Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs (2004)

[PJsig08]

Well it's "leaked" and hopefully I'm gonna hear it soon. Anyone listen to it yet? The first single is pretty damn good.

[JPRaup]

I cant wait for it

[Hollowgen]

thought the first single was a little lacking. i hope the rest of the album makes up for it.

[monkeyboy]

They're playing 2 songs here in LA. I guess everyone's heard the first one by now. The second is kind of an ode to the people of New York City. Kind of heavy handed, but catchy.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

It's straight ahead old school rap music.

None of that interludes and junk from Hello Nasty (which i thought was hit and miss).

it's short and to the point, only 45 minutes over 16 tracks.

I love it, no guest stars clogging up the songs, just classic Beastie Boys sh**.

"An Open Letter to NYC" is a really cool song where they go all through the city describing the landscape of New York.

and there's obviously anti-Bush themes running throughout the album

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00021LRWM.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[PJsig08]

Listened to most of it so far. Liked it a lot, will probably pick it up when it comes out.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Originally posted by PJsig08
Listened to most of it so far. Liked it a lot, will probably pick it up when it comes out.

Yeah, I already burned the mp3z but I'm definitely gonna buy the album when it drops on June 15.

I'm sure it'll be $9.99 at the big chains.

[DLogic]

I like it however I do miss them performing their own instruments and doing instrumental pieces. I always liked that part of the show where they brought out a supporting band and jammed with them (i.e. Sabotage, Heart-Attack Man). This album is heavy on beats and laid out tracks. I'll pick it up when it comes out

[Absolut]

I like this album. Seems more basic than Hello Nasty and I like that.

[FrozenMetalHead]

You can listen to the album being streamed on www.mtv.com

[ClarkKentKY]

Originally posted by FrozenMetalHead
You can listen to the album being streamed on www.mtv.com

Yes! Thank you, i was waiting for this to hit "the leak" !

[SomeVoices]

I haven't listened to the Beastie Boys in a long time, but this CD is awesome. Some of their rhymes are classic.

[Kaiser Soze]

Can't wait to here it! Does it officially come out next tuesday?

[FrozenMetalHead]

I'm enjoying it more and more. Granted I'm a huge B-Boys fan, so I know I'm horribly biased. I do miss the instrumentals and hardcore numbers that appeared on several of the previous albums - though maybe this leaves open the possabilities of some EPs with these types of songs. I also expect this record to lend itself to several remixes - definately for the singles - perhaps even a remix album. The album has such an old-school feel and beats on it, I'd love to hear a more modern style applied on the remixes (for an example already out - see the Just Blaze remix of Ch-Check It Out that's streaming on www.beastieboys.com)

[kurupt]

I'm very impressed with this album. Granted I like the hip hop Beasties better than the "alternative" Beasties, this is easily my favorite BB album since Paul's Boutique.

[Rypro 525]

anyone else trying to get tix to that hfs exclusive 9:30 club show? i've tried but its hard being the 10th caller

[DLogic]

Originally posted by FrozenMetalHead
I do miss the instrumentals and hardcore numbers that appeared on several of the previous albums - though maybe this leaves open the possabilities of some EPs with these types of songs.

I thought about this... maybe a quick followup to the mini-tour they're taking right now. I would hope so... the album's good just short.

[FrozenMetalHead]

Originally posted by DLogic
I thought about this... maybe a quick followup to the mini-tour they're taking right now. I would hope so... the album's good just short.

On the Beastie Boys message board, someone posted a nip of an article / interview that had Mike D saying something to the effect of there are plenty more tracks that they recorded this go around and could have another album out in a year. Of course anyone who's read / heard a BBoys interview knows not to believe a damn thing they say.

[beastieboyfl]

Yes, this is a good album...

I do wish they left the trash talking and political talk out.

Who are they talking about is "Hey **** You"? Eminem?

[mrlumpy]

Best Buy's website is showing the new CD for $9.99 now. Yipee!

[PJsig08]

Liking this CD a lot. For $9.99, it seems more than worth it (and better than Hello Nasty)

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Originally posted by beastieboyfl
Yes, this is a good album...

I do wish they left the trash talking and political talk out.

Who are they talking about is "Hey **** You"? Eminem?


I dunno, I believe I'll take trash talking and political talk any day over rants about women with fat a**es and diamond necklaces.

[PorkChopExpress]

Kind of off topic, but what's the deal with the Beasties and scrabble?! Heard somewhere that Ad-Rock even plays with 70 yr old scrabble "masters" in scrabble clubs across the country(?)

[bralph]

Originally posted by PorkChopExpress
Kind of off topic, but what's the deal with the Beasties and scrabble?! Heard somewhere that Ad-Rock even plays with 70 yr old scrabble "masters" in scrabble clubs across the country(?)

What other game has you get 11 points for the word "quagmire" ?

[huh?]

Originally posted by bralph
What other game has you get 11 points for the word "quagmire" ?

that would be boggle he was talking about in that song, not scrabble

[bralph]

Originally posted by huh?
that would be boggle he was talking about in that song, not scrabble

Guess I should have sung that entire part in my head first :D , because of course you're right.

King of Boggle
There is none higher
Get 11 points with the word "quagmire"

[beastieboyfl]

Originally posted by Frank TJ Mackey
I dunno, I believe I'll take trash talking and political talk any day over rants about women with fat a**es and diamond necklaces.
I agree, but you're comparing apples to oranges.

[Rivero]

Great to hear it's a worthy album, maybe now after two decades these guys will get the f****n respect in the hip-hop community that they deserve....but I doubt it.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Originally posted by Rivero
Great to hear it's a worthy album, maybe now after two decades these guys will get the f****n respect in the hip-hop community that they deserve....but I doubt it.


I don't know man, they toured with RUN-DMC in the 80s and I think they've always had the respect of the other artists in the rap community.

As far as the fans, I wouldn't expect huge Ja Rule and DMX fans to necessarily dig the Beastie Boys.

They're kind of unique and in a class all their own.

I just want to see a nice big tour.

[Jepthah]

I'm sorry to risk threadcrapping but....I shut off the preview after four tracks.

These guys should retire to Tibet already. If rhymes were never their strongest suit at least they put out good stuff musically...the things I heard were just totally dull and unimaginative.

[Joeboo835]

Being a huge beastie boys fan, I have to unfortunately agree with Jepthah. This album is horrible. There are 3 tracks that are pretty good, the rest is not only horrible, but then they preach politics on every track.

[the aftermath]

Originally posted by Rivero
maybe now after two decades these guys will get the f****n respect in the hip-hop They've always received accolades from fellow artists. The only hiphop group to get more respect is Run DMC.

[Rivero]

The album got a B+ in the new EW.

However the reviewer says it fits "somewhere between their two best efforts License to Ill and Check Your Head".


Everyone knows Paul's Boutique is their best.

[gross@iastate]

Originally posted by Joeboo835
Being a huge beastie boys fan, I have to unfortunately agree with Jepthah. This album is horrible. There are 3 tracks that are pretty good, the rest is not only horrible, but then they preach politics on every track.


After listening to the entire album 5 or 6 times, I have to disagree. I think it's their best album since License. They don't preach on every track, maybe 3 or 4 at the most.

[Eeyore]

edit: ok, i went back and listened to it again and it's definitely better than i thought on first listen. it'll sound even better on real speakers instead of these tinny computer speakers, i'm sure. there's definitely more mix master mike stuff than i heard the first time around. a few cringe-worthy rhymes, but overall it sounds like a fun album with a lot of nods to oldschool hip-hop.

[DRG]

Originally posted by Rivero
The album got a B+ in the new EW.

However the reviewer says it fits "somewhere between their two best efforts License to Ill and Check Your Head".

Everyone knows Paul's Boutique is their best.

Which is funny because I remember Check Your Head getting an F in EW when it was originally released. Surely it was a different reviewer, but it's funny how things change with the times.

[whynotsmile]

Originally posted by DRG
Which is funny because I remember Check Your Head getting an F in EW when it was originally released. Surely it was a different reviewer, but it's funny how things change with the times.


an F?! damn, thats harsh for ANY band reviewd by EW let alone beastie boys!

[DRG]

Well, the website has the review and it says 'D'. I may be mistaken, but I swear they originally gave it an F, as I remember how rare it was to see an actual F, let alone for an established act. I'll have to dig out the actual issue and check. But here is the review itself:

Check Your Head

Reviewed by David Browne

With its fuzzy sound and gurgling vocals, most of the third album by the Beastie Boys-those bratty white rappers who helped take hip- hop to the suburbs way back in the mid-'80s-sounds as if it were recorded underwater. Actually, that's the least of the record's problems. A muddled, clanking mess, the 20-track album offers the usual barrage of dumb Beastie boasts (''I got more spice than the Frugal Gourmet!''), all set to sophomoric attempts at rap, lounge-lizard organ riffing, and skinhead punk. (The new angle is that they play all their own instruments for the first time, but the flaccid metal riffs on ''Gratitude'' only make you nostalgic for sampling.) The Beasties' first album, Licensed to Ill, was an obnoxious, and funny, pop-culture carnival; six years and many imitators later, it still stands as the definitive white rap album. At this rate, it will have to stand as the Beasties' shining hour, too.

[ClarkKentKY]

What an idiot. Check your head is awesome.

[ClarkKentKY]

I've given it a couple of listens on The Leak and i can only get into 2 of the songs: Ch-Check It Out, and Triple Trouble. I think i'm gonna have to pass on tuesday. I'll just pick up those 2 tracks i like on itunes.

[Quake1028]

Damn, still on the fence about this one.

[huh?]

I've listened to the album twice now, and I must say, it is pretty good overall (four out of 5 stars). There are some weaker songs on it, but it is a nice throwback hip-hop album, with homages to RUN-DMC and early to mid 80's "party" hip-hop tracks. Overall, I would rate it behind CYH, Ill Communication, and PB on my favorite B-Boys albums, but ahead of HN and LTI. Very nice beats, some good flow, and some tightly produced tracks.

My facorites are "Crawlspace", "Triple Trouble" and "3 the Hard Way".

[Frank TJ Mackey]

anyone know if this album for sure or "will likely" include the lyrics to the songs

i know several of their albums do that



THANKS

[Rivero]

Originally posted by Frank TJ Mackey
anyone know if this album for sure or "will likely" include the lyrics to the songs


Yep. All of the lyrics are included.

[JHosk]

Originally posted by DRG
Well, the website has the review and it says 'D'. I may be mistaken, but I swear they originally gave it an F, as I remember how rare it was to see an actual F, let alone for an established act. I'll have to dig out the actual issue and check. But here is the review itself:

I think it was Check your Head that started getting them some respect. Although many consider Paul's Boutique to be their best album, being an old skool hip-hop follower I remember at the time it flopped. Plus they had huge lawsuits on their hands because the album contain ALOT of uncleared samples. My memory is a little hazy but the album was their first since being "wooed" from def jam, and their new label was disappointed with its lack of sales. They even briefly broke up after it, and many outlets were selling off a butt-load of Pauls Boutique albums for dirt cheap (I remember picking up the LP and cassete for like $2 a piece). Now years later Pauls Boutique and the Beastie Boys are getting their proper dues.

[DJLinus]

Listened to The Leak on MTV and liked it. Picked up the CD today. I like how it's a throwback to old school hip-hop. Their instrumental jams are nice and all, but I can't say that I miss them on this album. I missed having them do a straight-up hip-hop album. It sounds like they are having fun on this CD.

That said, it is a very preachy album. But what do you expect from the Beasties? The days of "Girls" are looooooooooong gone. "Get Rid of W" is the new "Free Tibet."

This is also the first CD that I bought that has an FBI Anti-Piracy Warning on it. I'm shaking in my Simples.

From the pictures, they are really showing their age. Kinda makes me feel old, too. I remember taping "Fight For Your Right To Party" off of the radio on my first boombox.

[Mowork]

Originally posted by DJLinus
From the pictures, they are really showing their age. Kinda makes me feel old, too. I remember taping "Fight For Your Right To Party" off of the radio on my first boombox.

You're not alone... I'm totally with you on the feeling old thing unfortunately..

[BigDaddy]

3 the hard way rocks. I like the CD.

[Brain Stew]

How do I listen to the album on MTV? Where's The Leak?

[Mowork]

Just listened to the cd ---- and it is SCHWEET !!!!!

I've only given it one listen at this point so I was concentrating on the beats -- very nice flow...

Will concentrate more on the lyrics next go 'round..

[Capo2002]

Great album, nice comeback for the beasties.

[PJsig08]

Where's the best place to order this online for the cheapest and fastest (free) shipping? Best Buy? Circuit City?

[Kaiser Soze]

Originally posted by DRG
Which is funny because I remember Check Your Head getting an F in EW when it was originally released. Surely it was a different reviewer, but it's funny how things change with the times.

Yeah, it's funny how years later, all of the critics come out of the wood-work and praise some album that they said they totally hated 5 years ago.

[dolphinboy]

I've never been a big fan, but I've never not liked them either and I've always read their reviews and had respect for them.

I saw them once, when they first came out, opening for Madonna and they were booed off the stage. They didn't really fit in with her crowd in the mid 80's.

I just saw their performance on Letterman last night and I think it was the best live performance EVER on his show. They were great and, while it may be late, I finally decided to check out a whole album and I'm liking it a lot so far.

[Kaiser Soze]

Originally posted by dolphinboy
I've never been a big fan, but I've never not liked them either and I've always read their reviews and had respect for them.

I saw them once, when they first came out, opening for Madonna and they were booed off the stage. They didn't really fit in with her crowd in the mid 80's.

I just saw their performance on Letterman last night and I think it was the best live performance EVER on his show. They were great and, while it may be late, I finally decided to check out a whole album and I'm liking it a lot so far.

While you're at it, check out Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head. Those are by far their best two, IMO.

[WestEndRiot]

Originally posted by DJLinus
This is also the first CD that I bought that has an FBI Anti-Piracy Warning on it. I'm shaking in my Simples.

yeah i was about to say the same thing. i won't pick it up until payday on friday but i took a look at it at work and saw that damn seal. what a waste of tax money. i can't recall seeing another cd with it on there.

oh and Simples are my kicks of choice as well. <thumbs up>

[SomeVoices]

Originally posted by dolphinboy
I saw them once, when they first came out, opening for Madonna and they were booed off the stage. They didn't really fit in with her crowd in the mid 80's.

The opened for Madonna? That seems like an interesting combination.

[auto]

Originally posted by WestEndRiot
yeah i was about to say the same thing. i won't pick it up until payday on friday but i took a look at it at work and saw that damn seal. what a waste of tax money. i can't recall seeing another cd with it on there.



Yeah. PJ Harvey's new album had the seal as well. I'm sure the artists must be loving this.

Another blow for album packaging as an artform.

[wordtoyamotha]

Picked it up yesterday and I have to say I'm a little dissappointed. I definitely do NOT like all the politics in the lyrics, that's not why I listen to the Beasties. Also, I would have liked a couple instrumentals.

I do like the old school feel and the tracks are short a concise but coming from someone who owns all of their albums, I have to say I'm a little let down at this point.

Who knows, maybe I'll like it more after a few more spins....

[Rivero]

What song did they play on Letterman?

I Like the album a lot. A couple of filler tracks(Oh Word? and That's It That's All sound like two demos for the same exact song) but overall it's a terrific effort that will get playtime in my player for a while. My fave song is probably Hey F*** You. Some hilarious rhymes in that one, especially by Adrock who does that funny voice when he's dissin rappers. I like to think they're trashing Eminem on this one.


I read about you up on Page 6/ They was trashin' your ass. It's sad you're gettin dissed/ Now talk about your face, now don't get pissed, but I suggest you see a dermatologist.

I keep the hot sauce hot, not mild and weak/ It's gonna burn your mouth until you wet your beak/ I've got billions and billions of rhymes to flex/ 'Cause I've got more rhymes than Carl Sagan's got turtlenecks.

[Thunderball]

Not bad. Pickedi t up for $9.80 at Target today. ****ing awesome stuff.

Not my favorite album, but it's not bad overall. Good for a group that's vanished for awhile.

[tofu]

I just picked it up today as well and I like it. For rappers that are going gray, they still sound really good.

I'm a little disappointed that it's only 42 minutes or so. I guess I expected it to be longer for some reason.

[dolphinboy]

Originally posted by tofu
For rappers that are going gray, .

It reminds me of just how old I am.

They opened for Madonna on the Like a Virgin Tour. It may have seemed like an interesting idea, but the crowd in Detroit was not ready for rap, especially by 3 young white jewish boys. I've been to shows were some underwear made it up to the stage or a beachball, but never tons of trash, which was hurled the Beasties way that night.

[Tarantino]

Horrible! Bring back some Brass Monkey or some Fight for your Right...what's with this political bullshit?

Don't like this album one bit, I'm glad I didn't waste my money on it.

[gp98]

I'm really enjoying it. I wouldn't say it's their best but almost all of their albums have only grown on me so who knows.

I like the retro style and the '80s references, especially EF Hutton. That's the funniest line and I just wonder how long they had been sitting on that reference.

Anyway, their politics are similar to mine and I like the fact that they state their beliefs (but I understand why others are turned off by it). Sometimes I feel like people think you need to be standing their with long hair and an acoustic guitar to put politics in your music.

It's a helluva a lot more awkward hearing Mick Jagger singing about girls and not having grown up (even though I'm a huge Stones fan) then to have Beastie Boys actually have a conscience when they see tons of things in the world that need to change and know that they have a voice that will be heard by millions.

[Frank TJ Mackey]

I guess I don't understand what the big deal is about them stating some of their political beliefs on the album.

Anyone who follows them knew this was coming, and they are artists, I mean should they not say what they really feel.

These dudes are probably in their late 30s, so maybe they didn't want to just rhyme about beer, farting, gays, girls etc. from their old albums.

I like all the BB albums except Licensed To Ill, I didn't like it when it came out and I was a teen then, don't care for it now.

They mention Bush a handful of times, but it's not that bad, I mean overall the album flows, it isn't a straight political album or anything.

I don't know, just my 2 cents.

ALSO - check out their website for the Just Blaze remix of Ch-Check It Out it's really cool.

also, "And Then I" is the b-side for the import of the single.

[Another40oz]

i've bought every beastie boys album released in america.. and this will probably be the first I do not buy.
There are some very good songs. But if I remember from when I listened to it a few days ago, something like half the album was forgettable songs... and that's regarding production, lyrics, and flow. The bad songs sounded very similar, and their production seemed stripped down on those songs. This may have been fine if their flow still sounded as good as on paul's boutique, check your head, and even ill communication, but you can hear them getting old. I dunno. This sounds like it should be their last release. Sad to say.

[Another40oz]

definitely the weakest of all their albums. and on a non music tangent.. these guys are very old. That essay Mike D wrote about objectifying women I think it was. what the hell was that. Maybe now that's he's old and has thoroughly gotten his women objectifying kicks in, maybe he feels that he should lecture the rest of the hip hop and music world. But all of them just sound so out of the loop/time/context. The cover over Anthology now seems surreal

[Scorpio]

Originally posted by Another40oz
and on a non music tangent.. these guys are very old.

Ummm....they're only in their late 30's. Are you 12 or something?

[monkey]

This one has taken awhile to grow on me. This sounds a lot like "Hello Nasty," but with much more stripped down production. This probably has the best vocal flow of any of their albums. It just has an old school feel to it, which I admire and enjoy. It's not as good as Rollingstone claims (FIVE STARS?!), but it is a solid, memorable effort.

[Quake1028]

Adrock will be 38 in October. Adam Yauch will be 40 in August. MikeD will be 38 in November.

[Jason]

Originally posted by DJLinus
This is also the first CD that I bought that has an FBI Anti-Piracy Warning on it. I'm shaking in my Simples.

And it says "This product is provided AS IS" and goes on to state how it may or may not play on computers. It doesn't have the Compact Disc - Digital Audio logo on it anywhere either. Well, iTunes 4.1.something on the PC seems to be ripping it easily enough.

I'm only on track 2, but I'm enjoying it.

[stevevt]

This CD will install piece-of-shitware on your PC.

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/366191/2004-06-13/2004-06-19/0


**** you, Beastie Boys. **** you very much.



Well I truly regret actually purchasing a copy of the new Beastie Boys album to support them.

It seems that Capitol Records has some sort of new copy protection system, that automatically, silently, installs "helpful" copy protection software on MacOS and Windows as soon as you insert the CD into default systems. I'm not sure exactly what it does yet, but I am sure regreting actually purchasing said media now... they don't deserve my money if they choose to pull stupid stunts like this. Installing software without your permission sounds like viral malware behaviour to me. I certainly hope the AV companies put signatures into their products for this crap.

They include some sort of uninstaller buried on there for Windows, but I see no such thing for MacOS. If anyone has disassembled the aforementioned malware already and can save us some time with instructions on how to remove it... thanks in advance.

[troystiffler]

Originally posted by Scorpio
Ummm....they're only in their late 30's. Are you 12 or something?

Are you 38 or something? :p

I've given this one a couple plays. It's the same ole' stuff ... good Beastie Boys stuff ... Nothing to blow me away. But I like it.

[TruGator]

Originally posted by stevevt
This CD will install piece-of-shitware on your PC.

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/366191/2004-06-13/2004-06-19/0


**** you, Beastie Boys. **** you very much.

I just read about that. Has anyone had a problem with this?

[Another40oz]

Originally posted by Scorpio
Ummm....they're only in their late 30's. Are you 12 or something?

I'm 22, and as far as hip hop goes, they are very old. They were changing up their sound every album, growing.. but this album was back to some old shit. Maybe it was intentional. Their style as mc's was improving over teh years, but are worse with this album. I've seen a lot of their essays and shit they've been writing and they are dinosaurs. Not always a bad thing, but hearing their opinions on hip hop and other stuff in interviews and what they write... they are very out of touch with today. This is why I posted and yeah they're old. 38 = very old in hip hop. It's very hard for anyone to stay relevent that long, and it seems like they've finally hit that point.

[Chrisedge]

I don't have auto-play enabled on my PC. I just bought the Velvet Revolver CD which has the same copy protection (even says it on the cover) and had no problems copying it to MP3 for my Iriver using EAC.

[ClarkKentKY]

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996063

It's getting to where you can't even buy a CD anymore without some hassle.

[stevevt]

Originally posted by ClarkKentKY
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996063

It's getting to where you can't even buy a CD anymore without some hassle.


New Scientist has been unable to obtain a copy of a disc and has therefore we have not been able to test it for ourselves.



I should burn them a copy and send it along.

[BigDaddy]

I ripped both cd's with iTunes with no problems on my PC.