Album: Monster

Introduction
"Monster" is a 1980 album by American jazz artist Herbie Hancock, released through Columbia Records. This album marked a significant departure from his previous jazz-fusion oriented work, as it welcomes the popular influences of funk, R&B, and disco, while still retaining some experimentation with synthesizers and electronic sounds. The record, which was produced by Hancock himself together with David Rubinson, consists of 7 initial compositions that show a large range of musical styles and serves as a creative statement from one of jazz's greatest innovators.

Background
In the late 1970s, Herbie Hancock started to explore brand-new musical areas and try out various categories beyond jazz. He achieved industrial success with his 1973 jazz-fusion album "Headhunters", which combined aspects of funk, jazz, and R&B in a groundbreaking fashion. Continuing this trend, "Monster" was a method for Hancock to showcase his versatility and additional develop himself as a truly ingenious force in the music market. His foray into various genres and sonic experimentation created an unique noise, and the album ultimately aimed to captivate both jazz perfectionists and fans of contemporary popular song.

Musical Style and Themes
Throughout "Monster", Herbie Hancock displays remarkable technical skill and a knack for blending categories to produce a seem like no other. The album contains tracks that display the influence of funk ("Saturday Night"), R&B ("Go for It"), disco ("Making Love"), and even a touch of rock ("It All Comes Around"). These tracks feature strong grooves, memorable tunes, and impressive crucial plans, that make them all highly available and satisfying for a wide variety of audiences.

One of the album's most significant qualities is Hancock's substantial usage of synthesizers, which functions as a sonic theme throughout the record. From the strong and biting sounds in the opening track "Saturday Night" to the ethereal and climatic tones of "Stars in Your Eyes", the vibrant and diverse synthesizer work adds an interesting and futuristic edge to the album's total noise.

Lyrically, "Monster" takes on a range of styles, consisting of love, relationships, and self-empowerment. The positive and uplifting messages are evident in songs like "Go for It" and "Don't Hold It In", both encouraging the listener to follow their desires and trust themselves. While some fans may miss out on the more complex and reflective styles that were popular in Hancock's earlier work, the vibrant and feel-good nature of "Monster" lends itself well to its funk and disco-inspired tunes.

Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, "Monster" received mixed reviews from critics, who were divided on its musical style and departure from Hancock's jazz roots. While some applauded the album's catchy tunes and infectious grooves, others felt that the pop-oriented method was a departure from the elegance of his previous work.

In spite of the mixed reception, "Monster" carried out well commercially, reaching No. 25 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, and spawned 2 hit singles, "Saturday Night" and "Stars in Your Eyes".

In retrospect, "Monster" functions as an important milestone in Herbie Hancock's profession, showcasing his determination to push borders and break brand-new musical ground. The album remains an appealing and crucial piece of his discography and offers important insight into his ever-evolving musical identity.