Beastie Boys

There are at least two other (very good) Beastie Boys compilations on the market and still (and always) available and the best one is absolutely The Sounds of Science an anthology that features as many unreleased songs as it does ‘hits’. And that’s the one that soundtracked several of my best summers and probably played a vital part in my decline as a human being whilst seeming so uplifting all the while.

The Beastie Boys don’t need to be anthologised again – but they’re allowed. They haven’t exactly flooded the market since the death of MCA which ended the band. They have

Beastie Boys

been gracious in grieving, respectful and comfortable enough of course to not need the extra revenue.

And in the last year they have released a wonderful biographical scrapbook and a TEDTalk-styled doco-presentation of that book. And so this latest compilation, Beastie Boys Music is the contractual piece of product, the soundtrack to Beastie Boys Book and Beastie Boys Story.

I love this single-disc grab of hits because I love the Beasties. Their music has meant the most to me of any band other than The Beatles. They were – and are – my Beatles. Which is to say that I was the one that discovered them in my house. Mum and dad and my brother didn’t know the Beastie Boys. I did. I found them. I loved them. And I have never not loved them.

People say they aren’t really hip-hop. And I say neither am I. People say they’re just privileged white boys. And I say, dur! Same!
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