Beastie Boys - Hot SauceCommittee Part Two

Tue 17th May, 2011 in Music Reviews

It’s crazy to think that the last time we heard the Beastie Boys silver-tongued whimsy was way back in 2004 with To The 5 Boroughs. If anything, it makes the belated release of this, their eighth studio album, that much more welcome. Here, the trio are once again found in inspired, inventive form. Listeners should brace themselves for a few sporadic detours into new territory.

It would seem that much has changed between outings. For better or worse, Part Two doesn’t have quite the same dynamite accessibility of its predecessors. To the trio’s credit, their past albums have often showcased tracks with instant single potential. Referring to their more recent release, who could forget the likes of Ch-Check It Out or Intergalactic?

With this in mind, Part Two begins promisingly enough, opener Make Some Noise emerging as one of its best tracks. To follow Part Two from beginning to end, however, unearths a different kind of stratagem from the trio this time around. The Beastie Boys aren’t going for the jugular with this album, necessarily, but they do impress with their expansive vision. Too Many Rappers puts rapper Nas at the forefront, whilst the murky two-tone chill of Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win features Santigold on lead vocals. Both tracks shine as two game-changing additions in the context of the Beasties canon, as the group appear driven to evolve and experiment. Part Two is in constant metamorphosis and charts new territory, a quality bound to divide and excite long-time fans. Sure, the Beastie Boys have always been surprising and inventive, but here, they’ve knocked things up another notch.

Of course, there’s still those hallmarks we’ve come to love over the years. For instance, the trio frequently breach lyrical absurdity. “Stop sweating me about the weather – go shave a sheep and knit yourself a sweater,” instructs MCA in the swampy groove of Funky Donkey. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Make Some Noise also boasts utter ridiculousness, with Mike D spitting “Parlay romancing into the financing / Opened up a restaurant with Ted Danson.” Clearly, the lyrical content occasionally straddles the surreal and nonsensical. It’s hard to hate it, though, as it’s all part of their charm. With every line delivered with such conviction, it’s also clear enough that as performers, they’re at the top of their game.

Overall, Part Two proves the Beastie Boys have lost none of their definitive charisma. With time away from the studio renewing kind of creative moxie, the record also takes some surprising twists and turns. It’s a nice checkpoint in their career, the Beastie Boys drawing elements from records past and showing they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. It might be a stretch to call Part Two essential listening, but it’s new, interesting and worthwhile for it.