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To The 5 Boroughs -- the new Beastie Boys album -- came out today in Japan, almost two weeks before its planned US release date. They had a little stand with an MC set up outside Shibuya Tsutaya blaring the new music and trying to convince people to stop in and buy a copy. Of course, I picked it up without a second thought. :)
After one full listen, I guess you could say I'm "marginally satisfied." It doesn't seem to be on the same level of quality as Hello Nasty, and I could do without some of the political bitching in some of the lyrics, but overall it's not bad. Hello Nasty was more creative and experimental, plus it was about 20 minutes longer (22 tracks/67 mins vs. 15 tracks/42 mins). So far, it seems like Ch-Check It Out (the previously-released single) might be the best song on the disc. Other favs so far include Right Right Now Now, Oh Word? and That's It That's All. It usually takes a while for new music to grow on me, so maybe I should give it a few weeks before I decide if it's worth the 2,548 yen I spent on it.
The packaging, at least, totally rocks. Really nice fold-out case with the lyrics written out over a long, hand-drawn image of the New York City skyline. Be sure to read the lyrics closely, as the editor's notes sprinkled throughout are pretty hilarious. :) The Japanese version comes with an extra booklet (translated lyrics, plus lyrics for the Japan-only bonus track), and Tsutaya was giving out an additional premium book that I assume is only available for those who either pre-ordered or bought the disc right away.
Sadly, TT5B is a Copy Control CD, at least here in Japan. Fortunately it's really easy to get around, but it's still a shame that so many companies out here do this. What about all of us who listen to our music on iPods or similar devices?
BTW, I'm out of the loop. Whatever happened to Grand Royal?
Posted by john tv at June 4, 2004 06:52 PM | TrackBackGrand Royale was shut down a few years back IIRC
Posted by: Mickey Mouse at June 4, 2004 07:04 PMSega killed Grand Royale by association after the JSRF soundtrack.
Actually, I think it was the bidding war for At The Drive In that contributed to their demise. GR signed them for a million or so, only for the band to split a year later.
Posted by: auslander at June 4, 2004 07:51 PMYou know what I wonder, is how many people understand the title of the CD "To the 5 Boroughs." Obviously I know what it means, and I know that John knows what it means, but people outside of the NYC area probably dont.
Posted by: Parisi- at June 5, 2004 12:28 AMDon't be so myopic, everyone in the US learns that New York consists of 5 boroughs in like 4th grade U.S. history!
Posted by: Andrew Vestal at June 5, 2004 02:11 PMI side with ヴェスタ野郎 -- I know what the five boroughs are, myself.
As for the album: I'm "marginally disappointed." I couldn't imagine that the single would be the best song on the album. Yet, in the end, it is. I've listened to the whole album about ten times now, and I'm not really *feeling* most of it. As far as music goes, I've never been the kind to have to let music "grow on" me. There's always something that either immediately grabs me or doesn't. In time, something that initially grabbed might occur to me as more than grabbing -- maybe as brilliant -- though something that doesn't grab real tight stands little or no chance of being brilliant in the future.
What displeases me most on this CD is the total lack of live instruments. Mix Master Mike is overworked, here. He handles it all more than really well, though hell -- the man needs a break. Or have the Beastie Boys' distaste for rap-rock, expressed in both "Alive" and BS2000's "The Scrappy," put them off of ever using a guitar again?
It doesn't break any ground. There aren't any six-minute bossa nova tracks. No instances of Miho Hatori, or even The Biz. It's just straight-up rhyming.
As such, though, it's still pretty damn good. I just wanted more.
AND OH!!
Check out those Japanese lyric translations!! There are . . . footnotes!! It's so interesting to read the things footnoted for Japanese readers. And how they mishear/misdictate them. "Fred Stanford: a character in the American television comedy-drama 'Stanford and Son.'" My ex-roommate had the American "Hello Nasty" and had loved it for four years without ever knowing what a word of the lyrics meant. Heh.
Posted by: tim at June 6, 2004 12:23 AMI really like this album. It's throwback hip-hop.. old skool stuff.
I like the Rhyme the Rhyme Well, Triple Trouble, and Hey Fuck You set the best. Right Right Now Now is certainly good, An Open Letter to NYC and Crawlspace are also very good. I really like it. But, sure, it isn't as experimental or have as much 'filler' like Hello Nasty.
And for the record the Beasties have said they're going to do at least one more album. And they will be picking up the instruments for it. Let's just hope it isn't another six year wait, haha.
~random guy
Posted by: Guy at June 11, 2004 03:32 AMLove the album myself, although thanks to the CCCD portion, I haven't bought it yet - holding out to see if any region releases a CCCD-free release. And even a Brit like me knows what the 5 Boroughs are. We had Boroughs in England too, you know ;) Frrrressssssssssh!
Posted by: jr at June 21, 2004 05:14 PMI think this cd is awesome i bough tit for only $10.99 (canadian price) which is cheap.
neways enjoyed it thoroughly (man are they getting old)
How do you get around the copy control??? Can you tell me please???
Posted by: LLSHIBATA at July 1, 2004 11:56 AMTo get around the copy protection, you just hold shift when you put in the cd.
Or, you can turn off auto-play in your cd-rom's options.
Posted by: at July 9, 2004 05:03 PMwell, to me open letter to NYc is an excellent one.
I think it's also a really good LP.
cheers !
jh.
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