To the 5 Boroughs [VINYL]

To the 5 Boroughs captures the sound of the Beasties in their prime, spitting invective (as on the Bush-baiting "That's It That's All") over urgent bass-driven cuts with fortysomething voices that are as fresh as ever. They may be less concerned now with the Party than with a picnic ("grilled cheese", "flapjacks", "matzoh", "cholla", "falafel", "gorgonzola", "spaghetti" and "chicken tikka" all get a shout), but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. With age has come Buddhist-influenced wisdom, and gone are the misogynistic tendencies of old; these days they're more likely to be rapping about "the beach" rather than a bitch. Though these Beasties bring a message of love ("we gotta keep the party goin' on; all lifestyles sizes, shapes and forms") they're tighter and truer than ever. --Paul Eisinger