Reviews (page 5 of 15)
Hard not to love this album and the beastie boys in general.
Eh
Chunky. Groovy. Hint of grime. Love it.
Were they ill when making this?? I don’t like Beastie Boys. I mean the Yelling-Hiphop genre specifically is really hard for me to process. They’re actively ruining great beats and samples when yelling and screaming over the music, and that makes me want to yell. This was my first time listening to an album by Beastie Boys, but I already knew that this was going to be rough for me. Fortunately I found out only a couple of minutes before listening that this is more Jazz inspired, and that gave me hope. And while the Jazz is felt on some of the instrumentals, it isn’t present nearly enough to save the record. The Jazz influence didn’t even make all the instrumental songs good/“listenable”, only some of them! For an example I love “Sabrosa” and “Futterman’s Rule”, but “Shambala” feels like a knife in my h(ear)t. Some of the songs with lyrics like “Sure Shot” with its catchy chorus and great sample choice, “Get It Together” carried by Q-tip and its lovely atmosphere and “Alright Hear This” that works for a reason I probably won’t ever understand, are songs I actually like hearing. But most songs are sadly like “Flute Loop” which has a great name, but some terrible music, “Heart Attack Man” the worst song on the entire album, and “B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak”: Heartbreaking💔. I am glad to have heard an album of Beastie Boys finally and I did feel like my tolerance for them grew during my listening. I give this a 5/10. I would also like to reccomend this to fans of Limp Bizkit. Thank you for reading my review, I hope best for you.
Someone call the doctor cause I’m officially ill
Me ha encantado. No tenía ni idea de que hacían una música tan variada. Muy de los 90
the highs on this album are high but I also think there's some filler that drags on. but it has sabotage so that counts for something
Was too loud and angry for me. With odd interludes
One of my favs.
Í enjoyed this album way more that the other Beatie Boys album that I got to review some weeks before. I liked that they had more real instruments playing and not so many samples, they also were screaming less in this album which I really disliked on the other album. So this was a pleasant surprise.
This album is sick.
I rate this album like a 7.5. I enjoys the beats and all. Overall all it kinda gave me like skater vibe but I sometimes catch myself vibing it it soo that why I gave it a 7.5, its was ratier 7 or 8 soo.
cool, but not really my style
Classic 90's hiphop, its no wonder Beasty Boys are considered one of the greats of that era
Listened
Already liked a few from the album, didn’t realise how many songs was on it though
Familiar, but not my type of music
Beastly beastie! Love the blends of jazz! Great album!
Surprisingly punk, I really enjoyed this album. I did not expect the mix of genres they pulled from.
This was fire. There were a couple of songs I could've done without but overall it was great
Muzak
Classic
I like the vibes. Never really listened to them before
Sampling, industrial, slight punk influence- was really good
I didn't like any song in this album I think I haven't unlocked this kind of a music taste yet so will come back to this later on when I feel like I have a better understanding of this album cheeks tho.
I love the old hiphop vibe, and this sounds like a more old-school Joey Valence and Brae. The experimental sound is also very refreshing.
Highlights: Sure Shot, Sabotage Lowlights: B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak, Futterman's Rule, Eugene's Lament, Ricky's Theme, Bodhisattva Vow The interlude tracks do absolutely nothing for me and there's way too many of them. I enjoy some Beastie Boys every now and then, but a whole album was too much for me.
it's the beastie boys, sabotage is on this album, it's good thrash music
incredibilmente questo rispetto agli altri due molto meglio, più strumentale e non tanto urlato come gli altri album
Solid
Oh my god, that's the funky shit. There's bits of everything on here, and it feels like they threw every idea they were working on onto the CD but it's all Beastie. Even when it goes all Eugene's Lament. Sure Shot, B Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak, Sabotage, Get It Together - it's that kind of party
My favourite Beastie album, èdging out Pauls on nostalgic grounds. All over the place in a good way. Their signature punk/rock hip hop sequence flawlessly into jazz, back again, then add some funk. They really do get a disservice by the party band label that undervalues their work both musically and as producers. 4 Star
Note: I’m neither an expert or fan of rap. It seems like a bad idea to add lots of echo and static to rap vocals. Granted, what I could discern, though well rhymed, was better unheard. Mercifully, there were a few instrumentals. They were quite good. Everything else… Not so much.
Fun but gotta be in the right vibe
Started off so strong, felt like I didn’t enjoy as much of the second half of the album Fave tracks: sabotage, sure shot, and do it
Not my kind of things - I think first half was better than second half, kinda dropped off into background music
I don't mind a Beastie Boys song or two in small doses but man having to listen to an entire album by them is like looking up at Mt. Everest from the base camp knowing you have to climb it in thongs and socks. It's a mammoth task getting through everything, and shit becomes stale REAL fast. You can only apply so much vocoder on your voice before it becomes annoying to listen to for an hour. You get the first few songs on this thing that are pretty good, and I really enjoyed the punk song & the one with the Q-TIp feature; but after that this really all does just become boring and generic - how can you have 8 years to grow as an artist and your sound is exactly the same just with some better production? What were you doing for 8 years? The only fresh or interesting stuff on here really was the punk additions - which were quite good if I'm honest. Shambala was a pretty cool song but the ancient scary voice just got annoying over time, which made Bodhisattva Vow pretty shit. Anyways, this was average as. Heaps of shit/generic songs on here but a few quiet gems. Beastie Boys are insanely overrated if you ask me.
I love Sabotage, everyone loves Sabotage. It's a great song with a memorable and fun music video. The rest of the album is fine. I enjoyed it a lot more than the last Beastie Boys album that I listened to for this project. The instrumental tracks on here are GREAT but at first I couldn't tell if I enjoyed purely on their own merit or because it provides a reprieve from the rap. By the time Ricky's Theme came around, yes, it was the latter. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. It's a fine album (I guess?), I wouldn't get up and turn it off if someone put it on. Need to stress without the instrumentals this would not have gotten a positive review, if you can call this a positive review. Highlights: Sabotage, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Shambala
The first bit of the album I felt it was just kinda waiting to get "Sabotage", but after, I was impressed. Each track came by with energy, catchiness, and great underlying music and beats. ,
Not my kind of music at all so struggled to listen to it but kept listening hoping it would get better– it did not...
I really didn't care for this, I guess you have to be a kid?
Hugely influential. Love the musical interludes showcasing some instrumental prowess. Too many though. Too much filler.
I really enjoyed re-visiting this album, it brought back a lot of good memories of being a student, hanging out with mates, smoking weed, playing video games and just talking shit together. A few banger tracks and some cool instrumentals sprinkled throughout, 5 stars is probably generous, but the slightly superior record 'Check Your Head' is not featured, so sod it.
Groovy first track. Bit repetitive for me, compared to J5. track 2 fun more punky - gives A&tS/modern Aussie punk vibe. on reading they started in hardcore punk - makes sense! RAtM vibe too. Guitars/bass are very cool. Reminds me a bit of Stone roses guitars. Sabotage great. Really like Sabrosa. Violin on Eugene's lament was very cool. Loads of different styles. production super cool. great sampling and instrumentation.
Es schockt und nervt gleichermaßen
Nicht nur ill sonder auch sick.
Not my style, but in the same time exactly my style. I weirdly enjoyed it!
This is really good album that except for a couple moments still feels very modern. There are some tracks on it I absolutely love, and some that don’t hit as hard but probably because I haven’t heard them enough. Every beastie song I hear I start off not liking and eventually love.
Scranton! what? The electric city
Absolute winner. When I heard this the first time I was blown away the first classic rap song followed by hardcore punk. They showb their musical skills and instrument dominance. Ska, funk, rock, punk, rap a masterpiece anywhere you put it top 100
1 star (kill me now) because simply I didn’t like it….another star bc guitar was good and I can understand people who do enjoy beastie boys, just now me? Does that make sense
Only a few good songs the rest is just...noise to me but I get why its important
Punk hip hop? Punk jazz hip hop? I guess the B Boys were a punk or punkish band before Licensed to Ill. I'm not sure how to label this one, but creative and different might fit. This is a pretty great album. Could be the soundtrack to the next party, when I have one.
White boy rap at its finest
Classic!
Bit too shouty for me
Pure genius
𝘐𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 feels like hip-hop made for people who grew up on fuzzed-out guitars and skate videos — a collision of breakbeats, punk energy, jazz flourishes, and Beastie Boys sarcasm. It’s messy in the best way: loud, loose, and full of personality. The group leans hard into their hybrid identity here, crafting a sound that’s as comfortable with hardcore riffs as with boom-bap rhythms. It’s not pure hip-hop in the traditional sense, but that’s exactly why it works. As a kind of gateway record for rock listeners, it’s surprisingly effective and still a lot of fun.
Goated
Never been a fan of Beastie Boys lyrical style but the album overall is not bad, it’s got good sampling and a consistently strong hiphop beat and i like Qtips feature.
good rap album
An album full of rage. Sounds like if you combined Primus and the Gorillaz. Also has some rap and hip-hop aspects. The messages of the songs like The Update were good. Really liked the bass line of Root Down. Overall, very fire album.
Love the beastie boys
those boys sure can beast
Love love love
So good, there is so much happening and it is done so well, the blend of genres is perfect. Need to relisten with how packed it is 4.5/5
1. toso dynamiko ksekinhma lov it 2. den trelathika me ekane ligo na agxwnomai 3. sthn arxh den trelathika alla pros to telos kati mou gargalise 4. latrevw to tampourlo 5. den trelathika wraio alla miex 6. marese alla oxi apta agaphmena m mou arese to i i 7. marese sthn arxh poly alla meta kapws barethika 8. kounithika polu me auto to tragoudi yes!! 9. poly polu polu dynath arxh poly dynato tragoudi 10. yesss maresei polu to mood pou to phgainei 11. kalo bam boop alla einai bam boop 12. oti kai an symbainei euxaristw 13. joe valance and brae inspiration 14. latrevw tous kyklothimikous 15. wraia jazia mexri ekei 16. ksespase ligo kai pame parakatw 17. ketipi dance song 18. polles apwries kanena parapwno 19. sthn arxh snobara alla me ekane na kounithw arketa ara allazoume gnwmh 20. wraio klhsimo marese eixe poikilia alla kapoia me kourasan ligaki eixe omws arketa diamantakia all in all 7/10
don’t think the album started off very strong, first four are pretty whatever. like the jazz influence. root down - jimmy smith. sabotage = classic. get it together, q-tip. like the instrumentals.
Kachayet
Helt ålreit, liker det best når det er nærmere punk enn hiphop.
Helt greit, ikke helt min greie
Gav meg ikkje kjempemykje, men høyrte det frå start til slutt i det minste.
Enda mer punch enn det andre albumet her dvs. Licensens to ill. Syntes dette var moro og variert, kan høre på nytt tror jeg. 3-4, i alle fall morsommere og mer givende enn det andre.
Some interesting songs. Not a fan and I know this wasn't their best release.
its cool but meh, found some interesting songs but idk actually i think some songs would be great as soundtracks for a spy film
nice beats honestly , and there was this one song that was all instrumental it was nice. I feel like if listened a little more and gave it a chance maybe I'll like it? But I dont resonate with the lyrics it's like analogies to things I don't know. But it was intresting 3/5
This has some great songs, but a lot of filler IMO. I was ready for it to be over by the end!
Love it. Some stone cold classics on here, and I really appreciate all the instrumentals, too. Definitely from the peak CD era where artists were trying to fill up the whole disc. Could use some editing.
turns out my dad was kind of onto something when he said the Beastie Boys are good. I don’t think i’ll revisit a lot of this (just not my preferred casual listening genre) but it is good. I didn’t realize how jam band-y the beastie boys could get but i can get behind it.
Perfect no notes
I was once in a Beastie boys tribute band. I was the DJ, but one pub we played in asked if we could play drugs don't work so we ended up glassing him, then played a cover gig of ill communications entire album cover to cover. Good times, good times.
Great hip hop track to start then tough guy comes out of nowhere, wow actual musicians who can do both! This is a rarity in this world , mixing so many things! Root down a true blend of funk, rap with the church organ going I'm sure they were the first to ever do things like this, amazing. Into sabotage I mean who doesn't know and love this track already! Eugene's Lament is really surprising, combining middle eastern sounds with varied instrumentation, you can really tell the Beastie Boys are passionate musicians and have so many influences. Ricky's Theme could easily be a Marvin Gaye backing track, it just lacks the production shine of motown but the instrumentation is there, in a much rawer and in-your-face form. Heart attack man is like hip hop hardcore which is interesting to listen to! It's really hard to tell which parts the boys are playing on their instruments, as they're all talented musicians, apart from the parts they've samples. True masters of blending the two arts
An ok listen
Cool hip hop vibe, something like this Tyler the creator or frank ocean. I like drums in this album. They sound so different and not typical. I think I’ m listen this album when I need inspiration or fend new sound. It’s not typical album for 90 I think. This album sound like Moscow live temp sometimes so rush.
Tästä ei ollut minkäänlaisia ennakko-oletuksia. Ensimmäinen kommentti kun eka biisi lähti soimaan oli "oi, huilu!". Albumi vetäisi heti mukaansa vaikka en yleensä räpistä niin välitäkään. Joissakin biiseissä sellainen rock-fiilis. Sopisi hyvin tanssimusiikiksi hip-hopiin tai vaikka katutanssiinkin.
This was a fun listen. I just listened to Run DMC and despised it. This record is from another hip hop group that paved ways in this genre. Only 10 years after the release of that Run DMC album and this record is far superior than Run DMCs self titled. The one thing that stands out on this record is the production value and the music that accompanies the lyrics. I won’t be the first one to say the Beastie Boys sound annoying. But the music choices almost hide the fact that they have shitty voices. You can tell that this record was crafted and not put together half assed. The instrumental parts were fantastic. It isn’t perfect! But the evolution in hip hop from 84 to 94 is something to make note of. Yeah, I know not all hip hop in 94 is great. But my point is, hip hop evolved. This album is evident that it got better in a short amount of time.
sabotage
Overall rating by me: 6/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak", ,,The Update" Notes: The most punk of punk albums you could ever hear. I deducted point only because there were too many intros for my liking but overall I would listen to it again.
enjoyed
I was not expecting this!
A bit over the top at points but always engaging and interesting
Fire and definitely a classic.
I like this recording a great deal. The cuts on the recording demonstrate to me how The Beastie Boys grew in the near decade since release of License to Ill which I loved when it came out. Check the Tuvan throat singing (or at least what sounds like Tuvan throat singing) on the track Shambala.
I appreciate their talent but this hip hop/rap is not for me, and out of all their albums on this list, I enjoyed this the least. Also, the album is too long by at least 15 minutes.
У этого альбома определённо есть своя атмосфера, и хотя я люблю агрессивный рэп, большинство песен почему-то не зацепило. Очень понравились жанровые эксперименты и использование инструментов, нетипичных для рэпа, инструментальные интерлюдии звучат куда интереснее песен с рэпом. 7/10 Топ 3: 1) Sabrosa 2) Flute Loop 3) Alright Hear This HM: Eugene's Lament
קצת ארוך מדי, רבע אחרון (~10-5 שירים אחרונים לא מעניינים כל כך)
3 just a default rating now as it's getting hard to listen to the whole album sometimes when I'm playing subnautica
The Shouty Boys have never been my thing.
I like hip hop and the beastie boys. And haven’t heard this album. I can’t say that I would buy the album unless I found it for cheap but I’m glad I’ve heard it
Me gustan los Beastie Boys pero nunca había escuchado ningún album completo de ellos, y de este en particular puedo decir que fue muy divertido, la mescla de sonidos lo hacen una experiencia. Incluso hace que esas 20 canciones se pacen rápido. Sin embargo creo que eso fue lo que no me latió del todo, sube mucho la emoción para después darte instrumentales tranquilos, básicamente una montaña rusa que en lo personal me gusto pero no me encanto.
Not my usual choice but really fun. They're always yelling. Loved the instrumental tracks.
Highlights: - Sure Shot - B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak - Root Down - Sabotage - Get It Together
Great album, I love how much it showcases all of the styles that Beastie Boys are capable at. 4.5/5
I can be hit or miss on Beastie Boys, but this is mostly a hit. I was surprised to hear actual punk songs on here, and it has a few well-known singles. There's kinda too many tracks, but overall I liked it. 3.5/5
More subdued and not as rocking as their debut, but good listening.
Little too much energy for me / need to be working out. Also it’s “ill” communication, not Roman numeral 3 communication. Oops
Love the hardcore punk parts. And basically everything on here
Never listened to Beastie Boys intentionally beyond the biggest hits before this project. Now after giving Paul's Boutique a 5 and getting this today, I feel like there's nothing else to say except I am a fan. Love the variety on this - the instrumentals in the back half, Q-Tip's cameo, along with plenty of standard Beastie Boys sound that I didn't realize how much I enjoyed.
4.5
I like some of their songs, but this album was not my fav
I'M TELLIN Y'ALL IT'S SABOTAGE. I've heard Sure Shot a lot in TV/movies. Definitely wasn't expecting some experimental violin(?) instrumental. Now Mongolian Throat singing?
Je m’attendais à rien et j’ai été hyper surprise, j’adore quand un album fait un mix de plein de genres et la le mix jazz + hip hop + funk + punk ça m’a régalé. Parfois j’ai trouvé ça un peu long 20 sons.
Absolute banger of an album
By this album the boys had put away the silliness of License to Ill. Interesting to hear the different musical genres creeping in. I’m period of them for maturing musically, but I admit that the mix didn’t vibe with me all that well, and i don’t think I’ll be reaching for this album going forward.
Better than the other one.
Enjoy the jazz and funk bits most
This is my shit
Fun but heavy and samey at times
крутий мені дуже сподобався!! я не думала що електрогітара може так класно поєднуватися з репом. і музичка якраз панкова як я люблю
Heavy rock, highlighted with the song "Sabotage".
Sabotage is great. The rest wasn’t for me.
One of the blvery best to do it
A couple classics on this album. Not what I expected honestly. This album had quite a mix of styles I wasn't used too. Overall, not bad. But as I've said before, the BB's aren't my kind of tea. White people rapping
Wow I was very surprised by this one. As this is the 3rd Beastie Boys album on this list so far, I was very ready to write them off completely as kinda cheesy old school rap. However, compared to their previous work, this was much more varied and interesting. I will come back to this.
ive never heard this typa music but this album was fresh as fuck, all over the place in a good way. favourites were prolly sabroasa and the scoop
game changer. innovation and creativity abound, they are everything here - visiting many genres and making it their own. powerhouse
I forgot how friggin awesome these guys are and this album in particular is their best. If you know me, you know hip-hop is not my thing but the interplay between the 3 of them is electric. Nobody was doing what they were. They are pure fun, having a blast going from punk to disco to rock to rap. All of it works. Sabotage is an all time banger.
This is a subway ride. So many things competing for attention between the fellow straphangers, motion of the car, to the views flying past the windows. The local has a distinct rhythm vs the intensity of the express. Some routes are familiar while a few are exciting new and oh so different.
I love the millions of young kids saw the video for Sabotage and took the journey with this album. There is a 10 song version of this album that is simply all killer. But then there's a bunch of other stuff. Its certainly in line with 90s CD bloat. While most other artists just add in songs nobody needs to hear just so you feel like your getting more value i do think the jams are additive here. Not every whim is a classic but they are pieces of the puzzle. Not to overthink it because they seem to be having a great time.
Kick it root down.
Sûre shot
A few fabulous songs and a lot of filler.
1.5
Wrote them off after Fight for the Right, so I never learned about their abilities as musicians - the tracks are great, if it was all instrumental only I'd give it a 5. Just can't get past their version of rap, maybe someday.
I've heard Beastie Boys songs here and there, mostly in movies and TV, but have never listened to a full album. Turns out I'm a fan! There's so much variety track-to-track and the beats are super funky. This one definitely got me groovin' around my apartment. This is the kind of hip hop I really like. You can hear the jazz and rock influences throughout and that creates such a unique sound. To be able to write songs in so many different genres and styles well is impressive. Tracks like Sabotage hit the same mark for me as Rage Against The Machine. Perfect to listen to when you're pissed off. Flute Loop is such a cool, jazzy tune. It's neat to see some songs that incorporate Buddhist chants too (Shambala and Bodhisattva Vow). Apparently one of the band members, Adam Yauch, practiced Buddhism.
The first time I had heard the Beastie Boys my friend’s older brother was playing a song that he downloaded off Napster. Napster had just become popular starting one of the more widespread eras of music piracy. Not that people didn’t make physical copies of music before digital piracy. This just really disrupted the music industry so Napster ended up being sued by artists like Metallica and Dr. Dre, etc. Though Napster truly paved the way for digital music to make it into the mainstream. All these streaming services should pay their respect to Napster. That first time hearing the Beastie Boys was very memorable. I had never heard anything like it before and I really liked the groovy, hip-hop, punk rock style. IMO they really carved out their own genre. I’ll always remember that moment in my friends house hearing the Beastie Boys for the first time and continue to frequent their discography from time to time. Fun Beastie Boys fact is that if you want to sell a commercial product. They will not let you use their music. In Adam Yauch’s will, it even discloses the prohibition to use their music or images for advertising.
Might as well call these guys the back-scratch boys cause they're scratching itches left and right. Talk about a dope fuckin album, sheeeeesh. Ive been a big fan of Sabotage ever since rockband, but never ventured too far into their music. I think i can appreciate this way more now compared to when I was a Wee lad screaming on the rock band mic and slamming the plastic drums. Some jazz, rock, rap, hip hop, a bit of grunge. It all melds so well together and flows like a smooth river front to back. *chefs kiss* Also the random Qtip feature is the cherry on top. Will be revisiting this one many times to come. 9.5/10
4.5/5. This album just hits. Sees the beastie boys go in a much more live-band sounding direction musically where you get beats that vary between rock, jazz, punk and even some throat singing ear the end of the record. I may still prefer the insane burst of sampling creativity on Paul’s Boutique, but this is a fantastic album.
Nice Favourite song - Shambala 10/10
Don’t like them
This was actually really awesome. Beastie boys haven't always been my bag but there's so many great beats on here and the album goes in all different directions...which is sweet
Beastie Boys always makes me feel like I’m I a good cocktail bar circa 2016 and although it’s from 1994, those were really the days you know? Getting a martini for the first time and choking it down for the olive alone, I feel like that’s what the Beastie Boys are all about. It’s a fun time, it’ll make you wiggle and also, if you want, have a little headbang at your desk. Why not? Life is short and mundane. I like this album. 7/10
I usually only listen to Paul's Boutique when it comes to Beastie Boys, but it's nice to mix things up, I like the nods to their hardcore roots and frequent shifts into psychedelic jazz and experimental groove. Better than I was expecting, and more experimental in terms of production. Enjoyed Sabotage more than usual in the wider context of the record. Starts with a really great flow to the whole thing, though it lags a bit in the middle and could probably be tightened up. In general, a highly enjoyable listen.
it's was my first time listening to the Beastie Boys, it was a surprise how good this album is; a mix of funk, hip-hop and rock. i like the long interludes that it contains👍🏽 for sure my favorite song is The Update but Sure Shot, Alright Hear This, Do it, & The Scoop arer really good too.
I appreciate it, but not my vibe
Finally! I needed a recommendation like this.
"sabotage" is the hit off this album. Not sure if it redeems the rest of the screaming... Good for a workout I guess?
not crazy about this album or music genre
SABOTAGE! The instrumental interludes are vibey and a good break in the albums flow. Kinda music that makes you wanna stick it to the man. Lyrics are fun and sassy
Fun beastie boys album, Sure shot is a legendary track I'll never get old of it.
I love it when an album that I'm completely familiar with comes up. I feel like I've been given a day off or something. I know this album so well that there was no need to listen to it again, but I did. Happily. 4 stars.
Favorite Track: Sure Shot
The album to me sounds like there a lot of production behind it which is obvious but nice, the songs also all seem to be bold and straightforward which I personally enjoy and of course the lyrics and bars are great. I have of course heard of the Beastie Boys but have never listened to them until now. Not to mention this is my first time participating in this, so it’s my first album recommendation from the book :)
Good. Nothing that spectacular
its a 2 for me
This album definitely grew on me. At first I honestly didn’t really like the album, but im glad I kept listening. It ended up being a pretty solid album that was pretty unique sonically. My favorite tracks were Sabotage and The Scoop.
🙂↕️feels like the type of album to feel like riding in a lowrider with the windows down, your head nodding to the drums.
Again, I’m just not the biggest hip hop fan. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy this album though. I thought it was a fun time, and it had good vibes. I don’t see myself listening to this on a daily basis.
Perfect album, one of my all time favourites. Jazzy, experimental and yet full of hits.
Never heard it before. I think it's a good album. There's influences from different music genres, which I appreciate. First half of the album is (much) better than the second; the second seems to drag on a little too much. 7.5 / 10
Perfectly toes the line of heavy and subtle. 4A
Okay OG Hip-Hop is see you... How did rock sneak into this, and on the second track?? Having "kick-it" as a recurring lyric is so '90s album coded. They really said we could just jam out for 4 minutes and call it, and name is like uhhh "Futterman's Rule?"
The illist. While I don't love every track on this record, it's always interesting and very listenable. I don't remember there being so many music-only tracks on this one.
Unfortunately, I am not a beastie boys fan… three songs in - didn’t realize it had switched songs - committed to finished the album, but not really looking forward to it. They just all sound the same. Looking at the lyrics, they’re pretty good sometimes, I just can’t get behind how they’re sung. I liked The Update, and their instrumental stuff isn’t bad, I just can’t get over the vocals. Several songs have genuine deep means which I think is cool, but then they follow it up with putting your dih in mashed potatoes? 2.6/5
franchement bonne découverte, j'ai beaucoup aimé mais jsp si j'irais réecouté de moi même, et cela même si j'ai beaucoup aimé
The instrumental jazz/funk rock tracks are very nice to listen to but I just couldn’t stand the rest of the tracks. The album just wasn’t my vibe. 2/5
Always had a soft spot for the Beastie Boys. Far more experimental than I was expecting simply because I am a Licensed to Ill truther. Pulled inspiration from a lot of genres and did it well. I saw another review on here that said they wish the album was like 10 minutes shorter… and that kind of hits the nail on the head (in the wise words of RuPaul… edit). But still a highly enjoyable listen. I see why it’s on the 1001 albums list and is a body of work I see myself coming back to again and again. 4.5 stars.
8/10
Fun beats
Diff kind of rock but ok
The Beastie Boys' trademarked sound exemplifies the feeling of the 90s. 4.5/5
she’s
The beastie boys are an original rap group. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t an over the top enjoyment.
I had the complete wrong idea of the beastie boys. Some fun stuff
Interesting listen, still don't fully get the Beastie Boys but this album helped me understand a bit better. Loved the beats and instrumentals, still not bought on the white-boy rap style though. Listened to while walking around a snow covered Paris though, and repeated a few songs. Sabotage was amazing on second listen, and is an exception to the white-boy rap comment made above.
Ebin
Great example of an album I'd never have listened to if not for this challenge. Can imagine myself at a 90s houseparty having a Kat Strafford dance moment to some of these tunes. Loved the unexpected instrumental songs too, although it got a bit long for me in the end.
Funky and punky. Love some of the huge chunky bass work. Sampling is eclectic and excellent. Love how raw and rough and punk it all feels though. Some excellent rhymes too
Too much for me
Good but didnt blow my mind or something like that
The Beastie Boys are not my band. I couldn't force myself listening to yet another of their records.
Comes out of the gun like an absolute tornado with an incredible first half. Not just the songs themselves, but the way they are sequenced to lure you in and slap you in the face in equal measure. Oh, you liked the smooth hip-hop of Sure Shot? Well, how do you like a bit of hardcore, Tough Guy?! Then they do it again with Root Down and Sabotage, followed by the superb Q-Tip contribution on Get It Together. It's great fun and you can feel the Boys progressing from the sampling and beats of Paul's Boutique and the rapping and break beats of Check Your Head. Every time it feels like they are getting serious, they break things up with another giggle. My only gripe here is how the second half fades and has fewer really memorable tracks. Its highs are right up there with their best but it doesn't quite have the consistency across a whole hour for full marks in my book.
Marginally better than I
It didn’t communicate with me
Much more sophisticated than Licensed to III. Some great beats and much more interesting musically. Still some lemons though so 3*
Hell yeeeeeeah
The Beastie Boys are so much fun. I am more familiar with Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, so this was a real treat. Definitely one I will be coming back to!
A lot of good beats but not really my thing
Top shelf album. Easy 5
enjoyed more than i was expecting! def will relisten to songs. was not expecting the tibetan buddhist chants but vibed
Never have been a fan of hip-hop, and unfortunately this was no different. I do enjoy the slick punches the lyrics pack in, and the clear funk sounds. Honestly, the production is really nice, because it straddles the line of being drowning out the vocals and not pretty well. Maybe if I revisit this a few years into the future I’ll feel differently. Maybe.
Arguably the most essential of the Beasties Boys' catalog. On this record, they tackle Hip-Hop, Jazz, Hardcore, Funk, Tibetan Throat Singing, Rock, and whatever the smash hit, "Sabotage," is. I'll bet they could have made a killer Country tune, if they wanted to.
Scuzzy sound production. The audible bits were decent
This was alright. Obvious bangers: Sabotage and Sure Shot. Some of the songs I had to skip because they were annoying and repetitive (ie Heart Attack Man); I was also pleasantly surprised by the instrumentals that were nice grooves (ie Rick’s Groove).
5/10, não me aqueceu nem arrefeceu
only really lsitned to Sabotage before this. i enjoyed :) its fun how extremely recognizable the beasties whole meter thing is
Fantastic.
3,1/5
The album have a really good groove, some remimds me of funk music. But at some point it get very repetitive, and i got tired of listining. Yet it is consistent, so a 3 stars.
This is kind of the epitome of 90s rap. It's so steeped in what the 90s is, and its just such a fun album. It's wall to wall bangers, it just feels like such a labor of love. Favorites: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Get It Together
The Beastie Boys are a continually evolving sound. With Ill Communication they leaned in even more to playing their own instruments (and away from sampling). “Sabotage” was a MONSTER hit but for me “Root Down” and “Get It Together” were my personal favorites.
Franchement pas la du tout, le début est assez redondant mais après on rentre bien dedans. Jaime bcp les changements d'instru de différentes origines.
Not my type of music but I do like the loops in most of the tracks. Sabotage was probably my fave with the guitar melody. Not to sound like an old person but some of these tracks just were a lot of noise that was a bit much for me (could be though that I was listening on a plane and there's already so much noise) I probs would have loved this album at 19, less so now
This made me feel like the 90s Sure Shot and I'm turning my cap around, grabbing a skateboard and letting loose with a spray can. Tough Guy we're taking a break for some headbanging. Then on to B-Boy cruising with the top down. Root Down and Sabotage showed my preference for rock over rap, even though Root Down feels like a better song. Kinda wanna use Sabrosa as a DnD backing track. Same with Ricky's Theme
I kept telling myself "Jayde, you're not gonna five-star the first album on the list come on! You're just not calibrated yet." But I gotta do it; nothing else feels right. I found this fun and meaningful, plus the instrumental tracks were such grooves dang. To me, the line between 4 and 5 is replayability, and eventually i conceded at the very least, those instrumental tracks are going on the TTRPG brainstorming and atmosphere playlists for sure. 1 - i have negative feelings 2 - i have no feelings 3 - glad i heard it 4 - "oh i like that album!" *5* - in the rotation
8.0/10
dont like beastie boys i guess
This had a lot more music/acoustics than I expected!!
The album gives me the feeling of being in a good era for rap, and at the same time it sounds like heavy rock. It’s not a 4, because I missed a broader canvas where the tracks complement each other or maybe even merge, I’m not sure.
Couldn’t even finish this album So overstimulating omg So loud and there’s so much going on it honestly gave me a headache The epitome of white boy rap but feels like Michael Scott with the bandana could’ve made this shit.
I've never listened through a Beastie Boys album before, only really hearing the hits before, and I actually really enjoyed it! It was basically what I expected, but was still a fun listen and some classic hiphop tracks!
At times, it reminds me quite a bit of Wu-Tang Clan, especially Ol' Dirty Bastard, but a bit watered down. I like the mix of punk and hip hop and the risky choices they make in some tracks. The instrumental interludes work really well and seamlessly connect one song to another. I'm pleasantly surprised by this group's discovery and will definitely be listening to more of their music.
I admit it, I'm biased when it comes to the Beastie Boys. I simply love them, and I admire the way they can combine all styles to create such great music.
Jazzy and experimental. Cool direction for hip hop / rock. Some of the instrumentals were cool. Still too long.
I already know this is a top tier album, always happy to listen to da bois
Drunken frat boy music at its best. The sampling on this record is superb, the transitions between tracks are seamless and the flow is immaculate (I'm not much of a lyrics guy). However, it gets a little boring after the first five or so tracks. Not my kind of music but sounds great just for a little while. PD: I was going to rate this album a light 3.5 out of 5, but since I can only choose whole numbers, and today is Christmas Day, I'll give it 4 stars.
Tienen algo que destacar y es que empiezan y terminan las canciones epicamente. Tienen canciones entretenidas de escuchar e inclusive buenos instrumentales, pero admitamoslo.. son temas muy parecidos entre si, más si sos de habla hispana y solo te quedas con el ritmo y no la letra (habló de los temas que incluyan las voces). Es un estilo muy diferente al que suelo preferir pero aún así me guardé el álbum para repetir en algún futuro.
crazy ramba zamba, but too rough for me to really like it
01) Sure Shot - 9,5 02) Tough Guy - 7,5 03) B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak - 7,5 04) Bobo on the Corner - 7,0 05) Root Down - 8,0 06) Sabotage - 10,0 07) Get It Together - 8,5 08) Sabrosa - 9,0 09) The Update - 7,5 10) Futterman's Rule - 8,5 11) Alright Hear This - 7,5 12) Eugene's Lament - 7,5 13) Flute Loop - 7,5 14) Do It - 7,5 15) Ricky's Theme - 8,0 16) Heart Attack Man - 8,0 17) The Scoop - 8,0 18) Shambala - 7,5 19) Bodhisattva Vow - 7,5 20) Transitions - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,98 (80/100) Current ranking: 232/771
Sabotage is one of the great 90s tunes, but the Beastie Boys do spend an inordinate amount of time sniffing their own farts on this album.
fire as fart. I have never locked in and cleaned so much as when i listened to this album. great first song -- made me dance. i loved alright hear this -- so groovy.
I'm not saying this album is bad, I just think if I banged on some pans in my garage I could have a similar thing going on.
My favorite Beasties album. Catchy, innovative and fun without a lot of the sophomoric humor of the earlier albums.
This is a time that I would give 3.5 if that was an option. Since it’s not, rounding down.
Great album
Eight years after License to Ill, the Beasties continue to be hysterically and wholesomely allusive, in this case w/ quite a few basketball references: 'Bill Laimbeer, motherfucker, / It's time for you to die'; 'I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason'; 'See, I've got heart like John Starks.' Released in '94, Ill Communication confirms that the white-boy group was able to survive a rapidly changing hip-hop scene better than most 80s acts. Think about it - in this year, we get Illmatic, Ready to Die, The Sun Rises in the East, To the Death (M.O.P.), Resurrection, Creepin' on ah Come Up, + Outkast's debut. What room was there for the pioneers? And yet, this trio, w/ a melange of punk, jazz, funk, + hip-hop, not only stayed relevant, but self-augmented.
matches my vibe i love it
favorite songs: Get It Together and Flute Loop. creative sounds, i liked how it blended jazz, rock, and hip hop all into one cohesive album. 3.5 stars, not my taste 100% but i will give it another listen through sometime
In my head Beastie Boys and Backstreet Boys were same band. And what a surprise it was, knowing only I want it that way to hear this album. Impressive, but not my thing at all
Love this LP, Have since 1994. An easy 5
i enjoyed it
Rating: 6/10 Favorites: -Sure Shot -B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak -Do It
•A great trip for neurodivergent minds. •Awesome and quite interesting delivery. •One of the coolest covers I’ve seen. •No skips album. •Funky sounds!!! •The cleanest and best audio I’ve heard in quite a while, unmatchable quality.
I'm Surprised how different this album sounds from Licensed to Ill. Sounds like Tough Guy are short but show a different side to the Beastie Boys. That being said it's nowhere near as good an album as Licensed to Ill.
never heard of this album before. i’ll review the songs as i listen to them for the first time ever. sure shot: super catchy, a great start. really like the instrumental. definitely something i’d listen to on a regular basis. tough guy: heavier than the first song. something i’d listen to in my sophomore year of high school. not really my style anymore but still nice. b-boys makin’ with the freak freak: kind of weird but in a good way. wouldn’t listen to it everyday though. sure shot still remains the best one. bobo on the corner: just an instrumental. nice melody. wish it transitioned into the next song better. root down: quite catchy like sure shot. will listen to again for sure. sabotage: it’s okay but i don’t understand why it is their most popular song?? not as catchy as sure shot or root down. still nice though. get it together: the rhymes are nice. not really catchy. it’s okay. sabrosa: just an instrumental. okay melody. the update: nice. futterman’s rule: i don’t like songs with long no-lyrics parts :( alright hear this: this song brought my attention back after mindlessly listening to the past few songs. very nice. eugene’s lament: another insturmental. nice name. nice melody. love the violin(?) flute loop: super nice. love the flute loop. do it: again just an instrumental. nice idk. heart attack man: woah didn’t expect it to be heavy. relatively catchy. the scoop: nice, i like it. shambala: just teleported to mongolia brb. another instrumental. bodhisattva vow: okay. interesting name. transitions: an instrumental again.
Nostalgic for 1994 still good listen.
Asså kan tänka mig att man kan höra de på typ weekday
I respect the Beastie Boys and do like a few of their songs, but I just can’t do a whole album. Are they talented? Absolutely. But it very much sounds like noise to me. I’m sorry—I feel like I should love this, and maybe upon another listen I’ll feel differently, but it’s just not for me. ⭐️⭐️ 1/2 rounded up.
A really varied hip hop album with elements of punk, funk and rock. They were now a long way from nicking VW badges.
3/5
3.5 the instrumentals were the best part.
Hell yeah.
liked it as much as i did Licensed to Ill, just got a bit much for me towards the very end
Liked this more than the last Beastie Boys album I was served up. Lots of good samples and interesting production. And Sabotage is a banger.
It was pretty good! good vibes, great music
instrumentally pretty great, just not a fan of the shouty vocals. 2/5
I listened to one song I really like it
THAT WAS CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY? i did not expect to enjoy it that much, i dont always connect with things on first listen but this was something else.. the instrumentals are so fucking captivating, it flows wonderfully, it transported me back, made me thing of this guy, i saw myself as a guy in the 90s , so excited about how this will continue to find shape in my life
I really liked this. It also made me realise that this is the version of sabotage I actually remember (sorry).
At this time of year it's important to remember that the Beastie Boys fought, and quite possibly died, for our right to party
Solid album throughout with some big hits in Sabotage and Sure Shot. Really liked Futterman's Rule.
This has some hot potatoes
Prefer this to the other, but don’t wanna have to hear it again.
Geht so
FIREEE
Fave Root Down. Neat guitar and drum work. Glad I gave it a go
Érdekes album volt. Voltak benne különleges avantgárd részek, de összességében nem lesz a kedvenc albumom.
what is happening
i loved the instrumentals but in general not really my thing sadly faves: sure shot and bodhisattva vow
Oh dear
1 so unglaublich tot
Loved the instrumentation and mix of genres. Really fun listen from beginning to end for the range of styles.
I like sabotage
Du bruit
Początek mnie nie uwiódł, troche za monotonny dla mnie, distortion w głosie byl fajny moze przez 3-4 piosenki ale potem dla mnie to za dużo. Highlitem albumu sa instrumentale, bo jest ich duzo i sa one bardzo dobrze położone. Przez to ile jest przejść bez tekstu, można by było pomyśleć ze jest to album koncertowy. Oprócz tego Q-tip na albumie bardzo świetny wybór. Ocenka końcowa 3/5
This is a lengthy introduction to Beastie Boys and it brought me through several genres and sounds that I did not expect. I found several of the interludes quite enjoyable, as well as my favorite track “Get It Together.” I enjoyed the incorporation of unconventional sounds and the emphasis on the bass and flute (I’m biased as a former flute player). Overall, it is a solid piece of work, but I didn’t fully connect with it and I’m not sure I would listen to it again.
This is the musical equivalent of peanut butter
Going into this album I wasn’t sure what to expect given I haven’t heard many Beastie Boys songs but this album has exceeded my expectations. I found the album masterful in its use of genre-blending, from the hip-hop tracks like ‘Root Down’ and the heavily punk influenced ‘Tough Guy’ the album was able to convey the social/spiritual messages that the Beastie Boys wanted to get across. The most impressive part of the album, however, was the fact that the further the album went on the more I enjoyed it. The track ‘Sabrosa’ offered an unexpected change of pace with its Jazz elements and ‘Bodhisattva Vow’ introducing spiritual elements to the album which I very much enjoyed. My only critique would be some filler songs within the album that didn’t appeal to me particularly which takes this album down to 4 stars. Nevertheless, this album makes me excited to hear more albums from the Beastie Boys as I wasn’t particularly familiar with their work beforehand. Overall, an experimental album that, in my eyes, very much worked. Favourite tracks: Root Down, Sabrosa and Alright Hear This My rating: 4/5
"shiiit, if this gone be that kind of party i'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes!!" This is a jazz / funk album with some dope raps here and there. I've listened to all the hits but never the surrounding tracks; sheesh was I missing out. Tons of artistry and creativity to be found within FRESH music.
Wow good grief is this annoying. Nice beats obscured by intentionally distorted rapping. Like they engineered it to be played really loud in a car rollin around residential streets neighborhoods and have everyone roll their eyes and flip em the bird. Then the second half of the album they moved to "let's just have a good time" and made "throw it on at a party" jams - edit - listened to this a second time and I now understand it as party dance / hype music so deserves a better score than my initial "why is this so annoying" reaction
The B-Boys are back and they're still angry, they shout and they pound out the beats and on occasion they just straight-up rock out If you want more "HAGADAGA HAGADAGA WE'RE THE BEASTIE BOYS WE'RE THE BEASTIE BOYS, OHHHHH!!!" content then you're in luck, but when I reach 1994 I think I'd probably be a little tired of the same-old It's still their own unique Beastie style they've got going on and it sounds cool, even through a full hour of Beastie action, they still try to change things up enough so that it doesn't get too stale by the end
Pretty good and I liked the genre experimentation, though it was a bit filler-y at points
Not one of my favorites. Tired of the cursing and rich white kids whining. Not on my radar.
Whenever I've tried this album in the past, I've been left intrigued but rather disoriented by the experience on each occasion. There's a metric ton of stuff going on here; some of it works well for me, but some of it continues to leave me puzzled. The hip hop elements grow in palatability, quality and creativity as the album advances, but the opening sequence of tracks is rough on the ears and a bit of an ordeal to plough through. The hardcore punk elements feel a bit tacked on and unnecessary for me, but the tinges of funk and has jazz throughout the album work spectacularly well on occasion, particularly on "Futterman's Rule" and when interlaced with tracks that are primarily hip hop in style, ensuring there's at least something I can latch onto. It's a difficult album to navigate and stomach in one sitting - I probably will return down the line to see if I can eke more out of it, but I'm doubtful it will ever fully win me over.
I love it. Classic.
This album is an absolute monster. This was at every high school party and then college party I ever attended. Lots of great memories and the album is worth it for sabotage alone. maybe the best in their catalog.
My 100th album was Ill Communication (1994) by Beastie Boys. I liked this more than Paul’s Boutique. “Sabotage” is obviously legendarily good, but there are a bunch of other tracks on this album that are great. And the instrumental interludes (e.g. “Futterman’s Rule”, “Eugene’s Lament”, and “Ricky’s Theme”) seem an odd fit for a hip hop album, but are really good and fun in their own right. This almost got a 5/5, but they leaned a little too heavily into that distorted mic sound, and it got a little old. Still a really high 4/5.
Honestly, it's great. There are other great Beastie Boys albums (some of you may prefer Paul's Boutique or License To Ill) but this is my favourite. 'Sabotage' is a near-perfect song and 'Flute Loop' will nestle into your brain forever, hopefully not causing any future deficiencies of judgement that might lead you to quack medicine and a political career, but it certainly is a brain worm. Some people still think that the 90's had nothing to contribute to culture but this is a record that clearly proves otherwise.
I like the Beastie Boys’ hits—Sabotage, Hey Ladies, all those songs. The only full album I’ve listened to is Paul’s Boutique, and I hated it. I know it’s objectively pretty good but I just can’t stand it. Just makes me think of annoying frat bros. It’s the type of music Kyle would play during the beer pong tournament. This one definitely begins more enjoyably. Sure Shot is a pretty good opener and Tough Guy is really good; I have a soft spot for punk. Same with Heart Attack Man. The transition between Bobo on the Corner and Root Down is pretty good, but then the rest of Root Down is just…annoying. I can’t stand it. I was just waiting for it to end. The lyrics are so cringy and awful. And I get it—party band or whatever. But there’s a reason I don’t like frat bros. Sabotage definitely redeems that somewhat. It’s a great song. Super catchy, and also I’ve just heard it on the radio so much I can’t hate it. Get it Together is much less annoying because it doesn’t overuse that super aggressive, processed vocal style. It’s actually a pretty good song. But also tf you mean she’s the cheese and you’re the macaroni. I know Ad-Rock is a great guy and the Beastie Boys have done some great activism and stuff, but still, how did that man get Kathleen Hanna to marry him. Sabrosa is a good track—mostly because it’s just some good instrumentals without anything annoying over it. Same with Futterman’s Rule. The instrumental tracks give it some time to breathe and breaks up some of the repetitiveness. The Update is also pretty awesome. Eugene’s Lament and Flute Loop have great production. I think as long as the song was instrumental, I loved it. If it had lyrics or that awful, repetitive rapping style, it was more of a toss up. I’m kind of inclined to like this album because I try really hard to not hate Beastie Boys, and I know they are pretty creative. But please, I really didn’t need to hear about your love for mashed potatoes. I wish this album was just all the instrumental tracks, the two punk songs, and Sabotage—maybe Sure Shot, Get it Together, Bodhisattva View, and The Update can stay, too. And with the vocal style, I definitely don’t mind aggression—I love punk and grunge and hardcore—but this just seems like aggression for the sake of just yelling everything to seem edgy or cool or whatever. And I get it—it’s rap rock, it combines the two vocal styles—but bands like Rage Against the Machine did it a lot better. And I know you can’t compare the two all that well because of the differences in thematic priorities, but the points on technique still stand for the most part. I’m glad this album exists and I know it’s objectively good, but half of it is annoying and repetitive as hell.
So far the first song of the album has always been my fav
Lots of good tracks and instrumentals.
Yra tirkai geru dainu, bet taip pad daugelis skamba labai panasiai. Palikt ant fono klausytis puikiai tinka ber įsiklausyt nepavyks. Megstamiausios dainos: sabotage, futterman’s rule ir alright heat this.
Fun
it's interesting
an era defining album
classic
A vibe, but overall okay.
So good!
This is peak Beasties. This is memories. It comes in hot and stays hot. Not perfect by any means but a top tier hip hop album. Choice cut: so Whatcha Want
But again music for which I have no interest.
A real drop off from License to Ill and Paul's Boutique. Not really unique. Missing the sense of humor, didn't feel like an inside joke the same way.
Hip hop spectacular
some sick stuff but so much filler
The Beastie Boys were my first real music crush - and my first official concert. I thought MCA was everything (full swoon). I still remember that show: it felt like every other girl in the audience was right there with me, ripping off bras and throwing them on stage like that’s what you do. I didn’t have the guts to but I fully understood the sentiment. And this album after all these years is just still so good! Checks all the boxes for me.
An ok album
Excellent and unexpected album from the Beasties. Starts off well and continues from there. Started listing my favourite tracks but in the end there were too many. Good stuff! 4 *
Production goes absolutely silly. Maybe their best overall vibe of an album.
This one is fun. Great jazzy and also hard tf hitting tunes. Runs a little long in some places for my liking, but for the most part I couldn’t get enough.
Amazing
Such a great album. Laid back at times with cool grooves, in your face and loud at other times. One of the Beastie Boys' best outputs.