I remember the first time I heard the Beastie Boys. It was the summer after my oldest Bro graduated (the summer after my 6th grade year), during the last few days before he had to go off to West Point. I was sitting in his room watching him pack and he had Licensed To Ill going in the background....more specifically, I remember the song "Girls." I asked him who the group was and he said "The Beastie Boys." Well, that year went by and I had noticed that CD cover lying around his room...and eventually bought it before our family went out to visit him at the end of his first year at West Point. My other brother will probably remember me playing that same CD over and over and over and over again....eventually memorizing "Paul Revere." From there my interest grew and by 1998, the year of Hello Nasty, I owned Licensed to Ill, Hello Nasty, and Paul's Boutique. Unfortunately, I was still rather detached from the Beastie Boy scene and didn't know they were performing in the Twin Cities until the day AFTER the concert. I was pretty bummed out, but stayed confident that they would come out with a new album soon enough and I would get to see them live. Years passed, and I purchased Ill Communication, The In Sound From Way Out, Check Your Head, the Root Down single, and the Remote Control single. Then the Anthology was released and I quickly snatched it up, but, much to my dismay, there weren't really any songs on it that I had not heard. I stayed strong though and waited for a non-existing new album to come out, meanwhile buying Some Old Bullsh*t, Aglio e Olio, and a home-made collection of live tracks. Last year word came out that the Beastie Boys were actually in the studio and they released "World Gone Mad" on the internet. This little taste of what to come prompted me to buy the DVD Video Anthology, the Licensed to Ill music video collection on VHS, and the Sabotage Home Video on VHS. Now, finally, To the 5 Boroughs is set to be released on June 15th, 2004......6 years since Hello Nasty. Last night I saw the Ch-Check it Out music video on MTV for the first time....and there's a rumor that the Beastie Boys WILL tour for this album. Finally, 8 years after I first heard the Beastie Boys, I will get the opportunity to see them live. Finally, my dreams will be fulfilled. Finally, a new album will be released. Finally.