Paul's Boutique Review: A Sample-Laden Masterpiece
9.5/10 — Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
Pros
- Dense, inventive sampling
- Playful wordplay
- 'Shake Your Rump'
Cons
- Juvenile lyrics in places
Paul’s Boutique was made with the Dust Brothers and flopped on release, but became a cult favourite. It is built from hundreds of samples, from the Beatles to the Ramones.
What works
‘Hey Ladies’, ‘Shake Your Rump’ and ‘Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun’ are packed with detail, and the rapid-fire wordplay is funny and playful. The production is dense, and the closing ‘B-Boy Bouillabaisse’ is a highlight.
Where it falters
The amount of sampling would make it impossible to clear today, and some lyrics are juvenile.
Verdict
A funny, funky and inventive classic.
