I was pleased to learn recently that one of the most important albums of the past 25 years was remastered, and re-released: “Paul’s Boutique“, by the Beastie Boys. I played this album (cassette, then CD) to death (really). It’s one of the most lyrically-complex albums (that I’ve heard), and I can recite 95% of the lyrics from memory—that’s how many plays this sucker got.
This LP was a radical departure for the 3 lads from Brooklyn (well, 2 from Brooklyn, 1 from Manhattan)—at the time, they were expected by Capitol Records to release another “License to Ill“, and they did anything but. They split for LA, expanded their minds, and ears, and released this masterpiece in the summer of 1989.
At the time, Paul’s Boutique was a commercial failure. Panned by many music critics (but not all), and from what I’ve read since then, most felt that their 15 minutes were up. I didn’t know what to think—I was most likely too young at the time to pass any judgement on them. All I knew, is that I had never heard anything like it before, and I don’t think I’ve heard anything quite like it since. Time has been very kind to Paul’s Boutique (and the Beastie Boys). The album continues to make many top-album lists (including Rolling Stone, which, if I am not mistaken, panned it back in ‘89).
I recommend everyone experience this sonic adventure—’specially the new remastered version, but I hope most of you have by now…
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