| The first thing that attracted me to Omid's new CD, Monolith, was its cover. It is very edgy and modern, a black and white shot that makes you feel like you're looking up at skyscrapers. Soon, I discovered that's not the only interesting feature of the CD. The album starts with an instrumental piece, electronic and spacey. Two tracks on the album feature Hymnal. The last track, "Club Apotheosis," is particularly good. Hymnal's excellent rapping along with its interesting beat and the orchestral, almost garden-music feeling background makes the song extraordinary. The most addicting and inspired track is "Double Header," featuring Buck 65. It begins with carousel-like sound, which continues through the song, part of the song's amazingly addictive power. The lyrics, like most of the lyrics on the album, wander and follow tangents. Seemingly simple, you get the feeling that much more lurks beneath the surface. The diversity of the tracks is amazing. "Live from Tokyo" features rapping and good scratching. It is followed by "Sound of the Sitar," a Middle Eastern/Indian track with a modern feel and a hypnotic effect. The electronic "Research" breaks up the vocals; it is too repetitive and spacey but it's not bad for electronica. "Speakers Hot" is also an instrumental piece, but it is more beat heavy and less electronic. "I'm Just a Bill" features some great, fast rapping, as does "Shock and Awe," which almost sounds like a normal rap song except for the nontraditional instruments in the background and a funky beat. "Myth Behind the Man" while less intense, is similarly impressive. "Ripple Study" really does sound like that- a study of rippling sound, and it is followed by a piano-dominated track with jazz influences. As diverse as the tracks are, the album is bound together by a distinct creative drive and idea. It takes a certain open-mindedness to appreciate the unique blend of ideas in the album-but its not hard work since the music is so addicting. The songs definitely fit the cover: modern, bold, and uplifting. - Harvard Independent |
2XLP/Out Of Print