Customer Reviews

Hot Sauce Committee Part 2

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

And they do!

They just don't stop.

The smile that spread across my face as I listened to this album for the first time was undeniable. As a Beastie fan dating from '92, I'm always nervous when a new release by them falls out of the sky. It seems pre-determined that as modern musical artists age, their work tends to decline. I can't say that the Beastie Boys are completely devoid of this, as it really does appear as though their *best* days are behind them. On the flip side of that, they aren't getting lazy, and they aren't simply relying on their name and past glory to get them through current releases.

To The 5 Burroughs was an album that, while good, fell into a bit of a niche. It had a strong political influence (being released in a pivotal election year), that was surrounded by dry, bottom-ed out, depressing beats (a style that was being used by MANY artists at the time.) While the album had plenty of highlights, it also featured a, what I would call, repetitive identity. It's hard to argue against the album being motivated by America's breach of security in the 9/11 attacks, and the seriousness of all of this that propagated the somewhat down-beat feel of this album. What most bothered me was the fact that Mix Master Mike put his stamp on 1998's Hello Nasty and, truly, became a member of the group. Like Slug and Ant in Atmosphere, MMM and the Beastie Boys just molded perfectly. That element seemed lacking on 5 Burroughs, and I can't help but feel somewhat disappointed by it because of that fact.

But fear not - because MMM is studio prominent once again!

What I can say about Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 is this - you haven't heard a Beastie Boys album that sounds like it.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS PEOPLE!

That means these guys are STILL evolving.

From bratty rap in '85 to the melting pot sample classic rap of '89 to instrument playing rock rap of '92 to collaborative punk rap of '94 to space age techno rap of '98 to retro beat bumpin' hip hop of '04 to funk instrumentation of '07 - they now show us an electro, grit infused, instrumentally distorted form of hip hop that...oh my god, sounds ORIGINAL. And it sounds original while including a little bit of all of the undermentioned.

These are the Beastie's we still love - innovative, original, and GOOD at what they do. They're clever, hilarious, smart, groove-inducing, head-bopping...I could give you all the adjectives in the world to describe them, but you already know them all. You'll still find the pop culture references and the vocal time changes that you've loved about every past album.

This album gives you, basically, every style of Beastie's music you've heard in the past at least once:

The classic Beastie 1,2,3 - 2,3,1 - 3,1,2 rhyme scheme.
The long 1 - 2 - 3 rhyme scheme, i.e. "three minute rule".
The unorganized verses scheme, i.e. "shadrach"
The collaboration routine with external artists.
The goofy, absurd track.
The punk rock track.
The instrumental track.
The filler track.

It's all here, and while none of them are the absolute best that you've heard them do (although STRONG consideration should be made for the placement of "Lee Majors Come Again" at the top of their punk rock pantheon) - they're still about as good as anything out there today.

If you're a Beastie Boys fan - don't be afraid of this album.

I'm crossing my fingers for a soon-to-be announced tour (pending MCA's health), and I encourage you all to get out there and see them if so - dance, sing along, be surprised by the beat changes - HAVE FUN!

The latter, being just what you'll do while listening to this album.

On the '94 track Root Down, MCA wrote a lyric concerning the tears running down his face because of how much he loved what he did.

It's still evident.

The Beastie Boys are still here, folks - and nobody can accuse them of growing tired of what they do.

Let's be honest, there aren't too many artists that can span three decades let alone make a profound impact on the world of music. These dudes were rapping back when hip-hop was just popping off! The Beastie's are a mixed bag. From party pioneers to doody-rhyme mad scientists, liberal social commentators that to this day can still sell out Madison Square Garden in minutes . The lyrical writing is fun like 'Pauls Boutique' , vocals tracked distorted and grimy like 'Ill Communication' layered over electronica a la 'Hello Nasty' with their heaviest hitting beats since 'Check Your Head.' As a matter of fact, I'd say this is their most hip-hop sounding album since their 92-94 era; A Fantastic Beastie Boys record!

If any fears lingered that the instrumental only album "The Mix-Up" was a sign of The Beastie Boys getting mellow in their old age, then "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" should put those fears to rest. Kicking off with their most infectious jam since "Intergalactic", this latest collection of songs finds the Boys sounding more alive and kicking than ever, acknowledging their age and longevity while still reveling in the occasional immature moment that makes them so much fun.
Live instruments dominate- snare drums, fuzzy bass, electric guitar, mixed with an odd assortment of electronic noises and DJ scratching. After the club rocking opener "Make Some Noise", "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" lays down a simpler James Brown-styled funk beat over which the Boys re-introduce themselves, urging one another to "Step up and grab the mic". The rhymes come fast and furious- some brilliant, some throwaway- but rapid enough to make you know you missed some and need to listen again. "OK" sounds like a late '70's Gary Numan track re-mixed by the Chemical Brothers. "Say It" is drenched in distorted bass, white noise, and random electronic noises that may or may not be a clue to the state of mind the Boys were in when the track was recorded. "Lee Majors Come Again" injects the Blitzkrieg Bop with a healthy dose of punk and helps close out the latter half of the album on an aggressive note similar to the one that kicked it off.
Hints of past Beastie accomplishments infuse several tracks, ranging from "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament", which sounds like an unreleased highlight from "The Mix-Up" sessions to "Long Burn the Fire", which sounds like "Sabotage" on downers; and while the phrase "don't stop" seems to pop up in every other song, it is "Tadlock's Glasses" that sounds most like that earlier track, only this time it's in the midst of an electronic bad trip. It sounds like a bad idea but it is a great listen!
Despite a couple of harmless missteps- the reggae infested "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" featuring Santigold, and "Crazy A## S@#t" which sounds like M.I.A. lite- this is one heck of a fun album. The jams are kicking, the rhymes are flying out the window, and despite pushing middle age and beyond, the Boys sound like they are having the time of their lives. "The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding is in my pants," spits Mike D, and "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two" is solid proof of a band at the height of its powers!

This would have been my favorite album in 1997. Seriously. The fourteen year old in me totally thinks this should have followed "Ill Communication" instead of the good but overstuffed "Hello Nasty", and totally thinks this record is hot.
The twenty eight year old in me? Well, I still like it, even if I don't love it. Like their previous non-instrumental record "To The 5 Boroughs", "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2" (part one being shelved following MCA's recent bout with cancer, though the track listing is the same, really) is not groundbreaking in any way, shape or form. Rather, it shows the Boys sticking with what they know and what they do well. And they do this sort of stuff- jazz and punk influenced hip-hop- better than nearly anyone.
The record suffers from some pacing problems, the tracks never really gelling together like they should. Also, the Boys process their vocals through distortion, another trick they learned on the one-two punch of goodness "Check Your Head" and "Ill Communication". It worked pretty well than, though it was my least favorite thing about those records, but here it doesn't work as well.
Also, though there are a few great songs, "Make Some Noise", "OK", "Too Many Rappers" (featuring an excellent guest appearance from Nas), and "Don't Play No Game I Can't Win", many of the songs don't really stand out from each other. The vocals and performances are energetic enough, but things just don't click the way that they should.
I like "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2" as much as I was expecting too, but not any more. It's a fun trip down memory lane for those who grew up on the Beastie's, but I can't see too many new fans picking this record up and really feeling it.
So if you liked the Boys, pick it up. You'll get what you're looking for. If you're new to the Boys, I'd recommend picking up any of their first five LP's over this. It still sounds fresher than most of what makes up this record.

I've been down with these cats since their single "SHE'S ON IT" back in 1986 and it's great to see these B-BOYS still wreckin'shop on the mic!What makes this release so dope is their tight flows and ILLMATIC style and delivery that they are so well known for. Like on the tracks, "MAKE SOME NOISE and "THE LARRY ROUTINE".The music on this release is close in sound to another FRESH album HELLO NASTY, in the way that it has more of an electronic sound to the beats and grooves.Such as on the track "TADLOCK'S GLASSES".Make no mistake however, these cats still freak THE FUNK on this release,check out "FUNKY DONKY".The style on this album is that of an east coast old school party club sound,the song in this case "DON'T PLAY NO GAME THAT I CAN'T WIN" featuring SANTIGOLD comes to mind. They even throw in a PUNK ROCK and groovin' JAZZ cut into the mix.This release is different than other BEASTIE albums but they still rep that flava they are so well known for.I still prefer the sound that DJ HURRICANE had with them from 1986 thru 1994 but the fact that these three live jews from my old town called N.Y.C can still rep after all this time says a lot about them as true HIP-HOP SOLDIERS!Buy this record if you still appreciate that old school funky sound when HIP-HOP was still about having a good time.This album is like a breath of fresh air compared to what is being put out today.It should not be a surprise, these dudes came up in the golden age of HIP-HOP on DEF JAM with cats like; RUN DMC,PUBLIC ENEMY,LL COOL J and WHODINI.HIP-HOP doesn't get better than that! WORD UP!

Upon first hearing this album, I thought it was a little top-heavy. I felt like the great, fleshed out songs were on the first half and the shorter, sketchier tracks were saved for the end. I always listen to an album a few times before forming a final opinion and I'm glad I did that here. Although it is true that the shorter tracks are at the end, that by no means indicates that the songs are worse...in fact the best song "Here's A Little Somethin' For Ya" is third from the last song. The whole album is energetic and fun and I'm going to go as far as to say that the group has put their best lyrics on this album. Not one line feels phoned in or tossed off. I mean, of course some of the lines are silly, goofy stuff but the Beasties have a lyrical bite and edge I haven't heard on another album of theirs. The music is dense and busy...great main rhythms and beats with lots of effects and samples peppering the tracks (you simply MUST hear the song "OK"; you will not be able to stay still while listening). It all works and it's all some pretty amazing stuff. This album is not only unlike any Beastie Boys album I've heard (don't worry, you will know it's them) but unlike any album I've heard, period. There is a futuristic vibe to the album that makes it exciting and brilliant. The fact that these guys at their age aren't just repeating past glories and are trying something new is so inspiring. This really is a great, refreshing and amazing album that will not soon leave my cd player. Way to go, guys!

What can I say, other than if you've enjoyed the Beastie Boys in the past, particularly the "Check Your Head" era, then get it. It's a fun album, with a number of killer tracks. The absolute best is "Lee Majors". That song made me grin ear to ear because it sounds like classic Beastie Boys. Hot Sauce is a nice return to the focus and energy of yester-years.

This is a good album and doesn't just rehash previous material, while still sounding very "Beastie Boys" and very "New York". They move things forward a bit without giving up any of their trademark sound.

The two collaboration tracks work pretty well.

If you don't like distorted Beastie vocals, you may not like this one much. Although there are a few songs where that doesn't happen, a lot of the tracks have vocals that are manipulated in one way or another, whether it's which severe reverb and echo or outright distortion.

It's way better on a good sound system than on earbuds. I actually found it a bit boring in places on earbuds, but it really spaces out on a good pair of speakers.

I saw one review that said it was their best since "Paul's Boutique". That may be true, but it's not as good as "Paul's Boutique" -- it lacks the cohesiveness and perfect flow from beginning to end, as well as the variety. Still, PB is a very, very hard act to follow and a product of its time that wouldn't work today -- so, this isn't a criticism.

If I had one criticism, I think it's one I'm making often lately: this feels like an album that should have been 10 tracks but the temptation to add more material turned out to be too great. It loses steam toward the end and would have been a better album with some of those latter tracks removed, I think.

Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 may as well be called Paul's Boutique 2 because both albums possess an off-kilter, hilarious, and schizophrenic attitude. And this is a good thing. While not their best album, nor their funkiest, it is a great addition to their legacy, and a big improvement over To The 5 Boroughs. Hot Sauce Committee Part 2: a must have for any Beastie fan.

Before I begin, I need to respond to comments I've read here and on other sites with reviews that make mention of that fact that the Beastie Boys are in their forties and therefore should hang it up. I'm a 43 year old woman and think that's absolute rubbish. We all know of popular "artists" in their 20's who sound like....Stop focusing on their age. They're just as good now as they were in the 1980's. There's more to forty than Botox. Make some noise, have some fun, stop being self-important about the fact that you aren't forty yet!

What I love about the Beastie Boys is all on this album. It's got lots the bass, instrumentals to "bug out" to, attitude, humor, party tunes, retro and most important of all, THEY DON'T TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY yet they make some seriously good music! There's even one for the mosh pit. I love that they have their own distinctive sound yet each song is unique just like everything else they've put out. I have a new car with extra loud bass and I'm the jerk who makes your windows rattle at a red light when I listen to this CD. : )