This one is not as old for it to not be reviewed, in fact, even if it was; the Beastie Boys are the kind of bands that need to be talked about.
The beastie boys are the kind of band that has such a distinctive sound that if you like one song you’ll like every song, and this is not because they’re repetitive (or not just for that) but because they can make anything sound like them and no one else. Since the beginning they’ve been in the rock, the pop and the rap all over the place and never compromising the personality of the band.
Lately they’ve been exploring a bit more into more mature territories, just remember the instrumental 2007 album “The Mix Up” that had more of a funk and experimental old school sounds that were a little bit more adult. And later this year the remake of the “Fight for your right to party” video that was very fun.
But in the case of “Hot Sauce Committee Part 2” they stepped up the game with the sound, this album is very cranky, not in the same way of “Ill Communication” that had the really loud songs like “Sabotage” but in a really new sound and produced sound that can saturate a bit more the drums and the vocals, for me this was a good thing, what was the down side of the record? The collaborative songs featuring songs with NAS and Santigold weren’t really good because the invited artist tends to be overshadowed by the Beasties and their distinctive sound. I can agree with people that say that the Beastie Boys are so loud that they need really special people to work with; it doesn’t go right with anyone thrown into the mix.
If one thing I can say of this record is that the beastie boys can still bring new stuff no matter how many years pass, they are catchy and fun and that’s the greatness of them, is really hard to get bored by them if you like them already.
This time around, the beastie boys are no committing with one idea at a time like they did on many on their previous albums, this album seems more of a combination of everything in one; a travel through the history of the influences that have taken part in the band, punk, rock, hip hop, reggae, and new and old tricks of production. I’ve been enjoying this album a lot and if you decide to give it a shot you’ll probably won’t be disappointed. Everyone has had some sort of contact with the Beastie Boys in life, but if you’re one of those rare cases of people that never been around them, this record is a good way to start because you can have a glimpse of everything they’ve been about through out the years.
Tracklist:
1. Make Some Noise 2. Nonstop Disco Powerpack 3. OK 4. Too Many Rappers [new reactionaries version] (featuring NAS) 5. Say It 6. The Bill Harper Collection 7. Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold) 8. Long Burn The Fire 9. Funky Donkey 10. The Larry Routine 11. Tadlock’s Glasses 12. Lee Majors Come Again 13. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament 14. Here’s A Little Something For Ya 15. Crazy Ass Shit 16. The Lisa LisaFull Force Routine
I’m not going to take the time to review the albums I’ve been listening to this past months therefore I’m going to post a brief list of the top albums I’ve been over and keep moving forward with the blog and the music. The list is in no particular order.
The Antlers – Burst Apart Big K.R.I.T. – Return Of 4Eva Bill Callahan – Apocalypse British Sea Power – Valhalla Dancehall Cass McCombs – Wit’s End The Cave Singers – No Witch Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges Craft Spells – Idle Labor Deerhoof – Deerhoof vs. Evil DOM – Sun Bronzed Greek Gods (EP) EMA – Past Life Martyed Saints Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues Friendly Fires – Pala Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie XX – We’re New Here Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost! Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo Metronomy – The English Riviera The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck Natural Child – 1971 The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Belong Panda Bear – Tomboy Timber Timbre – Creep On Creepin On tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light Tyler, the Creator – Goblin Woodkid – Iron (EP) Wye Oak – Civilian
These were just the ones I liked a lot, but there was a lot of music that if I’d had the chance to review It would have been very well rated as well, but these were my above 8 ranked albums this past time, now I’m going to move on and start reviewing, hopefully you’ll listen what I was up to on this hiatus when the best of 101 comes on December 😉