Reviews (page 8 of 14)
I was not very impressed at all by the Beastie Boys’ first release “Licensed to Ill”, but this album was really refined, varied, fresh, and fun.
hip hop beats with flow. the boys from NYC bring it once again. samples ahoy, hardcore elements. plenty of collaborations on this one, but the tracks that shine are the best ones with only the beasties. quality album with minimal filler. highlights: “sure shot”, “root down”, “sabotage”, “alright hear this”.
Not my favorite (or second favorite or third favorite) Beasties album but a great one nonetheless.
This time background and flow hit me different than other hip-hop albums. Songs are more varying than on "Licensed To Ill". Sometimes album may be a bit too inconsistent. I guess rapping tie it together instead of making monotonous.
Good album with some classic hits
bra
4.5
Fantastic album, trails off a bit at the end. Little bit tighter track list and it's a 5.
While I love the Beastie Boys, I'm still not convinced that I love their albums as a whole. Can't deny the greatness, though.
Before this, I wasn’t a fan of rap or hip-hop at all. Then I listened to ‘Sabotage’. Gave the whole album a listen, and I’ll probably check out the rest of the discography eventually. Not a big fan of the instrumental songs, though. Favorite track: Sabotage
So many legit bangers in the first half of this one. I'm not a huge fan of the Beastie Boys, but this record really does show how talented they are. I just wish the back half was less filler than the first. Even so, some of the punk tracks back there were really good.
very hype good for working out, songs flow nicely together
Really good.
Enjoyed
Definitely a more refined sound than the other BB record on this list. Really enjoyed it, more jazz / funk than the other, with a few punky number’s scattered about. Will return. Favourite was Futterman’s Rule.
Much more interesting than licensed to ill, the beats are better, the punk songs are great and sabotage is the best beasties song. That said, there are a lot of tracks without any rapping that makes it feel like they were thrown in to pad the runtime. Would have preferred it to be trimmed down or have a few more obvious bangers. 3.5
Enjoyed that. Think moreso than license to ill. This was more rocky, which I think is when they are best. Think it was less silly too It did go on a bit though and some of the tracks on the second half of the album weren't the most exciting, but actually pretty good to listen to while working. Highlights are: Sure shot Sabotage, which is fantastic Get it together
Los beastie combinan las diferentes influencias, letras e introspecciones que se traen en otras entregas de la agrupación. Lo que sucede es que es un disco, extremadamente largo, extenso, cansa, llega una punto que las canciones dentro de el son entretenidas, pero hasta ahí. Está perfecto que sea así y qeu lo muestren como un catalogo de cultura, pero la idea de el album se desvanece cancion cada tanto en el disco completo, demasiada data, pero buena 7/10.
They have made an amazing contribution to music by helping to bring rock and rap together into the mainstream.
Fun listen, the jazz transitions were a welcome surprise!
Beastie Boys do jazz-rock!? Plus the best music video ever. Could be 5.
Wow, so many genres and styles. Hadn't realised that Prodigy's 'Funky Shit' sampled the Beastie Boys' 'Root Down'. Have found them a bit misogynist and tiresome from listening to podcasts about them, but definitely enjoying the rock/funk/jazz here.
Honestly crazy how this album seamlessly flips between rock, punk, jazz, and funk influences. Sequencing is great. Every other song delivers fantastic instrumentals followed by catchy, distorted bangers. but the album overstays its welcome just a little bit. Loved Q-Tips performance. Favorite song: Root Down, Get It Together
I don't think I'm much of a Beastie Boy. Favorite Tracks: Sabotage, Get It Together, Flute Loop 4/5
I liked this one much better than the last Beastie Boys album assigned. Was digging “Bodhisattva Vow.”
Great hip-hop album. The aggression is so prominent which I loved - my only criticism is how the vocals sometimes sounded distorted.
'Sabotage' is an absolute classic. Also liked 'Sure Shot', 'Get It Together'. Second part of the album was a bit weaker with too much instrumentals, but overall really liked it. 4/5
The first 3 or 4 tracks are unrepresentative here - shouty and rocky BB's, but after that it gets much more varied and interesting. Funk, easy listening, jazz, soul - almost everything is in the stew. A rap group who became a group where rap was incidental.
Love this as well.
The Beastie Boys are sort of their own genre. Or every genre. Yeah, I'm in the mood for some rap, punk, fusion, hip-hop, sampled, funky, avant guard, rock n roll, electronica, groovy, jazz grunge tunes today. And somehow these little rat punks pulled that off.
A quality effort with one of their best songs 'sabotage'. Doesnt hit the heady heights of Pauls boutique or check your head. At thi point they're out of ideas. Still a great tour de force of their loud energetoc in yer face style.
Would listen to some again
Even better than I remembered
This Beastie Boys album, as opposed to the first, was not really on my radar when it came out. I had been quite fond of the naughty boy rap of that first one. This one feels like it's from a much more mature group, and I wasn't sure at first if that was a good thing. What I found (after the initial dislike of the feeling of being yelled at this morning) was that this was a really interesting album, full of all sorts of musical influences. I need to come back to this one some time.
I didn’t love License to Ill and wasn’t looking forward to this. I was surprised that I didn’t recognize any of the songs (although maybe Sabotage was vaguely familiar?). This has a much more interesting musical sound than I was expecting. Funky guitar, organ, and other interesting instrumentation made this pretty cool to listen to. The rapping is pretty great too although I didn’t study the lyrics to closely.
Some great, some good, some filler. Like the difference between the sample lead funky hip hop and the mad punk stuff.
The Beastie Boys seems to be able to blend hip-hop, punk, jazz, and rock seamlessly all on one album. Samples are great. Lyrics are great. Production is great. Energy is great. Whole album becomes a little slow at the end, but I very much enjoyed all of it. 4/5
Had me smiling
There is some fantastic production on this, the beats and sampling are so good. The first half has some great songs but the approach to hip-hop and hardcore both sound quite dated and like a hangover from the late 80s compared to the 1994 landscape for both genres. However the album’s ability to traverse these genres, and the instrumental eclecticism of the second half are massive highlights.
MUITO BOM Minhas favs: Get It Together B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak Sabotage Sure Shot The Update Bodhisattva Vow
Vraiment très bon, probablement l'album j'ai le plus aimé de BB so far.
this album is so looooong but it's so damn good sure shot is one of my favorite samples/songs in 90s rap the beastie boys did not give a fuck about anything and somehow made some of the best rap music of a really stacked era in a really stacked and talented area
Кайфухи, и рэп, и панк просто высшей пробы
The production and use of instruments over samples makes this album hold up much better than Paul’s Boutique. Sabotage still sounds fresh and just a landmark song for the melding of rap and rock. Overall this could be the best album in their catalogue.
Not really my style, but great album
Could be a copy and paste of so many hip hop album reviews. When it's good, it's great, a good half dozen stone cold classic songs. But I don't need 20 song albums lasting an hour and it would have made a much better 35 minute album. 3.5 stars but I'll play nice.
Frat boys with a good record collection.
Check Your Head/Ill Communication will always be the Beastie Boys' golden age for me. They had found the perfect balance between hip hop, punk and tasty jams while toning down their goofy approach just enough to show they were really serious about their craft. What a talented bunch these guys were. As with all of their albums, this one has its fair share of fillers in the second half, but in their case it doesn't really matter because it stays entertaining and fun all the way through. Their energy is infectious and it's hard to imagine someone completely disliking them.
A true game changer in the 90s hip-hop scene.
Nice hiphop album. great selection of this genre in the book btw
The kings of sampling and energic hip-hop, no doubt about it and this album is another monument to prove it.
4 Love The Beasties - I actually went as MCA as Nathan Wind as Cochese from the Sabotage music video for Halloween this past year. However, right off the bat, I can tell you this isn’t their best album, nor is it even probably Top 3. Still, it’s a really good one through and through. Sure Shot is a great opener, and the transition into Tough Guy is a great reminder of the punk roots of these guys. From there, aside from Sabotage, the album seems to descend into a lot of not as memorable hip hop fluff. But you know what? It’s still a heck of a lot of fun. Admittedly, I don’t think the instrumentals are quite as effective, but they also don’t break up the flow of the album either by any means. So, I really debated my rating on this one. Since there aren’t a ton of individual songs I’ll probably re-visit, especially for a 20 track album, I initially went with a 3.5, but come on, it’s Beasties. Even if there aren’t a ton of standalone moments, I had a blast the whole way through and will likely be listening to the full album again at some point. On a side note, I think this album cements my opinion that the Beastie Boys are basically the blink-182 of hip hop (or I guess blink-182 are the Beastie Boys of pop punk) - Both groups consist of multiple vocalists/songwriters that great at putting out material that’s kind of immature and not overly deep but absolutely tons of fun. If you don’t agree with me, please look no further than “Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes” on B-Boys Makin’ With the Freak Freak.
4.5
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Get It Together (7) 2 - Sure Shot (1) 3 - Sabotage (6)
Great album, good balance of jams and bangers
way better than i was expecting, i missed this whole rock rap thing bc i wasn’t alive but seems pretty cool
I rather enjoyed this. Stand-out track was Sabrosa. The Beastie Boys sure have cleaned up their act. There's lots of nice samples in here, and lots of great breaks and beats.
A little overlong for me, with a few diversions that didn’t quite hold me. The highlights are incredible though. Probably one to enjoy over time and allow to develop.
Absolutely love them. Not my favorite album of theirs, if I’m honest. But had great fun listening!
Is this the final hardcore release forever and ever? Great album, great music, and a great band.
1-2 Oh My God! So much of this takes me back to Monday and Wednesday nights at the Ritz. Jumping off the stage to Sabotage (that video!), plus Root Down, Get it Together (Q-Tip!) and of course Sure Shot, which I got a second life from when I later discovered all the Blue Note stuff they'd pilfered from to genius effect. Jeremy Steig's Howling For Judy, is just an absolute gem. Such variation. Love the funky jams in the middle like Futterman's Rule. That said, the album does wander considerably far from where we were during the first 9 tracks at that point and doesn't come back for a while. Then it wanders away again. Essentially two different albums smooshed together. We're back red hot with Flute Loop. I'm a sucker for these jazz samples. Also enjoy the throwbacks to their start out as a thrash punk outfit. So, it suffers a fair bit through the classic CD era failure to edit. I'd drop Alright Hear This, The Scoop and a couple others to a B-side personally. Not Ricky's Theme though, that is low key ace. As is Bodhisattva Vow. Not sure you need the whole 3 mins 40 of Shambala as a lead-in to it. Mind you that is very good, but this is the issue with too long albums, you're kind of done with stuff like that by the time it comes around. Overall though, excellent, and aged well.
Shambalaaaa nije moj dir al nije bilo lose slusat
Nnnniiice
Watched too much futurama growing up to not like Beastie Boys. It is good shit. Continuing in trend of rating white boy rap though :/
Classic Beastie Boys material. Not as good as Paul’s Boutique but still an awesome record. nice Q-Tip feature - 4/5.
This is my jam! Few artists are as versatile as Beastie Boys!
this album must be one of the most unique albums on this list. i was excited for my favorite beastie boys song ("sabotage"), but this album is so much more than that. "sabotage" barely begins to cover the diversity and depth the beastie boys included in ill communication. there's their usual punk and rap, but the jazz and funk aspects are a surprising yet delightful change of pace. the few instrumentals are also a fascinating listen. the violin is so eerie in "eugene's lament"! the flute in "flute loop"? unexpected instruments but with great results. the whole album seems oozing with creativity while being lots of fun, which is what the beastie boys do best.
An eclectic mix of grimy jazz atmosphere tracks, dirty funk tracks and an assortment of other styles. Quite cool :)
Bra skiva men behöver dessa vitgossar verkligen 3 skivor på listan?
Solid album, I was a bit skeptikal about that album and the beastie boys overall but I wasn't expecting this. The vibe is quite old school but I really like the overall simple production with boom bap and this squad kicking feeling if that make any sense. I'm really well surprised. Love Flute Loop and Get It Together with Q-tip. THe instrumental tracks are also great. Solid 4.5 /5
Already in my collection. A bit more experimental with different music styles, but still a good listen.
Alright, not the greatest
It’s a sabatoge!!
Love, kende vooral de grote hits maar album is echt veel meer versatile dan ik dacht
I had fun with this one.
Loved the overall sound and music - the vocals for the Beastie Boys are always a little muddled. But based on vibes alone it was a great listen.
I wasn't ready for the diversity of sounds on this album. Of course I've heard the radio hits, but the deeper cuts were more Jazz than Rap. A few times I had to check to make sure I was still listening to the right album. Really enjoyed it.
This album was great and unexpected. I went into this not realizing that I was about to listen to a hip-hop jazz album. It was surprisingly easy to listen to.
Great album by the Beastie Boys. Great opening to the album and Sabotage is just great. Watch this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ5yKJlhbiA
More sampling, fewer live instruments and very eclectic.
Sabotage!!!!!
"Sure shot" is one of my all-time favorites and still runs near the top of my most-played tracks year after year. The overall album breaks some new ground incorporating live instruments to varying degrees of effect. I didn't like them at first tbh, but I've warmed up to them as years have gone by. What impressed me the most about this album was the (continued) impressive use of digging and sampling to make truly unique and fresh beats.
Exemplary album of the 90's rock/rap genre. Root Down has really shows that their sound extends beyond the heavy and also delves into the funky and soul sounds. Despite this more easy song, the transition into sabotage, which is almost Motorhead like, is executed well. Ricky's Theme is a nice intermission with some room to breath for the listener. Liked the album, but it was way too long to enjoy in one session.
The Beastie Boys at last become Beastie Men. The subject matter is more mature, but the wordplay is still tongue-twisting and the sampling is still expertly layered.
Pretty good loved the instrumentals and some good features solid album I’d give a light 7
Lekker
Vet hor!
Fijn!
oh wow, this was a rollercoaster ride. smooth, funky, punkish, jazzy, beats galore. I had no idea this album was this entertaining. granted, it's on a downward slope towards the second half, but still good enough for me. definitely did not expect groovy instrumental tracks on a rap album: Sabrosa, Ricky's theme and even Flute Loop for the most part. added bonus: so THIS is where the Prodigy got the sample for funky shit :). It caught me completely by surprise in the middle of Root Down this album is a keeper. goes in the collection
I definitely remember when this album came out and my friends owning it and playing it. But listening to it, I only recall Sabotage (a stone cold classic and all the more impressive now that I know they played their own instruments on it) and Sure Shot (a great tune in it's own right). But I realize now this album is not really about Sabotage, which feels like rap rock. It's more about Sure Shot, which feels like jazz fusion overlaid with hip-hop and rap. There are others like the latter with more of a hip-hop edge, like B-Boys (and now I know why a friend stuck his Prince Albert in our potato salad at a party 20 years ago). But this is not a hip-hop album. And if you get that then you can really appreciate it for what it is; an eclectic jazz album. Bobo on the Corner and Root Down feel like jazz percussion. Get it Together and Sabrosa feel like funk and jazz and they both kick serious ass. Q-tip is a great add to the former and the musical stylings in the latter are like vintage Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield (just awesome). The Update and Futterman's Rule are some sort of combination of these four, though a little bit boring. And that's my one gripe with this album. It's a bit uneven. For all the musical chops, innovation, and ambition they display (mad respect) there are a few too many snoozers. On the second half, especially. It starts off great - Alright Hear This and Do It have a cool hip-hop sound while Eugene's Lament (that violin!) and Flute Loop (that flute!) are incredible. But after that it's kind of meh, except maybe for Shambala with it's very interesting and eclectic jazz sounds. Honestly, on first listen I thought it was average. But as I listened to it a few more times I really understood how unique and complex it was, and how talented these guys are. A few of those holes in the album still tugged at me, though I was getting close to a 5.
Really enjoyed this album. First time listening. Beats are incredible and the congas/bongos in a few of the tracks add an entirely different flavor.
"Sabotage" the best, most known song on the album and also really loved "Get It Together". Surprised to hear so many instrumental tracks and I do think the album is a bit too long because of it. 8/10.
A little abrasive at times - certainly by design - but the funk and groove in these beats are undeniable. I'm especially drawn to the excessive live instrumentation used (e.g. fuzz bass, drums/percussion) which makes a *huge* difference in terms of overall groove. Hip-hop/rap might not be my expertise but this just kinda rocks (aside from the throwaway thrash tracks - definitely not my bag) and having known nothing outside of "Sabotage" I was surprised and thrilled with the funk and even the instrumentals. Definite keeper. 8/10 4 stars.
-S Tier- Sure Shot Root Down Sabotage Get It Together Ricky’s Theme The Scoop -A Tier- B-boys Makin’ with the Freak Freak The Update Alright Hear This Flute Loop Do It -B Tier- Sabrosa Futterman’s Rule Eugene’s Lament Heart Attack Man Bodhisattva Vow Transitions -C Tier- Shambala AVG SCORE: 3.9 / 5
The 4 run of albums from Paul's Boutique to Hello Nasty are really good. This one is pleasingly diverse, with crunching, funky pots of treasure. Great stuff.
Un popurrí de hip-hop, jazz, funk... Un 4.
Pretty beastly
Classic
Legendary. Great sound and a perfect mix between hits and experimental tracks. Excellent.
Listened to this a lot. Really enjoyed it.
It was pretty good, not my scene. Real funky at times but very 90’s. 8/10
good
Didn’t really like Licensed to Ill but this one is much better.
Flere sterke låter, men helheten blir litt kjedelig og monoton. Ofte kult sound, da.
Sure Shot and Sabotage are the forever standouts from this album, but I also surprisingly enjoyed Flute Loop and The Scoop. I did not enjoy the Gregorian chanting of Eugene’s lament and shambala, nor the musical stylings of heart attack man or tough guy. I was shocked to find the instrumental bobo on the corner, as I didn’t know beastie boys had ever experimented like that.
I consider myself a Beastie Boys fan so this was an enjoyable listen. Obviously "Sabotage" was a banger, but I found myself really enjoying "Get It Together" and "Sure Shot". Some interesting almost punk rock vibes on some of the other tracks as well. Great album.
Though Paul's Boutique is my all time favourite Beastie Boys album, Ill Communication will always be a favourite. Never afraid to change things up and experiment there's so much great stuff on here.
Well that's a fun album. A lot of nostalgia there. I probably still have that CD kicking around somewhere.
Pretty solid album. I’ve definitely unfairly written off the beastie boys in the past, but this album is pretty good old school hiphop/rock. My only gripe is that the album is a little long for the number of ideas it’s bringing
Likte ikke dette i det hele tatt. Ga meg en følelse av fredag ,og jeg var klar for helgen, men så var det bare torsdag. Veldig skuffende. Ellers, helt topp! Terningkast ja.
It is the perfect blend of hard hitting rock, rap and funk. There is not one single song that felt out of place. The final track draws everything to a close with a smooth jazzy groove
classic
Great energy in this album and Sabotage is an all time get pumped song.
cool
Lots of different sounding songs to bring you back in if you start drifting. 👍
Outside of the single there’s still some really well written, and well crafted songs on this mid-90s Beastie joint. That single is a Goliath in their catalogue though!
Have already been listening to it for years. Great album.
Gostei bastante, uma banda que não conhecia muito. Achei um ótimo álbum. Melhores músicas: Sabotage, The Update e Flute Loop.
I'm not a huge fan of their shout rapping, but the samples and the flow of the songs is fantastic and in the end I can just treat the rapping as percussion.
Nice! Loved the energy and genre hopping. Sabotage still a GOAT track.
It's not that I dislike hip-hop music, I find I detest it. This one, though, isn't hip-hop as much as it is music. And good music at that: very jazzy, sometimes rocky, and yes, occasionally annoying to one extent or another (mostly the so called singing). But always creative and original. I just love it. I wish there were more like it. Favourite track: Sabotage probably gets all the credit, but Futterman's Rule is pretty much my definition of an ultimate track.
Even the deep cuts are solid.
nice
Like many who expected the Beastie's to continue in the tradition of Licensed, I was initially disappointed when this first came out. Over the years, I've come to appreciate the varying styles and experimentation. Much respect for them to pretty much do whatever the hell they wanted to do and be successful at it.
My first repeat artist…after 43 albums. I liked this. Having just learned to Licensed to Ill recently, it is obvious their sound had matured in the eight years between that and this. I appreciated the instrumental interludes between the rapping. As much as I like The Beastie Boys, they’re a bit much when it’s track after track. That said, I do prefer the lesser refined sound from Licensed to Ill.
i’m a beastie girl
Hell ye
Heilt á litið mjög skemmtileg plata, með mörgum góðum lögum og fínu grúvi, en það læðast þarna smá læti með sem ég er ekki að dansa við.
The textures make the record, the mix of beats, samples and live playing – especially the live playing. A lot to dig. Fun to hear Q-tip in this context.
Classic, but with more instrumentals than I would have expected and only one song I knew beforehand. Really enjoyed it though, sounds like a band at the top of their game.
Enjoyed this much more than i thought i would
There were two rules for music in my moms car, if Jack White comes on you have to call him a musical genius and if the Beastie Boys come on you crank the volume. So that is exactly what I did today. While this isn't my favorite of their album it is still a great listen and contains some deep cuts I haven't heard in years. I thoroughly enjoy getting the chance to re-listen to albums I've loved my entire life.
Solid stuff, weirdly enjoyed the intramentals more
It was good, but not as good as I expected, the fact that Qtip is here is worth a star alone
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!
sure shots and occasional misfires
A crisp as album. “Got fat bass lines like Russell Simmons steals money." Love that shit. But there is like some really interesting punk sounds on this thing. Like heart attack man, Super fucking stands out to me. I think it makes sense honestly.
I have determined that there are a few Beastie Boy camps. I am in the Licensed to Ill was great, but Paul’s Boutique was awesome. I was on entirely on board with the latter’s retro-funk and innovative (and extensive) use of samples, and somewhat less of a fan of the sophomoric elements on their debut. Also important was the maturation and evolution in each of their early releases, through Check Your Head . This leads me to this, their fourth release. I enjoyed this when it was released, but it represented a slow down (perhaps inevitable) in the evolutionary progression. This resulted in a somewhat uneven release that gets played less that the two that preceded it.
Hip Hop bien rappeado que usa mezclas muy interesantes, jalando elementos de muchos estilos como el jazz o el funk. Sabotage es la que destaca y sienta las bases de los siguientes años, como en su momento lo hizo You Gotta Fight For Your Right. No es mi género favorito pero quitando la duración tampoco me costo trabajo escucharlo un par de veces. 3.5 que sube a 4.
De lo poco que conozco este es el que más me gusta de los Beastie Boys, creo que en buena medida porque es un poco menos tirado al hip hop y sampleo y en su lugar tiene más instrumentos, pero también porque el factor de ellos que nunca me ha gustado (la voz aguda/gritona) no está tan presente como en otros, o de menos se mezcla con otras. Además del obvio Sabotage, me gustaron Ricky's Theme y Sabrosa.
They had such a distinct sound. It's really surprising that they caught on, but they were smart enough to know it would. Their samples are iconic, and most importantly, they know what they are and offer no pretense. HIp-Hop can be heavily hyperbolized and degrading, but they are able to be mostly real, innovative, and take aim on interesting subjects...like Bill Laimbeer. I think Sabotage is the perfect example of what they are. It's a great track, produced perfectly and timeless. This album is way better than I expected it to be.
Not my favorite album by them, but lots of good songs on here.
Goede mix van punk, jazz & hiphop 4-5
What an amazing album. Of course it's Hip Hop but it's also Punk and Jazz. Such an honest expression of ecclectic musicianship. My only complaint is that it's too long and I think this was fairly common in the age of CDs. 30-40 minutes. That's where you want your album. Double albums shouldn't be the norm, as they were in the 90s and early 2000s.
first listen definitely \"braggadocious\"
This iteration of the BBoys is my favorite - them returning to their punk rock / instrumental roots. This fourth album that follows up Check Your Head to round out the 'Instrumental' portion follows their original 'party-boy-white-boy-rappers' phase, while the platform that launched them is also their weaker. The one-two of Check Your Head and Ill Communication gets to their Beatles 'experimental' phase which is the richest period. 4/5.
Un popurrí de hip-hop, jazz, funk... Un 4.
Enjoyed it
Beach boys
4 +1 for the mashed potatoes song.
One thing I really like about this record is that it sounds like they just stopped caring about what would be commercially successful and did whatever they wanted to do, which was apparently lay down some chill jams, occasionally interrupted by something really frenetic. Best track: Sabotage
Enjoyed the whole album straight through, interludes/instrumental tracks as well.
4.4 - fantastic album with some absolute classics and strong dose of nostalgia. Forgot how much I enjoy a lot of the instrumentals like Sambrosa, too.
It rocks and it's funky and it's jazzy. It's great
Nothing will ever compare to Paul's Boutique but I had lost interest in them by this point.
Almost no hooks in any song. The songs with no vocals were a good way to break up the songs of straight rappin. Forgot how good the Beastie Boys timing was. The synergy between the group is something you don't see anymore, most artists are just individuals waiting for the others part to be over so they can go. Favorite songs - Get it together, Futterman's rule, Alright hear this
A good mix of songs that have smooth and funky beats. Then you have shit like sabotage that just kick you in the balls, in a good way tho.
Towards the end I was hoping it would be over soon, but not because I didn't like it, just felt like this could've been tightened up more, I liked the instrumentals a lot, and the hip hop cuts were super solid. Overall it's a classic album and deserves the status it has attained over the decades.
Not the masterpiece of License To Ill or Check Your Head, but still a great thumpin' album. I like the guest appearance, and Sabotage is up there with their best songs.
Didn't expect the amount of just instrumentals in this.
That's a lot of music elements... amazing.
ziek
incroyable
Fan of the Beastie Boys but not heard this one all the way through - pleasantly surprised, what a mix of jazz, funk/soul, punk and hiphop. Sampling is great and groovy instrumentation with distorted vocals over the top works kinda well. Something held me back from 5 stars whether it's the length, some experimental parts, or the eccentricity, but it was a tough decision!
It was a solid album, with some pretty high highs and not many lows. It had plenty of instrumental tracks, some of which were better than the others, some of which felt much like filler. I like the experimentation which was present throughout.
I've never really listened to Beastie Boys outside of their singles and holy shit, this album is phenomenal! UPDATE: Love the jazzy interludes on this album. On the Wiki, there's a passage about how the photographer they tapped didn't quite understand the music, describing it as "a secret language." I think that's very fitting, but in a good way.
Way more varied and fun than their debut, the only other full project I've heard from them. Not every song is a hit; a few succumb to the grating way their voices dig at me. But for the most part we have some fun lyrics, some absolute banger beats, and just a good time all around.
A much more aggro sound from the Beastie Boys. While it is not bad persay, it really loses the something special I enjoyed from Licensed To Ill.
Just had Paul's Boutique less than a week ago. This album feels more sprawling - on one hand it's more funky, laid-back, and instrumental and on the other it's more gritty and punk rock.
I have never listened to a full Bestie Boys album before. I was surprised to find it full of jazz, funk, and rock idioms. Their blending of genre is seamless and shows where hip hop will go in 15-20 years later with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar. I was surprised and impressed. I'm still not the biggest fan of their vocal delivery style, and their flow is a bit rudimentary.
Several great songs, a few that were only mediocre. Overall a solid album, I enjoyed going beyond the standard ones I've heard before.
While I prefer their earlier, more sample-focused work, this album still absolutely slaps. Beastie Boys are remarkably consistent.
Sick beats and classic beastie boys songs
4 for sabotage, rest was okay
Never listened to much beastie boys but enjoyed this a lot more than i expected to. Without trying they school many a funk rocker (take note RHCPs) in groove humor and style. From the crunch of "Sabotage" to the roots salute of "B-boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" its got the lot. 4/5
interessante Rhytmen, manchmal zu lang, manchmal zu viel auf einmal, gute Soli
Great early innovations from the Beastie Boys
I understand why the Beastie Boys are popular now
When I had listened to the Beattie Boys in the past I hadn't been a big fan but I've grown to appreciate them.
I quite the Beastie Boys but I don't often choose to listen to them. However, this album was really enjoyable, really varied
A great album but a little too bloated with a couple too many instrumentals. When a record runs over an hour there's always the chance it'll contain tracks that detract or stop it being 5 star and although this is good, it needs to be a little tighter. I really liked it though and was both pleased and surprised by the eclecticism. A really enjoyable listen.
"shit, if it's gonna be that kinda party i'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatos!" Love the constant double bass presence, crazy modulation, creative percussion, woodwind. Eugene's Lament absolutely slaps out of nowhere, Flute Loops and Ricky's Theme also stood out as unique and great.
Like it. Not something I'm used to. Depth of sound. Layers.
Still slaps.
I enjoyed the heck outta this album. Such great energy. And an appearance from Q-Tip?! Love it.
Very strong album… would’ve been 5* but fizzled out a little at the end!
I’m not a fan of hip hop but this is probably my favourite hip hop album because the Boys show their range and mix it up with punk, jazz, funk and classical influences to keep it interesting. This is a really fun and creative album. And Sabotage absolutely rocks!
I really liked some of the more instrumental heavy tracks (surprise). Pretty solid album from the boys.
Listen all y'all it's a SABOTAGE
I never listen to this album before. I heard the hits on the radio, but never the piece as a whole. I appreciate the range of the Beasties. I was blown away by the instrumental tracks and laughing at the lyrics of their more traditional rap tracks.
Great great album loved it!
I'm tickled to see Biz Markie appear on this list. And "Sabotage" slaps so hard the song alone makes this album a worthy entrant on the list. Yes, sports fans, Sabotage is a 5. Similar to most rap/hip-hop albums I've come across on this list, this one is overall just a little too long. I certainly don't mind an album running long or taking it's time. But when you get to the 5th or 6th song and find yourself thinking it's running as long as a post-season extra-inning baseball game, that's what we in the business call a problem. That might be the one thing keeping this from 5 territory. Like "Sabotage", a good chunk of this album slaps. I'm impressed the Beasties pivoted from not being allowed to sample songs into something that is oftentimes majestic.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Tough guy, Sabotage
So this isn’t my kind of thing, really, but I can tell it’s great. The range of influences is incredible. I’ll listen again.
Classic. More instrumental songs than I would have guessed, brilliant samples and guests
Great album ... I was familiar with it. Like the instrumentals
A notable "spiritual sequel" to License to Ill, Ill Communication displays the progression of the Beastie Boys artistry. Not only have the raps and production of their songs developed over time, but their ideas of what the genre can sound like also expanded. In "Sure Shot" open with a jazzy flute solo, lay down a backtrack, and do their signature scheme in a lo-fi soundscape that is very prominent in the rap, hip-hop and electronic music of the modern era. It's those type of ideas that are one of many reasons I would say this album is ahead of its time. They keep their punk rock roots intact with the rest of Side 1, running a suite of punk-rap bangers starting with Tough Guy and ending with the widely famous Sabotage, the notable single of the album. All of these sides are not as widely energetic or loud as their previous hits, but I think it's a nice contrast to showcase how subtleties in dynamics and sound filters can keep a record more interesting. Q-Tip from ATCQ and Biz Markie tag along on the record and share some call and response verses between the Beasties, showcasing classic, but aggressive, comradery that rap is so widely known for. Their features on the record are stellar. The second half "experimental jazz" side of this record isn't usually what I come to the Beastie Boys for, but they decided to do what they want in true B-Boy fashion and knocked it out of the park. To take inspiration from Miles Davis and just create a hip-hop jazz soundscape that focused on the talents of each member beyond their rap skills was something I'm sure turned off a lot of fans, but to me is a testament to their legacy as an all-time great group. Favorite Songs: B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak, Sabotage, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Shambala Least Favorite: The Scoop
not a huge fan but enjoyed this album
Not into this at all.
Another great album. And it's not even as good as Licensed to Ill in my opinion.
A classic with some stone cold bangers. I am going 4 stars though for the over used distorted mics and one too many bongo tracks.
Yesss
It's a bit uneven but the grooves are tight! Obviously was familiar with a few songs on here (Sabotage, Sure Shot to a lesser extant) but never listened to the full album. I've been fairly agnostic... probably most due to the vocals always being a bit harsh. But now I realize that the grooves and DJing is probably more important for them than the MCing, at least on this record.
Yup, liked that.
Wow.
Funky. A classic.
No me lo escuché entero pero está guapísimo, me recuerda a ATCQ y eso son buenas noticias
Get It Together is the top track, MCA is stellar the whole album. Futterman’s Rule is a heavy, badass instrumental groove.
Not usually a fan of hip hop, but the rock vibe they bring to it is actually pretty good. I can see why people like it.
Good album. Fun to listen too and experimental.
The Beasties! Had never listened to the whole album, with Sabotage being the only song I knew going into it. Awesome. A bit all over the place, but I really enjoyed that. I'd give it a 4.4 out of 5.
First time listening: 16/20 songs liked I slept on them. I generally know their top songs which to me sound very grading because of their voices (beat first is what I judge) but wow. Their instrumentals and sounds on this album are super experimental. I will definitely give them another chance. 3 songs saved
it was ok
"Root Down" is a vibe, this bass line is so good, the guitar lick complements it so well. My favorite so far. "Sabotage" is so sick, the guitar line goes so hard but not too hard, leaves some space for the vocals to elevate the track. The hook is probably the most memorable so far, pretty great. "Sabrosa" - sure I guess? It's catchy, but it doesn't really build up to much. Keep in mind that I'm very out of my element here, I don't listen to a lot of hip hop or music from the 90's. "The Update" - this gave me the full mix I was missing so far, with that sort of pulsing bass. Definitely works as some great punctuation within the album. "Futterman's Rule" is pretty good, love the guitars. Kinda wish it would go a little crazier though. "Alright Hear This" is a banger! "Eugene's Lament" is a pretty great little interlude. Though I think it runs a little longer than it should. "Do It" I do like this track, but the album is starting to lose me a little. Even with the risks they take with incorporating flutes and whatnot, they still deliver a very straight, even sound. I think some more variety in the beats, and deliveries would make it better. "Ricky's Theme" is kind of getting me back into it, the tasteful production centered around the very nice bass line works well. The drums sound great. "Heart Attack Man" I really thought they were going to feed the acoustic baby in me. No but this bangs. Do wish the vocals were a little farther up in the mix to match the energy though. "The Scoop" started out a little slow for me, but got better as it went. That outro is pretty great. "Shambala" PLEASE this scared me, thought it was okay. "Bodhisattva Vow" So the scary zombie vocals are still here. They work okay here, but they're also all I can focus on. Overall, this was pretty damn good, the production was probably the best facet. The bass lines were slick, and the guitar complemented them really well. The drums were a little spotty, but when they were good, they were really good. The vocal performances were overall pretty good, but I do think I would've liked a little more variety. This is just based on the first listen, so my opinion might change. But a pretty good album to get me out of my comfort zone.
Better than “Licensed To Ill” by far to me. Great use of samples. The album does run a little long though. Favorite Track : Get It Together Least Favorite Track : Ricky’s Theme
A solid hip-hop album with some banging tracks, but it peters off at the end. 8.0/10 Best Tracks "Sure Shot" "Sabotage"
Great album
Solid album, a lot more interlude type tracks than I expected but a very enjoyable listen.
Great work from the Beastie Boys. Perhaps a few too many tracks; they could have left a couple out. Overall very good though.
good that.
Great and propably enjoyed it more than Paul's Boutique.
Low 4. It is a classic, but still it left a little bit underwhelmed.
am i... a beastie boys fan??
pretty good instrumentals; a few really good songs, some not so good 3-4/5
I've loved these guys since the 80s, and yet I constantly forget what a great listen most of their albums are, so keep being surprised by how much they rock. Few bands can make me smile as much as the Beastie Boys do. They're familiar, we grew up at the same time, they're practically family. This album was a great start to the day today.
FUCKIN' YES!!!!
no es mi estilo pero re weno el disco. es como kyuss con rage against the machine
Good early rock/rap genre expanding album. “No Sleep til Brooklyn” Is a favorite.
Pretty fun. Too long. 7
Cool album, the better known songs are by far the best
Incredibly stupid, pretty fun. I do think the Beastie Boys are better when you don't listen to an entire album at once though.
Great tracks. Funk.. Jazzy
I've always enjoyed the Beastie Boy's so much for the originality and freshness in the rap genre. A punk band that turned rap and still played live instruments. They have a fantastic instrumental album called "The In Sound From Way Out!" that they released after this record and you can very much tell they were itching to jam again on here. So many instrumental tracks on this album. Hard ones too. They're instrumental album is definitely a lot more funky than the ones on here. They fit the tone of the album a lot better though. "Get It Together," with Q-Tip is a classic. I think I find these guys so impressive every time because its such a collaborative project. Very few rap groups now have that flow where they literally finish each others sentences. Some groups feel like they don't even write in the same room, but I could not imagine the Beastie Boys being apart when they create these songs. A group that could never go solo.
Those beastie boys…I still don’t know if it is true but I read something a long time ago that they were originally the Latch Brothers who recorded some songs for the Jet Set Radio Future soundtrack. I haven’t googled to confirm because I want it to be true. But we need to live in a world of truth so I did just google it and I was half right!! Mike Diamond was in Latch Brothers and Beastie Boys so I’ll take that as a win. I love the Beastie Boys style and this album really shows that. Sure Shot lets you know the angle of the album before immediately jumping into the less than a minute Tough Guy. Sabotage is such a good song with that famous intro beat. I really enjoyed Get It Together as well, was that one of the members of Tribe Called Quest on that one?? The only song on this album I’d listened to already was Sabotage so all of this is new to me and I’m loving it. I’m not sure if I like this album or License to Ill more, I haven’t listened to either of them fully but there feels like a ton of variety on this one. There are short and long songs, instrumental and rap. The whole album feels like a Jet Set Radio type album as well. Perfect for skateboarding down Mulholland or just cruising on the 405. The cover of the album looks like either a Beastie Boy or a Blues Brother (BB) ordering at a drive in. I guess there could be some Ill Communication there. Maybe some dumb car hop got their order wrong and they were like “THIS IS A SABOTAGE”.
I liked this a lot. The beats and production are so good and the rapping is decently hype. The back half got kinda weird and slow but it is what it is. 8
Love it
Better rock-rap than most new metal ever was. || Loved listening for the samples! When the levee breaks by Led Zeppelin and (I think) sweet leaf by Black Sabbath on the first track. definitely caught some recognizable riffs on girls and other tracks, but couldn’t name em all. || Fun facts I learned looking this up: this was the first rap album to chart! || Kerry King of Slayer played the riff and solo in No Sleep Til Brooklyn, they met because Rick Rubin was producing Slayers album at the same time! || they also were planning to record a Beatles cover but ran into legal trouble with Micheal Jackson - funny this came on our list right after thriller!
Oh boy they did it. They made me homesick for good ol Brooklyn. This is a Sure Shot to a good time. Great flow, mad sample game. A treasure.
4 - würd mir das teil gerne mal live einizentrieren von der bar aus
Know this album inside and out, no fair reviews, They can not put a foot wrong, every track is just solid start to finish.
Already reviewed this album, but it's still amazing to listen to!
yeah, that's about what i remember - takes me back, for sure. less baggage about the hangers-on now than i had back then, which is nice.
So great. It quite five star but would get 9/10
Great bass and the instrumentals were really good. The rest was bonus.
very good. I have more of an appreciation for beastie boys, everyone wronged me I swear. Sabotage goes harder than I remember, but freak freak goes hard hard. last quarter or so grew dull I think. hour long albums are hard to get through imo.
Probably my favorite Beastie Boys album. I love the contrast from Sure Shot to Sabotage.
I fucks with the beastie boys them and Eminem gr8 white rappers
Funky Jazz, scream hip-hop akin to a milder version of Rage Against the Machine (who was surely influenced), and hard-as-fuck punk rock songs. It's eclectic and definitely shines in the instrumental groovy songs.
Beastie Boys have such a unique sound. Great beats, great lyrics, catchy songs altogether.
Hyvä levy johon en ole aiemmin jostain syystä tutustunut tarkemmin. Yllättävän rokkaavaa, jopa punkahtavaa meininkiä joissakin biiseissä. Tunnin kesto oli vähän liikaa, varsinkin kun mukana oli joitakin täysin tarpeettomia instrumentaalisekoiluja.
Great songs, but the first half of the album is obviously the best.
Awesome album. Great musicianship which I was not expecting. Got a little repetitive near the end. But cool style.
Grymma beats. Fantastiska interludes. Bäst: Sabotage
Not my favourite Beastie Boys album, but they get a 4 for nostalgia and my teenage crush on Ad Rock. This is a fun listen, they're such fun to listen to you don't really notice how damn good they were.
Loud and wacky. Good job boys.
This was an album that I haven't listened to in more than 20 years, so it's a strange experience coming back to it after all these years. It's interesting to see the different samples they were using on this album. Lots of jazz and funk influence. There's a lot more instrumentals in this than I remember. It's also pretty fun when they break out the hardcore punk for a song or two. It's a little strange listening to a rap album where my least favorite thing about it is the lyrics and still liking it, but the instrumentalism and diversity of sounds in this album really saves it 4/5
A lot of cool instrumentals. Great singles. At 59 minutes, it's long.
DOPE, I didnt know beastie boys had so much range, this album is punk funk rock and rap, insane
Enjoyed this for sure. Long album but some fun songs although I couldn’t name them for sure.
4/5. BEASTIE BOYSSSSSSSS. I wish more rap/rock albums 1) existed and 2) were this good. So much energy in sabotage, great song to get hyped too!
Very strong vocal style. An unknown artist for me, but an amazing addition to my collection
Pretty nice
The sampling is *chef’s kiss*
Kova levy! Siisti tyyli tehdä hoppia ja poikkesi isosti valtavirrasta, arvostan.
Fun and loose. Showcases the Beastie's hardcore punk roots more than I'm familiar with. End of the album is kind of a drag. Favorite tracks: "Get It Together", "Do It", "Sabotoge"
Sabotage is always a classic
Very moody- could be the perfect vibe for a specific dreamy “don’t care” day. Overall not my thing, find it repetitive sounding and I’m not in love with the tone of the rapping. Something I can appreciate, not something I’m saving to my library though.
B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak Sabotage Futterman's Rule Heart Attack Man
Ill
I feel some kind of obligation toward the Beasties just for being a Gen Xer. I had this album! The fact that I don't remember most of it tells me that even back in the day I was not a huge fan of the hardcore interludes and the the instrumentals. And those make up a surprisingly large proportion of this record. Most of the actual songs are great, it's just that not all of them are, and there aren't that many of them.
Repetitive
this is too long and unfocused, but has some amazing singles on it. III/V
such a wild rhythm that you can't help but shake your head, even if you don't really like it
I don't rlly listen to such music
I don't like one of their songs
I’d rate a 3.5, but not high enough to round to a 4. I recognize the influence and can appreciate the wide ranges of genres that blend so well. But it dragged on a bit.
1. Sure Shot (★★★★⯨) -Fav 2. Tough Guy (★★★★☆) 3. B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak (★★★☆☆) 4. Bobo On The Corner (★★⯨☆☆) 5. Root Down (★★⯨☆☆) 6. Sabotage (★★★★★) -Favorita del álbum y más... 7. Get It Together (★★★★⯨) -Fav 8. Sabrosa (★★★⯨☆) 9. The Update (★★⯨☆☆) 10. Futterman's Rule (★★★★☆) -Fav 11. Alright Hear This (★★★★⯨) 12. Eugene's Lament (★★★⯨☆) 13. Flute Loop (★★★⯨☆) 14. Do It (★★★★☆) 15. Ricky's Theme (★★★☆☆) 16. Heart Attack Man (★★★⯨☆) 17. The Scoop (★★⯨☆☆) 18. Shambala (★★⯨☆☆) 19. Bodhisattva Vow (★★⯨☆☆) 20. Transitions (★★★☆☆) TOTAL = ★★★⯨☆ (3,4)
I meannn its alright
slechter dan verwacht, beetje rock/punk hiphop
A bit long and repetitive
Much better than the other Beastie Boys album I had on here
Buenisimo pero extenso:(
I felt pretty neutral towards it. I guess it's not my jam.
5번 트랙까지는 솔직히 정신이 너무 없었음. (6)sabotage 에서 wh——y?🧨 이부분 좋았음. (12)Eguen’s Lament 바이올린이 음산한 느낌을 줌. (13)Fluet Loop 제목대로 플룻. 가사 없는 노래들이 중간중간 쉬는 타임을 줌
Ja sind paar Banger dabei, reicht nicht für das Album und den Textinhalt mancher Title
Like all of their albums, has at least 1-2 complete bangers. Sabotage is an all timer. There are some other good jams on this, like Root Down and the Q-Tip guest star on Get it Together. And the instrumental track Sabrosa could hold up on any great funk album. But also like many of their albums, other tracks are just okay. I find their singing/rapping styles not something I can take for a whole album.
Doesn’t really do it for me. 2.5/5
I honestly really enjoyed this. It was a much better, more fleshed out, whole album compared to the previous beastie boys album on the list. I liked the mix of styles throughout would listen again.
Felt mixed about this, the first half didn't do much interesting and I definitely preferred the second half with its beat tracks and slightly more off kilter songs. Still not convinced by the group really.
Not my kind of music.
Just lots of fun, but would've been even better of I hadn't gotten License to Ill by the Beastie Boys literally yesterday. 'Twas a bit much for me.
just re-visited this one recently, and it was much better than i remembered.
I have never listened to a Beastie Boys album. They have some great tracks, but I can’t ever get into these guys for more than a song or two. They are unique and legendary on the scene though
6/10
Beastie Boys are good but were never super my jam. Good album with fun lyrics.
Not a fan of the boys of beastie
3 stars.. musik war soooo fire ABER sie haben den ähnlichen klang bisschen overused und waren kinda fatphobic
The hits really stick out as very distinct amongst a pretty vibesy record. Solid though.
I listened to most of it but could only clock maybe 3 tracks that actually sounded different. Still, not bad.
First time ever really listening to the Beastie Boys. More range than I had previously thought from the snatches I'd heard in the past. they seem to be legitimate appreciators of both punk & rap-- the best thing about them is that they are fun. I like the silly hedonism. Their loops are pretty awesome, and some of their purely instrumental stuff is nearly beautiful. I wasn't even alive in the 90s, but can tell it was a time when genre-bending was still very interesting and earnestly approached. This seems like an apex of that idea. There's certainly times when this is a mood I want to be in, and will put these guys on to achieve it.