't know how to explain it, but I just felt like I was making up for lost time. And the more I listened and learned about them, the sadder I got, because I couldn't believe I had missed all of this while he was still alive. I never got to see them live. I was just devastated because it was so unfair. Like, really Universe, you're gonna let Dick Cheney survive 5 major heart surgeries, but you're taking this beautiful soul away from his family and friends and fans?
I love their sense of humor, their great music, their social activism, and their genuine appreciation of hip hop. As 3 white Jewish kids, they've always created their music from a place of love for the art form. When they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chuck D and LL Cool J spoke about them with such respect and appreciation. And they remind me of U2 in the way that they started as and remain friends first, and that they worked in a kind of (slow!) jamming session style, figuring out the music and lyrics as they went along. They're a really special band. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize it.
So I have a bunch of songs that I love, so it was REALLY difficult narrowing down the list. My two favorite albums are 1998's Hello Nasty (the one with Intergalactic on it - which was released when I was in college and had a radio show. I played that song every week), and 2004's To The 5 Boroughs, which is basically a love letter to NYC after 9/11. There's so much good stuff.
In 1995, I had the cassette single of Sabotage, and I played it over and over and over again. I just couldn't get enough, and of course the video is legendary:
"Ch-Check It Out" is the opening track on To The 5 Boroughs, and they did a really awesome performance on Letterman (a big fan!) in 2004:
I don't know that "So What'cha Want" is my absolute favorite of theirs, but it's way up there. Just an all around perfect song, from the "When the Levee Breaks"-style drums, to the loose guitar, and the lyrics are incredible:
"I got depth of perception in my text, y'all,
I get props at my mention 'cause I vex, y'all"
I get props at my mention 'cause I vex, y'all"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru3gH27Fn6E
#YearlongMixtape
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