Lisnaholic

That's the spirit, Mindfulness !
That's how I feel sometimes when I'm listening to the albums here

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"Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

rubber soul

BEASTIE BOYS- PAUL’S BOUTIQUE

Okay, so I’m doing my second listen and, yeah, it’s pretty much what I would expect from the Beasties. I guess the best way for me is to compare this to their first album, Licensed To Ill. I remember that album as being like a breath of fresh air as they rapped to samples from the likes of Led Zeppelin for example. It seemed well ahead of its time.

Paul’s Boutique sort of expands on that with their varied samples but it is much more complex than Licensed To Ill. Here, they are using obscure soul samples at times along with a few rock riffs. Not surprisingly, my favorite track is the Sounds of Science with all the Beatles samples, particularly The End that also appears to be the most in your face sample on the entire album.

SGR mentioned that it became harder to record samples after this album for legal reasons. That’s a shame because it really was a unique form that was certain to be a major genre in the nineties.

In the end, I really like this album. There may be better Beastie Boys material out there (Licensed To Ill, tracks like Sabotage, etc.), but this has to rate as one of the better hip hop albums made by white boys. Good pick, SGR.




8/10 (The Word has spoken )

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SGR

Licensed to Ill is better than Paul's Boutique?! Now that's a hot take.

rubber soul

I get it. It's like when people tell me Abbey Road is better than Sgt. Pepper, both great albums, but come on.

I guess it's just a matter of taste when it comes right down to it. Licensed To Ill is special because it was probably the first (and one of the very few) hip hop albums I ever bought.

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SGR

Fair enough - nostalgia is a powerful force. I don't mean to say that Licensed to Ill isn't a good album - it is. But musically and lyrically it's just a lot more pedestrian. I will admit though that it produced more iconic songs. In '89, when Paul's Boutique was released, most expected more rock-riff laden frat rap that would blow up on MTV, but that's not remotely what was delivered. Back then, I think the album was a flop commercially.

Trollheart

I did, in fact, not go into this with an open mind. I have always hated the Beastie Boys, which is why when I saw this being nominated I groaned. It's as bad as I thought. Don't tell me I should listen to the samples, man, how they use them, the vocal harmonies or whatever the **** you think is or are the selling points of this album. I don't care. I'm not fond of people shouting at me over samples, got better ways to spend my time. I hated this so much - well, not hated it but was that disinterested in it - that when the YT broke for ads I did NOT skip; I literally was happier to listen to someone gush about the merits of Grammarly or some ****ing powerpoint thing than I was to hear another of these, um, compositions.

I won't rate it, as that would come across as an insult. Let's just say, I managed to get through the whole thing as a mark of respect to SGR but I won't ever be doing so again. No matter what's next, it can't be worse. Hard pass; you won't ever find me buying clothes at Paul's Boutique.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

SGR

rubber soul, I don't think it's too late to change your upcoming nomination to Licensed to Ill

Trollheart

You do and I swear to god I'll find out where you live and shoot you.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

rubber soul

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SGR