Beastie Boys: "To the 5 Boroughs"

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Just have to say that this is a KILLER album. If you (like me) were a little disappointed in Hello Nasty then this one will bring you right back into the fold. Much tighter NY hip-hop sound, less jazzy instrumentals, sick turntabling by Mixmaster Mike, lots of politics, lots of sucka MC call-outs. Good all the way through, and besides the strong lead single "Ch-Check It Out", "3 The Hard Way", "Triple Trouble" and "An Open Letter to NYC" stand out. Very compelling document of post-9/11 NYC.

Who would have thought these three dudes would be the ones out of the Run-DMC/Public Enemy/Beastie Boys New York 80's hip-hop trifecta to still be putting out hits? I remember when "Fight for Your Right" came out and thinking "one-hit-wonder for sure". But here they still are, giving Red Sea Pedestrian boys like me hope for coolness.

Go buy it, tell me what you think.

EDIT: I do kinda wish they'd pick up guitars again though.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

While Mixmaster Mike is really good, I'd rather see DJ Hurricane back behind the turntables for the Beasties.

I'll have to check this album out, I've heard really good things about it.

 

[d20Dwarf]

I really love the single, I can't wait to get the whole album. I've been a Beastie fan for almost 20 years and they're still rocking me.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

I bought it last Monday. I like the album, but I don't like it as much as Hello Nasty (and certainly not as much as Paul's Boutique, but maybe that goes without saying). It's got really slick, good production values and some great stuff, but none of the tracks really stand out to me. I guess it kind of reminds me of U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind, which I also liked, but thought was kind of safe, especially coming after the Achtung-Zooropa-Pop sequence. It's cool to see the craftsmanship in To the 5 Boroughs, but I was kind of hoping for something more.

Nick

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Yeah, it's no Paul's Boutique but most artists don't have ONE Paul's Boutique in them, let alone two.

The knock it seems to be getting from reviews I've read is that it's "too old school", but frankly that's the appeal to me. It seems like such a no-brainer, since so few rappers make albums like this now.

But hey, I think rap peaked about the time of "The Chronic" and has been on a downhill slope since then with few exceptions.

 

[EricNoah]

I'm buying bits and pieces of it through i-Tunes; enjoying the ones I've purchased so far. It's been fun seeing them change (dare I say it, "grow up") over the years. Gotta say, though, MCA's voice is sounding really really rough...

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Beasties are one of those bands like Rob Zombie or Tool. It takes 'em forever to get a new album out, but when they do, it's good. I haven't heard this one yet, though, but I'm sure it's no exception.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

My brother's first comment when he heard the album the other day was about MCA's voice, too. I haven't heard a voice that rough since the Bosstones were big. As for being too old school, I think that's kind of a rubbish crack from the critics. It's a good album, and they do what they choose to do well. Still, I don't know -- I guess it's the Thomas Wolfe in me. You can't go home again and all that.

Nick

 

[Nikchick]

The knock it seems to be getting from reviews I've read is that it's "too old school", but frankly that's the appeal to me. It seems like such a no-brainer, since so few rappers make albums like this now.

I agree, Tarrasque Wrangler. I love the old school, retro sound of this album. Steps back to the days of Schoolly D, Poor Righteous Teachers, Kool Moe Dee, and Big Daddy Kane.

I agree that MCA's voice is sounding rough but I don't think he has to put for a job as the Bosstones stand-in singer quite yet.

 

[jaerdaph]

To this day I *still* call Carvel's and ask to speak to Cookie Puss!