REVIEW: N.E.R.D. Seeing More than Sound

A few years back, I heard that N.E.R.D. were not going to craft another musical soundtrack to life after the lackluster response to their sophomore album, Fly or Die. Fly or Die did not fall into the sophomore jinx album category. If anything, N.E.R.D.'s sound is perfection. It is so perfect that they fell into the uncanny valley of sound. If you listened to either of N.E.R.D.'s previous two albums closely, you would notice that the flaws seemed planned and calculated to deliver an authentic sound. I loved these albums. They illustrated artistry at its finest, diversity of sound, ignorant and intelligent subject matter, and just good music. It was easy to see, I mean hear, the efforts of Pharrell, Chad, and Shay pour into a montage of life.

Now, the trio is back with their third effort, Seeing Sound. Fortunately, N.E.R.D. have not deviated from the roller coaster ride through soundscapes and subject matter. No two songs are alike on this album. Honestly, songs transform and go through a metamorphosis within themselves. Moreover, the lyrics borderline ingenuous song writing to outright surrealistic babble gook. Pharrell ignites the album rapping over a syrupy funkdafied guitar rift on "Time for Some Action" in his monotone I'm-reading-my-lyrics style. The album then plunges into "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)," the first single that sounds like a live house song. From there, the album skates across every era of rock-n-roll. They use Hip-Hop to fuse together a stream of classic rock, light rock, punk, and Electronic rock songs throughout the album.

Moreover, it is amazing that Pharrell's falsetto or monotone rap delivery does not detract from making the album good. The songs are fitting for the current climate of rap and rock. But, I honestly believe the complex lyrical construction, double meaning subject matter, and wit of the lyrics will fall on many deaf ears. This album is for the music lover that visualizes life through sound.

The N.E.R.D.'s well-crafted song making does not escape some pitfalls of music peril. For example, "Spaz" sounds ametuer and immature for trying to bind rock with acid jazz undertones. It sounds like a song that should have been given to Fergie or Pink. I expect more sophistication from these three above-average song composers. "Sooner or Later," one of my favorite songs on the album, sounds like a leftover track from Fly or Die. Furthermore, the layering of sounds and music is less focused, yet blends well together in its naturally artificial soundscapes. At times, I felt confused about loving a song or hating it because the parts surpass the whole composition. You can see the artistry in all the parts, but sometimes they felt disjointed when played together. To add insult to injury, it seemed that Pharrell, Chad, and Shay purposely composed the disjointing elements of the album to prove to the world that their sound isn't always perfect and can be raw emotion. It leaves the effect of being counterculture for the sake of being counterculture.

I have not given my final verdict on the album. I believe this album has some timeless qualities that will show after years of listening, but today it seems to be a lot to digest. It is like the Chinese saying, "When the five flavors fall over the tongue at the same time, the food becomes tasteless." N.E.R.D. gives you an overdose of flavors at the same time without an ounce of direction to guide you on their Seeing Sound journey.

On a more positive note, the group draws on raw energy of music making in order to paint a picture of sound for the audience to see. They do accomplish the feat of making the listener see sound. Purchase this album to hear great music that is perfect in its imperfections. But, isn't perfect inperfections something we have come to expect from N.E.R.D. You will either kill for or be killed by this album at the end of the day, but remember no ever really dies.