Reviews (page 14 of 15)
I consider myself a Beastie Boys fan so this was an enjoyable listen. Obviously "Sabotage" was a banger, but I found myself really enjoying "Get It Together" and "Sure Shot". Some interesting almost punk rock vibes on some of the other tracks as well. Great album.
Oh my God, that's some funky shit! I didn't even need to listen to this album to give it five stars, but I did anyway, because it's not only a fantastic album, but a well-rounded one to boot. It's got classic tracks like "Sure Shot," "Sabotage," "Get It Together," and "Alright Hear This," plus some of their best instrumental stuff, like "Sabrosa," "Shambala," and "Transitions." And let's not forget <insert basically any other track here>. It doesn't really get better than this.
Peak Beastie Boys
Though Paul's Boutique is my all time favourite Beastie Boys album, Ill Communication will always be a favourite. Never afraid to change things up and experiment there's so much great stuff on here.
Perfect. Every cut is good and the variety of tracks is utter vibe candy.
Well that's a fun album. A lot of nostalgia there. I probably still have that CD kicking around somewhere.
Pretty solid album. I’ve definitely unfairly written off the beastie boys in the past, but this album is pretty good old school hiphop/rock. My only gripe is that the album is a little long for the number of ideas it’s bringing
i’m definitely biased here, i’ve never been a fan of the beastie boys. giving this a 3 because i don’t think i can fairly rate it and the technical aspects are solid
nah
Heard it. Already love it. Looking forward to a nice re-listen.
Forstår at dette kan være kult. Men jeg klarer ikke digge det.
Likte ikke dette i det hele tatt. Ga meg en følelse av fredag ,og jeg var klar for helgen, men så var det bare torsdag. Veldig skuffende. Ellers, helt topp! Terningkast ja.
Ååå herregud så sinnsykt bra. Metall, hip hop, funk og jazz. så progressivt og så variert. Et av de beste albumene jeg noe sinne har hørt på en evighet. Hvis beastie boys skal ut på turne, er signer jeg up.
It is the perfect blend of hard hitting rock, rap and funk. There is not one single song that felt out of place. The final track draws everything to a close with a smooth jazzy groove
Pasabog.
Love this
classic
10 tracks in: Really cool sound n great to hear the classics (sabotage). Some of the tracks are a bit of a slog just because they sound similar, but that qtip feature fit perfect w this sound n woke me up. Feel like this album is better in pieces than all at once. Finished + next day: it’s a really cool sound but everything I said above pretty much stands. Way too many instrumental tracks/interludes but did break up the songs nice
Love it. Always have
Gangsters wanne be wibe
Okey, some background music but not my fav
08/31/2022 Retrospective listen, missed this one when it was first assigned to me. It was actually a lot better than I was expecting it to be. Pretty experimental for its time. Also you can't tell me that Rage Against Their Machine didn't get their musical style directly from these guys. Not sure if I would listen to the whole album again, but nevertheless I enjoyed listening to it.
not my cup of tea definitively
Great energy in this album and Sabotage is an all time get pumped song.
cool
Lots of different sounding songs to bring you back in if you start drifting. 👍
wasnt entirely to my taste, some song were good others the beat and lyrical tempo were off to me
Sure shot: 6 Tough guy: 0 B boys: 4 hard to understand Half the album is kinda mid as hell Sabatoge is good and that's about it Heart attack is the most out of place song on the album by far Shbambala is weirdest track Bodhisattva is pretty dope
Outside of the single there’s still some really well written, and well crafted songs on this mid-90s Beastie joint. That single is a Goliath in their catalogue though!
They fought for my right to party
-"Tough Guy" is definitely punk influenced -"Bobo On The Corner" was cool cuz it was instrumental -The instrumental on "Sabotage" was super heavy
has its moments
not their best album for sure
I knew some of the classics on this album but hearing the album cuts for the first time was great. The interludes were amazing, features were great and the BBs were getting it in at the time.
Have already been listening to it for years. Great album.
Gostei bastante, uma banda que não conhecia muito. Achei um ótimo álbum. Melhores músicas: Sabotage, The Update e Flute Loop.
Pour vrai, c'est malade cet album ,ca s'écoute tellement bien et leur style est incroyable. Vraiment je n'vais jamais écouté les beastie boys et je suis charmé par leur musique de plus en plus. 5
Decent and fun album with a lot of groovy tracks.
Lotta long albums lately, huh? Sabotage and Sure Shot aside, not a lot on here excited me. There wasn't as much playfulness as I was expecting (except the start of Heart Attack Man). I guess this album was intended to be more experimental, but I found the experiments pretty hit and miss: a few interesting bits of production, but also plenty of blandness. 2.5
Ill Communication is the fourth album by the American hip-hop group Beastie Boys. It's the group's second album to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart as well as their second album to earn triple platinum certification in the US. The album was popular with critics and fans throughout the mid to late 90's. With this album the group continued their transition from sampling to live instruments, and this album also has greater variation in its genre influences. The music is still primarily hip-hop which enables rapping to flow with it, but one can also hear hints of punk rock, jazz, and funk. It was a great album to listen to and I'm looking forward to other Beastie Boys albums on this 1000 albums journey.
Favourite Beastie Boys album. Hits a great feel between funky/hiphop/punk. Too many tracks for a perfect album with a lot of filler tracks. First half of the album is really strong.
Not the world's biggest beastie boys fan, but this album is pretty classic.
I have a feeling The Beastie Boys had even more fun making this record than some of their previous (better) ones, but it's not nearly as fun to listen to this record as the others. Obviously, Sabotage is a standout. Not bad at all and, in fact, I'd still call this a pretty powerful record overall, but it's the third best of the three in the 1001 list.
A couple songs were kinda medium, but mostly bangers!
BB was not on my 90s playlist. Seems like easy listening at this point
Ooohheee. I knew this from my sisters playing it when i was young. Thought i would like it, but didn't think it would be this good. Really progresses well through the album, never gets boring.
I'm not a huge fan of their shout rapping, but the samples and the flow of the songs is fantastic and in the end I can just treat the rapping as percussion.
A bit overlong, but still an enjoyable listen. The mixture of the outfit's usual ferocious yet tongue-in-cheek bars plus the genre experimentation between rap and punk yields a Beastie Boys product that is at once familiar yet experimental and refreshing.
A classic.
Pretty good, but it was hard to get a feel for the album other than a vibe
Nice! Loved the energy and genre hopping. Sabotage still a GOAT track.
It sounds radical, has some good tunes on it, but one of the rappers sounds like a really obnoxious version of Zack de la Rocha. It's a 3/5 since it has some sick tunes, is well made, but just isn't my cup of tea.
It's not that I dislike hip-hop music, I find I detest it. This one, though, isn't hip-hop as much as it is music. And good music at that: very jazzy, sometimes rocky, and yes, occasionally annoying to one extent or another (mostly the so called singing). But always creative and original. I just love it. I wish there were more like it. Favourite track: Sabotage probably gets all the credit, but Futterman's Rule is pretty much my definition of an ultimate track.
Even the deep cuts are solid.
My favorite Beastie album is Check Your Head, but Ill Communication is a close second. Amazing lyrics, samples, and they doubled down on the cool funk jazz stuff. 5/5
Sure was a good hip hop album when released. But modern rap just far eclipses this
Average.
A lot of good songs in the first half. It dries up a lot in the second. The voice modulation gimmick gets old pretty fast. Don’t mind listening to the hits every once in a while but the album as a whole isn’t going to be in my rota any time soon. 3.5 stars
nice
Beastie Boys always a 10/10.
Like many who expected the Beastie's to continue in the tradition of Licensed, I was initially disappointed when this first came out. Over the years, I've come to appreciate the varying styles and experimentation. Much respect for them to pretty much do whatever the hell they wanted to do and be successful at it.
Obra maestra.
My first repeat artist…after 43 albums. I liked this. Having just learned to Licensed to Ill recently, it is obvious their sound had matured in the eight years between that and this. I appreciated the instrumental interludes between the rapping. As much as I like The Beastie Boys, they’re a bit much when it’s track after track. That said, I do prefer the lesser refined sound from Licensed to Ill.
It was a five even before "Sabotage" hit. Everything about it is fire. This is the best Beastie. Fight me.
Hm.
i’m a beastie girl
Unfortunately, all this reminds me of are the 'tough' kids in middle school who would just scream out the lyrics to Beastie Boys songs like they were some kind of badass. It wasn't badass, it was cringe. This album isn't badass, it's cringe.
Un classique. Selon moi c’est le plus authentique des albums du groupe et probablement le plus populaire grâce entre autre à Sabotage. Et en terme de montage de chansons avec des samplings, Sure Shot, Root Down et Flute Loop sont des réussites en tout point. Un album auquel je reviens régulièrement.
Not my type of music at all!
Kind of a revelation. They are much more than rap rock and I had no idea. Live instruments, multiple instrumentals, genre-hopping, very diverse.
Can't stop!
Hell ye
Det var bra!
hz noice
I just love this style (I first discovered Ice cube, which I love, and now this !)
Heilt á litið mjög skemmtileg plata, með mörgum góðum lögum og fínu grúvi, en það læðast þarna smá læti með sem ég er ekki að dansa við.
The textures make the record, the mix of beats, samples and live playing – especially the live playing. A lot to dig. Fun to hear Q-tip in this context.
not much to say, some songs only
Classic, but with more instrumentals than I would have expected and only one song I knew beforehand. Really enjoyed it though, sounds like a band at the top of their game.
Enjoyed this much more than i thought i would
Great album. Some really addictive beats. Some Beastie albums are hit and miss for me, but this is a classic.
There were two rules for music in my moms car, if Jack White comes on you have to call him a musical genius and if the Beastie Boys come on you crank the volume. So that is exactly what I did today. While this isn't my favorite of their album it is still a great listen and contains some deep cuts I haven't heard in years. I thoroughly enjoy getting the chance to re-listen to albums I've loved my entire life.
3/5 Was a fun album to listen to, a variety of jazz, punk rock, and a bit of reggae in there too. It was versatile and a fun album.
Thought it was a bit boring, skip listened to most of the tracks.
The only album so far where I've intentionally listened to the "extended" version.
Een heel gevarieerd album inderdaad. Van duidelijke hiphop naar steenharde rock naar een beetje funk. Ook de instrumentale nummers zijn zeer aangenaam om naar te luisteren. Ik kon dit album ten volle smaken!
Solid stuff, weirdly enjoyed the intramentals more
It was good, but not as good as I expected, the fact that Qtip is here is worth a star alone
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!
sure shots and occasional misfires
A crisp as album. “Got fat bass lines like Russell Simmons steals money." Love that shit. But there is like some really interesting punk sounds on this thing. Like heart attack man, Super fucking stands out to me. I think it makes sense honestly.
I have determined that there are a few Beastie Boy camps. I am in the Licensed to Ill was great, but Paul’s Boutique was awesome. I was on entirely on board with the latter’s retro-funk and innovative (and extensive) use of samples, and somewhat less of a fan of the sophomoric elements on their debut. Also important was the maturation and evolution in each of their early releases, through Check Your Head . This leads me to this, their fourth release. I enjoyed this when it was released, but it represented a slow down (perhaps inevitable) in the evolutionary progression. This resulted in a somewhat uneven release that gets played less that the two that preceded it.
I really don't like the fuzz over all of the vocals. I like the instrumentals on this album better than the songs with lyrics. A lot of this could have been original punk with cleaner language. Not my cup of tea.
This was a LOT of sound for a Monday morning. Sure shot was a great opener, and Sabotage is the best rap/punk fusion I can think of aside from Rage Against the Machine. The rest of the album however was not great for me. It felt cluttered and annoying. Though I get that the Beastie Boy’s were showing that they could actually play instruments too, which is fine, I don’t think the fusion of styles worked on the rest of the album as well as it did on Sabotage.
Was looking forward to this, having not heard much Beastie Boys stuff down the years. I loved Intergalactic, but nothing on this album matched up to that at all.
I enjoyed the live instrumentation and diversity of sounds, but it just makes the album distorted and messy. Many of the hip hop songs sound unintelligible and no song other than Sabotage (because I know it already) stand out.
While I appreciate the more diverse background music, I still can't get behind the "yelling" aspect of their rapping and found the frequent instrumental tracks aswell as the many short songs of 2 minutes or so rather annoying and overused
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop 3/5 My second Beastie Boys album in 4 days (my algorithm is taking the piss, as the Brits would say), Ill Communication was released 8 years after their debut, Licensed to Ill. While still a great crossover project, blending rock and rap better than many other groups throughout the last 40 years or so ever did, this album isn't quite as good nor as full of energy as their debut is. While Sabotage is on here, a really great track and a huge single for them, the rest of the project flows like it doesn't really know what it's doing. We get our usual Beastie Boys jams, Sure Shot and Root Down to name a few, but a sizable chunk of this album is filled with the three boys performing entirely instrumentally, with an almost jazz/lounge feel. It unfortunately feels more like a harsh detour than an interesting diversion. It made the run of the album feel a little more like "background noise" rather than a full-on Beastie Boys album. I'm not saying they can't change it up, just personally speaking their choices didn't hit me as well as they may have hoped. When they were rapping, however, their over-emphasis on vocal disortion made it hard to discern some of their lyrics, and hard to listen to, overall. Not a bad album, though, but certainly doesn't reach the heights of their earlier projects.
Hip Hop bien rappeado que usa mezclas muy interesantes, jalando elementos de muchos estilos como el jazz o el funk. Sabotage es la que destaca y sienta las bases de los siguientes años, como en su momento lo hizo You Gotta Fight For Your Right. No es mi género favorito pero quitando la duración tampoco me costo trabajo escucharlo un par de veces. 3.5 que sube a 4.
De lo poco que conozco este es el que más me gusta de los Beastie Boys, creo que en buena medida porque es un poco menos tirado al hip hop y sampleo y en su lugar tiene más instrumentos, pero también porque el factor de ellos que nunca me ha gustado (la voz aguda/gritona) no está tan presente como en otros, o de menos se mezcla con otras. Además del obvio Sabotage, me gustaron Ricky's Theme y Sabrosa.
They had such a distinct sound. It's really surprising that they caught on, but they were smart enough to know it would. Their samples are iconic, and most importantly, they know what they are and offer no pretense. HIp-Hop can be heavily hyperbolized and degrading, but they are able to be mostly real, innovative, and take aim on interesting subjects...like Bill Laimbeer. I think Sabotage is the perfect example of what they are. It's a great track, produced perfectly and timeless. This album is way better than I expected it to be.
Fun but not as much fun as Paul's Boutique
Not my favorite album by them, but lots of good songs on here.
I listened to this album several times. SO up beat. SO fun. was very surprised. I hadn't listened to this gem before or wrote off the beastie boys way to early.
3,5; very influential, creative and great album but 20 tracks were a little bit too much for me
Goede mix van punk, jazz & hiphop 4-5
Pretty decent. A bit repetitive. Too long.
What an amazing album. Of course it's Hip Hop but it's also Punk and Jazz. Such an honest expression of ecclectic musicianship. My only complaint is that it's too long and I think this was fairly common in the age of CDs. 30-40 minutes. That's where you want your album. Double albums shouldn't be the norm, as they were in the 90s and early 2000s.
first listen definitely \"braggadocious\"
The music is great, the samples are great. Just take out the vocals and I'm all in.
This album hit the spot like a slice of New York pizza. I'm a Beastie Boys fan from beginning to end, but I think this and "Hello Nasty" are their absolute creative peak. They have matured a bit here, and are slightly more reflective in places, but they haven't lost their playful spirit. They bring so many styles together - even going back to their punk roots for perhaps the best example of a rap-rock hybrid ever with "Sabotage." One might argue that the instrumental numbers slow it down, but I think that it showcases their versatility as musicians and I appreciate the change of pace. This album is kind of all over the place but it just keeps moving. Played this alot during the summer of the boombox in the backseat.
You can tell they were sick of just doing one single thing. Definitely was surprised by the range of the album, but it doesn't really stick to anything so as an album I find it lacking. Obviously has some bangers.
This iteration of the BBoys is my favorite - them returning to their punk rock / instrumental roots. This fourth album that follows up Check Your Head to round out the 'Instrumental' portion follows their original 'party-boy-white-boy-rappers' phase, while the platform that launched them is also their weaker. The one-two of Check Your Head and Ill Communication gets to their Beatles 'experimental' phase which is the richest period. 4/5.
Another one I hated at the time, but quite enjoy now. It brings their punk/hardcore influences together with rap and the nascent hip-hop genre. I really enjoy it now.
Un popurrí de hip-hop, jazz, funk... Un 4.
Hip hop rock jazz funk. Te hace mover la cabeza. Al final se hace un poco pesado. 3
Enjoyed it
Beach boys
4 +1 for the mashed potatoes song.
Pretty great. 3.5/5 If you haven't read the Beatie Boys Book, I highly recommend it. It is interesting from start to finish. I listened to it on audible and it was even better with them reading it. This album is really good. I'd give it a higher score if I knew it better. I've listened to it several times and am still getting to know it. There are so many different sounds and styles throughout the album. It really is something interesting to listen to. I think people either love the Beastie Boys or hate them. If you are a hater, then I'd recommend getting to know them better. Their lyrics are quite intelligent (at times). Sometimes simplistic - going back to Licenced to Ill..... Standouts: Sabotage.
One thing I really like about this record is that it sounds like they just stopped caring about what would be commercially successful and did whatever they wanted to do, which was apparently lay down some chill jams, occasionally interrupted by something really frenetic. Best track: Sabotage
Beastie Boys good album if you like rap. Not like( You gotta fight for your right to party )
Enjoyed the whole album straight through, interludes/instrumental tracks as well.
This is one of my all time favorite albums.
This is the first album they made living in CA and you can hear the influence and it sounds awesome.
4.4 - fantastic album with some absolute classics and strong dose of nostalgia. Forgot how much I enjoy a lot of the instrumentals like Sambrosa, too.
No. They shouldn't have done this.
Too long (20 tracks is obviously too many), too many instrumentals (that's not really what I listen to the Beastie Boys for). Sabotage obviously a stone cold classic, and a couple of other decent songs, but no more than a 2 for me. Does get some bonus feels for reminding me how much I like Q-Tip's voice though.
It rocks and it's funky and it's jazzy. It's great
No me gusta este tipo de musiy
Actually terrible. Went into this wanting to like it but just couldn't get through it. Just some lads destroying stacks of empty tin cans and shouting.
Gem
Nothing will ever compare to Paul's Boutique but I had lost interest in them by this point.
lots of tracks and about half of them are bang on, way too cool for school
Stunning and energetic
Craziest white boys to ever do it
Almost no hooks in any song. The songs with no vocals were a good way to break up the songs of straight rappin. Forgot how good the Beastie Boys timing was. The synergy between the group is something you don't see anymore, most artists are just individuals waiting for the others part to be over so they can go. Favorite songs - Get it together, Futterman's rule, Alright hear this
A good mix of songs that have smooth and funky beats. Then you have shit like sabotage that just kick you in the balls, in a good way tho.
Towards the end I was hoping it would be over soon, but not because I didn't like it, just felt like this could've been tightened up more, I liked the instrumentals a lot, and the hip hop cuts were super solid. Overall it's a classic album and deserves the status it has attained over the decades.
My favourite Beastie Boys album 💗
It is of course a classic. Maybe a few tracks too long but it's the Beasties at their peak
Not the masterpiece of License To Ill or Check Your Head, but still a great thumpin' album. I like the guest appearance, and Sabotage is up there with their best songs.
Didn’t get to finish the album but feel I know it from Ritchie. I quite enjoyed it although it’s not something I’d seek out. 3*
Much like the Missy Elliot album really. Some good songs but also a lot of filler. Much of the songs merged into one.
Album starts brilliantly, then falls off
Didn't expect the amount of just instrumentals in this.
A perfect album - always wondered why the beastie boys are three white dudes with so much cred in hip hop - besides the Rick Rubin connection - they are artfully awesome at this - organic and honest hip hop to who they are - not white boys trying to be black
already loved it!
Everyone likes the Beastie Boys, and sabotage is one of their best songs. Heard a few others as well here. Album is a bit overly long and unfocused at times, pretty 1990s. Would be a 4 if it was only half an hour. 3/5.
While on the one hand having massive respect for the Beastie Boys, and on the other disliking hip hop with a passion, this was a very strange experience. The album contains Sabotage, which I really like, and some instrumentals with an experimental rock/funk attitude that are quite nice as well (ex.: Futterman's Rule). But I just can't bring myself to like the rest of the album's many hip hop tracks. For me, this is a 2/5.
This is one of the best albums I've ever heard in my entire (and short) life! Jesus, its perfect. Every single take is memorable, breathtaking. Simply *d o p e*!
No brainer
Slightly better than "Paul's Boutique", more melodic, I think. Still, hip-hop music and the Beastie Boys in particular are not my cup of tea.
Bom pra pilhar
Very Nice, Strong 3
This is straight fire, Some absolute bangers here, Less towards the end. 9/10
nenhuma música despertou minimamente meu interesse, tinha vontade de pular todas com poucos segundos
I've been a big fan of the Beastie Boys for many years. I'm not sure if this is my favorite, but its up there. It does admittedly lose a little steam after Get It Together but it's still good and is a very creative album. Its probably a 4 star album overall, but it gets a 5 from me for the bold choices made.
Listened before? Y Another amazing beginning to end album. These guys were so talented as a group. I hope we get some music from the remaining two someday although that looks like a long shot. RIP MCA. Added to Library? Y Songs added to Playlist: Sure Shot, Root Down
Through this project, I've listened to more Beastie Boys in the past few months than in the decades before. This album is better than the others for the most part. I'm hearing more live instruments, which I generally prefer to sampling (although sampling can be great and a lot of fun, too). There's more variety, too, in this one. I like the different styles. Overall, I'm finding there's a limit to the amount of this band's music I can listen to, but this is a good album on its own.
Newish to beastie boys. Loved it
Best Song: Get It Together. Carried by Q-Tip, although it really does remind you that you could be listening to A Tribe Called Quest instead of this. Worst Song: Heart Attack Man. Unfunny and noisy. Overall: I wasn't a fan of the Beastie Boys coming into this, and the album did little to change that. Tracks like Sabrosa and The Update prove that they can make slick, jazzy jams, but more often than not they just descend into noisy lo-fi mumbling.
Ok kinda cool but super long. Made pancakes to this and they were really good.
more chilled than I was expecting
This was the first beasties album I really listened to. Super groovy instrumental tracks really highlight the boys' musical skills.
geiler mix, old school hip hop mit nicen jazzy samples und geilem Kontrabass, und recht starken effekten auf stimme etc. Recht experimentell aber immer auf die Fresse. Plötzlich ein Punk song, plötzlich Cypress Hill, SABOTAGE wir immer geil sein - das Verzerrte Bass Riff (*Smacks Lips*). Gleichzeitig Old School (mehr als andere in 1994), aber auch modern und experimentell. Auf Dirtchamber Sessions zwischendurch da
First half is really good. Starts to sound very samey and pretty bad during the middle/end.
THE best Beasties album by a country mile. Love it.
That's a lot of music elements... amazing.
ziek
Lots to like
incroyable
Un album de Rap comme ça, aujourd'hui, c'est impensable. Prefs: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Alright Hear This, Heart Attack Man, Bodhisattva Vow Moins Pref: Flute Loop
Its a lot of fun. Would probably be 4 stars if it was 40 minutes versus 60.
Love it, great to hear real instruments playing real funk. Another album from my prime youth of the early 90s that stands up well today.
Meh
Fan of the Beastie Boys but not heard this one all the way through - pleasantly surprised, what a mix of jazz, funk/soul, punk and hiphop. Sampling is great and groovy instrumentation with distorted vocals over the top works kinda well. Something held me back from 5 stars whether it's the length, some experimental parts, or the eccentricity, but it was a tough decision!
Sabotage is a standout. Eclectic mix of styles, not my thing but can see why it's in the book
Love the BB hip hop but less keen on the other stuff
Classic
Brilliant throughout, interesting and track order is perfect.
First 3rd of the album is amazing, then gets pretty dull
It's very good but still just rap at the end of the day.
Couldn’t bring myself to dee-rrrrop them down to a 4
It was a solid album, with some pretty high highs and not many lows. It had plenty of instrumental tracks, some of which were better than the others, some of which felt much like filler. I like the experimentation which was present throughout.
I've never really listened to Beastie Boys outside of their singles and holy shit, this album is phenomenal! UPDATE: Love the jazzy interludes on this album. On the Wiki, there's a passage about how the photographer they tapped didn't quite understand the music, describing it as "a secret language." I think that's very fitting, but in a good way.
Love the BB's and this has my all time favorite in Sabotage....but the rest is just screaming, sorry 2 stars
Annoying yet also enjoyable
Good fun
Way more varied and fun than their debut, the only other full project I've heard from them. Not every song is a hit; a few succumb to the grating way their voices dig at me. But for the most part we have some fun lyrics, some absolute banger beats, and just a good time all around.
A much more aggro sound from the Beastie Boys. While it is not bad persay, it really loses the something special I enjoyed from Licensed To Ill.
Just had Paul's Boutique less than a week ago. This album feels more sprawling - on one hand it's more funky, laid-back, and instrumental and on the other it's more gritty and punk rock.
Pretty fun. 2 recognized songs
Great album upto and including "get it together". After that song, not so much. It meanders on a bit. 5 stars first half 1 star second half
I have never listened to a full Bestie Boys album before. I was surprised to find it full of jazz, funk, and rock idioms. Their blending of genre is seamless and shows where hip hop will go in 15-20 years later with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar. I was surprised and impressed. I'm still not the biggest fan of their vocal delivery style, and their flow is a bit rudimentary.
All time classic! The Beasties in the middle of their peak. All the different sounds, Sabotage, Root Down, Sabrosa, Tough Guy! They are there own genre and we are better for it.
Several great songs, a few that were only mediocre. Overall a solid album, I enjoyed going beyond the standard ones I've heard before.
While I prefer their earlier, more sample-focused work, this album still absolutely slaps. Beastie Boys are remarkably consistent.
My person favorite of the B Boys
Sick beats and classic beastie boys songs
Brash, frantic, funky... this album will slap you round the face and command you to party!
Actually a bit of a disappointment. Not a fan of the instrumentals generally. Prefer their other albums
4 for sabotage, rest was okay
This album is all over the place and I love it. They don’t make em like this anymore. Hip hop, beats, punk rock, flute solos, Tibet chants, jazz breaks. And that’s loaded up between some BANGER singles including arguably, the greatest guitar riff of the 90’s Fav tracks: “Sabotage” “Heart Attack Man” “B-Boys Makin With the Freak Freak” “Tough Guy” “Sure Shot”
No es mi estilo el rap, y menos el rap de estos muchachos.
Never listened to much beastie boys but enjoyed this a lot more than i expected to. Without trying they school many a funk rocker (take note RHCPs) in groove humor and style. From the crunch of "Sabotage" to the roots salute of "B-boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" its got the lot. 4/5
interessante Rhytmen, manchmal zu lang, manchmal zu viel auf einmal, gute Soli
Great early innovations from the Beastie Boys
The eclectic interludes and influences surprised me. Loved "get it together" with Q-tip.
Hip-hop de los 90, con ritmos un tanto parecidos, con sintetizadores y con instrumentación típica del estilo y de la época. Pioneros en su estilo. Se puede escuchar, aunque se asocia bastante a aquella época.
3 good tracks?
Great sound, fantastic instrumentals and classic songs
I understand why the Beastie Boys are popular now
When I had listened to the Beattie Boys in the past I hadn't been a big fan but I've grown to appreciate them.
Very mixed!! Love some songs with their funky beats and sexy drum solos, was that throat singing?? Some songs were very stressful with chaotic noises and some lyrics made me uncomfortable coming from a bunch of white guys
Wow this was pretty long and loads crammed in there. Some I loved, some not so much. I think overall though, I did enjoy it. Have to be in the right mood though...
I quite the Beastie Boys but I don't often choose to listen to them. However, this album was really enjoyable, really varied
A great album but a little too bloated with a couple too many instrumentals. When a record runs over an hour there's always the chance it'll contain tracks that detract or stop it being 5 star and although this is good, it needs to be a little tighter. I really liked it though and was both pleased and surprised by the eclecticism. A really enjoyable listen.
"shit, if it's gonna be that kinda party i'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatos!" Love the constant double bass presence, crazy modulation, creative percussion, woodwind. Eugene's Lament absolutely slaps out of nowhere, Flute Loops and Ricky's Theme also stood out as unique and great.
Sure Shot was a really sweet song. I didn't realize how "punky" early Beastie Boys was. Very cool mashup of punk rock and old-school hip hop. Really liked this album.
Jazzy yelling
Like it. Not something I'm used to. Depth of sound. Layers.
A1!
“This album continues the band's trend away from sampling and towards live instruments.”
Not my cup of tea. Only songs on this album that I really enjoyed were Root Down and Sabotage.
I couldn’t understand what they were saying most of the time and when I did I felt like they were just yelling the words at me. Not a fan of vocals. Not a hip hop album to get me pumped on a run
I hate it and everything about it. Any good beat is ruined by the "vocals." It's just so incoherent to me. Not a vibe.
Big change sonically from licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique but still has the unapologetic Beastie Boys vibe. Punk rock influences shine through on a handful of tracks. Essential hip hop album that made Beastie Boys the trail blazers they are. Top tracks: sure shot, Sabotage, get it together, Futtermans Rule
Fun album! Great mix of hip-hop and punk to make a truly unique experience.
Still slaps.
I enjoyed the heck outta this album. Such great energy. And an appearance from Q-Tip?! Love it.
Very strong album… would’ve been 5* but fizzled out a little at the end!
sabotage!
If anyone can explain The Beastie Boys to me I would be most appreciative. They are a rab group right? How come their lyrics are barely intelligible? How come 9 songs in an instrumental is my favorite song so far. Fight for your Right to Party? Really? Make that my two favorite songs are instrumentals...Eugene's Lament is excellent. But all in all just not buying what The Beadyie Boys are selling, even if I could figure out what that is. 2.5 🌟
It's interesting when you have a knowledgeable (or opinionated) friend over while listening to the 1001 album de jour. When they know the album better than you do, it can be hard not to let their views influence your rating. Last night a friend who is a big fan of the B Boys was over. As a result, the LP was well received initially. The album did wear on me. I understand their music is diverse but this was one of the times where I don't think genre hopping works that well.
This one’s really all over the place. From punk rock to funk, acid-jazzy instrumentals to violin solos. And a lot of it isn’t sampled!! I still find some of the shouting grating (Q Tip was a pleasant reprieve) and for that I deduct a point - but there’s humour in the lyrics and it’s not in your face all the time. Very creative.
I’m not a fan of hip hop but this is probably my favourite hip hop album because the Boys show their range and mix it up with punk, jazz, funk and classical influences to keep it interesting. This is a really fun and creative album. And Sabotage absolutely rocks!
I really liked some of the more instrumental heavy tracks (surprise). Pretty solid album from the boys.
// Favs: Sabotage / Flute Loop Score: Strong 2 to Light 3
Listen all y'all it's a SABOTAGE
I never listen to this album before. I heard the hits on the radio, but never the piece as a whole. I appreciate the range of the Beasties. I was blown away by the instrumental tracks and laughing at the lyrics of their more traditional rap tracks.
Great great album loved it!
Rockin' as hell, and rich in beats throughout. Sabotage is obviously an all timer, but Root Down, Sure Shot, Futterman's Rule, and Flute Loop are all favorites as well. I love the musical ending.
I'm tickled to see Biz Markie appear on this list. And "Sabotage" slaps so hard the song alone makes this album a worthy entrant on the list. Yes, sports fans, Sabotage is a 5. Similar to most rap/hip-hop albums I've come across on this list, this one is overall just a little too long. I certainly don't mind an album running long or taking it's time. But when you get to the 5th or 6th song and find yourself thinking it's running as long as a post-season extra-inning baseball game, that's what we in the business call a problem. That might be the one thing keeping this from 5 territory. Like "Sabotage", a good chunk of this album slaps. I'm impressed the Beasties pivoted from not being allowed to sample songs into something that is oftentimes majestic.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Tough guy, Sabotage
The music on this album is all over the place. Sabotage is a fantastic song and is in its own league. The rest of the songs are just ok.
Love the B-Boys and there are some classics here, but it's too long with too much filler.
5/5 - Love it
I liked the instrumental tracks. The rap tracks all kind of bled together for me. I know this is classic but it really isn't my style. Even Sabotage is kind of lacking without the video. 2.5.
So this isn’t my kind of thing, really, but I can tell it’s great. The range of influences is incredible. I’ll listen again.
Classic. More instrumental songs than I would have guessed, brilliant samples and guests
Hmmmmmm... Ja, grisigt är det ju. Men det visste jag ju också going in baserat på de låtar jag tidigare hört ("Sabotage", "Fight For Your Right, "No Sleep Till Brooklyn"). Men jag tycker det är intressant, även om sättet sången skriks fram inte är min kopp av te egentligen så går det ihop med resten av musiken. Gnissliga gitarrer och trummor som det bankas väldigt hårt på stundvis, andra låtar som exempelvis "Sabrosa" har ett sound som är mycket mer funkigt och jazzigt. Det känns ändå som att Beastie Boys har ett djup och inte bara är det där skrikiga som man hört. Med det sagt så fungerar den grisiga, tunga och skrikiga musiken ibland om man tar det i små mängder eller befinner sig i ett tillstånd där man bara vill röja. Jag vill minnas ett tillfälle en sen natt när någon slog igång "Sabotage" och hela kompisgänget började hoppa runt och bete sig som varelser vilka inte kan klassas som människoliknande. Det är härligt att befinna sig på en sådan plats ibland också. Bäst: Tror "Sabotage"
Great album ... I was familiar with it. Like the instrumentals
A notable "spiritual sequel" to License to Ill, Ill Communication displays the progression of the Beastie Boys artistry. Not only have the raps and production of their songs developed over time, but their ideas of what the genre can sound like also expanded. In "Sure Shot" open with a jazzy flute solo, lay down a backtrack, and do their signature scheme in a lo-fi soundscape that is very prominent in the rap, hip-hop and electronic music of the modern era. It's those type of ideas that are one of many reasons I would say this album is ahead of its time. They keep their punk rock roots intact with the rest of Side 1, running a suite of punk-rap bangers starting with Tough Guy and ending with the widely famous Sabotage, the notable single of the album. All of these sides are not as widely energetic or loud as their previous hits, but I think it's a nice contrast to showcase how subtleties in dynamics and sound filters can keep a record more interesting. Q-Tip from ATCQ and Biz Markie tag along on the record and share some call and response verses between the Beasties, showcasing classic, but aggressive, comradery that rap is so widely known for. Their features on the record are stellar. The second half "experimental jazz" side of this record isn't usually what I come to the Beastie Boys for, but they decided to do what they want in true B-Boy fashion and knocked it out of the park. To take inspiration from Miles Davis and just create a hip-hop jazz soundscape that focused on the talents of each member beyond their rap skills was something I'm sure turned off a lot of fans, but to me is a testament to their legacy as an all-time great group. Favorite Songs: B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Shambala Least Favorite: The Scoop
Know this album well. Think Hello Nasty might be my favourite, but this is close.
Not cup my cup of tea unfortunately
One of the great rap groups and albums of all time. Ageless...
America, 90s, Hip-Hop + Jazzy, Future, Mix genres = Male, - Silent {1/32} [/5]
not a huge fan but enjoyed this album
Not into this at all.
Appreciate the artistic merit of this but its just not really for me.
Sabotage was the biggest rock radio hit of the summer of 1994 Let that sink in...recorded while Kurt Cobain was still alive...the number one rock radio song of the summer... ...was The Beastie Boys. In addition, Root Down, Sure Shot, Get it Together, Flute Loop, Heart Attack Man, Tough Guy...? Look. I was 20. I'm biased.
What I like a lot about this album is that it's all over the place with vibe. Some straight punk, a bunch of scuzzy Brooklyn whiteboy hip hop, some very mellow instrumentals. But it still outstays it's welcome for me. Right around Heart Attack Man, I'm ready for the party to be over. But there's not a good closer, ya know? Like maybe if Sabotage was the last song or something, you'd feel like it closed real strong. But I think I've turned this one off around here more times than not.
Reinforces my long-held belief that the Beastie Boys were - are - capable of moments of brilliance, but overall are just quite good. The highs are very fun - Sabotage being the obvious standout - and I appreciated the Lee Dorsey name check in the first track. Yeah, it's fine, but my mind remains un-blown.
HEART ATTACK! HEART ATTACK MAN! This album is damn near perfect.
I've never quite understood the critics darling status of the Beastie Boys, then again never heard much beyond Fight for your right to party. This album did not do anything to turn mexaround to the Beasties. I'll charitably give it 3 🌟
Another great album. And it's not even as good as Licensed to Ill in my opinion.
A classic with some stone cold bangers. I am going 4 stars though for the over used distorted mics and one too many bongo tracks.
Yesss
it's quite boring to be honest. the instrumentation is alright, everything to do with the vocals is not though. the lyrics are delivered in a way that you would expect to be loud but it's often drowned out by the instrumental. i don't like the effects they put on their vocals, it adds nothing and only makes it harder to understand what they're saying. I think if it weren't 20 songs it would be pretty decent but listening through the entire runtime back to back grows quite tiring as there's very little variety or points of interest. I do like sabotage though 1.5-2/5
I listened to the first half of each of the first five tracks. That was more than enough for the rest of my life.
It's ok, instrumentation is clearly outdated at point, vocal performances can be rough, but overall it was an ok experience
It's a bit uneven but the grooves are tight! Obviously was familiar with a few songs on here (Sabotage, Sure Shot to a lesser extant) but never listened to the full album. I've been fairly agnostic... probably most due to the vocals always being a bit harsh. But now I realize that the grooves and DJing is probably more important for them than the MCing, at least on this record.
Sabotage is an absolute BOP but I was bored for more than half the album.
Yup, liked that.
Wow.
Groovy!
Big fan of deez guys! This album need more listening time from me to increase the star rating.
Funky. A classic.
June 6th, 2021 1.SURE SHOT- I'm liking the flute sample. GREAT party track. 2.TOUGH GUY- Pure punk rock craziness. REAL crazy stuff. 3.B-BOYS MAKIN' WITH THE FREAK FREAK- Great drums, hilarious sample (lol), but I wish I knew what they were saying... 4.BOBO ON THE CORNER-Jamming instrumental. Once again, great drums. 5.ROOT DOWN- Dope track (probably the best on the album so far). Love the funky 70's bass and jazz samples. 6.SABOTAGE- Solid rap-rock.💯 7.GET IT TOGETHER- Unusual vibes.💯 8.SABROSA- A funky instrumental straight out of 1973, just made for "passion". 9.THE UPDATE- Those drums go hard. They're probably spittin' bars too. 10.FUTTERMAN'S RULE-Yet another funky instrumental track. 11.ALRIGHT HEAR THIS- The drums and bass are 🔥 (I hear that cowbell too). I wish I understood the lyrics more... 12.EUGENES LAMENT- WOW! TOTALLY DIFFERENT SOUND. Interesting gypsy vibes with the fiddle too. 13.FLUTE LOOP- Some more flute samples like "Sure Shot" in a mellower track. 14.DO IT- Total 90's vibes and more intelligible vocals. 15.RICKY'S THEME- Another seventies inspired instrumental, this time more on the jazzy side. 16.HEART ATTACK MAN- F'n crazy! Lives up to its name. 17.THE SCOOP- Jazzy beat and I can sorta tell what I'm hearing. 18.SHAMBALA- The Buddhist chants are a cool touch in this other funky instrumental. 19.BODHISATTVA VOW-The Buddhist vibes sort of continue in this track, both in the form of the title and the cymbals. 20.TRANSITIONS: Pretty funky slow jam of a final track. >In Review: Considering that my existing musical tastes are pretty far from this, I'm actually surprised at how my I enjoyed Ill Communication. The album is primarily a dynamic duo of punk rock and hip-hop, and the funky seventies-flavored instrumentals make it a unique trifecta. Even though I found that the vocals on several tracks were tough to make out, I enjoyed the overall eclectic sound on this album and would give it a 7 out of 10 if possible.
The pan suave of rapping boy bands. The restaurant at the end of the universe of my taste in music. Never in a million years did I think I would take to something like this, but I really did. Some of the songs are sick. Some of them are not though. I wish I could give it 4 stars just for the ones that make me feel like I'm in the same league as Blue Da Ba Dee and for the smooth transitions, but it's really drawn down at points. 3.3 stars.
It does like 12 different genres all amazingly well. Awesome album.
Sure shot and sabotage are jams. The album is eclectic, fun. Very listenable. Didn’t appreciate the whole album when it first came around.
ES SABROSO!
No me lo escuché entero pero está guapísimo, me recuerda a ATCQ y eso son buenas noticias
Eclectic and gritty sound. Unique and innovative style. Says early deez nuts joke. Fave songs: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Get It Together
I was excited when I saw this selection but I was very underwhelmed. Loved the first few tracks, reminded me of listening to this in like 7th grade. Mustve lost interest after that even back then, because I forgot about the numerous instrumental tracks, which were unremarkable for thr most part. Wanted some beat boxing mc'ing, and while I respect the attempt, not what I was looking for.
Above average album. Enjoy the beastie boys but this album had several instrumental interludes that didn’t seem necessary. Prefer their first album over this one. 6.6/10
Get It Together is the top track, MCA is stellar the whole album. Futterman’s Rule is a heavy, badass instrumental groove.
Very cool and obviously legendary, just didn’t find more than the hits that I loved.
Had never listened to a full BB album before - I liked it. Went on to listen to another one which I didn’t like so much. Think I need to be in the mood for something like this.
great
It was alright. A lot of instrumentals and experimental stuff with the signature bestie boys sound. Not much stood out in terms singles but it was still good. This is something I will need to listen to again to get a better opinion. It seems like some of these tracks will grow on me
Not usually a fan of hip hop, but the rock vibe they bring to it is actually pretty good. I can see why people like it.
Holy shit this album. I had the misfortune of being born after the Beastie Boys heyday but I still felt their influence in pop culture throughout the entirety of the nineties. I don't know what I USED to think about them, but I do know it wasn't a critical or thoughtful opinion. This is the first album of theirs that I've seriously listened to all the way through and I'm just fucking blown away. The influences and styles they've managed to wrap up in this album are just wild - every track feels completely new but still connected to the previous track. I've seen complaints about the runtime but honestly it feels perfect to me. Through this album alone I've been convinced not only of the magnitude of the Beastie Boys' impact on hip-hop, but of the sheer sickness of the group itself.
A really funky jazz/hip-hop mix from the Beastie Boys with their trademark rap sound over the top. Lots of instrumental tracks throughout, where I perhaps wasn't expecting it. Best: Sure Shot; Root Down Worst: Sabrosa
One of the better examples of those 90s records where the band tried a half-dozen different genres. Great sequencing - somehow the hardcore punk tracks don’t clash with the stripped-down sample-based hip hop. Lots of great jazz and funk instrumentals that don’t overstay their welcome. Because of this, in true 90s fashion, it sounds like a well-made mix tape. “Root Down” uses one of the best basslines ever to great effect. At times they drench their vocals in distortion and delay, reinforcing the focus on what sounds good over what would be conventionally expected of them. MCA is the MVP here, from his bass fills in “Sabotage” to the unique “Bodhisattva Vow.” Good stuff.
Fun and catchy 90s vibes. Brings me back to childhood!
Good album. Fun to listen too and experimental.
The Beasties! Had never listened to the whole album, with Sabotage being the only song I knew going into it. Awesome. A bit all over the place, but I really enjoyed that. I'd give it a 4.4 out of 5.