Music Review: Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

How ironic is it that these smart-ass punks are still around, 25 years since their first appearance? The Beastie Boys have always been a conceptual band, beginning with the great 12-inch single, “Cookie Puss,” from 1984. The genius of the group has always been their ability to combine so many disparate elements into the whole.

Licensed To Ill featured their patented snot-nosed, white-boy attitude coupled with killer hip-hop beats, while adding the classic album rock of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC into the mix. The follow-up, Paul’s Boutique went even further. By putting their psychedelic vision of side two of Abbey Road in place of Rick Rubin’s classic rock samples, they came up with their acknowledged masterpiece.

The Beasties then went back to their punk rock roots with the well-received Ill Communication and Check Your Head. Fine records to be sure. For me though, 1998’s Hello Nasty is the one.

Like the earlier Paul’s Boutique, Hello Nasty is ambitious. There are tributes to the golden age of Tommy Boy Records, Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul, and Martin Denny, just to name a few.

The early-Eighties “electro-funk” sound of Africa Bambaata and The Jonzun Crew was the sound of hip hop when the Beasties started out. “Intergalactic” pays specific tribute to this era, and is fantastic.

The scratching styles of DJs such as Grandmaster Flash, and Whiz Kid have always been a part of Mixmaster D’s sound. This is made explicit with “Three MCs And One DJ.” His abilities are pretty impressive throughout the record, particularly on the opening “Super Disco Breakin,” and hit single “Body Movin.”

While “Picture This” may sound like a nod to the then emerging lounge trend, there is a history. Beginning with elements of Paul’s Boutique way back in 1989, the Beasties have been using this type of music to various effect.

The recent release of Hello Nasty Remastered gives it the deluxe treatment. The set features 43 remastered songs on two discs. The five-panel foldout package it comes in is pretty nice too. The original album comprises disc one, while disc two features 21 tracks of outtakes, remixes, odd vocal snippets, and general weirdness. It is for the completist to be sure, but for the most part, the extras are worth hearing.

Article Author: Greg Barbrick

Greg Barbrick is an old time "music biz" groupie/writer. He thinks that nothing good has been recorded since 1978.

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