Local Resident’s Stylus Advice | Appreciation – Tinnitist

I vividly remember being 13 years old when the Beastie Boys burst onto the scene. Hits like Licensed To Ill and Fight For Your Right To Party captured my attention at that age. However, it wasn’t until their album Paul’s Boutique was released three years later that I truly connected with the Beastie Boys’ music.
Licensed To Ill felt like juvenile rapping with sampled guitar over a repetitive beat to my ears. While it was fun, cool, and innovative to hear familiar snippets of songs like When The Levee Breaks and Sweet Leaf used in new ways, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being an outsider in the urban music scene due to my comfortable rural background.
When I first listened to Paul’s Boutique, it was a game-changer for me. Almost entirely constructed from samples, the album had a unique groove that Licensed To Ill lacked. The opening Fender Rhodes lick immediately drew me in. Songs like To All The Girls resonated with me in ways I couldn’t articulate – it felt like the Beastie Boys had discovered and showcased a collection of 100 objects from my world that I had never noticed before.
As I delved deeper into Paul’s Boutique, I realized that the album was meticulously crafted from samples. I became obsessed with identifying the sources of my favorite musical elements on the record, from the guitar riff on Johnny Ryall to the bass lick on Egg Man. Tracking down the original songs behind these samples became a thrilling treasure hunt for me. For example, the iconic guitar riff from Egg Man was sourced from Superfly by Curtis Mayfield, a hidden gem I stumbled upon on a thrift store vinyl.
My admiration for the Beastie Boys grew with each subsequent album like Check Your Head and Ill Communication, which showcased the band’s evolution and maturity. However, as life circumstances changed, I stopped buying new albums and began seeking out music from thrift stores and yard sales. While I fell behind on their later releases, I am determined to catch up thanks to their memoir The Beastie Boys Book, which provides a deeper understanding of the band’s creative process.
The audiobook version of The Beastie Boys Book, narrated by a star-studded cast of celebrities and friends, offers a unique insight into the band’s world. It serves as a coming-of-age tale, a tribute to New York City, and a heartfelt homage to Adam Yauch. The book and audiobook shed light on the band’s impressive musical knowledge and their knack for discovering hidden musical gems, serving as a virtual tour through their vast record collection.
With playlist chapters inspired by their favorite music and anecdotes about pivotal songs in their lives, The Beastie Boys Book serves as a musical treasure map. Exploring their recommendations feels like being in the same room with the band as they share the songs and artists that shaped their musical journey. Ultimately, The Beastie Boys Book not only celebrates the band’s legacy but also serves as a testament to the power of music to connect people across generations and backgrounds.

In conclusion, the Beastie Boys’ music continues to resonate with fans like me who appreciate their innovative and genre-defying sound. Through their memoir and audiobook, the band’s legacy lives on, inspiring a new generation of music lovers to explore the beauty and complexity of music.