Money Mark

Money Mark was the keyboardist on the Beastie Boys' Check Your Head and Ill Communication. Both albums demonstrated his influence, with his thick, funky organ appearing all over the place. On his own, Money Mark creates music that is quite similar to the instrumental tracks on the two Beastie albums, but his music is grittier and jazzier. Mark's Keyboard Repair sounds like a lo-fi, indie rock variation of '60s soul-jazz, particularly the records of Jimmy Smith. Mark's attention span is extremely short -- some of the songs don't last a minute -- but the songs keep the same laid-back groove flowing throughout the album. Mark's Keyboard Repair features a full 30 songs on its American release -- the original English version clocked in with 20 -- but it is rarely boring. Only the groove is important on the album, and Money Mark never lets it stop. [The Japanese edition adds a bonus disc.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi