N.E.R.D.
– Fly Or Die
Label: Virgin
Records
Hit, *hit or
Miss?: Hit
Rating:
You have to give it to the Neptunes: they’ve
got balls. For their second LP as rock and soulers N.E.R.D., the group
abandoned its backing band Spymob and learned the instruments they damn
selves.
Do they have the chops? Not really, but
it gives their spaced-out sound a surprising punk edge, perfect for a hip-hop
band trying to connect with the Hot Topic set.
After playing things cooler than a polar
bear licking an icicle in a snowstorm on “Don’t Worry About It,” the opening
track, the N.E.R.D.s jump into two tracks about child-parent conflict,
the latter of which, “Jump,” features mallcore darlings Joel and Benji
Madden of Good Charlotte.
Despite this “reach out and touch some
white kids” ethos, some of the sexual freakery of the band’s 2002 debut
“In Search Of” remains, especially on songs like “Backseat Love” and the
album’s first single, “She Wants to Move.”
Deeper into the album is a mish-mash of
songs from the Black Rock Coalition Vibe of “Maybe” (featuring Lenny Kravitz
and ?uestlove), to the angriness of “Thrasher” to the spiritual and singer-songwriter-y
“Wonderful Place,” which ends with a story about a mother who rescues a
baby from the ocean.
VERDICT: N.E.R.D. is one of those rare
bands skaters and thugs can both agree on. Between Pharell’s strained yet
soulful falsetto and the band’s rock leanings, N.E.R.D. incorporate every
genre it can get its hands on and still sound like they’re from the future.
Instrumentally, it’s not as tight as the previous disc, but Fly or Die
makes up for it in lyrics and concept.
CD Info and Links
Tracks: Don't Worry About It
Fly Or Die
Jump - (featuring Joel Madden/Benji Madden)
Backseat Love
She Wants To Move
Breakout
Wonderful Place
Drill Sergeant
Thrasher
Maybe
Way She Dances, The
Chariot Of Fire
Posted by James:
Oh my god.....This review has, in one fell swoop, taken all credibility away from this site. Awful songwriting, the worse instrumentation attempts i have ever heard, absolute lack of melody or cohesion. Terrible lack of talent shines through on this album, which itself must have 6 of the worst songs i have ever heard. "Soulers"? you gotta be kidding, even the whistling on the soul attempt wonderful place sounds cynical and lacking in any real emotion. this is the worst album ever made. how can you mention the lyrics as a plus? they sound like a 10 year old wrote them. you should never be allowed to review again.
Posted by SOfie:
I`m pharrell`s wife..
Posted by Eagles:
For those who like "She Wants to Move" check out the Native Tongues remix featuring Q-Tip, De La Soul, Mos Def, and Common. That's one of the best rap songs I've heard in awhile.
Posted by Superjar2:
It the album is hot. I would just like some more rap by the clipse on it.
Posted by nqaba:
it cool and the track "she wants tomove is out of world
Posted by danlittleman:
They must have been high as kites when they did this album which makes it a good album.
Posted by baller:
one of the tighest records this year
Posted by C@ (again-soz):
Does ANY1 know what Pharrell says in 'Wonderful place' after "something's come to me..." and before "Not me man" ?
It's bugging me sooo much!
Posted by C@:
I love this album - it's better than "In Search Of.." in my eyes. The drumming is great and really tight - i spend hours playing along! I couldn't name a favourite song if I tried, but 1 of the best bits is when Chad goes "I think that's love.. don't ya think?" It makes me go all gooey and girly, even though Pharrell is my no.1 man!lol
Posted by little miss:
i love 'she wants to move' it's GREAT. i also think pharrel is sexy and i'd like to see the way he moves in the bedroom!!!!
Posted by hygkvu:
I'm not going to war either!!!!
Posted by lunch:
shes sexy
Posted by tomoscaradog:
Not as good as In Search Of... :( - Still, a few great songs that'll add to their live playlist. Especially Thrasher - whaddasong!
Posted by TK138:
Damn, WHOO! beat me to my favorite lyric from that song. I love this CD.
Posted by WHOO!:
Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride.