Reviews (page 7 of 14)
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 :)
pretty good album here, maybe my favorite of the BBs albums I've heard from this list so far. i didn't know anything from this other than sabotage (of course) though flute loop felt familiar so maybe i'd heard that too. i love the samples and genre-bending music that the BBs make but the instrumentals here are second-to-none. in fact, listening to this made me realize that the biggest thing i don't care for when listening to their music is the white boy rap vocals. the boys themselves are simply too beastie for me. favorites: sure shot, sabotage, get it together, futterman's rule, flute loop, ricky's theme
I would say that my opinion of the Beastie Boys was somewhat negative going into this. The extent of my familiarity was some singles, their feature in futurama, and I knew that they were all white. At the beginning I didn't like this. It took a little for the project of the group to make sense to me. I think it was around Sabotage which I immediately recognized from this great youtube video of a guy recreating the skateboarding scene in family guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=4oS6ooRxZY0&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY When it got to the song with Q-tip I was pretty impressed. This album explores a wide range of sounds and the boys showcase their versatility and production skills. What impressed me most is the white space on this album. lots of space for the tracks to play on their own without the Beastie boys feeling they need to interject. This project is a space for the group to experiment and try things without it feeling messy. Some of the lofi stuff is really out there and not something that I realized that the beastie boys were interested in. I was pleasantly suprised by this album, I didn't expect the depth and experimentation that we got here.
This album is a lot more refined than Paul’s Boutique which is good in an easier to listen to sense. The best songs on here are the ones with crisp or unique samples - Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabatoge, Sabrosa my fave of the instrumentals) etc. I don’t think there are any particularly hidden gems on here. The rapping hasn’t really evolved; in fact I think it may be more basic to introduce more melody to the songs. One of my favorite parts of this album is MCA playing bass. Some of the lines are so slick and using a standup bass is next level. Making your own sample is great work in general, for all the tracks where the instruments are original. I think that’s what makes this album a move forward in many respects. In general the beastie boys were in their own space between genres and I think this album was the first sign that they’d keep doing that for a while. I would rate this a 5 but I got sick of a few tracks that went on too long, and the punk tracks were not great, so 4 it is. I really loved the instrumentals (even the throat singing one), they weren’t long enough!
Quite good, but very disjointed. The hardcore tracks suck, but the jammier rockier songs fuck 😎. Also too long doe 🤷. Sabotage is a classic tho. 🤘 4/5
One of my favorite Beastie albums! Surprisingly I don’t own this one so I will definitely have to revisit.
Fav: Sabotage Least Fav: Eugene’s Lament
Check Your Head was the more ground-breaking album.
蘸豆！爽！
Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 📻😎🚗 Mix: 🧨🔊💎 Musik: 🤘🧷📢🥸🎶🔥🌶️ Wertung: 🥸🥸🥸🥸(🥸)/5
Sabotage has been on my favorites list for a while, but I haven't listened to the whole album. I'd give it a 3.5, but I'll round it up to a 4.
Slept on by way too many
Whomever wrote the book this is drawing from has a real thing for Brooklyn. This is the *third* Beasties album that I've pulled so far. Not that I'm complaining. It's good shit. The boys play a lot of their own instruments on these tracks -- so it's got a more organic sound than the sample-heavy first few. They still flow like few others. They really found their sound here. Unexpected bangers: Bodhisattva Vow, Flute Loop, Get It Together
Took me a few listens to get my head around it. This is much more than just a rap album
4.5/5. I watched a pretty funny tik tok today with Sabotage in the background so this is fate. I’m just so impressed that three white middle class kids from New York had such a big impact on hip hop while maintaining their punk DIY aesthetic. The music video for Sabotage is decade defining fun and mayhem.
Great sounds and a lot of versatility shown. I enjoyed the different styles and sounds, but from an album cohesion standpoint it was slightly disordered.
The Boys have their adolescent swagger in tact, but have added some really impressive musical sensibilities. Their instrumental tracks are more than just a beat! I have a whole new respect for them.
Who knew there were this many genres?
Albumi #1, 28.07.2024 Vanha tuttu albumi arpoutui ensimmäiseksi albumiksi. Hieno avaus.
Damn near a five just for that fuzz bass break into WhoooaaaaOOOOAAAAH on sabotage, arguably the only rap rock song that ever needed to exist. Cue some of the nutjobs on here whining about how a rap group from brooklyn, named the Beastie Boys,"yells too much." Jesus. Hits like Rod Carew. Interesting music, violin, tibetan chants, but not as fun or as cool as Paul's Boutique.
This the Beastie Boys best album. It could be a 5 if they got rid of all the B sides and saved them for a reissued box set. But it doesn’t get any better than “Sabotage” and “Get it together” back to back.
I was prepared for the aggressive white boy rap MC work done by the Beastie Boys, but I was not prepared for the beats, funk, grooves, and instrumentals on this album. I was always curious how the Beastie Boys fit into the Hip Hop story, or what the Hip Hop community thinks of them. Q-tips appearance on “Get it Together” answers that question. I enjoyed this way more than I expected to.
This album is filled with many good tracks, including some fours into other musical styles however, the album feels over stuffed, and some of those explorations are not as fruitful or interesting.
Die Beats sind schon sehr beeindruckend und ikonisch
Pretty cool, tho I involuntarily started going for a run when sabotage came on.
Solid classic
You couldn't have turned on MTV for more than 5 minutes in 1994 before you were bombarded by the video "Sabotage," which was EVERYWHERE and seemed to air at least twice an hour for 18 hours a day during the summer of 1994. My graduating year from high school was inundated with the sounds of this as well as Soundgarden's "Blackhole Sun," Aerosmith's "Crazy," Beck's "Loser," Collective Soul's "Shine," and Warren G's "Regulate," among many many others. It's difficult to remove the nostalgia from music, and while I never dedicated much time to listen to the Beastie Boys when this was first released, this album was pretty incredible.
Just a great album through and through. I love the beasties playing their own instruments and there are just masterful sound drops throughout. It also hits my nostalgia card since I had this on repeat for a long time in the 90's
You know I never really got the beastie boys. Then I listened to this album and I get them now. Great album, my infant enjoyed it. 4/5 stars
19/07 Degelijk album. Niet hun beste, maar toch zeker hun tweede beste. Sabotage was, is en blijft een banger. Zeker een 3-4 nummers hierop die in m'n playlist vliegen. De rest is niet slecht, maar nu ook niet super, wat dus bij Licensed to III wel het geval is, maar die zal ik wel nog tegenkomen. 3.6*
Fantastic rhymes and even better music. Blessed to blast this on my stereo today. Discovered some jams I wasn’t as familiar with.
Days after listening to Paul's boutique , this I'd say has better verses , lesser noise and better arrangement . Songs are also a bit longer . But Paul's Boutique was better in samples and the beats used . It is unfair to compare 2 separate records but this just came as an afterthought. Favorite song has to be the Q-Tip's feature .
Pretty good, not as cohesive as Paul's Botique but they were adventurous with it and when it hits it hits
Love the singles, will come back to this
First time I've ever listened to this whole album, and honestly, I dig it! Sabotage is obviously the high point, but overall I thought it was good.
I really dig this version of Beastie Boys Gilles with musical experiments. Still too much filler.
You never know what to expect when Beastie Boys arrive - you only know that it’ll be good. There’s simply no denying the greatness of BB’s innovative mix of sampling, raunchy vocals, live punk instrumentation and insane attitude. They start to lose grip of the record around “Eugene’s Lament” but luckily they regain it with “Heart Attack Man” and keep on delivering for the rest of Ill Communication.
Sure Shot, Root Down and Sabotage. Say no more 4/5
This album has a few all-timers on it, but struggles to find itself. They seem lost themselves on what they are even trying to do. If they cut half the filler on this album it has a chance to be a 5 star album, but it's so lost in trying to do a little of everything it falls short. Without Sure Shot, Sabotage, and Flute Loop this is a 2 or 3, but these song push it to a 4/5.
Super fun album once again from the Beastie Boys, with a quite few different flairs to show off their musical range. My only complaint is that the album does drag on a bit, but this is a really great display of a really talented group. Favorite track: Sabotage
Sabotage
Wow, this was not what I was expecting at all from the Beastie Boys. This was so much more musical and harmonious than anything I've heard from them. Before listening to this album, Sabotage was the most "musical" song I've ever heard from them, and that's probably the _least_ musical track on this album. So much cool and deep stuff in here, from a musical perspective. Some songs didn't even have any rapping! I didn't realize that they even did that. Overall, it was very good, and will probably relisten at some point, but it didn't blow my skirts up enough to relisten immediately. Four solid stars.
It’s possible that I haven’t given the Beastie Boys a fair shake, but this was much more sophisticated than I was thinking! Nice mix with different undercurrents of jazz, funk, punk, rock… not sure I would normally spin this all the way through, but once again that’s what I like about this 1001 challenge. Only knew ‘Sabotage’ but coming away with some new appreciation. 4.25/5
It's not beasties boy's best album, but man is it some good hip-hop.
dope beats. cant go on a walk today so using it as workout music. does the job
3.5 - they are just fun. Some of this album is a little bit much though
Fantastic. Not as groundbreaking as Paul's Boutique or as varied and jam packed as Hello Nasty, but this one to me seems to mark the point where the Beastie Boys "matured". Sweet jam band interludes, a couple of punk songs, and Sabotage! What's not to like?
Cracking album. Sabotage is my all time favourite Beastie Boys tracks.
Great, with some musical interludes.
Legendary
Quite possibly their best album in terms of live instrumentals. Does it reach the highs of Hello Nasty? No but I think it’s my second fav Beastie Boys album
På den ene side har den nogen af deres største bangers, på den anden side er den for lang og jam agtig mod slutningen
Vanvittigt alsidigt. Sabotage er den beastie boys sang jeg har hørt absolut mest, så blev glad da den kom på! Solid plade, som helt sikkert fortjener genlyt og fordybelse.
Illmaculate vibes scratching all kindsa itches.
I see what they were going for and this is clearly iconic but it feels very dated and stuck in the late 80s/ early 90s. Not bad, just not timeless like some others on this list.
A perfect blend of punk, hip hop, and funk in NYC during the late 80s
This is an AWESOME album and just what I needed to put some 'pep in my step' this weekend! Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage
Beastie Boys show here how versatile they can be. Their best album
I love their production. The writing is sort of whatever in my eyes, it isn’t really the point. More of a vibes group. Really fun and high energy when it wants to be, but even the slow tracks have a nice bounce to them.
This is the Beasties album that won me over to them. Less schtick and more substance.
I never realized how heavily edited these tracks are. It's not a bad thing: the album plays with reverb and static and other effects, which really adds to the attitude. It's very common for songs to do this in 2024, but having so much fuzz so ahead of the game is respectable.
Good music, a lot more range than you might give them credit for if you only knew the big hits.
he like ma bell
I dig it. This might be my favorite Beastie Boys album.
I think I may have mentioned it before, but Root Down, the last single released off this album, was incredibly significant in my household - I can still remember my kids running amok in the house doing the call & response bit from that track - How ya gonna kick it? Gonna kick it root down - this was when I knew they were onto hip-hop, &, for the two of them there’s been no turning back. It is the highlight of this album, for me, but there is a mile of good music here. They can punk it up, as in Tough Guy & Heart Attack Man. There are a bunch of great instrumentals - the very funky Sabrosa; Futterman’s Rule; the violin-based Eugene’s Lament; Ricky’s Theme & Shambala. All very different to each other. Q-Tip’s guest spot on Get It Together & Biz Markie’s piece on Do It both work well. Although, besides Root Down, the highlight for me is Sabotage, which was the first single off the album & features a great film-clip. A terrific record.
OK, this was actually pretty good. Their yelling/rapping didn't bother me as much as it had on other albums. Of the three Beastie Boys albums I have been served on here, this is the only one I would willingly listen to again; in fact I quite enjoyed a few of the songs. My favorites were "Sabotage" and "Flute Loop."
Ill Communication lacked the samples that Paul’s Boutique had but it brought more grittiness and even some Gregorian chants in the later stages of the album. Great album, Beastie Boys were pioneers and Ill Communication is an excellent capsule of the 90’s. 4 stars
I've been feeling miserable all day because I undervalued the Grant Lee Buffalo Album yesterday. Should have been four stars. Sorry to everyone involved.
this is the third beastie boys album in 2weeks. it's still my bfs fav band so I have to like it.
Definitely surprising. I enjoyed how much more instrumental it was than I had anticipated - almost a jazz album. Really enjoyed it.
Far and away the best Beastie Boys project I've listened to. The Q-Tip feature was a pleasant surprise. Highlights: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, The Update, Futterman's Rule, The Scoop
Previously rated: License to Ill (5/5) ************************ First time hearing this one, so I don't have the same nostalgia. It has its moments - Root Down and Sabotage being my favorites. I wish the vocals didn't have that heavy distortion throughout the album though. I'd like to understand some of the lyrics. And why so many instrumentals? Honestly, I did really enjoy a couple of them.
- Was planning on going with 3 stars for the first half of the album, but the second half really won me over. - Not sure how complimented the Beastie Boys would be by this take, but I think the work they do on their backings far outshines their ability as rap artists. And, for this reason, a lot of the experimental/instrumental tracks truly stand out to me. "Sabrosa," "Shambala," "Transitions"...this is where I find myself most impressed. - That being said, "Sabotage" is "Sabotage" for a reason. Banger of a track.
Really fun. Sabotage is worth an entire star
Eclectic, fun, clever and a very interesting album. I'm on the fence about the Beastie's, but you can't deny they made some great records, this is one of them. I can listen to this all day and I can't say that about most of their albums. It all came together with a crazy mix of all their influences and unique styling and it was this album that blew me away and made me realize they actually were seriously talented.
first time listen of this one, i enjoyed it alot though some of the songs started to sound the same
I didn’t use to be the biggest fan of The Beastie Boys (I used to skip them on Guitar Hero in my yoof). However, I have to admit I started liking them more when shortly after Rach and I started dating, Sabotage came on in a nightclub and like a hellohound she started howling, “IIII CAN’T STAND IT! I KNOW YOU PLANNED IT!” Since then, their shouty rapping has made me feel a little warmer inside. Anyway, yeah, I really quite enjoyed this album, whereas once upon a time I probably wouldn’t have.
4.25
solid 4, great album, just did not shake me personally
I had forgotten how cool this album is. Old school hip hop with bits of NYHC, even bossa! Really enjoyed it!
This album is great! And then I checked the run time and there was still 20 minutes left and I was stranded on an instrumental. Too long. Tooooooo loooooong.
i went into this project never having listened to the beastie boys in full. this is my third beastie boys album and what i can say across the board is that my favorite part of their music is their production. this record is no exception, and may be my favorite of theirs from that standpoint. the production on this album is superb - it sounds so damn good. tracks like 'futterman's rule' are funky, groovy, and sound live and loose. just really cool stuff. my issue, like other beastie boys albums is that their vocals don't really do it for me at all. i would say at times they are grating and annoying to me. in fact - i think q-tip on 'get it together' is my favorite part of this record. the production is phenomenal, and i can't help but think if someone else was rapping on the entire rest of the record, it would be a slam dunk 5/5 for me. either way, i still enjoyed it well enough.
Awesome ground breaking stuff. Also vibes not for every situation
Great mid-90’s beastie boys
6.7 on the Richter Scale
Really quite strange.
Ja errrg vet, had hier ook nooit een heel album van geluisterd Wel erg veel geschreeuw af en toe maargoed hoort erbij
Yoooooooooo Rauw luister hem later wel af, vond hem soms wel iets te intens
they were good
I love the first two Beastie Boys album, but somehow I missed this one and had sort of written them off on the basis of the material that came later, like Intergalactic. Looks like I'd missed a gem.
“Oh my God, that’s the funky shit!” 4.25
There was a lot more punk and other styles represented here than I expected! The first 1/4 of the album almost pushed me away because the vocal distortions were so frustrating, however once they started cycling in instrumental tracks and I could settle in more just to the music, I was hooked. The second half is a 3.5, bits of the first are a 2. I want to come back to this again.
Love it
The samples and styles are eclectic.
come for sabotage, stay for shambala
This album was WAY better than License to Ill. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
That's pretty much pure flow. They getting straight to the point. No fucking around. Beats were also exceptional.
Love me some beastie
Classic album. More vibey than i remembered
Álbum que mistura música de rap com bases de jazz e instrumentais muitos experimentais, passando por algumas músicas de hardcore. O brilho do álbum são os instrumentais, tanto a base dos raps quanto as músicas instrumentais são impressionantes.
One of the best in their entire discography, but no Paul’s Boutique.
I am not as familiar with this album and didn't remember all the instrumental tracks and liked the funky ones. Sabotage is one of my all time faves.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It immediately made me want to play Tony Hawk Pro Skater which is about as high a compliment I can give. Could have done with a few less songs but great listen.
The sampling felt sharp and clever. There were also some really nice percussive breaks and funky basslines. I enjoyed the detailed and varied sonic texture a lot (organ samples, some great guitar sounds, the punkier vibe on some tracks, etc.). Also the Q-tip feature slaps
They can get really annoying, but they have really cool beats. I can’t tell which is Adrock and Mike D until they announce their name
Great instrumentals. A long album but glad I finally heard more than just the singles
This is the second album of Beastie Boys that i've listen of this list, the first one was Paul's Boutique and i have to say that this album has nothing to be with Paul's Boutique and that was great for me, 'cause I thought that this was going to be screams all the time, but it wasn't and i liked that there were some songs that were just instrumental. This is a really cool album, I like it.
I like the Beastie Boys. Over the years I’ve listened to them less and less. Not sure why. Always a good time though whenever we do cross paths.
unironically dope. I've only really heard their hits, but this album is in eclectic journey with some really sick beats/samples. 4.2.
A classic but I'm a maniac from preferring Hello Nasty's tumble through a record shop
very good album.
Fabulous listen
This is a high 4, it still stands up and rocks the house
First three BB albums: 5 stars. This one contains Sabotage (best videoclip from the 90s) but is a little inconsistent. score: 8/10.
Best Beastie Boys album with the banger Sabotage, fine opener Sure shot, and an overall good mix between heavy and more laid back tunes.
Really loved revisiting this. There’s a great, eclectic mix of funky hip hop, raucous punk and really evocative lyricism and vocal delivery. As an album we’re getting our moneys worth for sure.
Dobry album, ale lepiej się zaczyna niż kończy. Po pewnym czasie zaczyna lecieć w tle i już nie zwracasz na niego uwagi. Przyjemnie brzmiące prawdziwe instrumenty zamiast samplingu. 4/5
Oh, that was tasty
Highly enjoyable album
Beastie boys are one of my favourite rap groups
"Sabotage was the biggest rock radio hit of the summer of 1994" Aber Licensed To Ill ist noch eine Party weiter vorne.
micket bra!
Probably my favorite Beastie album. The energy and fun they bring is always good but their production is great, even the instrumental tracks shine outright
There’s so much going on. Never all at once- but collectively, this album is doing a lot, and I’d argue doing it well. Several of the songs sound more like jazz than traditional Beastie- but somehow, when they layer their vocal tracks in, it just works. There’s a ton of talent and creativity represented here. It won’t be a regular go-to for me, but I’d listen again. I’ll skip that throat singing song though. Too much. 4.0.
Fun album. Great mix of genres. Not quite as sustained as their other albums, but definitely a solid 4.5 / 5.
Y'all y'all it's a SABOTAGE!
By and far my most listened to Beastie Boys album. While I love Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, this album takes the boys for a delightfully funky spin. Like all Beastie albums, however, this album errs toward the eclectic, which can be a off putting if you're not expecting it. Album starts on a ripper with Sure Shot. Love the flute track and dusty drum shuffle. All three members give great service. Can't help but bob along whenever this one comes on. Tough Guy is a hardcore punk interlude that pulls the rug right out of the groove that Sure Shot just established. B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak is a ridiculous song title, broken out into no less than three beat flips and the same compressed vocals they employed on Check Your Head. The whole thing feels like a trip, especially the bleating goat sample that they segue out of the track and into Bobo On The Corner with. Root Down pulls back out the funky groove rooted around a meaty bassline and dusty drums. No question that Sabotage is the best song on this record, and yet it stands completely out of place. Like I'm so glad they pressed it, but relative to everything before and after it stands alone. As some stranger on the internet once said "I dare anyone to put this on in their car and drive the speed limit." Once that's out of the system its back into the dusty funk of the preceeding segment. This time they pull out Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest fame, who puts in a set of slick guess verses. Feels like they crafted this song around him and it really makes for a great contrast with their crass deliveries. Eugene's Lament is a great atmospheric instrumental track. Love the violin work on it. Flute Loop taps back into the funky flute of Sure Shot, but in a very different way. Much brighter and forward with the piano pairing. Lyrics are completely intelligible due to the compression, but I honestly couldn't care less. This is more about the atmosphere. I love this album, and will admit that it overstays its welcome and could have used some better editorial discretion. For that I give it a slight knock. If I could give partial scores, this would be a 4.75. But I round down. This is IMO the most approachable and straightforward fun Beastie Boys album they put out.
This albums awesome. Starts off so damn hype and mellows out. Sabotage is the only “hit” that I really know well, but it was so eclectic and funky/jazzy too. Get It Together with Q Tip was sick. So much bass too. Was looking around for Angus during Shambala. This flirted with a 5 for me. Really fucking loved it.
First BB album for me. Very impressed. Honestly expected gimmicks, but got meaty songs, sonic wormholes, and what felt like truly exuberant creations from people with a real zeal for musical forms. It held me the whole time, big 'single' type songs, great instrumental meditations, and the odd hardcore punk jam! Quite a feast.
First time listening to a Beastie Boys album and I actually enjoyed it. Some tracks felt like a lot of the same and felt like filler.
My introduction to this aggressive style of rapping and I absolutely loved it. Love the rocky guitars and unique production.
3.5/5
HL: "Sure Shot", "Sabotage", "Get it Together", "The Update/Futterman's Rule/Alright Hear This" Wow, the Beasties going back to their hardcore punk roots is easier on the ears than I expected. It's eclectic like Paul's Boutique, and the forays into Latin funk instrumentals, throat singing and heavy metal don't feel abrupt or messy. It's kind of hard to appreciate individual tracks based on the way they all mix into each other, but as a whole I quite enjoyed it. Strange how the lengthy instrumentals + distorted voices distanced me from the lyrics, though. Hopefully they didn't say anything profound or important past "Sabotage".
Lekkah
Bij dit album vloeien hardcore hip hop, punk rock en funk lekker door elkaar. Genres waar ik all drie wel van kan genieten, maar samenkomend klinkt het bij dit album nog beter. Sure Shot is een krachtige inkomer voor dit album. Die fluit is een geniaal gevonden sample van Howlin' for Judy van Jeremy Steig (wie kent 'm niet). Root Down heeft zo'n heerlijke vette bassline. De featuring van Q-Tip op Get it Together is prima, maar naar mijn oren niks bijzonders (helaas). Heart Attack Man is mijn persoonlijke fave. Song over een dikke vent. Na 1 minuut 20 begint het beste gedeelte. Hier had een heel nummer van gemaakt moeten worden. Het Run-DMC beatje (Sampletje van Sucker M.C's) doet het verdomd goed. Sidenote: Hoor ik de allereeste Deez Nuts in Do it?? Meme-historie is hier wellicht geschreven. Het meme-gehalte ligt ook aardig hoog bij het Mongolische/Buddhistische keelgezang op Shambala en Bodhisattva Vow. Had van mij nie gehoeven. Kortom: positief verrast door dit album. Nooit verder gekomen dan Sure Shot en Sabotage, een (klein) gemis. Highlights: Root Down, Sure Shot, Heart Attack Man Rating: 7/10
Beastie Boys are great. I figured Paul’s Boutique was the “seminal” album. I’m sure I know most of these songs. Well - I didn’t know most of the songs. I love this record. Awesome vibe, very cool to hear a couple of hardcore roots songs. Strong instrumentals. This is actually surprisingly close to a 5.
Some bangers
white jewish boys rapping about buddhism i love america god bless
#3 Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994) East Coast Hip Hop Funk, Jazz-Funk, Hardcore Punk, Instrumental Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop Not as good as Paul's Boutique... but I can see why someone would think otherwise. This is really different from what I'm familiar with for the Beastie Boys, the trio taking a backseat in the second half to make way for some pretty cool instrumental hip hop tracks. It's cool, but I doubt I'll be returning to it anytime soon. Favourite Track: Get It Together Least Favourite Track: Bobo on the Corner
hell yeah beastie boys
Really nice backing tracks
I really liked the funk and jazz instrumentals more than I thought I would. I even enjoyed the punk songs. It's eclecticism really works in it's favor because it helps to break up the monotony of the Beastie's sound.
I wouldn’t call myself a huge Beastie Boys fan. I’ve heard a handful of their songs and enjoyed some. This is the first time I’ve listened to one of their albums in full. I liked it! 4/5
Sounds like if Rage Against the Machine got sent to Lake Laogai
Has a couple of my favorite Beastie Boys songs, including my all time favorite Get it Together!! That being said, I think it’s slightly too long and I usually skip the instrumental songs when they pop up in my playlist. Therefore I’m leaning four instead of five.
I don't know if I've ever heard such a genre-spanning album before. Respect to the boys.
Classic stuff on here, but I've always thought I could do 3-4 BB songs in a row and that's about it.
Loving all of the sounds on this album. Every track is super unique and the grungy, lo-fi sound is great. The length and the experimentation meant this only really clicked for me after a second listen, but I'm glad I went back in for another go. It could do with a few tracks being trimmed (what 90's album couldn't??), but this is still a brilliant listen overall. P.S. - I could listen to that Q-tip feature on repeat for weeks!
Pretty sick
Solid pick, I feel like it’d grow on me like Check Your Head did over time but as of now it falls short
honestly really good and I liked the little interludes
Of course in any context I'd probably give this album a four. It's the Beastie Boys doin' more of what they do best. Unless you were expecting more samples, I don't know what more you could want. Sure, the runtime could be a problem (peak "CD era" issue), but the way I listen to things it was hardly an issue. It's just, I feel like I was enjoying it more than I normally would this time because after the last two albums this randomizer gave me were so ass boring it was just a relief to hear the Beasties rap and yell over some good-shit beats. I'll take this over drum n' bass any day.
Different from the albums most people know from the Beastie Boys, but it's another killer album from the trio.
iiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII can't stand it. That's not true, quite enjoy this one.
It’s really almost a perfect album.
Sabotage is still my favorite. 3.5/5
Honestly surprised me, don’t really like the singles from this album or any of their vocals save for the first lines of “fight for your right” but the music on this album is great, songs are short, digestible and don’t overstay their welcome. First genuine surprise.
Cause you can, you won't, and you don't stop.
Nostalgic
it’s amazing how good the instrumental tracks in this album are
In small doses, I completely adore the Beastie Boys.
Virkilega góð plata hjá Beastie Boys. Mjög fjölbreytt og gaman að heyra pönk hjá þeim, byrjuðu sem pönkhljómsveit. Smá tilraunamennska í lokin, sem var líka mjög skemmtilega. Sabotage og Get it together þó skemmtilegustu lögin í þessari hlustun. Hlustaði ekki náið á textana, en mér heyrðist ekki vera neitt mikið af kvenfyrirlitningu.
Well, I must say I was surprised by this one. I was really looking forward to it, and whilst there are some amazing standout tracks, I've got to say I didn't enjoy them all :( To give them credit, they did span quite a few genres!
Esse albúm é uma mistura de estilos, com elementos do rap, rock e punk. Uma mistura que dá muita energia e ecleticidade ao album. A faixa que mais me marcou foi "Sabotage".
Some great 90s rock rap some great 90s rock(?) and some out there interludes etc. 4/5 for the bangers
Ich weiss nid ganz wieso aber ich finds irgendwie mega geil? Die einte songs hend für mich biz was vo rage against the machine. Es paar songs sind aber au wirklich trash (aso in a bad sense)? Idk ich weiss echt nid wie bewerte aber ich bi z. B mit "sure shot" voll am vibe gsi. So 3.8/5?
Honestly ich mag beastie boys wük und find sure shot sooooo en starche ahfang is album. Es isch hässig, schnell, rebellisch. S git par bangers wie sabotage no dinne aber s album isch für min gschmack scho chli z lang.. hetts mer chli chürzer gwünscht.
finds huere guet
Great album with disparate influences that all coincide to make a complete piece. It’s tough to mix hardcore punk, jazz, and rap all together and have it work out, but the Boys pull it off and manage to give everything the same kind of attitude that ties it all together.
Classic. Listen to this a ton of car rides with my parents. Super fun and dynamic.
Excellent stuff-good bridge between older and newer sensibilities.
8.5/10
alsof ik naar een heel fijn radiostation luister. En in bijna elk nummer een hele fijne bas.
Heb een heel ander beeld gekregen van de BB door dit album. Veel muzikaler en gevarieerder dan ik dacht. Mijn favorieten: Root Down en Get it Together.
Mooie plaat in een leuk genre. Zeker voor hun tijd gewaagde combinaties van samples en geluidstechniek die later de standaard zijn gaan vormen (althans in de mainstream). Goed geproduceerd in een tijd dat verder alles veel te gepolijst klonk.
Not bad. I didn't know they were more than rock/rap. They have a little funk to them. Instrumentals? Who'da thunk it?
I like the BB. I like Ill Communication. I expected to give this a 3 but changed my mind when I kept thinking about Sabotage and its excellent video done by Spike Jonze.