Mike D - Thank You: Initial Reaction
Yo, Mike, is everything cool?
I was super hyped for this album. First new music I've been excited for in what seems like a long while. Funnily enough, it comes from a grey-haired rapper. The Beastie Boys being my favorite, I'm always interested in any new or unheard music from any member. Not to mention the fact that Mike D is my favorite of the bunch. His doo-doo rhymes best connect with my own sensibilities. The first few singles from his solo effort have been in heavy rotation in my gym playlist for weeks. I generally dug each track. They don't seem that far off from the kind of music the group ended on 20 years ago. Seemed like a natural extension. And although it was only one lonely Beastie, it was still one more Beastie than we usually get. Like I said, really hyped for the release today. It started well enough, with the first few tracks being the singles. Good vibe. Good energy. Then things took a turn. The tempo slowed down, and the lyrics took a seemingly more introspective twist.
Upon first listening to any album, especially rap music, you won't catch everything; just the general vibe. And that's what this post is all about; just the first take.
There are just so many cryptic (or not so cryptic) references to some kind of regret. A sense of remorse. To who? Fans? Family? Bandmates? Himself? Maybe all of the above. Of course, I don't mean to say a Beastie can't be so introspective; I just wasn't prepared for it.
I'm hoping to get a better understanding of it with future listens. This is the kind of album I'd like to have listened to first in a physical format, reading the liner notes as I listen, but it's not available here in Japan yet. YouTube Music it was. I also just saw that lyric videos were released for all the tracks. I'm not typically into those, but they may provide more context in this case. I'll give those a watch.