Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2

Beastie Boys
Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2
Rating: Grrrr

Sometimes going back to the basics is a good thing. Beastie Boys last album To The 5 Boroughs was a decent record, but it came across as being a little too preachy, and the album's focus was all over the map. Of course, it has been 7 years since that album and the rap landscape has changed dramatically. That, coupled with Adam "MCA" Yauch's cancer diagnosis, most people rightfully assumed a new release would be a long time in coming. Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 (don't even ask me to explain the reason why Pt. 2 was released first, or even why there will likely never be a Pt. 1, as the group can't even explain it clearly) finds the Boys in producer mode, going back to basics, eliminating almost all the second source sampling, choosing to play everything themselves, sometimes sampling their own recordings. Unlike To The 5 Boroughs, this album is far more cohesive, the tracks all working well together, even though sonically, it is not their most adventerous. But at this stage in the game, most groups' envelope pushing days are over, and it is nice to see the Beastie Boys lock into a nice groove.

The first quarter of the album is brilliant in its sequencing. Honestly, based on these tracks I was thinking the album was going to be another classic. "Make Some Noise" begins with some vintage analog keyboards, old school beats, and trademarked Beastie Boys boasting:

Make Some Noise by Beastie Boys

"Nonstop Disco Powerpack" works a slinky, 70s exploitation flick groove:

Nonstop Disco Powerpack by Beastie Boys

"OK" works a sci-fi groove and funky bass-synth line:

Ok by Beastie Boys

"Too Many Rappers" has Nas trading verses back and forth with them, and sounds like the Boys have been listening to some dubstep, with a fiercely deep and heavy bass line:

Too Many Rappers (featuring NAS) by user2132693

Even a collaboration with Santigold, "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win," is a great dub, reggae throwback:

Beastie Boys "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" (Ft. Santigold) by yoshiradio

The Boys still try their hand at putting some hardcore back into the mix, however, instead of the old days, where the songs stood out like sore thumbs, these tracks are concise and poppier, adding to the flow rather than detracting. "Say It" features grinding guitars over thick hip-hop beats and turntable scratches:

Say It by Beastie Boys

"Lee Majors Come Again," burns a furious path, with lightning fast rhymes, raw guitars, and swirling analog synths:

Lee Majors Come Again by Beastie Boys

The album loses a little steam in the back half, with too many short snippet songs that don't really carry the album forward. The last track, "The Lisa Lisa Full Force Routine," is only :49 seconds and ends the album on a ridiculously abrupt note and could have been easily cut. Also, the ideas get a little tired and suffer from sloppy execution. "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament" is all groove that doesn't go anywhere. "Tadlock's Glasses," is sonically interesting, but just doesn't fit in the grand scheme of the album. But these slips are forgiveable. Tracks like "Long Burn The Fire" show the Boys going back to basics of sharp programming, turntables, and a wicked sense of humor,

Long Burn the Fire by Beastie Boys

which truly comes across on the funky, loopy "Funky Donkey," which could be the 70s funk companion to "Brass Monkey."

Funky Donkey by Beastie Boys

And who can resist an old school head bobber like "A Little Something For Ya?"

Here's A Little Something For Ya by Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys are well enough into their career where they no longer have to be the innovators; but they are smart enough not to put out something just have a record released. You can sense that they still love recording and performing with each other, and it makes for a loose, enjoyable album that will long be playing on my car stereo throughout the summer months.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.