I was conceived in New York City. Which is one major reason that I really want to get my hands on one of those Made In NY shirts the city’s film commission did a while back.
I was born in New York City… New York City hospital to be exact. So that could explain why I feel such an amazing, strong and visceral connection to the city… I always have.
Walking around yesterday just made me happy. All I did was go from Union Square to SoHo, but it was glorious. Yes, I was sweating like crazy (It was 80 and humid yesterday)… Yes, the folks in the Apple Store thought I was dying… It was a bit strange, but I was soaked…
NYC is so alive. There is simply nothing else like it anywhere in the world… Give me a reason to come back Manhattan!
I got to have lunch with my brother Dan, my frat and college buddy Barry and Jason, who I have not seen since high school… We went on a Teen Tour of the US together…
While sitting at lunch I found out that Adam Yauch/MCA died. That really hit me… and I think part of it was being in NYC at the time. The other part was that he was 47… Way too young… Way too close to my age… and so much more accomplished. I really better get off my ass and make some things happen. Seriously.
Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
Check Your Head was my brother’s choice… and I will do that, too… next week some time…
But after listening to both, I just felt this one more. I think “To All The Girls” grabbed me off the bat. Then I started grooving to “Shake Your Rump” and “Johnny Ryall” and that was it. Sorry, Dan… nothing personal. Check Your Head is a great one, too!
Sometimes I feel so inferior when reading reviews on AllMusic… There are times when they just hit on the poetic head…
“…Many critics in fact thought that Paul’s Boutique was a muddled mess upon its summer release in 1989, but that’s the nature of the record — it’s so dense, it’s bewildering at first, revealing its considerable charms with each play. To put it mildly, it’s a considerable change from the hard rock of Licensed to Ill, shifting to layers of samples and beats so intertwined they move beyond psychedelic; it’s a painting with sound. Paul’s Boutique is a record that only could have been made in a specific time and place. Like the Rolling Stones in 1972, the Beastie Boys were in exile and pining for their home, so they made a love letter to downtown New York — which they could not have done without the Dust Brothers, a Los Angeles-based production duo who helped redefine what sampling could be with this record.”
“… Lyrically, the Beasties have never been better — not just because their jokes are razor-sharp, but because they construct full-bodied narratives and evocative portraits of characters and places. Few pop records offer this much to savor, and if Paul’s Boutique only made a modest impact upon its initial release, over time its influence could be heard through pop and rap, yet no matter how its influence was felt, it stands alone as a record of stunning vision, maturity, and accomplishment. Plus, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, no matter how many times you’ve heard it.”
What the hell can I say after that??? Sometimes it takes a smart man to know when to shut up…
I love this record… ‘Nuff said.
So I will sign off by saying thank you boys, for this delightful love letter to New York… a set of love songs, as it were… I will say thank you to MCA, Mr. Adam Yauch… and hope you sleep well and peacefully, with headphones pumping glorious music forever.
Here is what the New York Times said about you!
