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.

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Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique




This would have been the album I would be listening to in 1989, I was only 1 year old when this came out. “Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun”, has a nice guitar sound going on this one, plus looks like they helped produce it. The cover art is cool, and has a really nice late 80’s sound, compared to other hip-hop that was released during the late 80s and early 90s. Early hip-hop drum beats sound cheap and manufactured but this album's drum kit gives off a better vibe. “Johnny Ryall” is one of the best songs on the album and the flows on the beats that they do are top-level. The Beastie Boys' style of music and sound just blends well with their flows and drum beat choices. One thing I notice is that Rick Rubin didn’t produce any of these songs on the album, I thought he did all the Beastie Boys tunes. The in and out flow of the members of the group on the songs flows really well. That “Egg Man” song is sampled in one of Nelly’s songs on his album, pretty much the same beat but it’s a Nelly song. “Hello Brooklyn” song is used in the Jay-Z and Lil Wayne song called “Hello Brooklyn”, pretty cool hearing the original sampled song, it’s a short song but interesting.

The album has a really fun and funky sound, the music can be put on repeat and not get old; just has lots of replay value. Just heard the Sweet ‘ballroom blitz” sample on “Hey Ladies” and just overall every song on this album is top-level. If I had to give a one-word review for the album it would be “timeless”, since how it’s 2023 and it's still banging sound. I notice a Beatles sample on “The sound of science” even though I don’t really like that song. In conclusion, I would say this album gives off a very distinctive sound and would be the in my top 5 albums for the 1980’s!

Score: 9.25/10

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February 28th, 2024

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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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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rubber soul

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SGR

Trollheart

I fight for my right not to listen to the Beastly Boys.

Oh, and only one album per artist, so nyaa nyaa nyaa!

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Lisnaholic

I suppose most of us do it: we hear something completely unfamiliar and we try to relate it to something we know. The Beastie Boys are new to me and I don't know about adjacent genres either, so my comparisons are prob laughably wide of the mark to most people, but this is what I was reminded of:-
i) a fun party album, as if the Beach Boys had expanded Barbara Ann to a full album
ii) the multi-part, street-wise singing of The Jets on Gee Officer Krupkee
iii) the chanting of children that by coincidence TH has just mentioned: a repetitive "Na Na Nana Na", which somehow children in many countries have discovered to be inherently annoying.

When Paul's Boutique was going well, it felt like a cleverly-made album that could cheer you up, with various surprises in the lyrics that kept me interested for a while, but after 5 tracks, that constant up-front, quick-change singing got on my nerves.
After a break, I tried the album some more and lasted another four tracks.
Final attempt: two tracks and when What Comes Around started I thought, "Yeah, what comes around just keeps coming around, in song after song after song". At that point I walked out of Paul's Boutique having bought nothing, just with a sense of relief that the singing had finally stopped.
Best of the first eleven tracks: Johnny Ryall, Sounds of Science and Looking Down The Barrel.

In the Album Club, I hope we all enjoy the diversity of opinion, and I know SGR well enough by now to guess that he prob won't be too offended by a low rating from me: 2/10

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SGR

It's funny actually, I've seen the way the Beastie Boys trade off who's rapping on the mic so frequently to be a sticking point for some people. My brother, who loves a lot of different hip hop, especially old school 90s stuff, really dislikes the Beastie Boys for this reason in particular. I guess I can see how it could be a little bit jarring for some, but I've always loved it - it's the chemistry they have together, where one member will start a thought, and the other comes on the mic and completes the thought in a way that sometimes makes sense, and other times comes as a complete non-sequitir, usually in humorous ways. I definitely didn't expect this album to get glowing reviews across our little club, and even figured that I should pencil in Trollheart to give me a mulligan (given his open disdain for the Beastly Brothers), but I think the variety is useful - it seemed strange to me that we hadn't had a single hip-hop/rap album up to this point, and I guess it just reflects the tastes of those nominating, but the more the merrier in terms of variety in my eyes. I might nominate an exotica or mambo album next. Or maybe a lounge record. We'll see. I'll get my review up for Paul's Boutique sometime next week - prepare for a long one, and allow me to reminisce about it in glowing fashion.

You mentioned not having much to relate it to Lisna, have you heard many rap records?