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  • Release Date:
The Mix-Up Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

  • Summary: Money Mark guests on this all-instrumental, post-punk-influenced, 12-track set for the veteran hip-hop outfit.

Top Track

Off The Grid
(Instrumental)... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. 90
    You may say, with all its funky breaks and organ spells, that The Mix-Up is the last album you’d expect the Beastie Boys to make; but really, it could’ve been the first.
  2. Vibe
    80
    Maybe The Mix-Up woks simply because it does nothing terribily wrong.
  3. The Mix Up is not a major statement, but that's the nice thing about the record: it's as personal and idiosyncratic as any old funky soul-jazz LP that you'd find deep in the crates of a second-hand record store.
  4. Under The Radar
    60
    The Mix-Up may not be the cure for 2004's disappointing "To the 5 Boroughs," but it grooves nicely in the meantime. [Summer 2007, p.79]
  5. Blender
    50
    It's the sound of a group treading water. [Jul 2007, p.110]
  6. It’s purely incidental material that goes nowhere for a dozen tracks and ends with just as much fuss as it began, i.e. none.
  7. The Beasties have neither the musical chops nor the compositional skill... to hold listeners' interest for the length of an album.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. justinr.
    Jun 27, 2007
    10
    This album is the shiznit! I love the instrumental songs the Beasties put out. Such a good jam band.
  2. MatthewA.
    Jun 28, 2007
    10
    Regardless of merit the Boys always produce a 10. However if you loved The In Sound From Way Out you will be beside yourself with a funkiness Regardless of merit the Boys always produce a 10. However if you loved The In Sound From Way Out you will be beside yourself with a funkiness helmet of pleasure and contentment on your head. I am proud of the Beasties for producing another instrumental album that even dwarfs the previous "In Sound." A+ for the boys and if you don't agree you probably don't understand the Boys in the first place. Expand
  3. Dec 6, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A masterpiece that grooves, the planet, deep. If you can't find the groove, worry not, keep walking, one day you'll find yourself, grooving in The Mix-Up. Expand
  4. atom
    Jun 26, 2007
    9
    Nothing epic, but really, really enjoyable. Chris W pretty much has it right.
  5. Joshua
    Jul 26, 2007
    8
    A solid & perfectly reasonable outing. As a fan of "In Sound From Way Out" I was happy to hear another instrumental B-Boys album. "Mix-Up" A solid & perfectly reasonable outing. As a fan of "In Sound From Way Out" I was happy to hear another instrumental B-Boys album. "Mix-Up" has earned itself a spot on my daily rotation. More often than not I don't want something grating or demanding attention - I don't want elevator music either. "The Mix-Up" fits the bill nicely. Not as experimental or far out as "In Sound" but a respectable release. Wish I had it on vinyl. Expand
  6. MichaelE.
    Jun 27, 2007
    7
    The "for fans only" label is correct, but this record has perhaps not been getting enough positive attention. It's slight, but it's The "for fans only" label is correct, but this record has perhaps not been getting enough positive attention. It's slight, but it's supposed to be. This is background music, pure and simple - perhaps the first Beasties album that benefits from being played quietly. I'm not sure if there's really enough good material here for a full album (maybe just an EP), and I wish there was more variety, but The Mix-Up is still a worthy minor listen. Expand
  7. MikeD
    Jul 23, 2007
    3
    Pretty much a waste of time from start to finish. 35 minutes of self-indulgent nonsense. There's probably 10 bar-bands in every state Pretty much a waste of time from start to finish. 35 minutes of self-indulgent nonsense. There's probably 10 bar-bands in every state doing this kind of thing better on a nightly basis. Expand

See all 21 User Reviews