Hot Sauce Committee Part 2: THE REVIEW

intro

There are times when I feel like I'm the biggest Beastie Boys fan on the island and this fact is confirmed every time they launch a new album. Now of course because I wasn't even born when their 2nd album was launched [Paul's Boutique] I can only remember the launch of two of their albums, To The 5 Boroughs and The Mix-Up.

Now despite seeing these I have never, ever, ever seen an album launched in such a manner. As you may have noticed there is no Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 [at least not yet] The album was shelved as one of their members, MCA, had to undergo cancer treatment. Fast forward 3 year later, MCA is better and the Beastie Boys have the album almost done but the tracks are kinda stale. They hire some French dude to spice it up and add some pizazz, the result is such a reshaped album that the Beastie Boys decided to name it Hot Sauce Committee Part 2. Upon launching the album the Beastie Boys underwent various launch methods, first they previewed every track, then they released one song, then they released a short film based on the first song, then they played the entire album on a boombox in the middle of Madison Square Garden and streamed it, then they made the whole album available to listen on their website [which u can listen to hear] So without further ado, the album.

1) make some noise

The first song of the album and by far my favorite. The track is unique to any other Beastie Boy song I've heard before, the closest I could think of was a cleaner, more updated version of Super Disco Breaking. The opening synthesizers just wow you and the only word to describe it is dope. The rapping is typical Beastie Boys with each member taking about 4 bars and then swapping with another member, this method ensures the rhymes are not story like but more entertaining almost like a freestyle. The best part of the whole song however is the 8 second cowbell solo. Confused, here's the video:

2) nonstop disco powerpack

This song is even more freestyling than make some noise. The track makes it sound as if the Beastie Boys were in an alley just spitting some rhymes. It really is a cool song that reminds me a lot of 3 MC's and 1 DJ in terms of rawness. Even down to the instruments being played by the Beasties on the track shows how organic this is. Really lovely rap record.

3) ok

This is the only [wait for it] ok track on the whole album. The beat is kinda catchy but not as addictive as other tracks. I really don't have much else to say about it other than it's listenable.

4) too many rappers [new reactionaries version] ft nas

This was the first track to be released from the album unofficially and pretty much started the hype surrounding the first hot sauce committee. When part 2 came along this was one of the few songs that were remixed and re-released. The remixing on the track gives it some more bass and a slight dubstep background to the track to accompany the blaring drum background. This track is evidence as to how fine tuning and extra time has helped this album for the better. Nas' position on the track blends him in easily with the other Beasties almost making you have to stop and wondering if that really is him on it.

5) say it

"to the heart of the matter, the mic i shatter, so cold on the mic i make your teeth chatter" these lines throw deep rooted dope rap lines in a sort of punk rock styled beat. This track seems to be one of the fan favorites primarily because I feel it attracts the fans who like the "Sabotage" style of things. The outro is dope btw

6) the bill harper collection

its a filler track

7) dont play no game that i cant win ft santigold

Quite possibly the track I anticipated the most, I was kinda disappointed though [i guess cause i was expecting something along the lines of "My Drive Thru" but instead this track [a very indie sound with a dub/reggae like start] actually should be titled as santigold ft the beastie boys not only due to her voice covering most of the album but also due to the fact that it would fit better on her albums. However I really do love the dub references.

8) long burn the fire

Similar in sound to say it but a bit lesser on the finesse side. The rhymes are however more entertaining and less serious. The beat is quite dope but spoiled heavily the intro. It has potential to be a better track but it is a good attempt so for.

9) funky donkey

As the name suggests, this is one of their more goofier tracks. "go shave a sheep and itch yourself a sweater" you cant help but laugh at rhymes like that. The purpose of this track is to raise spirits and give the Beastie's space to goof off.

10) the larry routine

Coninuing aalong the lines of funky donkey, the larry routine would be best suited as its outro to help match it funkiness.

11) taldock's glasses

The name used is actually the original title of the album but was changed later. The song features a very opium den type feel that would feel right at home on their To the 5 Boroughs album

12) lee major's come again

Another punk rock track that has quickly overtaken Sabotage as my favorite rock style song from the Beasties. The high pace is matched with well timed lyrics as a opposed to shouting. When Run DMC had to rap on an Aerosmith to walk this way they complained of how difficult it was, I'm sure the task the Beastie's set upon themselves for this track was even harder and could have possibly been a big flop. But it worked well.

13) multilateral nuclear disarmament

Pretty much a funk/jazz instrumental track typically found on most Beastie Boys albums. I think an accurate term for this is lounge music. Loved it, brought back memories of The Mix-Up and would be a perfect candidate if there was a re-issue of The In Sound of Way Out

14) here's a little something for ya'

I first heard this track as a remix used in the DJ Hero video game. I must admit, DJ Shadow's remix of it [which you can hear here]. There is a beat break in the middle with a very funky beat that I feel would have fit the rest of the track better. It in essence is a track that feels lacking but swap at least there's a remix which fixes it.

15) crazy ass shit

A short little vibing hit with a cool head bobbing beat. The mixing of the song brings back memories of Paul's Boutique in terms of the random samples which occur every now and then [especially in the hook] I would have loved to hear a longer version

16) the lisa lisa / full force routine

THIS SONG SHOULD BE LONGER IT IS SO DOPE. Just like Flute Loop , the Beasties have created a song which I love to be longer. I MEAN IT IS SO COOL. In fact the name is longer than the whole song -_-

bonus tracks

17) pop your balloon

Another song I heard with the early release group, never too fancied it from the beginning, still don't like it now. Its not that its bad or anything is just that whole Indian feel to it, I don't feel it. [you can listen to this one here]

18) b-boys in the cut

Another one of those pre album tracks that I only recently found out made it [wait for it] in the cut. This track is up there as one of my favorites on the album. Between the lyrics, the beat and addition 0f the Larry Routine as an outro makes this just plain awesome. By far the best set of lyrics on the entire album with every bar filled with cool stories. [you can listen to this one here]

the video

x) fight for your right-revisited

[watch it here] and make your own comments, really lovely. [you might want to watch the original fight for your right here]

assuming you've watched it already, the references are awesome with an insanely packed star studded cast playing the beastie boys and just everyday average citizens all set to the instrumentals of Make Some Noise. Around the 6:19 mark you'll see a random dude get out of the back of a cab, that random dude is a reference to a random dude seen in the Ch-Check It Out video. Around the 8:00 mark it gets all star studded and crazy when they enter a restaurant run by Ted Danson [a reference is made in the song about him and Mike D opening a restaurant] a random dude outside this restaurant at one point accompanied the other random dude mentioned earlier in the video in the same Ch-Check It Out video. Afterwards around the 10:40 mark a long cowbell loop is played in the back of the limo while Ad -Rock gets stabbed. A minute later, Will Ferrel plays the most epic cowbell solo EVAR.

The song continues with the beasties high as hell and eventually ending up having a break dancing contest with the beaties from the future and in the end they get arrested by the real Beastie Boys. In these closing parts, clips from Too Many Rappers and Say It can be heard.

Result: pure lols

Conclusion

Without saying anymore, it is already my second favorite Beastie album right behind Paul's Boutique. I've already said all that has to be said about this album track by track and I really can't wait for the release of part 1

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