Binding: LP Record
EAN: 0602517745483
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Label: Interscope Records
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Interscope Records
Release Date: 2008-06-24
Studio: Interscope Records

N.E.R.D. "Seeing Sounds"

You already know the story of the Neptunes, Grammy Award winning producers and songwriters Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, but the N.E.R.D. trio consists of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and longtime friend and creative wunderkind, Shae Haley. The album is a blistering mash-up of booming hip-hop beats and rollercoastering rock riffs, rumbling crunk rhythms and scintillating soul music. Whereas their first album, "In Search Of...," was an imaginative, exploration of identities, and their second album, "Fly or Die," sought out the range of genres and sounds that have influenced the group, "Seeing Sounds" grinds everything together, evoking a sound that is un-tethered by preconceptions and convention. It is also an album that amplifies the style and attitudes that have made Pharrell, Chad and Shae transcendent cultural icons.

"The Neptunes is what we do, but N.E.R.D. is who we are. It's our life" says Pharrell. The three of them together combine for uninhibited explorations of sounds, emotions and truth, adhering to no agenda, subscribing to no rules. N.E.R.D. is the way they live their life, they way they see the world.
The title of N.E.R.D's third album, Seeing Sounds, was inspired by a TV show the ban watched about synaesthesia--the neurological disorder that causes people to experience sounds as colours or objects in their minds. The concept inspired the trio (Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, a.k.a. The Neptunes, and their rapping pal Shay Haley) to create a record as if it were a live show, as if the listener were really able to see the band playing. As ideas go, it's a dubious one, but it does give the band the opportunity to dive back into their musical ocean and splash noisily around, leaving listeners soaked and astounded. With the usual disregard for genre, Seeing Sounds opens with bass-heavy low-rider "Time For Some Action", before heading off on an intense roller-coaster ride that takes in the choppy, digi-drum & bass of "Spaz" and the infectious booty-bass of single "Everyone Nose" (a look at Hollywood's cocaine obsession) via a veritable kaleidoscope of colourful sound. "Sooner or Later" is all smooth Motown soul, "Kill Joy" is riff-heavy rock and "Anti Matter" has an Atari crunk feel. This breathless diversity is, of course, what N.E.R.D. are best at, and the good news is that Seeing Sounds can be considered a return to form after the nadir of Fly Or Die; though Whether it stands up to their debut or whether their new experiments ever get beyond the superficial, is another matter entirely. -- Paul Sullivan

Customer Rating:
Summary: Innovative
Comment: At first Listen this album can seem cluttered and invasive, however after a while you can see the focus... with this vision the tracks successfully blend and create a listening experience like no other. This is something you come to expect from Pharell and he doesn't disappoint. I definitely admit it may be hard to digest, but after a few listens the driving beats and melodic vocal riffs stand out with shay's rapping. a good listen for anyone who loves music in general.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Comment: Just like the previous two NERD albums, this one has its own identity...If you liked the previous two albums, give this one a few listens to grow on you and you will not be disapointed. Its not their best work but its still NERD!

Standout tracks: Track 7 and 11

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Customer Rating:
Summary: all kinds of sounds
Comment: are coming from this CD by the guys in N.E.R.D. But for the most part each of the songs on the cd will have your bobbing your head to the beats that they create. But also sometimes the wordplay will get you a few songs, it has been awhile since their last effort. They don't show it on the cd as "Seeing Sounds" makes for a great listening experience for fans of NERD both old and new.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: HMMMM.....
Comment: I liked this cd a lot.....it has the typical..Nerd feel to it...but it isn't what I expected...I was expecting much much more...it was good don't get me wrong but I wish it was more...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Why, oh why, when Pharrell & Co. make their own album, it's not half as good as what they produce??
Comment: In my opinion, The Neptunes are producing geniuses (sp?). Timbaland is excellent too, but I almost love every song Pharrell & crew produce for artists. I think they & Queen have created the most innovative sounds & music. I don't care what people say about Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl"; yes the words are a bit silly, but if you just listen to the beat, it is amazing.
That's why it is exciting when the producers of such great hits create their own album. Right? Wrong. From their first 2 albums, they were ok, but they were no way up to par with what the trio had already produced. I let it slide. Now, "Seeing Sounds" is their 3rd album, and I feel this one is worse than the previous two. It is so eclectic and over the place. It felt like the group wanted to cram every genre in the album. Their 1st single "Everyone Nose" is just silly to me & sounds like it was made rushed.
The only 2 songs I like is "Intro/Time for some action", which starts off like a 1950's advertising cartoon commerical then gets edgy & funky. And "You know what", which isn't amazing, but very funky & catchy.
I gave it 3 stars instead of 1 or 2, because no matter what, anything from NERD will not be "bad". One thing positive I can say about their music is it is never boring--even if you don't like the music.

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