They say all good things come to those who wait… Well my friends, after nearly 4 years in the making, the wait is finally over: the one and only Omid has graced us with another stellar album entitled “Shabeh Milaad.” Riding off the success of his previous masterpiece “Entezaar,” his new collection boasts a wide variety of styles ranging from the upbeat floor-fillers to the romantic ballads that he is known for. Knowing that Omid takes his time between releases really increased my anticipation for this album and he did not disappoint one bit.

Omid is an artist that equates quality. He doesn’t rush his releases and doesn’t feel the need to do so to stay relevant (evident in the nearly routine 4-year gaps between his albums). His works are solid, unified pieces that from beginning to end tell a story and those who have heard his musical opus “Piroozi” and his prior release “Entezaar” can see the he tries to experiment in musical avenues that he has yet to endeavor in. These characteristics of his work make him truly stand out in another artistic realm, in my opinion. When you combine his voice with the musical talents of some of the industry’s finest, you get a masterpiece every single time and that is what we have all come to expect from this artist. “Shabeh Milaad” contains 9 tracks and is released via Avang Records.

1. AAYEH HAAYEH BAARAANI: I am a sucker for Omid’s ballads, always have and always will be. There is just something about his ballads that touch you… It could be the mesmerizing music or his vocal instrument that carries you away but once I heard the almost cinematic opening followed by Masoud Amini’s spoken words I knew I was in for a treat. Then the voice came into the picture… A wonderful vocal performance leads into a musical twist as the ballad transforms into an almost Turkish/Arab-esque number. This was not quite the romantic opener I was expecting, but it was a rather good surprise to kick start the album with.

2. FARYAAD FARYAAD: Up next is my absolute favorite track on this album. This has to be one of the most uplifting songs I have heard from him a good while. The beauty of this track lies in its construction: taking the pulsing, almost euphoric speed of the musical arrangements of his “Entezaar” album and combining them with the more classic and refined dance tracks of his prior releases gives you a track that is a perfect mélange of old and new. The song is very futuristic yet very humbling and classic at the same time. The orchestral layering over the percussion adds depth to what could have been just another dance heavy track. It’s that extra attention to detail that really drew me to this track. Pure pop perfection!

3. SHABEH MILAAD: The album takes another musical turn and tones down the dancing for the time being. From the opening notes of a guitar with a backing orchestral you know this is one of those songs that screams instant Omid classic. The first true ballad of the album is upon us and it is in Omid’s standard musical style. If it’s not broken, then don’t try to fix it… The subtle Latin (and almost waltz-like) construction of the track is a perfect combination with his voice as he vocally dances around the sultry rhythm of the track. This is definitely another perfect ballad to add to his collection. Wonderful!

4. ZENDEGI: Zendegi is track that will take you back to the more innocent and classic days… The song is a very mellow and upbeat track that heavily reminds me of Moein’s massive hit “Zendegi.” Almost similar in construction and delivery, but a bit more toned down, the song just one of those feel good tracks that you can just relax and enjoy. The lyrics are very touching and the song is another solid performance, even though the track is a rather safe and doesn’t provide any groundbreaking or revolutionizing musical touches (when compared to some of Omid's newest tracks).

5. TAAZEH VAARED: The album once again picks up again thanks to this very electronic and almost Turkish/Arab-esque number. One of the very striking and unique features of this track is how the traditional instruments are overlapping the electronic beat (to almost showcase that even traditional instruments and elements can find a comfortable home amongst the newer more techno and electronic driven tracks of today). The track is obviously paying homage to his previous album’s style but it is tweaked just enough that it fits the flow of the album. Once again Omid shines with his vocal performance.

6. FAGHAT SEDAAM KON: Ballad number two is up next with a very moving violin solo lead in… Truly goose bump inducing… The track is almost built up as a violin and vocal duel, where each instrument (whether string or voice) trade off until it starts to pick up with a full blown orchestral half way through the piece. Another stellar ballad that just soothes the soul and lets you unwind.

7. DOBAAREH MAHSHAR MIKONAM: It’s time to get moving once again with the next track of the album. I’m sure everyone knows “To Mahshari” from his amazing “Piroozi” album. Well ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to “To Mahshari, Part 2”. This song is a clear reincarnation of the hit track but with a more toned down construction. This piece is another fantastic floor-filler and I love the new musical elements thrown in throughout the track. It clearly shows how the old and the new can be combined. Another outstanding vocal performance by Omid and the high notes he hits are fantastic.

8. AGAR MAANDEH BOODI: The third ballad of the album opens up very cinematically and very traditionally with a tar and an orchestra. This is what I was hoping he would do and he did it flawlessly. It is just one of those tracks that just wows you and hits you with its deep musical arrangement and his vocal style. Very traditional yet very modern at the same time, it is a perfect mix of the past and the present. The music is perfectly arranged and his voice just shines over it all. It is more artistic and not meant to be a commercial wonder, but it still showcases what Omid is known for: his monster ballads.

9. GOLEH BAAROON: The final track of the album picks up the pace a tiny bit. When I first heard the beginning of the song it sounded like something Arian would create (a very interesting touch). Once it developed, I was immediately drawn back to memories of my childhood. This is one of those true feel good songs and the beat just screams innocence and retrospection. I love the pseudo-Afghan beats thrown throughout its construction. The vocals add to the classic feel of the song and the lush layering of his vocals in the chorus adds a unique touch. The piano towards the end also adds the much needed oomph to make this track another stellar piece in his musical catalogue. This was a great way to end this collection of songs.

Omid has once again delivered a masterpiece. Although the album is not something you would call groundbreaking or revolutionary in terms of its construction, it is still a solid and well developed and masterfully delivered musical project. The strong quality of the overall product shines through each and every song and it is the unique nuances that appear in each track that pull you in and show that there was extreme care in the development of the collection. I am a diehard fan of Omid and I was pleasantly pleased with this collection because it shows he is still refining his craft and mixing the old with the new. Now all I have to do is wait another 4 years for more from this fantastic artist, but I know deep down those years will be worth the wait!