Containing instrumental versions of previously released vocal tracks (everything from
MF Doom's
Operation: Doomsday to his work with
K.M.D. and
Monster Island Czars is represented here), a handful of previously vinyl-only cuts and some borrowed guest tracks from the likes of
DJ Spinna,
DJ Cucumber Slice, and
Doom's long-lamented little brother
DJ Sub-Roc,
Special Herbs, Vol. 1 & 2 is a mish-mash of
prog-inflected beats and crackpot schematics that wavers between being a little overlong and flirting with divine inspiration. Longtime fans shouldn't be fooled by the seemingly fresh track titles, though -- in keeping with the album's theme, even the most familiar beats have been renamed. In spite of
MF Doom's signature production, which casts
prog music's liquid tones on a variety of organic instruments, a few of these recycled cuts (
"Arrow Root," "Mullein") suffer from repetition when unveiled in instrumental form. Sandwiched between some of the more trying loops, however, are some dazzlingly inventive offerings, namely the '70s cop-drama squeal of
"Coriander," the rolling crush of
"Fenugreek," the wiffly flutes of
"Nettle Leaves," and the plush, liquid soul of
"Monosodium Glutamate." Even the much-maligned low-budget game show cheese of
"Zatar" deserves a nod, if nothing else than for its sheer imagination. ~ Mark Pytlik
