Credits:

Mf Doom

Description:

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 instr