Ill Communication

Exhausting. However, I appreciate the variety this album offers - for example there are some funk samples. Also "Bodhisattva Vow" is quite surprising

This time background and flow hit me different than other hip-hop albums. Songs are more varying than on "Licensed To Ill". Sometimes album may be a bit too inconsistent. I guess rapping tie it together instead of making monotonous.

Really good album from the Beastie Boys. It's so different from other hip hop as they're using live instruments and punk influences.

The Beastie Boys are just not for me. I see the influence and I don't hate their songs, just their rapping style is not for me.

Goddamned stone cold masterpiece and definitive album of the Beastie discography. A very important moment of maturity and growth for the Beasties where they shed the fronting frat boy nonsense that was very harmful to women. What an incredible thing for these guys to do, to own their mistakes and change their behaviour for the better. Amazing role models, setting a killer example for future generations of men on how to be secure in yourself and your masculinity without any toxicity. Bravo! And you know, these guys are just having fun being themselves. It’s such a joy to be a passive participant in it all. MCA forever, rest in power cool dude.

One of my favorites from back in the day

Rap-Rock has never been my favourite, but I can appreciate what they were trying to do here, as they were ahead of their time. Raucous and energetic - highlight is definitely Sabotage. Not likely to return.

This album showed the Beastie Boys expanding on the grittier sound they debuted on Check Ya Head, and while Ill Communication is, in a lot of ways, a better version of their previous effort, it still is absent of the charm that made their first two albums so special.

Some pretty innovative songs but not really my thing

Entiendo por qué está en la lista, pero no tengo ganas de volver a escucharlo.

100% awesome from wall to wall.

Good album with some classic hits

bra

the instrumental tracks were fire but this is my third beastie album from this list and i’m soooooo over it. 🙄

Why did albums have to be so damn long? You could have cut out 20 minutes of this album and it would have stayed the same. It gets so repetitive after a while.

SABOTAGE!!!!!!!!! 9/10

Never a fan.. and listening again does not change it

Sabotage and Get it Together came on at one point and briefly shone a light on the Beastie Boy's appeal. It's all vibes and jokes, maybe I'll become a fan, I thought. Then those tracks passed, the kinda funny lyrics and nice beats resumed and I was left feeling the same way about Beastie as I do about New York: rightly popular but too crowded, noisy and just too long winded.

4.5

Fantastic album, trails off a bit at the end. Little bit tighter track list and it's a 5.

While I love the Beastie Boys, I'm still not convinced that I love their albums as a whole. Can't deny the greatness, though.

Before this, I wasn’t a fan of rap or hip-hop at all. Then I listened to ‘Sabotage’. Gave the whole album a listen, and I’ll probably check out the rest of the discography eventually. Not a big fan of the instrumental songs, though. Favorite track: Sabotage

So many legit bangers in the first half of this one. I'm not a huge fan of the Beastie Boys, but this record really does show how talented they are. I just wish the back half was less filler than the first. Even so, some of the punk tracks back there were really good.

listened to 2 songs ... too much for me!

Dobri beatovi i instrumentali. Tekst nema šanse da pohvatam bez lyricsa. Sat vremena trajanja albuma je previše. 3,05

very hype good for working out, songs flow nicely together

This album had some unexpected punk drops. Nice.

Great energy

One of the greatest of all time hip hop albums.

Not my speed, but still influential.

3.5 too long

Really good.

Beastie Boys are weird for me -- over the years I have always seen and appreciated why they were so influential and important in so many ways. Aggression, passion, style, and so much else makes them such an interesting musical act and important moment in the history of so many genres (rock, punk, hip hop, etc). A landmark band that really was so impactful and had so many iconic songs. And yet I just never really enjoyed their music. I have no idea why that is; on paper I should love it. I love hip hop, punk, rock, and all the genres that the Beastie Boys blend together. I *should* love it, yet I just don't like it and I just can't put my finger on why. I also can't really get past the vocal filters on most tracks. They're cool and work for a few hyper-aggressive songs that make it work well. But hearing it track for track makes it lose it's appeal. Like it wasn't necessary on the calmer cuts. And sometimes the vocal distortion was so heavy, it was damn near impossible to understand anything of what the lyrics are - prime examples are Flute Loop and Bodhisattva Vow. If I didn't read the lyrics to these songs as they were playing, I would not have understood a single word out of it. There were a few tracks on here that I thought were decent, but not a lot I'd listen to again for pleasure. In fact, the songs I like the most were the instrumental tracks (I'd probably only really listen to Ricky's Theme again for pleasure) Overall, the Beastie Boys occupy the same headspace for me as like The Beatles -- their influence is undeniable and I can absolutely see and respect why people consider their music to be so great and amazing. And while on paper I *should* enjoy what I am listening to, in practice I am just not. And that's okay; that doesn't diminish what made them good.

Avg

Enjoyed

This guys totally think they they are Joey Vay lents and Braid 😂😂😂

Not listening to allat cause idgaf about Beastie boys but the cover is booty cheeks 2/5

Definitely a more refined sound than the other BB record on this list. Really enjoyed it, more jazz / funk than the other, with a few punky number’s scattered about. Will return. Favourite was Futterman’s Rule.

Much more interesting than licensed to ill, the beats are better, the punk songs are great and sabotage is the best beasties song. That said, there are a lot of tracks without any rapping that makes it feel like they were thrown in to pad the runtime. Would have preferred it to be trimmed down or have a few more obvious bangers. 3.5

More enjoyable than the previous Beastie Boys album - considerably less shouty. However, the first half, the shouty half, was definitely more impactful than the second. I was dreading this, and putting off listening, but it was better than I expected - which is great. I am surprised, pleasantly surprised.

Thought this was a good album, has some absolute classics on it but it goes on for too long. Heart Attack Man was a nice surprise, didn't expect something like that from the Beastie Boys. Highlights: Sure Shot Sabotage Heart Attack Man

Enjoyed that. Think moreso than license to ill. This was more rocky, which I think is when they are best. Think it was less silly too It did go on a bit though and some of the tracks on the second half of the album weren't the most exciting, but actually pretty good to listen to while working. Highlights are: Sure shot Sabotage, which is fantastic Get it together

Better than the other Beastie Boys album that’s popped up, but it’s still not something I want a whole album of.

3.5, way better than Paul's boutique

I did not enjoy this, at all.

Los beastie combinan las diferentes influencias, letras e introspecciones que se traen en otras entregas de la agrupación. Lo que sucede es que es un disco, extremadamente largo, extenso, cansa, llega una punto que las canciones dentro de el son entretenidas, pero hasta ahí. Está perfecto que sea así y qeu lo muestren como un catalogo de cultura, pero la idea de el album se desvanece cancion cada tanto en el disco completo, demasiada data, pero buena 7/10.

GONNA KICK IT ROOT DOWN

They have made an amazing contribution to music by helping to bring rock and rap together into the mainstream.

Yelling through a microphone became a frustrating feature for me. Was going to go 1/5, however production was good and a few tracks were enjoyable. 3/5

Fun listen, the jazz transitions were a welcome surprise!

The second half of this one got weird, a handful of instrumental jam band-style tracks kind of out of nowhere.

Part blokes shouting about how cool they are over scratchy samples, part funkiness. I enjoyed it. I won't play it again. It certainly made me think of the Beastie Boys as more talented and diverse in output than I previously suspected.

Beastie Boys do jazz-rock!? Plus the best music video ever. Could be 5.

I love the Beastie Boys. I probably heard like only 20 words that they said to be honest, but the pace and overall experience of the album is sooo good. The drum cuts sound amazing, sample choices and sonics are always interesting and changing just before anything gets stale, and you can tell there's a good sense of humor behind the whole thing. Another case of "I wish I could have heard this when it first came out." I might have actually but I was literally one year old. I wonder how it came across to fully cooked adults when it dropped. Had people cut vinyl jazz samples into sick backbeats yet? How was this album situated with other hip hop albums from the time? Not too much else to say since I didn't do a deep dive into the lyrics and how the album was made etc. Just really great to listen to, gonna come back to this one!

I don't think I came across this at the right age to really appreciate this. The Beastie Boys impress me with their ambition but they also annoy me. A lot of amazing grooves, just too hard to grab onto anything. 2/5

Wow, so many genres and styles. Hadn't realised that Prodigy's 'Funky Shit' sampled the Beastie Boys' 'Root Down'. Have found them a bit misogynist and tiresome from listening to podcasts about them, but definitely enjoying the rock/funk/jazz here.

Some great songs that everyone knows (Sabotage), but also long and lots of filler.

classic from the beastie boys what can I say

Wacky background music

pretty cap tbh. easy 2 (besides sabotage)

Not really changed my mind about the Beastie Boys.

Honestly crazy how this album seamlessly flips between rock, punk, jazz, and funk influences. Sequencing is great. Every other song delivers fantastic instrumentals followed by catchy, distorted bangers. but the album overstays its welcome just a little bit. Loved Q-Tips performance. Favorite song: Root Down, Get It Together

Not a fan. Could not get through the album.

Overall it was ok. Sabotage stood out and is probably the only song I would come back to. Shambala was cool as well. I don't think the overly hip-hop punk stuff is for me.

I don't think I'm much of a Beastie Boy. Favorite Tracks: Sabotage, Get It Together, Flute Loop 4/5

Ik kan niet tegen hun geschreeuw

Vind dit echt helemaal niks helaaaaas. Krijg het er echt van op mn zenuwen en er is niet echt een situatie waarin ik me kan voorstellen dat ik dit opzet.

Niet echt voor mij, een beetje te veel. Wel leip hoeveel verschillende stijlen er worden gebruikt op dit album. Ik kan mij voorstellen dat dit veel invloed heeft gehad op hip-hop.

Wou altijd al een keer de beastie boys checken, maar dat ga ik vanaf nu niet meer doen

Vroeger vond ik beastie boys echt vet cool maar nu eigenlijk een beetje corny ofzo… hoe meer ik het luister hoe minder het me nu trekt

Hate the screeching vocals by one of them. The instrumentals and beats were nixe though. But the vocals make me want to not listen to it again.

Classic chaotic rap Rock, sometimes too much but generally good, some bangers

I liked this one much better than the last Beastie Boys album assigned. Was digging “Bodhisattva Vow.”

Sure Shot, Sabotage, Do It, The Scoop, Bodhisattva Vow… and a shit load of whatever. As an album this is a disappointment - it’s like the bonus tracks you’d find on the 50-track 25th anniversary edition of a much better album.

not really my jam :/

In this album the beastie boys are so in your face that it’s hard to tell if they’ve became the frat boys that they were originally criticising in licenced to Ill. I don’t hate this though it’s just not as good as licenced to Ill.

There is some rap/hip-hop that I can enjoy if there is a musical hook to it. But every time the Beastie Boys find a musical aspect that I can get into, they open their mouths and..... I tried.

Not as big of a fan of this as Licensed to Ill but still pretty decent Sabotage is a classic

Too shouty

Great hip-hop album. The aggression is so prominent which I loved - my only criticism is how the vocals sometimes sounded distorted.

Classic Beasties

This is already better than most of the other. They do all sound the same though... Meh

'Sabotage' is an absolute classic. Also liked 'Sure Shot', 'Get It Together'. Second part of the album was a bit weaker with too much instrumentals, but overall really liked it. 4/5

Ein av de bedre tingene 90-tallet hadde å by på

Stone cold classic! Wish I could give it more than 5 stars! Probably my favorite Beastie Boys record, it's tough not to rank this high as they really seemed to perfect their sound on this!

Es tracta del disc més ambiciós del trio, i segurament el seu millor treball en conjunt. Barreja temes de pur punk hardcore com 'Tough Boy' o 'Heart Attack Man', apropaments al rock alternatiu, mantres hindús, jazz i altres més pur hip hop marca de la casa. Entre la col.lecció, un dels seus millors singles, 'Sabotage', i temes hipnòtics com 'Flute's Loop'

The instrumentals were pretty good and entertaining, but I just find the vocals incredibly grating. They ruined the album for me.

The first 3 or 4 tracks are unrepresentative here - shouty and rocky BB's, but after that it gets much more varied and interesting. Funk, easy listening, jazz, soul - almost everything is in the stew. A rap group who became a group where rap was incidental.

De har gjort en handfull hits och denna hade väl ett par. Dock jobbigt att lyssna på i längden. Särskilt när man inte gillar genren.

not really my kind of thing

Love this as well.

Managed to listen to the whole thing, which is usually impossible where this group is concerned. Better than I thought it would be, Sabotage getting the extra star.

ooooh I'm excited for this one! Oh man, that album was amazing!! They had lots of tracks I hadn't heard. A few that were very suprisingly jazzy. And one that was very punk. Amazing album.

The Beastie Boys are sort of their own genre. Or every genre. Yeah, I'm in the mood for some rap, punk, fusion, hip-hop, sampled, funky, avant guard, rock n roll, electronica, groovy, jazz grunge tunes today. And somehow these little rat punks pulled that off.

How is it better than I remembered?! Amazing.

A quality effort with one of their best songs 'sabotage'. Doesnt hit the heady heights of Pauls boutique or check your head. At thi point they're out of ideas. Still a great tour de force of their loud energetoc in yer face style.

Awesome, this is a great album!

Simply amazing. Dope beats, guitar licks, great rapping. A proper classic album. One of the greatest.

There's a lots of detail to like in this album, great use of samples and loops. But I lost interest about halfway through, well pretty much after Sabotage, it was far too long and got far too experimental. 2.5

Not a big fan of rap like Beastie Boys but loved jazz and funk instrumentals.

Would listen to some again

not my thing

epic

not for me.

Ill Communication is like the Beastie Boys threw a party, invited punk rock, hip-hop, jazz, and funk, and things got wild. While this 1994 album offers head-bobbing tunes like "Sure Shot" and mosh-worthy jams like "Sabotage," it lacks the cohesion of their other iconic works. Their lyrics still pack a punch, serving up wit and humor in each rhyme. But let's face it, it's not the lyrical goldmine of "Paul's Boutique." Though not their magnum opus, Ill Communication proves the Beastie Boys' unstoppable creativity and genre-defying skills. Not their pièce de résistance, but a funky-fresh, genre-hopping adventure worth a spin.

I've heard some songs from this album before, but truth be told never really listened to the whole album. Interesting blend of hip hop and punk? in between each track. Yet somehow it works. I enjoyed it a lot Saved tracks: Tough Guy, Bobo On The Corner, Sabotage, Futterman's Rule, Eugene's Lament, Do It, Shambala

Like the crossover sound, less fond of the rapping, not much variation. Sabotage a classic and jazzy tunes enough to give it 3 stars

Brilliant. An all-timer imo

Epic and inventive in its way.

Didn’t listen to all of it but I listened to 7 songs and none of it seemed like it was for me

For Fuck’s Sake… 9/10

Even better than I remembered

Alhoewel ik dit album beter vind dan Paul's boutique vind ik dit nog steeds niet leuk om te luisteren. Wel waardeer ik de creativiteit.

90's East Coast hiphop, met "Sabotage" als meest significante nummer op het album. Tracklist voelt diverser dan Paul's Boutique, maar gaat sneller vervelen en leunt wat meer naar "herrie om de herrie" muziek. leukste nummer: Do It Fotograaf die de cover art verleende snapte niks van de muziek van de Beastie Boys en zag het als een soort geheimzinnige codetaal.

This Beastie Boys album, as opposed to the first, was not really on my radar when it came out. I had been quite fond of the naughty boy rap of that first one. This one feels like it's from a much more mature group, and I wasn't sure at first if that was a good thing. What I found (after the initial dislike of the feeling of being yelled at this morning) was that this was a really interesting album, full of all sorts of musical influences. I need to come back to this one some time.

I purchased this album back when it was a new release. I have listened to it occasionally over the years. I was always taken with the variety of musical styles on this album. I enjoy this album more now than I did when it was a new release.

Other than maybe there's one or two songs that aren't adding much, this album is really something. This is a much more mature effort than License to Ill, lots of growth has happened in between. I was dubious about the claim in Sure Shot about being through with disrespecting women but they lived up to that promise throughout the rest of the tracks. There are a variety of styles that shine on this album --- a few tracks are exactly what I expected with distorted shouty vocals (not a bad thing) but then there were punk songs, straight-up funk instrumentals, and even some Klezmer violin. The last few tracks are a paean to Buddhism and enlightenment. This album is bold and inventive and kind-spirited. Good work.

I didn’t love License to Ill and wasn’t looking forward to this. I was surprised that I didn’t recognize any of the songs (although maybe Sabotage was vaguely familiar?). This has a much more interesting musical sound than I was expecting. Funky guitar, organ, and other interesting instrumentation made this pretty cool to listen to. The rapping is pretty great too although I didn’t study the lyrics to closely.

Fun album that hits and misses. Sabotage absolutely slaps still. Had no idea “deez nuts” was this old.

Some great, some good, some filler. Like the difference between the sample lead funky hip hop and the mad punk stuff.

p730. 1994. 2 stars. White frat-boy rap that hasn't aged well. Not my thing and goes on far too long for what it is, but well done of its kind and enough variety on it to make it worth listening to once.

I don’t think that I heard this album before. It seems very long, with some very heavy pieces (rapping on hard is rarely my thing) and some jazzy (mostly) instrumentals. Probably not my thing.

Meh

Ill Communication!!! I love the album, 5 out of 5 stars. Mix of flavors throughout, live instrumentation, excellent rhyming - appreciating the music enough to let it breathe, what’s not to like? Sure Shot is a great opener that leads effortlessly to the punk sound of Tough Guy. B-Boys Makin’ with the Freak Freak, Bono On the Corner, & Root Down center their sounds toward their vinyl hiss of underground rap mixes with their usual high-energy flow keeping the momentum going before we get the production shift of the next great anthem of Beastie Boys top songs, Sabotage; nothing else really needs to be said. First feature allows Q-Tip the space to flex; Get It Together is a nice subdued beat without losing any energy to the overall vibe. Continuing to groove, we get an almost Santana Boys-esque instrumental in the name of Sabrosa; very enjoyable “interlude”. Hearing The Update kick-off, I am struck by how wonderfully it picks up from the previous instrumental while evolving the beat to its own thing, further exemplifying their masterclass architecture and production choices as they developed this album. Futterman’s Rule is another instrumental that picks up the pace and showcases a bass solo with the same hazy vein bravado of a Cliff Burton solo, followed by a slick drum breakdown, before rounding out the loop, completing the song. It’s a ride, Man! Alright Hear This heavily emphasized record scratching; naturally, it’s one of my favorites. Eugene’s Lament throws us a middle eastern vibe instrumental with a bluegrass-diddy added to the mix, I love it! Flute Loop and it’s Fatboy Slim vibe kicks ass! Do It is a goofy song, straight up fun. Ricky’s Theme is likely to be my only skip on the record, just don’t care for that one; it’s got a really cool reverb thing going on at the end of the track that elevates the composition of the song as a whole toward the end, which means it totally redeems itself! Heart Attack Man, the second punk song that moves toward a metal/doom groove middle of the way, then ending on the up-tick of the punk influence again, it kicks! The Scoop has a great bass line elevating the breakbeats, excellent. I really can’t emphasize the bass line enough…beautiful work. Shambala om chants a groove to life that soon lightens the mood considerably once the funky drumming hits its stride before om-ing the transition into Bodhisattva Vow, eclipsing a wonderful instrumental fleshing out the groove of a full-fledged rap song, pretty impressive considering all elements fusing together. As if omitted; just wonderful production throughout, and there is no exception nearing the end of the album. The last song, Transitions, gives us what feels a bit reflective in the theme of the instrumentals. They’ve let the album breathe throughout, “now chill to the out-beat!” Epic.

Nice beats, the rap itself is not great but better than almost every white rapper at the time.

The Beastie Boys seems to be able to blend hip-hop, punk, jazz, and rock seamlessly all on one album. Samples are great. Lyrics are great. Production is great. Energy is great. Whole album becomes a little slow at the end, but I very much enjoyed all of it. 4/5

Stop me gueuler dans les oreilles svp merci

Had me smiling

There is some fantastic production on this, the beats and sampling are so good. The first half has some great songs but the approach to hip-hop and hardcore both sound quite dated and like a hangover from the late 80s compared to the 1994 landscape for both genres. However the album’s ability to traverse these genres, and the instrumental eclecticism of the second half are massive highlights.

MUITO BOM Minhas favs: Get It Together B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak Sabotage Sure Shot The Update Bodhisattva Vow

Muy bueno, me gustó la instrumental de cada canción y si se siente que es del género de hiphop

#legendary

Vraiment très bon, probablement l'album j'ai le plus aimé de BB so far.

this album is so looooong but it's so damn good sure shot is one of my favorite samples/songs in 90s rap the beastie boys did not give a fuck about anything and somehow made some of the best rap music of a really stacked era in a really stacked and talented area

Yeah, it's great. It's like post Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, the Beasties were perfectly comfortable being a hardcore punk band, a hip hop group or a funk band and just embraced everything here. And the listener is the winner. If I'd lno n it was gonna be this kind of party...

Sehr gut gemacht. Punk Tracks kriegen nen Bonus, hip Hop immer noch nicht so meins

Кайфухи, и рэп, и панк просто высшей пробы

Forgettable. In every sense.

I’ve never understood the acclaim the beastie boys get. I’ve listened to 3 of their albums and each one is as obnoxious as the last.

Confirmou que as músicas que eu já conhecia vale a pena escutar novamente devido às batidas com funk e rock que garantem uma melodia interessante. Já disco completo, mesmo fluindo bem para um álbum de hip hop eu não pretendo escutar todo mais uma vez.

My second Beastie Boys album in two weeks. I'm not a fan, but I will say this one definitely shows some more musical maturity than Licensed to Ill. I enjoyed some of the instrumental numbers, but overall it's not for me. 2 stars.

Enjoyed this one much more than Paul’s Boutique. Some really great, funky production mixed with some solid flow. Sabotage will always hit right.

Liked much better than Paul’s boutique. Cool dense jazzy instrumentation and less grating shout rap. Still, not going to return to this often.

The production and use of instruments over samples makes this album hold up much better than Paul’s Boutique. Sabotage still sounds fresh and just a landmark song for the melding of rap and rock. Overall this could be the best album in their catalogue.

Not really my style, but great album

2/5 Hip hop is not my genre. I only could stand the songs I know. The rest were obnoxious.

Came into this dreading it, a couple of tracks in was enjoying it and then it never stopped and dropped in quality... The album wasn't one note which suprised me and has some interesting music but ultimately isn't quite my thing and was too long. Won't cringe when I hear them mentioned or if they appear in the list again, so, progress?

Ég veit ekki hvort það hafi verið sniðugt hjá mér að setja þessa í gang þegar ég er að reikna heimadæmin mín. Get ekki hætt að headbanga. Þetta er drulluskemmtileg plata. Nú langar mig bara að garga AND YOU DON'T STOP á eftir hverri einustu línu í öllum lögum.

Could be a copy and paste of so many hip hop album reviews. When it's good, it's great, a good half dozen stone cold classic songs. But I don't need 20 song albums lasting an hour and it would have made a much better 35 minute album. 3.5 stars but I'll play nice.

Frat boys with a good record collection.

ура все хиты (но всё равно три звезды)

Likt Tom Morellos alster är det mycket svårt att inte digga hämningslöst, utan att ta hänsyn till var man befinner sig. Perfekt att promenera till när självförtroendet är högt. Bäst: Sabotage

That was…interesting. I knew Sure Shot and Sabotage pretty well, and I was surprised the album wasn’t just more of the same. It’s an impressive array of styles and influences, but on a first listen through it seemed a bit chaotic and unfocused. I think I admire it, but I’m not sure I’d venture much beyond the singles in the future.

3.5/5

Check Your Head/Ill Communication will always be the Beastie Boys' golden age for me. They had found the perfect balance between hip hop, punk and tasty jams while toning down their goofy approach just enough to show they were really serious about their craft. What a talented bunch these guys were. As with all of their albums, this one has its fair share of fillers in the second half, but in their case it doesn't really matter because it stays entertaining and fun all the way through. Their energy is infectious and it's hard to imagine someone completely disliking them.

A true game changer in the 90s hip-hop scene.

Nice hiphop album. great selection of this genre in the book btw

The kings of sampling and energic hip-hop, no doubt about it and this album is another monument to prove it.

Had this on cassette in my first car as a teenager. Too biased to write an objective review. Obviously one of the greatest albums of all time.

Yes

So let me start by saying, I do like a lot of Beastie Boy stuff. There's a lot I also dislike. Outside of Licensed to Ill, there's a lot of their albums with a few great tunes, then what seems to be filler stuff...... On to this album. Not one of their best, but does I have one of my favorite Beastie songs and that is Sabotage. All time great and just because of that song, I won't go below a 3. 2nd favorite song off the album was Tough Guy. Borderline punk mixed with some rage. And to top it off, listen closely an tell me it didn't sound a little like Zac de la Rocha. I wish more of this album had tunes like Tough Guy. Outside of those 2 songs, I did enjoy the music only tunes of Sabrosa and Futterman's Rule. Did you know that Zac de la Rocha was one of the name's considered for Mindy's first born? True story. Maybe not the de la Rocha part, but I'm sure de la Rocha would have been his nickname. Haha. Back to the album, not their best, but one of their best songs. Closer to a 2.5, but the score will be a 3 as stated 3

As someone who isn’t a fan o License to Ill I wasn’t looking forward to this a ton. Sure it’s got Sabotage on it and that songs still slaps but that was all I knew prior. I’m happy to say that while it didn’t leave a huge impression on me, I did enjoy this for the most part. Heavy and catchy. It’s sounds at times almost like the antithesis to License to Ill. 3

4 Love The Beasties - I actually went as MCA as Nathan Wind as Cochese from the Sabotage music video for Halloween this past year. However, right off the bat, I can tell you this isn’t their best album, nor is it even probably Top 3. Still, it’s a really good one through and through. Sure Shot is a great opener, and the transition into Tough Guy is a great reminder of the punk roots of these guys. From there, aside from Sabotage, the album seems to descend into a lot of not as memorable hip hop fluff. But you know what? It’s still a heck of a lot of fun. Admittedly, I don’t think the instrumentals are quite as effective, but they also don’t break up the flow of the album either by any means. So, I really debated my rating on this one. Since there aren’t a ton of individual songs I’ll probably re-visit, especially for a 20 track album, I initially went with a 3.5, but come on, it’s Beasties. Even if there aren’t a ton of standalone moments, I had a blast the whole way through and will likely be listening to the full album again at some point. On a side note, I think this album cements my opinion that the Beastie Boys are basically the blink-182 of hip hop (or I guess blink-182 are the Beastie Boys of pop punk) - Both groups consist of multiple vocalists/songwriters that great at putting out material that’s kind of immature and not overly deep but absolutely tons of fun. If you don’t agree with me, please look no further than “Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes” on B-Boys Makin’ With the Freak Freak.

Surprisingly experimental, with tracks like Eugene’s Lament, plus hits like sabotage.

4.5

I've loved this since it came out - no objective review from me for this

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Get It Together (7) 2 - Sure Shot (1) 3 - Sabotage (6)

Cultural touchpoint filled in, basically. I love the idea of these guys more than I actually enjoyed listening

Great album, good balance of jams and bangers

way better than i was expecting, i missed this whole rock rap thing bc i wasn’t alive but seems pretty cool

I rather enjoyed this. Stand-out track was Sabrosa. The Beastie Boys sure have cleaned up their act. There's lots of nice samples in here, and lots of great breaks and beats.

A little overlong for me, with a few diversions that didn’t quite hold me. The highlights are incredible though. Probably one to enjoy over time and allow to develop.

Almost called a 4.

I know this one by heart already.

Love!!!

Absolutely love them. Not my favorite album of theirs, if I’m honest. But had great fun listening!

Is this the final hardcore release forever and ever? Great album, great music, and a great band.

I really like the mashing and meshing of styles. I was more into thé music and instrumentals behind the vocals. The vocals all kind of merged into one for me and I had no idea what was being conveyed and didn’t really have the impetus to find out. Sabotage was a great song. Also liked Sabrosa, The Document and Eugene’s Lament. Love the cover.

There’s a lot going on here. Funk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, punk. It’s a bit much. Sabotage is a great song. So is Sure Shot.

I never quite got what was so alluring about The Beastie Boys. Sounds like a lots of shouty rhyming and beat drops and gang-ups on sentence endings and it's all rather frivolous and inconsequential. When "Fight To Your Right" landed, it was fun enough, but seemed like a one-off goofy play that would fade away. I never loved it, just found it amusing. The fact that they became important and influential is strange to me. "Paul's Boutique" came highly recommended from a trusted source, so I went out and bought it. I listened to it multiple times, trying to like it. I never did. So... sorry... Ill Communication. I do very much like the diversity of the underlying music. From straight up hip hop beats to jazz to garage rock, there's an effortless amalgamation of styles that never seems like a put-on. And I bet stumbling on this live in a sweaty basement in Brooklyn in my 20s would have been tons of fun. But god damn, it's the same shouty rhyme-y gang-y delivery over it all that just wears on me. I'm giving it a 3, but that's rounding up from a 2.something.

I want to like the Beasties more than I do. I dig how eclectic and adventurous this album is, but at the same time, I rarely feel that these explorations yield anything profound. Most of the instrumentals, for example, feel more noodly than interesting. Also, their vocal delivery often annoys me. And I never understand what they're saying. Having said that, some of these songs just fucking slay. I really enjoyed "Eugene's Lament," and the final three songs, which reminded me of some of Miles Davis' fusion albums. And then there's "Sabotage," which is in a league of its own. There's a roller coaster at Universal Studios where you can choose a song to listen to while you ride. Sabotage is one of the choices and is perfectly synced to the ride. So I always associate plummeting down that final hill when the boys yell at 1:52.

I love the Beastie Boys; however this album isn’t my favorite. For Sabatoge alone this album deserves to be on the list. I’d say is a 3.8 In case our group doesn’t know…the Beastie Boys opened up for Madonna’s The Virgin Tour…her first tour to promote Like a Virgin and Madonna. The crowd didn’t take too kindly to the Boys and it’s fun to hear them tell some stories from this time.

I think 1 hour is more than enough to prove that you mastered the art of sampling and that you can now make compelling beats and loops. Congratulations. However, I suggest you stop shouting. Seriously, I already dig it in "License to Ill". Even the i-word is retained here, lol.

Great album. Not AS great as License to Ill, but still solid. It's clear that Kid Rock tried (and failed) to emulate this album with a lot of his early stuff, but I won't blame "the Boys" for Kid Rock. He was bound to happen.

I loved how different instruments were used and intertwined in some songs. "Sabotage" was understandably the single. Decent album, an interesting take on an r&b/hip-hop record. 3/5

I put this LP in very high regard, and would rate it as nearly perfect in some ways. However in context I would disagree with this selection among those in Beastie Boys’ cannon in favor of Check Your Head. To me, that was a far more revolutionary release and radical departure for the band, and Ill Communication was really, as fantastic as it is, more of a continuation of those same ideas.

This is pretty run of the mill Beastie Boys, Great stuff but also a lot of mediocre and nothing too wild. The flow is great though, some nice instrumentals spaced in between, great sampling. Towards the end it's just dragging a bit too much Key tracks: Sure Shot, Tough Guy, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Flute Loop, Do It, Ricky's Theme 7.5 out of 10

1-2 Oh My God! So much of this takes me back to Monday and Wednesday nights at the Ritz. Jumping off the stage to Sabotage (that video!), plus Root Down, Get it Together (Q-Tip!) and of course Sure Shot, which I got a second life from when I later discovered all the Blue Note stuff they'd pilfered from to genius effect. Jeremy Steig's Howling For Judy, is just an absolute gem. Such variation. Love the funky jams in the middle like Futterman's Rule. That said, the album does wander considerably far from where we were during the first 9 tracks at that point and doesn't come back for a while. Then it wanders away again. Essentially two different albums smooshed together. We're back red hot with Flute Loop. I'm a sucker for these jazz samples. Also enjoy the throwbacks to their start out as a thrash punk outfit. So, it suffers a fair bit through the classic CD era failure to edit. I'd drop Alright Hear This, The Scoop and a couple others to a B-side personally. Not Ricky's Theme though, that is low key ace. As is Bodhisattva Vow. Not sure you need the whole 3 mins 40 of Shambala as a lead-in to it. Mind you that is very good, but this is the issue with too long albums, you're kind of done with stuff like that by the time it comes around. Overall though, excellent, and aged well.

Shambalaaaa nije moj dir al nije bilo lose slusat

It's probably my favorite offering from the Beastie Boys up to this point. It's got a groove and I can't get that out of my head, that's a good thing.

Nnnniiice

Love an album with good transitions! Though I found much of it to sound monotonous on my first listen, I eventually came to appreciate a few songs after listening a few more times. Highlights: Root Down Flute Loop

Beastie Boys but with some of that 90s messy brownness going on. Can dig it but wouldn’t pick it every day.

Watched too much futurama growing up to not like Beastie Boys. It is good shit. Continuing in trend of rating white boy rap though :/

This album is a pure 5 - every song slaps like mad. Futterman's rule is especially sick

Eh.

Classic Beastie Boys material. Not as good as Paul’s Boutique but still an awesome record. nice Q-Tip feature - 4/5.

This is my jam! Few artists are as versatile as Beastie Boys!

Nice one the best is Shute shot

this album must be one of the most unique albums on this list. i was excited for my favorite beastie boys song ("sabotage"), but this album is so much more than that. "sabotage" barely begins to cover the diversity and depth the beastie boys included in ill communication. there's their usual punk and rap, but the jazz and funk aspects are a surprising yet delightful change of pace. the few instrumentals are also a fascinating listen. the violin is so eerie in "eugene's lament"! the flute in "flute loop"? unexpected instruments but with great results. the whole album seems oozing with creativity while being lots of fun, which is what the beastie boys do best.

I was surprised at just how jazzy-funky this album was! It's interesting to consider how unique this still sounds in 2023; I can only imagine the uniqueness of it back in 1994! I'm no Beastie Boys expert, but this album seems even a little out of the norm for them. I am more of a Beastie Boys singles kind of appreciator, but while this album was not entirely my thing, I was definitely captivated by the all around uniqueness of it. Definitely a worthy entry on this list!

Flera klassiks här men int lika bra som Paul's Boutique (★★★★★)

An eclectic mix of grimy jazz atmosphere tracks, dirty funk tracks and an assortment of other styles. Quite cool :)

Bra skiva men behöver dessa vitgossar verkligen 3 skivor på listan?

Solid album, I was a bit skeptikal about that album and the beastie boys overall but I wasn't expecting this. The vibe is quite old school but I really like the overall simple production with boom bap and this squad kicking feeling if that make any sense. I'm really well surprised. Love Flute Loop and Get It Together with Q-tip. THe instrumental tracks are also great. Solid 4.5 /5

What a unique album!!! Different styles, sonorities, voices... Everything is there yet nothing is wrong!!! Uniqueness also in how good things are used to make you hear the music!! Very solid 4.5/5

It just hit me on this listen how amazing this album is. The funk with the hip hop is out of control in a perfect way. Licensed to Ill was a 5, Ill Comm feels like a stronger album. So obviously S tier 5! Also the instrumentals on this album are unexpectedly tasty. TBz 1. Sabotage 2. Root Down 3. Sure Shot 4. Get It Together 5. The Update

Always enjoyed it

Already in my collection. A bit more experimental with different music styles, but still a good listen.

Cool as fuck

Probably the Beastie's magnum opus, though the second side loses the plot with a lot of filler and what seem like unfinished cuts. The strength of the singles alone are enough to call this a classic though.

Great rhymes and the classic Beastie flow with three MCs trading lines like they have been doing this since they were teenagers. Musically, Ill Communication fits so well between Check Your Head and Hello Nasty in the continuing evolution of the group's sound. At the time, this record sounded like the end game for the Beastie's style - especially because it would be four years until they released a follow up album. When this record first came out I thought the noisy/scratchy beat samples sounded so cool. In 2022 they still sound cool. Ill Communication also mixes in jazz instrumentals and hardcore tracks which would be completely out of place on a hip hop record but somehow they work.

Alright, not the greatest

Liked this a lot. Never really gave the Beastie Boys a proper chance before. Solid music, well done, not 1% over-hyped.

It’s a sabatoge!!

Inspiration for a lot of future music.

niet wat ik had verwacht maar wel een vibe, hard

Love, kende vooral de grote hits maar album is echt veel meer versatile dan ik dacht

Ik kon de implementatie van throat singing tegen het einde van het album wel waarderen. Ervoer de rest wel als veel van het zelfde

I listened only a little. It's not my piece of cake.

Some classics on here but not every song was a winner.

I had fun with this one.

Great album. I love everything the Beasties did. The mash potatoes line gets me every time.

I love the instrumentals and the production. The rap unfortunately feels like a parody to me at times with how often their style gets spoofed in the media. I can see how it was ground breaking once, but it keeps me back from listening to it on my own.

Excellent

The communication here is very ill.

Loved the overall sound and music - the vocals for the Beastie Boys are always a little muddled. But based on vibes alone it was a great listen.

I wasn't ready for the diversity of sounds on this album. Of course I've heard the radio hits, but the deeper cuts were more Jazz than Rap. A few times I had to check to make sure I was still listening to the right album. Really enjoyed it.

This album was great and unexpected. I went into this not realizing that I was about to listen to a hip-hop jazz album. It was surprisingly easy to listen to.

Great album by the Beastie Boys. Great opening to the album and Sabotage is just great. Watch this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ5yKJlhbiA

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Not really, I don’t understand the theme or direction when you have like 35 minutes of filler with just amazing songs in between? Favourite song: Track 6 - Sabotage

More sampling, fewer live instruments and very eclectic.

Phenomenal. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard an album quite like it. It combines such an eclectic mix of styles and somehow sequences them into a cohesive listening experience. Hip-hop is the predominant genre. "Root Down" has some of the best rapping I've heard from The Beastie Boys and the Q-Tip collab "Get It Together" was a highlight. But there's also a lot of hard rock. "Sabotage" is a classic. And I enjoyed the two noisy punk rock tracks, "Tough Guy" and "Heart Attack Man" (this one even turns into midtempo metal sludge for a moment). There's also a ton of jazz and funk infused into the music. (The flute sample on "Sure Shot" is gold. One of those beats I could listen to on loop for hours.) There are some incredible instrumental tracks (like "Futterman's Rule") that combine everything together for some awesome jams. I checked out the album credits, expecting to see a long list of samples and was surprised to find that a large portion of this album features live instrumentation. A little digging shows there’s a fair amount of sampling too but I’m impressed by how much is newly recorded. The Beasties could have been a jazz-rock fusion band if they wanted to!

I swear, Beastie Boys have been popping up in my life SO much recently. Like four or five times I've heard someone mention them within the past month. Glad we got them on here! This album is killer. "Sabotage" could be a solo song on an album and it would have a spot on this list because of how great it is. Wow, listening to this album I am continually blown away. Genre-bending, exciting, funky, authentic, raw, and fun. It's not even that the music switches genres and it's amazing for doing that; each genre is done so impressively well, and somehow they manage to keep it all in one consistent sound in the context of the rest of the record. This is such an easy 5/5 for me. One of my favorites so far.

Sabotage!!!!!

"Sure shot" is one of my all-time favorites and still runs near the top of my most-played tracks year after year. The overall album breaks some new ground incorporating live instruments to varying degrees of effect. I didn't like them at first tbh, but I've warmed up to them as years have gone by. What impressed me the most about this album was the (continued) impressive use of digging and sampling to make truly unique and fresh beats.

Exemplary album of the 90's rock/rap genre. Root Down has really shows that their sound extends beyond the heavy and also delves into the funky and soul sounds. Despite this more easy song, the transition into sabotage, which is almost Motorhead like, is executed well. Ricky's Theme is a nice intermission with some room to breath for the listener. Liked the album, but it was way too long to enjoy in one session.

The sound of 1994 for me. I can’t be objective about it. I love every left turn no matter how questionable. They tuned up all their previous phases and turned out an epic feast. It seemed to cover every possible aspect of my life in some way: playing an absurd amount of basketball (badly but with a certain flair), trying meet girls, broadening my musical horizons, working on being a better person, just goofing off with friends. I might actually love Paul’s Boutique or Check Your Head more, but this one is peak Beastie Boys for me in many ways.

The Beastie Boys at last become Beastie Men. The subject matter is more mature, but the wordplay is still tongue-twisting and the sampling is still expertly layered.

Perfect. I loved this when it came out and it was great to enjoy it again. A lot of energy and fun conveyed by the Boys.

Pretty good loved the instrumentals and some good features solid album I’d give a light 7

Lekker

'Because I drive like a maniac on the streets and I don't give a fuck 'cause I’ve got the beats' Die hebben ze en die zijn ook echt goed!

Vet hor!

Beste Beastie Boys album. Geweldige mix tussen hip-hop en gitaarmuziek. Blijft nog altijd heel goed overeind.

Fijn!

Classic. Brings me back to my teenage years. Five stars maybe back then, but not something I could sit through now. I will enjoy a full listen 10 years from now.

Oh, my god. I was so interested to see where this went. The album starts off with Sure Shot which sounds like it could have been on an A Tribe Called Quest album, and then Tough Guy immediately after that just sounds like a punk-ish romp to me. Album stays hip-hop through the next few songs until Sabotage which, honestly, I don't really consider hip-hop at all (I'm sure most don't). From that point forward, I'm not even sure I can really describe where it went. I didn't really know what to expect, and I was still surprised. Almost feel weird rating this one at all. Standouts: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Flute Loop, Heart Attack Man

Ah perfectly good, exactly what you'd expect, edgy, almost unpleasant, utterly unique white guy hip-hop. Great to run to but awful to live to.

Meh! Hip hop is really not my thing. Some is OK, this is average, nothing special at all

no es mi estilo 6.5/10

And this was when it all came together again, at least in a commercial sense, but I'd suggest that went hand-in-hand with the group's realization of what it aimed to be in the world. 'License to Ill' was the raucous debut that put the boys on the map. Then they did some existential roaming and soul searching through the wildernesses of 'Check Your Head' and 'Paul's Boutique'. What they found out there was a significantly evolved sense of self and identity and that came through in a way that nearly everyone could connect with. Sure, they still had the rough edges ('Tough Guy', 'Sabotage'), and moderately childish demeanor ('Heart Attack Man') that people first knew them by, but their expanded influences ('Sabrosa', 'Flute Loop', 'Bodhisattva Vow', really almost the rest of the album) and their resulting applications and translations proved that they had come into something well beyond where they started. That growth, that change, that evolution is exactly the kind of metamorphosis that I think merits a band having multiple albums on this list.

oh wow, this was a rollercoaster ride. smooth, funky, punkish, jazzy, beats galore. I had no idea this album was this entertaining. granted, it's on a downward slope towards the second half, but still good enough for me. definitely did not expect groovy instrumental tracks on a rap album: Sabrosa, Ricky's theme and even Flute Loop for the most part. added bonus: so THIS is where the Prodigy got the sample for funky shit :). It caught me completely by surprise in the middle of Root Down this album is a keeper. goes in the collection

They have to keep sending out these albums I have never heard of before. It's getting ridiculous. Seriously, can't tell you how many times I have listened to this album when it came out. Forget "Sabotage," every track on this album and "Paul's Boutique" pretty much solidifies for me Beastie Boys as their two best albums. I now go to their lesser played tracks, like "Get It Together" as one that I play numerous times. Q-Tip's contributions to this track work so well. The instrumentals... some of them are my favorites of all time. "Ricky's Theme" is such a chill tune. I get very reflective hearing it every time. I think the only song that is a little too goofy is "B-Boy Making With The P Freak", but it still has good spots in it. This album is probably one of my top 10 of all time, so there's no way I'm giving it anything lower than a 5. Am I biased? The guy who has their book, the Sabotage action figures and every album of theirs? Probably. But you can't deny how good this album is. You just can't.

I definitely remember when this album came out and my friends owning it and playing it. But listening to it, I only recall Sabotage (a stone cold classic and all the more impressive now that I know they played their own instruments on it) and Sure Shot (a great tune in it's own right). But I realize now this album is not really about Sabotage, which feels like rap rock. It's more about Sure Shot, which feels like jazz fusion overlaid with hip-hop and rap. There are others like the latter with more of a hip-hop edge, like B-Boys (and now I know why a friend stuck his Prince Albert in our potato salad at a party 20 years ago). But this is not a hip-hop album. And if you get that then you can really appreciate it for what it is; an eclectic jazz album. Bobo on the Corner and Root Down feel like jazz percussion. Get it Together and Sabrosa feel like funk and jazz and they both kick serious ass. Q-tip is a great add to the former and the musical stylings in the latter are like vintage Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield (just awesome). The Update and Futterman's Rule are some sort of combination of these four, though a little bit boring. And that's my one gripe with this album. It's a bit uneven. For all the musical chops, innovation, and ambition they display (mad respect) there are a few too many snoozers. On the second half, especially. It starts off great - Alright Hear This and Do It have a cool hip-hop sound while Eugene's Lament (that violin!) and Flute Loop (that flute!) are incredible. But after that it's kind of meh, except maybe for Shambala with it's very interesting and eclectic jazz sounds. Honestly, on first listen I thought it was average. But as I listened to it a few more times I really understood how unique and complex it was, and how talented these guys are. A few of those holes in the album still tugged at me, though I was getting close to a 5.

This album oozes cool. Great tracks throughout including Sabotage - one of the coolest songs ever. Also enjoyed all the musical interludes. Easy 5.

Instrumentals are good/interesting enough to be their own project, but in the context of the album, they kill the energy. Some amazing cuts on this one, though.

One of my favourite albums. It got released at just the right for me and for a couple of years the Beastie Boys were just about the coolest guys to grace the planet. Blending punk, funk, hip hop and bosanova this is a record collection on one disc.

Ww

Pretty solid, multiple tracks brought the hype. But too many instrumentals. And sometimes the distorted vocals were too much for too long.

A little bit of Beastie Boys goes a long way. A whole album is just a bit too far.

Cuarto álbum de estudio del grupo neoyorkino, en el cual impresiona lo bien fusionado de los géneros que lo componen. Hip Hop Alt, Hardcore Punk, Jazz Funk, y otros tantos nombres que se les podría dar a la abarcativa fórmula que los Beasties usaron para este álbum que impactó en los 90's. Todo se construye sobre una raíz hiphopera bien clásica, pero con bases innovadoras y que se nota que está interpretada con instrumentos reales. Es interesante esa impronta que, aunque están haciendo vanguardia e innovando con muchísimas mezclas, las interpretaciones sean con músicos. A esto se le suma el turntablism que es un detalle increíble por lo bien usado que está, y por cómo suma al resultado. A la base hiphopera se le va sumando el resto: interludios rockeados, canciones punk, y hasta temas instrumentales con tintes jazzeros o percusión africana. A ese punto llega la catarata de sonidos que se usa en este trabajo tan bien cuidado y en el cual abundan los detalles. La producción estuvo a cargo del grupo + Mario Caldato Jr, un productor brasileño el cuál tuvo un trabajo increíble haciendo este álbum, el cuál suena de una forma increíblemente cuidada y con cada cosa en su lugar.

Classic. Taught me many new words and things when I listened to it as a child

A bit long, but some bangers nonetheless

High energy, liking it so far but could get repetitive I like Eugene’s lament, it mixes it up

Really enjoyed this album. First time listening. Beats are incredible and the congas/bongos in a few of the tracks add an entirely different flavor.

3.6 - Was excited to hear what I’d been missing. I remember Beavis and Butthead getting hyped about the video for “Sabotage.” Too many instrumentals. Also too much vocal distortion, which makes it hard to decipher what they’re rapping.

"Sabotage" the best, most known song on the album and also really loved "Get It Together". Surprised to hear so many instrumental tracks and I do think the album is a bit too long because of it. 8/10.

Hip hip con mucho jazz, muy bueno. También es cierto que sin Miles Davis esto no hubiera podido ser.

I enjoyed the album and think it was just above average but not fully a 4/5. I feel like something was missing but i’m not entirely sure what that is, but I still enjoyed it more than I thought I would have.

A little abrasive at times - certainly by design - but the funk and groove in these beats are undeniable. I'm especially drawn to the excessive live instrumentation used (e.g. fuzz bass, drums/percussion) which makes a *huge* difference in terms of overall groove. Hip-hop/rap might not be my expertise but this just kinda rocks (aside from the throwaway thrash tracks - definitely not my bag) and having known nothing outside of "Sabotage" I was surprised and thrilled with the funk and even the instrumentals. Definite keeper. 8/10 4 stars.

A surprisingly varied, interesting album. I enjoyed it.

I didn't like this - too repetitive and not as much fun as earlier Beastie Boys albums.

-S Tier- Sure Shot Root Down Sabotage Get It Together Ricky’s Theme The Scoop -A Tier- B-boys Makin’ with the Freak Freak The Update Alright Hear This Flute Loop Do It -B Tier- Sabrosa Futterman’s Rule Eugene’s Lament Heart Attack Man Bodhisattva Vow Transitions -C Tier- Shambala AVG SCORE: 3.9 / 5

The 4 run of albums from Paul's Boutique to Hello Nasty are really good. This one is pleasingly diverse, with crunching, funky pots of treasure. Great stuff.

Hells to tha yeah, this is the shiznit. Six stars.

Un popurrí de hip-hop, jazz, funk... Un 4.

Pretty beastly

In which Beastie Boys take us on a tour of their record collection, featuring samples from gems such as "Root Down (And Get It)" by Jimmy Smith, Jeremy Steig's "Howlin' For Judy" (dig that jazz flute) and "Headless Heroes" by Eugene McDaniels. It’s a joy hearing the trio swapping verses in full flow over catchy hooks and heavy beats. There’s an enthusiasm and love for life present throughout, rare in a hip hop record - if this even is a hip hop record with its diversion into rock (the peerless Sabotage) and acid funk jazz fusion jams, mostly instrumental and sounding really freaking awesome for the most part. And despite this cut and paste melange of styles the production is excellent and maintains a consistent mood and vibe throughout. As much as anything, the Beasties had great taste and it shines through in the music they made. A far cry from the brattish teenagers of Licensed to Ill, here are fine artists and musicians delivering a top notch and unique record. RIP MCA. You are very much missed.

The boys at it again with another masterpiece, but entirely different from the sampledelic approach of Paul's Boutique. Here they take an aggressive blend of a million different genres, primarily hip hop, punk, jazz, and rock in that order, among a million others. 20 songs in an hour, each with a unique style, yet all with a consistent energy that is carried from one to the next. I'm always excited for the next song, and a lot of them link together perfectly. Features contributions by the legendary Q-Tip and Biz Markie. There's so much going on in each song too; none of them are just gimmicks. I genuinely love every minute of it, but I can how viewers can be pushed away by the abrasiveness of certain tracks. It's a fun and crazy album with a lot to love and little to hate. Tons of memorable tracks and strange styles you couldn't find on any other album.

Classic

Legendary. Great sound and a perfect mix between hits and experimental tracks. Excellent.

Listened to this a lot. Really enjoyed it.

There's very little a actually enjoy about this album... the instrumentals might actually be a highlight, which made me realize that i really don't like their rapping style or voices. Every Sabotage is a bit weary... though that intro lick is amazing.

It's got Root Down, it's got Sabotage, what more could you want? ...That's not enough? Well, every track is a banger. It's the Beastie Boys, what did you even expect? This album made me commit grand larceny on at least three grandmas.

meh

Their opus

Easily my favorite Beastie Boys album (but their best remains Paul's Boutique). A little bit of novelty, seriousness, and avant-garde experimentation that keeps things interesting. This was at the height of their powers in terms of sampling and playing their own instruments. It's tight and sonically intense. How many kinds of albums are there that have songs that feel as goofy and as threatening as some of these? It also showcases their hardcore punk roots. This is essential listening, huge in every way, and these guys have shown and been given massive respect in the hip-hop and punk scenes where everything started for the new wave of US music in the '80s and '90s. People writing on here need to get off their high horse about their inclusion on the list. These guys probably gave more props and credit to Black hip-hop artists than any white hip-hop artist from the same time period (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). Watch their speech at the 1999 VMAs for their win on "Intergalactic" as proof. Pioneers and gentlemen all the way. 4.5 stars.

It was pretty good, not my scene. Real funky at times but very 90’s. 8/10

I'm unsure how to feel about this album. Some of the back beats on this album are pretty good, but my issue is that I end up enjoying the back beats more than the rap. But then, on the instrumental pieces, I find myself a bit bored. I'm sure the raps are lyrically impressive, but they generally don't stand out to me. I know Sabotage is the big song off of this album, but I don't really care for it. Still, this album definitely has a lot of interesting sounds. It's rather eclectic. It makes me a bit sad that I got this Beastie Boys album before any others, because I won't get to see how their music evolved to this. I doubt it, but maybe I'd like a different album of theirs more. Maybe I just don't understand Beastie Boys. My favourite song was Get It Together.

hip hop h h h HUMPUTUS !! on tässä hyvää... rokki t on vähän heikompi tässä pärjäisi njos olisi ilman! paras biisi : root down

- Beats sind sehr cool. - Stimmen der Beastie Boys muss man mögen. - Einige Songs irgendwie nervig.

good

Didn’t really like Licensed to Ill but this one is much better.

Like the soundtrack to my formative years this one pumps from the speakers like a mission from God

Flere sterke låter, men helheten blir litt kjedelig og monoton. Ofte kult sound, da.

Interesting, wasn't expecting the more rock-focused songs. This album rips. Cool instrumentation. 3.5 stars

Hip hop. Rock

quite literally hurts my ears, and I'm hungry and my ears and stomach feel attached by the tendons and I wanna be high :/. I don't figure what I could do to lessen it, but IT MUST be background music, no headphones in or super low. The beats and musicians' sound quality are so supreme, It could be live. The craziest bar and everyone are joyous. You're in the washroom and drunk off life, but your ears are ringing and you'll sleep well. But with my headphones? Horrible and soul-sucking and needs to be turned down and put on a speaker. But once that happens, life changes :D, all is well and it actually makes everything in your day happier than it genuinely needs to be, almost Im-productive-ly so. How will I go on? I don't think it needs another listen.

Sure Shot and Sabotage are the forever standouts from this album, but I also surprisingly enjoyed Flute Loop and The Scoop. I did not enjoy the Gregorian chanting of Eugene’s lament and shambala, nor the musical stylings of heart attack man or tough guy. I was shocked to find the instrumental bobo on the corner, as I didn’t know beastie boys had ever experimented like that.