It’s been a good few years since the Beastie Boys last launched themselves at us with their infectious and fun-filled grooves, so this new album is very welcome. But it’s also a departure since the band has produced this missile themselves, for the first time. The album has taken two years to complete, in which time far more lethal armoury has been thrown with potentially devastating implications for us all.

Opening track, Ch-check It Out opens with killer drum machine shards piercing the air, accompanied by a set of lyrics of which ‘Motherfucker’ is a familiar refrain, with an open critique of the MC industry dominating. It’s both serious and funny, while kicking the album off sharply. The guys have gone back to samples for this album and the next paean to peace, love and the more recent American way (“The USA attacking other nations…”) Right Now Right Now is one of several examples.

Gone are the catchy melodies, replaced by messages of angst with percussive samples that add a funky ambience to every song. If I’m not mistaken an Adam Ant sample is used on one of the album highlights, Rhyme The Rhyme Well, and is perfectly judged. I get the distinct feeling here that the guys are cocking a hoop at other hip-hop artists, including Eminem, whose largely introspective work fails to truly identify greater USA and world ills. In effect, TO THE 5 BOROUGHS is rhyme and reason laced with sounds and production to get the messages home. As a consequence, the album is a grower rather than one that instantly gratifies with strong melody and friendly beats. It’s a brave album from a band that has put its skills to the best use, and in the process told many home truths. It is also the band’s best album yet.

4/5