Sound check

Brand new money

Beastie Boy cools it down

Money Mark
Brand New by Tomorrow
Brushfire / Universal

Brand New by Tomorrow is the new album by multi-instrumentalist Mark Ramos-Nishita, better known as Money Mark. He made his name as a member of the Beastie Boys and has played keyboards for Beck, Yoko Ono and Jack Johnson.

Money Mark certainly has an impressive pedigree and loads of musical talent. His previous solo efforts have varied widely in style and tone � from funk to jazz to hip-hop to Afro-Cuban and Latin.

Brand New by Tomorrow, his fourth album, finds him moving away from the instrumental funk and soul. The songs were written as a form of therapy after his relationship went sour, so don�t expect much of Mark�s usual energetic, light-hearted sound.

The music on the album is very mellow, laid back, surprisingly sunny and loaded with mid-temp songs. One of the best songs is the sweet opener, �Color of Your Blue,� which sets the tone for entire record.

Though Brand New by Tomorrow veers perilously close to easy listening, it�s still a good album. It�s not Money Mark�s most inspired piece of work, but it is a solid record that focuses on a theme rather than trying out new sounds. � TB

	pedigree (n): a person�s family history or the background of something therapy (n): the treatment of a mental problem or an illness veer (v): to change in the way it develops perilously (adv): dangerously