Yes, I've been living under a rock. I've obviously known and been hearing the Beastie's since their debut. Yesterday, I was spending a gift card at a music store and took a listen to "Check Your Head" and I was floored. For some reason, I never seemed to be into them enough to buy a whole CD. I always heard stuff on the radio and was content. But this is one of those rare moments where you go "Where was I and why didn't anybody tell me how cool it was?" moments. So, what else can you Beastie afficionados recommend?

paul's boutique, check your head are essential

licensed to ill, ill communication, are great

hello nasty, to the 5 boroughs are enjoyable

my $.02

run to the store and get paul's boutique. and if you didn't pick up check your head, get that too. jay77's $.02 are right on the mark.

Got "Check Your Head" yesterday. Been listening to it non-stop. Fantastic production on this one. There are so many things going on, but sonically, it blends together very well.

In my order of preference...

Paul's Boutique (essential purchase)
Check Your Head (essential purchase)
The In Sound From Way Out! (all instrumental funk)
Ill Communication
To the Five Boroughs
Licensed to Ill
Hello Nasty

License to Ill and Paul's Boutique are incredible.

Check your head and To the 5 Bouroughs are my next favs, with Ill Communication and Hello Nasty coming in last. They all have their great moments though, and are all worth purchasing.

Absolutely no contest whatsoever.


PAUL'S BOUTIQUE


Not just the best Beastie Boys album. One of the best albums, period.

License to Ill and Paul's Boutique are essential. Every track on both albums is solid.

Check Your Head and Hello Nasty have moments of brilliance and a little filler. I prefer Hello Nasty. Check Your Head is slightly overrated, but still pretty damn good, especially if you don't own any Meters records.

Ill Communication is ok but not great. Lots of flab on that record, IMO.

Haven't heard the new one.

what he said

And so on.

The thing is, all the albums are quite different in the way they sound. The one that is most similar to Check Your Head would probably be Ill Communication. Paul's Boutique sounds a lot different, but its a great album. The others I'd save for last.

I'll be unoriginal and say Paul's Boutique is their best(I'm really liking the new album too).

The Criterion Collection video set is great. All the videos from Paul's Boutique-Hello Nasty with most having multi-audio channels for different remixes, and alternalte angles. The band commentary is......interesting.

I'm picking up Paul's Boutique at lunch today. I can't seem to get "Check Your Head" out of the CD player. It makes me think it's in imaginary soundtrack to a REALLY good 70's crime film that even Tarantino never saw. If that makes any sense...

If you want to check out where the Beastie's came from than pick up "Some Old Bullshit". Don't expect anything like the above mentioned albums though.

My advice to you as soon as you pick up Paul's is to get on the this webpage http://www.moire.com/beastieboys/samples/index.php

that lists every sample and reference on the album. Print it and read along as you listen. You will be stupified. I've been listening to this disc for well over 12 years, and I still hold it in highest regard. As mentioned earlier, not only the finest Beastie Boys album, but certainly one of the best albums of all time, ever, by any artist. There will NEVER be another album like Paul's. I will go to my grave with that belief. This page also lists songs of the "Paul's Boutique era," which can be found on numerous bootlegs. I think I have them on "Demos and Outakes," which as the monkey on it. Pick that up if you ever see it.

duse - that's an amazing site. Thanks. I picked up "Paul's Boutique" and "Ill Communication" today. I'll delve into PB this weekend with notes in hand

I just listened to the new one and it's excellent. IMO, their best album since Paul's Boutique. They finally buckled down, dumped the guitars and made a plain-ol' hip hop record. It's great all the way through.

This is an old thread, but I finally got this CD and its without a doubt the best rap CD I have owned since Paul's Boutique. Hello Nasty had a couple of songs I liked, but this CD is solid from beginning to end. This is the kind of Hip Hop I liked back in the 80's before every song became about bitches, dope and murder.

An absolute classic album. Something actually worth waiting six years for.

Yeah, it has a groove and is a good mix tape to put me in the right mood.

i think all there albums are amazing i love the beasties

i didnt own pauls boutique so i ordered it today at bestbuy.com yaya

Very simple.

Anything before 1994, BUY.

Anything after 1994, AVOID.

Another superfluous opinion but....(of the main releases)

1. Check Your Head
2. Paul's Boutique
3. Licensed to Ill
4. Hello Nasty
5. Ill Communication

(out w/ the jury...To the 5 Boroughs, haven't listened to it enough to rank it yet)

(NOTE: What is interesting about Paul's Boutique is that at the time it was released, it was considered a commercial and critical stinker...it wasn't until say, late 90s until now, that it's been appreciated. That's why Check Your Head came entirely out of leftfield. They were completely dismissed and thought to be dead and 'one-hit' wonders, yet they decided to actually learn how to play the instruments that are featured on Check Your Head...And even though Paul's Boutique was critically underrated, I still feel it is one of the best comeback albums of all-time)

i cant put down my pauls boutique cd this album is amazing.