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Beastie Boys ‘Solid Gold Hits’ Following the all-encompassing 42-track hits ‘n’ rarities anthology package (1999’s ‘Sounds Of Science’) this 15-track Greatest Hits is targetted at the less obsessive listener. There’s no new material here to pull in the collectors. From 1986’s ‘Fight For Your Right To Party’ to 2005’s ‘An Open Letter To NYC’ this is simply fifteen of the bands biggest cuts. But regardless of what the immediacy of super-hits ‘Intergalactic’ and ‘Sabotage’ may suggest, the trio have never been a ‘singles band’ per se. So while the indisputable genius of ‘So Watcha Want’, ‘Shake Your Rump’ and ‘Sure Shot’ may have won them worldwide acclaim, they never truly represent the full spectrum of the band’s beats, rhymes, electronica and Tibetan monk-inspired diversity. Instead this collection takes the 7” releases from each of the band’s six major studio albums, producing a 50-minute bite-size introduction to the trio’s history. And, unsurprisingly, there’re few low points. The original lax drag of ‘Body Movin’ is wisely replaced by the Fatboy Slim remix, while the frat-boy gurning of ‘Brass Monkey’ tips the balance a little too far toward the group’s early misogynistic posturing. All things considered, this is a superficial yet pleasurable trip through the band’s history, and even if the tracklisting isn’t arranged chronologically to chart the Beastie Boys’ evolution, it mostly does exactly what it says on the tin. Altogether now: “rap-rap-rap-rap-rap-rap-SHOUT!” (repeat ad infinitum). Jon Ford Beastie Boys ‘Solid Gold Hits’ (Parlophone) Released Novemeber 7 2005. Agree / disagree with this review? Discuss it on the messageboard or email the editor: Back to Reviews homepage
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