Reviews (page 3 of 6)
I think Pharrell is a better producer than singer/rapper. This would be more enjoyable with no vocals or maybe with someone else.
This was fine. The beats and production were good but the vocals and lyrics almost felt like a demo or scratch track before locking down the final version.
3.25 - Yes, quite nerdy. I love the that the band sound. I like it a tad bit less than I want to, but that might be because Apple Music doesn’t have the explicit version.
Not a very consistent listen but it’s at least interesting and the good parts are pretty cool.
I really, *really* enjoy parts of this, but the album isn't exactly cohesive as a whole. It's too scattered, it lacks a real identity. On an individual level however, this is pretty cool.
A decent collection of tracks, with great production by Pharrell. It wasn't particularly memorable, though. And, I have to say that I think the album art is dreadful.
I was surprised by this album. I expected strait hip hop/pop since I saw Pharrell on the album art. Loads of influence and style in the album, but I still can't remember any song specifically.
Elusive fun.
“Wide reaching and innovative” or “all over the place”? Who can say. Definitely DOES sound like they are all learning their instruments, so that’s authentic.
Hard to find on streaming sites but what I heard was well produced music with nice layers.
I always thought of N.E.R.D. as a rap group, although I haven’t listened to them since this album came out. Honestly, the only song I knew was “She Wants to Move” because it got a lot of play on MTV back in the day. It isn’t really rap, though, but rather a great mix of multiple styles. The album feels fresh and interesting, and it hints at Pharrell’s knack for hit singles. It’s also much more funk-inspired than I was expecting. There aren’t that many truly standout songs, though—“She Wants to Move” really is better than the rest of the album. This is in strong 3 to weak 4 territory, but without more than one really memorable song, I’m going with a strong 3. It was fun revisiting this album and finding something different from what I expected.
Pretty nice
i can hear a lot of talented musicians and producers. neither liked nor disliked per se. very objectively good
this was surprisingly better than what I expected, but way too long.
ik wist niet wat ik ervan moest verwachten.. bleek dit een ongelooflijk sympathiek plaatje te zijn... soms wat te poppy voor mij, maar zeker niet slecht
I enjoyed this. I like Pharrell’s voice. The songs were entertaining. I liked the song Drill Sergeant the best.
It’s not the best Album from NERD, but it’s a fun listen
Довольно средненький и проходной поп-рэп-рок альбом. В принципе прикольно, немного так груво-фанково, но в целом не запоминается и не цепляет.
Very mouais
Somewhat variable. She wants to move is an absolute banger but nothing else really stands out. The subject matter gets a bit tiresome, and it overstays its welcome at nearly an hour. Would have benefitted from some trimming of the fat. The egos on some of these artists… 2.5
pleasantly surprised
Moyen.
C’est bien mais je m’attendais à mieux avec un jeune Pharrel. Bien aimé The way she dances.
It was fine.
Fehlen leider fast alles songs bei Spotify Eig coole Mischung von rap, Funk, punk. Macht ganz gute Laune
нормалек, без негативчика. (фаррела по фото не узнал, только из комментов)
I didn't dislike this but it's just a mostly average pop-rock album. What it does do is blend hip hop in to rock music much more smoothly than what we normally think of as rap-rock, which is aggressive and angry all the time. This is much more listenable and pop oriented. I would barely even associate it with hip hop that much, but Pharrel being involved and the obvious Roots influences (and guest feature) pushes it in that direction from a production and stylistic view, even if it lacks much actual rapping. There are other pop bands that sort of sound like this now, Maroon 5 comes to mind, but it's kind of dated at this point. I like that they played their own instruments on here but you can tell that they're all just learning while doing. It's commendable but it makes for simplistic beats and melodies. It's fun enough, but it's something you put on at a party and forget about.
Bom
Not really my cup of tea
Kinda kool album, different but similar
I quite enjoyed this album, pleasantly surprised!
괜찮음
I liked the mix of jazz, rock, bit of funk, and its rawness. the whole time I was listening I was like dang that voice sounds so familiar haha. bit of Anderson paak vibes?
NERD are super cool but this album just wasn’t. I would have loved to listen to the first album or The Neptunes. This was ok with a coupes great songs and some very silly ones.
This is pretty cool tbh. It's very heavy on the genre-mixing and the tracks that it works one REALLY work. Lots of great ideas and it's clear all the guys here fed each other creatively and produced some great stuff together. That being said, there are a fair few songs here that are just really unmemorable. It's a shame cause it's got good stuff, but needs a bit more smoothing out. I want to rate this higher, but it doesn't really click with me. Fav Track: Breakout
Another one of those 3.5 star albums. I really enjoyed the rhythm and the flow of this album. I'm not sure if it's because this is the era of music that I "grew up", so there's nostalgia, but it just feels right. I want to acknowledge potential bias there. But Pharrell Williams is also known to be a very talented producer. This wasn't an album on my radar, but I really enjoyed it. Glad it came up on the list.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump down to a 3, though I think I’d prefer to stay at a 3.5. I’m not as familiar with Pharrell’s N.E.R.D. era, so I was certainly taken off guard by the eclectic mix of nu-metal, Lenny Kravitz-style rock R&B, with just a touch of Uncle Kracker in there for some reason. It’s a very, very 2000s album, and while I do like a number of the tracks here, I just can’t help but feel like the entire thing never figures out exactly what it wants to be as a result of all the genre mixing. It’s mistakably Pharrell (as opposed to unmistakably), as he eschews a lot of his usual tropes of this era to put out something that just feels inconsistently consistent. There’s really not a bad track here (though there are some flat ones), but it’s just so far outside of his usual bag, leading to a lot of swings that generally connect, but never really make a harder impact like he intends. If the goal was to hit home runs, Pharrell is only hitting doubles or singles, and not in the “She Wants to Move” way. I think the disconnect of this album’s modus operandi is best exhibited by “Wonderful Place / Waiting for You” & “Drill Sergeant / Preservation” as back to back double features. The former two have a disconnect in their own way, with “Wonderful Place” being an almost Stevie Wonder-esque delight caused from getting high as a kite, before following it up with a track where a woman almost loses her drowning daughter (or in a very dark interpretation, they BOTH drown & go to Heaven). There’s a sense of peace with “Wonderful Place” followed by a rather weird scenario that doesn’t really feel as comforting / reassuring as Pharrell wants it to. Going from the generally light instrumentation there to the harder tones of “Drill Sergeant / Preservation” would normally make for a good dichotomy, but here, it just feels inauthentic. “Drill Sergeant” is the anti-war track everyone made in 2004, but if you were to give me that track by itself without telling me who was singing it, I’d never guess Pharrell Williams in a million years. It just doesn’t fit his style, and while I do like that, it’s just a bit odd. “Preservation” is him framing the struggle of avoiding the pitfalls of fame & presenting himself as still just a guy on the streets as something akin to a battlefield, which totally disconnects from the entire point of “Drill Sergeant”. I understand the war thematics back to back, but doing a “I’m just like you!” track in a way that no normal person would relate to feels a bit silly. As a 4-track suite, there’s just no connective tissue here, at least in a way that feels like it naturally flows. That lack of connective tissue weaves its way through a lot of this album, and while I think it makes for a solid 15-track run, it just doesn’t make for a good album experience. Pharrell’s production work here is pretty good, but without the natural flow of an album, it just feels weaker by his usual standards. I know Pharrell has good stuff, but it’s just not showcased here to its fullest. Don’t even get me started on how weird “Don’t Worry About It” feels as an opener; the possessive part of it isn’t even that bad, but the extremely cheesy Kid Rock-adjacent “she’s badass” part just feels weird coming out of Pharrell. Hence, a 3.5 bumped down to a 3. I really can’t see a reason to go up to a 4 or higher, but if someone wants to, I won’t blame them. I guess it just didn’t fully click for me, or at the very least, it doesn’t stick in a memorable way outside of a few tracks. I might need to go listen to “In Search Of…” on my own, just to see if that one would’ve been better on the list.
Overraskende snilt og pent.
Only the edited version was available on streaming, which was a big bummer. Not bad. I liked the guitars. But would not be my go-to style of hip hop.
Some I liked others less so. But overall a good album from my perspective. Had to get the YouTube version up, seems like Spotify only had 5 songs of the album.
chop nigga
3.0 Never bothered with N.E.R.D, but to be honest after this I'm not really upset by the fact. A rock/rap crossover that is a lot more laid back and funky than a lot of the nu metal that fell under the same umbrella. Doesn't really do much for me, it's not that bad, it's just really not that good. No song really stuck out in either direction. "Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride" did make me lol though. Really feels like an album written for 15-year olds, can see why I've never really heard an adult mention N.E.R.D.
Kinda like a 3.5 but more like 3.4 so it gets a 3
Decently enjoyable and new for me. Not something I'd return to but nice enough! 3/5
NERD by name and by nature. Slightly outstays its welcome but I do have nostalgia for this sound. Fav tracks: The Way She Moves RYM: N Saved a song: N
It’s a very silly but surprisingly multifaceted LP. Funky pop rock with plenty of off kilter, eccentric flare, hooks aplenty, aimed squarely at a young audience. The whole thing has a mid-2000s chill, smooth pop sound, The Neptunes production perhaps being the best element. The songwriting is mixed but with definite highs. It’s a weird week for this album (w/c 27 April 2026). I had to buy it on iTunes for £6.99 (which was nostalgic in and of itself!) as (according to Reddit) it was removed from streamers 7 days ago. Ahead of being taken offline the explicit version had been replaced with a clean version. And that was the only version available for purchase - it’s heavily redacted with the vocals regularly dropping out for any offensive lyrics. The drops don’t impact too badly but it’s a bit lame. If this album has done anything it’s inspired me to attempt to migrate all of the iTunes purchases I made as a child to my modern day account. Wish me luck!
This was somehow completely bland and entirely unique at the same time. I genuinely do not know how I feel about it. Overall good?
This was pretty boring. I've heard much more interesting stuff from Pharrell. I'm not sure I picked up on the "celebration of nerd culture", either.
Apart from the repetitiveness of some of the lyrics, it was okay.
3.5 stars. Better than most, but I have Hippity-Hop Fatigue.
Super surprised to see this album on this list! In Search Of… must be on here too then!
6/10… funk rock / hip hop / *2004
Some nice songs
This album starts with a banger but unfortunately the lyrics do not keep up. Way too much repetitive speech but the music is quite good. Couldn't quite stretch it to a 4 but if we were allowed to score a 3.5 this would be that album.
Good album.
Some good songs :). 3.4
I liked it
So 2004!!
Like the Michelin man
En funk/pop rock-gruppe med Pharrell som vokalist. Vanvittig catchy og lekent. Det er dog noe amatørmessig over dette, som trekker ned totalinntrykket litt. Top 3: Breakout, Fly Or Die, Thrasher
A lot better then what the album cover looks like
Fine, nothing standout. Good production but nothing revolutionary to me.
A fun soulful take on the classic hip-hop genre. Or a bizarrely hip-hop-ish take on soul. Either way, it sounds pretty good. Backing vocals in Don't Worry About It really sell the song. Great for listening during a morning walk. I keep hearing the "she's bad, bad, bad, bad" lyric as "cheese, blam, blam, blam, blam". (I can't be the only one.) Cool synth- and guitar-work in Fly Or Die, though the "group vocals" could use a lot of work. Singing definitely works better than rapping in this genre-mix. Later on the record, Wonderful Place/Waiting For You does much better in this regard. Especially the second half: wacky, weird, wonderful orchestral arrangement (mostly strings and triangle), like a much more modern version of The Trial (Pink Floyd). That chorus in Jump is utterly horrific. Same with the following track, Backseat Love (and the classically distorted guitar doesn't do much to come to its aid). Where the album really picks up again is with the glowing, poppy She Wants To Me. Great choice to use that heady, in-your-face acoustic guitar riff, along with clapping and a killer bass timbre. The vocals aren't the best, though, partly as a result of the words themselves. I'm fairly certain we should be taking these guys' lyrics at face value. With that in mind... "Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride / (sci-fi laser noises)". Oh, god. How did we go from Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, the Beatles... to whatever the heck this is supposed to be? The only other song I know that's called Drill Sergeant has very different lyrics ("Your ass belongs to me now!") but that one is still better. N.E.R.D.'s one suffers from a mismatch between blaring synths and terrible whispery vocals. At least the first half is catchy. But the hidden track, Preservation, confuses me at best. The return to decent musicianship with Thrasher / Maybe is so, so relieving. Nice piano parts. 3/5 Key tracks: Don't Worry About It, She Wants To Move, Wonderful Place/Waiting For You, Maybe
beh.. I LOVE Pharrell but only in small doses when he's N.e.r.d. - some tracks great, not enough to keep me interested - although quite sperimentale and innovativo, back in the day I had this record for 'she wants to move'
This reminds me of the cool guy in high school. He was somewhat centered and operating at a higher level of awareness than his peers. He seemed to dress better, say things that took others by surprise, and have a glint in his eye. Smart in that way, outspoken; the one you knew that would do something interesting in life.
This was pretty cool. Interesting to listen to at least.
I can appreciate the blending of genres and styles but overall, it's just not really my thing. 2.5/5
Definitely a weird album. Kind of like alternative rock. Interesting if nothing else.
As rock-rap goes, they aren’t as gifted musicians as Red Hot Chili Peppers and the hooks aren’t as catchy as 311. But I would not be embarrassed to be caught listening to them again.
Catchy enough, grew on me, didn't love it or hate it
A professionally crafted crossover that blends funk, rock, and pop with the signature "dry" production of the Neptunes. While the technical separation of instruments is commendable, the album lacks the structural complexity or emotional resonance to elevate it beyond a solid mid-tier effort. It feels more like a studio experiment than a definitive artistic statement, resulting in a competent but ultimately unexciting listen for those accustomed to more rigorous genre-bending masterpieces.
This was actually refreshingly fun. A different album, a genre fusion, a fresh take. Maybe not something I'll want to revisit, but I'm really glad I got to hear it.
A lot of fun. A mix of hip hop, rock, pop, and even a bit of jazz. Maybe a bit too long.
Now this is Party Pop! I was liking it more in the beginning but it started to wear on me. Seemed like they ran out of ideas before they ran out of tape.
Ok
I don’t know if I could be friends with Pharrell, at some point I’d have to ask him what colour my farts are. Anyway solid album, holds up
OK, but nothing special
So this is what Pharrell was up to before he produced nearly every pop song of the last decade. Not what I was expecting. It doesn't really fall into one genre and some of the tracks are pretty fun, but it started to wear on after a while.
This started so well and I loved the live instruments…. But then got slower and more annoying…. Overall maybe averaged out…
This was fine. I didn’t hate anything, but I didn’t feel much of anything either. It seems really slight to be included on this list.
3/5 - This had a good variety of sounds and samples and was pretty listenable. I had heard their name before, but was not at all familiar. I don't mind a band that doesn't take itself too seriously, even if it strays into silly at times; better than the other way around. Fun music.
You hear prog rock hip hop and you expect a certain level of cringe. A good kind of cringe. But this album veers too often into cringe for my liking.
Or float?
The genre variety on this is juicy, but unfortunately it doesn't always land. I think the sound overall just hasn't aged great since 2004, which is a shame because on paper a prog rock-influenced hiphop album sounded fire. There are nonetheless some very fun tracks here and there, and at the very least the production quality is consistently great! Standouts: Breakout • Thrasher • Maybe
I expected there to be some fun tracks on this one but I also expected it to annoy me more than anything. Yea, it was very evident that this was an early aughts release but you know what? It was still pretty good, it was entertaining, had a good mix and the production was clean as fuck. I’m not gonna return to this but for what it is, it’s pretty good. I do think they had the skill to toss in a couple hardcore tracks, that really would have elevated this to another level. She Wants to Move, Thrasher, The Way She Dances are all standout tracks. It’s not quite a 4 for me as I don’t see myself returning but it’s a strong 3 stars
I liked this one, thought I wasn't going to as it was called hip-hop and rap, but pleasantly surprised
Not bad at all. Not sure what I was expecting, but this was a decent album through and through. Not good enough for a 4, but a high 3.
Very eclectic, but not entirely my thing.
3.5 stars
Another unexpected treat. I knew nothing about these guys. Not a lot to say. Just enjoyed the music.
6/10
ja ganz cute aber so richtig abgholt hats mi iwie nit
non male
This was fine. Different even. Not sure what category. Very easy to listen to. Nothing overwhelming though.
Many many influences. Bit harsh in places. Glad that Pharrell got to be Happy.
It’s pretty good but I got sick of it towards the end of the album
Is any song different?
Expected to hate this one and was pleasantly surprised. It was alright. A nice cross-genre exploration.
I remember a house mate loving this album when it came out. Pretty good, but still not clicked.
Pharrell is one seriously talented dude.
Cool, fun and unique
Take a shot every time Pharrell says mum
Medium mediumness with medium medium.
Where was I in 2004? How'd I miss this one?
Sounds so 2000s. I’m sure the production is groundbreaking for the time but some songs just didn’t hit for me. Low 3.
Cool I guess. Not as much of a chore as some of the other ~1 hour albums
skroz neloše, ugodno iznenađen! ipak malo predugo i nedosljedno, ali stvarno dobro
the lads are good at music
estou mega surpreso desse álbum estar no livro. sei que o pharrel williams é um grande produtor e tal, mas achava que ninguém ligava pra essa banda (mais). achei bom, é tipo outkast porém mais rock, mas, ao mesmo tempo, é totalmente esquecível, não senti que merece ser parte de um cânone desse.
A bit of a weird own for me. Some aspects of this album of felt I deserved a 5 and others a 1. Some interesting things going on, but nothing that really stood out or will make me want to revisit this album. Likely wouldn’t change the song if it came on the radio but also wouldn’t seek it out.
In Search Of... er bedre. Men et par bangers her.
Heilt greitt.
3-4, kommer til å høre mer på det. Catchy, variert, kult.
Funky 3/5
Catchy tunes, but nothing memorable
*Ok hip-hop album
First time that I'm aware of this band/album. Decent. I'm tempted to go 4 as it has a unique sound, though it was overall unspectacular.
Idk if Pharrell deserves a pass for NERD
Solid production and very catchy. Fan of their earlier stuff and had never dabbled in this album. Enjoyable! Cheesy lyrics and a tad too long though
I don’t usually listen to hip-hop at all, but I’ve always had a soft spot for N.E.R.D. Maybe it’s because their music was everywhere when I was younger. With mix-rock being popular at the time, songs like “Don’t Worry About It” and “Breakout” didn’t even feel like hip-hop to me — I just heard them as part of that mixed, rock-leaning sound. When the album leans more toward danceable, straight-up hip-hop, it doesn’t really grab me. Still, “She Wants to Move” is pure nostalgia — it was played absolutely everywhere back then.
Acceptable mix of chill and annoying
Never heard of this before, didn’t realize that Pharrell had done stuff like this. More rck based than I was expecting and it was pretty easy to listen to. A couple of the longer songs got a little boring, but really pretty good over all.
Funky :D
Love the production, lyrics are kinda awful
First introduction and I thought it was interesting. I listened to their first album as a result (In Search Of...) and preferred that
I’m sure the editors were psyched when they got to add this.
this was nice, but not sure it went above 3.
meh
Wasn't familiar with it but immediately put don't worry about it on my personal playlist
Cool different gave me Beastie Boys vibes from Check your Head
Hey... Questlove's in the house...
Surprised at how much I enjoyed this at times, it was a lot better than I expected. Quite a fusion of different styles, as well as a blast from the past with that ‘she moves’ song. There’s not enough for me to return, it’s not entirely my thing, but it is canny good
Pharrell is a hell of a singer, really showed it in the first song. Thought this album was going to be really good. Because of that I was a bit disappointed that the rest of the album didn't keep pace. Doesn't have the bite of the earlier stuff really, rockier side of things is stripped back a bit. Pretty enjoyable for one spin but not enough to come back.
Fairly familiar with NERD but probably never listened to an album before. She wants to move was huge at the time. Not sure how much I like that track, but I thought the album was pretty decent if not quite my thing. Think I liked drill sergeant was my favourite. 3.5
It’s a good album but not really my taste
not rap enough imo
Surprised I've never heard this. Very catchy in places, especially Breakout. A bit inconsistent though.
Some albums are on this list because they’re considered masterpieces in their own right and some are here because they represent the start of something new. This album is certainly in the latter category. I don’t think the album stands on its own very well (I do like Thrasher and Maybe - which sounds like an Oasis cover), but in every song you can hear something that will become a part of popular music over the next two decades. Whether it’s outer space keyboard or the drums or even Pharell’s vocal style, I keep hearing Timberlake or Jay Z or whatever star has been touched by the Neptunes (and almost always sounds better than NERD themselves). Even the genreless nature of the music that was unique then sounds normal in 2026. Anyway, I like what NERD meant to music in the 2000s a lot more than I like the actual music. Maybe that’s why I bought one of those NERD hats off eBay in university but never actually wore it.
N.E.R.D. I’d never even heard of them before. Went in bracing for disappointment, but wow, those catchy pop vibes completely won me over. I genuinely enjoyed it. Not sure how it’ll hold up to repeated spins yet, but I’m eager to find out.
Fly or Die surprised me in a good way. Even with the odd hidden tracks, the album flows well and balances rap, pop and rock influences without fully committing to any one genre. Pharrell and Lenny Kravitz help anchor the album and give purpose to its experimentation.
not my bag but it isn't bad.
I felt like this album tried to be a lot of things and really wasn't anything. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good either.
Temas interesantes pero se sale de mis preferencias.
This album starts fun and funky and I suppose it remains that way throughout but it wore out its welcome for me especially with the extra long tracks toward the end.
So this is what Pharrell was doing before he became a full time part ranger or whatever the fuck he is doing with his park ranger ass hat collection. 6/10
Better than i thought.
Favorite Track: She Wants To Move
Great musicians.
This was certainly an original and unique listen. I had only listened to Pharrell and The Neptunes before listening to N.E.R.D so I was a bit surprised with the direction this album went in. After a few listens I gotta say even with the great production and neat features the album as a whole felt underwhelming. Some of the songs felt samey and it didn't really push the buttons for me. It wasn't bad at all. I just wasn't expecting what I got. 3.00-3.50/5
Dreaded this, but it was actually OK. Probably not notable enough to make the list really.
Decent listen.
I don't think this is one of N.E.R.D's best albums, intersesting choice of these for the list!
Never heard of these guys before. Pretty good, I liked the back half a bit more. The content was a bit on the raunchy side for me to wat to play on a speaker in my home, but still...pretty good.
Like the rhythms. Good instrumentally. The lyrics are not good and vocals nothing special. I do like the energy of much of it. Maybe and Drill Sargeant are my two favorite tracks.
good funk hip-hop pop album
There is some really cool production here which would be expected with Pharrell. There are some reminiscence of gorillaz or outkast, but not on there level. Can hear some tropes that Pharrell would popularize later in the next 10 years like some clap track.
Couldn’t find this on Spotify so it gets a 3 by default
A pleasant surprise. Almost a 4 but not quite.
It was alright. Thought I’d like this more.
Interesting - never really heard anything like this. But also not many big standout songs. Great production!
I guess I had high expectations knowing this is basically the start of Pharrell but this was disappointing. 2.5/5
I bought this album when it came out because I liked Maybe. Which is a fun song. The rest of the album has some fun moments, but the lyrics are often horrendously cringey. I'm not usually one to be too bothered about the lyrics, preferring to let the music wash over me but "Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride". Really?
N.E.R.D. was an interesting project. Formed by both members of the Neptunes, an already iconic record production duo for many R&B and hip-hop acts at this point, all of the duo's creative juices are on display here. This artsy, proggy, pop/hip-hop sound is thanks in part to Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo's writing, as well as Shay Haley's contributions. This trio is the whole band too, as they play pretty much everything live in this specific album (save for some guest help here, including Lenny Kravitz and Questlove). It's an interesting lens into the R&B/Hip-hop era of music production in the 2000's and whether or not people think that has aged well is up to them. Kinda wish we had decimal rating, this feels like a 3.5/5 for me due to the production displayed here.
Rap meets Art Rock / Progressive Pop; Mojo music magazine said "This is an enthusiastic hymn to the terminally uncool, an un-ironic celebration of nerd-culture". One of the members of N.E.R.D. is Pharrell Williams which I guess is why this album sounds like it could be the soundtrack to one of the Despicable Me movies. It's OK but not great, and it became boring after a while.
N.E.R.D. hits that spot of rap rock managing to be listenable. I prefer some of their other stuff more, but this was still a pretty good listen. Pharrell and The Neptunes were unstoppable for awhile there and it shows.
Wish this was Seeing Sounds! This album is… okay? The Neptunes were an incredible production team but N.E.R.D. were an okay rock band (and they are mostly a rock band). There’s definitely some good tracks on here but overall it’s not a very good album. They’ve definitely put out better (including In Search Of and the aforementioned Seeing Sounds).
I don't know if it's supposed to be half-urban-funk-rock, half-prog-rock. Confused by the inclusion of military songs along with more relationship-type ones (3.5).
As good as this pop/hip-hop album is, it's hardly essential. Their debut album is 100% important as an example of the eclectisim of this production group, this is not - it's got some tunes as these three were pretty much unbeatable at this point in time, but... Best Tracks: Don't Worry About It; She Wants To Move; Maybe
Interesting range of influences, some funky bits. Starts off pretty strong but tails off towards the end.
Not bad! Pharrell Williams
That first listen felt a little bland, so I put myself in a different headspace, gave it a second shot, and it got a little better. I really like the influences, there's classic Beatles-like rock, there's funk and soul, honest urban influence. It's a well spiced piece of work, but I do feel like there was extra dedication for some standout tracks that hopefully hook you into continuing your listen. It's a fault of the CD era, where singles were exploited to sell an album. There's a few skippable tracks here. Also, all these double tracks in the middle of an album. Attempting to force the listener against skipping tracks on an album like this can be both ironic and cruel. I feel like the purist in me doesn't mind, but it doesn't make me want to add it to a Spotify playlist either. Otherwise it's a pretty solid effort, lots of respect, maybe too varied, so there's not a lot of hashing out on any one particular vibe. I see the potential for something stronger in a handful of songs. 3.4/5
not my thing but catchy songs
pior que foi triste viu o in search of... merecia estar aqui no lugar desse. não que seja ruim, mas falta algo. não eh dos melhores trabalhos deles não...
Vet album
definitely different. the group concensus was it was like ska without the horns
Ever have an expectation of how an album will sound and then end up with something completely different. Having listened to Lemon I expected more like that, so I am kind of disappointed.
3.5?
I took a few days off from the 1,001 list for what I thought was going to be a fun weekend in South Carolina. That did not happen and this weekend was a perfect storm of suck. So, I don’t know what else to do, but distract myself by writing about the Fly or Die album by N.E.R.D. You know N.E.R.D., right? It’s Pharrell Williams’s attempt at being a rock star, even though he technically was one, I guess. The group was also known as the Neptunes when producing hip-hop. N.E.R.D. is composed of Pharrell and his producing partner Chad Hugo. Fly or Die is their second album and for this album, the dudes decided to learn how to play the instruments needed to make the album rather than hire a band like they did for their first album. I respect that. I didn’t put too much faith in this album being good. I figured it would be a lot of crappy rap rock that was a thing in the early 2000s. This album came out in 2004. The first few songs were kind of generic, I guess. It sounded like what a band that just realized they like rock music would sound like if they started a band and had just learned to play their instruments. The music sounded great production-wise, but the songs weren’t blowing me away. However, as I continued listening, I kind of got into the songs. This isn’t just the same old rap rock. Pharell is a really good rock singer and his voice meshes well with a rock groove. Plus, I heard some Led Zeppelin and the Beatles in there. Some of these songs are pretty interesting. The group also used their connections to bring in some special guests like Questlove and Lenny Kravitz to pitch in on some of the songs. I know some people don’t like Lenny, but I’m a fan from way back, Are You Gonna Go My Way is my jam. Also, did you notice right away that Are You Gonna Go My Way seemed to be written from the perspective of Jesus Christ? I thought that as soon as I heard it. Just looked it up and it’s true. But I digress. Some of the songs are big, over-the-top, kind of theatrical productions, but I’m a fan of musicals, so it works for me. I got Big Elf vibes from the songs Thrasher and Maybe. If you don’t know Big Elf, find them now and listen to Cheat the Gallows or Into the Maelstrom. Both are great, fun albums. While the songs on Fly or Die mostly sound good, a lot of the lyrics aren’t written from the perspective of Christ but from the perspective of a teenager. Which seems weird because Pharrell and Hugo were both around 30 when they wrote this album. Nevertheless, Fly or Die wasn’t an album I thought, “Thank God I got to hear this!” It was more, oh, that was a bit unexpected. If you like Pharell’s music, but want to hear it more with a rock groove behind him, then you’ll probably dig this.
A fusion of jazz-rock, prog-rock, and funk. It's a fun ride with a lot of different ideas. Probably not an album I'd put on again but I like Pharrell, so I enjoyed hearing him in a different mode than usual.
N.E.R.D. are awesome. I really enjoy this softer hip hop sound that focuses more on flows, beats, and production rather than hard hitting rap verses. I do love gangsta rap though but this is just a nice respite. I have vivid memories of hearing this in the hallways of high school, so I have an unfortunate connection of associating the songs with a year of my life where I was notably uncomfortable and annoyed with my day to day life. This record is a nice listen, but it's only a 3/5 for me. After "She Wants To Move", the stand out track, there are a bunch of songs with good ideas but not enough in each to give memorability or any kind of lasting impression.
Surprised how much I enjoyed it, though I don't think I really want to listen to it again.
Maybe not versatile enough for its length, but it's charming, fun, and dude just works at the Barnes & Noble store
The Neptunes, es decir Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo y Shay Haley, es decir No-one Ever Really Dies, son una banda de rock y hip hop que solventan el cruce con elegancia y buenas canciones. Este es u disco más popular y razones no le faltan. La apertura indica por dónde irán los tiros fusionando ambos estilos. Fly or die se expande en ambas direcciones : más guitarra y más melodía. Jump podría haber sido un éxito en manos de los Black Eyed peas. Destacan She Wants to Move (que anticipa y de quñe manera a los Vampire Weekend...) , Breakout y en especial la Maybe con Lenny Kravitz aunque ya se habñian acercado bastante en Wonderful place/Waiting for you. 12 temas y 3 más ocultos intercalados entre ellos. Jugada maestra desde la que se lanzó a la piscina ya Pharell en solitario...
Nojaa, ei oikeastaan millään tapaa ihmeellinen levy. Tosi mid taas, muttei kuitenkaan huonoa. Aika letkeää rokkia oikeestaan. She Likes To Move tuttu biisi radiosta. Parhaat: She Likes To Move, Trasher, The Way She Dances
I’m sure some people hear this and think “wow! Neat! I never would’ve heard this if not for this list. Thanks, list!” Not me though.
Great sound, great song writing, varied nuanced styles, just no bangers.
This isn't bad per se but it isn't something I would choose to listen to. There are some songs I actively dislike though, like "Backseat Love"
This album hits hard at first and then gets less interesting the more I listen. It sounds like a music guy record made by music guys. That album cover is weak. Good to put on and groove to but not my favourite listen.
I tried to like this album so much that I listened to it 3 times but apart form their main single I didn’t feel any excitement
I'm more familiar with their first album. I think I prefer that album to this one. This isn't bad, I just kind of like the more raw sound of the first album.
There were songs I absolutely loved and others that just didn’t get there. I listen to it a couple of times which helped me understand it better
This was like a weird mix of every artist that was popular in the early 2000's. I think that's a good thing?
weird and eclectic and (unsurprisingly given the name) unashamedly dorky. probably not something I'll revisit on a regular basis but I'm happy to have heard it
Ouais pas mal je m'attendais pas à ça, je m'attendais pas forcément à aimer mais j'ai tout de même passer un bon moment donc c'est positif
I prefer N.E.R.D. when they're more grr and less la-la-di-da 3.5
I was surprised this was the album of choice. Some funny lyrics but only a 3.5 star rating from me
It was fine. Should have picked their first one. Still, it was better than KISS’s 1998 18th studio cancer “Psycho Circus”.
Enjoyed this a fair amount, but doubt I'll ever put it on again.
It's enjoyable. Better than most albums that come out in a given year. But when I'm ranking for "1001 Albums", I expect more than just being above average. 3 stars.
2,5
Early Pharrell. He’s a master of the hooks and this album blends rap, rock, and R&B sensibilities seamlessly. It’s fun but he’s trying a bit too hard. It’s a 3, but could be a 4 on a second listen.
I don't think I ever actually listened to the whole album but was surprised at how many songs I know
Some decent bops from N.E.R.D here.
18th best album of 2004 huh? Yeah that sounds about right.
This is the most 2004 album that's appeared on this list. Baby Pharrell doing the college rap rock thing when genre blending was still in its infancy is pretty fascinating to listen to, even if it's lost its luster in the modern age.
I believe Pharrell’s talents are best expressed (and enjoyed) away from the microphone, though I can’t deny the eloquence of a line like “Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride.”
A good album, I liked Fly Or Die, Drill Sargent and The Way She Dances the most.
This was strange. Not sure how to classify it.
Somehow, despite this having released while I was in college, I did not recognize any of this. Probably because my roommate was immersing me in the world of indie rock and I wasn't listening to more mainstream stuff. I’d label this as interesting. I kind of enjoyed this I guess? But probably not enough for a 4, so it gets a 3/5.
Pretty fun listen.
Mejor de lo que pensaba, pero tampoco me volvió loca.
Fuses a lot of styles, funky bass lines, classic Pharrell guitar hooks, seen later in Daft Punks last album. It does remind me of how every song sounded in the early 2000s.
Kan zijn omdat dit het 3e album van de dag was, of dat ik zeer geconcentreerd aan het werk ben, maar ik merk dat de muziek niet echt mijn aandacht trek. Het is chill op de achtergrond en ik erger mij allerminst. Echter springt het er voor mij niet uit. Ik schrok wel even toen ik zag dat het hiphop/rap was, maar daar heb ik eigenlijk weinig van gemerkt. Zitten zelfs best prima gitaarrifjes doorheen en sws het idee dat ddit meer instrumentale rap is. Als je dat zo kan noemen. Al met al 3 reten.
6/10 meh lyrics but good vocals and interesting instrumentals Highlights: Fly or Die She Wants to Move Drill Sergeant Jump
I had never heard of NERD but this was pretty cool
Exceeded my expectations, didn't expect this style based on the cover either, could be a 3.5, maybe even a 4 if I give it some first impression generosity, but either way it started out strong and then lost me more and more as the album progressed
Some rap/rock from the turn of the millennium. It's better than Limp Bizkit, so there's that! The guitar playing is less interesting, but it doesn't have Fred Durst, so that's a plus. The band actually learned to play their instruments for this album, which would be an extraordinarily condescending thing to say except that it's true and *this is their second album*, which means they didn't finish for their first album. So: if you like this kind of music, I'd suggest checking out Incubus. There's much less rapping (especially as they go on), but it's got the beats, the DJ work, the angular guitar parts and the weird vocals, but every part is just better. It's fine, though. That 3/5 I gave Kid Rock is really haunting me; I can't give this less than that, so I guess it's a 3/5. Never forget, though: Kid Rock sucks.
A fun rap rock record with some socially conscious messaging is always appreciated, but it drags on for far too long overstaying it's welcome
N.E.R.D.s second album had them actually learning the instruments to play this stuff out live - it definitely forms the basis for a lot of Pharrell's pop era and was an eclectic art rock album that highlights the struggles of nerds everywhere.
Bouncy, poppy, neo-soulful r&b
Ehhh pretty boring. Had a fee decent songs though. Strong 5
I enjoyed the live band energy
Far from the hip-hop that I was expecting. Feels like a new experimental rock genre or something? s'ok
ok
Perfectly listenable and more to my taste than I had expected.
I was surprised that I didn't hate this album. It was a fun listen with some good grooves.
N.E.R.D. Rock album. Imagine if they stayed together producing and making albums
To be honest, I was expecting something a little bit more nerdy from these. There aren’t really any songs about the finer points of being a train spotter or what warp numbers in Star Trek mean, but it’s still a fun piece of rap/rock featuring Pharrell Williams and Lenny Kravitz amongst others. Probably a solid three stars but not sure if I’d go out of my way to listen to anything else by them.
Horny NERDs amirite? I had fun with the album. Alot of the songs have positive messages which is kinda refreshing. Has a nice blending of genres. Some of the songs kinda blend together. A bit too horny for my tastes at times. But solid fun album. 3.5
This was a good album. It didn't blow my mind or do anything revolutionary, but I liked almost all of the tracks and thought the production was interesting. It was a very Y2K attempt at genre blending, kinda like a better, more interesting version of that early 2000s, Maroon 5-esque rock. It definitely had a good groove to it, even if that groove did get a bit lost at times. This one definitely grew on me after a few listens. At first, I wasn't sold, but eventually I really started to enjoy it. I give it points for being a truly unique, even if largely evocative, album, and then extra points for also being a generally enjoyable, fun listen.
Fairly well executed rap-rock. Not really my thing but it’s alright
pretty album xx
For some reason this album didn't really click for me. Hard to put my finger on what was wrong with it as all the right ingredients are there. There were a few highlights and enjoyable moments but I found myself zoning out a lot. At points I relistened to songs to fairly assess them and then forgot and zoned out again. Some of the vocals are decent. Lyrics a bit meh. Its a reasonably fun and upbeat record but im not giving it any awards. Favourite song - Maybe. 6.5/10
It was ok.
This didn't really strike a chord. 3*
First hip hop album that came up for me. Its fun! A cool mix of styles. The kind of album I could put on in the background of a party and it would go over well.
'In Search Of…' is the better N.E.R.D. album
Poppy. Not intrusive.
Not of what I would have thought a NERD album would sound like, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I really liked the first track, but didn’t love much else beyond that.
As with anything related to the Neptunes you know the production is gonna be slick and it is. However i’m not sure the songs quite match that high bar. The featured artists are an alluring prospect but in the end i’m not really sure they offer anything to live up to their potential. She wats to move, Maybe and The way she dances are the clear standout tracks. Overall enjoyable if you’re in the mood, but not a great album.
Relatively weak album from a super talented producer
Pretty cool rock/rap fusion. I’d heard of NERD but never listened. I’m not sure I’d go back though.
Hmm. I didn't remember this group but they have a hit on another record I do remember. This record was okay. Nothing amazing but I liked it alright.
this isn't my favorite nerd album and i hate how this site doesn't do half stars because this is like a 3.5 for me. good charlotte were a jumpscare, i did not remember them being on this
Good but no tracks that stood out to me
Didn't Worry About It 3.4 Fly or Die 3.6 Jump 3.5 Backseat Love 3.3 She Wants to Move 3 Breakout 3.2 Wonderful Place / Waiting for You 3.4 Drill Sergeant / Preservation 3.3 Thrasher 3.3 Maybe 3.5 The Way She Dances 3 Chariot of Fire / Find My Way 3.2 Score: 3.308333333
I vaguely imagine that I remotely remember hearing from this, decades before. Without wikipediating much I get that this was a broad collaboration and a free form uncategorialization addressing the issues of life as a human being of a certain cultural melange. Now that I've unpacked my dented thesaurus I'll just rate this as good fun and averley cleverage.
*** It is kind of "rap-but-singing". Did not touch me. However, I can listen to it.
Interesante. Desconocidos para mí. Buen sonido.
Head bopping for the first few tracks. Around halfway through, I lost interest. There's some good tracks on here, but the album as a whole has some lulls.
I was blithely unaware of Pharrell Williams for a long time. This is a good, funk backed rap album but it’s not got enough stand out for me.
It's Pharrell, of course it's fun! A little racy, a little funky, an all around good time.
3.5 It’s not perfect for sure - the lyrics kinda stink and the album is overstuffed with a few not great songs, like almost all albums of the CD era were. But I also can’t deny that this is really fun, and the production style is especially nostalgic for me. Just feels like watching MTV and VH1 in 2004 to me, when I was 13-14.
Sjovt rap-rock. De rammer bare ikke samme højder som de bedste
Had a rough start but picked it up a bit Will I listen to again: 10%
This was actually very fun, idk if it's a 5 but might go back to it?
The “Hip-Hop” categorization feels like a micro-aggression, because this is just an indie rock record from the 2000s. It has a lot more funk influences than, say, Animal Collective, but there is a *heavy* focus on psychedelic/strange rock arrangement, and the instrumentation here is exactly in line with a style that was way too prevalent in 2006. Now, personally, as much as I adore The Neptunes, N.E.R.D. has never been my thing, because indie rock, especially indie psych rock, has never been my thing. That said, I do think there’s a lot of talent and vision to appreciate here. For the most part, while it’s strange, I can mostly vibe with Side A, which sticks to traditional song structure while also having some mid-2000s weirdness, but it always contains it, never allows it to become overpowering. I do get exhausted with it after a while, but I’m able to tolerate it nonetheless. Then “Wonderful Place” fades out, and we get “Waiting for You,” which…kills the vibe hard. From here, what once was a dash of psychedelia now engulfs the room, and it becomes inescapable, self-indulgent, and not very tolerable, especially 20 years later. There is a HUGE reprieve in “The Way She Dances”– a legitimately excellent song that I will put onto many a playlist after today– but it’s then followed by another indulgent, chaotic, ridiculous track, which is the closer, no less! Fly or Die is not the worst. A lot of my annoyance is due to my own personal issues with psychedelia, although I also think that N.E.R.D. are not the strongest indie rock psych band from this era, either. When it’s good, it’s pretty okay, though it only enters into greatness once for me, but when it’s bad, while it’s not the worst…it’s pretty difficult to tolerate. I think I respect the attempt more than I enjoy the execution. Talented indie rock band, but the songs rarely translate. Hopefully they go on to do bigger and better things outside of rock, which is the only genre I’d classify this as.
This sounds SO generic. Bored to tears with this one.
N.E.R.D was a gateway drug for me. Singing Pharrell always makes me chuckle. Not the best album in their catalog but still holds up and feels refreshing today. Favorite Track: The Way She Dances
Ok
Some fun bops, but nothing amazing
Textlich ziemlich seltsam, von dem, was ich rausgehört habe, musikalisch interessant, irgendwann wurde es aber zu viel.
A refreshing change of pace. They successfully blended several musical styles and made the end result very enjoyable.
Now you can get these three stars here for free. This was alright, very early 2000s-sounding. There are undoubtedly some talented musical figures involved but it feels a bit studio-crafted, calculated and lacking in heart.
Ah, Pharrell Williams, this is such a capsule to the time people cared about the likes of The Neptunes stepping out from the production desk to become artists in their own right. It's not quite rap, not quite rock, not quite r&b, it's not bad, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
Это было интересно, хотя я и не люблю особо хип-поп. Однозначным плюсом этого альбома были шикарные гитарные рифы, из-за которых он казался более роковым и гранжевым. Первые три композиции отлично дополнят мой плейлист, ибо в них замечательные припевы с не менее обалденным саундом. Оценка 6/10 из-за того, что я не очень люблю этот жанр
Ничего плохого, но и хорошего мало
this was better than i expected
Nah to poppy
Some highs, some lows
Feels like a prank album at times. Flashy ideas, catchy touches, and then, wait! Three hidden tracks? Okay, buddy. There’s some clear talent behind it, but it all gets lost in the chaotic mix of adolescent energy and unfinished thoughts. I wanted more bite. It kind of flirts with what Gorillaz might do, just without the glue holding it together. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - She Wants To Move - Thrasher - Maybe
Pharells voice is great its got a sick beat to most songs its well worked not really my genre but I was quite suprised in a good way.
More rock heavy than to my liking. The way she dances is the song that stood out. Not much replay ability for me. Production was pretty good. May need to re-listen at a later time.
A real surprise. I was expecting a rap album - more bad me. An excellent rock based album. I will listen to this again.
I don't have much familiarity with these guys but I appreciated the album. A decent mix of rock and hip-hop. I'd listen to more.
not great but dug a lot of this. 3.5 stars
3.5/5. Was hoping for more and tried to like it but it’s nothing really special. This is an early Pharrell project though so in a way, you’re listening to a musical genius in the making.
I expected more.... its ok she does want to move🔥
I was immediately put off by the hip hop genre. However, there was also supposed to be rock. The music sounded funky to me at first and was interesting. But then I wasn't really taken by it. 3/5
I really see and understand Pharrell's talent, and it showed here. I wasn't completely obsessed with every part of it but I liked that I didn't know what to expect. It was different each song. A tad too long, but good.
This one started strong the first song had a Hendrix/Prince feel to it & had me excitedly wanting to move my butt to it at one, next couple songs HELLA HOT but then things slowed down and got too samey. I still liked the album, and I might even add it to my collection as prior to today I had never heard of this rock band not even in passing. Had every song been as strong as the first one this would be a 5-star album but by the end of it there was a lot of filler decent filler but filler non the less. Too bad! Almost gave it four stars but the drop in quality was way too strong from the first song to the last one, so it gets a strong solid 3 stars- fun 1001Generator discovery for me after way too many albums I had already heard.
Have it. 3/5 but important.
Not for me, but it is so musically good, it has an idea, it has one hit, do great album
Did not dislike this…
was really expecting this to be more of a struggle than it was.
Interesting album. Reminds me of TVOTR somehow. I see various other connections too, like the starting track "Don't Worry About It" somehow reminds me of "Pass The Courvoisier". Thrasher is a pretty good track.
This - while too long of course breezes past pleasantly enough without demanding too much attention. Again, is really one of the 1001 best albums ever made?
Not my thing.
fun
In my head, before listening, I was thinking, this has a chance of being a 5. It has Maybe and She Wants to Move, if the other tracks are even pretty good, it's got a chance of being a classic. I'm not sure there is much else on here . It's decent, just not to those levels I think the production sounds a little "unmastered" at times. Something like The Way She Dances, sounds a fantastic song is being hidden by poor production. Still a great song, but feels like the good parts are covered by poor sonic choices I think its the chorus on Breakout when i start to not like it as much. Good verses, nice tempo, nice groove, good pre chorus, then it goes into that fast bit that feels so out of place. Ruins a good song
Not what I was expecting. Some nice stuff
Pretty interesting album to come up on this list. Never heard of NERD and it was funny to see that Pharrell was in this. Sounded like a pretty typical early 2000s rock/hip-hop almost reminded me of Shwayze a good bit. Was a nice fun album but nothing ground breaking
Had never heard of N.E.R.D., nor that Pharrell Williams was part of it. Here’s the verdict: I like it. It’s lyrically fun, it’s musical, it has a fresh energy that makes good repeat listening. Will I seek out more N.E.R.D.? This will not shock you: yes.
3.0/nothing really stood out to me
- Had no idea that Pharrell was in a rap/rock band? - Sound is not bad. Pharrell is obviously a good singer, though I actually enjoy the tracks the most when his bandmates take the lead or Pharrell does more rapping than singing. - Like "Jump" the most. - Why is Pharrell talking about sex sooooo much?
Ganz guter Rap. Kannte sie nicht und noch weniger war mir klar, dass Pharell Williams Teil davon war.
Much better than I expected. Bursting with early 2000s sounds while still coming off as original.
Funky and fun.
It was better than I thought. Not great or even good but there’s a choral section I really enjoyed in the first song. Other than that, not so much. For that chorus I give it a 3.