CD of The Week

Upon the unfortunate passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch from cancer in 2012, it seemed that the musical output of the members of the Beastie Boys was finished. Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond have spent the last decade plus as legacy stewards, contributing to books and documentaries about their pioneering group but largely shunning the spotlight. Thus, the announcement of a solo album from Mike D back in May (Ad-Rock has also released a charity single in the last few months) was shocking. Despite the extensive gap, Thank You feels somewhat of a piece with the last Beastie Boys record (2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two), but also serves as a reset of expectations (you could say a “Switch Up”), with the album often leaning more electro-pop than hip-hop. While no one could reasonably claim that Thank You approaches the artistic heights of Paul’s Boutique or Check Your Head, through collaboration with his two sons, Mike D has crafted a loose but thoughtful album that possesses some clear charms.

Thank You’s soundscape is rooted in decades of NYC club music, from the no-wave squeals of “What We Got” to the 00s-era electroclash of “Make It Stop.” This provides some exciting variety over the course of the album but also belies some of the therapeutic lyrical content of the album. On the aforementioned “What We Got,” Mike D raps, “All our actions what we’ve got / finite time, lost the plot / lost in the most pit / pressure in the cockpit / can’t mask it down to the last bit.” Now in his 60s, much of the exuberance of his most quotable Beasties lines is gone. This may be disappointing to some fans, but it seems more appropriate for a debut solo album marking a new musical chapter.

Listeners may also find the amount of singing on the album surprising. Unfortunately, Mike D’s voice lacks the gravitas to properly convey the introspective sentiments of “Secrets Pt. II” and the title track. These songs may have some cringey moments, but the vulnerability that is on display is admirable for an artist who has spent decades as an avatar for a certain brand of Gen X cool.

When pressing play on Thank You, it may be necessary to remove any thoughts that the first Beastie Boys solo album is going to be a long-gestating, ambitious work that will live up to the best of that group’s essential catalog. However, on its own terms as a vibe-y, semi-experimental, and openhearted expression of middle age reflections, the existence of a new album from Mike D is something to be grateful for.

Mike D is on tour with his namesake band Mike D 5D and will be in Philadelphia for an intimate, sold-out show at Union Transfer on Monday, October 19th.