Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Back in 2009, no one was more excited than me to get my hands on the Beastie Boys' eight studio album, Hot Sauce Committee Part One. Then MCA announced that he was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, my year was ruined and I was very scared that one of my musical heroes was not going to be around much longer.

Finally, after beating the cancer like the indestructible rapping machine that he is, the Beasties decided to push back Part One for a future release date. Before I could dismay for very long, however, they announced that Hot Sauce Committee Part Two would be dropping in May. Nice!

The clean version of the album was leaked online not too long ago, and the Beastie Boys decided that they weren't going out like that. So in an act of love and adoration for their fans, they released the entire uncensored version of the album on their website to stream free of charge. And it is incredible.

I have been waiting for a Beastie Boys album like this since 1998's Hello Nasty. 2004's To The 5 Boroughs was decent, but it was missing the old-school flair and reckless rap anthems that the Beasties are known for. 2007's The Mix Up was phenomenal in that it showcased that the Beastie Boys could also play instruments better than most bands on the radio today, but it was completely lacking lyrics. Finally, we have a solid rap-oriented album that calls to mind the golden age of rap.

If you are a fan of 1992's Check Your Head, you are going to love this album. If you like to dance, you're going to love this album. If you have any affinity for what real hip hop is, you're going to love this album. And don't worry. If you're cold, MCA will get you a shawl.

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Okonokos

When I first heard of the band My Morning Jacket back in the early 2000's, their name threw me off. I figured they were just another crap wannabe band like My Chemical Romance or My Bloody Valentine or any other band starting with the word "my." Boy, was I wrong.

When I watched Okonokos 2 years ago it was the first time I actually heard My Morning Jacket songs. The band members themselves were a sight to behold: half of them looked like they came to this band after a long haul in a heavy metal group and the other half looked like Grizzly Adams. But it was the music they played that hooked me, as well as the surreal stage they were playing on.

If you haven't heard of this band before, I definitely recommend checking them out. The film itself is extremely mellow and every time I watch it I feel like I'm dreaming. Check out "One Big Holiday" from Okonokos via the link below. Try not to get too hypnotized by Jim James' amazing reverb.

My Morning Jacket - Okonokos - One Big Holiday

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

I've been a Foo Fighters fan since 6th grade. The first rock album I listened to was 1999's There Is Nothing Left To Lose. To this day, I credit that album as single-handedly turning me on to rock music.

Now, 12 years later, it brings me a warming sense of pride and joy to see the Foo Fighters still rocking as hard as when I was a kid. Their new album, Wasting Light, is pure classic Foo. If you like their first four albums, you're going to love this. Don't look for epic ballads like "Best of You". This is straight, melt-your-face-off hard rock with no chaser.

The whole album is on their website to enjoy. Free of charge.

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light