Multiple Choice Quiz

A. Debut release from New Yawk City's greatest bar band.

B. Award-winning soundtrack album from the movie, "Flying Fists of Tibet: The Return of Kung Fu Dalai Lama"

C. An exquisitely funky assemblage of instrumentals from the Beasties' full lengths & EPs.



If the "In sound from Way Out" sounds were all the Beastie Boys ever did, they'd still have a great rep. They just wouldn't have a zillion dollars.

Never a joke

The Beasties were only a joke to Hip-Hop outsiders and faux jaded hipsters. Their first record may have been thought of as a novelty, white guys rapping, however old heads always appreciated them for what they did, they brought the upper west side of Manhattan to Hip-hop rather than fronting like Vanilla Ice who tried to fake being from the "hood."



Their grooves and tracks have always been outstanding, true school hip hop beats. Considering they were behind the funky downtowners Luscious Jackson a compendium of hot grooves like this should not surprise anyone. Well, it's a suprise to those who didn't get it in the first place. Beastie Boys are no joke.

the best beasties' album

from the start you should know that i essentially hate the beastie boys -- they started out when i was a college dj in the 80's and i thought of them then as i do now ... they're a joke that i *do* get, i just don't think it's funny ... not to mention that the last thing i want is a bunch of rich white kids rappin' at me ... but in some ways i guess my hatred of them makes this review even more sincere ...



this album, however, is a jewel.



money mark is all over this thing like white on rice and it just oozes funky coolness. you could say it sounds a little like if curtis mayfield had done porn soundtracks in the 70's. smooth, funky, cool with a nice soulful edge. completists will buy it anyway, but if you dig instrumental grooves, this disc is a must-have.



also, i saw a recommendation for the perrey and kingsley album of the same title ("in addition to this cd") -- THAT would be a mistake. this album is only about 100 times better than that one, and although i guess you could say that it pays some sort of homage -- the burps bleeps and blats on that thing are not nearly as cool as what the beasties have here.



if only more of their records were like this ...