Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Holy shit i forgot how good this album is
Give me a Beastie Boys album and I will give you five stars.
swag but i dont think i particularly care for it
J - 2/5 Best Track - "Sabotage" F - 1/5
Love the Beastie Boys but this isn't one of my favorite albums.
This is of my era but not a genre I've ever enjoyed. I thought the nostalgia factor might carry me through but this wasn't much fun to sit through.
The process by which ideas, observations and sensations are sublimated to raw materials, reorganised – either loosely, or through focussed theming – and then leveraged into singular narratives and innovative, surprising rhymes lists among the 20th century’s greatest contributions to music – up there with sampling, jazz, funk, hardcore punk and … ah hold on, I see what I’ve done there. Anyway, it’s a poetry – in some respects it’s maybe poetry’s final movement. Like poets, hip hop artists are necessarily eclectic. They’re also – the good ones at least – magicians. Skilled producers who can move a mood, force action through distraction, delight through sleight of hand. For all of those things, Beastie Boys are among the all time greats. They’re magicians so skilled they can sustain the illusion that you, listener, have any stake at all in a record that’s essentially three men (and some friends) locked in hyperactive conversation with a thousand influences and points of reference. They can put a run of seven songs together that magpies – confidently, competently and never condescendingly – from six genres (and genres as distinct from one and other as hardcore punk, funk and rock are at that) without it ever feeling effortful or trite. Ill Communication is a fantastic record. It’s just about every adjective you could throw at it – jagged, smooth, accessible, pretentious, urgent, relaxed – and a few more that the English language can’t quite accommodate besides (do we need a word for “something that’s so cool to behold that it makes you want to put on sunglasses?”). A true head bopper of an album from beginning to end, it’s a cohesive creative work that manages to find time and space for so many changes in mood and pace; the perfect home, really, for a song that belongs on any mixtape of the 20th century – “Sabotage”. The feeling here is that the good stuff just spills out of them. An illusion, surely – just that being that cool must take some work, let alone the rest of it – but it’s one I want to believe all the same. (Side note: Is there a compassionate deity who can boast more bangers as Bodhissatva?)
ill comm is my favorite BBoys album. put it on, crank it up and get lost in it.
I liked the music, but I’m just not into the beastie boys rapping and vocals. Interesting to hear them evolve into a more traditional band than a sampled hip hop artist
Upbeat and interesting. I prefer the tracks without vocals.
Such an eclectic album, punkish hip-hop with jazz and funk influences. Driving percussive rhythms keep the head bobbing. Sabrosa is a turning point to really cool instrumentals in the back half of the album. I see some people complaining about it meandering a bit because of this, and while I agree it's not the most coherent album I really like the experimentation on display here. Sabotage was instantly recognizable, widely played on the radio in the 90s, but Sure Shot, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Eugene's Lament, Flute Loop, are great. Definitely an album I would not have listened to in its entirety without this challenge. Some of the more jazz inspired tracks remind me of later albums from artists I've heard like Madlib or Fourtet. Not one for permanent rotation, but would listen to it again. Probably a 3.5
I am aware of The Beastie Boys, just about everyone is, and I love just about everything I've ever heard from them. However, due to some trespass against all things good and kind, I had somehow not listened to this album from front to back before this, and I am *very* glad that the album generator spirits made me. Firstly, I'd like to start by saying that while listening to this, the revelation that no one really thinks of the Beastie Boys as "white rappers" struck me. Like, at this time, you had Vanilla Ice getting bullied constantly by the hip hop community (rightfully so, if I may add), and even when Eminem broke big, the "white rapper" shtick was something he certainly leaned into, but The Beastie Boys were able to just kind of completely stay out of these discussions (to my knowledge). I think I've decided the reason for this is that they jumped into hip-hop with an understanding of, and respect for the culture, without really changing who they were or trying to be people they weren't. And, of course, being unbelievably early to the game, and thus helping to shape the culture helped. Although, with all that said, the bow on it all is just they they were fucking *good*. I'm gonna show my hand early, this is a damn near perfect hip hop album, and if you have any interest in the genre whatsoever, you owe it to yourself to spin this one. Ill Communication sounds very distinct from hip hop at large at this time, like it really feels like the Beastie Boys kind of paved their own road into the '90s, they still kind of have an '80s thing going on in a way that hip hop at large at this time didn't, and their kind of punk origins are incorporated in some really cool ways, from their super energetic delivery, to their approach at writing some of the more rap rock songs here, and even a couple of straight punk tracks. It's not even an album that really fits into what rap rock would settle into shortly after this, Beastie Boys were really in their own lane here. The Beastie Boys' energy is genuinely infectious across Ill Communication, their intense delivery, distinctive flows, and great lyrics just completely grab me. And even though they aren't exactly the most technically gifted rappers in the world, they are witty, thoughtful, and genuinely funny, and its just a blast to hear them do their thing. I also absolutely need to talk about the production here, these songs sound groovy, and super organic. I know there are some live overdubs on here, and its obvious on the rockier songs, but it really sounds like some of the other parts are recorded as overdubs too, like I really don't know where the samples start and stop here, not to mention the incredible scratching here. This all even makes the instrumental songs exciting and interesting. Also, I am required to mention Sabotage, the biggest single here, I can almost guarantee you've heard it. Even though it may be a little overplayed, hearing it in the flow of the album totally revitalized this song for me. There is a real argument that Sabotage is the best rap rock song ever recorded, maybe its just been hitting today, but the energy is incredible, I'm ready to mosh here, now, alone, in my bedroom. I don't know what to score this, on one hand, I can't really think of any real problems I have here over the hour long runtime, but on the other, I just don't know if I want to jump straight to a perfect 5. I'm settling with a 4 for now, a very *very* high 4, but if I revisit this a couple times and I'm still this excited, I'll probably just bump it up. Edit: This has just been sticking in my head for so many reasons, to hell with it, I'm still calibrating what a 5 looks like on here, but I think this is in the club, its just cool as Hell. Honestly, the clincher here is in the details, the Q-Tip feature, the drop from Sabrosa into The Update's *insanely* good drum groove, the beat switch on Bodhisattva Vow, the Beastie Boys' chemistry, etc: it all just works. Also, quick aside "Perfect hip-hop album" may have been incorrect on my part, its almost more of a perfect alternative album in some ways. The foundation here is hip hop, but there is real crossover appeal here just with how The Beastie Boys have incorporated their very wide range of influences.
Discazo, buenisimo
GOOD!!!!
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.
7/10
Rip Biz Markie Favorite track: Sabotage 3.5/5
What the hell? This thing is so damn cool. Loved how it mixed a BUUNCH of styles and they executed all pretty well. The mix was all over the place which is a little distracting ngl, but still this is one of the best albums I've heard on the list that I didn't know before. Loved the tribe appearance, loved the instrumental songs too. Damn
Never heard of Beastie Boys before listening to this album, was pleasantly surprised
Sabotage is a banger, but this genre has never been for me.
My five star streak coming to a brutal end — this was horrible. Couldn’t wait for it to end. Instrumental songs were way better than the “singing”? The punk and hip hop songs sucked, but the jazzy instrumentals helped. Somewhere between one and two stars.
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.
It’s really difficult to pin down the Beastie Boys into a specific genre. I mean, of course they’re mainly hip-hop and that’s what they most known for. But it’s only a fraction of their talent and Ill Communication shows that in spades. Not only is this a contender for the one of the best hip-hop album’s of the 90’s, it’s also probably one of the best jazz albums and the best funk albums. The flow between something like Sure Shot and Ricky’s Theme is astounding. Everything is so smooth here and nothing feels jarring or out of place. And I didn’t even mention the rock elements. Even though they only do it twice (Tough Guy and Heart Attack Man), the Beastie Boys make for a very convincing punk rock effort. And then there’s fucking Sabotage. In a time when grunge was at its peak, it’s incredible that a rap trio can create one of the standalone rock songs of the decade. It’s iconic and it alone would convince me to give this album five stars. Honestly, to me personally, there really isn’t any hip-hop albums out there that I feel would give me the pleasure that peak Beastie Boys would give me. (I’m still waiting for the day Paul’s Boutique shows up for me. It’s going to be euphoric.) And while this isn’t the B-Boys at their peak, it’s damn near close enough. Favorite track: Sabotage Other hits: Sure Shot, Root Down, Ricky’s Theme, Flute Loop, the punk songs (Tough Guy and Heart Attack Man), Bodhisattva Vow, Get It Together, Do It
Hate this band and this album
A mixed bag of hip hop af rock. Great album.
Beast these boys :)
Got better as it went on
Wasn't looking forward to listening to this, but this was a pleasant surprise. I like the live instruments.
This is just brilliant stuff
I previously thought of Beastie Boys as goofy with a couple of bangers. This album is legit funky jazzy rap goodness
I like the instrumentals as part of the tracklist - didn’t realize the sequencing was a lot like a beat tape.
Two things that didn't work for me on this one. First, nothing but ads to begin with and second, nothing but noise (not what I call music). This was enough to stop me from listening to this album.
Unmistakably Beastie Boys
The latest exhibit of Americans just trying a little to hard to prove how fun they are. The album had its moments so it's a high 2 but I did get bored
I do not enjoy these vocals. I found the music legitimately fun and interesting though. 5/10
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
Sabotage is a five star track, one of the coolest guitar songs of the nineties. The rest of this is mehh to me.
Was pretty good
Good but not my bag
Definitely have a definitive sound, I liked it despite not saving a lot of songs
I mean…hell yes! Amazing album by an amazing group. This one always remind me of Miller. I was living this album the entire time. It’s got so many different types of music. It’s got hip hop, punk, Tibetan inspired vibes.
Enjoyed some songs. Felt slightly repetitive.
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.
Holy crud. I've always liked Beastie Boys, and have obviously known about this record for years, but never listened to it until now. This thing is total fire from start to finish. Favourite tracks: literally the whole thing, but Sabotage is one of the greatest songs of all time.
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
The Beastie Boys get so much love as being an innovative… I kinda lost track of them after Licensed To ILL. This album was a marathon with 20 tracks.
Fun album, well put together. Not a lot of standouts, but I enjoyed the overall package! Interesting instrumentals and vocal work. 'Sabotage' slaps of course.
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
What an album! what energy. Loved it.
One of my favorite Beastie Boys albums. Of course my introduction was Sabotage, the video being so engaging and the song rocked, it really did resonate with me as a teenager. This album has the strongest rock influence of all their albums IMO. As I aged, I came to appreciate the more hip-hop driven songs as well. Root Down and particularly Get It Together are now my favorites along with the killer instrumental acid jazz of Flute Loop and Ricky's Theme. It's not a perfect album, but it is pretty great. My biggest complaint is the over-use of heavy reverb on the vocals on many of the songs. It would have been fine for one or two songs, but it's on a lot of them and it doesn't sound great.
Loved this so much!
Hell yeah quality album
Top tracks right chere
Because I can. I will. But I still won't stop ever listening to The Beastie Boys! This is a fantastic album. Even by Beastie Boys standards
Long, songs the felt like fillers with no words, yet some good songs and the guitar was good
Aside from Sabotage and No Sleep Till Brooklyn, I really don't know any Beastie Boys. Or really like them, for that matter.
Genious!
Muy guapo, se pueden ver muchas de las influencias que han tenido en la música.
Fun party tracks. Good stuff. A bit samey so not sure if I would listen to it in full as a matter of course.
Essential Hip Hop classic. Don't ask why just buy!
Pretty solid stuff boys
Shit idk I kinda hate how the beastie boys rap but this was laced with great instrumentals. I really liked the song with q tip and the final song 5/10
Jó hype futni zene de amúgy nem olyan jó
Really fun… mix of high high energy with cool instrumentals. Kind of corny with hindsight but will listen to more
Not my thing. Old school hip hop and old school punk mixing makes it almost bearable but not enough for me to keep listening
Meh
I like the Beastie Boys but this album was meh, except for a couple tracks.
Pretty fun album, just not really a Beastie Boys guy
Never been a fan of this group. Hard to listen to for me.
Loved it
ok
2.5
These beats are insane and they're actually pretty talented rappers but the production is so unique
Some interesting influences here.
Enjoyable, oddly soothing, needs another listen.
Love the hits. Was worried when I saw how long the album was and thought the songs would get old if they all sounded like the hits but was pleasantly surprised by some of the instrumentals.
Un beau bordel. Des trucs forts sympathiques, et des trucs forts nuls à chier.
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.
Sabotage was familiar, not liked
Sure sounds like beastie boys.
Enjoyable, though not remarkable.
Liked some stuff, interesting style
didn't listen to much but sounded good from what I heard
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.
Quintessential American trash. Would like to rate lower than 1 star.
This turned out to be more varied than I expected, which is a good thing. Sabotage is ace, but 12 sabotages would be too much. I really enjoyed hearing live music backing as opposed to just samples on a rap album (at least one that wasn't nu metal).
Good chorus hook in the opening track: "Ya can't and ya won't and ya don't stop!" My Shot-esque. It's the kind of rap-track I tolerate because it's dang catchy. Sabotage has some nifty electronic sounds and a metal-esque guitar line. It also comes fairly close to having a melody, which is always a plus. Sabrosa is a fantastic instrumental jam track with a cool guitar tone. I like the organ-guitar harmonising too. Plus, it's one of the few tracks that doesn't use deliberation distortion, which I find usually hinders tracks. Other instrumental tracks, like Futterman's Rule and Eugene's Lament, are also strong for that reason. However, in general, I feel that the Beastie Boys think they're significantly cooler than they actually are. Songs like "B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak" are all fun and games until you realise the semi-industrial nonsense you're being subjected to. And it's clear most of their audience agrees with me. The tracks closest to sounding like somewhat-normal rock - such as Sabotage and Sure Shot - are not only the best, but have also received the most listens (according to Spotify numbers). In addition, this album contains interludes, which (as usual) mar the album flow. Judging by the already lengthy runtime, I reckon the interludes here should be cut. Specific full-length tracks are near unlistenable, too. Root Down is *not* good. Check out those sweet lyrics: "The Beastie Boys, you know we're gonna get down / Because I've got the flow where I grab my dick" / And say oh my god, that's the funky shit!" The best part of the track is the bassline. Everything else is painfully grating to sit through. The Update is another rough one, being not only entirely rapped, but done entirely monotonously and distorted just enough for the lyrics to be impossible to understand. (Though somehow I doubt the lyrics were worth listening to.) Alright Hear This is functionally identical to The Update. And many other tracks on here are near carbon copies of these two. Combined with the lack of melody and singability, it makes for a really bland listening experience. Per another review: "Some of the world-music or jazzy-type stuff is interesting, but for most of the record they sound like a sloppy, unfocused Rage Against the Machine." Essentially, too many low-quality tracks to justify the scant few great ones. 1/5 Key tracks: Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Flute Loop
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.
lit album but also quite weird
Great energy and loved the background tracks. I was hesitant that it would be too much but it really surprised me.
It's no License to Ill, but it has hard-hitting songs. The Update, I could listen to every day.
Some good songs on here that I recognized, but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to listen to this album all that often. Overall it's a good listen more or less.
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.
A real mixed bag this album. Way more instrumental tracks than I expected. Overall solid album if not a bit bloated.
Awesome!
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.
Awful noise
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
Didn't know Beastie Boys got instrumentals. Need to learn Sabotage on guitar!
Sure Shot should be a more remember song. The jazzy sample on Root Down with the shrill delivery of childish lyrics is Beastie Boys to a T. Sabotage is an absolute classic, and one of their best. Get It Together has a very old school, even in the 90s, flow and beat. Add a Q-Tip feature on top and you have a really great time. I feel like The Update presages Zack De La Roche’s vocals. Plus it has some funky percussion. Heart Attack Man is a straight up punk song, and I’m here for it.
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'.
Klassikko
3.5
I absolutely love "Sure Shot." And "Sabotage." All time great songs, in my opinion. "Sure Shot" has an amazing sample, and "Sabotage" is one of the best fusions of rock and rap I've ever heard. But this album does, on the whole, have the same issues I've had with previous Beastie Boys albums, and that is this: Their voices are sometimes incredibly grating and obnoxious. Combine that with the vocal effects they put on some of the tracks for this album ("B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak," "The Update," "Alright Hear This," etc.) and I just can't get behind a lot of this. I also found it really strange that there were instrumentals on this album. Like, it's cool that they're trying to show that they're a band of musicians and not just rappers, but I don't think anybody is coming to a Beastie Boys album for instrumentals. They're great instrumentals, don't get me wrong. I just don't get why they're here, is all. There is a lot like about the Beastie Boys. Their attitude and sense of humor can be really fun. The lyrics, where you can understand them, are sometimes absolutely top notch. And the way they mix genres is as smooth as anybody else who's ever tried it. So I want to like them so much more than I do. But I just find my self getting annoyed while listening, and that's a bummer. I hoped when listening to "Paul's Boutique" that they had better material to offer than what was on that album. They did, I just wish it was even better. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Sure Shot, Sabotage, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule, Do It, Ricky's Theme, Bodhisattva Vow
Love the artwork - was interested to read more about the photographer and especially his Brooklyn Gangs photoshoot. Off the wiki: “Although Davidson had not heard the Beastie Boys' music and did not understand it once he did—he later recalled thinking it sounded like a "secret language" when they sent him a demo tape” I very much agree. I think it’s probably good I just don’t really like it - and the less rapping the better.
Brings back high school nostalgia
Not that great
They should have communicated what type of mid this album is.
As a kid, whenever the video for Sabotage came on MTV I would BLAST the volume as high as it could go, past the point where the shitty speakers on the 18" CRT I was watching on could handle without distorting. That song still pumps me up like few others. Even still, I'm not sure I've listened to the album in full until today. I love how varied it is stylistically. Great shit and a great palate cleanser after trying to listen to Peggy Suicide.
Got some bangers and then some stinkers, so sadly evens out.
Fuck the beastie boys. Didn’t hate it tho lol
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
So many better rap albums to choose from.
I want to like the Beastie Boys so badly… but I simply cannot.
Ich muss sagen, ich fand es ziemlich langweilig und eintönig.
This was actually fun, and Sabotage is a classic.
sure shot- 5. I like the flute tough guy- 6 b boys making with the freak freak- 5 Bobo on the corner- 5 root down- 5 sabotage- 7. good but overplayed get it together- 6 sabrosa- 5 update- 5 futtermans rule- 5 alright hear this- 6 Eugene's lament- 5 flute loop- 5 do it-mike deez nuts. 5 Ricky theme- heart attack man- 8 the scoop- 5 shsmbala- 5 or 6 bodhisattva vow- 5 transitions- 5
I like lots of Beastie Boys hits, just not sure on this album Stand out tracks: Sure shot Flute Loop Sabotage Do it
Enjoyed this one more than Licensed to Ill -- enjoyed the music even if the vocals still isn't anything I'm interested in. 2.5 stars
I never thought I’d like yelling rap. I was right, I had an awful time. The music was too noisy most of the time for me. The instrumentals and instrumental songs were nice though! Sabrosa and Futterman’s Rule were, for example, nice exceptions.
I tried hard to like this, I really did. Paul's Boutique is my absolute favourite new discovery from this list, and Licensed to Ill is a great album. I gave this several listens and liked it less each time. It's just not as fun as the other albums to me, with a weird mish-mash of styles. It sounds like they are trying too hard to experiment at the cost of enjoyment and listenabilty. There are a lot of jazz and funk samples in this and it sounds like they are trying to copy the style of De La Soul, Jurassic 5, etc., and failing. There are too many instrumental tracks. Even one is too much, I cannot get behind putting more than that on a rap album. Tough Guy is clearly a punk song - was this them getting back to their roots? Overall, for me it's too noisy and unclear, too many vocal effects, I don't like the backing tracks... It's just not for me, Sabotage is still great though. Three stars because I still liked parts of it, but in comparison to Paul's Boutique that's all I can offer.
This is my favourite Beasties album. I know that's a bit controversial as most rank Paul's Boutique higher, buts there's just something about Ill Communication that hit right from the first listen for me, and it hasn't ever faded. For those that are new to this and dig the instrumental tracks, they have an album of just instrumentals called The In Sound From Way Out. It's worth checking out.
Good album. SABOTAGE
Banger album, more versatile than i thought, enjoyed heavily
I wouldn’t call myself a Beastie Boys fan, but I do have a lot of respect for them and they’ve obviously been very influential in the industry. I like their hits, but I didn’t recognize any of these songs when I scrolled through this. Overall, I’m completely indifferent to this album. It’s not bad, but I just have zero feelings either way about it and it didn’t elicit any emotions from me when I was listening to it. It is completely different from what I expected from a Beastie Bots album though. It was more eclectic and jazzy and it had more layers than most of their other songs. But not a single one was distinguishable from the other. I just… did not care about this the entire HOUR it was on. I wouldn’t listen to it again, but I wouldn’t turn it off.
Amazing album
I've always wondered how the hell do the Beastie Boys work? Three nasally Jewish white boys from NYC throwing down some of the slickest flows in the middle of the hip hop revolution should have been less than a blip on the radar. Yet it works. And I fucking love it.
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?
Fire
It's fine
Epic
Aged like a fine wine. The hits are still fresh. Loads of variety. Some timeless beats. It all holds together beautifully. A classic. Great cover art.
A combination of "not my cup of tea" and "I'd love to get rowdy to this". Perhaps the album format doesn't suit the Beastie Boys, as the occasional headbanger and teenage angst anthem seems great when not overdone for an hour plus.
Not for me
Went in knowing and liking the band, knew sabotage already of course. Extremely varied. I definitely lean more to the punk rock and jazz aspects of this album. I have great respect for it and how incredibly different it is (was?). There can be a lot going on at times and it's kind of hard to figure out what they're saying. The album is also almost an hour long, which is a little much. I get it though, and they break if up with the instrumentals pretty well. Plenty of sounds here for everyone. Thanks to the Beastie Boys for inspiring Joey Valence and Brae lmao
76/1089 - Lots of great songs on this one. While more inspired by jazz sounds than utilizing jazz conventions, it works well to make cool grooves.
God, I can’t stand the Beastie Boys. -Get it Together isn’t so bad, but I think it’s because someone else is on the track. -Sabrosa is funky, I dig it. I like the music on some of these tracks, but I can’t handle the vocals. This album ain’t for me. 2.5 Stars
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*
No. Just absolutely not. Two beastie boys albums within a week is just straight up cruel. Once again I slogged my way through this pile of garbage and hated every second of it. The only redeeming quality in this album is the guitar riff on “sabotage” Everything else feels like it was designed very specifically to annoy me. I really hope that this is the last beastie boys album on this list, words cannot accurately describe how much I hate this.
I really didn't want to like one Beastie Boys album, much less two, but once again I have to admit the production on this album is just really good and really fun to listen to. After reviewing 'Paul's Boutique' I felt I was maybe too generous and in a borderline 3-or-4 situation I made a mistake in rounding up. I like this album more than 'Paul's Boutique', though. I think I do, anyway. I kinda tuned out the actual rapping for the most part and was just vibing with the instrumentals, but I was vibing heavily with the instrumentals. But it's supposed to be a rap album? I dunno. For the sake of averaging out the two albums to 3.5, which I think is about right, I'm gonna give this one 3 stars even though maybe this one is 4 stars and 'Paul's Boutique' should be 3 stars. Hmmmm. Discovering that I kinda like the Beastie Boys is a very confusing turn of events for me.
Nope, didn't like this at all, sounds like it was recorded underwater
Had some pretty iconic sound loops and the flute song was pretty good.
could only think of the guitar hero 3 selection menu cause Sabotage, also heart attack man made me feel crazy I had to skip it
Sounds like beastie boys
Litt kult litt mas
Liker ikke Beastie Boys men noen kule tracks her definitivt. Svak 3’er
absolutely not my style and vibe
Yeah, fine. Doesn't really Float My Boat, but ... I can see the attraction.
Classic
Not my style
Good
Pretty mid, only liked the first song.
I think it was not a bad start of my journey. I enjoyed the instrumental part, the vocals not as much but I had a good time. Probably will never get back to this album but as a one time listen? I recommend.
Bit of a disjointed album, don't hate it but not my thing, only really enjoyed sabotage.
Funky, punky, hip hop beats. Proper good mash up that could only be the Beastie Boys.
Album #400! Any album that starts with "Sure Shot" is a great album in my book. Really all of the singles are iconic in their own right, especially "Sabotage". A Beastie Boys original with no sampling, "Sabotage" represents the guys having fun and showcasing their punk rock roots. Then it pretty much became one of the hip-hop trio's most lauded songs and most memorable music videos too! Plenty of other musical inspirations seep through too, as there are a number of instrumental tracks showcasing rock, funk, and even a lil jazz. While not as extensive as in "Paul's Boutique", the Beastie Boys' art of sampling is still very much prevalent here. The Moog Machine, Jimmy Smith, and even jazz flautist Jeremy Steig are among the sources sampled throughout. It's all mixed well, thanks in part to the trio + Mario Caldato Jr on production (who then went on to work with Jack Johnson, another one of my favorite artists!) This is one of the Beastie Boys' more versatile releases. You can tell they allowed themselves to be more creative here and venture out into more live instrumentation, whilst staying true to their hip-hop roots. Dare I say this might be their best work? Tough to supplant "Licensed to Ill", but it's pretty damn close!
ashamed to say I just don't get beastie boys. They've released some phenomenal tracks but their albums are such a slog to get through
Apart from Sabotage, this isn't very good at all, way too long
It's not awful, it's just too long and not particularly memorable. No intention of listening again.
Overly long and just really boring.
Mainly pointless filler tracks
taitava albumi laitapuolenkulkijoilta….
Each song is a different genre. Now of them feel fake or forced. Fantastic album!
Meh
Everything Beastie Boys is a 5
Oh heck ya... Sabotage has the greatest music video ever made.
How can anyone not love the Beastie boys. And here they are in their absolute prime!
Name another group that can do hip-hop, hardcore punk and 70's funk instrumentals on one album. Beastie Boys will forever be my shit.
Goede muziek steeds, maar die stem. Sabotage en andere nummers wel hard
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
I did not know beastie boys were good. That's my bad. Will I listen to again: 100%
omg, it's funny.i think i've never listen smth like that?
Pretty fun.
Another band I’ve mainly only heard the hits from. So far, didn’t really care for much I hadn’t heard other than Sabotage. Get it Together with Q-Tip was a fun track, no idea they could just groove to a Bosa Nova beat for so long like they did in Sabrosa and kinda carried on. The various percussion and string instruments throughout were a cool addition. Overall, I just am not the biggest fan of rap so I cannot rate this higher than a 3.
This is probably my favorite Beasties records. Sure, it's got some all time bangers, but I just love the diversity of sounds and genres getting mashed up here so masterfully. Been a while since I did full relisten and still sounds so fresh, I feel like it could come out tomorrow and have the same impact
few albums have free reign to my active mind, this is one! Some lyrics include: -SuRE SHOT! -Put ROOT DOWNROOT DOWn ....MONEY MAKING! Root Down! <FunK Organ Break!> -EEHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! CANT STAND IT! SABOTAGE!!! SUCSUCSUCK! ON & ON! -LISTEN-Y'ALL-Y'ALL-ITs-SABOTAGE! -...Phones' Ringing, OMG! -aint got no dust! Ma Bell w/ the Ill Communication _there are some solid Jams on this album, thou they get lost in the forest. -Jazz Flute loop! _hate to say it, but some of non-hits seem to be just filler music?
The presence of this and License to Ill implies that Check Your Heard is on the list, further indicating more Beastie Boys that you might need in one life where other hip hop exists. Side A - through "The Update" is so good, showing their range and command of a banger. The latter half kinda hits like a YouTube beat tape I'd put on to ignore get some work done.
Once upon a time I was a fan of the Beasties. I went hard for Licensed to Ill when it came out, and I stuck with them through Check Your Head. And then suddenly ... I was done. Chalk it up to the nasal delivery and overuse of vocal effects, the lingering echoes of their past juvenilia, and especially their commercial and cultural ubiquity as the '90s wore on. It felt like you couldn't get away from these guys for a while there. As for Ill Communication, I like the instrumentals, their sampling and mixing reflect skill, and it's always cool to hear Q-Tip and Biz Markee guest rap. I think I just really don't like them as rappers. IIRC we've so far had just three (?) hip hop releases on this list, and the Beastie Boys are worthy of two slots?
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.
This is a five-star hip-hop album dragged down by the Beasties' MC skills. You need to understand, I LOVED this record when it came out, but that's because I overlooked some of its contemporaries. Whenever I revisit it now, I'm just disappointed that the Boys didn't become better rappers.
Think I ignored this when it was released even though I liked Check your head a lot. This is too long and has some filler but is interesting enough to warrant further listens.
The Beastie Boys' run of four albums--from their second (Paul's Boutique) to their fifth (Hello Nasty) with 'Check Your Head' and this one in the middle--is arguably one of the greatest 4-album runs of any band in history.
5/5. B-Boys sampling is unmatched but the inclusion of punk and jazz with live instrumentation was such a good evolution of their sound. The tracks that are just instrumentals is also a great choice. They feel like interludes while also sounding like part of a movie soundtrack with other songs with lyrics in between. There is definitely some influence from electronic artists here as well with the beats and song structure. This was a great listen front to back and despite it being longer, I was never bored. Another excellent release I never delved into from them, glad it was on the list. Best Song: Sabotage, Sure Shot, Futterman's Rule, Get It Together
Found this Beastie Boys album less annoying than the last one from this list. Sabotage was always a standout as a song of theirs that I did enjoy. What seemed like lots of instrumentals on this. Some sections even felt like jam band territory, which was unexpected (and not wanted).
4.4 3x great album
Wasn't too keen. Appreciated the vibes of the music, reminded me of World's End, just not my thing really.
Head bopper all the way through. I have to confess I've never heard any of these tracks outside of Sabotage before, though I've listened extensively to other BB albums (mostly License to Ill and Paul's Boutique). I loved the jazz elements, seemed a lot like Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly in that aspect.
already listened this week! incredible as always
Good
Okay now I know what the BB sound is all about. I think that was a goat in track 3 and, note to self, do not have any mashed potatoes at any pot luck dinners these guys might have.
Love these guys
Classic!
Used to listen to this a lot. Still is great.
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.
Nice
No one needs to listen to this before they die. 59 minutes long and the only half decent track is Sabotage, which you will almost certainly hear before you die unless you completely avoid American TV and movies (understandable if you do)
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.
I liked it well enough but it dragged a bit
2/5 Beastie Boys to have som good tracks, but unfortunatelly except Sabotage, they arent on this album.
this is so awesome. every song is great, i love the hardcore sprinkles throughout, interludes, all of it
I tried. I really did, got to Sabrosa and I couldn’t do it anymore. The Beastie Boys just aren’t for me and I couldn’t listen to them anymore. I’m sure this album is good to some people but not to me.
I thought this album was the perfect mix of punk rock and rap mixed in with fun beats and experimental noises. I was surprised to hear a lot of instrumental only songs on this track. The frontman has a distinct raspy voice that has definitely influenced many artists I listen to now like Evening Elephants and Joey Valence & Brae. I could hear the influence of Tribe in this album right from the beginning and I was like YOOO when Qtip himself appeared on one of the songs.
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.
5/5
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.
Favorite tracks: Sure Shot & Flute Loop Classic. Most of my favorite Beastie Boys songs are on this record. The odd punk songs are an awesome complement to the low fidelity production in the hip hop tracks.
Hadn't heard this album in a long time. Love the fusion of jazz, punk, rap, etc. Q-tip's voice always makes me happy. This stands out as a modern day classic (well, not so modern anymore given its 30 years old ha!) but like fine wine somehow doesn't age.
Yeah not bad I quite like the Beasties. I much prefer the second half of the album which is a bit more jazzy and instrumental.
very good, picked up on jazz influences. Really enjoyed it. Probably a 4.5.
This would have been 5 as a one-song album with just Sabotage! Luckily, there is much more goodness than just that song. Lots of almost punk-like energy but this is an album that can also be enjoyed as a careful listen. Lots going on. Listening to this (and having listened to Paul's Boutique) I one again realise how good a hip-hop band the Beastie Boys were.
This is music in my taste profile from my era, amd somehow I have never listened to this whole album. Why? I didn't like Sabotage when it came out; I thought it was over-hyped. I was just a "too cool for everything" teenager, and as I have grown older, I'm more of an "everything is so cool!" adult. Sabotage kicks ass. Nice guest spot from Q-Tip here, which added an element of smooth to the normally brash and confrontational style of the Beasties. Very nicely complimentary. WTF was Sabrosa?!? Super cool. A very nice break from the chaos that really shows the Beasties aren't one trick ponies. Flute Loop?!? Fuck, this is badass! This is the highlight of the album for me so far. The back half of this album is incredible
This is the first album that I approached with trepidation. I disliked Licence to Ill immensely and, while I understand from lore and the radio singles that the band broadened their palette and appeal, I was not confident that I would enjoy this anymore than that. And I didn't. The ethnic samples are pleasant and Sabotage is fun, but, when the trio hectors or hollers on any of the less dynamic tracks, it is an ordeal. The vocals and much of the music are so blown-out and distorted that they are unfathomable. It feels like dissociating at a club. There are all these sounds a rhythms, but you are not a part of them. They're happening over there, beyond a grey haze. It doesn't feel real and you're just getting through it. They're not real either, just an animatronic band at a kids restaurant, grinding through the motions and none of the staff notice or care that the music is growing more distorted, is getting lower, is slowing down. I dunno, maybe you've never dissociated. The shocking thing is that this is their fourth album. Where this the follow up to Licenced to Ill, you could mark the progress and personal development. But, if this is number four, I don't think there is room for both me and the Beasties in this Venn Diagram. Unlike Elvis Costello, this doesn't have attractions for me. In fact, I would like Elvis Costello to walk out and interrupt this record: "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, but there's really no reason to do this album tonight." 1.5 A couple of weeks ago we had ‘Licensed to Ill’ in which, posterity has noted, the Beastie Boys parodied something called ‘Frat Rap’ but accidentally epitomised Frat Rap. This was very sad for the Beastie Boys but now here we are two weeks and three albums later and the Beastie Boys have left this unfortunate misunderstanding well behind them and become their own earnest thing, having risen safely above the fandom of unsavoury young white men and the contempt of serious hip-hoppers. Good for them. I love a redemption arc. So even though ‘Ill Communication’ is a load of shit we must take a minute to acknowledge the grown-upness of it. If these sound like the same rappers, possibly the same raps, that made up ‘Licensed to Ill’ it is, crucially, very hard to be sure. The vocals are buried beneath so much distortion and delay that very few words are comprehensible. This is presumably just like spotting someone you haven’t met since school and, seeing that he has grown a beard, feeling assured that he has reached intellectual and emotional maturity. There are also several instrumental tracks here (Sabrosa, Ricky’s Theme, Transitions) in which the influence of Miles Davis (apparently…cheers Wikipedia) has told so far on the band that Wah Pedals have been purchased. Following my encounter with A Tribe Called Quest’s album last week I now carry increasingly acute hopes that no one else in the next thousand albums or so has been influenced by Miles Davis. In any case - here we have another sticky layer of musical adulthood with which we can credit Beastie Boys 4.0 In conclusion - Sabotage is one awesome track, just like No Sleep till Brooklyn is one awesome track. I’ll leave the rest. 2/5
This is not the typical genre I’d enjoy. The first 7 songs including their hits made me want to give it a two star. But things began to change from Sabrosa where I can find my own space to hide from the complications, and get ready for a second wave. The same goes with Eugene’s Lament. What on earth is this. I love it. I’m having a zen moment while I’m listening to this loud album. The feeling is incredible. The flute loop, oh my, nice hook. This was the point when started really enjoying the album. I also had to mention Bodhisattva vow. I didn’t check the name of the song when I was on it, but my brain went: “this sounds like what they played when my grandad died”. And then I checked the lyrics and it was about achieving Buddhahood (to reach the end of suffering). At this point I can confirm the boys know what they are doing and have a solid reference on what they want to commute with the audience. Solid 5.
Long time fan of this band. Their greatest hits stay on rotation for me, and though this album doesn’t hit as hard as Licensed to Ill, it’s still pretty solid. The run time is a bit long, and I’m glad I had to take a break about 2/3 of the way through because as much as I love the sampling and DJ cuts, it tends to make a song feel longer and not shorted. There’s a lot of density to the musical production, which I dig, but it also means that an hour run time can hit like 8 genres and 20 styles and still not be done. I had 3 songs going in saved and added another 3 to keep on my playlists. It’s not my first listen but I have found they hit harder with their greatest hits than they do as an album run. Still, I enjoyed them and I enjoyed this. There’s something so charming and genuine and passionate about how they make music and I love their organic blend of punk and hip-hop elements. Part of the run time is devoted to a few instrumental tracks and I think that actually ups the value. They know how to mix really well and it lets the raps breath a bit to have some space in between.
so, a bit of background... i really really enjoy the Beastie Boys. I think their whole story is so interesting and fun, and they have some absolute killer tracks. From Licensed to Ill, which is just 3 boys messing around and talking about beer and girls, to making their way to a jazz/funk/rock-esque/hip hop record is quite the journey. I can definitely understand if this album isn't someones cup of tea. its a bit all over the place - and most folks have probably only heard Sabotage (which is killer). But, this album has some serious depth if you allow yourself to just enjoy the ride. After listening to this, I actually went back into a deep dive on the boys and re-listened to Paul's Boutique, which was their sophomore record and first delve into some heavier beats. its pretty cool to see the journey that they were on, even though most folks don't consider them to really be in the hip hop sphere. I really enjoyed this album, and really hope that we get more of them in the future.
This album was interesting. It was mostly the Beastie Boys scream-rap style that I knew from before, but then also some random funky instrumental songs thrown in. I can’t say that either approach particularly tugged on my heartstrings.
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.
2 star. Never really been a fan of the Beastie Boys and this album confirmed that bias. There were a couple songs that I liked, but for the most part the album sounded like being in a crowded room. They kinda remind me of rage in a way, but I think rage is better across the board. Other than sure shot, the main song I liked was the one with the Q Tip feature. 2 stars.
It's been a long while since I've listened to any Beastie Boys at length, they're usually a band I go to for the hits and that's about it. Always been a fan of their sound, even if it hasn't aged all that well in the last 30 years. I was also surprised by the amount of instrumental tracks on this album, I can't remember if their earlier albums are this loaded with instrumentals. The length is one thing, but I didn't mind it as much as I have with other albums. An easy four, and will come back to it for some classroom background music in the future.
"Alright team, the studio for our new blockbuster movie needs us to finish the soundtrack for the film. We need to come up with a song for when our ragtag group of friends, who are rebelling against the system, come walking out one at a time in slow-motion wearing their new outfits." "Hey boss, I think I got exactly what you need right here." "You son of a bitch that's perfect! Now all we need is a song for when they get in a vehicle at night and begin driving to the city for the final confrontation...." ____________________________________ This album had a lot more variation than I thought it would. The Beastie Boys sound is so distinct with their big hits, but there was so much more going on here. Funky instrumentals, distorted and fast punk, smooth hip-hop, it's all here. It needed it too with the album being an hour long. Not as many hits on here as I was hoping for, but still a good listen.
2.5/5
One hour of noise!
Easily my favorite Beastie Boys album I've heard
Отличное и разнообразное звучание группы, но минус балл лишь за небольшой перебор филлерных треков
Futterman's rule.
Meh
All a bit shouty and in your face. I suppose that's what makes it, but I got it on a day when I wasn't really looking for that level of relentlessness.
I’m not the biggest rap fan, but there’s a lot of stuff from this era that I like. I can’t with their voices though.
Absolute banger of an album. I'd never really sat down to listen to a Beastie Boys album straight through before. I was familiar with some hits and knew I liked their sound but wow. My expectations were blown away with this. From front to back you're met with high energy, bombastic, confident vocal performances over an amazing variety of instrumentals. From moments of pure hip hop appreciation with excellent sample work and tone setting to cuts where the electric guitars come in and you're met with a punk aesthetic. Even the purely instrumental tracks keep you hook with wild cuts and energetic melodies. The least impressive songs still leave you bobbing your head. I can say there isn't a single song that I would be inclined to skip by default. This gave me a greater appreciation for the Beastie Boys as a whole, and where they stand as cornerstones for that era of hip hop. The genre mashups, the interesting instrumentals, the exploration of world music with samples. I can't really think of a distinctly negative thing to say about this album.
Sabrosa és l'hòstia. Sabotage també. Dominen molts estils diferents, en certa manera flopeja perquè quien mucho abarca poco aprieta i per tant no acaben d'aprofundir en res, però en qualsevol cas els recursos que utilitzen estan molt ben executats (la barreja en sí està ben executada sobretot tenint en compte que va del hardcore al jazz passant pel funk, vaja). L'àlbum es fa una mica llarg però es justifica per la gran quantitat de recursos que utilitzen. S'ha de dir que les cançons més famoses recorden molt a Rage Against, però amb bastanta menys potència, precisió i groove. Les que més m'han molat són les que van més cap al jazz i el funk. En resum, tot i que aconsegueixen el que es proposen, no són excel·lents en massa res, si no és en la pròpia mescla. Si vull l'energia del punk escoltaré punk, si vull les barres del rap escoltaré rap, si vull la complexitat del jazz escoltaré jazz. No crossover.
So good
I love Beastie Boys. This isn't my favourite but very decent
I hated this album. Just liked root down and sabotage and didn't listen de subsequent songs.
Sabotage is as integral to Jewish musical culture as Hava Nagila
This is the third Beastie Boys album from this list so far. I hated the other two - how about this one? Boring. Like the others.
soo good creative geniuses
This album was...fine. The hits for the Beastie Boys are sooooo good but the rest is fine. It definitely has its moments tho. The instrumental songs were very interesting and not something I thought I'd hear the Beastie Boys do. Actual...2.75 Liked Songs: "Sure Shot" , "B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak" , "Root Down" , "Sabotage" , "The Update" , "Do It" , "Heart Attack Man"
liked songs: Bobo On The Corner, the instrumental parts of Root Down, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule I CAN'T STAND IT But for real, I find the Beastie Boys' rapping nearly intolerable. I genuinely hate their voices. Without a doubt they make some objectively good music, but I really just don't like this. The instrumental jazz/funk rock tracks carry this album to a higher rating for me. Heart Attack Man is the exception - it's a great stupid song (just not quite as good as Bugs by Pearl Jam). 2.5
Beastie Boys is like a strong spice for me - I can handle it in small doses, but it gets too much for me very quickly. This time I just couldn't how annoying I found the screaminess of their voices, even though I really appreciated the musicality of the songs. In spite of this being a hip hop album, I found myself liking the punk and instrumental songs better. Crazy amount of genres here.
Didn't like this one as much as the previous 3 releases from the band. They stayed true to their style, blending hip-hop with differemt genres such as rock, jazz, electronic, metal, punk. The albim sounds similar to RATM a lot of the times. But it seemd more experimental and progressive than the other albums they did. Songs don't progress linearly and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns with instruments and arrangements. Still, there are some cool songs on here and the music is not bad, it's the crown of their style.
Very good Beastie Boys album. High 4* 4/5
Not for me - I tried, I really did, but I think I just don't get The Beastie Boys. Did I have to live through that time period or something? Either way: Q-Tip my beloved!! One of the highlights on the album. The enormity and diversity of it all, especially how wild and cool the beats are, is actually pretty cool, and I do love the jazzy interludes. It's just the vocals, especially that blown-out style and that pitch, that I can't stand myself. I see why people like this, but I guess I just must not like fun. Fav tracks: B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak, Get it Together, Sabrosa, Futterman's Rule.
Awesome.
As Jackson would say, good but not my favorite. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
This wasn’t quite as awful as I expected it to be, but it was close.
Strangely meditative for a rap album*. I felt very at peace. But it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I may have to return later with different expectations. *Sabotage excluded.
While hip hop/rap are not my cup of tea, I can still appreciate it as an art form. The Beastie Boys are famous for this, but they do a great job or creating an amalgamation of hip hop, jazz, punk, alternative, etc. It was definitely a journey. It was enjoyable, and I see it's value.
El disco que trae Sabotage. Enough said.
This was not at all what I would've expected from a Beastie Boys album. I feel like a lot of what I like about Beastie Boys is how they musically develop their songs, with funky and fun production. This album feels much more grounded and ambient in a way that comes across as almost underbaked, which doesn't work in my opinion. I appreciate the different sound and style and there are definitely some classic-sounding BB tracks, but this album on the whole didn't work for me. Top tracks: Root Down, Sabotage
A lot of random jazzy songs but they're fine. Better than 99% of other random songs in albums. This is Chad.
This one didn't speak to me as much as the first beastie boys album. Still okay. May revisit in future.
An insanely good, high energy, varied album that somehow keeps surprising you despite its length of numbers. When they pulled out the buddhist chanting, I was utterly but pleasantly surprised. The feature with Q-Tip was great - he played off really wel with the boys.
A record with varied influences providing for a nice mixture of hip-hop sounds. The flow is good, the boys play greatly off eachother. It does lose some steam by the second half.
Slightly more interesting than Paul's Boutique but still a generous 3 for me
Man, the Beastie Boys really don't get the credit they deserve. If you just listen to their hit singles, you might expect that they're non-serious frat boy punk and hip hop. The full albums tell a very different story. Beginning with "Paul's Boutique", they began to really sound like artists. That album could be called a fluke, with the sound shaped by samples and the collaboration with The Dust Brothers. By the time of "Ill Communication", sampling was out and live instruments used to recreate the vibe of their past artistry. It's noticeably more focused than "Paul's Boutique" and utilizes heavy jazz influence, very evident from the basslines. They remain true to their roots as a punk van's turned hip hop act which hides how brilliant the album really is. But they have expanded their style exponentially here. "Ill Communication" is the second triumph from these guys. They had some more excellent years to follow but this is peak.
I get that they're influential, but I just can't stand the screaming. The samples and beats are great though, would probably give it a 4 if it was an instrumental album.
Beastie boys are great albeit an acquired taste 3-3.5
A huge variety here, none of it bad, but it feels like the vast array of styles and genres doesn't really mesh well.
Love this album. Only reason I knock it down a star is it gets a little saggy on the back half. But overall is still excellent
Tough to say how or why this was groundbreaking as I was/am not a part of the scene but other say it's so and I'll take their word for it. Overall a fun listen with electronic, hip-hop and some rock influences. Would I listen again? It's very possible. Highlight: "Sabotage" Lowlight: "Ricky's Theme"
Solid album
This was my first Beastie Boys album, and it remains my favorite. I think I appreciate it even more now.
Ill Communication has some really fun moments, and a few all-time great Beastie Boys songs, but the album as a whole is so bogged down by filler that it's hard to think of it as a classic. Tracks like Sabotage, Flute Loop, and Get It Together are fantastic, but I can't see a scenario in which I'm throwing on B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak, The Update, Futterman's Rule, Do It, The Scoop, or any of the instrumental tracks. Maybe if they had trimmed this down by about 20 minutes, it would be a better experience. As it stands, it's just a fine one. 6.5/10
Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this since I'm not really big on this genre (as my previous reviews will confirm) but actually this had a lot to like about it. It was funky in parts, and at times sounded a bit like some hardcore bands my girlfriend is into.
Another likely biased review, this album is great. I would maybe say too much filler and less rap, but the instrumental stuff is so good and chill. I vividly remember so many parties and good times with this album on. One of my go to albums from my late teens and beyond.
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.
my first time listening to beastie boys. dare i say it was amazing and now i have new favourite band
This is a solid album, but 90% of sounded similar.
# Album Name: Ill Communication # Artist: Beastie Boys # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Honestly, i cant hear some of the lyrics. Its like my headphones are made of potatoes. This is not my kind of album at all. I cant even connect with it. Its not. awful, its just OK. Not something i would choose to listen to. Theres a couple of good tracks like Sure shot, sabotage and flute loop which save this thing from a 2 for me. But only just. Its simply way too long. 20 tracks. wtf. Sabotage is a classic of course. Great song. Its a low 3 for me. # Top Tunes: Sure Shot / Sabotage / flue loop # Would I listen to it again? No
Not really my thing, Sabotage was the best track by far for me. The rest.... Eh, I can't think of myself listening to them any time soon. I can see why it could be great if you're someone who enjoys this type of music. One thing I can say it's that this album is extremely 90's, you can feel the decade in every one of these tracks.
I have to laugh every time I put this album on because I'm reminded how I had them on such a high pedestal that when this came out I couldn't help but be disappointed. I was disappointed because their previous albums took huge and unpredictable leaps from what came before and this is more or less an extension of the ground they covered on the album just before it, Check Your Head. I cannot relate to that feeling at all at this point. I don't require anymore that my favorite musicians break new ground every time out. Now all I ask is that their music is good. And the tunes and jams on here are damn good. But how does that translate into stars? Check Your Head, the album before, is a clear five star album to me. This album is not quite as intense. I think the songwriting is not as catchy and I don't like all of q-tip's n-bombs on his guest appearance on the title track, which felt at the time to me like a desperate nod to the gangster rap that had taken over. On the other hand, that would make this by far the best four-star album in this 1001 list. Fuck!
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.
Not horrible! 7/10
Flera härliga 90talsrap som är rätt unik för BB, men inte så många som jag skulle välja att lyssna på. +1 för Sabotage
“Eat a Scooby Snack and take a disco nap” makes me want to rate this a 5 Sounds like white RunDMC but they’re still using the N word? The 90’s man, what a time.
Hmm. This is good, but I think I'm starting to realize that I don't really like hip-hop. Sabotage is great, but that's because it's their most rock song. Am I old? Or not old enough? 2
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
I thought I was going to like this more...however, there is A LOT of weird on here. Gotta give it a solid 3.5
Never a huge Beasties guy, this didn't change that. Sure Shot and Sabotage are great songs though.
Begin is leuk Daarna wordt het wat minder Ik heb geen idee wat ze zeggen
Variety! Fun! White boi 90’s rage hip hop! Now just add some bloke on guitar called Tom and were really raging