BEACH FOSSILS What A Pleasure (Captured Tracks) cd 10.98
Beach Fossils are proving their great debut was no fluke. This eight song follow up actually ups the ante on their songwriting and introduces a more breezy, warm and '80s influenced sound. With spring officially here (even though it doesn't feel like it), we know that summer is just around the corner and we can't think of a record we're going to be more excited to be blasting all season long. These are the kind of songs for those drives to the beach with the windows down and the breeze and the sunshine. Reminding us a bit of some of our favorite mid '80s underground pop bands like Eleven Pond, and For Against with hints of the more languid moments of '90s indie rock, tapping into the same sort of sonic energy as the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. We even start imagining Pavement doing covers of The Smiths. What A Pleasure is indeed such a pleasure to listen to, in the way that it's so instantly familiar sounding yet with a freshness and depth that make it so new and exciting, demonstrating once again that they really are one of the best pop bands around right now.
MPEG Stream: "What A Pleasure"
MPEG Stream: "Adversity"
MPEG Stream: "Distance"

BEACH FOSSILS What A Pleasure (Captured Tracks) lp 13.98
Beach Fossils are proving their great debut was no fluke. This eight song follow up actually ups the ante on their songwriting and introduces a more breezy, warm and '80s influenced sound. With spring officially here (even though it doesn't feel like it), we know that summer is just around the corner and we can't think of a record we're going to be more excited to be blasting all season long. These are the kind of songs for those drives to the beach with the windows down and the breeze and the sunshine. Reminding us a bit of some of our favorite mid '80s underground pop bands like Eleven Pond, and For Against with hints of the more languid moments of '90s indie rock, tapping into the same sort of sonic energy as the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. We even start imagining Pavement doing covers of The Smiths. What A Pleasure is indeed such a pleasure to listen to, in the way that it's so instantly familiar sounding yet with a freshness and depth that make it so new and exciting, demonstrating once again that they really are one of the best pop bands around right now.
MPEG Stream: "What A Pleasure"
MPEG Stream: "Adversity"
MPEG Stream: "Distance"

BEACH HOUSE Bloom (Sub Pop) cd 14.98
What more can we say at this point about these Baltimore blisspoppers that we haven't already? We've barely been able to keep this in stock since we first got it in, another gorgeous slab of hazy, shoegazey, washed out slowcore dream pop loveliness. Bittersweet melodies, lush layered textures, simple programmed beats, lots of buzz and drone and shimmer, all somehow woven into heady, softly psychedelic epics that smolder and drift dreamily, taking the same sort of retro dreaminess of M83, but casting it as something a bit more melancholy and downcast, the perfect soundtrack for rainy days, broken hearts, late night wanders through empty streets, missing you mix tapes, vocals drenched in echo and drifting astride soaring shimmering melodies, all underpinned by warm sonic swells, and everything wrapped up in lush swatch prismatic jangle and slow build sonic mesmer. In some ways, Beach House are like the overcast, cloudy and grey version of Best Coast's sunshiney pop bliss, some of the same sonic elements but again, in Beach House's world the light is more than balanced by the shadow, and for every moment of hopeful major key shimmer, there's a long stretch of wistful sonic heartbreak right around the corner.
And stick around for the hidden track tucked away at the end of the record, a dreamily dour reverb drenched downer pop gem laced with some gorgeous slippery slide guitars.
And peep the super swank cover art, a field of raised Braille-like GLOW IN THE DARK dots!
MPEG Stream: "Myth"
MPEG Stream: "Wild"
MPEG Stream: "Wishes"

BEACH HOUSE Bloom (Sub Pop) 2lp 21.00
What more can we say at this point about these Baltimore blisspoppers that we haven't already? We've barely been able to keep this in stock since we first got it in, another gorgeous slab of hazy, shoegazey, washed out slowcore dream pop loveliness. Bittersweet melodies, lush layered textures, simple programmed beats, lots of buzz and drone and shimmer, all somehow woven into heady, softly psychedelic epics that smolder and drift dreamily, taking the same sort of retro dreaminess of M83, but casting it as something a bit more melancholy and downcast, the perfect soundtrack for rainy days, broken hearts, late night wanders through empty streets, missing you mix tapes, vocals drenched in echo and drifting astride soaring shimmering melodies, all underpinned by warm sonic swells, and everything wrapped up in lush swatch prismatic jangle and slow build sonic mesmer. In some ways, Beach House are like the overcast, cloudy and grey version of Best Coast's sunshiney pop bliss, some of the same sonic elements but again, in Beach House's world the light is more than balanced by the shadow, and for every moment of hopeful major key shimmer, there's a long stretch of wistful sonic heartbreak right around the corner.
And stick around for the hidden track tucked away at the end of the record, a dreamily dour reverb drenched downer pop gem laced with some gorgeous slippery slide guitars.
And peep the super swank cover art, a field of raised Braille-like GLOW IN THE DARK dots!
MPEG Stream: "Myth"
MPEG Stream: "Wild"
MPEG Stream: "Wishes"

BEACH HOUSE Devotion (Carpark) cd 14.98
Beach House's debut from a couple years ago won a special place in our hearts, so ever since we've been very anxious for this follow-up. We can't think of anyone these days who is doing warm and fuzzy melancholic pop better than Beach House.
Devotion flows perfectly from start to finish. It's the kind of record you want to play on repeat all day as you lay in bed with the one you love or lament the one you lost. These songs capture that gray soft line between longing and remembrance with a somber elegance that recalls Francoise Hardy's La Question and taps into the more subdued moments of Quixotic and White Magic. While many folks have taken a stab at Daniel Johnston songs in recent years, Beach House's version of "Some Things Last (A Long Time)" captures its devastating yet bittersweet heart. With hints of reverb, intoxicating vocal melodies and astute subtlety, Beach House has made an album that wraps you in a warm soft glow, as you bask in a golden breeze, totally hitting the spot and making every day feels like Sunday. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "Turtle Island"
MPEG Stream: "Home Again"

BEACH HOUSE Devotion (Carpark) lp 16.98
Finally! This sonic beauty is available on vinyl!
Beach House's debut from a couple years ago won a special place in our hearts, so ever since we've been very anxious for this follow-up. We can't think of anyone these days who is doing warm and fuzzy melancholic pop better than Beach House.
Devotion flows perfectly from start to finish. It's the kind of record you want to play on repeat all day as you lay in bed with the one you love or lament the one you lost. These songs capture that gray soft line between longing and remembrance with a somber elegance that recalls Francoise Hardy's La Question and taps into the more subdued moments of Quixotic and White Magic. While many folks have taken a stab at Daniel Johnston songs in recent years, Beach House's version of "Some Things Last (A Long Time)" captures its devastating yet bittersweet heart. With hints of reverb, intoxicating vocal melodies and astute subtlety, Beach House has made an album that wraps you in a warm soft glow, as you bask in a golden breeze, totally hitting the spot and making every day feels like Sunday. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "Turtle Island"
MPEG Stream: "Home Again"

BEACH HOUSE s/t (Carpark) cd 14.98
Wow! We haven't been this smitten with a debut release in quite a while. Didn't know much about this Baltimore duo but we do know, the second this record we laid ears on this the first time, we were immediately seduced by the glorious sounds within. Hazy, daydreaming pop with equal parts magic, mystery and dreamy darkness, all drenched in beautiful melodies and sincere sensuality. Kind of made us think of Broadcast taking a warm bubble bath with Coco Rosie. Lights out, candles burning, bubbles floating, reverb dripping. There is a timelessness in these songs that is so evocative, Warhol's factory, a summer twilight in Southern California in the '70s, an abandoned art studio in the UK. You can never quite put your finger on exactly where these songs are drawn from but in the end it's music truly unique and wonderful. A mysterious voice, a haunting presence and songs carry you off, eyes closed, to somewhere much more enchanting then wherever you really are. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "Tokyo Witch"
MPEG Stream: "Childhood"

BEACH HOUSE s/t (HeartBreakBeat) lp 21.00
ONCE MORE, NOW BACK IN PRINT ON VINYL! This fab debut from the now hugely popular Beach House has gone out of print on vinyl a couple times since it first came out a few years back. Now, at last, they've done a third (?) pressing. Here's what we said before:
Now available on vinyl for a limited time!
Wow! We haven't been this smitten with a debut release in quite a while. Didn't know much about this Baltimore duo but we do know, the second this record we laid ears on this the first time, we were immediately seduced by the glorious sounds within. Hazy, daydreaming pop with equal parts magic, mystery and dreamy darkness, all drenched in beautiful melodies and sincere sensuality. Kind of made us think of Broadcast taking a warm bubble bath with Coco Rosie. Lights out, candles burning, bubbles floating, reverb dripping. There is a timelessness in these songs that is so evocative, Warhol's factory, a summer twilight in Southern California in the '70s, an abandoned art studio in the UK. You can never quite put your finger on exactly where these songs are drawn from but in the end it's music truly unique and wonderful. A mysterious voice, a haunting presence and songs carry you off, eyes closed, to somewhere much more enchanting then wherever you really are. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "Tokyo Witch"
MPEG Stream: "Childhood"

BEACH HOUSE Teen Dream (Sub Pop) 2lp+dvd 19.98
Swoon....sigh....melt! That's all we want to do when we listen to the newest album by this Baltimore duo who we've been in love with since their debut ep from way back when. The follow up to their great full length Devotion, this is a record we and so many others have been highly anticipating and it's so nice to start the new year with an album that is already ruling our stereos and will no doubt end up on many of our year end favorite lists.
Teen Dream is quite simply, exquisite and elegant. The golden warmth and soft waves of comfort and longing BH are able to express through their songs makes them truly one of the most special bands around. There is a timelessness and sense of authenticity that rings so true within their songs. This is the music you put on when you've had your heart broken or you just discovered new love or when you are laying in bed with that special someone and its time to just bliss out, lost in a daze without saying a word. Teen Dream is the soundtrack for thinking of a close friend who is in a far away place, it's a sonic refuge, when you need somewhere safe to drift and daydream all of your troubles away.
We have a feeling that this record is about to get an avalanche of press and attention but it couldn't be more deserved. This is hands down one of the most majestic and moving records to come out in a very long time. Nothing feels forced, no songs are throwaways, start to finish Teen Dream sounds practically perfect, a classic that will no dubt remain a classic regardless of shifting sounds and tastes.
As an added bonus Teen Dream also comes with a dvd, containing a video for every single song on the album created by different directors. We haven't even gotten around to watching it yet cuz for now all we want to do is listen to the album over and over again, letting ourselves get lost in the glistening images it evokes in our own subconscious. Breathtaking!
MPEG Stream: "Norway"
MPEG Stream: "Used to Be"
MPEG Stream: "Better Times"

BEACH HOUSE Teen Dream (Sub Pop) cd+dvd 16.98
Swoon....sigh....melt! That's all we want to do when we listen to the newest album by this Baltimore duo who we've been in love with since their debut ep from way back when. The follow up to their great full length Devotion, this is a record we and so many others have been highly anticipating and it's so nice to start the new year with an album that is already ruling our stereos and will no doubt end up on many of our year end favorite lists.
Teen Dream is quite simply, exquisite and elegant. The golden warmth and soft waves of comfort and longing BH are able to express through their songs makes them truly one of the most special bands around. There is a timelessness and sense of authenticity that rings so true within their songs. This is the music you put on when you've had your heart broken or you just discovered new love or when you are laying in bed with that special someone and its time to just bliss out, lost in a daze without saying a word. Teen Dream is the soundtrack for thinking of a close friend who is in a far away place, it's a sonic refuge, when you need somewhere safe to drift and daydream all of your troubles away.
We have a feeling that this record is about to get an avalanche of press and attention but it couldn't be more deserved. This is hands down one of the most majestic and moving records to come out in a very long time. Nothing feels forced, no songs are throwaways, start to finish Teen Dream sounds practically perfect, a classic that will no doubt remain a classic regardless of shifting sounds and tastes.
As an added bonus Teen Dream also comes with a dvd, containing a video for every single song on the album created by different directors. We haven't even gotten around to watching it yet cuz for now all we want to do is listen to the album over and over again, letting ourselves get lost in the glistening images it evokes in our own subconscious. Breathtaking!
MPEG Stream: "Norway"
MPEG Stream: "Used to Be"
MPEG Stream: "Better Times"

BEACH HOUSE Zebra (Sub Pop) 12" 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

BEACH, MICHAEL A Horse 7" 5.98
A while back we reviewed a super limited tape from this local axeman, who at the time had a backup band made up of members of local psych rock heavies Comets On Fire, and whose sound, on that tape at least, fell somewhere between the brooding post punk of the Wipers, and the rough, ragged twang flecked crunch of early Uncle Tupelo, most definitely a sweet combo. We've been sitting on a couple copies of this 7" for ages now, and only just recently got enough to list, and like the tape before it, these two tracks offer up more of Beach's distinctive twang flecked songsmithery. The A side is a stripped down bit of folky psychedelia, dark and moody and countrified, again reminding us of Uncle Tupelo, not hard to imagine the song blossoming into some sort of guitar heavy crunch, but instead, it's a gorgeously cyclical and dreamily mesmerizing.
The flipside is a bit more droned out, with a softly churning electric guitar, backed up by minimal skeletal drumming, a series of slow brooding swells, Beach's vocals a bit more rough and ragged, the song mostly two parts, slipping back and forth, giving the track a definite hypnotic vibe, during the second half of the song the tempo gets cranked, the sound growing more and more frantic, ratcheting up the tension, with no release, a slow build all the way to the end. Cool!

BEACH, MICHAEL Mountains + Valleys (Spectacular Commodity / Twin Lakes) cassette 7.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Latest from this SF by way of Australia (by way of SF again) singer/songwriter, and first with a newly formed band featuring members of Comets On Fire and the Castanets. The sound is all over the map, drifting from crunchy post punk, to woozy psychedelic drift, to countrified rust belt songsmithery, and several other stops in between.
Opener "Straight Spines" starts things off with a blast of low slung bass heavy post punk, definitely reminiscent of the Wipers, with a killer weird constantly shifting tempo, slowing down, then speeding right back up again, in a way the deftly makes that tempo shift an integral part of the song. Hooky and a little bit heavy, driving and catchy like crazy, and that tempo shift just kills us every time, so unexpected, but so cool.
Then there's "There Is No Edge Of The World To Run To", which sounds like some lost Uncle Tupelo outtake, Beach's vocals rough and warmly ragged, over some simple twang and strum, darkly emotive and intense, and when the drums come in, the song becomes a cool sort of droney countrified slowcore. There's also the drifty twangy shimmer of the title track, and the warm jangly balladic closer, "So Said The Bird", which broods and soars, underpinned by whirring organs, the deep crooned vox wreathed in the dusty twang of the guitars, and a blurred reverby patina. Beach peppers the record with brief experimental interludes as well, which range from noisy psychedelic freakouts to woozy late night drones. Gorgeous stuff for sure.
LIMITED TO 100 COPIES and already sold out and out of print. So these are the last ones we'll be able to get.
MPEG Stream: "Straight Spines"
MPEG Stream: "There Is No Edge Of The World To Run To"
MPEG Stream: "So Said The Bird"

BEACHES Eternal Sphere (Mexican Summer) lp 24.00
Another winner from Mexican Summer (who seem to traffic primarily in winners anyway), hot on the heels of recent Record Of The Week, Ghost Blonde by No Joy, comes this, the debut recording from Beaches, who despite their summery moniker, kick up a seriously distorted and blown out shoegaze spacerock racket.
Done just the way we like it. Massive guitars, huge hooky riffs, thick buzzing bass, pounding drums, the vocals barely there, buried in the mix, the songs mainly a single riff, locked tight, and repeated over and over, mesmerizing and cyclical and hypnotic, druggy and repetitive and totally psychedelic, occasionally slipping into some sort of chorus, and letting the vocals come to the fore, but even then they're panned strangely, coming from different speakers, still pretty low in the mix, only adding to the druggy psychedelic vibe.
Equal parts washed out jangle, churning riff heavy crush, hazy spaced out psychedelia, there are hooks, but they're buried under all the murk and swirl and howl with the vocals, this is total headtrip heart of the sun, drone heavy, buzz drenched space rock, but infused with a heart of shoegaze pop, which is what makes this sound so good. Absolutely a new favorite, and WAY recommended for anyone into space rock, drone pop, shoegaze or anything heavy and hazy, druggy and dreamy.
One complaint though: four songs, 45 rpm, $24?!?! C'mon, Mexican Summer, sure, the jackets are super thick and the vinyl is crazy heavy, but still seems sorta steep. Too bad it's so good, and we're actually thinking these 4 songs might just be worth $6 a pop. At least based on the fact that we've listened to them all about a million times already...

BEACHWOOD SPARKS Make The Cowboy Robots Cry (Sub Pop) cd ep 8.98
Lovely! Beachwood Sparks' third release, a half hour, six song EP, is pretty damn good. The band's sound is maturing and becoming so much more their own, whereas their first album's twang reminded me of the '60s country rock scene a la Byrds / Gram Parsons... Now Beachwood Sparks are sounding more like themselves than anyone else. The sweet pop tone is tinged with a glimmer of psychedelia. The vocals are just as plaintive as ever. Vocalist Mia Doi Tod guests on one track. If buzzwords like Court & Spark, Radar Brothers, Olivia Tremor Control mean anything to you, you need to check this ep out. Very nice.
Beautiful cover art by Jim Woodring!
RealAudio clip: "Drinkswater"
RealAudio clip: "Ghost Dance 1492"

BEACHWOOD SPARKS Once We Were Trees (Sup Pop) cd 14.98
Boy do Beachwood Sparks want to be the Byrds. From the psychedelic cover art to the super acid-drenched photo collage foldout poster, they're wearing their peace pendants and worn-in denim like they're conjuring the ghost of Gram Parsons. And hey, they do it really well. Recorded by Thom Monahan (Scud Mountain Boys), the music is syrupy sweet in a good way, without being fake or too pretentious -- it's genuine and rings true. There're chiming guitars that sound remarkably like Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacher 12-string, banjo workouts, male harmonies and a cheerful twang throughout. In a weird twist, Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis guests on two tracks, lending a subtly modern twist to the retro sound. Very Nice.
RealAudio clip: "Confusion is Nothing New"
RealAudio clip: "By Your Side"
RealAudio clip: "The Sun Surrounds Me"

BEACHWOOD SPARKS Once We Were Trees (Sup Pop) 2lp 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Boy do Beachwood Sparks want to be the Byrds. From the psychedelic cover art to the super acid-drenched photo collage foldout poster, they're wearing their peace pendants and worn-in denim like they're conjuring the ghost of Gram Parsons. And hey, they do it really well. Recorded by Thom Monahan (Scud Mountain Boys), the music is syrupy sweet in a good way, without being fake or too pretentious -- it's genuine and rings true. There're chiming guitars that sound remarkably like Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacher 12-string, banjo workouts, male harmonies and a cheerful twang throughout. In a weird twist, Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis guests on two tracks, lending a subtly modern twist to the retro sound. Very Nice.

BEACHWOOD SPARKS s/t (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
Beautiful! Two members of the lost great LA band Further here team up with a former Lilys guy to form Beachwood Sparks, the freshest breath of country/rock twang to reach these ears in many months. Supplementing the normal rock lineup with harmonica, organ, piano, and plenty ooh-sha-la-la backup croonings, the music combines the best of Gram Parsons, early Byrds, and the Elephant 6 bands such as the Olivia Temor Control and Apples in Stereo. Boy-girl harmonies, real honest to god songwriting chops, and excellent crystal clear production. Highly recommended!

BEACHWOOD SPARKS The Tarnished Gold (Sub Pop) cd 14.98
The return of these aQ beloved Byrds worshipping psychedelic country poppers, and it's like nothing has changed. Their sound is still a lush hybrid of slide guitar driven twang, and lush sixties psych pop woven into a confection that's equal parts Elephant Six, Laurel Canyon and No Depression. When we attended the Sub Pop 20th anniversary celebration in Seattle back in 2008, in a weekend full of amazing reunions (Green River, Eric's Trip, The Fluid, Seaweed, Red Red Meat), we were secretly super psyched to see Beachwood Sparks, and they did not disappoint, playing a collection of classics and sounding as good as ever.
So here we are four years later, and the band have whipped up a new record that sounds like it could have come out right after 2002's Make the Cowboy Robots Cry ep. It's a little Grateful Dead, a LOT the Byrds, lush and lovely, with plenty of psychedelic filigree, and lush lovely harmonies, the sound evenly balanced between dark brooders and sun dappled dreampop, the slower darker numbers definitely of interest to fans of Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty and the like who might have missed these guys the first time around. And if you're one of those people who still loves listening to the Radar Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys, Court & Spark, Gram Parsons, etc, this will totally hit the spot. Gorgeous hook filled county pop that manages to push all our retro buttons, but still sound downright timeless.
MPEG Stream: "Forget The Song"
MPEG Stream: "Sparks Fly Again"
MPEG Stream: "Mollusk"

BEACHWOOD SPARKS The Tarnished Gold (Subpop) 2lp 19.98
The return of these aQ beloved Byrds worshipping psychedelic country poppers, and it's like nothing has changed. Their sound is still a lush hybrid of slide guitar driven twang, and lush sixties psych pop woven into a confection that's equal parts Elephant Six, Laurel Canyon and No Depression. When we attended the Sub Pop 20th anniversary celebration in Seattle back in 2008, in a weekend full of amazing reunions (Green River, Eric's Trip, The Fluid, Seaweed, Red Red Meat), we were secretly super psyched to see Beachwood Sparks, and they did not disappoint, playing a collection of classics and sounding as good as ever.
So here we are four years later, and the band have whipped up a new record that sounds like it could have come out right after 2002's Make the Cowboy Robots Cry ep. It's a little Grateful Dead, a LOT the Byrds, lush and lovely, with plenty of psychedelic filigree, and lush lovely harmonies, the sound evenly balanced between dark brooders and sun dappled dreampop, the slower darker numbers definitely of interest to fans of Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty and the like who might have missed these guys the first time around. And if you're one of those people who still loves listening to the Radar Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys, Court & Spark, Gram Parsons, etc, this will totally hit the spot. Gorgeous hook filled county pop that manages to push all our retro buttons, but still sound downright timeless.
MPEG Stream: "Forget The Song"
MPEG Stream: "Sparks Fly Again"
MPEG Stream: "Mollusk"

BEAK Autoselfreplicationalism (Insignificant) cd 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
San Francisco band maybe comparable to Jesus Lizard -with saxophones- i.e. twisted rock in free jazz mode. Pretty good.

BEAK> s/t (Ipecac) cd 16.98
It's tough to ignore talk of a 'Portishead side project', and it's even tougher to imagine what that project might sound like. Thankfully no need to wonder, it's called Beak> (and yeah, that little beak shape is part of the name), and it's a trio fronted by Portishead mastermind Geoff Barrow, but don't be expecting Portishead 2, there are some similarities, but it's mostly tone and vibe, the music is something else entirely, more krautrock, minimal, space-y, hints of Stereolab (which is basically krautrock when you think about it). Recorded live, with no overdubs, the arrangements were created using edits, so one can imagine these guys jamming out on single parts, and then later chopping them up and assembling them into songs. Which helps explain why the sound of Beak> is so hypnotic and looped and cyclical sounding. Stereolab obviously, but also Circle, Cave, a definite hypnorock / krautrock thing going on. The drumming super simple and motorik, the bass driving the whole thing, and the synths offering up the melody, usually locking into whirling swirling loops over the top. The band get into long stretches of hushed almost nothing, whispery drifts of softly pulsing drone, but invariably the shift gears and launch into another loping hypnotic dubby rhythm, and with all this talk of rhythm, you can bet there are lots of moments that reminds us of This Heat, which is NEVER a bad thing. There are vocals too, but they're minimal, and are often in the background, wordless croons, adding just another layer of texture to the proceedings. Fourtet, Tortoise, Add N To (X), Fridge, Necks, even some of the modern spacerock stuff like Wooden Shjips, that sort of endlessly looping dronerock, Beak> would definitely hit the spot if you dig any or all of that.
This record is super addictive, we threw it on when it first came in, and we ended up listening to it 3 times in a row, and ever since, we find ourselves throwing it on all the time, which says a lot. Definitely a new fave!
MPEG Stream: "Backwell"
MPEG Stream: "Pill"
MPEG Stream: "Ham Green"

BEAK> s/t (Invada) 2lp 40.00
It's tough to ignore talk of a 'Portishead side project', and it's even tougher to imagine what that project might sound like. Thankfully no need to wonder, it's called Beak> (and yeah, that little beak shape is part of the name), and it's a trio fronted by Portishead mastermind Geoff Barrow, but don't be expecting Portishead 2, there are some similarities, but it's mostly tone and vibe, the music is something else entirely, more krautrock, minimal, space-y, hints of Stereolab (which is basically krautrock when you think about it). Recorded live, with no overdubs, the arrangements were created using edits, so one can imagine these guys jamming out on single parts, and then later chopping them up and assembling them into songs. Which helps explain why the sound of Beak> is so hypnotic and looped and cyclical sounding. Stereolab obviously, but also Circle, Cave, a definite hypnorock / krautrock thing going on. The drumming super simple and motorik, the bass driving the whole thing, and the synths offering up the melody, usually locking into whirling swirling loops over the top. The band get into long stretches of hushed almost nothing, whispery drifts of softly pulsing drone, but invariably the shift gears and launch into another loping hypnotic dubby rhythm, and with all this talk of rhythm, you can bet there are lots of moments that reminds us of This Heat, which is NEVER a bad thing. There are vocals too, but they're minimal, and are often in the background, wordless croons, adding just another layer of texture to the proceedings. Fourtet, Tortoise, Add N To (X), Fridge, Necks, even some of the modern spacerock stuff like Wooden Shjips, that sort of endlessly looping dronerock, Beak> would definitely hit the spot if you dig any or all of that.
MPEG Stream: "Backwell"
MPEG Stream: "Pill"
MPEG Stream: "Ham Green"

BEAK>> >> (Invada) cd 17.98
Record number two from this post-Portishead combo, which finds Portishead mainman Geoff Barrow and crew fashioning a sort of abstract modern krautrock, culled from what we would imagine is the same recording technique used on their debut, which involved recording loops and parts live, and then fashioning them into proper tracks later. Which gives the jams a definite looped / collage vibe, but here on 2 (denoted in the title by two Beak shapes: >>), the sound and feel is much more organic, with what at times sound like proper songs, not just cool parts, with live drums beneath swirls of synths and processed guitars, each track essentially a single groove locked and looped, the group unfurling heady expanses of hypnorock mesmer, that sound somewhere between Faust, This Heat, Circle and even Aussie minimal jazzers the Necks. The vocals more prominent this time around, a plaintive croon, that tends to add color, more than drive the songs, which are already driven by some killer motorik drumming, which pulses and pounds relentlessly through clouds of woozy warped synth shimmer, throbbing reverbed riffage, muted melodies, some of the tracks sound like dead ringers for classic Faust jams, one track had a serious Slint vibe, while another had us imagining some lost German Oak track, with a few moments slipping into weird synth kosmische, and reminding us of Barrow's recent rejected score for the new Judge Dredd movie. Overall, a seriously mesmerizing collection of kraut-flecked hypno rock mesmer and looped rhythmic minimalism that should appeal to ANYone into any of the above mentioned groups, as well as other similarly sonic minded purveyors of math/kraut/psych/hypno rock radness.
MPEG Stream: "The Gaol"
MPEG Stream: "Yatton"
MPEG Stream: "Spinning Top"
MPEG Stream: "Eggdog"

BEAKS PLINTH Kai Kohola Leo (Gigante Sound) cd-r 6.98
Jared Blum is back with a new alter ego - Beaks Plinth! In case you didn't guess from the title, it is a Hawaiian themed project. That said, don't be expecting warm sandy beaches, luscious fruity concoctions and gently swaying palm trees. Nope, instead imagine yourself in the depths of a not-so-dormant island volcano, molten lava creeping forth and sizzling in the heady ocean mist!
It's like a tropical fever dream in which the shadows of giant tiki figures loom and ominous giant birds of prey menace and peck at you from above. It's a bit murky and mysterious with sounds smeared into dank cavernous echoes. In fact, we might suggest that the dozen foreboding soundscapes on Kai Kohola Leo meld quite nicely in between aQ faves Nurse With Wound's Salt Marie Celeste and Coelacanth's Glass Sponge. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Voices Of The Lagoon"
MPEG Stream: "The Stringer Bells"
MPEG Stream: "Wind Speak "

BEAKS PLINTH Organo Saturado (Gigante Sound) cd-r 6.98
Who hasn't been moved by the churning, blanketing, droning, tickling, swooning sounds of an organ? A staple in retro garage pop outfits, tiki lounges, churches and skating rinks, under capable fingers it can be one of the most expressive and versatile instruments around. Jared Blum (the man behind the Beaks Plinth moniker) shares the love, exhuming an assortment of wildly varied vintage records featuring said instrument. On Organo Saturado (inspired by Juan Torres' Organo Melodica Volume 11), he's Frankenstein'd them into something very very different from their origin. One step in the process was adjusting the RPM speed of many of the pieces waaay down to a snail's pace. It is as if the vinyl itself has been melted into some molasses or clay-like substance, but with some texturous grit embedded in the mounds, courtesy of the old record vinyl's inherent scritchy crackles. Sounds are stretched, smeared and layered almost beyond the point of recognition. What once might have been a sprightly ice skating accompaniment or a solemn chord sequence rattling the stained glass panes of a cathedral has been dragged into the murky dyspeptic depths of Beaks Plinth's lair. As always, otherworldly atmospheres are stirred up to wonderful effect, shuffling unpredictably between the haunting, the rubbery, and the strange.
MPEG Stream: "Hey La"
MPEG Stream: "Mystic Morning"

BEAKS PLINTH / SCOTT CALIGURE Flameout (Gigante Sound) cd-r 6.98

BEALE STREET SHEIKS Chicken You Can't Roost Behind The Moon (Monk) lp 22.00
No, not the Mississippi Sheiks... this here is the Beale Street Sheiks, from Tennessee, comprised of legendary Memphis bluesman Frank Stokes and one Dan Sane. Those familiar with Stokes should know what's in store: prime Memphis blues with amazing rhythmic guitar playing and a powerful, highly emotive vocal delivery. The songs here make use of forceful jumping rhythms that are bluesy for sure, but also reminiscent of ragtime and other old time music. These songs certainly indicate why Stokes is recognized as such a force in the Memphis Blues, and the presence of Sane's guitar playing makes this duo sound pretty much unstoppable. The way the two lock in together implies an innate and unique understanding of the music, no wonder Stokes has been imitated by so many throughout the years. But this is the original source and another welcome addition to Monk's rapidly expanding catalog of the essentials.

BEAN, JANET AND THE CONCERTINA WIRE Dragging Wonder Lake (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
Janet Bean formed the indie rock Eleventh Dream Day in Chicago oh so many years ago, then followed that great band with Freakwater, her country duo with Catherine Irwin -- their harmonies converted legions of fans to alternative country. Now, Bean has released an album under her own name, and it's really good. Barely any twang remains, which worried me at first, but instead she's presented us with a sort of singer-songwriter rock record, middle of the road but in the best way, as if she was inspired by Carole King, Bread, Nanci Griffith, etc. With backup singers crooning all gospel-like in the background, her voice's natural vibrato really shines. There's sweet lap steel, warm strummed guitar, and some awesome, smart piano playing sort of oblique notes that contrast with the sweetness instead of backing it up -- a nice touch. Recommended!
MPEG Stream: "The Purple Heart"
MPEG Stream: "My Little Brigadoon"

BEANFIELD Human Patterns (Compost) cd 17.98
The "next big thing?" Well, to us, this seems to be somewhat banal post-rock / electronica jazz fusion. Still, fans of recent discs by Kruder & Dorfmeister, Squarepusher and Tortoise may well enjoy "Human Patterns".

BEANIE SIGEL The B. Coming (Roc-A-Fella) cd 14.98

BEANS Crane Wars (Zum ) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is the third release from Vancouver, BC post rockers Beans (yeah, we still wish they had a different name, but what can you do?). The moody melodicism of "Crane Wars" continues the path set by last year's wonderful "Tired Snow" EP: melancholy and brittle, with so much to say, yet demonstrating so much restraint and hesitation rather than just blurting it all out. Obvious comparisons to the cinematic soundscapes of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Mogwai or Tarentel abound, and Beans also carry a post-rocky sound somewhat reminiscent of mid-period Gastr del Sol or A Minor Forest.
RealAudio clip: "Window Y Tower"
RealAudio clip: "Slow Recovery"

BEANS Crane Wars (Zum ) lp 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is the third release from Vancouver, BC post rockers Beans (yeah, we still wish they had a different name, but what can you do?). The moody melodicism of "Crane Wars" continues the path set by last year's wonderful "Tired Snow" EP: melancholy and brittle, with so much to say, yet demonstrating so much restraint and hesitation rather than just blurting it all out. Obvious comparisons to the cinematic soundscapes of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Mogwai or Tarentel abound, and Beans also carry a post-rocky sound somewhat reminiscent of mid-period Gastr del Sol or A Minor Forest.

BEANS Inner Cosmosis (Foreverbad) cd 14.98
Ah, not to be confused with the other current artist by the same name (Beans of Antipop Consortium), this is indeed the wonderful experimental band from Vancouver. Released on their own label, Inner Cosmosis features a much more expansive and cohesive sound than their previous releases. This in itself is quite something to behold, as those three earlier cds (Portage on Zulu Records, Crane Wars and Tired Snow EP, both on Zum Records) were accomplished and quite enjoyable as they were. However, it seems they've moved away from their previous Godspeed/Mogwai leanings towards something more their own. Much like their Zum labelmates and pals Xiu Xiu, Beans incorporate homemade string and percussion instruments into the traditional band lineup. And along with a marimba, some tapeplayers, turntables and other electronics, they take you on an intriguing sonic journey. A very soothingly fluid and groovy hour plus (as the cd cover art tells, this is 63:19 long). Stretch out with Beans for a while. Of the seven tracks, all but one exceed six minutes in length. To top it all off, this impressive work was actually recorded live one rainy fall evening. So very nice!
MPEG Stream: "Sun"
MPEG Stream: "Absolute"

BEANS Now Soon Someday (Warp) cd 11.98

BEANS Shock City Maverick (Warp) cd 15.98
Beans follows up his acclaimed mini-lp, Tomorrow Right Now, with the jam-packed full-length Shock City Maverick. The backing tracks are what one might assume a hip-hop artist on Warp Records might sound like. Sophisticated, electronic-leaning party beats are minimal enough to carry Beans' cadence-changing lyricism with an undoubted coolness. The lyricism and production play well-balanced parts throughout Shock City. "You're Dead, Let's Disco" is awesomely more-or-less instrumental. "Shock City Maverick" is lyric heavy and low on musical exploration. The remaining songs blend these two elements in the coolest way you can imagine. Never boring, never annoying, never embarrassing, like some popular hip-hop can be. Overall, Shock City shines blissfully on Beans' path of evolution originating from his time with Anti-Pop Consortium.
MPEG Stream: "Papercuts"
MPEG Stream: "You're Dead, Let's Disco"

BEANS Thorns (Adored and Exploited) cd 16.98
Beans returns with his latest post-Antipop Consortium solo outing, and it offers up an infectious and tweaked out mix of primitive electro crunch and swaggering old school b-boy flow that further cements Beans as an outsider stuck between hip hop and something else. Beans' lyrical skills have never been sharper than they are here, as he spits and bites through topics ranging from the personal (fatherhood, his own childhood) to the polemic (the state of hip hop, race, politics) to the playful (fantastical sexcapades, taunts, boasts).
Likewise, the production (mostly by Beans himself, but with a few contributions from Dabrye and Holy Fuck) is more focused and consistent than it has been on previous outings - it's a dense, future primitive sound that manage to push boundaries and look forward without losing sight of its roots.
To anyone who has followed Beans' solo work, Thorns won't throw any curve balls; rather, it offers a more concise and focused approach to the music he's been making over the past half decade. The record is both brainy and brawny, and is recommended for anyone with a penchant for fractured electro beatsmithery, lyrical acrobatics, and hip hop that harkens back to the old school.
MPEG Stream: "In Effect"
MPEG Stream: "No Thrills"

BEANS Tired Snow (Zum) cd ep 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The second release from this Vancouver, BC quintet (the first entitled "Portage" can be found on Zulu Records from their hometown). Six tracks totalling just under 40 minutes of moody melodiousness harking Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, but sparing us the propensity towards crescendos. Andee is convinced that the last track on this cd is actually an A Minor Forest cover. You be the judge.

BEANS, THE Bassplayer (Intr.version) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Although they've newly added a "The" to their band name (perhaps to distinguish themselves from Antipop Consortium's Beans), you might already be familiar with the string of fine, moody soundtrack-y / soundscape releases from this Vancouver experimental ensemble -- Crane Wars, Portage, Tired Snow, and Inner Cosmosis. A very lowkey group of artists, they've been quietly crafting their music since 1995. If you happen to be new to these Canadians though, any one of their cds including this one is a great place to start. Never limiting themselves to one style, mood nor tempo, The Beans are sometimes groovy, sometimes post-rock-y, sometimes airily atmospheric. Drawing from an array of electronic and acoustic sources -- cello drones, fuzzy percussion, a smattering of piano key strikes, wistful guitar string plucking, select loops and effects, fleeting spoken word, Bassplayer shows their more hushed and mesmerizing side, very much in a similar vein to Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Mogwai (to whom they're frequently compared). At once, both delicate and enveloping. Four tracks clocking in at just under forty five minutes. Beautifully packaged and released on Mitchell Akiyama's Intr.version label.
MPEG Stream: "May 6th Expires"
MPEG Stream: "Galuda"

BEAR BONES LAY LOW Djid Hums (Gipsy Sphinx) lp 17.98
We know close to nothing about this band, other than it's the work of an 18 year old Venezuelan kid who lives in Belgium (and is now a member of Silvester Anfang) and who in addition to having a cool and mysterious name, has managed to whip up a pretty seriously blissed out and beautiful record of gorgeous psych-drone.
Two sidelong krautrock drone jams, mining similar territory as fellow noisemakers like Astral Social Club, Hototogisu and Burning Star Core. The first side begins with glistening streaks of fuzzed out synths and decaying tape loops, all wrapped in smeared clouds of blissy FX, but it quickly transforms into a very SUNNO)))-like low end dirge, bombarded on all sides by hiss and glitch and crumbling effects before building into a fuzzed out epic, a wall of rich, thick, subtly shifting sound, droney, dreamlike and sort of cinematic.
The flipside is another slow building epic, this time a wash of fuzzy warble and layered drones, voices and melodic fragments all processed and blurred into a gorgeous abstract soundscape, peppered with bits of percussion and all sorts of swirling sonics. Eventually, the track begins to fall apart, until all that is left is a strange chaotic swirl of percussion, hissy and buzzy and murky, while a ghostlike super distorted melody drifts and sways in the foreground.
LIMITED TO 525 COPIES! Each cover is signed and hand numbered. Super striking paste on covers, SUPER thick sleeve, pressed on 180 gram vinyl, with a photocopied insert.

BEASTIE BOYS Aglio e Olio (Grand Royal) cdep 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
8 songs. 11 minutes. Punk rock.

BEASTIE BOYS Awesome: I Fucking Shot That! (Lionsgate) dvd 28.00
This dvd features live footage of the Beastie Boys performing at Madison Square Gardens back in 2004. Most of it was shot by audience members using fifty DV and Hi-8 cameras! The editing style is pretty darn chaotic at times -- you're definitely not going to feel like you're at the show -- but that just adds to the frantic, tripped-out, tricked-out fun that is the Beasties, don't it?! Lots of silly extras including a cappella tracks, band commentary and a 'documentary' about director Nathaniel Hornblower (aka Adam Yauch) that guest stars David Cross. This is sure to be a fan pleaser... especially if you were one of the peeps handling one of the cameras... hence the title...d'oh!

BEASTIE BOYS Check Your Head (Capitol) 2lp 28.00
So rad to finally have this Beastie Boys classic back on wax, all fancy gatefold 180 gram vinyl style. Originally released back in '92 it was a record that so many of us were dying for, as it was their first record in almost four years following the classic yet not totally embraced at the time sophomore outing Paul's Boutique. While they pretty much mastered the art of sampling on that album, they decided to pick up the instruments themselves on this one and along with their buddy Money Mark they hashed out most of the instrumentation themselves. There is a gritty aura to Check Your Head which found the Beastie Boys embracing their punk roots and finding how to create their own grooves which were just as tasty and funky as all the great stuff they had sampled in years past. Another Beastie Boys album that has passed the test of time, and whenever we blast this there's definitely some nostalgia but we're also reminded of how damn good these songs still sound!
MPEG Stream: "Pass The Mic"
MPEG Stream: "Jimmy James"

BEASTIE BOYS Hello Nasty (Capitol) cd 15.98
A description of this is not necessary, as we're sure you've heard it already and probably bought one too.

BEASTIE BOYS Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (Capitol) cd 17.98
There's nothing that welcomes summer quite like a brand new Beastie Boys record. And damn, once again they bring the goods with cleverness and charisma, undeniable skills, and high energy that's going to make us blast this loud at pretty much every gathering we'll have this summer and beyond. So cool to see how after all these years the Beastie Boys have really kept on top of their game, there really is not a bad album in their discography, and they're also so smart about taking their time between albums to make sure nothing is rushed or half baked.
It's been almost seven years since their last full length, To The 5 Boroughs, came out. During that time MCA (Adam Yauch) was diagnosed with cancer which he has since overcome and you can hear that feeling of ecstatic triumph in the sounds of these new supercharged Beastie Boys SONGS. It's really got everything we love about them, their rad MC skills, their attention to detail and impeccable taste in samples, a bit of old school punk rockin', and it's for sure one of the most gritty and thick recordings in their catalog, recalling some of the sounds of Check Your Head. They understand how to use the studio as an extension of their sound so damn well. Try to think of any other hip-hop groups from the late '80s who are still around, yet alone still making such fucking cool sounds.
MPEG Stream: "Nonstop Disco Powerpack"
MPEG Stream: "Too Many Rappers (Featuring Nas)"
MPEG Stream: "Here's A Little Something For You"
MPEG Stream: "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (Featuing Santogold)"

BEASTIE BOYS Ill Communication (Remastered Edition) (Capitol) 2cd 19.98
All these Beastie Boys reissues are reminding us just how damn good and timeless this stuff sounded and STILL sounds. With the utmost love and respect for classic hip-hop culture, the Beastie Boys managed to be pioneers as well, infusing elements of punk, rare groove, Latin music, and even Tuvan influences into their sound, resulting in this classic album, originally released in 1994.
In an age where bands seem to release a new record every few months, one of the strengths of the Beastie Boys, and no doubt a key component to their incredible sound, was that they've always given themselves ample time to really hash out and construct their records, with always at least a couple years in between releases. And that time and care definitely shows, the sound so layered and lush, so catchy and so totally unique. It had been ages since many of us had listened to Ill Communication but once we threw it on again we were all immediately transported back, to a time where this was all some of us listened to. Hearing it again with fresh ears, it still sounds fantastic, groundbreaking even. A rare example of a group with big time mainstream success but with their musical integrity fully intact.
The cd version of this comes with a bonus disc of remixes and a few live tracks. The vinyl version is a double lp, remastered and pressed on 180 gram vinyl.
MPEG Stream: "Root Down"
MPEG Stream: "Flute Loop"
MPEG Stream: "Shambala"
MPEG Stream: "Sure Shot (European B-Boy Mix)"

BEASTIE BOYS Ill Communication (Remastered Edition) (Capitol) 2lp 28.00
All these Beastie Boys reissues are reminding us just how damn good and timeless this stuff sounded and STILL sounds. With the utmost love and respect for classic hip-hop culture, the Beastie Boys managed to be pioneers as well, infusing elements of punk, rare groove, Latin music, and even Tuvan influences into their sound, resulting in this classic album, originally released in 1994.
In an age where bands seem to release a new record every few months, one of the strengths of the Beastie Boys, and no doubt a key component to their incredible sound, was that they've always given themselves ample time to really hash out and construct their records, with always at least a couple years in between releases. And that time and care definitely shows, the sound so layered and lush, so catchy and so totally unique. It had been ages since many of us had listened to Ill Communication but once we threw it on again we were all immediately transported back, to a time where this was all some of us listened to. Hearing it again with fresh ears, it still sounds fantastic, groundbreaking even. A rare example of a group with big time mainstream success but with their musical integrity fully intact.
The cd version of this comes with a bonus disc of remixes and a few live tracks. The vinyl version is a double lp, remastered and pressed on 180 gram vinyl.
MPEG Stream: "Root Down"
MPEG Stream: "Flute Loop"
MPEG Stream: "Shambala"

BEASTIE BOYS Intergalactic (Grand Royal) 12" 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Four-track ep showcasing an electro-flavor.

BEASTIE BOYS Intergalactic (Grand Royal) cdep 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Four-track ep showcasing an electro-flavor.

BEASTIE BOYS Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Edition) (Capitol) cd 17.98
Whoa, it's been twenty years since Paul's Boutique came out!!?? 20th anniversary records are usually for bands like Chicago or Journey or Led Zeppelin, but we guess it's just another sign that we're getting older, as all of us remember buying this record the first time around, many of us on cassette, and playing the shit out of it for years and years. While the Beastie Boys were bratty, obnoxious and fun on their debut License To Ill, they didn't really show us what the were capable of until this follow up which kind of flopped commercially when it first came out, but now is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative hip-hop records and dense sampling tour de forces of all time. For so many of us who were pretty young when this came out, many of the many, many songs sampled on Paul's Boutique were unknown to us beyond the Sample. It wouldn't be 'til we grew up a bit that it became easier to place 'em all (Johnny Cash, Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone, The Sweet, etc.). Of course producers The Dust brothers are due their share of the credit.
Paul's Boutique is like THE classic example of postmodernism at its most fun and creative. Taking bits and pieces of popular culture from the past and present, Paul's Boutique was jammed with so many rad obscure references in the clever lyrics as well as thick and bouncing beats and those now so recognizable MC personas. Several years before Beck was genre flipping and DJ Shadow was crate digging, this record set the blueprint for so much of the adventurous pop, hip-hop and electronica to follow. We can't help but get nostalgic when we listen to this now. So many memories... Skipping school for the first time, blasting the cassette on our brother's stereo when he was at his friend's house, forcing our folks to hear it over and over as we rode shotgun in the car. This is a record that so many of us grew up on and a disc that most definitely helped open our eyes and ears to the amazing lineage of hip-hop, funk, soul, rock etc. that the Beastie Boys were using as not just sound sources, but also for inspiration. They showed how wit and humor could be blended into music that was also smart and serious, and with a broad and complex sonic scope. While frat boys and squareheads may have ruined The Beastie Boys for some, you can never totally blame a band for their fans, and just because this record has been blasting in dorm rooms for the last 20 years doesn't mean it's not an amazing piece of music...because it is! The cd reissue features a pull out mini poster of the full artwork (much more than is on the cover), the lp folds out as a massive multiple gatefold, both versions include links to download some band commentaries.
MPEG Stream: "Egg Man"
MPEG Stream: "The Sounds Of Science"
MPEG Stream: "What Comes Around"
MPEG Stream: "Hello Brooklyn"