Ill Communication

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
By 1994 the Beasties had settled into their cultural role as the grand arbiters of cool, and Ill Communication is pretty much a catalog of coolness: live funk, a bit of hardcore, ingenious samples of obscure records, keyboards by analogue master Money Mark, guest shots by Q-Tip and Biz Markie, MCA's cop-show metal number "Sabotage," and the inevitable cascade of witty old-school rhymes. But it's also a surprisingly mature record from a band that had, after all, been at it for 12 years already. The original jazz-funk instrumentals hold their own with the group's favorite sample sources. Their voices are modestly buried in the mix, and they've tempered their old snottiness with lyrical compassion: check out "Bodhisattva Vow," a salute to Buddhist spirituality. --Douglas Wolk --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Sure Shot
Tough Guy
B-Boys Makin` With The Freak Freak
Bobo On The Corner
Root Down
Sabotage
Get It Together
Sabrosa
The Update
Futterman`s Rule
Alright Hear This
Eugenes`s Lament
Flute Loop
Do It
Ricki`s Theme
Heart Attack Man
The Scoop
Shambala
Bodhisattva Vow
Transitions

Amazon.com essential recording

By 1994 the Beasties had settled into their cultural role as the grand arbiters of cool, and Ill Communication is pretty much a catalog of coolness: live funk, a bit of hardcore, ingenious samples of obscure records, keyboards by analogue master Money Mark, guest shots by Q-Tip and Biz Markie, MCA's cop-show metal number "Sabotage," and the inevitable cascade of witty old-school rhymes. But it's also a surprisingly mature record from a band that had, after all, been at it for 12 years already. The original jazz-funk instrumentals hold their own with the group's favorite sample sources. Their voices are modestly buried in the mix, and they've tempered their old snottiness with lyrical compassion: check out "Bodhisattva Vow," a salute to Buddhist spirituality. --Douglas Wolk

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Beastie Boys Photos

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Check Your Head

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Customer Reviews:

afro-schmaltz.......2007-03-23

These jew boys bring on the fizzle. you know what i'm talkin' bout? I'm mean the hip-hop flippy di flop jizzle on my tizzle, just that tasty white boy funk straight from da bronx. you best check it out. homeskillit.

SHOOT TO THRILL.......2006-05-14

Arguably their greatest album ever.It's has so many different musical styles it's unbelieveble.Many consider Check Your Head a better effort but this is as good as they ever got.This album gets my personal vote for best album of 1994.

one of the best records.......2006-02-20

you have great jazz work,lyrical work,and good hardcore tracks what else could you want?If your new to this then pick this up.

"What do we know about partying or anything else??!".......2005-11-24

I know what you're thinking. "Eggplant giving a hip-hop album not only higher than one star, but FIVE?!?" People, people. This is not just a hip-hop album. "Ill Communication" offers not only GOOD hip-hop, but funk, punk, rock, jazz, fusion, et cetera, in one fresh-sounding album that's always good to listen to. This just might be my favorite Beastie Boys album (and I have all but "To The Five Boroughs").

It may be eleven years old now, but "Ill Communication" may as well have been recorded yesterday. It doesn't sound dated at all. The hip-hop songs, like all of the Beasties' work, is actually damn good and fun (Good rap! Who'da thunk it?), with catchy samples and beats (check out the infectious flutes in "Sure Shot" and "Flute Loop", not to mention that funky bassline in "Root Down"), you also get some nice, mellow instrumental numbers ("Ricky's Theme", "Bobo On The Corner", et cetera), two energetic punk songs ("Tough Guy" and the humorous "Heart Attack Man"), and all kinds of other assorted influence, here in one nice little package... let's not forget the album's biggest hit, the rocker "Sabotage", with its memorable music video.

Buy it if you're sick of the Kayne Wests of the world. No wonder I listened to the old tape I had of this so religiously back in seventh grade.

The most eclectic album I've heard in years, and the best........2005-11-02

I came to beastie boys on the back of vague recommendations from a mate, not knowing what to expect. Initially, i got licensed to ill, which i enjoyed for what it is, but it was not the stuff i had been recommended. I moved to check your head, and was pleasantly surprised at songs like pass the mic, so what'cha want, live at pjs. Since then, I have been ABSOLUTELY blown away by this album. There is no other album i know of that combines punk-rock, metal, acid jazz, funk, world beats, and hip-hop, in the same album, sometimes even in the same song. And it makes for a great mix.

Not only is this album a great mix of styles, but it is produced crisply, with the vocals mixed down slightly to become an accompaniment to the rest of the instruments, synths blending seamlessly in and out of the music, and the tribal beats laying the foundation for some great songs. The beasties manage to record and mix accordingly for the style of each song style they attempt.

And they attempt a lot. Songs like 'The Update', 'Futterman's Rule' are a psychedelic funk-fest, with tribal world beats as a backbone,synths everywhere and funky guitar licks, i cant help but love them. Songs like 'Sabotage' and 'Heart Attack Man' make for a change of pace, with great punk metal riffs, and fast heavy drum beats. My personal favourite simply for its ingenuity and awesome sound is flute loop; who else but the Beasties could take a folk sounding flute riff, and bring it into the hip-hop world with funky beats, mad scratches and mad lyrics? No one, thats who.

Ultimately, there is something here for a fan of every type of music.I recommend this album to anyone who loves funk, punk, hip-hop, or jazz.

My recommendations are:
The Update,
Futterman's Rule,
Flute Loop,
Sure Shot,
Heart Attack Man,
B-Boys making with the Freak Freak.

Enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Get Ill With The Beasties
70's funk, found!
One hell of an alternative rock/rap CD!
Wonderful.

Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Old School | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rap & Hip-Hop | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000006ZAE
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Tracks:

Sure Shot
Tough Guy
B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak
Bobo on the Corner [Instrumental]
Root Down
Sabotage
Get It Together
Sabrosa [Instrumental]
Update
Futterman's Rule
Alright Hear This
Eugene's Lament [Instrumental]
Flute Loop
Do It
Ricky's Theme [Instrumental]
Heart Attack Man
Scoop
Shambala [Instrumental]
Bodhisattva Vow
Transitions [Instrumental]
Dope Little Song [*]
Resolution Time [*]
Mullet Head [*]
Vibes [*]

Album Description

Japanese edition of their #1 & platinum 1994 album with fourunmarked bonus tracks: 'Dope Little Song', 'Resolution Time''Mullet Head' and 'The Vibes'. 24 tracks total, also featuring the hits 'Sure Shot', 'Sabotage' and 'Get It Together'. A Capitol release.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Four Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Get Ill With The Beasties.......2004-08-29

First off, Ill Communication is my favorite Beastie Boys album. Considering this, the Japanese import with bonus tracks was essential. That written, you have to ask yourself if $55.00 (the cost of the disc at the time of review) is a resonable price for four additional songs. Keeping in mind that you probably already own the regular LP release, the bonus songs come out to more than $13.00 each -minus shipping and handling. While you ponder this question, you can read my review of the bonus songs.

1) 'Dope Little Song' is great. It has the same flavor as the rest of the album's hip hop songs.
2) 'Resolution Time' is another great tune, but I know that the identical version is released elsewhere.
3) 'Mullet Head' is hardcore. I generally don't care for the Beastie's hardcore tunes, and this one is no exception.
4) 'Vibes' is the real gem out of the bonus tracks. I can't imagine why this song wasn't released on the US version of the LP -it could have easily been a hit single. Like 'Dope Little Song,' it is sylistically similar to the other hip hop tunes on the regular disc. Considering the psychedelic vibes sample, solid verses and chorus, it's simply a great song.

70's funk, found!.......2004-02-27

I was watching one of my favorite films, "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" on television the other day, and really enjoying the thumping 70's funk soundtrack, when I swore I heard a riff that reminded me of the Beastie Boys! Sure enough (pun intended), i found the sample on "Sure Shot"!

AND they even homage the piece in their lyrics: "It's The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3/ If you wanna go around it, come see me/ You can't, you won't, and you don't stop!" (You have to see the film to get the last line!!).

Pelham came out exactly 20 years prior to the Beastie Boys' release and they breathe new life into some brilliant source music!

One hell of an alternative rock/rap CD!.......1999-03-20

"Ill Communication" is another inspired masterwork from the Beasties. Perhaps most phenomenal about this work is their maturity, especially on tracks like "Buddhisatva Vow," "The Vibes," and "Sure Shot." Never missing a beat, sample, or riff, they keep it going on from beginning to end, and this import is well worth the extra expense!

Wonderful........1999-02-26

If you're a big Beasties fan, definitely pick up the import version of Ill Communication. It adds a French intro to track 3; the extra tracks (nobody ever seems to tell you about them in these reviews) are:

Dope Little Song, with Mike and Adrock goofing around;

Resolution Time, an MCA solo joint with a similar vibe as his others - always a good thing;

Mullet Head, which is definitely my favorite Beasties punk-ish song. Yauch is great on that bass.

Last but not least, The Vibes is a 3-man distortion rap that works well. And so does the album. Definitely worthwhile.

Ill Communication
Average customer rating:
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00077F3ZS
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Cookypuss / Bonus Batter / Beastie Revolution EP
Average customer rating:
Cookypuss / Bonus Batter / Beastie Revolution EP
Beastie Boys
Manufacturer: Ratcage Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000NSWJB2