The Beastie Boys dialled back the frat swagger from Licensed to Ill, got some incredible Dust Brothers beats, and really went into overdrive intertwining their various lyrical strands to produce Paul's Boutique. Looking Down the Barrell of a Gun might just be the most frightening beat ever rapped over by a "novelty act" (as the group were still regarded at the time), and the lyrical wit on display makes the album's predecessor look like a miserable embarrassment

8/10

Absolutely stunning. Just a pure rush of adrenaline from start to finish. No tracks the album would have been better without (except maybe "Johnny Ryall", but it's still a good song). My personal favorites would have to be "The Sounds of Science", "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun", and "B-Boy Bouillabaisse".

Good samples and plenty of memorable lines. This was the first record of their's that I spent a lot of time listening to. Consequently I don't spend much time listening to their other records.

I first got into the beasties on Check Your Head. I really liked the fact that they played their own instruments and that album was very diverse and incredibly played. It wasn't until I got into this album (and it took a few listens) that I learned to love these guys as a team of vocalists. They way the three of them pick up each others lines and synch with each other as well as the masterfully placed samples is incredible. This aspect of the record lead me to believe that its a shame that there aren't more teams of MCs as there were at the dawn of the genre.

Best Beastie Boys album. Basically their first with improvements all the way around.

Fun album. Definitely an improvement from that first album.

Hayden, which album do you think is the beastie's best?

The End Abbey Road, Sgt Peppers, Dance to the music by Sly and the Family Stone...

What else do you guys (especially those that have heard it more often) find in this album?

"What's cooler than getting sued by the Beatles?" Well, this album most certainly is.

If "Ill" put them on the map, this CD let the world know the Beasties were legit and here to stay. Arguable their finest work ever.