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Customer Reviews of To The 5 Boroughs

Back To The Roots
After a six year absence, The Beastie Boys return with To The Five Boroughs. As the title suggests, the album is homage to their home city of New York. It is also a return to basics, going back to their roots. The album is straight-up hip hop, with no forays into rock, punk or anything else. While the beats have an old school flavor, they sound fresh and new. The Beatsies are all entering their forties and they reflect their growth with the most political songs they've ever recorded. Songs like "Ch-Check It Out", "Time To Build" and most especially "We Got The" are direct attacks on the Bush administration. But despite this political aspect, they still keep their classic Beasties sense of humor. Who else could quote Miss Piggy and reference Pink Champale as they do on "Ch-Check It Out" or use an obscure Partridge Family song, "I Would Have Loved You Anyway" as the foundation for "Right Right Now Now". As one would expect, the album contains countless New York City references including Mike Piazza, Rhoda, Blimpie's, 1010 WINS, Live at Five, Canal St., Albee Square Mall and countless other non-NYC names. The album's centerpiece and crowing achievement is "An Open Letter To NYC". The beat is a sample from "Sonic Reducer" by The Dead Boys and contains vocal samples of 50 Cent, The RZA and Nas. It is a beautiful love letter to the city and one of the best tracks the Beastie Boys have ever recorded. To The Five Boroughs is a triumphant return for the Beastie Boys and even though it was six years in the making, it was worth the wait. Let's hope they don't take six years to record their next album.

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Problems with the new 2004 album by BEASTIE BOYS
I don't see the point giving this 5 stars unless you're totally biased, a hardcore fan, or just here to hype the album. Beastie Boys used to rock. I used to own all their main albums. Just bear with me here. I'm getting to the point if you want an honest look at their new album from someone familiar with thier music since the 80's...

I owned the classic "License to Ill." Their album "Check your Head" was crazy-cool stuff back then, the underrated "Pauls Boutique," was fun with songs like Egghead for instance, and lastly (for its time) "Ill Communications," was the super-cool of all cool albums, with monster-smash hits like "Sabatoge." How could anyone forget that video, the song, the lyrics, the energy?!!!

Which brings me up to date. Its true there have been one or two releases in the last 7 or so years, but none have compared to their earlier work. With this NEW ALBUM called "To The 5 Boroughs," they've got a good cover, a nice fold out, and it seems that they want fans to associate their minds with tracks like Sabatoge or disc's like I'll Communications, which may explain the once-again classic 80's, Black and White approach and their wild, fun video on MTV for "Ch-Check it out."

But THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM lies. Their first track is fun and cool. They can still rap and its all good and entertaining, but once past that first track, which sounds nostalgic in their cooler, funner track-style and collaboration (like most tracks) the entire album sounds dated. Sure, the production may sound more crisp or the bass seems to boom more, but the songs lyrics sound totally outdated. This stuff sounds like something I'd hear ten years ago! I appreciate that Beastie Boys keep to their roots and stay true to their fans and hometown with releases and respect to NY, but can we innovated lyrics/songs/style a little bit please? What about more intricate lyrics? In stead, what we have here is stuff like "all is swell, I'm so and so ... and I like to yell... etc... all is well." Literally, its very basic and most of it is completely outdated, like 1-2, 1-2 sentences where the last word in one sentence rhymes with the last word in the next, but then the next two sentences are the same. This isn't always but usually. Their style is so plain and old now. This just doesn't sound cool anymore. I'm sorry but besides the first track, which reminds me a little of the far-superior Sabatoge, this new album is just more of the same, but the same is now old. It is 2004 and they are doing the same stuff like its 1994 or 1987 or something. It is just annoying to listen to because I am an adult now and this stuff isn't innovative in anyway. I appreciate that they don't sell out, I like that they still have energy and cool beats with piano melodies are a nice touch, but overall.. this album is disappointing unless you want more of the same ol' sound without anything near the surprise of when most people heard them in the late 80's and early 90's.

I strongly RECOMMEND this. Beastie Boys can still stay true to their roots and still change up their style, lyrics, make it more intricate, less basic and predictable with what they say. Remember Eminem when he first came out??? Many people hated that guy, but he improved his flow and how intricate and stylish his lyrics were. Now, Eminem is considered one of the greatest rappers and with his creative lyrics and flow, I agree that he is certainly "one of the greats." (and there aren't many true greats officially known)

Sure, like Beastie Boys, Eminem had his own style, (and I don't think Beastie Boys are trying to go insane trying to impress and such) but how many rappers do you see doing the same thing 15 years later? Beastie Boys seem to generally use the same formula and its always worked for a certain fan base, but sales have declined in general and if they want to make a big comeback, they need to truly re-invent their image and music, (yes, still stay in rap of course, just sound more inventive, mature, and still crazy fun of course, but in LYRICS and HOW YOU SAY SOMETHING, some stuff here sounds cheesy or just plain dull) I strongly feel that they need to update their lyrics, use longer more interesting words as opposed to the typical 4-letter word rhymes (and no, I don't mean the cursing 4-letter words, I mean in general, easy-short words) and take some risks because this album takes no risks. It simply exists. Although it isn't entirely bad for what it is, it just feels like something I'd have listened to like 10-12 years back, and most of you will agree, like my friend who was the first person to run out and buy this thing! Call it old-school if you want, but I believe they need more time and creativity to make MORE CATCHY WILD tracks like when "Check Your Head" came out. The political parts are too few and far between. It would be nice to hear what the new sound of Beastie Boys would be, and they can do that with keeping their intergrity. I was just expecting something more original and wild then this so-so, formulatic release, even if it is nice for what it is. Many people want something more up-to-date and I think fans will appreciate a few risks in style and lyrics and more intricate beats/melodies if its catchy and crazy. This album is just mediocre. Sorry guys but you know when you make something great. Ill Communications rocked for its time and both that, your first album, and Check Your Head was great stuff, but for its time. :)

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Beastie Are Back
This is a classic Beastie Boys CD. The sound is a mix between their old stuff (like License to Ill) and then their newer stuff (Hello Nasty). As hard as it is to rank their CDs, this is surely a keeper. For the Beastie Boys to be able to stay on top of the game for as long as they have, and keep coming up with new, fresh sounds while staying true to their roots and themselves, makes these guys amazing. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes the Beastie Boys or their style of music.