TBTS Reviews: Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2

After being previously amped about a new Beastie Boys CD, upon repeated listening I am feeling more than a little bit let down. Admittedly, I may have fallen into the trap of letting my expectations run wild over this one, but nevertheless I dug deep into Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 (Capitol) and still found it wanting. The arrangements lean heavily toward the overly repetitive and the lyrics lack energy and dynamics both. “Make Some Noise” is a fair lead off track as one of the discs few highlights, but Hot Sauce doesn’t take long to veer off course.

The Beastie Boys made a smart move by pulling in a couple guest stars to liven things up. Nas (on Too Many Rappers”) and Santigold (on “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win”) both lend their talents, each adding a much needed spice to the mix, but it’s just not enough to rescue the dish. The BB’s did throw some of their trademark filler mini tracks in the pot, and songs like “Say It” and “Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament” definitely have an old school Beastie feel, but are still missing some unspecified key ingredient.

Most of the songs on Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 don’t really go anywhere in particular and although many of the cuts have a slick groove or some retro funk sounds, that’s all they have. I loved Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and The In Sound From Way Out. Truth be told, I was hoping for something a little more along the lines of the originality and flavor of those discs, rather than yesterday’s reheated leftovers. Hot Sauce isn’t a bad album, but it’s not a very good one either. Sadly, I would have to classify it as below average compared to the rest of their catalogue. Here’s hoping their next release knocks it out of the park.