Beastie Boys — To The 5 Boroughs

On their first album since 1998, the Beastie Boys defy the expectation that they would some day lose their magic. Twenty-three years after the trio's conception, they're as brash as ever. Boroughs consists of clear, often hysterical rhymes layered over B-Boys’ least cluttered production to date (veteran fans may balk at the lack of hardcore influence and sample mashing). Simple, yes, but a wealth of pop cultural detritus runs through the album. Depth also comes from the mature presence of post-9/11 love, anti-George W commentary and subtle social awareness. The disc is balanced, tight and old-school, almost to a point of irony, and if there's justice in this world, the Beastie Boys’ sixth release will be THE album of summer ‘04 and beyond.

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