While Pharrell Willliams and Chad Hugo may have found success producing as The Neptunes, their alter-ego – N*E*R*D, along with friend Shae Haley – isn’t quite as high-profile. The trio’s two albums have been somewhat low-key (while forever popularizing lapdances), but with Seeing Sounds, the group’s first album in four years, Pharrell and Co. refuse to stick to one genre, leaning comfortably in the middle between rap and rock.
Whereas the first album, 2002’s In Search Of…, leaned more toward hip-hop and 2004’s Fly or Die experimented with more rock, N*E*R*D effectively balances both musical styles on Seeing Sounds. In fact, the band almost seems to create its own musical styles, melting and twisting so many genres together that they become something strange, new and highly enjoyable to listen to.
The album is influenced and somewhat inspired by synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon that might lead the affected person to think they can taste color, smell words or (of course) see sounds. Pharrell introduces the album by recounting his first memory of experiencing the phenomenon and also incorporates a quirky, Willy Wonka-like backdrop that transitions into the album’s first song, “Time For Some Action.”
The opener drops in with a funk bassline and the playfully cocky and sexual lyrics the band is known for. The song includes the only feature artist (albeit uncredited) N*E*R*D has allowed on the album, The Hives. Though the move is probably payback for Williams’ work on The Hives’ latest release, The Black and White Album, the track works.
And as the first song suggests, Seeing Sounds doesn’t once deviate from the group’s typical subject matter: love, lust, partying and a touch of mischievous violence. Each song includes at least one, if not more, of those elements, and Williams and Haley deliver each line so earnestly you can’t help but to be on their side.
Despite including members in their 30s, the band can’t seem to grow out of its younger complex – the album sneaks in sounds of school bells and even includes references to video games and texting. However, N*E*R*D pulls off the schtick quite well – not once does the group come off as desperate as the average teenage-targeting band.
On the other hand, lines like “I ain’t a punk bitch/ I don’t give a f—” show this group isn’t one for listeners looking for great lyrical depth. But is anyone really expecting that?
On the production side of things, Pharrell and Co. double-dip, as The Neptunes are responsible for the whole album. Aside from the overused double-hand clap in the Peeping Tom-esque “Windows” and the Dr. Dre tambourine shake borrowed in “Yeah You,” The Neptunes provide a fresh array of sounds. And even after giving so much energy to Madonna for her latest album, Hard Candy, there is no doubt The Neptunes still saved some beats for themselves – and it shows.
Seeing Sounds also marks two revivals for N*E*R*D from its In Search Of … days. Spymob – the funk rock group that originally played instruments for the band – makes a return on most of the songs, and Haley, who provided mainly background vocals on Fly or Die, also returns with more verses this time around.
There is no doubt Pharrell, Hugo and Haley know what they are doing at this point. Seeing Sounds is a worthy successor to N*E*R*D’s first two albums and includes some of the most unique production in the Neptunes’ catalogue. Before the album came out, Pharrell said, “We don’t care about genres. Why should we?” Well said – Seeing Sounds does just fine without them.
gcorcora@umd.edu
RATING: 4 STARS OUT OF 5
