Published on Aug 14, 1997
The second effort from the Beastie Boys,
Paul’s Boutique, is another LP which is semi criminal not to
review, to not own – locked up – no trial.
Paul’s Boutique is
the business – Geek Rock, Trip Hop, Cut’n’Paste etc, etc –
this LP is to mid 90’s nerd culture as the Stooges were to punk or
the Jam were to Brit Pop; all of this and recorded in 1989.
By 1989 the Boys from Brooklyn were in a dilemma – more
MTV-happy fodder like “Fight For Your Right,” or the crazyness
offered by the Dust Brothers (their new amigos).
True to form the Beasties opted for the latter. Think Pepperland
and
Yellow Submarine, when trying to establish a groundwork to
first experience
Paul’s Boutique (which incidently is named after a genuine
shop in Brooklyn, New York). Between them, the Beasties and the
Dust Brothers created a new Brooklyn, a psychedelic Brooklyn –
spliced and intercut with one of the most sample happy LPs in
existence.
Samples are endless and everywhere –
Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd, Hendrix ’67, Curtis
Mayfield’s Superfly, the Ramones, Sly and the Family Stone’s deep
funk period and Sgt Pepper Beatles themselves (how they got
permission for that I’ll never know). Lyrically its typical
Beasties; sample “I stay up all night I go to sleep watching
Dragnet / Never sleep alone because Jimmy is the magnet”.
Paul’s Boutique was reviewed well, but met with commercial
failure.
By 1994 with the first Mo’Wax excursions from DJ Shodow –
In-Flux – and Lavelle’s obsession with all things remotely
“Soundtrack”, to Beck and Hollywood’s Sukia (and their current
classic 45 “The Dream Machine”)
Paul’s Boutique had its revenge and today remains a triumph
of the imagination in music world of easy options and minimal risk
taking.
Please pleasure your senses.