RZA’s first solo album, the soundtrack to a film involving experimental self-transformation, has many of the same fractured strings and crisp, staccato beats he made trademarks on Wu-Tang Clan recordings. In fact, this could well be a Wu-Tang album, even more so than the legion of other related albums. The only contributors to the project are Wu members (Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck) or relatives (Killarmy, Masta Killa, Sunz of Man). Bobby Digital in Stereo is also a more focused work than the last Wu-Tang Clan album (Forever), and just a bit more diverse. Though the hooks aren’t as big and the raps aren’t as upfront, this is a producer’s album, designed to showcase RZA’s talents in the control room, not in front of the mic. – Keith Farley