Finally, after over ten years in the wilderness since recording any new material, who else but Michael Diamond has decided to emerge once again from the Beastie Boys camp? The long-serving Beastie Boy with the honored alias of Mike D will release his highly anticipated debut solo album, Thank You, this will be released on 28 th August through Capitol Records. Under the moniker Mike D 5D, he has assembled an album that is rendered comfortable by name and comfortably explores itself on a bed of family, friends, and not-too-serious camaraderie.
This was born out of some casual half-hour slot at Diamond’s house studio, working with his sons Skyler and Davis. What was intended as an additional experiment, evolved into an entire band and a set of collaborators Carter Lang, Jared Solomon Ging Jason Lader, Eddie Ruscha and Tyran Donaldson. Thirteen tracks later, it contains all the spectrum of glitchy electronics, propulsive break, brain-melting psychedelics, and the subversive time-keeping of Diamond.
Already, with earlier singles Switch Up, What We Got and True Colors, the restless flounce suggests itself. Diamond has said that for music it sounds a little bit less of a child and a little bit more of an adult with its lyrics. That slightly conflicting aspect makes up the core of ‘Thank You’. The collection of songs resist taking themselves too seriously while occurring in an increasingly gloomy and corrupt world. In his own words he ‘just wants it to be fun’ while not forgetting the ‘art, the feeling, the compassion, the empathy’. The album’s title reflects this, while the epitomising track brings to mind the new optimism of a band congratulating itself on its return to action after several years relatively of silence following the death of Adam Yauch.
Veterans of the Beastie Boys’ later, more diverse incarnation will notice traces of what was to come, but the new record sounds quite separate from that. Tracks like That’s Right play around with experimentation, while some infuse their manic energy into the music. With Derek MixedByAli Ali on production and Nicolas de Porcel on mastering, the Beats keep the sound flexible and conversational rather than pigeonholed.
It’s someone who no longer carrying the burden of the legendary group but still feeling its shadow come album time. Diamond has already started performing the material live with his 5D band — his children and additional players. Small, preshow intimate audiences at unorthodox venues often sold out immediately and an official tour launches only 2 days after the album’s release, beginning in August and running through November, with dates across North America and Europe.
They offer early fans an idea of the project’s silliness and aggressive movement. For many fans the release of Thank You will have special significance. It is the first full album of new music from any of the (predominately) trio since Hot Sauce Committee Part Two in 2011. Diamond has talked about the slow dawning awareness that he alone was holding the creative flow and having made peace with that situation. The album tries to move forward.
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