Beastie Boys cover immense sonic ground in their 1989 sophomore effort. It’s a record that celebrates abrupt dynamic shifts, sampling a grand total of 105 (!!!) songs plucked from a massive grab bag of funk, prog, punk, and rock influences. You have what sounds like a MIDI keyboard played underwater in “Car Thief” as well as the dystopian sounds of farm animals in distress during the first two minutes of “Sounds of Science”. In other words, Paul’s Boutique keeps you (blissfully) guessing during the entirety of its 53 minute runtime.
Lyrically the record covers a similarly extensive scope, with Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock cascading over each other like an unrelenting wave to deliver their bars.
Their razor sharp wit and infamous humor are all here of course, but what truly stands out is the trio’s intimate storytelling chops. From the autobiographical “Egg Man”, which features degenerate hoodlums sowing chaos on the streets of Los Angeles, to the intimate portrait of a former rockabilly star turned neighborhood vagrant in “Johnny Ryall”, these focused vignettes hit the hardest.
Amongst all the tongue in cheek bravado, this is where the Beastie Boys truly shine.
Standout Songs: “Egg Man”, “The Sounds of Science”, “Johnny Ryall”
