As a long time fan of MMW I have experienced various phases when dealing with this band. When I first heard their music, I was sure that I had discovered what was going to become one of my favorite bands of all time. Within a year, the feeling had faded and they had become just one more obscure reference within my cd collection and a recommendation to any of my friends who like new jazz music. Then MMW released Combustication in 1998 and all of the previously filed away music under the M's with their name on it resurfaced to the three disc changer I had recently purchased in that same year.

By the time their next cd came out, MMW had once again faded into the shadows of my cd collection. The Tonic cd, released in April of 2000, a live acoustic effort by the band, did nothing to change this fact and it really only got 1 or 2 listens. I never gave it much of a chance. Now, The Dropper, just recently released is having the same affect as Combustication.

For those of you new to MMW, the band is made up of John Medeski, Billy Martin, and Chris Wood. I would tell you what instruments each plays but the list would be quite long. Lets suffice it to say, Organ, Drums, and Bass only. Now expand that to include every type of drum and every type of bass you can think of. Now you got it. Martin's list of drums even ends in a '...' on this latest album. I think he uses every dot listed as well.

The Dropper, at first listen, and I mean the first seconds, scared me and I was sure that these guys were 'dropping,' as the songs all seem to start out in a randomly assembled collection of sounds. Don't lose faith like me though. Each eventually builds into a multi-layered rhythm, filled with textures, and guised in apparent confusion. However, these guys are anything but confused.

Warning though, this is the most experimentation I have heard on any of their albums, and at times it does take a patient ear. Remember the phrase about good things coming to... That's all I have to say along those lines as I try to avoid trite clichés.

The album does hark back to Combustication in some moments with a heavy rhythm and dance beat. However, the jazz is much more evident on this album than Combustication which included a DJ in the mix. Guests on this album include a veteran Sun Ra Alto Sax, Marshall Allen, Marc Ribot on guitars (adding a calm Mahavishnu Orchestra flair), and a violin by Charlie Burnham. As always, the guests make the MMW album unique and these guests deliver. The same applies with MMW guesting on other albums and if you're a John Scofield fan, check out their collaboration with him called A Go Go (very funky, very chill).

In a slight conclusion, this album has a lot of groove and has resurfaced the MMW collection of my own. If you want a first MMW, go with Combustication or prior, I have a feeling this one might be tough for first-timers. Tonic is now getting its chance and all the others are back on the 3 disc changer (which is still alive and kicking, just ask my neighbors).