Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Label: Capitol

You may think that four years is a long gap between albums, but take a look at the Beasties' discography: They've always taken their time with new releases. (And this time they had to give MCA a chance to deal with a cancerous tumor—which it appears he's done.) So what new Beastie-innovating comes down on Hot Sauce Committee Part Two? Hardly any! This is that classic Beasties sound you've loved since they evolved from bratty punks into hip-hop (now somewhat elder) statesmen: deep grooves, multicolored samples drawn from all over the place, and three MCs with a telepathic sense of rhythm and rhyme—and a good Rolodex. Check out the booming "Too Many Rappers" with Nas, not to mention the slinky "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win," a possible pop hit due in no small part to Santigold's sing-songy vocal. Elsewhere, it's business as usual, and Beastie business is good. Still!