Album Review: N*E*R*D- Seeing Sounds
N*E*R*D
Seeing Sounds
Interscope Records
4/5
Written By: Samir Siddiqui
For superstar producer Pharrell, there’s not much at stake when he decides to gather his N*E*R*D cohorts for a new album. After all, the pockets of Skateboard P’s designer jeans are probably lined with dollar bills from all the producing he does for other A-list artists. And perhaps that’s what makes Seeing Sounds such an uninhibited success- with virtually no commercial expectations to live up to, Pharrell, Neptunes partner Chad Hugo, and rapper-friend Shay Haley combine talents to deliver a new LP bursting with energy and musical experimentation.
Seeing Sounds shatters the mould of contemporary urban music by breaking the rules whenever it feels fit. The album drifts in and out of hip-hop, pop, funk, and rock vibes, and does so not only from song to song, but in between cuts as well. The soundscape for the opening song, “Time For Some Action” begins with glass-tapping keys, only to shift to a low, rumbling bass-line, before closing with a synth-heavy backdrop. Then, on “Sooner or Later,” N*E*R*D work their magic by opening with a sombre vocal performance by Pharrell, which then takes a back-seat to a killer, electronica-inspired guitar arrangement that kicks in half-way through the song. Even on the standout lead-single “Everybody Nose,” a track laced with throwback horns and up-tempo drums, N*E*R*D add an element of surprise by throwing in a piano-infused bridge to relax the mood, if only for a few seconds.
There will be those who gripe about the quality of N*E*R*D’s lyrics, but for the most part, Seeing Sounds overcomes most of the group’s song-writing limitations. Certainly, Pharrell’s lyrics are expectedly-empty (”life is short, and black and white, just like little penguins“), and his vocal ability only reaches so far, but it’s hard to deny the cheesy charisma of Pharrell when he croons about the need for a “Love Bomb” over a classy, strings-heavy beat. And while not every song captures the dynamic energy of the stripped down, rock-infused “Anti-Matter” or the dance-inducing “Spaz,” Seeing Sounds is a concise, entertaining piece of work from front-to-back.
With “Yeah You” being the only truly mundane moment on the LP, Seeing Sounds is not only a resounding, envelope-pushing album that oozes fun and excitement, but it is also a shining example of Pharrell at his producing best. And if N*E*R*D’s performance on Seeing Sounds and on Kanye West’s Glow In The Dark Tour are any indication, Chad and Shay seem to be the ideal collaborators for a producer who is displaying a re-found touch for crafting good music.
Suggestion Box
June 8th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
wack.
Its all about C3 bitches!
June 8th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
FiRsT…yea the album’s hot cause they don’t have no one mold to fit in and just go fog great music…gotta love it
June 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Shoes shut your ass this album is dopeee
June 8th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
if anything C3 sux lol
June 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
If anything yo mommma sux lol……oh wait she does. Shoulda swallowed you too
June 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
havent got the album yet but i’ve heard 3 songs and they’re all good plus the sampler was hot too
June 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
N*E*R*D*
This album is REAL. My favorite track on it is “You Know What”. Then Anti-Matter.
From beginning to end, this is a classic. And when I say classic im not saying Hip-hop, Im saying musical classic.
No Ever Really Dies
June 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This album is NOT classic. Their first album shits on this one. I would say it’s almost neck and neck with the second album, which isn’t saying much. The biggest downfall for N.E.R.D. is lyrics. They are so terrible, you can’t really take them seriously. I’ll buy it, because I support artists. But let’s be serious, this album won’t even be picked up a year(s) from now, ruling out any mentioning of classic.
June 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Hey graduate, what are you retarded?
Its No one Ever Really Dies, not what you typed. fuckin dick weed.
Its a really good album tho.
Im sure The Carter3 only sounds nice when you have Lil Waynes dick in your mouth. Cus i’ve heard it without it and shit is pretty lame.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
NERD is thrash, not a fan at all…
June 8th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
A bunch of hot beats do not get you a 4 out of fuckin 5 lol But I fuck with Pharrell so its what whatever.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:16 am
I think the album is hot, maybe i need to listen while im sleep to really see the sounds, but i listened and its hot, that anti matter jant is serious
June 9th, 2008 at 12:50 am
I HEARD ONE SONG
PROB THE WORST SONG I HEARD IN MY LIFE.
.SO IM ALITTLE SUSPECT OF THIS HIGH RATING
June 9th, 2008 at 12:57 am
C3 aint that good as GAY ASS MTV SAID IT WAS! haha they hella overhyped it..jesus’s forth coming?!?! wtfffff mtv is wack and so is all lil waynes dick riders..and NERD are HELLA goooood id rather listen to them all day that wayne..cuz he gets annoying with all his metaphors n shit..hahaha nd thats why that nigga got a lower score than nerds album! overall waynes album= not a classic..couldve been..but its not..and his features killed all his verses on his own songs! aint that some shit?..nerd album= is GOOOOOOOD. point blank..no features and its still hella good..just go buy it..and see for yourself.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:19 am
NERD doesnt go so much for that commercial sound i think their music is intended for ppl plainly who enjoy their music not for mainstream appeal
On another note i think Fly or DIe was better
but this one is growing on me
yezir
BTW damn wayne groupies are commited huh? isnt this a NERD post?
June 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Yeah im coppin this tomorrow.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:40 am
shoulda been 5/5, classic album
and fukka weezy
June 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am
i love N*E*R*D and i have ever since in search of…
i got this album and i have played from start to finish at LEAST 10 TIMES…it’s tight musically and the subject matter is spot on
i love the experimental vibe on this record and it’s great to hear people just make music from the heart and not be worried about selling records and such. even on your job…if you work like you don’t need the money, you’ll find so much more freedom and success