The Beasties Unleashed
After a 6 year recording break since Hello Nasty, the Beastie Boys have released their latest album, To The 5 Boroughs, which, to the Beastie Boy purists, is a definite step forward from their last effort.Boroughs has a much stronger old school feel, with simpler beats, scratching, and more of the trio rocking the mic in their classic way. Whereas Hello Nasty seemed to be more of an experimental album that lacked a strong direction, Boroughs has more of a Paul’s Boutique feel, while still showing a strong musical progression and a higher level of maturity.
The album opens with the radio single “Ch-Check It Out” which hits like a bomb, making the listener realize that the Beasties still kick it. Songs like “Rhyme the Rhyme Well” have them tossing the mic back and forth, with clever, witty lyrics that only this trio could pull off. “Triple Trouble” has a definite Sugar Hill Gang influence, with newer styles mixed in, making a nice collage of hip-hop over 20 years.
The Beastie Boys’ political views, although still present, have taken a step back to their music. The final song on the album, “We Got The” delves slightly into how our government is acting, but it’s not an overt theme.
Many thought that after Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, with instrumentals and too many music-style crossovers, the Beastie Boys had fallen off. Their latest release, however, proves otherwise, giving a gem in this current state of cookie-cutter hip-hop artists. If it takes them 6 years to make another amazing album, so be it.
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