Seeing Sounds
N.E.R.D.
Interscope
On the third album by the Neptunes’ more rock-oriented side project N.E.R.D. — think Parliament vs. Funkadelic — Pharell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay serve up a sonic spread that’s groove-rich in an old-school funk way, yet frenzied enough to appeal to the ADHD set. Fuzz guitar, deep space synths, booty bass, found sounds and computer creations form an intoxicating party vibe. Problem is, like on previous N.E.R.D. discs, lowest-common-denominator lyrics delivered in flat raps and pedestrian singing are all over the place — making you wish this outing was instrumental only. 2.5 stars
This article appears in Jul 9-15, 2008.