Looking at this album’s CD cover, I couldn’t help but think that this album is some sort of musical liaison between this world and that psychedelic world of hallucinogenic madness lying within our minds. Listening to this beautiful concoction of experimental acidic jazz requires the exploration of new realms of critical commentary, as regarding this development in any other light would undoubtedly contaminate the pure experience of the beautifully random nature of The Dropper.

Wildly experimental from its inception, this record takes you on a roller coaster ride through soundscapes typically reserved for early morning wall-watching sessions. "We Are Rolling" sets the stage, building anticipation through an intense session of percussive seizure, before pouring into a mellow cocktail of drum and bass. "We Are Rolling" is one of the easiest pieces to describe on The Dropper, as it obviously seeks to mold something tangible from a chaos of sound. Moving from the easily decipherable to the frustratingly cryptic, Medeski Martin and Wood progress from rapid, Latin-sounding "Felic" into brooding, percussive "Illinization." Further along in The Dropper, the title track, "The Dropper" is the first in a refreshingly whimsical series of songs in which Medeski’s keyboard work in alliance with a series of appropriate samples, provides a welcome levity not present early on in this album. Anchored by Martin’s drumming, The Dropper saunters to it’s conclusion, ending up with the enigmatic strings of "Norah 6."

By no means an easy listen, The Dropper remains interesting through its conclusion. In this case, interesting also means strangely enjoyable. Some music can be labeled as good or bad rather quickly, and without much thought being devoted to the categorization given. This album, on the other hand, makes you think about what’s going on in the music: where it’s going, how the different pieces come together, etc. In order to fully appreciate Medeski Martin and Wood’s work, you have to think about the music, and thinking about the music highlights the wonderful complexity of the music, the very complexity that makes The Dropper one excellent album.