Album Reviews

A nice return to form has been achieved. While I thought their last album, Hello Nasty, was lacking compared to the groundbreaking holy trinity of Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication, To the 5 Boroughs brings back some tasty examples of why the boys will go down in musical history as Rap-Rock trailblazers.

Things get off to a truly kick-ass start with “Ch-Check It Out,” which features some fantastic horn samples punched-in at just the perfect moments. The Latin percussion spices things up a bit and brings to mind some of WAR's best moments. (Listen to “Four- Cornered Room” or “Cisco Kid” for examples) Things get even more bouncy as we segue into “Right Right Now Now,” which features some ingenious chamberlain samples. I must confess I have not heard that instrument rock this hard since Marmalade's “Reflections of My Life”. The only complaint I have with this song- as well as some of the other tunes- is the inane bleeding-heart liberal anti-Bush lyrics such as “I'm getting kind of tired of the situation. The U.S. attacking other nations.” And so on, and so on. (Keep in mind that this is the same band that played a benefit concert to raise funds for the legal defense of a convicted cop killer. Why the funds of the policeman's widow were not as important or worthy of a concert would be an interesting question to pose. Perhaps Ed Asner or Martin Sheen could chime in? But I digress, the only reason I can get past the lyrics are because of the innovative use of rhymes and mind-bending beats.

However, I absolutely can not get through the next two tracks, “The Hard Way” & “Time to Build” as they are just awful on all levels. Thankfully, things get better with “Rhyme the Rhyme Well” which features some excellent analog-synthesizer with oscillating toggle-switch no less. It gives the track an almost Kraut-rock feel a la Ash Ra Temple.

Next up is “Triple Trouble,” featuring some vintage congas harkening back to the SWAT TV show while the main verse is sung in a British accent for some reason. I absolutely love this tune. The bass is deeeeeeep and sounds like it is being fed through a ring modulator. while Mix Master Mike's turntable scratching is the bomb!

The coyly-titled, “Hey Fuck You” kicks off with the patented Beastie Boys sound-clip of what sounds like a wedding singer and then the song kicks in to take a stab at some of their Rap rivals (read Eminem?). Dig these lyrics: “You sold a few records but don't get slick cause you used a corked-bat to get those hits,” followed by “so put a quarter in your ass cause you played yourself.” And the winner of the most arcane '70's TV show reference on a Beastie Boys album goes to? “I've got billions and billions of rhymes to flex, 'cause I've got more rhymes than Carl Sagan's got turtlenecks!” (You have to hear the delivery, trust me)

“All Life Styles” has to be mentioned if only for the following Fremerian lyrical imagery: “Sweeten the Sound, let me get the right blend, coming down to the wire to the Neve mic, pre to nice up the sound for the A to D.” Mikey's influence crops up in the strangest of places doesn't it? Lastly, “Crawlspace” features a great echo-laden intro while featuring comedic vocals much in the spirit of the criminally-obscure Ugly Duckling, the mid '90's Rap act. The vocals are startlingly up-front in the mix.

TT5B's is not the best place to start for the introductory fan. The greatest hits CD or the holy trinity mentioned previously will do the job nicely. This is a nice return to form album showing the boys have not lost their pension for obscure analogies one iota. Sound quality is good throughout with some tracks having deeper bass than others. Trebles are smooth and at no point does the CD make me uncomfortable in the midrange. If the listener can get past the anti-American slant, they will be rewarded by the kick-ass break-beats and clever sampling which the boys help pioneer.