Music : Ill Communication

Rating: - The most eclectic album I've heard in years, and the best.
I came to beastie boys on the back of vague recommendations from a mate, not knowing what to expect. Initially, i got licensed to ill, which i enjoyed for what it is, but it was not the stuff i had been recommended. I moved to check your head, and was pleasantly surprised at songs like pass the mic, so what'cha want, live at pjs. Since then, I have been ABSOLUTELY blown away by this album. There is no other album i know of that combines punk-rock, metal, acid jazz, funk, world beats, and hip-hop, in the same album, sometimes even in the same song. And it makes for a great mix.

Not only is this album a great mix of styles, but it is produced crisply, with the vocals mixed down slightly to become an accompaniment to the rest of the instruments, synths blending seamlessly in and out of the music, and the tribal beats laying the foundation for some great songs. The beasties manage to record and mix accordingly for the style of each song style they attempt.

And they attempt a lot. Songs like 'The Update', 'Futterman's Rule' are a psychedelic funk-fest, with tribal world beats as a backbone,synths everywhere and funky guitar licks, i cant help but love them. Songs like 'Sabotage' and 'Heart Attack Man' make for a change of pace, with great punk metal riffs, and fast heavy drum beats. My personal favourite simply for its ingenuity and awesome sound is flute loop; who else but the Beasties could take a folk sounding flute riff, and bring it into the hip-hop world with funky beats, mad scratches and mad lyrics? No one, thats who.

Ultimately, there is something here for a fan of every type of music.I recommend this album to anyone who loves funk, punk, hip-hop, or jazz.

My recommendations are:
The Update,
Futterman's Rule,
Flute Loop,
Sure Shot,
Heart Attack Man,
B-Boys making with the Freak Freak.

Enjoy.

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Rating: - Another Classic
This album is like Check Your Head, my personal favorite album of all time. This is so similar, even the CD art is the same, just a different color. The instrumentals here are hit or miss. The rapping, like always with the B Boys, is great. Then there are the rock songs. Everyone already loves Sabotage, but there are a few other good ones.
Best rapping tracks:
Sure Shot
Root Down
Get It Together
Do It

Best intstrumentals:
Robo on the Corner
Futterman's Rule (excellent!)

Best rock songs:
Sabotage
Tough Guy
Heart Attack Man

You can't miss this CD! Buy it!

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Rating: - Feeling "Ill".
This is easily one of their more popular albums, but probably the one I listen to the least. It doesn't flow well to my ears, and just never hooked me. Front to back "Check Your Head" is way better, and even "Hello Nasty" I like more. This does of course have the huge hit "Sabotage", but some of the rest is filler, and even "Sure Shot" and "Root Down" I never like that much. Even the cover is kind of lame. Still, there's a few gems. I'd get any other Beastie Boys album first, and if you're just looking for "Sabotage", "Root Down", and "Sure Shot", those are on the upcoming "Solid Gold Hits" collection.

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Rating: - NOT AS STRONG AS PREVIOUS EFFORTS, BUT STILL A GOOD
Ill Communication is a good album, almost excellent if it wasn't for a lot of the second half, which often times confuses me.
Following the same formula as CHECK YOUR HEAD (fusing hip hop tracks, with punk-alternative tracks, with jazzy funk instrumentals) but doesn't really take off as well. Thats not to say this album is bad, actually up until SAMBROSA it is consistent, and then starts to break after that.
Some tracks just are odd, but the fun is discovering your own gems in this peice. STILL WORTH THE TICKET.
SABOTAGE is a NAAAAAAASTY SONG!

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Rating: - the fall of the beastie boys!
this ablum mad me loose a lot of respect for this band. dont bull this . get some of there earlier stuff.