ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Mike D 5D, a new project from Michael Diamond, will release 鈥淭hank You鈥� on Friday 鈥� the debut solo album from the MC and the first new music from the Beastie Boys鈥� camp since of Adam 鈥淢CA鈥� Yauch.
鈥淭hank You鈥� is a debut album unafraid to traverse new sonic ground 鈥� and suffers only the occasional misfire.
Joined by his band 鈥� his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond as well as Eddie Ruscha, Will Graefe and Milo Ruscha 鈥� Mike D’s album bristles with stuttering drum and bass breaks and distressed vocals on the opening tracks 鈥淪witch Up鈥� and 鈥淲hat We Got,鈥� both of which sound as if they were pushed through an overdrive pedal. Somehow it works and is fitting with Mike D 5D鈥檚 high-volume and energetic style.
Less necessary are meandering and repetitive songs such as 鈥淪ecrets Pt. II,鈥� in which Mike D discusses his discomfort. 鈥淚 got secrets,鈥� the rapper implores, repeatedly 鈥� no, seriously, a lot 鈥� while failing to reveal one. The rapper has a musical idea, but not much of a lyrical one.
Much of the album plays out like a man in a bedroom with a vintage synth, a half dozen beered-up friends and a laptop stuffed with aging drum software. Such is true of the track 鈥淐rypto,鈥� which purports to cast a cautious eye at greed, but lurches melodically. Ultimately, it relents to a frenetic and fuzzy declaration from Mike D of 鈥淎ll these people in your ear, they鈥檙e in your ear / All these people talking in your ear, in your ear鈥� 鈥� which apparently means something to him.
But overwhelmingly, 鈥淭hank You鈥� is messy, noisy glitch-rap fun. Consider 鈥淚 Don’t Care,鈥� one of the top tracks. It holds a down-tempo pace and finds Mike D weighing the balance of responsibilities and their emotional returns: 鈥淲e all have a role / I didn鈥檛 see mine,鈥� he sings. 鈥淪tart with a goal get lost in the deadline.鈥� The track excels thanks to wonderful Mini Korg synth work from Hubert Blanc-Fracard, formerly one half of the French music duo Cassius.
Despite a dash of low lights, 鈥淭hank You鈥� is refreshingly inventive. That in itself is an accomplishment. To have the aim and drive to create something this new and far afield deserves applause. He鈥檚 reaching beyond the low rung he could have easily leaned into. But that鈥檚 easy and accessible and where鈥檚 the fun in that?
Credit is due here for exploration and commitment. He鈥檚 Mike D and he gets respect.
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鈥淭hank You,鈥� by Mike D 5D
Three stars out of five
On repeat: 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Care鈥�
Skip it: 鈥淐rypto鈥�
For fans of: A distressed 鈥淧aul鈥檚 Boutique鈥�
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