The In Sound from Way Out! (Beastie Boys album)

The In Sound from Way Out! is a compilation album by the Beastie Boys. Released on April 2, 1996, the album focuses on the band's instrumental work in the funk and soul jazz genres.

Background and inspirations
The In Sound from Way Out! consists of instrumental tracks originally appearing on the albums Check Your Head and Ill Communication, two rare instrumentals taken from singles, and previously unreleased alternate instrumental mixes of "Namasté" and "Lighten Up", which appeared on Check Your Head with vocals.

The title and cover art concept were borrowed from the Perrey and Kingsley album of the same name. Miles Davis' avant-garde jazz funk album On the Corner served as an inspiration on the original recording sessions. "Groove Holmes" was named after the soul-jazz musician of the same name. The inspiration of blaxploitation film soundtracks has also been noted in the album's guitar wah-wah and keyboard riffs. "Sabrosa" incorporates the influence of Latin music in its percussion arrangements. The sound on "Pow" has been compared to that of James Brown. "Eugene’s Lament" is noted for the avant-garde violin playing of Eugene Gore at the forefront of its sound, as well as the percussion of Eric Bobo.

Release history
The In Sound from Way Out! was originally prepared as an exclusive release for the Beastie Boys' French fan club, but was later released nationally on April 2, 1996. In 2017, the album was reissued on vinyl.

Reception
Noting that the album's sound may be divisive among the band's fans, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Fans of the band's dynamic wordplay might find The In Sound From Way Out! a disappointment, but anyone who grooved on the wildly eclectic fusions of Check Your Head and Ill Communication will find the album endlessly enjoyable." Entertainment Weekly agreed, writing, "Those dazzled by the Beastie Boys’ crazily inventive, sometimes silly wordplay and too-cool-for-school image may find it easy to overlook the depth of their musical experimentation. But the all-instrumental EP The In Sound From Way Out! [...] should leave no doubt about where the grooviness really comes from."

Less favorable responses came from Robert Christgau, who deemed the album a "dud", and Rolling Stone, which awarded the album only two out of five stars. Pitchfork later wrote, "The soundtrack homage pieces collected on The In Sound From Way Out! may have been the musical equivalent of the goofy costumes donned for the 'Sabotage' video, but the Beasties' reverence for references was infectious, as songs like 'Son of Neckbone' worked like no-words versions of their manic name-dropping rhymes."

CD version

 * Notes
 * Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, and 10 are from Check Your Head (tracks 3 and 10 are alternate mixes without any vocals; track 1 has an edited intro)
 * Track 5 is from the "Sure Shot" single
 * Tracks 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12, are from Ill Communication (track 8 is an alternate mix; track 9 contains a shorter intro)
 * Track 13 is from the "Jimmy James" single

Personnel

 * Beastie Boys – producers
 * Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz – guitar
 * Michael "Mike D" Diamond – drums
 * Adam "MCA" Yauch – electric bass, string bass
 * Eugene Gore – violin on "Eugene's Lament"
 * Eric "Bobo" Correa – percussion, drums on "Ricky's Theme"