REVIEW: Beastie Boys, The Sounds of Science (Grand Royal / Capitol)
- Bob Gajarsky
Beastie Boys have had an amazingly tumultous career. Booed offstage while supporting Madonna on her Like A Virgin tour, the Beasties captured America's attention for their raucous behavior. While Licensed to Ill sold zillions, frat boys rappped and fought for the right to party...and then poof! The Beasties grew up.
Paul's Boutique became the record that critics loved, and Licensed fans hated. The smorgasbord that formed "Hey Ladies" was typical for the album; a hodgepodge of songs such as Roger's "So Ruff So Tuff", Zapp II's "Dance Floor", Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz", Kurtis Blow's "Party Time", Jeanette Day "Come Let Me Love You", B-Side and Fab Five Freddy "Change Le Beat" unofficially comprised the core of the album's one 'hit'. And by displaying their (and the Dust Brothers') record collection instead of their inflatable penises, the Beasties suddenly became en vogue. Without the frat boys.
Subsequent 'regular' albums - Check Your Head, Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, along with the EPs and various B-sides - only served to strengthen their fan base. And, now, their hits - coupled with plenty of outtakes and other assorted goodies - are collected on the 2-CD Sounds of Science.
In this setting, it's amazing that "Fight For Your Right" was ever recorded at all. Hip-hop by white boys from New York is what the Beasties have been about, and Science drives that point home with an exclamation point. And even when goofing around - yes, it's Elton John's "Benny and the Jets", the quirky "Country Mike's Theme" - the Beasties somehow manage to stay true to their roots without selling out to the man. The Tibetan-inspired "Bodhisattva Vow" was the Beasties contribution to the new-found political and religious beliefs.
In the end, the Beasties' greatest contribution may be inspiring their fans to go to the record shops to dig out the old vinyl that provide the unique musical soundscape for their songs. But in lieu of that, check out Sounds of Science.
