54. Ill Communication

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This album kicks. It's fun, has attitude, and includes all kinds of slick little sampling gems. No one does it like the Beastie Boys. "Sure Shot" starts off with great drums, some DJ scratch work, and a flute loop that makes the song stick in your ears.

"Tough Guy" is a punk piece lively and juvenile along with "Heart Attack Man" (an obvious joke piece). "B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" is nothing less than dope. These guys also know how to be funny, which makes them stand out. I really like the jazz influences and 70s song samples they incorporate into their songs. It makes for a really hip sound.

"Root Down" is pretty freakin' awesome. Catchy bass line, lyrical sophistication, and funky 70s sampling just make the song extremely enjoyable. One of my standouts for sure.

If you're going to do rock and rap together, do it like "Sabotage" and you can't do wrong. The boys practically yell throughout the song, and the tweaked out electric guitars and DJ scratch work make something that is distinct, intense, electrified, and unlike any other. It's a sure-fire classic.

"Get It Together" features Q-Tip. The unedited version is the best. Q-Tip's collaboration with the boys adds a nice sophistication to the sound. This isn't gangsta rap. It's much more eclectic, interesting, and musically as well as lyrically challenging.

"Sabrosa" is a funky little instrumental that I dig. The woka woka guitars give it a sensuality that's soulful and really, maybe not what you'd expect off a Beastie Boys album. "Ricky's Theme" is similar in its funkiness and old-school direction. Both are pretty cool.

"Futterman's Rule" is get-down music. It's just rockin'. Love the organ. I bet this one at a stadium venue would just sound fantastic. "Alright Hear This" has some really cool scratching effects and I like the percussion in this one. It's like a street artist just playing on random objects, but it's incredibly catchy.

"Eugene's Lament" is an exotic classical Arabian instrumental. The violin in this one is impressive. What I love about the Beastie Boys is that they can have a classical violin instrumental on their album, and because they know what they are doing and do it well, no one is going to think that it sounds stupid. It fits in with the rest of the album without anyone having to think twice about it.

"Flute Loop" is a charming little piece of hip hop. There aren't many bands who can make a classical flute sound hip.

"The Update", "Shambala", and "Bodhisattva Vow" reflect the group's Buddhist beliefs. The chanting in "Shambala" and "Bodhisattva Vow" is rich and adds an eclectic, exotic dimension.

This album has a lot of music. Twenty tracks plus four Japanese bonus tracks (you can hear the bonus tracks on Grooveshark. Don't miss "The Vibes") make for an unusually full and large catalog. Good for them for offering it up and being so generous with their music.



Track listing:

1. Sure Shot
2. Tough Guy
3. B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak
4. Bobo on the Corner
5. Root Down
6. Sabotage
7. Get It Together
8. Sabrosa
9. The Update
10. Futterman's Rule
11. Alright Hear This
12. Eugene's Lament
13. Flute Loop
14. Do It
15. Ricky's Theme
16. Heart Attack Man
17. The Scoop
18. Shambala
19. Bodhisattva Vow
20. Transitions
21. Dope Little Song (Japanese bonus track)
22. Resolution Time (Japanese bonus track)
23. Mullet Head (Japanese bonus track)
24. The Vibes (Japanese bonus track)

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