70's funk, found!

I was watching one of my favorite films, "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" on television the other day, and really enjoying the thumping 70's funk soundtrack, when I swore I heard a riff that reminded me of the Beastie Boys! Sure enough (pun intended), i found the sample on "Sure Shot"!

AND they even homage the piece in their lyrics: "It's The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3/ If you wanna go around it, come see me/ You can't, you won't, and you don't stop!" (You have to see the film to get the last line!!).

Pelham came out exactly 20 years prior to the Beastie Boys' release and they breathe new life into some brilliant source music!

Get Ill With The Beasties

First off, Ill Communication is my favorite Beastie Boys album. Considering this, the Japanese import with bonus tracks was essential. That written, you have to ask yourself if $55.00 (the cost of the disc at the time of review) is a resonable price for four additional songs. Keeping in mind that you probably already own the regular LP release, the bonus songs come out to more than $13.00 each -minus shipping and handling. While you ponder this question, you can read my review of the bonus songs.



1) "Dope Little Song" is great. It has the same flavor as the rest of the album's rap meets rock songs.

2) "Resolution Time" is another great tune, but I know that this song is released elsewhere. It think that the identical version is off some "Paul's Botique" era EP.

3) "Mullet Head" is hardcore. I generally don't care for the Beastie's hardcore tunes, and this one is no exception.

4) "Vibes" is the real gem out of the bonus tracks. I can't imagine why this song wasn't released on the US version of the LP -it could have easily been a hit single. Like "Dope Little Song," it is sylistically similar to the other rap/rock tunes on the regular disc. Considering the psychedelic 'vibes' sample, solid verses and chorus, it's simply a great song.

One hell of an alternative rock/rap CD!

"Ill Communication" is another inspired masterwork from the Beasties. Perhaps most phenomenal about this work is their maturity, especially on tracks like "Buddhisatva Vow," "The Vibes," and "Sure Shot." Never missing a beat, sample, or riff, they keep it going on from beginning to end, and this import is well worth the extra expense!