Ill Communication

4.1

Sabootaage! Perfect example of how to mix hip hop with rock music.

Fantastic album. Love to see how these guys developed into more genres as they aged.

Great stuff, these guys were ahead of their time

Not a huge hip hop fan and only know two Beastie Boys songs (Fight For Your Right & Sabotage). I loved this, what a Banger!

SABOTAAAAAAGE.

This aged better than I thought it would back in the day. Could say more about my thought process back then. Super solid grooves. My one gripe is that it's too long. Everyone was trying to fill the 70 minute capacity of the cd and I get worn out before it's over. Could've been two albums.

Ok, so this album. I just never got into these guys at the time. And I haven't really since. I think the main reason I just never got into them is because I felt like the people who were listening to them were...assholes. Even just hearing that intro on the first track instantly makes me think of jock dickheads. Either that or annoying stoner dudes who wore aggressively ridiculous pants. But this is a great album and I enjoy listening to it now. These guys really managed to stay in everyone's good graces despite being total dicks when they were younger. With all that said, 20 tracks is a bit much. There's a little bit of fat here that could be trimmed, which would make this a solid listen from start to finish. Who was with me at the Fireside Bowl when we saw whatever-band-that-was and Mike D was there?

This could easily be half as long and be a front-to-back classic. But even at a bloated 20 tracks, there are enough bangers on here to make this one of the Beasties' best and an iconic album of the era. (And I appreciate the instrumentals more now than I did in 1994.) FUN FACT: They recorded this, and I think all of their '90s output, at a studio like five minutes from our place in LA. G-Son Studios, represent.

I have never really liked the Beastie Boys, except for Sabotage (on this record — but not representative of the album as a whole) and No Sleep Till Brooklyn. I fully expected to give this album a 1. Then, I was pleasantly surprised by the range over the first couple of songs. The lead singer’s voice is pretty grating, but surprisingly (and refreshingly) there are large portions of this record that are solely instrumental. By itself the fact that there are large sections without lyrics elevates the album. This is really a soul-funk-jazz album quasi-masquerading as a Beastie Boys album.

raw energy and always waow!

I thought this was a solid hip hop and rap album from the Beastie Boys! They have a very distinct sound that is very recognizable whenever you hear any of their songs. ‘Sabotage’ and ‘Sure Shot’ are definitely two of the standouts on this album but I also liked the experimental interludes inbetween some of the longer songs and how some of the songs had a rock and punk vibe to them. I would jam to this album again in the future depending on my mood!

Бісті Бойз з тих гуртів, що люди можуть називати різні їх альбоми як найкращі і складно буде сказати, що хтось неправий. Для мене є щонайменше два альбому, що подобаються більше за цей. Плюс тут є декілька коротких моментів, де альбом просідає. Плюс повага МСА за вільний Тибет, але ця спірічуал кінцівка музично теж не додає. Безумовно тут є один з найбільших хітів гурту. Та вся ця еклектика по стилям тут дуже яскрава. Дуже крутий альбом, але є кращі у них для мене

Brilliant album. Stellar arrangements and lyrics. The instrumental tracks are a standout.

Already having listened to another beastie boy album from this list, I must say they really rock 4.5/5

Sure Shot Root Down Sabotage

This is one of my least favourite Beastie Boys album and yet it's still brilliant. The production is solid throughout, the energy is top-notch as always with the Beastie Boys, and there's a diverse range of musical styles they experiment with on Ill Communication. The only thing I don't enjoy about this album and why it gets a 4 instead of a 5 is the amount of distortion on the vocals. The majority of the songs have vocal effects which take away enjoyment of the listening experience.

En smågalen resa genom punk, funk, hip hop med mera. Topparna är höga och Sabotage är verkligen ett monster varje gång. Gillar verkligen hur bas och trummor låter, oavsett samplade eller live. Kanske lider skivan av lite för många spår och hardcore-punken känns något apart. Å andra sidan skapar den omaka mixen och kasten mellan stilar en helhet på något sätt.

Lekfullt och funkigt. Blaxploatation-soundtrack, flöjt och punk-attityd. Inleder starkt. Tappar fart under andra halvan. Blir något enformigt när de instrumentala låtarna återupprepar sig. Då är ändå instrumentalerna andra halvans hödpunkter. Skönt sväng rakt igenom. En stark 3:a eller en svag 4:a.

Not what I was expecting, hip hop and then some. A smorgasbord of jazz, funk, even some punk in there. I was obviously familiar with Sabotage but not much else but this was a great listen. Some cool instrumental bits too.

Фанк-панк для молодых и модных. Самое то для нуарных августовских закатов, когда чувствуешь себя самым кинематографичным и крутым хуем на районе.

Ganz gut. Wenn ich mal wieder mehr Hip-Hop höre, hör ich’s mir auf jeden Fall nochmal an. 3,8 Sterne.

Rock hip hop is my jam

This was a fun one, didn’t enjoy the whole album but there was a lot of cool stuff going on. Sabotage will always be a banger.

The Beastie Boys are one of those bands that probably should get more credit then they already receive. Yeah they've sold tons of records and I believe they are part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (whatever you think of that), but they really are pioneers in different ways and have been pretty influential on many others including Eminem. This album is a prime example of what they are capable of. We've all heard Sabotage and for good reason. That's one of those songs that just hit on all airwaves, whether it’s rap, rock, alternative, or pop. It was just huge in the 90s and arguably one of the best songs of that decade. But there's a lot more to like on this record, whether it is the other song you sometimes hear on the radio (Sure Shot), a collaboration with Biz Markie (Do It), other great back and forth raps, and one cool instrumental (Eugene's Lament, which I loved). I would give this a five, but two things hold me back: 1. Though it's a way more refined sound on this record, this album isn't as good or as complete as Paul's Boutique. 2. There are too many instrumentals on here (Eugene’s Lament as the exception). All the same, a very good album.

The Update stood out to me, I like the double bass part. Q-Tip feature on the album was nice. The album flows really well.

Was never a huge Beastie Boys fan, but I do enjoy their music, and this album is great

Very interesting jazz/hip-hop album from Beastie Boys. Haven't heard much of their album work before (only the hits), so I can't say I expected such cool production and neat instrumentation from them. Really surprising work from a group that I thought was more one-dimensional than this. Loved the long instrumental segments, the crazy unique beats, and some of the features. The vocal mixing left a little to be desired at times, with the vocal lines almost disappearing behind the beat in some songs. In addition, I've always found the flow of Beastie Boys tracks to be a little lacking, even if the lyricism is generally pretty good. But overall, a much better listen than I expected going in. Would be happy to listen to more from them in the future.

When I saw this pop up today I thought "Oh, that's an easy 5-star, one of my favorite albums of all time." And it remains one of my favorite albums of all time, one I listened to every day for about a year in college. But I haven't listened to it start-to-finish in a long time and I was a little surprised today at how much filler there seems to be on the back side. And it is great filler, to be sure, but the album didn't keep me as locked in on it as it used to. I definitely don't think it's as strong top to bottom as Paul's Boutique, and I never have. But I really feel like this needs to be one notch below five stars, and it pains me to say that. Another victim of the no half-stars problem, I guess... This gets the highest-possible four-star rating from me. And it is probably unfair to compare it to Paul's Boutique, which is a perfect album in my opinion. The front side of this one is perfect too, but the back side has too many instrumentals and songs where they use that voice effect where I can't understand what they're saying. If I go back and look at all the albums I have given 5 stars to, I guarantee I will see at least one that I like less than this album. But I'm choosing to rate this in a vacuum today.

I was surprised to find out I don’t LOVE love this now, but still love it and these dudes even more.

Super fun

Such a rad album. Super unique with fantastic variety, never boring. Sure Shot, Sabotage, Heart Attack Man are kind of what you expect from the Beastie Boys and again super cool songs. Then Sabrosa comes in as a groovy instrumental. The Update has beautiful lyrics (I think society missed the message on this one). Futterman's Rule is an absolute funky jam and might be my favorite song on the album, love the keys.

It’s just hip hop fun. I love their licensed to ill album and this is just a slightly more modern version of their work - and I love their sampling too

For white rappers, I enjoy what these guys do. The amount of influence that went into making this and making it so real to the time it was created is brilliant. Some songs weren't, but it doesn't distract too much from the brilliance of this. Props to my Dad for making me listen to these guys as a kid.

Real cool

I appreciated the variety of instruments and styles in this album. Definitely more interesting than I thought it’d be.

The Boys are... mellower? Not possible. Less shouty, perhaps. Exploring the funk and the groovier lines, with occasional acts of SABOTAGE!! They never do anything twice, so you can listen to their albums over and over for new sounds. They're musical mad scientists whose growth you can chart over the albums' courses. So fuckin brilliant.

love love love this album. very chaotic, very fun. too long for me personally, but sabotage and root down are peak. 3.8/5

Really thought an hour of beastie boys would get tiring, but I was gladly wrong. A boatload of fun packed with referential humor and grandiosity. Maybe could be slimmed down a little, but kept my attention very well the whole time

One of the Beastie Boys most accessible albums.

longer than I anticipated but not horrible, not my type of rap

Levyllä on hittejä joka nostaa arvion ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ muuten levy on ⭐️⭐️⭐️ tasoa.

Overall enjoyable, Sabotage is still a fantastic track. Enjoyed the extended grooves in between songs

I often have a hard time liking hip hop, but this one was quite cool and varied. Great flow and energy

Pretty good album. A couple songs I’ll go back to but overall more of a vibe than an actual great album with songs that stand on their own.

a lot of fun! highlights: tough guy, root down, sabotage, heart attack man (feb 26 2026)

Me donne le goût de varger dans un mur

Wow, c'est de la que ca vient le son de Joey Valence and Brae! Intéressant mashup de différents styles (hip hop, jazz, punk, throat singing??). L'instrumental reste toujours frais et j'ai bien aimé l'espèce de rap question-réponse. Agréablement surpris!

Ahead of its time combining punk elements with hip hop. Standout was “Sabotage” but also loved the instrumentals “Eugene’s Lament” and “Flute Loop”.

87% Best: Sure Shot; B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak; Root Down; Sabotage; Get It Together; Sabrosa; Alright Hear This; Flute Loop; The Scoop Must-Hear? Sure

I HATED the Beastie Boys first album. I thought it was annoying and irritating and they were just brats. I assumed they’d just rinse and repeat, because why wouldn’t they. But they didn’t, and made some really cool albums with fantastic production and instrumentation, and some very witty lyrics. This album isn’t my favorite of theirs, but it’s a very enjoyable listen with lots of interesting styles.

The end (I imagine) of the Beastie Boys era on the Project, and it's not done loads to change my overall opinion of them. That is that they're a very good, but quite irritating band who don't really do loads for me. Sabotage is a banger to be fair, especially the opening 20 seconds or so. It's good this, but I generally was hoping for more.

Enjoying hearing earlier beastie boys

Some really amazing songs. I think there are too many I didn't love to give it 5 stars but 4 stars for sure.

A refinement of their sound they made on Check Your Head rather than a reinvention, probably their best post Boutique album.

Obviously a new sound, definitely a vibe.

To my shame despite living for a year with a massive Beastie Boys fan, i dont think i’ve ever listened to an actual album in it’s entirety outside of ‘To the 5 Boroughs’ (which is far from their best). Having already being bitten several times by albums popping up that i assumed (mistakenly) i’d love this one had me worried. However finally this one confirmed my preconception and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It perfectly soundtracked a very sunny summer morning. Sabotage holds a particular place in my heart from going to the alternative club nights whilst at school, safe in the knowledge that at some point you would get the double hit of Sabotage and Killing in the name of and everyone would just lose their shit.

I can absolutely understand why you might not like the Beastie Boys. The rapping is nasally, they shout, and finish EACH others SENTENCES! But I was a teenager with access to MTV when Sabotage was released and I watched that music video thousands of times but never got bored of it. While Sabotage and Sure Shot are probably the high points of this album, I still really like the rest of the record so.... 4/5

Top tier shit

Really digging the instrumentals

bass + hiphop = good album more bass + hiphop = great album my experience in alt-hiphop in a nutshell good album - 8.5/10

A lot of short songs. Great beats, on the funky/punk side of hip hop. Some great songs like Sabotage and Sure Shot.

I love Sabrosa, what a cool bass-led jam. And Ricky's Theme! Who would have expected this from the band that does Sabotage... not me! So smooth and funky. Yo! and the bassline on The Scoop is awesome... I didn't know they could do this. Really incredible.

Jazzy vibes and I like it

7/10

Some outstanding songs on this album.

I reckon this might might be peak Beasties. Extremely hectic, broadly eclectic, full of good energy. Solid New York record, a melting pot of genres, influences, and collaborations.

Has an energy that doesn’t let up but changes its color.

Solid early 2000s rap with their unique style, classic rap album

Creative genre busting rap. No other act could make this album. The backing track is good enough to be an instrumental. The collective element always adds a little extra to their tracks. High 4

There’s so much going on throughout this record. It’s a smorgasbord of genres, styles, instrumentation. Sure Shot has Jazz flute, tight smart looping production, with a traditional rock drum kit. This transitions into Tough Guy which turns into straight up hardcore punk, which is possibly the most successful mode on this record. The instrumental tracks, particularly Eugine’s Lament and Sabrosa, featuring a prominent double bass, adds some engaging left turns and sophistication to a record which in other ways is full of reckless charm. The only downside of its sprawling nature is that it does not quite know when to end. You don’t begrudge the hour long run time too badly, because of the various strange and surprising avenues they take you down, but I think it could have been even more effective if it was a little tighter.

Loved this LP, a high 4 for me, the rap style isn’t quite to my taste which keeps it from a 5, the mix of rap, hardcore punk and jazzy jams is -chef’s kiss-

Hell yeah! Ill Communication! To me, this was the Beastie Boys at their weirdest and most creative. Check Your Head is still my favorite album but the journey you go on throughout Ill Communication is pretty sweet. I have to admit I didn’t appreciate this album as much as I should’ve back in the day. While I loved Sure Shot, Root Down, and Sabotage, I overlooked some of the deeper cuts. But that is where the magic lies on Ill Communication. I love that there is a song talking smack on Bill Laimbeer (Tough Guy). I enjoy all the Ma Bell and Knicks references. There is funny moments all over the album. But there is also great substance in some of these songs. Ill Communication is just an all around great record. This is an extremely strong 4 rating. 4/5

Beastie sounds

Getting to be a trend: this album was early heavy. But the big boppers from this album--"Sure Shot," "Root Down," and "Sabotage"--lift 'Ill Communication' up. The whole album is pretty enjoyable, even if it gets a little background music-y towards the end.

Great shit.

--Sure Shot...grand opening statement --Tough Guy...short punk track. meh --B-Boys...a lot of interesting ideas but never quite comes together for me --Bobo...short drum break --Root Down...funky and fun. Great stuff --Sabotage...Classic --Get It Together...slows things down a bit. Great groove and rhymes --Sabrosa...funky instrumental. Very nice --The Update...I'm not sure I love this song but it's kind of fascinating. Off-balance but precise at the same time. --Futterman's Rule...Another funky instrumental. I really like the fuzz these guys are able to produce --Alright Hear This...sounds too much like Sure Shot but keeps the groove going --Eugene's Lament...another instrumental. I appreciate the left turn but it doesn't really fit with the rest of the album --Flute Loop...It's exactly what the title says and it's great --Do It...decent but overshadowed by similar but better tracks --Ricky's Theme...instrumental. feels like a track I would keep on while using the bathroom. Nothing that interesting happening --Heart Attack Man...another pure punk song. I like how heavy it is but otherwise it's just okay --The Scoop...I was afraid the back half of this would just be a repeat of the front but this track feels like it's bringing something fresh to the table --Shambala...is that Mongolian throat singing? Sure, why not? --Bodhisattva Vow...the throat singing continues and it's fantastic. Banger --Transitions...another uninteresting instrumental. Should have ended on Bodhisattva Vow

While Paul’s Boutique had the Beaste Boys throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck (This is a compliment, I like that album a lot), Ill Communication is a lot more focused, and more mature (well, about as mature as the Beastie Boys are gonna get). The album is a lot more cohesive, but don’t worry, there are still infectious beats, off-the-wall energy, and some good old fashioned Beastie Boys trade-offs. There are even some fun guest appearances, like Q-Tip from Tribe and Biz Markie. I liked this one a lot, maybe even more than Paul’s Boutique.

3.5 - some of the beastie boys stuff is just unintelligible to me , but when its good its good

We liked it a lot but he sounds like Morty. So 4 stars max.

Great

A classic, a lot of hangers on got into Beastie Boys starting here, while the tried and true were into Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head well before. Great to hear some of the punk roots throwback and more of their own instrumentation.

i’ve never liked beastie boys for their lyrics and voice but the backing tracks are amazing

Enjoyed listening to this album again. Some good songs!

banger

10 Word Review There's a reason it was one of my first records. Overall Score: 90 / 100

second best

The beats in this album are sublime. I liked the verses as well. Tracks 1-10 are nearly perfect. There are some alright punk songs on "Ill Communication". The instrumental tracks don't fit the album too well. 4 stars for "Ill Communication".

Hmmm, so on one hand this album is awesome.... They take rap and make it uniquely their own. I don't always want to consider them rap, because it is just so different but all of the elements are their. Mixing, sampling, rhyming, beats, etc. Its all there and done well but without sounding like anyone else. They have some awesome lyrics as well. Yes they are for young pot smoking white folks, but they are still really good. They are controversial but in all the right ways and not the bad ways. Shoutout to Sabatoge...awesome song. I even liked the musical instrumental breaks in between, Futterman's Rule was awesome! It is a chaotic album...and not always in a good way. Some bits weren't bad but just felt out of place (Ricky's Theme and Shambala). They have great lyrics but at times they were so distorted you couldn't understand them. Overall it was a good album and one that deserved to be on this list, but its not perfect.

One of my college roommates was very into the Beastie Boys, so they were playing a lot in those days, but I never took the time to really dig into their music catalog myself, aside from their hits. So now that I have one of their full albums under my belt... Pros: They are very talented rappers and performers and lyricists. They have a great energy that always comes through in their music. It's hard not to like them simply for who they are. The album had a lot of great variety too, and I liked the blend of punk and hip-hop and even some jazzy feels in the instrumentals. Very well produced too! Cons: The voice distortion was annoying. It's hard to hear what they're saying when they're making their voice so fuzzy. They write great lyrics, but then I can barely understand a lot of them. Their voices are also kind of a lot sometimes, and honestly, I liked the song with Q-Tip best because his voice isn't so harsh. And I could actually understand him. I was surprised by the number of instrumentals on here, but also I kind of liked them because it was sort of a way to relax after a big song and big voices. I especially liked the one with the violin. Overall, this is still a great album from an iconic group, I have mad respect for the Beastie Boys.

I thought I knew the Beastie Boys a little bit but man was I wrong... Apart from the few radio hits on this album it was a total surprise. The jazz / funk inspired beat tracks that made up the bulk of the album I thought were legitimately great. The in your face, rap punk vocals sprinkled throughout contrasted the musical styles of the backing tracks in a way that was super effective and made me want more.

4.0 - Very Good

Familiarity and nostalgia breed fondness. While License to Ill was on constant replay in HS and hits like Sabotage, Intergalactic, Make Some Noise (and related videos) held my attention over the years, this album never really stuck for me. My impressions today: it lacks the catchy lyrical interplay/finishing each other's lines prominent in their earlier material, the megaphone effect on much of the vocals distracts, and the 3-4 "punk" songs (Tough Guy, Heart Attack, Update) don't fit. But there are several gems, particularly the back half: Get It Together, Sabrosa, Shambala, Eugene's Lament, and Ricky's Theme stand out. Sesame Street, 70's cop shows, and 80's sitcoms romanticized NYC life - housing projects, fire hydrants spraying summer streets, people always on the move, etc. and this album extends that aura. Not as good as License to Ill but many more hits than misses. 4/5

An alright album, I liked Futterman's Rule the most.

Surprisingly good. I still can't tell whether Mike D is a lyrical genius, or whether he's just shouting incoherent nonsense through a loud hailer, but musically really good.

Good variety 👌

so much depth here. yes they rap but also they’re a jazz and punk influenced jam band?

It's the only rap album on this list that I liked.

Very distinctive sound (sounds like they sing into a can) I joined the BB hype albums later, but Sabotage is on my ‘get aggressions out’-playlist 🤘

Classic album that has a wild ass mix of different tracks. Beastie Boys started as a punk band and some of that is in here. Classic pass the mic. Funk and turntablism. Weird world music samples. Really just a fun album despite some anachronistic cultural insensitivity.

daorinha :D

Fuck yeah

78/100. good and dynamic album, blending tight beats with a mix of rap and rock. It strikes a balance between being heavy-hitting and smooth

4/5

I get that it was a big departure for their sound but I don't think it was quite as revolutionary as some reviewers seem to think. That said, there is damned good music on this album.

Not my most favorite Beastie album, but still some good rhymes on here and a bit of new style for the guys.

Fun, but not as good as Check Your Head. Some really good grooves, some noise.

Not my style, kinda noisy, but fond memories. More meaning now than as a middle schooler

This makes me feel like a wannabe man, love it

apprehensive already. wow. really enjoyed as an album all together. back half hit hard at the gym.

swag but i dont think i particularly care for it

Lekfullt. Funky. Blaxploatation. Flöjt. Punk-attityd. Inleder starkt. Tappar fart under andra halvan. Blir något enformigt, återupprepar sig. Skönt sväng rakt igenom. En skiva jag blir glad av att höra.

Rip Biz Markie Favorite track: Sabotage 3.5/5

Never heard of Beastie Boys before listening to this album, was pleasantly surprised

Genuinely has more funk and instrumentation to it than I expected having only ever listened to their singles before, especially with tracks like Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Ricky's Theme, Shambala and Transitions. Thoroughly enjoyable album to kick off my 2nd attempt at the 1001 album challenge.

A mixed bag of hip hop af rock. Great album.

I like the instrumentals as part of the tracklist - didn’t realize the sequencing was a lot like a beat tape.

Unmistakably Beastie Boys

This was a jam through and through. I was surprised by the amount of live instrumentation vs the samples I was expecting. Never gonna eat the mashed potatoes at a party again.

Cool album with a lot of variety, enjoyed how they brought in rock, hardcore punk, funk etc influences and thought the instrumentals were great

Was pretty good

Good but not my bag

Alot more mature then Liscense to Ill. You can see their punk influences. I never really went beyond Sure Shot & Sabotage, but it was a great album

Great beats and as someone who doesn't listen to the beastie boys, a surprising amount of great instrumentals. The only problem with it is sometimes the lyrics are too obscured by the distortion on the vocals.

A really, really great album that isn't a *perfect* album. I was excited when this was my album for the day and was honestly expecting that after I listened to it, I'd find it to be a perfect 5/5 album. As a late Gen Xer or early millennial (I'm the Oregon trail generation), this came out at a formative time for me. I wasn't huge into the beasties then, but damnit if sabotage didn't become an increasingly favorite of mine and has had way more staying power than one might have guessed when it was the hot thing on MTV. Many great instrumentals, and of course get it together is masterful, but there a few parts that, for me, lagged or didn't hit that notched this down a little more than I expected as a full album. Still great. So so great. I want it to be a perfect album, but it's not quite there.

Sabrosa The Update Futterman's Rule Transitions

Kinda surprised this is here. Don't get me wrong I love me some Beastie Boys but without knowing for sure I assume that if this is here Paul's Boutique and License to Ill most be here as well. Either way what a record. Sure you get plenty of that rap/rock fusion you typically associate with the Beastie Boys, but you also get a lot of jazz sounding influence as well. Incredible. 8/10

I've now had all three Beastie Boys albums on this list, and I think this was the only one I'd never heard before. Surprisingly, I thought this was their best despite only knowing Sabotage before. Much more musically interesting than their other albums. Also anything from the 90s with Q-Tip can't be bad

that shit was fire

some tracks have really muffled vocals, kinda hard to discern what they are saying. really nice instrumentals. lots of long interludes (at least that's what I think they are), with no vocals, just instrumentals. some are good, like ricky's theme, but others kinda feel like filler for the album

Hell yeah quality album

Top tracks right chere

Genious!

Muy guapo, se pueden ver muchas de las influencias que han tenido en la música.

Pretty solid stuff boys

Really fun… mix of high high energy with cool instrumentals. Kind of corny with hindsight but will listen to more

Loved it

These beats are insane and they're actually pretty talented rappers but the production is so unique

Enjoyable, oddly soothing, needs another listen.

Some solid gold hits on here, but also maaaaaaybe a tad too long The flute tunes at the end tended to blend into one song certainly.

Going to go against what I've done for other albums. Despite this also being a bit long and lagging at tung end it's hard to fault how much I enjoyed pottering around the house to the first half, and enjoyed finding the out the Prodigy sampled Root Down which was possibly the highlight.

Expected 90s rap bangers and it delivered and then some in the most unexpected way. But it was obviously going to be great because it came out when I was born.

Background music in the bar at a local arthouse cinema (not a criticism). It works really well as "vibe" music. I really like the overall sound and instrumentation. But I wouldn't sit down to listen to this because I was desperate to hear any particular song (Sabotage aside). It's interesting listening through this randomly generated list as I haven't listened to Beastie Boys albums closely before and am jumping in a bit in the middle of their career with this. This seems like a more mature sound than their earlier stuff but it's hard to say without having much context.

Great energy and loved the background tracks. I was hesitant that it would be too much but it really surprised me.

It's a good album if a little dated, getting a four star probably some nostalgia involved and the knowledge of where they would go. Some absolute classics.

Have on Vinyl: No Fav Song: Get it Together w/Q-Tip Notes: Falls off towards the end

Such a great album. So many good tracks, still a unique sound. Takes me back to a time, for sure.

I’m glad I got past the initial first few songs that sound a lot like their normal things that everybody else has heard, because after that the album really opened up and I was happy to find new songs that I was really into.

Préambule : Très hâte d'écouter cet album, car même si j'aime et connait certains titre de Beastie Boys, je ne pense pas avoir écouter cet album en entier. L'intro est un banger comme on en fait plus, un des sons des Beastie Boys que je connaissais avant d'écouter cet album. Une prod entetante et des passes passes qui mettent en avant les styles et voix différentes des différents membres. La prod peut paraitre simpliste de part sa boucle répétitive mais un vrai travail sur la basse et les drums (coupure, relance, switch rythme) qui permettent de rythmer le son. Le son le plus populaire de l'album (et celui que je connaissais) pour une raison. Tough Guy, le deuxième son de l'album, change totalement le ton avec une vraie vibe punk et exprime vraiment le style des Beastie Boys. Ce se permet de faire des interlude jazz comme si cette folle vie était trop courte. Le feat de Q-Tip sur Get It Together est BIEN EVIDEMMENT exceptionnel avec une prod qui respire les allées sombres de Brooklyn. Bordel les interludes c'est quelques choses, ils ont vraiment réussi à donner une consistance à l'album en mettant des interludes 100% instrumentales dans différents styles très différents. Vraiment un album super bien construit mais qui ne se prends en même temps pas au sérieux. Au final, l'album c'est comme si plein de groupes et de styles de musiques avaient fait une giga partouze pour accoucher d'un mutant qui pue le hip-hop jazz, Rage Against The Machine, Brooklyn, Les highlights : Sure Shot, B-Boys Makin with the Freak Freak, Sabotage, Get It Together Les lowlights : Une fin d'album moins entrainante que le début il faut le dire

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background More like a 3.5, but I'll round up.

There’s something unique about the Beastie Boys sound, didn’t really understand the message of the songs but couldn’t help moving along to the beats. Also nice interludes and variety of styles in this album.

This is a classic album, and I've listened to it more than one time in my life. My tastes have changed through the years, but it does bring a smile to my face. And, of course, 'Sabotage'.

Brings back high school nostalgia

Dannnnng this rocked. Can’t lie been trudging through some mid the past week and this woke me up. Just great ears for cool sounds and great beats. And I kinda love their annoying voices. Really cool stuff. And recorded on same table as Freddy gang??? 4.5

Banger album, more versatile than i thought, enjoyed heavily

It's funny how little Sabotage fits with the rest of the sonic landscape of this album - even considering Heart Attack Man - but like, how could you *not* put it on the album? Another question worth considering: is this the second best Beastie Boys album?

I bought this album the day it came out. I knew I was going to buy this album when I saw the Beastie Boys perform on the 1994 VMA Awards. They came out and performed "Sabotage" and did so in coordinating outfits while playing live instruments. I was obviously going to buy the album at that point. I don't think everything on this album works perfectly, but man, the Beastie Boys just went for it. At the time, I am not sure I "got" this album as much as I do now. I wasn't educated enough about music to see what they were trying to do, which was to basically sample every genre they could think of. Sabotage is a sort of 70's grunge, Sabrosa is 70's black-ploitation funk, Get it Together is just straight early 90's sparse rap, Sure Shot is classic Beastie Boys and there is even some punk rock thrown in here as well. Really great album, though not my favorite by them, but this is probably the most aspirational they ever were in terms of experimenting with new sounds.

Musically really enjoyed it, lyrically maybe it's an acquired taste but I see how someone make get the appeal of this 4*

Sounds like beastie boys

Funky, punky, hip hop beats. Proper good mash up that could only be the Beastie Boys.

Amazing album. So many great hits, so many amazing album tracks, so many different styles and influences…. It isn’t hard to see why people call this album their masterpiece.

Interesting mix. 3.8.

I thought it was really interesting how they combined several different genres on this album to create its sound. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

omg, it's funny.i think i've never listen smth like that?

Not as grabby as Licensed to Ill but that almost makes me respect it more. Multi-genre, multi-collaborator. Of note: Flute Loop is the third-most listened track of the album on Spotify, and excluding the hits is my fave track.

4.4 3x great album

Good

While one of my favourite bands, I can’t help but be critical. The straight hardcore songs aren’t very good but obviously Sabotage hits perfection. Q-Tip outshines them in Get It Together, reminding you why they excel when they’re playing around and dropping references. Ultimately, I love it all but I see the flaws.

Go timing- nice to revisit an album of my youth in my hometown. While I am not as intense of a fan boi as Mateen, I did enjoy the range of music on this one.

Doesn’t quite hit the heights of License To Ill for me. Quite of a lot of instrumental going on. Can’t deny the bangers though. Sabotage 🔥 Simpsons: Yes (I thought they’d be a cert for guest stars though)

"Sabotage... that classic Beach Boys song" - Richy Higgs. I was very surprised to see another Beastie Boys album on the list, given how poor the last one was. However, this one had a very different vibe, and I actually quite enjoyed it.

Otro banger más de los Beastie Boys. Muy entretenido de inicio a fin, creo que aún no ha salido ningún álbum malo de estos tíos. Canción destacada: Flute Loop (me gustan mucho las vibras)

This one started out slow for me but once it got going I was much more interested. When I say that this is an odd album I mean that as a compliment. The playing around with genres so much from song to song had me wondering at times if I was listening to the same album or if it had swapped over to auto playing something else. Also wasn't expecting the instrumentals. Overall I really liked this album. I would say it's less good than "Paul's Boutique" for me but still will be worth future relistens.

Fascinating listen. The production is amazing, some of these beats are top notch. Lyricism isn't quite there, the distorted vocals get old pretty quick and the punk stuff isn't great, but overall a good album.

Man I forgot how much I like sabotage!! That song goes so freakin hard. The rest of the album didn’t stand out too much too me unfortunately. The Beastie Boys sound is just such a unique, distinct, and at this point, nostalgic sound. Don’t know if it actually deserves a four but I just loved being back in this unique music period again.

A lot of random jazzy songs but they're fine. Better than 99% of other random songs in albums. This is Chad.

Not the best Beastie Boys album (Paul’s Boutique). This is a bit all over the place, which I understand was intentional and kind of a trend at the time. Bands didn’t want to be limited to a single genre, so albums like this happened. Little bit of rock, little bit of rap, couple of funky jazz songs- shows off the range but creates a disjointed listening experience. Sure Shot and Sabotage are A++ songs that make the album worth the listen.

I'm not much a Beastie Boys connoisseur (or particular afficionado), so it was a bit of a surprise to get one of their albums with only one single I recognized ("Sabotage"). But I enjoyed listening to it, and was happy to hear they'd evolved from their fun debut (so far the only other Beastie Boys album I've listened to in this collection, although I can see that "Paul's Boutique" will eventually get into the rotation too). I was a bit surprised how much they'd moved on from the screaming harmony rap of their earlier years, but this was pleasantly offset by a lot more instruments being used, and some great samples too. I think "Root down" was my favorite track on the album (along with the fantastic video), and "Sabrosa" the best instrumental on the album (with second place going to "Futterman's rule", in part because of the much later video added to the track full of "Sabotage" video outtakes), with honorable mention to "Boddhisatva vow" for its interesting take on old-school Beastie Boys. I was also struck by how much "Sabotage" sounded like it could have been on a Rage Against the Machine album (although perhaps not as much lyrically, and the fun Spike Jonze video definitely didn't ooze RATM at all). And I loved it that Q-Tip was featured on the otherwise not all that memorable "Get it together". This is another album that deserves a half-star rating system, as it's clearly better than just a middling three stars, but it feels a bit too long and meandering for non-fans to warrant four stars, in my opinion. But since we don't get half-stars, they get the BB boost.

really enjoyed these Beastie stylings--esp Futterman's Rule, Sure Shot, Get It Together, and Flute Loop. The music is especially standout (dig the flute and some nice bass) on this album; their lyrics aren't consistently the genius level of Hello Nasty, but are strong too.

Flera härliga 90talsrap som är rätt unik för BB, men inte så många som jag skulle välja att lyssna på. +1 för Sabotage

Sabotage is an obvious highlight, it's as close to a Death Grips-style harshness that you're gonna catch in mainstream music. Then you got the boom bap from Get Together. I didn't even tire of the distorted vocals because those excellent jazzy-funk interludes. 4.5/5 rounded to 4

Love these guys. One of their best IMO

This was awesome. I didn’t know they had that punk side to them. Their beats and rhymes are amazing but the flow seems unchanged from song to song.

Liked more than expected

I liked this way more than I expected 4.5/5

Hard-edged hiphop, which is my favourite type of hiphop. 4 stars

This a really cool album that blends hip-hop, punk, and intstrumental funk. "Sure Shot", "Sabatoge", "Root Down", and "Get it Together" are all standouts.4.5 stars.

I cringed when I first learned this was my album, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I only knew a couple of their songs in the past, but I was really pleased with the variety of their music.

4,5

good

They have put out so many classic rap songs. This album has a bunch of them!

you arrive late to the party. i spot you moving toward the food table and i move closer. as you reach for the ladle i make eye contact and subtly signal "no." later i will explain what happened before you arrived, but for now you trust me - you do not take any mashed potatoes

4.5!

Their voices can be a little much at times but a very fun record as there is enough jazz, reggae and rock instrumental interludes to balance out the hype tracks. Lots of good energy. Maybe my runner up favorite next to Paul's Boutique. Root down, sure shot, flute loop, bobo on teh corner, Shambala, and very obviously SABOTAGEEEE make this a overall great album even if it looses steam for me towards the back half. It's never "bad" just a little long.

Would agree with previous reviewers that the album was a little too long. Many of the tracks were a bit samey, but it was a quality set. 3½ but seeing as I'm stuck with whole numbers it'll have to be a 4.

Way more interesting and varied than I expected. . Some very good tracks at the start but drags towards the end with way too many songs. It's like if alt hip-hop and punk had a very 90s baby. No-one who appears as themselves in Futurama could be evil. 11/01/24

Very good album. I already had some songs saved from this.

So f'n cool...

Doesn't feel like an hour long album with how much variety there is. Some of these beats are insane too, such a unique group.

I literally just bought this on vinyl. Love it. Lot more noodling than I remember but has some of my fave Beastie songs so we're good.

This is pretty good- really varied. The usual Beastie stuff but they really went for a lot of different stuff. Miles ahead of their time.

Beastie Boys це унікальне явище в хіп-хопі. Хлопці починали з хардкор-панку і цю енергію перенесли в хіп-хоп, більш того, тут навіть є декілька пісень у вищезазначеному жанрі. Це той хіп-хоп, який може і не виділяється багатою та складною лірикою, але це повністю перекривається "технічною" складовою - розйобний флоу, потужний фанковий біт, енергійна подача та використання "живих" інструментів. Та і загалом - це дуже еклектична, експерементальна робота в якій, окрім класичного звучання олдскульного хіп-хопу, знайшли собі місце фанк, джаз та альтернативний рок. І в, моєму улюбленому, Hello Nasty (1998) вони підуть ще далі, але це вже інша історія

me encantó, si bien la puntuación general es de 7.6, puse varias canciones en favoritos y otras playlists.

Love the random hardcore punk songs. The instrumentals really shine through. A legendary record for a reason

The Boys lay down some insanely catchy beats, but their flow can get repetitive after awhile. Their bars are solid, but the rhyming structure and delivery sound the same for almost every song. It’s also a bit long with some filler that could have been cut. Unfortunately Ill Communication just isn’t as consistent as I remember it to be. 3.6/5

This is #day151 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this might just be one of the most eclectic albums I've heard. Not only was it my first time listening to a Beasties album, but I also caught myself thinking, "Am I listening to a hip-hop record, or is that free jazz I hear now?" (No wonder they were influenced by Miles Davis' jazz-rock albums while recording this). At one point, I was like, "Is it punk rock—or maybe hardcore punk now?" lll Communication is a fun and multifaceted album. It's so very 90s (but also 70s and 80s), I didn't want to leave. However, with 20 tracks, many of them instrumental, it sometimes feels a bit scattered. I’m giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day152.

Stupendously hard hitting, genre-splitting production. A very rare example of hip-hop album with instrumental tracks more than holding their weight. Full of energy and vocals slap. Best tracks: - Sabotage - Get It Together - Futterman's Rule Worst tracks: - Heart Attack Man Rating: 8/10

I had no expectation of enjoying this album so much. The breadth of music genres coexisting throughout this work is brilliant and refreshing. What a treat!

The big songs on this are monsters and some of my favourite Beasties tunes, and i've always been partial to the hardcore punk jams too. But as an album I rarely get past the halfway point. It feels like a mixed bag of ideas most of which are never fully realized which gives it a mix-tape/bsides vibe. Listening today though down with most of it. I probably should experience the full thing more often. 3.5/5

Groovy flute loops, banging beats, great raps, a smorgasbord of hip hop, funk, hardcore and dub.

Очень здоровское сочетание хип-хопа и хардкор-панка. Местами затянуто, но другими местами почти гениально. Лучшая песня: Bodhisttva Vow

BEASTIES GO WOKE (NOT CLICKBAIT)???????? well it’s not my favorite. i actually really like the instrumental interludes, i find them engaging and frequently quite beautiful…i like how this album really pays homage to their punk/hardcore roots and demonstrates their instrumental capabilities and i respect it for what it is—i think it’s a valuable addition to their discography. but i have to say i don’t LOVE listening to it especially compared to their other records. although the truth of the matter is that i probably would learn to really like it if i listened to it enough times. that’s kinda how it goes with the beasties…the 4 stars is the result of the instrumental tracks mostly. also the line “step into the party with the fila fresh gear / people looking at me like i’m david koresh here” is so uncalled for like WHAT…why would mike D say that… *fav tracks: sure shot; root down; sabrosa; ricky’s theme; get it together* (mostly for q-tip’s part sorry BBs)*; the scoop*

This was really fun and has some cool global influences on some of the songs. I enjoyed the instrumental tracks too and was surprised to hear those on there given my (limited) knowledge of Beastie Boys. I like when their delivery is more rhythmic and funky than when they’re kind of just screaming, but even the screaming isn’t so bad because it’s kind of funny. It just always sounds like they’re being silly together so I don’t mind the goofy sounding rap in this context even if it’s not my favorite style. *Fav tracks: Sabotage, Do It, The Scoop*

I liked this album. It was kinda jazzy.

Not much I don’t like from Beastie Boys. Love the punk/hardcore throwbacks too - tough guy and heart attack man.

Frank must have been on the naughty list, getting B-Boys album on Christmas. Since Licensed to Ill I’ve had to take a long look in the mirror and reflect on my positive feelings towards the Beastie Boys. I will not be bullied into not liking the Beastie Boys, but I can acknowledge they may be not-serious people and potentially hacks when it comes to actual rhyming. On this record it’s clear they want to be taken serious, and one tactic they’ve used is to distort their vocals so you can’t hear what they’re saying (smart). Sabotage is the best thing they’ve probably made and listening to this full album gives context for how and why they made it. Overall, I like their non serious attitude and their sound, but if you were to take a long look at them, like this exercise would encourage you to do, you may think they’re terrible. Not me! I’m going down with the ship.

Maybe I went too hard at the beastie boys for licensed to ill, which I thought was the worst album we’ve heard so far. Because this was pretty good. Their evolution is impressive, from idiot kids sounding like they were doing an imitation of rap to musicians making up their own sound. Sure shot, sabotage and futterman’s rule all stand out

Such a more evolved sound since License. They cover so much ground in genres, I love it. After License I was like how the hell did these guys get so much acclaim. I can get behind this album, and feel like their place in the canon is more justified. Three albums worth? Still not so sure. Might need to save Boutique for another day.

Might have gotten a start for sentimentality, but it hold up pretty well.

Added Sabotage & Futtemans Rule

If this music came out today I don’t think I would like it as much. But the nostalgia factor + degree of innovation = 4

great album, really interesting and ran really well

Some of it was fckn crazy. Would be 5 if wasn’t for the fuzzy rapping

A tad long, but a banger. Not the best album of 1994, but definitely among them.

Songs i knew 1 Songs i liked loads Generally a fantastic album, sabotage alone secures this as a 4 along with some other great tracks in here. There's a bit of experimental stuff going on in here that although good, stopped this being great. Maybe I have the bias of listening to lonely island as much as beastie boys which has warped me. High 4.

Maybe the best ‘classic’ Beastie Boys album. Meaning not as many sound experiments and banging on about Buddhism - though there is still some of that. It probably encapsulates the entirety of their various sounds the best out of all their albums, without going overboard in any one direction. Sure Shot, Root Down and Sabotage are some of the best beats/tracks the Boys ever produced. I like that there’s some proper punk on this as well - don’t think any bands have hit the nail on the head as well as these guys when it comes to the crossover between punk and hip hop. It’s also pretty funky sez, Futterman’s rule is a great little jam. The Boys don’t get enough credit for how good they are as musicians. Sure they can rap, but the dudes can play too. In classic 80’s/90’s fashion though they felt the need to use every single minute of the cd and there are a few too many tracks on this, that make it drag in the latter half. I’d give this a 4.5 if I could, but the length holds it back sez. Best tracks: Sure Shot, Tough Guy, Root Down, Sabotage, Futterman’s Rule

8/10. I'm not even 200 albums in, but I was already assigned all three Beastie Boys albums in this list! PRE-LISTENING NOTES: I've listened to over 900 of the albums in the generator, and this one is among the few that I haven't listened to. I gave both of the other two Beastie Boys albums in the generator two stars because I didn't like either of them. Their vocals gave me a massive headache, and I didn't vibe with their production. I was hoping to be assigned this album on a later date, since I have a feeling that in some extended period of time, I will acquire a taste for the Beastie Boys' music. After listening to many hip hop albums from the generator over the past couple of months, I may end up enjoying this album. I'm excited to see. I disliked Wilco's albums Mermaid Avenue and Being There, but I loved Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Anyway, I'm going to listen to this album now, and see what I think about it!!! :) POST-LISTENING NOTES: Fuck it, I liked it. 8/10.

Täähän oli mielenkiintoinen! Paljon muutakin kun perus räppiä! Hösselii ja tommosta pornoluolafunkkia ja kaikkee. Solid nelonen! 4/5

I was in high school and college for the heyday of the Beastie Boys, so while I never owned one of their albums their music just kinda seeped into my consciousness. It wasn’t until I was an adult, living in Brooklyn, that I started consciously listening to their albums. There is something so incredibly cool about what they do and the sounds and musical influences they put together. Sabotage, naturally, is a classic, but my favorite was Sure Shot.

Very enjoyable, musically diverse and creative. Will forgive the Boys for being brats.

brilliant

when hip hop beats constructed from multiple samples became much more expensive to produce in 1991, few groups were as prepared to roll with the punches as the Beastie Boys. their skills both on the mic and as a rock trio had been established on previous albums, but Check Your Head and Ill Communication mark the height of their eclecticism. Ill Communication is a rap record, but it's also a whole lot else! the Beasties and Mario Caldato, Jr. are responsible for the bulk of this material, with additional instrumental contributions from Money Mark and Eric Bobo. there's instrumental jazz-funk loungers, throat singing, and a heavy dose of punk rock throughout the runtime. the two flat-out hardcore songs on here are some of my favorite tracks on the entire album! the Beastie Boys' artistic trajectory across their first few albums sort of reminds me of another staple of Jewish hip hop, the late great Mac Miller. their early work in the space was written off in some rap circles as gimmicky "frat rap" made by immature posers, but as they progressed, they each proved their bona fides by becoming more and more true to themselves in their work. in Miller's case, it made for a lot of very emotional, depressing work; the Beasties are almost the inverse! this is 20 tracks of pure fun; these three may not be tremendously talented MCs, but their charisma and flows are incredibly fun to listen to. I've been listening to Joey Valence & Brae's latest record a lot since it came out, and they're a group I'm glad to see keeping the Beastie Boys' spirit alive in the 2020s, but the original is pretty hard to beat. would love to see JVB get a live band behind them at some point. strong 8/10.

4.5

Fun

Ill Communication is a confident B-Boys. Having been through the constant legal and personnel battles around Paul’s Boutique, and the return to their punk roots for Check Your Head, IllComm was a perfect blend of their various styles into a cohesive contribution, even adding some East Coast swagger to their new West Coast digs. Sabotage is a modern classic (well, I guess not that modern anymore) annd an perfect song for doing something incredibly impulsive. Other key tracks are the Scoop and Sure Shot, but a shoutout to MCA’s newfound Buddhist conversion with Bodhisattva Vow. As far as I know, it’s the best rap ever placed against Tibetan Throat singing.

Beastie Boys kinda grow up here on Ill Communication. Sure Shot and Sabotage are the stand out tracks but there are plenty of other great tracks here too: "B-Boys Makin With the Freak Freak" "Root Down", "Get It Together". I'm down with a lot of the instrumental tracks too. You should check out the compilation called "The In Sounds From Way Out" which just take those instrumentals from several Beastie albums and puts them all together. Anyway, fun B-Boys album, not quite a classic but a good variety showcasing all that they bring to the table on a single album.

Wow never listened before. Is it hip hop or rap? Definitely Punk. Love Tough Guy and Heart Attack Man.

Super fun to listen to onna run

Much funkier than I thought. I probably would have dug this if I had listened in the 90s.

I am shocked. I thought I would hate it. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The music is fantastic. The rap doesn’t thrill me. I found an instrumental album by the Beastie Boys and I probably listened to it three times yesterday. Yeah, I’m amazed. I had written them off for sure

Feel guilty giving this a 4 because the highs are so high, but it's too long, there's some weird shit going on in the middle and the fact that its a smorgasbord of sound doesn't mean that everything works well together. Like putting ice cream on a hamburger - it might work at the right time, but it might just be wrong. Anyway, great album with great breadth.

A good album, there is a mix of hip hop, rock, jazz, funk. It's very good to listen with also some instrumental song. Maybe it drags a bit too long but the quality is sure there. Particular that in the end there are some Indian religious chorus.

This so cool. I always liked them but never went beyond the first album. What really surprised me is the musicality. From funky 70s sounds to 90s grooves that sometimes even sound like Massive Attack. The instrumentals are great. Exceeded my expectations and I'll come back to this.

A rather ill communication! Never listened to this album in full before, and was pleasantly surprised by how accurately it reflects the atmosphere of a live hiphop show. I recently listened to a Rick Rubin podcast on spotify where he discussed the past disconnect between hiphop on record and at concerts, and how the beastie boys was an attempt to merge the two. I think it succeeded! I also appreciated the cool instrumental breaks throughout. Vocals and backing band felt very much in harmony.

Sign of the times

Further branching out from what had buttered their bread, Beastie Boys set out once and for all to let the world realize where their philosophies lie on this rock/hip-hop/jazz fusion patchwork. For all their sayings about having ill communication, the Beasties effectively get their message across pretty well and they use their platform to highlight the ongoing changes in outlook both personal and professional while not being preachy and difficult. They had finally positioned themselves as being amongst the brightest and most progressive of hip-hop acts, in a three act play that is often rightly recognized as some of the genre's greatest runs. Favorites: Sure Shot, B-Boys Making With the Freak Freak, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Alright Hear This, Do It, Heart Attack Man, Bodhisattva Vow, Transitions, Resolution Time, Sure Shot (European B-Boy Mix), The Vibes.

This is great, I enjoyed listening to this.

This is the first album I've received that I've heard before, though not that familiar with it and always meant to listen to Beastie Boys more. I like the variety in sounds between hip hop, funk and hardcore punk. It keeps the album from getting repetitive or stale and it still flows quite well Highlights: B-Boys Makin with the Freak Freak, Flute Loop, Heart Attack Man

Overall: 8/10 The styles used on this album are incredibly diverse! I think there's something in here for everybody and I especially love the punkier side they explore on this album (they started as a punk outfit). The guest spots from Q-Tip and Biz Markie also work really well and there's some instrumentals that help flesh the album out. It's one of those rare lengthy albums that I believe earns it's length. Not my favourite Beastie Boys album but definitely deserves it's spot in the list. Fav Song: Get It Together Least Fav Song: Shambala

Was a good fun time, I personally liked licensed to I'll more but this was still good.

4 out of 5. This album was a smooth experience.

Ill Communication is my second Beastie Boys album i have done for this project following Licensed To Ill and i really like this album more. This album seems to be a bit more consistent with it's quality compared to Licensed To Ill, Where that album had pretty high highs and pretty low lows, Ill Communication seems to have higher lows and highs that are around the same level. Some of the songs do feel like they are just here to pad out the length of this album but they were never super annoying and didn't take away from the best tracks which were some pretty great ones. This album is a really good album and a decent step above Licensed To Ill. Best Song: Sabotage Worst Song: Bobo On The Corner

I've never been the biggest Beastie Boys fan. I respect them and have really liked their music from time to time, but I go long periods without listening to them...and the album I almost always return to is Paul's Boutique. Ill Communication has a lot of power to it, plus some nostalgia from my side of things. I can easily see this album being a 5 for a lot of people, but it just doesn't quite get there for me, personally. It's a great album, but it's not on a whole other level (especially than Paul's Boutique, which I still prefer).

first time listening standout tracks: - sure shot - root down - sabotage

Great cohesive album with fun instrumentals that I didn’t know were a part of their catalog.

Funky, raw, and bouncing off walls, this album is a kinetic whirlwind. It has the punchy irreverence of early Public Enemy but swings back into moments of jazz and chill. Gritty beats keep everything moving, with lyrics that are both sly and off-the-cuff. It’s loose yet intentional, messy in all the right ways. An album that jumps between attitude and introspection, it feels like a good friend who’s loud and unpredictable but, somehow, always on point.

Not my usual listen but I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it

Great memories, great vibes.

It feels like the Beastie Boys were a bit of time capsule group. You couldn’t escape them in the 90’s. Their combination of anger, energy, scream-rap, on top of surprisingly great musicianship and expert turntable scratching were seemingly unmatched; and then they just disappeared from the pop culture consciousness. This is 20 tracks of a pure musical explosion; influences from all over the musical sphere are apparent in almost every segment of the album; from punk rock riffs, electronica, African beats, wind instruments, jazz, and heavy elements of funk. You could probably find other works with just as much variety, sure, but you’d have to really look; and I doubt you’d find something with so much of an angry punch as ‘Ill Communication’. The structure is also phenomenal. Nearly half the album is instrumental interludes, but they’re not the filler you might think they are. They are a means to an end - to transition you from one style of music to the next - and some of them are legitimate highlights. Lyrics screaming with so much angry bravado, social commentary, and world issues - you’ll have no problem finding something here to relate to; and the delivery is truly something to behold. Think Rage Against The Machine, but with hip hop elements. It’s an excellent representation of the group and the 20 tracks seem to absolutely fly by. You’ll probably want to check out some of their other stuff and I totally recommend that you do; but if this is your first exposure to the Beastie Boys you could do a lot worse. It’s a really solid LP that captures the feel of the mid 90’s amazingly well. 4/5

Great song titles and production. Very hip hop but also pushing the genre at the time (I think)

I wouldn't consider myself the hugest fan of several men screaming at me, trying to convince me that they are the coolest but MY GOD THE BEATS. The producer carried the whole album.

Interesting variation for a band with such a distinctive sound; some song are brilliant whilst others make me want to skip the track altogether. I enjoyed the instrumental sections. 3.5 stars

I’m sorry Beastie Boys, I was not familiar with your game. I thought it was all shouting and some random beats but there’s some very cool sampling going on here. I apologise for everything 4/5

Thought this was great listen. Love how eclectic it is. Public enemy/NWA vibes. Potential fifer on relisten

Yes! Yes! Yes! What a groovy vibe! It's got everything I wanted! Tracks ranging from Hip Hop infused metal/rock, straight up hardcore punk, and electronic instrumental dance. Love it!

Personally I love these guys. Always have, always will. Luckily I have done enough reviewing by now to not simply knee jerk react and say "amazing" and throw a five star rating. The 20 song playlist does not feel long because of the massive genre diversity this band displays. They keep it playful throughout yet their musicianship still catches me off-guard on occasion. Although I could listen to multiple albums of theirs in a row considering their genre leaping and quality (no to mention how fun they are), I feel this album could have been stronger by a slightly shorter playlist. Otherwise I strongly believe this is an essential must hear band!

The Beasties dial back the samples to flex their musical muscles, letting punk and jazz influences color their signature hip-hop backdrop in a communication that comes through loud, clear, and undeniably ill.

Had a little pep in my step listening to this one - made me feel like a bad ass a little bit.

It's hard to rate this album. I don't like hip hop at all but I'm not sure that's how I would categorize this one. Sure there are hip hop elements to it but compared to Paul's Boutique they have diverged from that quite a bit. The vocals for most of this record are the only thing that are really hip hop about it. Well the sampling too I guess. I think maybe it's also because you know that the Beastie Boys are sort of doing the hip hop stereotypes half in jest. But then Sabotage comes on. I could listen to that song all day. As simple as it is, one of the best bass lines ever recorded and super fun to play. I feel like if Sabotage had been written by someone else it would be hailed as one of the best rock songs of all time. It is a little bit out of place on this album for sure. After Sabotage Sabrosa is great, super funky and I love the double bass. Name another hip hop record to feature a real double bass. Sure Shot is decent as well. I think what I appreciate about this album most is how it changes genres but still all fits together. The handful of (mostly) instrumental tracks are great, really liked all of them. I hate to say that you can see actual musicianship that is absent in other hip hop records but that's kind of true. The more straightforward hip hop tracks are my least favorite from the album but I still enjoy those more that almost all the hip hop I've heard up to this point. But how to rate it? I don't know. I mean Sabotage is probably one of my top 20 (top 50 maybe?) favorite songs of all time and there are a few other songs on this record that I really like. Although I think I like the songs that most people would call the throwaway/filler songs. I think I'd give this like a 3.5 and will round up pretty much just because of Sabotage and the use of a double bass.

Thought I knew what to expect from the Beastie Boys, pleasantly surprised by the jazzy influence! More depth than I expected!

Top Album superb

This is my 3rd Beastie Boys album, I wasn’t a fan of Licenced to III (2 stars), but really enjoyed Paul’s Boutique (4 stars). Was expecting this to be more along the lines of Licensed, but thankfully I was wrong. This album is a brilliant mix of hip hop jazz and rock, and I think it still sounds incredible today. Loved the song with Q-Tip and also got big RATM vibes from heart attack man. I might go as far as to say I enjoyed this more than PB, but I think that’s just an excuse to revisit that album and see.

My first ever Beastie Boys and I'm pleasantly surprised! "Eugene's Lament" and "Flute Loop" were my favorite tracks, but I really enjoyed the way they played with sound throughout.

A great album, with some standout tracks. Sabotage is a GOAT. High fours.

Sure shot was great, along with Sabotage. Not sure about some of the minute long songs and generally seemed to get worse as it carried on

funky damage running away from ya

Some bangers and overall pretty good

I've never liked Beastie Boys. I've just always found their style of rap annoying, but it's pretty easily dismissed on this effort as the distortion is always at 11, and they're hard to understand. Judging by the early line that sounds like it's perhaps a sample saying something about sticking his dick in mashed potatoes, I don't think I'm missing any enriching cultural experiences by not focusing on the lyrics. All that said, it's a pretty good album musically speaking. I was absolutely not expecting so many genres and influences to show up and make for such an interesting album. I just may come back to this.

eldist skringilega. auðvitað mjög góð en nær ekki fimmunni. 4,5.

Great album, this one has my 2 favourite BB songs, Sure Shot and Sabotage (arguably 2 of the best ever hip hop songs). As an album, it's not quite as good as Paul's Boutique, but has some great standout tracks and instrumentals. The lyrics show a good bit of growth from the group as well, much more mature than their first album. Love the jazzy elements too. It is a bit too long though, and I could do without the last 5 songs in general.

I'm not much of a Beastie Boys fan but I did really like this album. Fave Track: Sabotage Rating: 4

The Beasties are at it again, this time mixing their psychedelic jazz sampling with live instrumentation and rock and punk elements, even veering into brief moments of hardcore. Vocals are what we’ve come to expect from them but again, they occasionally pick up the intensity (and use lots of filter effects). Solid rap-rock album that does both sides right but it doesn’t grab me as heavily as Paul’s Boutique.

Когда-то Альфред Сисли/Калифорния Дримин поделилась со мной песней Саботаж. Это было миллиард лет назад, но теперь, когда вода утекла, а я даже не знаю, жива Калифорния/Альфред или нет, интересуется ли она авангардным дроном, стала ли космонавтом или спасает жизни бедных котиков в потопах в центральной Европе, я точно знаю, что это был ключевой момент моего становления, или даже превращения, из ибица драг аддикта в претенциозного псевдо музыкального критика, который проводит за 1001 неблагоразумные часы времени. Альфред Сисли я люблю тебя. Лучшая песня - Sabotage.

Indeed, pretty variated release.

First half of the album was sitting on a pretty good 3... I'm not that big of a beastie boys fan when it's centred around their voices. After sabotage however, this album sends a no hitter, a triple double, a hat trick. The production is amazing, the jazzy bass running through and interesting genre blends completely subverted my previous opinion. Sabotage, sure shot and flute loop always hit anyway. 4.3

Ill Communication. Cause you can't, you won't and you don't stop. This was the record that had me reassessing my opinion of the Beastie Boys entirely. The first three records were good, caught all of our attention at the time they came out and were definitely in the air no matter what crew or clique you ran with. But it was Ill Communication that cemented their reputation and had many of us going back to re-listen to records we had put down. It's still one of my favorites of theirs. If it were a little more focused it'd be 5 stars.

I kind of love it. Mixtape era. The yell rap style hasn’t aged well but it’s very cool.

Really solid. Never appreciated it like I did this run through

Pretty good old school rap

Love it

Sure Shot and Sabotage worth another listen

We’ve already pulled Paul’s Boutique, and to me this album gaps that one. PB was interesting and vivacious, but the thoughtfulness and experimentation pays off in spades for Ill Communication; Bodhisattva Vow is a good example of that willingness to experiment yielding a wonderful change in dynamics. No longer is everything shouted loudly and over pronounced. This album feels like watching a former frat boy, now in his late 20’s, start to shed his old ways, reaching for a more meaningful lifestyle

My favorite Beastie Boys album! This was the CD in my car stereo on repeat for 1994. Truly a classic and such a variety of musical styles; so many great tracks. Favorites: Sabotage, Root Down, Sure Shot, Get it Together, Flute Loop, Heart Attack Man, Tough Guy. 4.5⭐️

Well, this is some cool old-school punk. Famous "Sabotage" is on here as well.

Good stuff from later in their career and they hit some different genres in there as well.

Yeah it’s good. Songs are fun, and beats are cool.

found myself enjoying this album much more than license to ill. the eclectic production really pulled me in, didn’t expect so many instrumental songs but i can’t say i was mad about it. damn good album

Excited about this one! Was as good as expected.

4.5 This started out as a 3 for me but grew as the album went on. I probably like the instrumentals the best. I was worried a whole hour of their voices would grate; but thankfully lots of instrumentals. And quite experimental

i wasn't a big fan of the last beastie boys album we listened to - i thought the novelty wore off very quickly and felt fatigued by their collective yelling - but i actually liked this one! musically diverse and full of surprising choices. i especially liked the instrumentals, which maybe sounds insulting, but it isn't meant to be. i just thought they were an interesting and enjoyable choice :)