It’s time for a break from rock music – and time for Seeing Sounds. N*E*R*D are back with a modern day classic…at least in my mind. These guys profess to be ‘genre-less’ and for the most part – it’s unique. Yet, they’re really dealing with a hip-hop base and building on that. Anyway, the album absolutely blew me away the first time I put it on. I’m not usually too blown away with hip-hip influenced music. This album is different.
Right from the first track which starts with a spoken intro and builds into a pounding bass line – the drama comes fast and heavy. Their first single Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in Line for the Bathroom) flows in after that – only building on the energy and originality. Windows, the next track, slows things down a bit – but that’s not to say the LP is not innovative and interesting. It surges from start to finish with surprises left and right.
I mildly liked N*E*R*D before (mainly because my girlfriend was fanatical about them) but this album easily tops the cake. In my opinion, it’s better than their debut In Search Of… and their next Fly or Die. I’m sure some people would disagree but in terms of flowability this disc is simply the best. In Search Of… has more of a rock feel and Fly or Die comes with a little more of R&B touch. I’d say Seeing Sounds has enough of both.
I think it’s time for a bit of explaining. N*E*R*D consists of three members: Pharell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley. Pharell and Chad are also part of a producing team called The Neptunes who have worked with most of today’s top artists. Pharrell has also put out a solo rap project (which I bought and thoroughly loved).
What does N*E*R*D stand for you might ask? Pharrell explains: N.E.R.D stands for No-one Ever Really Dies. The Neptunes are who we are and N.E.R.D is what we do. It's our life. N.E.R.D is just a basic belief, man. People's energies are made of their souls. When you die, that energy may disperse but it isn't destroyed.
Lastly, a bit of explanation of the album title: Shay further elaborated on the album title, saying it was inspired by the neurological phenomenon synesthesia, which combines two senses. They were fascinated after learning about it while watching the Discovery Channel. "It's a mixture of senses that may cause a person to experience colorful hearing, auditory smell," he explained. "For example, you might see something, and it might trigger a song. You might hear something, and it might trigger a taste in your mouth. When we created this album, it was the music we envisioned while creating it. We decided it would be the appropriate title for the album."
[From Wikipedia]
Interesting stuff to be sure. If you want something new and exciting – this is the place to start!
Until then!
-Paul
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