Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2 (2011)

Like so many kids who grew up in rural areas across the country in the 80's and early 90's, the Beastie Boys were my introduction to hip-hop. Even if the stuff ( Licensed to Ill, cough cough) one would hear blaring out of weight rooms and at party's was not an accurate representation of what the Beastie Boys were really all about, it was still different than the country and 70's pop music I was raised on. Over the years they've really been the only hip-hop group I've consistently listened to, with multiple spins of both the fantastic (Check Your Head) and the enjoyably mediocre (To the Five Buroughs). All this really means nothing and before I go all Pitchfork and make this review about me instead of the album I should probably mention that Hot Sauce Committee, Pt 2 is really fucking good.

With a mix of their use of live instruments, old school beats and weird keyboard sounds, the boys have made an album that sounds like nothing before it, while sounding exactly like the Beasite Boys. From the fantastic party opener "Make Some Noise" the the reggae vibe of "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" and a nod to the bands hardcore punk roots ("Lee Majors Comes Again," Hot Sauce Committee, Pt 2 is a pure party record. Ad-Rock, Mike D and MCA (who's cancer is in remission if you're wondering) spend the whole time spittin' rhymes, crackin' jokes, boasting about their skills and just generally having a good time. The fun is infectious and the album flows from track to track remarkably well for something that was pieced together over time. The massive experimentation that bogged down such albums as Hello Nasty and Ill Communication is still at play but this time everything works and nothing comes off as pure filler. "Too Many Rappers" features Nas and is a fine take on contemporary rap (lyrically, not sonically, there's very little here that sounds modern) on the album. "Funky Donkey" more than lives up to the song title and "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" is a nice showcase for the boys rhythm skills. The boys also manage to pack the album full of lyrical nods to old albums, songs and other lyrics which will make for great message board fodder.

I can't say enough good things about Hot Sauce Committee, Pt 2. It's only been a couple days but it's already near the top of my list of favorite Beastie Boys album. Only time will tell if it will hold it's place alongside Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head or if I'm just really happy to have the boys back. For now I'm gonna party for my mothafuckin' right to fight and be very happy doing it.

Rating: 4.5

Track Listing:

1. "Make Some Noise" (3:30)
2. "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" (4:09)
3. "OK" (2:50)
4. "Too Many Rappers (New Reactionaries Version)" (4:52)
5. "Say It" (3:26)
6. "The Bill Harper Collection" (0:24)
7. "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" (4:11)
8. "Long Burn the Fire" )3:34)
9. "Funky Donkey" (1:57)
10. "The Larry Routine" (0:31)
11. "Tadlock's Glasses" (2:19)
12. "Lee Majors Come Again" (3:43)
13. "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament" (2:54)
14. "Here's A Little Something For Ya" (3:09)
15. "Crazy Ass Shit" (1:57)
16. ""The Lisa Lisa/Full Force Routine" (0:49)