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With 'To The 5 Boroughs' the Beastie Boys have returned, and yet again shown they're incapable of making a bad record. 'Licence To Ill' and 'Pauls Boutique' hold their own in the history of hip hop, while the next 3 records ('Check Your Head', 'Ill Communication' and 98's 'Hello Nasty') showed the Beasties talent in a variety of ways.So, 6 years on, and what's different? Well firstly, TT5B remains a focused hip hop record throughout, mixing new technology, their old skool past, and trademark rapping over a variety of beats. Opener, and first single, 'Ch-Check It Out' is everything you'd want from the Beasties. Brass sample circle in and out over a heavy, fast and old skool beat, with the Boys rhyming in turns rather skillfully...and also boasts a cracking chorus, letting you know the Beastie Boys are well and truly back for 2004.From then on, it's a highly enjoyable listen. While very much one for the B-Boys and B-Girls, the record manages to stay clear of sounding the same throughout. You also come to realize that songs such as 'Right Right Now Now', 'Triple Trouble' and 'Thats It Thats All' are as good as anything the Beasties have done in the past, and in terms of rapping, perhaps better.Obviously if you are looking for a record to rival 'Ill Communication' in variety and talent, then this isn't what you are looking for. However, in the modern world where so called Hip Hop artists are selling the same song over and over, its refreshing to see the Beasties come out with a quality album that can rival any other Hip Hop artist out there. As the title would suggest, New York has plenty of shout outs, and the Beasties let their political views through on several tracks as well. The outstanding 'It Takes Time To Build', while with its political content, has some brilliant beats and again excellent rhyming, and is a highlight. The track that really hits you though is 'An Open Letter to NYC', an at times emotional tribute to the city that means so much to them.The production from the Boys themselves is second to none, and is a decent reminder to their talents in this field too. A welcome, and very strong return.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I'm really reluctant to write a bad review, but this album is frankly poo compared to their other work. First track and single 'Check it out' is funky, funny and represents everything good about the Beasties. After that the album falls apart spectacularly! Mediocre, uninspired samples and mixes. Lyrics and rhymes that remind me of my efforts as a teenager. Worst of all are the earnest political messages, which, whilst I wholeheartedly endorse, seem clunky and almost irritating in this context.It gets two stars instead of one 'cos I love 'Check it out'...

Rating: 2 out of 5

Hmmm. The first upsetting Beastie release. I read the negative reviews on amazon.com (much more reviews over there than on the uk site) but still went ahead and bought this album. Bad move. There are frankly no tunes on this record!! The Beasties include all the lyrics, an attempt to possibly take your mind off the fact there is no music to enjoy? Basically this is just the boys rapping over lame beats. Over and over. Each track sounds the same and I got bored halfway through the album and switched it off - I mean, how bad is that? One of the things I like about the B.Boys is that their albums have variety - funk/rap/rock/punk/disco/hip hop but this album is hip hop 100%. I knew that before I bought it so I wasn't put-off by that fact, I was put-off because each song sounds lame. It's a boring CD, don't waste your money. My faves are Licensed To Ill, Check Your Head and Hello Nasty.

Rating: 2 out of 5

especially if you've spent money on it and there is that ever present need to sift through the CD and declare that there are "a couple of good tracks on it" but, having gone back and listened again, I think it's fair to say that this is possibly the worst album ever made by a once great band. Contemptuous!

Rating: 1 out of 5