Ill Communication

1. Sure Shot - 7 Solid hip hop track with a brilliant flow and beat. Excellent opening track. 2. Tough Guy - N/A Too short to be rated. 3. B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak - 8 Love the chorus on this track and the effects on the voice on them. Quintessential hop hop. 4. Bobo On The Corner - N/A Is like an interlude. 5. Root Down - 3 Bit too repetitive and not really a track that goes anywhere. The bass is enjoyable but lyrically is extremely weak. 6. Sabotage - 11 An all time classic. The mix of the heavy rock with hip hop sound is outstanding and executed flawlessly on this track. 7. Get It Together (feat. Q-Tip) - 8 Solid song. Q-Tip being cued in and his rap is particularly enjoyable but the verses are really enjoyable as well. The background instruments are brilliant. 8. Sabrosa - 5 Decent instrumental track with a good beat and some brilliant bongos on it. 9. The Update - 6 The piano interjecting is very good as is the bass on the track but the effect on the vocals is too strong and it detracts from the lyrics and overall enjoyment of the song 10. Futterman's Rule - 6 Decent instrumental with some great guitar and drumming sounds. 11. Alright Hear This - 5 Brilliant intro but the actual main part of the track is a bit of a pass over song. It's just not as strong as what else is on the album. 12. Eugene's Lament - 2 Not a good instrumental track. 13. Flute Loop - 6 Nice short rap with some really good scratching. 14. Do It (feat. Biz Markie) - 6 Another decent rap with a good beat. Biz Markie doesn't make as big or huge an impression as the track featuring Q-Tip, but it's still solid. 15. Ricky's Theme - 7 Very good and chill instrumental track. Belongs on any lo-fi playlist. 16. Heat Attack Man - 1 Awful sounding track. Like a punk track more than anything else. 17. The Scoop - 6 Decent rap. The bass is really the star of the track here. The effects on the vocals are a little too much here again. 18. Shambala - 6 Good instrumental that builds well and transitions brilliantly into the next track. 19. Bodhisattva Vow - 6 Pretty much the same issue as The Scoop although I feel like the song doesn't start with the effects on it as much. 20. Transitions - 6 Very funky track with some great sounds on it. Decent way to end the album. Average Rating: 5.83 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.92 Rounded Up: 3 Stars

Half pints of raspberries on sale for a buck 88 so you might as well buy a couple.Some of these songs feel like raspberry seeds stuck in your teeth. The back half is like sweet seed free relief.

Will add sabotage and get it together to my list for sure. The instrumentals are banging too!

"They had a lot of variation of style in this and drew from lots of genres which is interesting. I can get and somehow also can't believe that ""Sabotage"" carried this album. Even the instrumentals were really good but I wasn't expecting long , lyric-less songs. "

Considerably more mature than the other, but still has plenty of laddish moments. Leaned more into the MC thing, which was fun. Had some adult instrumentation in some stuff (Ricky’s Theme) which was a neat little surprise. Overall better than the last. Maybe less fun, but significantly more mature.

Solid album, Beastie Boys have always been innovators when it comes to their sampling.

Never listened to them before, solid enough album, sure shot is a banger, sabotage hugely out of place but a top song of course

Belongs on the list. A fun, original record. I think I have to rate on the sprawl rather than the hits though. It's obvious they had so many ideas and couldn't hold back. I don't know what I would have left of but this doesn't hold for an hour. Editing to 40 could have warranted 4 but it's a three for me.

Definitely like the hip hop and funk leaning songs more than the rock leaning ones. Pretty fun, I see why they were the frat band of the time.

Do they sound like a human being when they rap as opposed to a member of the muppets? MCA - yes. AdRock- no. Mike D - maybe. This album is 20 songs?!?!??? “Shiiiit. If this gonna be that kinda party I’m gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes!” Classic. Ok but do they have to always sound like they’re rapping through a bullhorn? “Sabotage” is amazing. Takes me back to watching the video a thousand times in high school because MTV practically had it on a loop. But AdRock, man:…..this dude’s voice is so annoying. I can manage it for a song or two but an hour him is asking a lot. THREE STARS

Pretty fire and like catchy and stuff i like Q tip too

True 90s shit, fr.

é um album de hap rock americano ne, achei ok? as letras são interessantes

Beats were groovier than I expected, didn't age that bad

You can't, and you won't, and you don't stop.

Right on! The very much underappreciated Beastie Boys. Great stuff, 3.5 stars! BB's were at their creative peak and huge nationwide in 1994. They were at their loosest and coolest when they were jamming on the instruments and noodling around. The opening sounds of the dog and the flute are classic 90's, takes me back to a carefree broke-ass time, and sets the stage for the record. "Sure Shot" (63M listens) has a certain undeniable energy, a great way to kick things off. Then you jump to "Root Down" (23M listens) which is pure coolness. Finally, "Sabotage" (500M listens), which gets the listener amped up (and the video is still the greatest of all time). Throw in glue tracks like "Get It Together" (31M) with Q-Tip, "Sabrosa" (15M, funky stuff!), "Futterman's Rule", & "Flute Loop" (35M) and you a weirdly cohesive record. There are some throw away tracks for sure ("Heart Attack Man", "Tough Guy", "Eugene's Lament", "Ricky's Theme") but it's a view inside the band as they grew into musicians not just rappers/entertainers. You got punk songs, hip hop tracks, high energy, a dash of weirdness, a few great instrumentals, all this makes for a solid disc and a trip down memory lane! 3.5 stars, not 4 (due to the throwaway tracks).

Lots of variety on this album. Strong start but fizzles out down the stretch IMO. I wish they had more funky/groovy jams like Bobo & Futterman’s Rule. High 3

I was happy to see this one on the list and it was good but doesn’t really stand the test of time for me.

Listened to this a ton when it came out. Never throw it on any more. A few jams but some real cringy moments

I think if it was just sabotage 11 times it’s be 5 stars. I liked how weird they got compared to their original sound but can’t say I can remember any other songs.

My brother and I shared a room for the first 18 years of my life and he's a major Beasties head. I was absolutely tortured with their music for many of those years. Hearing this today, it isn't too bad. I dig the two hardcore songs. It could definitely be trimmed down a tad.

Some good vibes and the hits are bangers. Overall, feels like a lot of the same over and over.

Okay. Good.

Sabotage probably one of the best songs that year, great clip as well...couldn't get enough of it...Opener with sure shot very good but after midway the standard droooooops a bit for me..album could have been way better if shorter and 1 or 2 extra iconic tracks...

Sabotage!

Really good, both quality and quantity are present here. Bonus points for the Mongolian throat singing.

Love reliving it!

I can appreciate that this was less abrasive as the previous album. Obviously familiar with Sabotage. Liked some of the filler stuff in between, but lets be honest, I will still never gravitate to Beastie Boys on my own time.

Was this level of mic distortion en vogue in 1994? I found the first few tracks difficult to enjoy because of this. Lyrics were impossible to hear. I actually recognized “Sabotage” but didn’t attribute it to Beastie Boys in my mind. “Sabrosa” was a cool instrumental interlude I wasn’t expecting from BB. The strings in “Eugene’s Lament” really surprised me. Other standouts for me were “Root Down”, “Get it Together”, “Do It”, and the real treat at the end (if for nothing more than uniqueness), “Shambala” & “Bodhisattva Vow”. Overall this was significantly more diverse than I was anticipating. Great listening.

3.2

Good album definitely different with more instrumentals than i expected

It's a nice trip into a fusion of like 5 or 6 different genres. More jazzy and punk than hip hop at certain points, it feel cohesive as an album nonetheless. Some bangers, especially "Sabotage", and some funny and memorable moments throughout. That being said, it did not stick with me (with the focus on 'me'). I feel like I should like it more, but I don't, and honestly do not feel the desire to listen to it in the near future. It is not a bad record, by any means, just not one I'm particularly fond of.

Would be 2 stars but sabotage bumps it up

Some decent early hip hop moments and RATM style vocals but quite a long album with many other styles.

Classic Beastie Boys sound, but it’s nowhere near as innovative as Paul’s Boutique or as fun as License to Ill.

I much preferred "Licensed to Ill". I just couldn't get into this album in the same way.

Not a big rap fan. This album was okay. It was interesting to hear how they incorporated all the different musical styles into their songs. The instrumental tracks were cool.

No juu, tääkin on tällasta mid tier taustamusaa. En kyllä välttämättä huvikseni kuuntelis, mutta ihan mukava oli junassa istuessa kuunnella albumi läpi.

Haistan spraymaalin ja kuulen rullalaudan soinnin ja leveiden farkkujen kahinan. Tätä pitäisi ehdottomasti kuunnella kannettavalla cd-soittimella tai korvalappustereoilla. Mukavaa poljentoa ja kovia hittejä. Aitoa ysäritunnelmaa, mutta ei silti ihan saavuta neljää tähteä. Oikea arviointi mahtaisi olla 3,5 mutta käännetään se vielä toistaiseksi tuohon kolmoseen

Kivan letkeesti albumi jolkotti raidasta yski raitaan kaksikymmentä. Laittaisinko levyn soimaan uudestaan alusta loppuun, niin todella epätodennäköistä, mutta olisinko mielissäni jos levy soisi samalla kun kesäpäivänä heittelisin korista niin todella. Muutamia hyviä kappaleita, mutta muuten aika perus varmaa Beastie Boyssia.

Levy ei ole kuin tunnin mittainen, mutta kokonaisuus on niin moniTAHOINEN, että otetta kaikesta on vaikea saada. Noin niinkun saundillisestihan tämä maittaa ja esim. sapotaasi on kyllä sellainen hitti, joka kestää aikaa ja kuuntelukertoja. Kyseessä ei ole mikään progelevy, mutta kokonaisuuden hahmottaminen on näin vähällä kuuntelulla hankalaa, vaikka sinänsä esim. selkeä tuotannollinen idea tästä välittyykin. Olen paria piistin ja poissin rieskaa kuunnellut ja ne eivät tainneet ihan näin sillisalaattia olla. Varsinkin levyn toinen puolisko, jossa instrumentaalifiilistelyiden määrä lisääntyi hymyilytti, kun ennakko-odottama oli puhtaasta räppilevystä. En tiedä sitten onko biisejä sommitellessa kaapista löytynyt uusi purkki pillereitä, joilla fiiliksen sai maalailevammaksi. Tästä kokonaisuudesta voisi olla hauska nähdä joku ”näin se tehtiin” -dokumentti. Nyt kuitenkin sinänsä hyvästä levystä jää sekava kuva.

Ihan toimiva, joskaan ei kuitenkaan sen kummemmin säväyttänyt. Ehkä myös inan liian pitkä kasuaalille ensikuuntelulle

Onhan tuossa ihan hauskoja bassokuvioita ja kekseliästä musisointia, mutta vähän kappaleet tuppaavat toistamaan itseään liikaa levyn läpi.

Ysäri oli vahvasti läsnä. Pääasiassa hyvä meno, mutta tässäkin oli vähän outouksia. Sitä taidetaan kutsua taiteeksi

Understand its cultural value. Not my favorite genre.

Not for me but I get it

Pretty good, sabotage is a killer track. The song with q-tip is awesome. The rest is a little bit f-ill communication

I remember buying this in high school - because 'Sabotage,' obviously, and being utterly baffled. And disappointed, honestly. It was just... way weirder than I expected. Especially since Paul's Boutique was (and remains) such a classic. This is way more eclectic and experimental, and as such not all of it works. Particularly when you're like 15 and want everything to hit as hard as the single. This is the first time I've listened to this in full in probably 25 years or so. Funnily enough, I have a similar take to teenage me. Basically, this moves Into sound collage mode after the Q-Tip feature, which is the last stand out track to me. That's a shame, because I like the interstitial instrumentals breaking up the proper tracks in the beginning, but the later songs just don't hit like Root Down or Sabotage. If this were an EP, easy 5 stars. Since it's an hour long... eh. At least all the good stuff is front loaded.

Fun mix of punk and rap. Sabotage is great. Started to feel like songs were all too similar towards the end of the album.

6 albums today? Serves me right for taking vacation. I can even progress to today’s album (August 26th, 2025) if I’m really feeling bold. I have spent a legitimate 6 hours or so going through all these and giving my uninformed, lazy opinions on records I believe to be mostly terrible. Sam Cooke was a reprieve, although the story of his death has me contemplating whether or not it was another orchestrated hit on influential black nationalists by the US government, or if he really was just a bad dude. Both? This is a Beastie Boys review. Hope it drags me out of this. Sure Shot - Calgary Hitmen goal song in like 2008. It really shows that I only write this for me. Nobody else could possibly care about or get all of my dumb references. Hell, when I stupidly read these terrible reviews back, I barely understand what I’m trying to say. Tough Guy - Throw in a sick punk song. This fucking rips. B-Boys Making With the Freak Freak - This song will be listened to out of respect for completion, but this song title disqualifies it from positive critique in any way. I don’t make the rules. Oh wait, I do. Bobo on the Corner - Just a beat. Not a great one at that. Root Down - Quite repetitive, but this beat is far more fun. The lyrics range from fun to completely braindead, so that’s interesting. Sabotage - Classic alert. For those who would like to see how rap is best mixed with rock music, look no further than this track. Excellent energy. Get it Together - Q-Tip rules so aggressively. Well, he’s actually not all that aggressive, but he’s so good. Perfect feature do legitimize yourself and to ensure that you have a funky song. Sabrosa - Instrumental hip-hop. Not exactly my cup of tea in this case as it feels a little barren. The Update - This continues in the vein of many of the previous tracks. Heavy beats informed by 70’s exploitation films? Those scores? Right? Listen, I can reference Canadian major junior hockey from 2008, but good luck finding any knowledge of cultural touchstones here. Futterman’s Rule - Every time you pass the kosher deli on 7th, you have to skip twice and tip your cap. I don’t make the rules on this one. It’s that damn Futterman. Alright Hear This - No punctuation here. I’m not sure if they mean, “ok. Time to listen to this song” or “this song is mediocre - listen to it.” Both kind of fit. Eugene’s Lament - Yeah, this sounds like it would be enjoyed by a guy named Eugene. Hell, it’s enjoyed by me, and I’m a set of horn-rimmed spectacles away from Eugenizing. Flute Loop - Flute is such a great instrument. Works supremely well here. Continue to loop, gents. Do It - Biz Markie is here and he’s babbling over a bone-breaking beat. Lots o’ B’s in that sentence. Lots o’ B’s, hey? Yeah, uhh sounds like a night at the IN-LAWS. *uproarious studio laughter and applause* Ricky’s Theme - Ricky is apparently a very chill dude. Not the Ricky of Trailer Park Boys fame, I take it. Nobody want to admit they are nine cans of ravioli, but I did while I was waiting for this song to finish. Heart Attack Man - Yeah I think this may have something to do with the 9 cans of ravioli from the previous track. Live by the fork, die by the fork. Or is it live by the fork, laugh by the fork and love by the fork? One or the other. Another fantastic hardcore track? These guys just show off with these interludes. Perfect voices for this genre. The Scoop - Between the updates and scoops, we have to be fully apprised of the situation(s) by now, right? I am certainly feeling like I’ve heard enough! So many similar sounding hip-hop tracks. Shambala - Finally, some throat singing. Bodhisattva Vow - Typical famous people. Always embracing some eastern religion. What about good ol fashioned satanism? Is nobody a fundamental God hater anymore? What happened to those brave church burners? Transitions - This song is about those cool glasses that automatically turn to sunglasses. What a way to end the album. A religious turn and some flagrant product placement. Way to go guys. Really selling out your loyal fans. And by selling out, I of course mean providing a crucial service for! Do you find yourself squinting outside? Fumbling with that prescription singles case, Or worse, leaving behind one or both pairs of eyewear? “I can’t see anything now, I’m ruined.” Well that doesn’t have to be the case any longer, introducing, from the year 2003, Transitions! Now, look like a dork, in and out of the sun! “Hey guys, surf’s up?” “Oh god he’s wearing those glasses. Everybody buddy up and go back to the bus.” Transitions. It’s time to go outside! Uhh this album was good! A bit long in parts and a bit dull in others. But there was enough to keep me going here. Some really special hardcore tracks that I will revisit and some creative beats and performances. Excellent features as well made for some entertaining moments throughout. Keep it coming Beastie Boys, and figure out a new sponsor for next time. That Transitions spot will pay for my bus fare home tonight! Well, almost. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Sure Shot, Tough Guy, Sabotage, Get it Together, Do It, Heart Attack Man

This one feels long and not always memorable. Probably a step ahead in terms of composition and arrangement. But I prefer the dumb samples of ‘Licensed To Ill’ even though that’s probably the worse album. Fav tracks here were the first one and ‘Sabotage’. Wanted to give this 4 stars after watching the music video for Sabotage but I understand that’s not how this works.

I like the Beastie Boys in theory, but don't really want to listen to their music. Does that make any sense? This album was more enjoyable than the earlier Beastie Boys albums I've heard on this list - but I still think it's better in small doses.

Wel ok, maar weer te veel van hetzelfde voor mij. Zou het zelf niet opzetten

Some good songs on there. Instrumentals were cool. Last half of the album wasn’t as good.

Lekfullt men också spretande i väl många riktningar. Den härligt bastunga 90talsproduktionen tycker jag man ska lyfta och 1994 fick man fortfarande både scratcha och beatboxa på en hiphopskiva, fantastiskt! Allra bäst är Root down med sin jamaicainspirerade basslinga och riktiga old school boom-bap. Sure shoot är svår att komma undan liksom gunget i avslutningsspåret. Men det blir lite mycket, en hårdare gallring bland spåren hade den mått bra av. En stabil trea dock, högsta nivån är hög och den känns fortfarande rätt kul Lyssna också på Just D - Tre amigos, De La Soul - De La Soul is dead

Really solid and loved the jazz and blues elements throughout. The thrown in punk too made this album chaotic and all over the place and fun, although i think they could have cut some tracks to tighten this album up. Top tracks: Sure Shot, Sabotage (duh), Alright Hear This, and Shambala. 3.5 outta 5

It's a solid rock - rap album but the album doesn't sustain the quality of 'sure shot' and 'sabotage'.

I like the other one better

Headier than expected, kind of an unfathomable eclecticism.

I'm more of a Style Boyz guy over the Beastie Boys. That being said, this was a strong Beastie Boys album. I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous instrumental tracks, which were quite good.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. It's more mature than "Licensed to Ill", and while the vocals don't do it for me still, the instrumental parts are actually pretty good in parts. "Sabotage" is the big track I'd heard before, but I was pleasantly surprised now that I've actually listened to it for the first time. It's really not bad. 3 stars for unexpected enjoyment.

I like the beats and flow but after a while it all feels a bit the same and long.

Some good songs. Good beats and rifts. Some “shouty” tracks that remind me a little of Rage Against the Machine

Unequivocal classic full of bangers, even if I find the voice a little grating at times. Shambala and Sabotage highlights

my favorite album by the Beastie Boys, but I’m not a fan of the Beastie Boys. I like this album because it’s got so much music variety but their voices start to great on my nerves after a while and this is their longest album, so…

Some really good songs, pushing a 4 maybe

Dope.

Ehh too reperitive. All the songs felt the same after a while. I do like sabotage though 3/5

soo god

i love a lot of these songs but i'm not going to play this end-to-end too too often

"Sure shot" and "Sabotage" are all time greats. I also liked the mellow beats from "Ricky's theme" and "transitions". However, the album as a whole is too experimental for me.

I don’t think I’d ever listened to a full Beastie Boys album, so I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the blend of genres. I immediately thought, “this sounds like Odelay,” with its mix of hip hop, punk, jazz, funk, etc. The Beastie Boys were definitely an influence on Beck. Plus, Odelay was produced by the Dust Brothers, who also did Paul’s Boutique, so it’s all making sense. I can hear the through line. Odelay was only 2 years later, but it sounds much more modern. I don’t know a lot about the technological developments at the time but I do think there was big difference in how music sounds from the early 90s vs mid/late90s. That’s one of the fun things about this 1001 albums randomizer. Sometimes by chance we get thrown 2 albums in the same week that have a connection.

There are Beasty Boys sounds I like, but I didn't enjoy this very much. Props for an openness to experimentation but it's still rap music.

A really good album… that could have been two spectacular albums. I know the Beasties always create really eclectic albums - hell, “Paul’s Boutique,” anyone? But this album does not mix the bangers and the more avant garde pieces well at all. That said, I love this album, but it falls off a cliff in the 2nd half.

There's some cool stuff on here, some genre defining moves, and also a lot that should have stayed on the cutting room floor to leave a stronger overall impression.

I remain a Beastie Boys sceptic. For every classic, there’s an instrumental that just leaves me a bit cold. Sabotage is one of the best songs ever made, but nothing else compares unfortunately.

This one was arguably better than the previous one. I liked the instrumental songs. It's still not something I'd listen again though

Pretty decent old hip hop album 3/5

this may be controversial, but i found the more heavy-overdrive/"punk" esque the songs were, the less i enjoyed it. i mean it literally makes me sound insane

I don't much care for the Beastie Boys, and while I don't hate them this album doesn't change my mind. Sabotage is the only song keeping this score at a 3.

I've always felt a bit meh on the Beastie Boys despite their seemingly universal regard. this album was super fun to listen to with a good beat, but I don't think I would seek it out specifically

Straight from the start there is a lot going on. The first song sounds vintage beastie boys, before a quick fast guitar led song. The album then has a lot of variation in music styles as well as format. It makes you feel more part of who the beastie boys are beyond just the songs. On the right day this all hits one score higher.

The Beastie Boys were a lot better than I thought they'd be. A lot of quality and depth.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I like the Beastie Boys vibe. I think the music is great. This didn't possess the same amount of "Greatest Hits" that Licensed to Ill had, but I liked the music better overall. I really enjoyed a handful of these songs a lot. My issue with putting the Beastie Boys above a three star is that, at the end of the day, they are not tremendously talented. They do just shout their lyrics, as much as I hate to say it, which almost takes away from the music at times. This album didn't have nearly as much of that as the first one I rolled, but it still occurs at times. I still think this is quite good, but I can't justify putting it any higher than a three.

Good but gets tiring after a while.

🚨

Fun little album,some v interesting and different songs like Shambala

Not there best! Track with Q-Tip is phenomenal Sabotage is one of the best beaten songs of all time

I enjoyed the album as a whole, the instrumental music was really great.

Favorites: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Get It Together I'm not sure if I'm sold on the Beastie Boys completely, but I thought this was pretty good. It certainly has its highlights, but seeing the group keep their signature style going during the g-funk era of hip hop is really cool.

381/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Better than I expected but again, long instrumentals aren't really my thing.

They have better albums than this

Not my fav New York rap group sabotage goes hard tho

High energy Some of the songs are banging There are a few skips though and monnof the tunes are as good as sabotage which is an absolute bop Rappers voice can be annoying and it's hard to tell the difference between them. All around pretty fun high energy album

Had this album when I was younger for Sure Shot only. This time I enjoyed that and the interludes the most. I know many enjoy the Beastie Boys, but their vocals don't agree with me.

The Beastie Boys make music for skinny pubescent white boys who like skateboarding, weed, and being extreme. They are far cooler than your average white rapper(s). Sabotage was brilliant in 1994, and it remains brilliant today (that video too). Get It Together travels right into A Tribe Called Quest land, and again…brilliant! Sure Shot is great. I enjoy their incorporation of jazz, house and funk in spots, and their sound overall is aggressively New York. At the end of the day though, the Beasties are too all over the place for this to be a focused masterpiece. When they abandon the vibes and go for hard rap or punk, as on Alright Hear This, Heart Attack Man and Tough Guy, I tune out.

I wasn’t into hip hop or rap back then, but these guys were so good. Enjoyed this album

I was not expecting the nice instrumental music Inbetween the yell rapping. The instrumentals were good until they got repetitive.

i have similar thoughts on this as i did the previous beastie boys album. i thought this one had a lot more interesting instrumentals that relied less on sampling(as far as i could tell). the length is still a problem, i was ready to bow out a little less than halfway through.

I have a love hate relationship with these guys. I LOVE some of their songs and the rest all sound the same. I think it's the vocal distortion they use for everything. Makes me wish they would of had a few songs with clearer vocals. They have some track that are just beats, very well done. It's a more mature album overall. They are still party music. This album brings a little bit for everyone yet works. It's not going to be in rotation for me but it's an album I will pull out every so often.

appreciate it. ground breaking. not my thing exactly

A couple of outstanding tracks and you can tell the groove they were in. Is that good or bad? Up to you.

I like their other albums more but this is fine. The muffled lyrics thing is kinda weird and unnecessary. Sabotage is a jam

Didn't like this album when it first cane out. It was too experimental. "Sure Shot" and Sabotage were great but a lot of the other blues, funk inspired stuff felt out of place. Now hearing it year later I think I have a better appreciation for this album than I once did.

Better than the other Beastie Boys album on here. Some tracks weren't just shouting!

Disse mener det de sier. Mye greier, en del tøft.

Love the Beastie Boys but this isn't one of my favorite albums.

I liked the music, but I’m just not into the beastie boys rapping and vocals. Interesting to hear them evolve into a more traditional band than a sampled hip hop artist

Upbeat and interesting. I prefer the tracks without vocals.

Such an eclectic album, punkish hip-hop with jazz and funk influences. Driving percussive rhythms keep the head bobbing. Sabrosa is a turning point to really cool instrumentals in the back half of the album. I see some people complaining about it meandering a bit because of this, and while I agree it's not the most coherent album I really like the experimentation on display here. Sabotage was instantly recognizable, widely played on the radio in the 90s, but Sure Shot, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Eugene's Lament, Flute Loop, are great. Definitely an album I would not have listened to in its entirety without this challenge. Some of the more jazz inspired tracks remind me of later albums from artists I've heard like Madlib or Fourtet. Not one for permanent rotation, but would listen to it again. Probably a 3.5

Got better as it went on

Wasn't looking forward to listening to this, but this was a pleasant surprise. I like the live instruments.

I do not enjoy these vocals. I found the music legitimately fun and interesting though. 5/10

Definitely have a definitive sound, I liked it despite not saving a lot of songs

Enjoyed some songs. Felt slightly repetitive.

The Beastie Boys get so much love as being an innovative… I kinda lost track of them after Licensed To ILL. This album was a marathon with 20 tracks.

Long, songs the felt like fillers with no words, yet some good songs and the guitar was good

Fun party tracks. Good stuff. A bit samey so not sure if I would listen to it in full as a matter of course.

Shit idk I kinda hate how the beastie boys rap but this was laced with great instrumentals. I really liked the song with q tip and the final song 5/10

Jó hype futni zene de amúgy nem olyan jó

Not my thing. Old school hip hop and old school punk mixing makes it almost bearable but not enough for me to keep listening

I like the Beastie Boys but this album was meh, except for a couple tracks.

Pretty fun album, just not really a Beastie Boys guy

Some interesting influences here.

Love the hits. Was worried when I saw how long the album was and thought the songs would get old if they all sounded like the hits but was pleasantly surprised by some of the instrumentals.

Un beau bordel. Des trucs forts sympathiques, et des trucs forts nuls à chier.

Sure sounds like beastie boys.

Enjoyable, though not remarkable.

Liked some stuff, interesting style

didn't listen to much but sounded good from what I heard

This turned out to be more varied than I expected, which is a good thing. Sabotage is ace, but 12 sabotages would be too much. I really enjoyed hearing live music backing as opposed to just samples on a rap album (at least one that wasn't nu metal).

lit album but also quite weird

It's no License to Ill, but it has hard-hitting songs. The Update, I could listen to every day.

Some good songs on here that I recognized, but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to listen to this album all that often. Overall it's a good listen more or less.

A real mixed bag this album. Way more instrumental tracks than I expected. Overall solid album if not a bit bloated.

Didn't know Beastie Boys got instrumentals. Need to learn Sabotage on guitar!

3.5

I absolutely love "Sure Shot." And "Sabotage." All time great songs, in my opinion. "Sure Shot" has an amazing sample, and "Sabotage" is one of the best fusions of rock and rap I've ever heard. But this album does, on the whole, have the same issues I've had with previous Beastie Boys albums, and that is this: Their voices are sometimes incredibly grating and obnoxious. Combine that with the vocal effects they put on some of the tracks for this album ("B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak," "The Update," "Alright Hear This," etc.) and I just can't get behind a lot of this. I also found it really strange that there were instrumentals on this album. Like, it's cool that they're trying to show that they're a band of musicians and not just rappers, but I don't think anybody is coming to a Beastie Boys album for instrumentals. They're great instrumentals, don't get me wrong. I just don't get why they're here, is all. There is a lot like about the Beastie Boys. Their attitude and sense of humor can be really fun. The lyrics, where you can understand them, are sometimes absolutely top notch. And the way they mix genres is as smooth as anybody else who's ever tried it. So I want to like them so much more than I do. But I just find my self getting annoyed while listening, and that's a bummer. I hoped when listening to "Paul's Boutique" that they had better material to offer than what was on that album. They did, I just wish it was even better. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Do It, Ricky's Theme, Bodhisattva Vow

Got some bangers and then some stinkers, so sadly evens out.

So many better rap albums to choose from.

This was actually fun, and Sabotage is a classic.

sure shot- 5. I like the flute tough guy- 6 b boys making with the freak freak- 5 Bobo on the corner- 5 root down- 5 sabotage- 7. good but overplayed get it together- 6 sabrosa- 5 update- 5 futtermans rule- 5 alright hear this- 6 Eugene's lament- 5 flute loop- 5 do it-mike deez nuts. 5 Ricky theme- heart attack man- 8 the scoop- 5 shsmbala- 5 or 6 bodhisattva vow- 5 transitions- 5

I like lots of Beastie Boys hits, just not sure on this album Stand out tracks: Sure shot Flute Loop Sabotage Do it

I tried hard to like this, I really did. Paul's Boutique is my absolute favourite new discovery from this list, and Licensed to Ill is a great album. I gave this several listens and liked it less each time. It's just not as fun as the other albums to me, with a weird mish-mash of styles. It sounds like they are trying too hard to experiment at the cost of enjoyment and listenabilty. There are a lot of jazz and funk samples in this and it sounds like they are trying to copy the style of De La Soul, Jurassic 5, etc., and failing. There are too many instrumental tracks. Even one is too much, I cannot get behind putting more than that on a rap album. Tough Guy is clearly a punk song - was this them getting back to their roots? Overall, for me it's too noisy and unclear, too many vocal effects, I don't like the backing tracks... It's just not for me, Sabotage is still great though. Three stars because I still liked parts of it, but in comparison to Paul's Boutique that's all I can offer.

It's fine

A combination of "not my cup of tea" and "I'd love to get rowdy to this". Perhaps the album format doesn't suit the Beastie Boys, as the occasional headbanger and teenage angst anthem seems great when not overdone for an hour plus.

Went in knowing and liking the band, knew sabotage already of course. Extremely varied. I definitely lean more to the punk rock and jazz aspects of this album. I have great respect for it and how incredibly different it is (was?). There can be a lot going on at times and it's kind of hard to figure out what they're saying. The album is also almost an hour long, which is a little much. I get it though, and they break if up with the instrumentals pretty well. Plenty of sounds here for everyone. Thanks to the Beastie Boys for inspiring Joey Valence and Brae lmao

I really didn't want to like one Beastie Boys album, much less two, but once again I have to admit the production on this album is just really good and really fun to listen to. After reviewing 'Paul's Boutique' I felt I was maybe too generous and in a borderline 3-or-4 situation I made a mistake in rounding up. I like this album more than 'Paul's Boutique', though. I think I do, anyway. I kinda tuned out the actual rapping for the most part and was just vibing with the instrumentals, but I was vibing heavily with the instrumentals. But it's supposed to be a rap album? I dunno. For the sake of averaging out the two albums to 3.5, which I think is about right, I'm gonna give this one 3 stars even though maybe this one is 4 stars and 'Paul's Boutique' should be 3 stars. Hmmmm. Discovering that I kinda like the Beastie Boys is a very confusing turn of events for me.

Had some pretty iconic sound loops and the flute song was pretty good.

could only think of the guitar hero 3 selection menu cause Sabotage, also heart attack man made me feel crazy I had to skip it

Litt kult litt mas

Liker ikke Beastie Boys men noen kule tracks her definitivt. Svak 3’er

Yeah, fine. Doesn't really Float My Boat, but ... I can see the attraction.

Classic

I think it was not a bad start of my journey. I enjoyed the instrumental part, the vocals not as much but I had a good time. Probably will never get back to this album but as a one time listen? I recommend.

Meh

Goede muziek steeds, maar die stem. Sabotage en andere nummers wel hard

Pretty fun.

Another band I’ve mainly only heard the hits from. So far, didn’t really care for much I hadn’t heard other than Sabotage. Get it Together with Q-Tip was a fun track, no idea they could just groove to a Bosa Nova beat for so long like they did in Sabrosa and kinda carried on. The various percussion and string instruments throughout were a cool addition. Overall, I just am not the biggest fan of rap so I cannot rate this higher than a 3.

The presence of this and License to Ill implies that Check Your Heard is on the list, further indicating more Beastie Boys that you might need in one life where other hip hop exists. Side A - through "The Update" is so good, showing their range and command of a banger. The latter half kinda hits like a YouTube beat tape I'd put on to ignore get some work done.

This is a five-star hip-hop album dragged down by the Beasties' MC skills. You need to understand, I LOVED this record when it came out, but that's because I overlooked some of its contemporaries. Whenever I revisit it now, I'm just disappointed that the Boys didn't become better rappers.

Think I ignored this when it was released even though I liked Check your head a lot. This is too long and has some filler but is interesting enough to warrant further listens.

Found this Beastie Boys album less annoying than the last one from this list. Sabotage was always a standout as a song of theirs that I did enjoy. What seemed like lots of instrumentals on this. Some sections even felt like jam band territory, which was unexpected (and not wanted).

Wasn't too keen. Appreciated the vibes of the music, reminded me of World's End, just not my thing really.

I liked it well enough but it dragged a bit

I’m not the biggest rap fan, but there’s a lot of stuff from this era that I like. I can’t with their voices though.

Beastie Boys is like a strong spice for me - I can handle it in small doses, but it gets too much for me very quickly. This time I just couldn't how annoying I found the screaminess of their voices, even though I really appreciated the musicality of the songs. In spite of this being a hip hop album, I found myself liking the punk and instrumental songs better. Crazy amount of genres here.

This one didn't speak to me as much as the first beastie boys album. Still okay. May revisit in future.

Slightly more interesting than Paul's Boutique but still a generous 3 for me

Ill Communication has some really fun moments, and a few all-time great Beastie Boys songs, but the album as a whole is so bogged down by filler that it's hard to think of it as a classic. Tracks like Sabotage, Flute Loop, and Get It Together are fantastic, but I can't see a scenario in which I'm throwing on B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak, The Update, Futterman's Rule, Do It, The Scoop, or any of the instrumental tracks. Maybe if they had trimmed this down by about 20 minutes, it would be a better experience. As it stands, it's just a fine one. 6.5/10

This is a solid album, but 90% of sounded similar.

# Album Name: Ill Communication # Artist: Beastie Boys # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Honestly, i cant hear some of the lyrics. Its like my headphones are made of potatoes. This is not my kind of album at all. I cant even connect with it. Its not. awful, its just OK. Not something i would choose to listen to. Theres a couple of good tracks like Sure shot, sabotage and flute loop which save this thing from a 2 for me. But only just. Its simply way too long. 20 tracks. wtf. Sabotage is a classic of course. Great song. Its a low 3 for me. # Top Tunes: Sure Shot / Sabotage / flue loop # Would I listen to it again? No

Not really my thing, Sabotage was the best track by far for me. The rest.... Eh, I can't think of myself listening to them any time soon. I can see why it could be great if you're someone who enjoys this type of music. One thing I can say it's that this album is extremely 90's, you can feel the decade in every one of these tracks.

Not horrible! 7/10

I thought I was going to like this more...however, there is A LOT of weird on here. Gotta give it a solid 3.5

Average album in my opinion. Sabotage standout. Track ratings: 1: 3.5/5 2: 4/5 3: 3.5/5 4: 3/5 5: 3/5 6: 5/5 7: 3.5/5 8: 2.5/5 9: 3/5 10: 3.5/5 11: 4.5/5 12: 2.5/5 13: 2.5/5 14. 2.5/5 15. 2/5 16. 4.5/5 17. 3/5 18. 3/5 19. 3.5/5 20. 3.5/5 Average score = 3.3/5

Overlong

Of course there is the well known banger "Sabotage" but in total the album is just o.k. for me. 2,5

3+ Stars (9/15)

Decent but not their best

Ah fuck, méér Beastie Boys?? Ik zou dit vet moeten vinden, want ze hadden zo'n grote invloed op hiphop door hun samples enzo; maar ik kan ze echt niet uitstaan. Lyrics zijn ontzettend matig, hun beats zijn vaker gewoon hardrock, metal en punk. Ik ben er steeds meer van overtuigd dat Beastie Boys hiphop is voor mensen die niet van hiphop houden. Prima, maar duw het in godsnaam niet zo door mn strot. De recording klinkt trouwens vrij matig, en dat is een stijlkeuze want op het eerste nummer is dat niet het geval. Daarna klinken ze alsof ze ergens onder een weg staan op te nemen, fucking irritant. Dit album is wel meer funky en jazzy dan de vorige albums en eigenlijk klinkt dat grotendeels prettig. Jammer dat die klojo's er nog steeds overheen schreeuwen, want Root Down is funky as fuck. Wauw, het is bizar - je hoort het kwaliteitsverschil tussen Tip en de Beastie Boys. Zul je zien dat er maar 1 album van Tribe op de lijst staat, ik weet wel minstens 3 albums die er af zouden kunnen zodat je meer hebt van de Tribe. Beste album van de Beastie Boys voor mij, en dat komt vooral omdat er heerlijke instrumentale stukken op staan en er een fantastische Q-tip feature op staat. Wel duurt dit album nog steeds veel te lang en zijn die gasten onuitstaanbaar... FAVO: Root Down, Get it Together, Futterman's rule, Ricky's theme,

Ok... I think I like the musical interludes over most of the actual songs on here. In fact all, other than "Sabotage". They speak more to my personal musical senses. "Sambrosa" with its War like funk feel. The pseudo-psych of "Transition", the meditative jam of "Shambala" or just the straight up dirty groove of "Futterman's Rule" they all stood out to me. The rapping did not do much for me especially with the overly distorted or fuzzed out effects to the point I couldn't make out what they were saying. The couple of 80s punk style songs on here of course I didn't care for. My dislike for 80 hardcore is pretty well known here. There are still some songs I like The opener "Sure Shot" hit me better on second listen, "The Scoop", and of course the monster hit. "Root Down" I loved the jazz influenced tracks, but the rap over just ruined it for me. Honestly there is a lot going on in many of these tracks that if it wasn't for the rap I'd like it. Those may be growers of ever want to invest time getting to know this album. But then there the handful I coukd go without ever hearing again, "B-Boys Makin With The Freek Freek" and "Get It Together. Too much I didn't like on this to give it high marks although there is also quite a bit I dig. (6.75) ★★★

Sabotage Album. The album with Sabotage. The one song that doesn’t sabotage this album from the 1001 list because otherwise it would be a 2 or worse.

Growing up I always found the Beastie Boys to be annoying and grating. But over the years, and going back into their catalog, I've learned to appreciate how much they were before their time. I still don't love their music, but I have more of an appreciation of how innovative they were as I've gotten older.

Not bad decent hip hop stuff 6/10

It's good, but who wants to be yelled at for an hour? - R I agree. I like old school hip hop, but overall not a genre for me. I did like Flute Loop.-D

3.5/5

Some of the lyrics are difficult to hear because of distortion in the voice. Some songs are instrumental, but not that interesting.

I like the beastie boys quite a bit but this album is just okay.

3*

This was a good album that was just a touch too long. Its hallmark is its vibe which is very chill and the production is awsome too, but it gets boring at bits due to its length. 6/10

uh no sleep till brooklyn is nice 3/5

Ok, hyvä salimusa.

definitely a young man’s record, so many swears, probably 20 minutes too long

It’s some of their best music ever, it is extremely top-heavy, and could have done with some editing. But, so could the White Album.

It's not my jam, but that doesn't mean it's not a good jam.

I'm about 3 albums away from License To Ill which I'll get to once I catch up with the current album (Black Monk Time by The Monks). Anyway, all that to say I'm not sure where this album fits in the whole scheme of things. Sabotage is an outstanding track, Sure Shot is a great opener and there are some other pearls on here. But I'm not quite ready to give it a 4.

Crisply enjoyable 60mins. Crescent fresh. 3.5 stars.

I love the beastie boys but this isn’t my fave

I skipped songs after 1 min if I didnt like them. Id say I had to do that after half the songs All that aside, some of this was goood. In a not so beatie boys way. I liked Sabrosa and Rickys Theme a lot. Sabotage is probably the only original sounding tune that I enjoyed from front to back. Im pretty surprised that weve had two BB albums already.

Compared to their other albums that give me more of a 'frat boys playing gangsters' vibe, this one feels remarkably mature. Very diverse musically, featuring the expected mix of Hip Hop and Rock/Metal beats, but also dabbles with punk, funk, and instrumental. This diversity makes it intriguing, but also somehow incoherent and overall probably less appealing, since most people won't like all genres. As always with the Beasties, it's not my cup of tea and apart from Sabotage, which is of course awesome, I didn't really enjoy anything. 3.5/5

-well I really like the blending of rap and rock. it’s creative, especially for white guys in 1994. there’s a lot of other cool variety in genre-mixing throughout this album. you never really knew what you were gonna listen to next -that being said, definitely felt a bit bloated. they could’ve shaved it down a little toward the end but oh well, still pretty cool -Favorites are Sure Shot, Sabotage, and Get It Together

3/5

Didn't grab me as much as some other BB albums

Expected to love this, but there are a LOT of skippable tracks for me and I don’t get why they spend half the album rapping into a fuzzy landline connection. Still gets 3 stars for overall vibe and Sure Shot, Sabotage, Root Down, and Get It Together, but it’s a soft 3.

Some screaming bangers, some screaming fillers.

One of the greatest song of all time and another average album by Beastie Boys. It's just not that interesting. I have no idea how they come up with Sabotage, this song sticks out so much from the whole discography, it's very weird. I think an album with this track on a loop would be much more entertaining than Ill Communication.

Like the sound, don’t like hiphop

Not a huge fan of the vocals and mood throughout. Sabotage, Futterman's Rule and Heart Attack Man were standout tracks that elevate to a 3.

Not bad for a Beastie Boys album

always love some old school hip hop, however some songs were way to crazy and 'loud' for me.

If this album were a drink, its composition would be: A good Hip-Hop whiskey with a good amount of Rock Cola and Soul & Funk ice on top! Very interesting sound. It's not something I would listen to every day, but it was fun to listen to. I had never listened to Beastie Boys before today. I hope to hear better albums than this one in the future.

Remember when Captain Kirk stole his step father’s vintage car and had a police chase/drove it off a cliff while sabotage by the beastie boys was playing. Yeah me either.

I am not a great hip-hop listener but I think I appreciate this record. It sounds really alive, with a good mix of genres that show a true attention to songwriting. Deserves a second, third, fourth listen in order to understand everything and appreciate the record in its best aspect. Really nice drums, I loved that. (perhaps the whole thing is a little bit too long ...) Songs I liked and saved : Sure Shot, Futterman's Rule, Ricky's Theme, The Scoop

Not a fan of Hip-Hop, but this was ok.

Quite impressive, not really my genre though

Beats megacool, Vibes zu aggro für mich

Ich finde die Songs interessant und tanzenswert. Die Übergänge zwischen den Songs gefallen mir, sie machen das Album zu einem grossen Werk. Dafür dass es Hiphop ist, passiert viel. Zuweilen sind auch die Harmonien interessant (z.B. in Root Down). Allerdings finde ich trotzdem, dass die Musik sich stark auf Schlagzeug und Sprechgesang fokussiert, was ich anstrengend und überreizend zum Anhören finde. Eine Ausnahme ist Eugene‘s Lament: Sehr spannend und ein Song, der sich von den anderen im Album unterscheidet. Shambala geht crazy, das erinnert mich an Dune…

Having listened to license to Ill quite a bit it was fun to hear this. I like the more fun quirky Beastie Boys more than this version of them but still good. This was more of a complete album/idea though.

My last album was also by the Beastie Boys and deep down I still wish it said the Beach Boys instead.

Well, I thought I might enjoy this more ... but those vocals really started to irritate me. I really enjoyed Eugene's Lament, however. And Transitions. Quite the vibe. It's a three from me.

Enjoyed the 90s hiphop sound and the instrumental ‘filler’ tracks were pretty good too.

bop

I had a hard time keeping up with the words but I was able to bob my head and tap my toe in time with the beat. As an old guy, that's probably all the exercise I'm gonna get so thank you, Beastie Boys, for making my life better today

Maybe a 3 and a half

You know what, I've never thought much of the beastie boys but this was actually pretty good. Middling 3.

Pretty good album, but starts feeling pretty stale and samey by the end. The Minor Threat-like songs were a good break from all the songs that just sound like generic Beastie Boys songs, but I think I would have preferred a whole album of those, plus whatever was happening on Shambala.

Eskede flute loop og at q tip var med

Great album with a handful of really great songs but a lot of filler in between also

I'm always conflicted with a Beastie Boys album. Always feels like a college white dude party trick. But there are also always some UNDENIABLE bangers. Cmon, Sabatoge! I just don't know. The two tracks that made me turn my head had features and were done in the style of those artists so it was hard to really feel those as Beastie Boys songs.

This was ok. Not as good as some of there other albums. It does have the one hit though

Not boring, at least. Felt like 10 different albums in one.

I really enjoy the instrumentals on this album, this particular style of rapping kind of ruins it to be honest. Sorry, just not for me! I'd definitely rock a playlist of their instrumentals though.

Favourite track: Heart Attack Man.

Instrumentals were pretty good. The rap stuff is not for me.

Classic

Jazzier than I thought. Need to give it another listen. Has some of my fave songs on there but not sure how I feel about it as a whole.

3.5

fairly cool coolest song: Sabotage

First half was pretty good, and relaxing. Second half was annoying and had to skip.

Great album but not my favorite from them. I have to be in a very specific mood to listen to hardcore Beastie Boys. Still love em tho

2,5

Solid album but I'm not a big Beastie's guy.

“Sabotage” is obviously the clear stand out here. “Eugene’s Lament” was interesting. There were a few surprise more chill tunes that broke it up a bit. Still 20 tracks/ an hour of the Beasties is a lot.

I caught the Beasties on this tour in ‘94 and it was cool to see them playing live with real instruments, including having the drummer from Suicidal Tendencies backing them up. It furthered my respect for them and their abilities. The Sabotage video alone almost earns up ranking here. But while this album is a pretty wide gamut of styles and vocal numbers vs. instrumentals, it’s a commitment to get through in one fell swoop. I’ll always dig the boys, but will no doubt check my head at Paul’s Boutique as my go to album for them.

Solid opening but and some great grooves in the mix. Was not expecting so many n words on Get It Together so that was a little awkward with my kid in the car. But Sabrosa right after put some fun funk in our step. Sabotage is such a great music video. 3.25

I find it kinda tough to listen to Beastie Boys for an hour straight. Opening track and Sabotage are stand outs, but the rest is pretty forgettable IMO. 3.25/5

valid

Sure Shot, Root Down, Get It Together and Sabotage are great singles. The album overall tries to combine too many different sounds and styles for me, not many succeeding at, to say this is a highly loved album. 3/5 because I do like the Beasties, but in the grand scheme of pushing the genre forward, not an important album.

6.5/10 Enjoyed a lot didn’t, like the instrumental ones however

Love beastie boys! This isn’t my favorite album tho.

Ehhhh. Doesn't do it for me

Never been a huge beastie boys enjoyer

Beastie Boys are generally fun but I wasn’t expecting the direction this went in with the instrumental tracks. Really pleasant surprise and led to an interesting post-album shuffle

Honestly couldn’t help but think every song sounded the same but I love Sabotage and Flute Loop

Like a cross between rage against the machine and a tribe called quest and the Styleboyz from Popstar

Good, but a lot of filler

he’s doing what to mashed potatoes!?

A great crossover hip-hop album.

not really my style, but it's fun so why not

Nice, and great throwback to the '90s Sabotage is a classic to rival all classic songs. The rest, is okay.

I actually liked this record better than Licensed to Ill. And I'm sure I'd have loved it in my teens. But it's not for me, now.

3☆/5 09.01.2024

I feel like I need to give this one another spin or two, but my first thought is 3.5/5

Temo che l’infatuazione coi Beastie Boys si sia conclusa. Che peccato

How many god damn beastie boys albums are they gonna put on this list

Some solid tracks, some that sounded more like filler. I expected some more energy but overall it was solid. A 3.5 but not a 4 for me.

brabo

Sure Shot 3.7 Tough Guy 3 B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak 3.1 Bobo on the Corner 3.1 Root Down 3.4 Sabatage 4.3 Get It Together 3.3 Sabrosa 3.6 The Update 3.4 Futterman's Rule 3.5 Alright Hear This 3.2 Eugene's Lament 3.4 Flute Loop 3.1 Do It 3.1 Ricky's Theme 3.5 Heart Attack Man 3.3 The Scoop 3.5 Shambala 3.4 Bodhisattva Vow 3.4 Transitions 3.3 Score: 3.38

Good album, but I still feel like I could take 5 songs off this album and put them in a playlist and be happy.

maybe i'll come back to this album later and regret this rating but for now i just don't get it

3/5 - I like if for the nostalgia, but too much of the same for me when listening to the full album. I love the songs individually.

More punk rock energy than you might expect from a Beastie Boys album. Good but not my favorite of theirs

Not my cuppa tea But some nice instrumental songs

First listen Saved 10/20 Top track: Sabotage

3.5

3.5 pretty good liked the variety wish there was more energy throughout like sabotage

little repetitive, but they were so ahead of the times.

I love the Beastie Boys, but this album was very repetitive. It started out really strong, but by halfway through I was ready to be done with it. I’d like to rate this a 2.7. Since I can’t, I’ll just give them the benefit of the doubt and round up to a 3. Sabotage, sure shot, and b-boys makin with the freak freak were my favorites on this one.

Not a very attentive listen but was nice

Cool stuff. I was not expecting so much jazz.

At least they stopped saying their names so much. Don’t live the mixing in some parts but also contains some classics.

Rebel

Ugh, this is another one I want to like more than I actually do. The Sabotage video is genius and Sure Shot is great but the rest bores me a bit. Disappointing

This is a fun CD. All the songs are short and they kind of flow into each other, with a very live-album feel. So it sort-of functions like an overgrown suite, similar to Smiley Smile or something like it. That makes it a really easy listen, and feel shorter than the one-hour runtime. That said, it's not earth-shattering. The virtuosity is pretty limited (almost intentionally so on the most well-known track, "Sabotage). They're a rap band, but the best actual rap is done by the guy on "Get It Together", who's probably not in the band (he doesn't appear on any other track). And while the CD functions well as a cohesive whole, there really aren't any highlights or clear peaks. That's OK.

Loved some of the songs but overall found the sampling a bit too much at times.

While not a bad album, Ill Communication pales in comparison to Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique.

Rick Rubin: How many megaphones did you say you need for your new album? Beastie Boys: ALL OF THEM!

Solid album, didn't finish it lol. But I liked the first half that I did. Nothing mind blowing for me though

This album is brought down in my mind by the several instrumental interludes that feel like they are half of the album. I think that if you remove some of them this album gets a lot stronger.

Definitely better than the other BB album. Fave Tracks: Sabotage, Get It Together, The Update, Flute Loop 3.3/5

Enjoyed. Love old school hip hop

This album is brought down in my mind by the several instrumental interludes that feel like they are half of the album. I think that if you remove some of them this album gets a lot stronger.

Sabotage is one of my favorite tracks ever. The rest of this album I just don't get. Feels disconnected from itself.

Although not a fan, the acid jazz portions I found quite good and the style is interesting.

Sure Shot - 4 Tough Guy - 3.5 B-Boys Makin - 3 Bobo on the Corner - 3 Root Down - 3 Sabotage - 5 Get it Together - 3 Sabrosa - 4 The Update - 3.5 Futtermans' Rule - 3.5 Alright Hear This - 3.5 Eugene's Lament - 3 Flute Loop - 4 Do It - 3.5 Ricky's Theme - 3 Heart Attack Man - 2.5 The Scoop - 3.5 Shambala - 2.5 Bodhisattva Vow - 3 Transitions - 3.5 All over the board. Safely landing in 3 overall.

06/25/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 Sure Shot Alright Here This Flute Loop B Tier—————————3 Sabotage The Update Eugene’s Lament Futterman’s Rule Sabrosa Ricky’s Theme Do It The Scoop C Tier—————————2 Get It Together Shambala Bobo On The Corner Root Down Transitions Heart Attack Man Bodhisattva Vow Tough Guy D Tier—————————1

Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys Tuesday 6/25/24 9:57 S Tier————————— Sabotage A Tier————————— Sure Shot Bobo On The Corner B Tier————————— The Update Root Down Flute Loop Transitions Futterman’s Rule Eugene’s Lament Ricky’s Theme Sabrosa The Scoop Alright Hear This Bodhisattva Shambala Do It Get It Together B Boys C Tier————————— Heart Attack Man Tough Guy

I used to think I loved Beastie Boys but I just liked the odd song and this proves it. Sabotage is great! Everything else is okay. Actually Sabrosa fucking rules too.