Ill Communication

The punk moments work for me, but alas, the jazz and rap do not so much. Still. Big points for being interesting and diverse and trying something new.

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

1 song I really liked but on average not really my cup of tea

Average album in my opinion. Sabotage standout. Track ratings: 1: 3.5/5 2: 4/5 3: 3.5/5 4: 3/5 5: 3/5 6: 5/5 7: 3.5/5 8: 2.5/5 9: 3/5 10: 3.5/5 11: 4.5/5 12: 2.5/5 13: 2.5/5 14. 2.5/5 15. 2/5 16. 4.5/5 17. 3/5 18. 3/5 19. 3.5/5 20. 3.5/5 Average score = 3.3/5

Liked more than expected

Overlong

I liked this way more than I expected 4.5/5

Despite being true-blue east coast hip hop, the Beastie Boys have always played around with different styles that cemented them as innovators of the genre. After an incredibly funky opener with Sure Shot, the boys blast off with a hardcore punk song in the style of Minor Threat. Can't box in the Beastie Boys. The image of the guy holding that drive-thru speaker box is accurate to a lot of the sonic pallet of this album, as the vox is filtered and distorted in such a way that it sounds like they're rapping at you through a shitty drive-thru speaker. Their order? Beats that bounce, undeniable energy, and mix as many different sauces as possible. To spice things up a little, Ill Communication offers two hard-hitting features: one from Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest and one from Biz Markie. Both features bring a tasteful bit of variation from the average Beastie Boys flow. In between tracks you'll occasionally hear incredible instrumental jams that highlights the group's appreciation for excellent instrumentation. I cannot express how goddamn funky this album can get, it's a force. Building on their sophomore album Paul's Boutique, the Beastie Boys provide sonic splendor with a series of dazzling tracks which shows a keen ear for musical depth. The best part is how well everything flows from one song to the next. More than anything, Ill Communication feels like an experience. To have such a rich buffet of cultural exchange. At times it feels like a love letter to New York City's incredibly diverse music offerings, from jazz to funk to hardcore and, of course, hip hop. This is something that can't be beat.

Of course there is the well known banger "Sabotage" but in total the album is just o.k. for me. 2,5

3+ Stars (9/15)

Not my favorite album from them. 2/5

Decent but not their best

Ah fuck, méér Beastie Boys?? Ik zou dit vet moeten vinden, want ze hadden zo'n grote invloed op hiphop door hun samples enzo; maar ik kan ze echt niet uitstaan. Lyrics zijn ontzettend matig, hun beats zijn vaker gewoon hardrock, metal en punk. Ik ben er steeds meer van overtuigd dat Beastie Boys hiphop is voor mensen die niet van hiphop houden. Prima, maar duw het in godsnaam niet zo door mn strot. De recording klinkt trouwens vrij matig, en dat is een stijlkeuze want op het eerste nummer is dat niet het geval. Daarna klinken ze alsof ze ergens onder een weg staan op te nemen, fucking irritant. Dit album is wel meer funky en jazzy dan de vorige albums en eigenlijk klinkt dat grotendeels prettig. Jammer dat die klojo's er nog steeds overheen schreeuwen, want Root Down is funky as fuck. Wauw, het is bizar - je hoort het kwaliteitsverschil tussen Tip en de Beastie Boys. Zul je zien dat er maar 1 album van Tribe op de lijst staat, ik weet wel minstens 3 albums die er af zouden kunnen zodat je meer hebt van de Tribe. Beste album van de Beastie Boys voor mij, en dat komt vooral omdat er heerlijke instrumentale stukken op staan en er een fantastische Q-tip feature op staat. Wel duurt dit album nog steeds veel te lang en zijn die gasten onuitstaanbaar... FAVO: Root Down, Get it Together, Futterman's rule, Ricky's theme,

loved listening. hadn't heard the album before. im a ska and punk fan so this was a great pick. i didn't listen to them back in the day but i'll keep this album in rotation as it made me happy to listen to.

4.5— did you notice beastie boys are a punk/funk band?

Ok... I think I like the musical interludes over most of the actual songs on here. In fact all, other than "Sabotage". They speak more to my personal musical senses. "Sambrosa" with its War like funk feel. The pseudo-psych of "Transition", the meditative jam of "Shambala" or just the straight up dirty groove of "Futterman's Rule" they all stood out to me. The rapping did not do much for me especially with the overly distorted or fuzzed out effects to the point I couldn't make out what they were saying. The couple of 80s punk style songs on here of course I didn't care for. My dislike for 80 hardcore is pretty well known here. There are still some songs I like The opener "Sure Shot" hit me better on second listen, "The Scoop", and of course the monster hit. "Root Down" I loved the jazz influenced tracks, but the rap over just ruined it for me. Honestly there is a lot going on in many of these tracks that if it wasn't for the rap I'd like it. Those may be growers of ever want to invest time getting to know this album. But then there the handful I coukd go without ever hearing again, "B-Boys Makin With The Freek Freek" and "Get It Together. Too much I didn't like on this to give it high marks although there is also quite a bit I dig. (6.75) ★★★

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

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

2.5

Sabotage Album. The album with Sabotage. The one song that doesn’t sabotage this album from the 1001 list because otherwise it would be a 2 or worse.

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

4,5

good

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

Man this sucked. The instrumental songs were cool and Get It Together was great, but everything other song was ass. It’s like they tried to put the worst vocal effects possible on it.

Growing up I always found the Beastie Boys to be annoying and grating. But over the years, and going back into their catalog, I've learned to appreciate how much they were before their time. I still don't love their music, but I have more of an appreciation of how innovative they were as I've gotten older.

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

Not bad decent hip hop stuff 6/10

It's good, but who wants to be yelled at for an hour? - R I agree. I like old school hip hop, but overall not a genre for me. I did like Flute Loop.-D

I only wish I could give this album more than 5 stars. An absolute must, was likely my foray into any hip hop and responsible for making me a life long beastie boys fan. Bought every album after and the earlier ones I had missed. Even the instrumentals don’t bother me. I still miss my old scratched up green cd.

This is ok. It doesn't really do anything better or that much different from the other Beastie Boys albums on this list, although it does include one of the group's most well known songs, "Sabotage". Key tracks: Sure Shot Sabotage

Sådan burde alt hip hop føles! Vild og utemmet. Punken er perfekt hjemme her.

Hold nu kæft et album! Det er all over the place. Klassisk Hip-Hop sange, straight up punk tracks, instrumentale jazz numre hver for sig og blandet godt sammen. Jeg kedede mig på intet tidspunkt. Var bare nysgerrig på hvad de nu fandt på. Overraskende nok syntes jeg instrumental numrene fungerede super fint som små pauser i de mere hårde tracks med distorted vokal. Langt bedre, og mere kunstnerisk udført end de (ofte) tåbelige interludes Hip-Hop albums ofte har.

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

3.5/5 or higher. Not the first time I listen to a Beastie Boys album but the first time I do enjoy it.

3.5/5

Definitely better than Paul's Boutique. Some bangers, some crazies, some hip hop, some punk, overall you can listen to it lol

Overall I thought this album was pretty good but also had some notable flaws. It was a very mixed bag, which was evident with the tracks from this track list that i did enjoy, the ones I didn’t enjoy and the ones I just felt neutrally or couldn’t make my mind up. There are some really powerful one and some really meh ones. Didn’t quite click with me but I’ll be sure to visit some of his other music after checking out Queen of Denmark.

Some of the lyrics are difficult to hear because of distortion in the voice. Some songs are instrumental, but not that interesting.

[9/10] Damn it’s good!! Such a well paced blend of high energy vocals and chill jazz/funk.

One word….chaos

4.5!

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

I like the beastie boys quite a bit but this album is just okay.

I'm a big hiphop fan and some of the tracks here were good but overall it wasn't for me and just hard to get into.

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

3*

This was a good album that was just a touch too long. Its hallmark is its vibe which is very chill and the production is awsome too, but it gets boring at bits due to its length. 6/10

I was a latecomer to The Beastie Boys but I really got into them a few years ago. This is a classic for a number of reasons: It's got "Sabotage" on it. It's an eclectic album with rap, punk and homemade funky /chill out tunes (Is this the Beastie's White Album?). Personally, I really love the couple of songs at the end sampling Tibetan monks with the lyrics showing MCAs growing interest in Buddhism. But most of all, it's all killer no filller, which I think is the best reason to give an album five stars.

Having this album is prohibiting my progress in 1001. Stuck on repeat - genius creation

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

uh no sleep till brooklyn is nice 3/5

mid

Another generic HipHop album.

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

Fantastic album. The hits are great, the throwback punk songs are fun and the instrumentals are really enjoyable. Probably a top 10 from 1994.

So f'n cool...

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

Ok, hyvä salimusa.

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

definitely a young man’s record, so many swears, probably 20 minutes too long

this shits cheesy

- Old school hip-hop, rock, and jazz - Beats are groovy - The fully instrumental songs are a nice addition/balance out the more raucous vocal ones - Can be jarring and obnoxious at times

Ok but not usually my style. Still was better than I thought initially. I recognized some of the songs.

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

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

Top 10 rap albums

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

Some amazing jams on here!

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

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

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

It’s some of their best music ever, it is extremely top-heavy, and could have done with some editing. But, so could the White Album.

Perfect, this album is probably the best in their discography, one could say it's their "Sgt.Peppers" and will go down in history as one of the most influential albums in hip-hop

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

What to say about Ill Communication that hasn’t been said about the Eiffel Tower?

Lots of variety that leaves me feeling mixed. I enjoyed the punk tracks on this more than anything else. Overall didn't change my opinion on these guys. 2.5/5

It's not my jam, but that doesn't mean it's not a good jam.

Mike D i love you

I do not like the Beastie Boys. This is the best album I've heard from them, however. Good beats, I just can't get past the annoying schoolboy rapping

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

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

I'm about 3 albums away from License To Ill which I'll get to once I catch up with the current album (Black Monk Time by The Monks). Anyway, all that to say I'm not sure where this album fits in the whole scheme of things. Sabotage is an outstanding track, Sure Shot is a great opener and there are some other pearls on here. But I'm not quite ready to give it a 4.

This gets a big nostalgia bump from me - takes me straight back to uni days. I do love albums that blast through a spectrum of genres, though, so I gotta think I'd fall in love with it all over again if I was hearing it for the first time now. Back in the day, it was the most hip-hop tracks that stood out to me, but now that I'm an old man it's all the instrumentals and the weirder experimentation that delights. Fave tracks - I could list loads, but let's acknowledge that "Sabotage" kicks ass and "Get It Together" is a classic, and then this time around I really dug "Shambala" -> "Bodhisattva Vow" 🕉️

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

Crisply enjoyable 60mins. Crescent fresh. 3.5 stars.

I love the beastie boys but this isn’t my fave

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

Wow, didn't expect this. 20 songs of fun, diversity, highs and lows - I felt like I was transported all around the world with this album. A description for this album that came to mind was if the Talking Heads were surfers from California, who holiday'd in New York, they would write this. It was great fun, this album is awesome, unique, authentic and different which is why I love it. Great stuff.

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

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

It was the summer of 1994, and I spent countless hours glued to the TV, watching iconic MTV videos. Friends, my siblings, and even my parents would join in these viewing sessions. It was a golden age for music videos. One of the undoubted highlights was the Spike Jonze-directed video for Sabotage. I must have seen that thing at least 100 times. On a particularly lackadaisical day, a friend and I took the bus to the closest Tower Records to kill some time. Once there, Ill Communication was on prominent display, and I decided on a whim, based on that one song, to buy it. I didn't know anything about the band's background or past output. This was the pre-internet era, a time when buying music often felt like a gamble. At the register, the clerk, who looked like he hadn't seen daylight, looked me up and down, smirked, and said, "This album is not for you, kid." That's cool… but here is my money. I got home, unwrapped the plastic wrap from the CD, and stuck it into my 3-CD disc player. My immediate reaction was, "Did this prick slip me another CD?" I was expecting a furious explosion of bass-heavy rock and rap, and instead, I heard "Sure Shot," the jazzy flute sample-driven opener. Okay, you have my attention. The next track, "Tough Guy," was more along the lines of my initial expectations, although it differs significantly from Sabotage. It has the same raw punky energy. Truth be told, this was far from my favourite track then or now, but I appreciated the Beasties' willingness to put all their cards on the table within the first few tracks. On that line, "B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" continues the high-energy streak, blending funky grooves, playful lyrics, and eclectic samples, including James Newton’s “Choir.” The Beastie Boys deliver witty, confident verses with their signature back-and-forth style, celebrating hip-hop culture while showcasing their knack for combining old-school traditions with innovative production. "Bobo on the Corner" again continues to showcase the many feathers in the group's bow. This short, percussion-driven instrumental track showcases Eric Bobo's rhythmic expertise and adds a world music flavour and live instrumentation to the album's eclectic sound. What follows is the holy trinity for me on this album. "Root Down" is a funk-infused track built around a prominent sample of Jimmy Smith’s jazz classic “Root Down (And Get It).” With its groovy bassline, confident rhymes, and energetic delivery, it exemplifies the Beastie Boys' ability to blend hip-hop with jazz and funk influences seamlessly. "Sabotage" needs no introduction. It is a hard-hitting track that fuses aggressive rock instrumentation with hip-hop energy, driven by distorted bass, frenetic drumming, and explosive guitar riffs. The shouted vocals and raw intensity capture a sense of urgency and frustration, making it one of the Beastie Boys’ most visceral and electrifying songs. In a decade where guitar music was dominating the airwaves, three slackers from New York showed everyone how it’s done. Next up is the smooth jazzy hip-hop of "Get It Together," featuring Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. With its laid-back, groove-heavy beat, tight verses, and fluid flow, the song exemplifies the Beastie Boys' versatility in blending rap with jazz and their strong chemistry with Q-Tip. It is my favourite track on the album to this day and was also my first formal introduction to A Tribe Called Quest. The album continues to surprise and delight with its eclecticism. The instrumental "Sabrosa" is a perfect example of their ability to create music that is rhythmically compelling and full of texture, proving their musicianship and versatility. The chill vibe continues on "Eugene’s Lament," where the group delivers more mature, introspective lyricism wrapped in a rich sonic landscape. On "The Update," we hear the Beastie Boys embracing a more experimental side, with distorted guitars and oddball rhythms building a soundscape that both surprises and satisfies. “Futterman’s Rule” offers a punchy groove, and "Bodhisattva Vow" gives a nod to their spirituality and personal growth, with lyrics that reflect their journey and self-awareness. Meanwhile, "Shambala" brings in elements of reggae and dub, giving the album another texture before it finishes with "Flute Loop," a track that closes the album with a groovy, hypnotic beat. It’s a testament to the Beastie Boys' adventurous spirit and their willingness to explore new sonic territories. This was definitely the album for me. A few weeks passed, and the same friend and I took the same bus to Tower Records again. The same employee was there. As a point of defiance, I picked up Licensed to Ill, Paul’s Boutique, and Check Your Head this time. I got home, and my mind was blown again, but that is a story for another day and another review. Today I can say that "Ill Communication" was a gateway drug to so much more. It helped me understand that hip-hop wasn’t a genre—it was a whole culture, an ethos, a way of expressing yourself, and a rich musical universe full of possibilities. Through this album, I was introduced to the limitless range of rap, the collaborative spirit of A Tribe Called Quest, and the way that music could cross genres effortlessly. It expanded my taste in ways that would influence everything I listened to after. Did/Do I own this release? Yes Does this release belong on the list? Yes Would this release make my personal list? Yes Will I be listening to it again? Yes

I liked this album. It was kinda jazzy.

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

Sure Shot is favorite song on this listen. BB has dialed in their white boy rap with rock roots sound and have definitely matured. I get why they'd want features on the album but when Q-Tip came on "Get It Together" it made me realize how grating the Beastie Boys are for a full album listen whereas your could listen to Q-Tip read the phonebook

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

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

I skipped songs after 1 min if I didnt like them. Id say I had to do that after half the songs All that aside, some of this was goood. In a not so beatie boys way. I liked Sabrosa and Rickys Theme a lot. Sabotage is probably the only original sounding tune that I enjoyed from front to back. Im pretty surprised that weve had two BB albums already.

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

Compared to their other albums that give me more of a 'frat boys playing gangsters' vibe, this one feels remarkably mature. Very diverse musically, featuring the expected mix of Hip Hop and Rock/Metal beats, but also dabbles with punk, funk, and instrumental. This diversity makes it intriguing, but also somehow incoherent and overall probably less appealing, since most people won't like all genres. As always with the Beasties, it's not my cup of tea and apart from Sabotage, which is of course awesome, I didn't really enjoy anything. 3.5/5

-well I really like the blending of rap and rock. it’s creative, especially for white guys in 1994. there’s a lot of other cool variety in genre-mixing throughout this album. you never really knew what you were gonna listen to next -that being said, definitely felt a bit bloated. they could’ve shaved it down a little toward the end but oh well, still pretty cool -Favorites are Sure Shot, Sabotage, and Get It Together

3/5

Didn't grab me as much as some other BB albums

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

It's not even that I dislike the style – more that I keep waiting for Andy and Jorma to pop up with their nautical-themed pashmina afghans...

Added Sabotage & Futtemans Rule

Expected to love this, but there are a LOT of skippable tracks for me and I don’t get why they spend half the album rapping into a fuzzy landline connection. Still gets 3 stars for overall vibe and Sure Shot, Sabotage, Root Down, and Get It Together, but it’s a soft 3.

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

the transition between root down and sabotage was a tectonic shift, the burning bush, my Rosetta Stone

This album is incredibly impactful. While I don’t focus on race, it’s hard to ignore the significance of a group of white rappers from New York making such a mark in the 90s, especially when gangsta rap dominated the scene. The respect they've earned and their continued relevance today is truly impressive. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. The tracks are unique, blending hip-hop, rock, and boom-bap in a way that feels fresh. The Q-Tip feature is a standout, adding an extra layer to the sound. The run of "Root Down," "Sabotage," and "Get It Together" is absolutely amazing, and including "Sabrosa," the instrumental track, makes it even better. The production throughout is top-notch, and while the second half of the album might not hit quite as hard, it’s still a solid 4/5 overall.

great album, really interesting and ran really well

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

Pure bliss

Listen up y’all it’s a boring ass album with like one good track

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

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

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

Ah man. This is back where it all started for me. Having an older cousin with decent taste is a very good thing when you are 11 and are getting ambushed by Mike & the Mechanics and Christopher Cross at home. That tape he made me with this on one side and RATM on the other truly changed my life. Cruising around Brampton with that tape on my Grundig BeatBoy walkman thinking I was a fucking G with curtains and fresh clobber from Burtons. What a time. Anyway, this album is sick. It was sick at the time and time hasn't made it any less sick. It's progressive musically and lyrically (MCA getting woke on the end of Sure Shot - props) and moved the band back into the limelight. It flows so well too. Kicking the door open with Sure Shot it's unrelenting in its mix of styles with lovely nods to their hardcore punk past. Even the jammy, jazzy instrumentals work well as a palette cleanser. It all sounds so live too with less emphasis on samples compared to their earlier work. Highlights: Sure Shot Root Down (the transition into Sabotage is lovely) Sabotage Get It Together Alright Hear This (can never get enough of the distorted mic effect) Flute Loop Lowlights: Figure I need to say something critical about this album so I'd say it's a bit long and too front-loaded with bangers but there are still some gems towards the end. I'd be lying if I didn't say it trails off compared to the first half. Eugene's Lament is a bit pointless. See also Ricky's Theme and Transitions. Outstanding album. My biggest regret in music is never going to see these live. RIP MCA

Interesting funky moments, experimental swanky sounds I'm not used to hearing out of the Beastie Boys. They seem to be in love with using the voice distortion mics though.

Lovin the vibes

Some screaming bangers, some screaming fillers.

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

One of the greatest song of all time and another average album by Beastie Boys. It's just not that interesting. I have no idea how they come up with Sabotage, this song sticks out so much from the whole discography, it's very weird. I think an album with this track on a loop would be much more entertaining than Ill Communication.

Ill Communication feels like an album caught between wanting to be loose and wanting to be important, and never quite succeeding at either. There is energy here, sure, but it is scattered and unfocused, jumping from punk riffs to hip hop beats to instrumental detours without ever settling into a coherent identity. Instead of sounding adventurous, it often comes across as restless, like a band throwing ideas at the wall and assuming the attitude alone will hold it together. The biggest problem is how inconsistent and padded it feels. For every track that hints at something sharp or fun, there are several that feel half-finished or indulgent, especially the instrumental pieces that drain momentum rather than build atmosphere. The humour, once a strength, often lands flat here, stuck between juvenile jokes and self-aware irony, neither of which hits particularly hard. When the group leans into political or social commentary, it feels well intentioned but blunt, lacking the wit or bite needed to make it stick. What ultimately drags Ill Communication down is that it feels too pleased with its own chaos. There is no real flow, no emotional arc, and very little that lingers once it is over. It is not a disaster, and there are flashes of personality and groove that remind you why the Beastie Boys mattered, but flashes are not enough to carry an album this long. Two out of five feels right, not because it has nothing going for it, but because it never quite earns the attention it so loudly demands.

Like the sound, don’t like hiphop

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

Ei vieläkään oikein tipu beastie boys. Jos olis puolet lyhyempi, vois kolmosen antaa mut kakkoseen jää.

Not a huge fan of the vocals and mood throughout. Sabotage, Futterman's Rule and Heart Attack Man were standout tracks that elevate to a 3.

Amazing album by my favorite group. Perfect in so many ways.

nah

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

I first listened to the Beastie Boys through my brother, who was a fan and played Ill Communication and Check Your Head constantly. Although I liked them, I don’t think I truly appreciated at the time how cool and innovative they were (I was the older sister pretty locked into alternative rock). Ill Communication is a damn nearly perfect album and forever entwined in my subconscious with great memories of my brother.

It is indeed "Ill communication" if you keep on shouting to someone. When the beastie boys don't yell it is quite nice from time to time. So what would be the average of very deep lows and some good samples?

Not bad for a Beastie Boys album

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

brilliant

always love some old school hip hop, however some songs were way to crazy and 'loud' for me.

4.8

Man…what the fuck happened, America? It used to feel like anything was possible here, that there were no limitations, no idea that couldn’t be made to work…or, at least, it was worth trying and finding out if it could work. We were creative and forward thinking, pushing boundaries in search for something new and unique…something better. I don’t really think that’s a thing anymore. Forget trying for something better: it’s a fight just to keep what we have and if you have an idea or a lifestyle that doesn’t comport with the general consensus of “normal”, you’re going to have to fight even harder. It’s a sad state of affairs and it fucking weighs me down - sometimes to the point where I’m writing about it instead of talking about a kickass record; a record that blew up in real time when I was an impressionable teenager and helped foster the idea that anything was possible and that the “boundaries”, at least when it came to music or art, didn’t matter. So, it’s weird to hear this record now and think about the things that used to be, in contrast with the things that are now. It feels like wasted potential. Not on the part of the of the Beastie Boys, they’re great and this record is a sprawling manifestation of everything they had done up to the point of its release. It’s on us, that wasted potential. We’re better than what we currently are and I don’t know if anyone knows how to fix that. I certainly don’t know how and I’ve played my part in taking that potential for granted, as well. …or maybe we were always exactly what we’ve become and I’m naive for thinking otherwise all these years. Like I said, it weighs on me.

It makes sense that Sabotage is the hit off this, because it's the only song that I could find a clear purpose in. It's also a good representation of the album as a whole, since, other than a few solid guitar riffs, it's just irritating. I like a lot of grunge. I like a lot of alt rock. I like a lot of rap. I can even find a place in my heart for some hardcore punk. But every single second of this record feels like punishment for the crime of searching for a sound outside the pop mainstream. It hates the idea that music can be pleasant. It's mad I even like music. It's construction equipment distorted to something approaching a beat. I don't even have anything to say about this lyrically, because I couldn't follow the lyrics with the sound of what I can only imagine is an electric guitar they found in a dumpster distorted to the point of being psychological torture interrupting me any time I try to really focus on a song.

If this album were a drink, its composition would be: A good Hip-Hop whiskey with a good amount of Rock Cola and Soul & Funk ice on top! Very interesting sound. It's not something I would listen to every day, but it was fun to listen to. I had never listened to Beastie Boys before today. I hope to hear better albums than this one in the future.

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

Who could have ever imagined that the "Fight For Your Right To Party" guys could produce a work of such impact and range? Hidden talents, for sure. I knew "Sabotage" when I was younger. Who didn't? The Spike Jonze video was inescapable. But I dismissed this work as the mid-life resurrection of those "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" guys. I'm always a little sad thinking about my younger, more close-minded self. I didn't take a chance on this album back then. And why not? I worked in a CD store for chrissakes! I just dismissed the Beastie Boys out of hand, and my musical life is poorer for it. I'm glad I gave it a shot now.

4.5

Increíble. No los conocía, si bien hay pocas canciones que destaquen sobre el resto, traen un gran ritmo, con composiciones súper variadas y frescas. Además de distintos instrumentos y géneros, bajo buenas bases de Hip hop. De los pocos casos donde mezclar mil cosas da un buen resultado. Una joya y una fiesta.

Fun

Remember when Captain Kirk stole his step father’s vintage car and had a police chase/drove it off a cliff while sabotage by the beastie boys was playing. Yeah me either.

God damn this was a banger. Probably the best album I've been introduced by this website. Good mix of psychedelic funk, easy coast boom bap and punk. Somehow all blended fluently and effortlessly

What an incredible album, the range really makes it an experience, another step closer towards live instruments instead of samples and an energetic mix of jazz and funk with rock and pop punk. An absolute thrill for the senses. She beastie on my boy till I sabotage

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

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

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

Doesn't appeal to me at all, 2 stars or D-.

Super fun to listen to onna run

Nöd so mis. Au kes highlight oder so. Immerhin de stil durezoge und soöppis wienes overarching konzept erchenbar.

own

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

This is a fun, cohesive album with interesting ideas and an energy that can’t be matched. It needs to be listened to at full volume while driving as fast as possible.

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

This is way funkier than the punky Lisence to Ill, and it's amazing. Q-Tip and the Beastie Boys? C'mon, man. Seveal songs on here are great and I like them more than Sabatoge to be honest, like Get It Together, The Update, Do It, and Ricky's Theme. This album shows me how talented this trio was beyond their funny gag-rap that was prevelant all throughout their debut.

Penúltimo viernes de noviembre con éste señor disco de los Beastie Boys, mi favorito de la banda. Siempre termino volviendo a éste trabajo por algún u otro motivo: lo siento como el más sólido y completo de su discografía, a la cual debería también volver. Álbum lleno de temones, más allá de los sencillos, es imposible de no disfrutar. Impensado para los tiempos actuales un disco de 20 canciones: un reto para nuevas generaciones y para los +30, que un poco nos hemos acostumbrado a la instantaneidad. Buen finde.

I am not a great hip-hop listener but I think I appreciate this record. It sounds really alive, with a good mix of genres that show a true attention to songwriting. Deserves a second, third, fourth listen in order to understand everything and appreciate the record in its best aspect. Really nice drums, I loved that. (perhaps the whole thing is a little bit too long ...) Songs I liked and saved : Sure Shot, Futterman's Rule, Ricky's Theme, The Scoop

Not great

I keep listening to them and keep not “getting” the Beastie Boys. Most of their stuff feels like really good novelty songs. Then there’s the great stuff, like Sabotage on this album, but even that feels a bit over the top.

Not a fan of Hip-Hop, but this was ok.

Quite impressive, not really my genre though

Beats megacool, Vibes zu aggro für mich

Ich finde die Songs interessant und tanzenswert. Die Übergänge zwischen den Songs gefallen mir, sie machen das Album zu einem grossen Werk. Dafür dass es Hiphop ist, passiert viel. Zuweilen sind auch die Harmonien interessant (z.B. in Root Down). Allerdings finde ich trotzdem, dass die Musik sich stark auf Schlagzeug und Sprechgesang fokussiert, was ich anstrengend und überreizend zum Anhören finde. Eine Ausnahme ist Eugene‘s Lament: Sehr spannend und ein Song, der sich von den anderen im Album unterscheidet. Shambala geht crazy, das erinnert mich an Dune…

Having listened to license to Ill quite a bit it was fun to hear this. I like the more fun quirky Beastie Boys more than this version of them but still good. This was more of a complete album/idea though.

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

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

2 sterne

My last album was also by the Beastie Boys and deep down I still wish it said the Beach Boys instead.

not my vibe 1/5

Well, I thought I might enjoy this more ... but those vocals really started to irritate me. I really enjoyed Eugene's Lament, however. And Transitions. Quite the vibe. It's a three from me.

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

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

Enjoyed the 90s hiphop sound and the instrumental ‘filler’ tracks were pretty good too.

Sign of the times

Cool

bop

I had a hard time keeping up with the words but I was able to bob my head and tap my toe in time with the beat. As an old guy, that's probably all the exercise I'm gonna get so thank you, Beastie Boys, for making my life better today

Maybe a 3 and a half

i like this one more than licensed to ill. dee-lit and mf doom vibes

You know what, I've never thought much of the beastie boys but this was actually pretty good. Middling 3.

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

This is great, I enjoyed listening to this.

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

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

I really didn't like "Licensed to Ill" so I almost skipped this one, but I'm glad I didn't. It is completely different, way less obnoxious and full of variety.

I grew up around the Beastie Boys. I was a young kid watching them fight for their right to party in MTV. By the time I hit high school, everyone was listening to sabotage. And I still don’t get it. This album like their other album is not good. They have one or two good listens per album and the rest is a mess of painful garbage. I didn’t get it then and I don’t get it now. 2

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

Pretty good album, but starts feeling pretty stale and samey by the end. The Minor Threat-like songs were a good break from all the songs that just sound like generic Beastie Boys songs, but I think I would have preferred a whole album of those, plus whatever was happening on Shambala.

This album was pretty funky, I loved it, through and through. The Beastie Boys got pretty experimental on here, too. And of course, Sabotage is a classic.

Understand this was "ground breaking", but I still don't get it 30 years later. Just not my style

Eskede flute loop og at q tip var med

Great album with a handful of really great songs but a lot of filler in between also

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

I'm always conflicted with a Beastie Boys album. Always feels like a college white dude party trick. But there are also always some UNDENIABLE bangers. Cmon, Sabatoge! I just don't know. The two tracks that made me turn my head had features and were done in the style of those artists so it was hard to really feel those as Beastie Boys songs.

I liked it a lot

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

I haven't met a Beastie Boys Album yet that didn't lift my mood and made me whip my head.

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

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

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

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

Another 1001 dud... trash trash trash SABOTAGE trash trash trash. You have to listen to this, it has 1 good song!!!

Not for me

Not for me

This was ok. Not as good as some of there other albums. It does have the one hit though

Recorded music is now 100 years old. You can make a strong case that there are 1,000 acts that have recorded music over that time that every music lover should hear before they die. In that context, we have three albums (at least) from the Beastie Boys on this list?? Paul's Boutique belongs. It's mind-blowing. Licensed to Ill...OK...it's historically important and pretty great. But that's where their representation should end. This album is fine. A couple of great radio-classic hits; some latin-funk jams that are fun, though a pale reflection of the 70s recordings they are imitating. And it falls off from there (and goes on and on and on.) I like Check your Head better. But neither is among the 1,000 albums everyone should hear before they die.

The boys went all out with this one. The album is both fat dope lines, sick beats, wild samples, introspection, and kicking it old school. Only the haters give less than a 5.

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

Not boring, at least. Felt like 10 different albums in one.

Great memories, great vibes.

In my personal top 10. Especially love their punk shit like Heart Attack Man. The thing about the Beastie Boys is they always go all in. They sound like they sincerely love what they're doing anfd they put some ENERGY into it. Combine that with the cleverness and the unique sound of their voices, the schtick, it all works somehow. More representative of gen-x than anything else, grunge be damned. I should listen to Bodhisattva Vow every morning immediately on awakening and make myself a better person. RIP Adam Yauch. Music lets you live forever.

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

Come for the hip hop and hardcore and alternative rock, but stay for the jazzy funk instrumentals but don't play this on your dad's stereo at home, only under hip-hop supervision. It has a lot of that 1-2-3-1, 2-3-1-2, 3-1-2-3 verse flow as they pass the mic along, and it all just sounds so good as this album is loaded with hot bars. I must have listened to this album a bajillion times in the 30 years since it came out, worn out CDs, hard drives and now solid state drives with this thing just banging. You'll either love it or hate it. RIP MCA

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

I really enjoy the instrumentals on this album, this particular style of rapping kind of ruins it to be honest. Sorry, just not for me! I'd definitely rock a playlist of their instrumentals though.

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

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

No doubt completely missing the cultural significance of the Beastie Boys, but just not my bag.

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

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

Aggressive, funky and a big variety of influences. Loved it! Less of a fan of the mashup with Mariah Carey that I ended up listening to when I passed the Christmas market which was blaring the tunes lmao. Great stuff thanks boys

might be overrating a bit but come on this is a rap-rock-sometimes jazzy record, and its never uninteresting their debut i complained about the back and forth but here its done A LOT less, they even did instrumental tracks wow what an evolution, great to see artists finding themselves congrats!

Favourite track: Heart Attack Man.

Sabotage absolut. Q-Tip jättebra. Resten absolut inte i en hel skiva.

Känner som efter förra albumet av BB. Det blir för mycket att lyssna på, så bra är det inte. Kul att sätta på en låt en gång på en fest kanske (tror jag sa nåt liknande sist). Men att ha i lurarna, ett helt album att aktivt lyssna på. Nope.

Nej, jag orkar inte riktigt med detta (precis som sist). Sabotage är bra dock.

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

Stone cold classic!

My whole brain just yelled NO NO NO NO NO for the duration of this album

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

great album

Not much more can be said other than it is a magnificent album that fully deserves its place on this list. One of those rare ones that is just really enjoyable and great to listen to all the way through.

Instrumentals were pretty good. The rap stuff is not for me.

Good god damn what an absolute classic. This album is all over the place, yet so polished. Somehow it manages to touch on so many different genres and do it so well. If you weren't taking Beastie Boys seriously before this album, you certainly were after.

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

FODA DEMAIS

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

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

It was ok. I liked the instrumental songs with no lyrics quite a lot. I didn't listen to the album fully but i didn't really vibe with it. The lyrics were often uninteligable and loud and screamy.

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

Not my vibe tbh but it seemed ok. Some good songs

It's alright.

Classic

One of the better encapsulations of the Beastie Boys versatility across hip-hop, funk, and punk, and all stops in between.

A much better effort than their other albums. Sabotage is a classic.

Top Album superb

Classic. Punk rock meets Rap. You gotta love this offering from the Beastie Boys.

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

Jazzier than I thought. Need to give it another listen. Has some of my fave songs on there but not sure how I feel about it as a whole.

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

No

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

It's a good one

Wasn't particularly expecting to like this much given how I felt about their other albums, this is pretty great though. Jazzy, funky, rocking, punk... Just very cool and varied production overall. I'll be coming back to it for sure. Screw it, 4.5 rounded up.

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

The energy keeps going the entire time. Such a record and quintessential 90s

Sabotage rips and overall kinda meh, did enjoy some of the funky/jazz moments but didn't really stick with me. More like a 2.5

3.5

funky damage running away from ya

Amazing album a bit of everything - easy listening!

One of my favorite cds growing up. Beastie Boys por Vida

Some bangers and overall pretty good

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

I seem to always box this album off as ‘not their best’. I think it’s my thing of hating anything that is generally popular…..YOURE NOT REAL FANS……. Anyway, this is far from their worst work. It’s absolutely brilliant! Maybe could have been about 2-3 tracks shorter, maybe a couple of fillers in there. 4.5

fairly cool coolest song: Sabotage

First half was pretty good, and relaxing. Second half was annoying and had to skip.

Great album but not my favorite from them. I have to be in a very specific mood to listen to hardcore Beastie Boys. Still love em tho

The kids liked it, for me too rough and unmusical

Never heard the album before & actually enjoyed it tbh. Have to listen to more of them.

2,5

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

I love the Beastie Boys, but never heard this whole album before. It's awesome! I like the variety of styles and live instruments being used, especially the double bass. Liked Songs Added: - B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak - Root Down - Sabotage - Sabrosa - Alright Hear This - Ricky's Theme - Heart Attack Man - The Scoop

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

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

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

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

Indeed, pretty variated release.

Solid album but I'm not a big Beastie's guy.

What Jim said

Just Beastie Boys doing peak Beastie Boy things. Tbh I’d give most of their albums a 5, but this one is probably the cream of all of them. They’re just so talented and amazing song writers. Funk, hip hop, punk etc etc they nail it in their own unique blend. This one in a slightly more retro vibe that other albums. And in ‘Sabotage’ that has to be one of my favourite songs of all time, it cannot fail to pump you up and make you smile at the same time. Shame there’s no 6 star option.

“Sabotage” is obviously the clear stand out here. “Eugene’s Lament” was interesting. There were a few surprise more chill tunes that broke it up a bit. Still 20 tracks/ an hour of the Beasties is a lot.

I caught the Beasties on this tour in ‘94 and it was cool to see them playing live with real instruments, including having the drummer from Suicidal Tendencies backing them up. It furthered my respect for them and their abilities. The Sabotage video alone almost earns up ranking here. But while this album is a pretty wide gamut of styles and vocal numbers vs. instrumentals, it’s a commitment to get through in one fell swoop. I’ll always dig the boys, but will no doubt check my head at Paul’s Boutique as my go to album for them.

Solid opening but and some great grooves in the mix. Was not expecting so many n words on Get It Together so that was a little awkward with my kid in the car. But Sabrosa right after put some fun funk in our step. Sabotage is such a great music video. 3.25

I find it kinda tough to listen to Beastie Boys for an hour straight. Opening track and Sabotage are stand outs, but the rest is pretty forgettable IMO. 3.25/5

valid

Sure Shot, Root Down, Get It Together and Sabotage are great singles. The album overall tries to combine too many different sounds and styles for me, not many succeeding at, to say this is a highly loved album. 3/5 because I do like the Beasties, but in the grand scheme of pushing the genre forward, not an important album.

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

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

6.5/10 Enjoyed a lot didn’t, like the instrumental ones however

Terribly boring!

Love beastie boys! This isn’t my favorite album tho.

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

I’ve probably listened to this album in full once or twice before this, and I really only stopped by for Sabotage. I think Sabotage is one of the best songs ever recorded: there’s nothing like it and it’s such a jam. I like the Beasties a lot, but I think it’s by far their best song. That said, in giving Ill Communication a few proper listens, I’ve been converted to a massive fan of the entire album. There may not be another track that reaches the highs of Sabotage, but it’s great from beginning to end. Every track is interesting, and even songs that are way out of left field like the hardcore punk track Heart Attack Man are great because they’re so well done. The instrumentals are all great too, maybe even some of my favorite moments. I’d argue it’s as good overall as Paul’s Boutique.

Ehhhh. Doesn't do it for me

Never been a huge beastie boys enjoyer