Reviews (page 6 of 7)
I liked most of the songs on this album...just didn't love any of them. This wasn't a bad album, it's def an important one to give a try, especially for fans of Pharrell/The Neptunes. I just don't think i'll find myself relistening to the vast majority of this project.
Lacks energy in the recording. Maybe would be more fun with different production? This album should sound a lot better than it does.
The first track is a banger. Thereafter, other songs are good but, not best like the opening track!
3 star
Classic
Hmm hvorfor er den her på listen
Never heard of them, but I kinda like it. Pharrell Williams is pretty creative, and I did not know this was his project, and with Lenny kravitz on a couple of songs? Not bad. I'm not sure I'll remember this, but it's good to have options. Had to listen to it again before writing this, so ...
Þetta er alveg áhlustanlegt.
So fun
It’s alright. Pharrell is a pop music machine. I like parts of some of the songs, but that’s it for me. Just too Cali-pop. 3/5
It's like their 3rd best album. N.E.R.D tells us that you can make even the cringiest lyrics tolerable if you sing them with enough conviction.
decent
Maso
Who knew rap rock could be so dynamic, buoyant and fun, while flashing with bits of intelligence? One digs this to such an extent that if one listened to this genre, one would definitely listen to more N.E.R.D.
Yeah ok this is actually pretty good, worth its place on the list.
I was thoroughly impressed by this album, I ended up really enjoying it.
Ну такое, середнячок одноразовый
Thought I would like this one but nothing really jumped out at me
This is really, really bad. 1.5 🌟
it’s like some reasonably talented high schoolers and an 808 machine
Flew and due.
i mean if those are the choices ...
I kinda miss when Pharrell wasn’t afraid to get experimental. This mishmash of genres works much better than it should.
I went back and forth between mild enjoyment and boredom. This album has elements of hip-hop, rock and pop; I normally like cross-over but in this case it didn't really work for me. The lyrics did not save the day. OK for a few songs but not an entire album for me. Not sure if this is a must-hear album.
I was expecting worse. The instrumentation is nice for the most part. It's not very rap heavy. I'm just always on the fence about whether I like Pharrell Williams' voice. At least there's not a lot of falsetto.
Just fly enough to not have to die, congrats!
Swagalicious
Revolutionary production
I always thought NERD would be right up my alley. I'd heard so many good things about them. But you know how it is - you listen to an album and it's not bad, but it all just slips right off you. That's what this is like - it sounds like talented people playing around with a lot of ideas and equipment but there's nothing here that I'd put on a mix, ya know?
Absolutely no way this should be anywhere near this list. Laughably bad. Three hidden tracks? I'd have happily gone with twelve hidden tracks; hidden in a vault, encased in concrete and dropped into the Mariana Trench.
Another good album from the 2000s. I really liked the mix between the indie rock sound and elements of R&B. It's also very interesting that the album's sound seems to be at least a decade ahead of its time. Very good discovery!
Really cool album. I knew many of the tracks but not all of it. The record has a lot of good ideas and sounds but, as all of the records from the time, is a bit long.
Fly Or Die is good in places, less so in others, the front half of the album is much better than the second half and it feels like they were short of ideas the more they added to the album. It kinda felt like a continuation of what Prince was doing 15-20 years earlier but without the quality of evolution you'd like or want from that sort of thing. It's a 3 but I didn't enjoy it as much as I maybe hoped to.
It's fun, this, production is good, flows and works nicely. Not quite sure what it's trying to be really though, it's a nice, smooth listen but doesn't quite go anywhere. Occasionally turns towards something you can dance to, sometimes goes a bit more rocky, doesn't do either particularly memorably. Think it scrapes a low 3.
A decent album but not as strong of an outing as their first. There are some decent songs and collabs on there but for the most part it just kind of disappeared into the background. Unfortunately not for me.
N.E.R.D. and the Neptune's as well as In Search Of are generally excellent. In comparison this album just feels average. Not bad just not anything special
Fun album. Sort of hip - pop.
lastenmusiikkia... pikku kakkonen päälle ja katellaas... mikä päällä jaa pelle hermanni... ei aina tarvi innovoida... david gilmour vocals? yksittäiset biisit hyviä.. kokonaisuus, rikkoutuu.. pirstoutuu. hei kuunnelkaas heh: taitaapi . pohdiskelee lentääkö vai kuolee.. taitaa kuolla.. ei lennä heh........Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I'm happy Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do...... breakout
Ok so I like the cover art. The cracked egg is clever. Full star for that. ⭐ Not sure what direction these guys were headed with this album, seems to lack a true identity,. At least now I know Pharrell Williams was in a band called Nerd!
Welp, this album is a hot mess. I wanted to like it but couldn’t. The genre crossing is almost cool but comes off cheesy. I’m giving Fly or Die a two because the mix is good, solid production. The actual project is terrible.
This Pharrell guy seems to have a few ideas, I hope the music business works out for him.
Today's album is rap rock or funk rock maybe. My first thought was: This singer sounds a lot like Pharell Williams. Turns out it IS Pharell! Definately an odd melding of genres. Makes sense since Pharell is big into bending the borders between musical genres. This album is interesting for sure! Favourite songs: Fly or Die, The Way She Dances, Don't Worry About It, Backseat Love, She Wants to Move, Thrasher, Maybe Least favourite songs: Wonderful Place 3/5
Very nice.
Not bad
Good enough
01) Don't Worry About It - 7,5 02) Fly Or Die - 7,0 03) Jump - 7,0 04) Backseat Love - 7,0 05) She Wants To Move - 9,0 06) Breakout - 7,5 07) Wonderful Place/Waiting for You - 7,5 08) Drill Sergeant/Preservation - 7,0 09) Thrasher - 7,5 10) Maybe - 7,5 11) The Way She Dances - 7,0 12) Chariot of Fire/Find My Way - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,38 (74/100) Current ranking: 130/232 The problem with this album (but not only this one) is that after a while all the songs start to sound the same. I remember that at that time "She Wants To Move" sounded very fresh, new and different. Now I don't have that feeling anymore, it sounds very '00 just like the rest of the album. Not a bad album, but nothing I'll remember later. Except maybe the previously mentioned "She Wants To Move" which goes on my "1001 albums" playlist.
probably 2.50-2.75. always thought i should be more into them than i was could i write poetry to this? n
The songs with Kravitz are the best of the bunch, but even those are just OK.
I’m not generally a fan of Pharrell Williams on his own; in fact, he can be a bit annoying. This album is better than expected, but I’m not sure why it needs to be on the list.
This was way different than I was expecting. I liked it
Funk and rock and a few other things. Worth another listen.
Sonically this album reminded me a lot of Goldlink just with less edge. There's a lot to like her but not really a lot to love imo. It's a fun album but it isn't very gripping.
This is a well-curated selection of hooks, rhythm patterns, guitar bite and clever shifts that didn’t produce an earworm for me over a playthrough. During the first song, I joked to myself that N.E.R.D. remind me of my beloved Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but without the snarl or Method-madness. This joke stuck, with a dollop of Beck added. Yet I’m not sure it delivers any tunes, just lots of good segments. It’s a wine-tasting menu rather than a meal; good fun, but leaves you hungry and queasy if you overindulge. Lyrics are often yuck, but I laughed when I heard Pharrell Williams stage-whisper “chocolate flower”.
wtf is this? I'm offended I wasted time on this half-arsed mediocrity, what's next - Macklemore? Utterly shit, one of the very few on this list I've skipped through without finishing (and I listened to the Lenny Kravitz album in full). I've heard better Kidz Bop compilations.
Abwechslungsreich, verschiedene Genre. Gab kein Lied, dass auf Anhieb hängengeblieben ist, aber auch nicht aufdringlich. Kann man nochmal anmachen
Layered and simple rock/funk hip hop album. There's just not much out there that sounds like NERD. A great album, but not quite as impactful as the debut. Awesome overall nonetheless. Pharell's vocals will always be unique, fun, and soulful.
It was ok. Felt like it was from the early 90's rather than the 2000's...and not in a good way.
daphne does not like it 2 sexy for me! /for us aber fun
Love it, especially the top half. Maybe my favorite of this genre I've been given so far.
Enjoyed a lot more than expected. Cover looks like a 1 or 2 stars.
A pleasant surprise
2.5 stars. This was OK, felt a bit repetitive at times but more creative than bland rap-rock. Good layering at times and consistent beats that made it more authentic and less derived. Standout was "She Wants To Move".
NERD’s first album, In Search Of…, deserves to be on this list, it’s excellent. At a push, The Neptunes’ album Clones could make it on the list too, if only because it signifies a time when their productions dominated pop and rap music. This album, on the other hand, is woefully bad. I actually get irritated listening to it - my first one star.
Le premier morceau, terriblement répétitif m'a pratiquement fait arrêter l'écoute. Les morceaux suivant s'améliorent, et quelques morceaux originaux (trop peu) m'ont fait augmenter la note.
Fun album with a hip-hop pop vibe. She wants to Move is a classic
It’s not bad, just that I was bored listening and kept contemplating turning it off 2.5/5
I love the diversity of this album and it may be the only album featuring Lenny Kravitz that I can listen to. Its variety is impressive and also makes it a little hard to latch onto as well.
I was surprised to see this album on the list, I vaguely remember this being kind of a flop at the time. The only notable track was "She Wants to Move", which didn't blow up the charts, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall I'm left a little confused as to the inclusion. The music is, fine, but the lyrics are a particular weak spot. There is a creepy tone to the singing and lyrics of "Backseat Love", and the line "Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride" on "She Wants to Move" was cringe at the time, and has only worsened with age. Overall it comes off as an album from some talented producers who made an album out of boredom without anything interesting to say.
Good shit
Fun rock album but there’s definitely more fun and interesting albums coming out in this time period.
actually kinda fire ngl, wasn’t expecting to love it but every song hit and i could for sure return to it. it isn’t necessarily perfect so i don’t think it’s a sure 5 star, but it’s closer to a 5 than it is a 4.
I know this rating seems crazy but there is 1 MAYBE 2 songs I will ever listen to again on my own accord. if it wasn’t for Maybe; it might have gotten a 1. would ask if anyone could change it if it was a small group setting.
Absolut hörbar. Sehr rockig. Nice!
Bij het zien van de hoes sloeg de moed me al in de schoenen, maar in plaats van een boze rapplaat krijgen we relaxte funk, die af en toe lekker rockt en waar inderdaad soms wat doorheen wordt gebabbeld. Best leuk.
Er is iets met die Pharell. Hij is muzikaal veelzijdig en onmiskenbaar creatief. Er is weinig op de muzikaliteit van die man af te dingen. En toch zijn er maar weinig dingen van hem waar ik blij van wordt. Ook NERD heeft mij nooit veel gedaan. Ondanks dat ze best creatieve dingen uithalen, die best werken, zoals de aritmisch voelende, maar toch passende achtergrond bij de hit. Wellicht komen dat soort dingen, omdat ze niet beperkt waren door kennis van de instrumenten. Ze speelden geen van allen een instrument en zijn dat maar gaan leren, zodat ze hun album ook ten gehore konden brengen. Voordat ik de 1001 kende dacht ik dat een rockband die geen instrument kan bespelen iets bijzonders was. Maar het is al iets te vaak voorgekomen. Toch is dat hier geen echte beperking. Maar ja, het is gelukkig ook geen live-registratie.
Voor het eerst in drie weken weer eens een plaat die ik al kende voor deze lijst. N.E.R.D. had namelijk een paar flinke hits in het begin van de 00s, en toen stonden ze ook op een festival waar ik ben geweest, uit mijn hoofd zeg ik pinkpop. En een feest der herkenning is toch altijd een stuk fijner qua luisterplezier, dan wanneer je nieuwe muziek moet gaan ontdekken. Qua muziek is het een vrolijke fusion tussen R&B, hiphop en funky rock. Het is lekker catchy, met een lekker uptempo ritme. De teksten zijn op het geile af, die gasten komen iets tekort blijkbaar. Als je dingen kan bedenken als "her ass is a spaceship I want to ride", dan "ben je een hele grote" (om maar eens een berucht criticus van gitaarmuziek te parafraseren). Qua album biedt het verrassend veel afwisseling eigenlijk. Zonder dat er vervelende nummers tussen zitten. Het is allemaal uitstekend gebalanceerd: het begint met een knaller, er komt op het juiste moment een hitje en er is even tijd om wat gas terug te nemen. Ik word hier best blij van.
Fun
Surprised by how much I liked this!
Nice rock! Much better than I expected.
Decent, but i wasn’t too into it. 3.4
Pretty good stuff overall
Super fun, will definitely listen again.
Great fun album will listen again
Not my thing.
Big band hip hop
okay. So most of the time I was listening to this I was thinking it was a 2. Then, since it was accidentally on loop while I exercised, it somehow ended up as a 4 after a second listen. There was something dissonant about everything, but the guest spots and the rock element added so many cool things to the rap element. So interesting.
I have never heard of them. After listening to the album I added it to my favorites. Very creative while still being accessible to me. Definitely going to be listening to this one again.
Cool stuff.
like a 5,75 out of 10 surprising to see the 'happy' guy on this
These lads were shit.
Can’t believe we used to let these wallies make all the music back in the 2000s. Load of shite.
Never heard of this outfit and listening i know why. Music not made for my age group so cannot comment. Do not like at all. 1/5 18/5/34
I was completely unfamiliar with NERD before this and had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. This is an interesting mix of many styles that created something unique. They blended R&B and hip hop vocal stylings together, then mixed that with a slightly funky and rock instrumentation to create a cool vibe. I could definitely hear Lenny Kravitz on “Maybe,” and although he was obvious, it still flowed with the rest of the album. Still not sure how much I’ll listen to them again, but it is definitely something that will be on my radar.
Fine
When I saw the word rap in the article about this album my expectations very pretty low but I enjoyed this more than I expected. Interresting music, decent singing overall pretty good. Not the kind of music I am going to seek out in the future but decent enough.
Passed me by unmoved. The first track sounded vaguely like some sort of James Brown tribute, but after that I don't remember anythin at all. I only 'woke up' when spotify started playing random artists after the album ended.
This was way better than I was expecting it to be. A couple of tracks I'd probably look back to.
very interesting album, diverse musical styles. Would like to listen some more.
"Her ass is a spaceship that I want to ride" Not serious, but a fun album that mixes R&B and pop punk. Not super blown away, and I don't think I would return to it, but it was OK for the listen.
Interesting. Best track She Wants To Move 3/5
NERD is a great band that is hard to categorize. It has a touch of rap, rock and jazz. There's a technical genius in this music as well as a casual vibe ("Every once in a while there's that same asshole / Try to swing and hit, 'cause the things he can't control"). I'm an old fan of this band and this album and it's a pleasure because it never gets old.
Nerds are unfairly maligned. Why would it be bad to be hardworking, diligent, focused, and inquisitive? They are much more than a Steve Uerkel stereotype of glasses and pocket protectors. Then there are the candies - intense crunches of pure sugar, and now in clusters and rainbow ropes. More to them than you thought, huh? Seems to be true of the N.E.R.D.s too. Pharrell Williams and his childhood pals sure do defy genre descriptions and fully delve into musical fusion on “Fly or Die.” Despite how nice it was to listen to something that defies being placed in a box, these tracks really grab me. Williams built up quite a rep as a super producer, and has had a big impact on 21st century music, so his inclusion on the list feels justified. But at the same time, none of his albums seem worthy on their own, either from N.E.R.D. or the Neptunes. Maybe most justified would be Justin Timberlake’s Neptunes-written and produced debut, removed from the list like “Fly or Die,” but a much bigger hit.
I saw these guys open for Dave Matthews Band in Virginia Beach. According to our internet gods, it was the summer of 2004. This album was out by then, but I don’t remember what they played. I just remember liking their energy and music. So got into In Search Of . . ., which is a great album. 5 stars for sure. I think 1001 made a mistake choosing Fly Or Die over ISO… even though it is not in the current list. At least Dimery was aware enough to include N.E.R.D. in the list in the first place. Their rap rock is something to be taken in and worth hearing. Too bad Dimery had the poor judgment to 1) not include the superior In Search Of . . . 2) to remove N.E.R.D from the list. Despite this not being as good as their debut, it is still pretty pretty pretty good (Larry David voice).
Tried to find some joy with this one but only a few interesting moments. Is it rap? Is it hip hop?
just kinda passed me by without anything of note jumping out - good or bad!
This was going to be 3 stars but there were some bangers towards the end
enjoyed
Honestly wasn’t familiar with any of Pharell’s work besides the super mainstream stuff. Great album that’s full of a wide variety of fun songs. Thoroughly enjoyed.
This was a new artist for me, but to my surprise it wasn't that bad. Weird mix and usage of different styles but quite interesting.
2.5
enjoyed this a lot
I didn’t like all the repetitive almost shouting bits at all but I liked wonderful place
Good album and good vocals
4 stars, needs a Lap Dance/
Not for me
*Weird* and interesting halfway point between hip hop and alt-rock sensibilities.
The production is, of course, excellent. This is made for radio play, and it really is an original sound. Overall, this feels more evolutionary than revolutionary to me, mostly because the draw isn't the great songs or great production, but the change in sound from N.E.R.D.'s last album to this one. Strong enough album and there are catchy melodies. It doesn't feel essential, but more enjoyable. Perhaps I am too hard on these albums but this is going to fade into the background fairly quickly for me. When I listened to this album on Spotify, it went from this album to "Dust" by Van Hunt and I couldn't help but think that would have been a better choice.
so far not a lot to say - its sounds pretty good
- Didn't know Pharrell was in a band this is sick - Incredible vibes - Obviously he's a great singer, it really elevates these songs - Would totally go back to this
- woah it’s Pharrell - really cool blending of like pop-punk and hip hop - unique
A fun blend of rap rock with great production but nothing too substantial- their previous album is far more exciting Also: there are a few things about this album that are kind of dated, but the most notable is that there are THREE HIDDEN TRACKS
A mix of hip hop and rock is a new mix for me, and I like the experimentation.
2/5
Not sure why this is the N.E.R.D album chosen for this list. Both In Search Of... and especially Seeing Sounds are much better examples of what made these guys some of the biggest hit-makers of the 2000s.
I can't, in good conscience, give this a 1-star review even though I hated nearly every minute of it. Pharrell is such a blatant, sell-out poser. The intro for "Fly or Die" is right: "this is for the kids." It's so juvenile. The lyrics are idiotic and the performances are straight amateur hour. The only - and I mean ONLY - good thing about this album is the production. Production is on point. Too bad nothing else is. Hard pass.
Блин, вот после the cure так раз и кайфовый чилловый современный саунд. Вот так вот, вылупились из америки ребятки. Но слушается приятно, треки разные, движовые, качовые, фановые. Мне нравится чёт.
I applaud their originality but the offensive lyrics toward women and purpose built strangeness triggers eye rolls.
Fly or Die is the second album by American rap rock band N.E.R.D. The band actually learned how to play the instruments needed for this album instead of using outside musicians like on their debut album. It was interesting how these rap geniuses were able to make a decent multi-layered progressive pop album. It has been certified gold in Australia and the US. For the most part I enjoyed this album. It's not normally the type of music I would listen to, but it did pass the time. It's worth a listen for the uniqueness alone.
3.5
Pretty enjoyable style, would consider listing to more of them
3.75
klingt wie eine Mischung aus Prince und Lenny Kravitz. Ganz okay zu hören.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. Great album.
a great surprise!
A groovy rap rock record with bluesy riffs and James Brown funk energy and vocals. The sound and production is very much a blend of both hip hop and alt rock typical of the period on pop radio. The closest I can compare it to is Outkast who shares the same sense of style and creativity. From that perspective, the songs are loose and fun, experimenting with a lot of different ideas which each stand out, and they all have parts that work, even if the whole track doesn't hit it off. As an example, "Backstreet Love" is a cool song that reminds me of Roxy Music's "Bogus Man". The second half tries to spice it up which sounds kinda cool but it's messy and harsh. It's too forceful in its repetition without saying anything, which serves to do nothing except exhaust my attention. Other tracks do this to various extents, sometimes not as bad, and sometimes only in certain parts. "Drill Sergeant" is the worst example. Lots of cool ideas in that song, but it's a hard listen at its 7-minute length. It's a shame the 2 Lenny Kravitz songs have very little going for them. It's very accessible with its mass pop appeal, but the tracks are exhausting with how excessive they all are, especially for dragging on to almost an hour. Creative, clean, and cohesive, but too forceful and messy. Favorites: Fly Or Die, She Wants to Move, Maybe
Haven't listened to much Pharrell really, despite seeing him in concert once. He has a great voice, but he did a lot of talk-singing that didn't really keep my attention. There was a lot of variety in musical styles on this album which is a definite pro for me. I'd give it a 3.5.
It was funky fun, made me wiggle my hips a bit but overall I felt no connection in my heart or mind, alas.
producer pharrell > frontman pharrell
Wack but kinda swag.
I appreciated that this had a different kind of sound. It was an interesting mixup of genres. There were times I liked it, but I didn't love it ever.
A different kind of hip-hop sound that was new to me. It wasn’t quite my jam, but I appreciated what was being delivered and like some moments quite a bit.
Reasonably entertaining, quirky and different. I had fun for the most part.
Very catchy! Sort of jumps around the genres which I’m in for. Quite enjoyable!
Better than I thought based on the Spotify algorithm. Clicked on the album, listened to the first song then clicked back out. When I came back, Spotify played the next song, but then went on to play other songs that follow the formula. I had no idea for about half and hour until I checked to see how much time was left. I started the album over and was mildly surprised. I enjoyed the way they mixed things up a bit. I mean, it’s a rap/hip-hop album, but they added differing flair to it. Still, it won’t be in my rotation.
This must be a Bruno Mars inspiration Quality A Pharrell Williams original childhood creation
Omankuuloisensa bändi! Ja oikein edustava levy, tyyli tulee selväksi. Kivat rnb-laulut ja siihen nähden epäkonventionaaliset taustat. Hidden track on aivan turha.
Tässä geneeristä alavirettä on oudoitettu koristelulla, kuten jännillä soinnuilla, sähköskeballa ja progehtavilla rytmeillä. Vaikea kuunneltava.
I don't know, it's not terrible I suppose. Just not really hitting me either. Definitely a couple good songs though. It's probably like a 2.5 for me.
not as boring as i thought it would be and had some catchy tracks.
2.4/5 Best Track: Drill Sergeant
Hate him or love him, Pharrel Williams is een belangrijk persoon in de muziekindustrie. Als artiest en producer heeft hij meermaals bewezen dat hij een sleutelfiguur is, vooral bij de wat experimentelere hiphop. Hierbij laat ik de twee andere kereltjes van NERD ff buiten beschouwing, niemand weet toch wie zij zijn. Er wordt best geëxperimenteerd met rock, hiphop, funk, etc. Maar dat je dit moét luisteren voordat je doodgaat, hoeft van mij niet per sé. Zo zijn er zat artiesten die het genrebenden in dezelfde tijd (beter) gedaan hebben: Kanye, Tyler, Andre3000/Outkast, Frank Ocean. Liever daar een albumpje van dan van Pharrell. Rating: 6,5/10 Highlights: She Wants To Move, Breakout
Dit is - net als het reeds gereviewde album van OutKast - echt een voorbeeld van hoe hip hop zich na de eeuwwisseling los heeft gewrongen van het 90s stigma, dat het een genre is dat onlosmakelijk verbonden is met street life, gang culture en achtergestelde communities. Een muziekstijl dóór en vóór de hood. Wat het absolute einde van de eeuw al voorspelde met een transformatie van pure hip hop naar een fusie met R&B, wat een breder publiek trok, werd het genre steeds sterker door de mainstream mee gesleurd. Niet alleen werden er thema's gecommuniceerd die klikte met de midden- en hoge klassen van de US, maar deze werden ook bijgestaan door samples en instrumenten vanuit andere hoeken dan de traditioneel zwarte stijlen als jazz, funk en soul. Dit album bijvoorbeeld heeft qua thematiek en instrumentarium meer voeten in de aarde in de pop punk wereld dan in de klassieke hip hop. Dit voelde je direct, en het werd volledig bevestigd toen twee zangers van Good Charlotte insprongen bij 'Jump'. En ook al is pop punk een genre wat me koud laat, ik respecteer de nieuwe en creatieve invalshoek. Later op het album doet ook Lenny Kravitz nog op een tweetal songs een duit in het zakje, waardoor de brug naar de pop rock wereld werd voltooid. Ook deze nummers raken niet de juiste snaar zoals de rappende rockers (of rockende rappers) als de Beastie Boys of Rage Against the Machine dat vaak wel deden. Misschien zijn het ook wel gewoon de ietwat cringy topics die worden bezongen, waar de coming of age onderwerpen niet ver verwijderd zijn van die van high school punk bands als Blink-182. Voor het onbetwiste hoogtepunt moeten we luisteren naar 'She Wants To Move'. Het is ietwat cheesy, en ruikt enorm naar Black Eyed Peas, maar de nostalgie neemt de overhand. Die hook heeft zich vastgegrepen toen ik het nummer vroeger op m'n MP3-stickie had, en ik merk nu dat hij nog steeds op z'n plek zit. Andere songs die zijn blijven hangen zijn 'Maybe' en 'The Way She Dances'. Die eerste klinkt heel John Lennon-esque, brengt een Britpop vibe, en etaleert de waanzinnige drumkunsten van Questlove. De tweede heeft een aanstekelijke groove. Het hele album - en dit nummer in het speciaal - heeft overduidelijk artiesten als Bruno Mars en Justin Timberlake beïnvloed. Hoewel de productie en de samenwerkingen een nieuwe stap richting de 'Hip Pop' van vandaag zetten, en het moedergenre weer een stap verder verwijderd van haar roots, is N.E.R.D. vooral een kennismaking met het exceptionele oor voor hitjes van Pharrell Williams. Echter kan ik zijn stem vaak moeilijk hebben, vooral in combinatie met die ultra-positieve teksten. Vandaag de dag zijn de meeste producties van hem bijna maniakaal vrolijk, maar ook hier schuurt het al een beetje met mijn muzieksmaak. Daarnaast zijn de elementen die worden geïntegreerd vanuit andere stijlen niet echt mijn pakkie an, en vind ik het vele malen minder uitgevoerd dan een ''Stankonia'', wat wel degelijk ook een breder publiek probeert te bereiken. 5,5/10 Highlights: She Wants To Move Maybe
Volgens mij moeten we rap en rock lekker gescheiden houden. 4/10 Highlights - Dieptepunt Wonderful Place
Better than I thought to be fair. Pharrell has got a good voice, these are well written songs, and, unlike some other artists of the genre, they seem to prioritise having fun over macho posturing. It reminded me of Outkast, who were probably their closest contemporaries, in that respect. The songs with Lenny Kravitz were particularly good I thought. Not amazing all round, but an enjoyable listen.
Pretty good. Just bout the worst album art of the 2000s
Musical taste is really something.
At least they tried to be different.
"Her ass is a spaceship I want to ride." 🤮 I'm not impressed with the lyricism (there were multiple moments where a line made me say "Wait, what?") and many of these songs are too long, but this is fairly well-produced and (most of) the vocal performances are fine. I can understand why somebody would really enjoy this. Personally, I am unconvinced of needing to hear this before I died. Highlights: Don't Worry About It, Breakout, Thrasher Songs with particularly baffling lyrics: Wonderful Place, Drill Sergeant, She Wants To Move, The Way She Dances, Chariot Of Fire
so bland. 2 stars
Some good moments. Starts to sound a bit the same throughout
It felt too all over the place.
Like his gigantic hat, I think this falls into Pharrell's "questionable choices" category. The chords and syncopation felt really at odds with the vocal style and fuzzy guitars. Tonally it feels dated and emotionally immature with stuff like Jump. I feel like the idea had merit in exploring whatever intersection there may be between rap rock and jazz and but the execution fell steeply short of being an enjoyable listen. It felt like the sort of thing your friend who definitely should keep his day job would foist upon you, saying he's hit on something truly unique. I started to feel embarrassed listening and did not finish. On the other hand it was good to be reminded that even the greats can take big swings and miss, and it doesnt invalidate the great other stuff theyve made. Will not be revisiting.
Awful from the jump. This had no business being an ep, let alone 55 minutes. If you want to jam aimlessly with your buds be my guest but don’t subject me to it. God I hated this.
Would have been a 4 star rating except for the weird rapey car backseat song
Never heard of these guys before, but I liked this more than I expected too. Good job of mixing rock and rap. Surprised to see that Pharell Williams wrote these songs.
Miles better than Lil Wayne’s “rock” album, this is still pretty scattered. There are a few decent tracks but I can’t imagine ever wanting to hear this again in my life. Parts of it feel like Silk Sonic in its intentionally retro sound with some modern hip hop production added.
Mist!
Not bad.
3/4
Meh
this is the most 3/5 album ive ever listened to.
I really like the rock music, and the lyrics are really well crafted. There's some quality difference in some songs. The beginning of the album was missing something for me, but the album gets better and better as it goes. Not great, but this is definitely good.
In a nutshell: rap rock meets…jazz? It’s shown its age but it also shows how talented Pharrell, Chad, Shay and co are. The opening track reminded me of Prince a la Darling Nicky. As to if it’s Pharrell’s intention to sound seductive, I don’t know. Some catchy drumming (noted that Questlove appeared on Maybe) and bass. Overall: 3/10
Not new to me but happy to revisit
No bad tracks. Great sound overall. She Wants to Move the only standout track on a solid album. 3.5
It’s an interesting album. Seems like early 2000s where so much was changing with everything. Wouldn’t recommend but there’s a few good songs. Not my thing tho.
D.U.M.B. I heard that Tyler The Creator and Frank Ocean love N.E.R.D., the funk-rock-rap brainchild of production duo The Neptunes, i.e. Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. Guess that... a) Pharrell is probably a friend of Tyler and Frank by now. And since, outside of this particular project, he's still a gifted producer with gold in hands, it's tempting to find the same sort of genius in an album such as this one. Except that nothing's really "genius" about it. It's more like: "let's throw everything we have onto the wall and hope most of it will stick the landing". Newsflash, boys: a lot of it didn't. b) Given the number of genres or subgenres that are tackled in *Fly Or Die*, you could forgive Tyler and Frank for thinking this is the sort of album that opens minds and break barriers for many listeners. Heck, good for them if this record played that specific part in their respective musical upbringing. But the sad truth of the matter is that large chunks of this record are borderline unlistenable today. Actually, N.E.R.D. were already borderline unlistenable in 2004. But thanks to the "power" of catchy single "She Wants To Move", target demographics among general audiences gave Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo--plus whoever that third guy in the band was--the benefit of the doubt. At the time, N.E.R.D. were also helped by critical pundits, who sent tons of unwarranted praise their way--confusing creativity, dynamic production and open-mindedness with derivative endeavors, sloppiness, and lack of meaningful inspiration. Just like its horrible cover, *Fly Or Die* is filled with copied-and-pasted ideas that don't match each other very well. With sometimes a copied-and-pasted attitude *within* the album, which adds to its grating aspect. For instance, one track towards the end of the album, "The Way She Dances", is basically "She Wants To Moves 2", with callbacks to that single so obvious that you might want to roll your eyes at your hi-fi speakers. "She Wants To Move" is not that interesting as a single anyway--it was supposed to age badly, I guess, but it actually aged even worse. It's a hot mess. It's always been so. Not that each and every track in the album sucks, mind you. Right before "The Way She Dances", there is a string of cuts that fare far better, already saving this record from a 1-star grade. They are the Britpop-inspired (!) "Drill Sergeant" (along with its more hectic coda), the Naughty-By-Nature-indebted rap banger "Thrasher", and the moving ballad "Maybe". Lenny Kravitz and The Roots' Questlove helped Williams and Hugo on some happy moments within those particular songs, which might or might not explain why they're tighter on both compositions and performances level. And if you go back to side one, the fast-paced hypnotic and jazzy stomp of "Jump" is also quite good! Unfortunately, everything else is dumb. The faux-Prince meanderings of opener "Don't Worry About It" is dumb. The faux-rock of the title-track is dumb. The faux-blues-rock of the Jimi-Hendrix parody "Backseat Love" is dumb. And whatever the endlessly plodding tracks "Breakout", "Wonderful Place" and "Waiting For You" really are--"faux" or not--they're just dumb as well anyway. Worse, the performances on those cuts sound forced. And just as in most other songs, the lyrics are unfocused and/or hackneyed. Shall I continue up until the very last minutes of this interminable record? Or do you get the picture? By the way, I went to the Wikipedia article related to *Fly Or Die*, and to me, its "reception" section looked like propaganda. How come Pitchfork's scathing 3.something-out-of-10 review for this album is NOT mentioned in the article? How many other negative reviews of the record are thus kept in the dark there? I've never been a *huge* fan of Pitchfork, yet this review is quite hilarious, so I've copied and pasted a link to it under this paragraph. If you don't like this record, and have five extra minutes on your hands, give it a shot. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5749-fly-or-die/ Not giving a grade as terrible as the one Pitchfork gave, though: It's gonna be 1.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums"--rounded up to 2. It's not as bad as the one given by Pitchfork, because said grade translates differently for more general purposes. You add that 1.5 mark to a 5 point score signifying that, if you made it to this list, you already have a certain modicum of talent and inspiration (not to mention luck)... So my end grade for *Fly Or Die* is 6.5/10. With only 10 reviewers giving a 5/5 mark to this thing on this app, and only 10 or 15 reviews "liked" by the users--whatever the grades in the reviews are--it's obvious that folks are not wild about this record anyway--even to *hate* it. So objectively speaking, there's nothing essential in *Fly Or Die*. Heck, I even wonder how I could write so many words about such a tedious record. Probably because I'm a *real* nerd. A music *nerd*, that is. That's something I could share with fans of this record if they were a little more demanding in their tastes. But I'll leave the door open to them and their own takes. Another reason why I won't give the minimum grade to those other "nerds" here breaking out of their American egg. Number of albums left to review: 269 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 322 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 180 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 234p5 (including this one)
It's fine. Significantly more varied than expected, but nothing particularly great.
Not my cup of tea. Didn't care for the language or topics. Seemed to be well done.
I am starting to wonder who picked this list.
Definitely the second best NERD album. Pharell (and Chad) seem to go through cycles of unadulterated genius then relative mediocrity. This is in one of their lulls, unfortunately. Still good, nothing special though. In Search Of... is the one that should be here.
Interesting mix of styles, keeps you engaged as it takes you in different directions. 3.6
This was a fun jaunt into 2004
This shit sucks
You know, out of all the albums on this list I've gotten so far, I think this album has had the biggest disparity between how much I thought I would like it, and how much I actually liked it. Based on things like the name, album cover, and apparent lack of a strong enough reason for this album's inclusion on the list, I didn't think I would like N.E.R.D's "Fly or Die" that much. However, I actually really like this album. First off, I just want to say that I had no idea that Pharrell Williams was in a band. I just think that's kind of cool. Second of all, this album is pretty unique. I really like the blend of various genres. The wikipedia article said this was rap rock, which was another reason I thought I wouldn't like it. However, there's a lot more soul influence than I thought there would be. There really isn't that much in here I'd truly call "rap rock", or maybe this album just shows what it can actually be. This whole album has this feel-good energy to it. The writing is a bit basic at times, but not in a painful way or anything. The singing is nice, the album doesn't go on for too long. I do have one complaint though. The ending was a bit underwhelming. Not the last song specifically, that one was good. All of them are good. I just liked the first few songs overall more than the last few overall. This is a real sleeper hit you guys. I can't believe no one told me how good this was! 4/5.
Like some of their other tunes but this album generally fell flat.
Perfectly fine, just not for me
N.E.R.D. aim to be the early 21st Century equivalent of Beastie Boys by switching their genre allegiances with Fly or Die and, for the most part, they succeed. On its surface, it appears prepared to fall flat on its face but N.E.R.D. surprise by offering crafty and catchy hooks and unexpected aptitude for the subjects that occupy their songs. Fly or Die sounds as though it wouldn't be out of place in a early to mid 70s musical landscape, even if its lyricism keeps it firmly in early 2000s territory. Favorites: Jump, Backseat Love, She Wants to Move, Breakout, Wonderful Place/Waiting for You, Drill Sergeant/Preservation, Thrasher, Maybe.
Imagine if the Isley Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, 10cc, Modest Mouse, Belle and Sebastian, and Curtis Mayfield had a musical orgy… Fly or Die is probably as close as you are going to get to that
First song was strong, then got just better than okay 3.3
Witty, experimental funk/soul rock that spans multiple genres and is defined by none of them. Vocals are diverse and captivating, from soulful gentle hooks to almost-rap to alternative indie rock, and lyrics are clever, catchy, and meaningful. Instrumentation is all over the place in a fun, creative way; N.E.R.D feels less like a serious attempt at art experimentation and more jovial exploration and flexing of musicians who have nothing to prove. Not what I was expecting, but happy to be proven wrong. Stand out tracks include “Jump”, “Wonderful Place”, and “The Way She Dances”.
Kinda unique, but not necessarily in a good way. I can see how it may have influenced other music, but don't hit very well.
Started out looking forward to it, and while it is a unique blend of rock and hip-hop with impeccable production, they just aren't (or aren't yet) suited to the role. Still learning instruments, going off more vibes and energy than melody and musicianship. This was not an easy listen.
Don't be misled by the album cover or the band's name. This thing slaps.
First impression: Prince wannabe. Too negative? Oh ... This is a young Pharrell? Ah. I appreciate the thought behind this - merge hip hop, rock, and 70s soul - but this doesn't do much for me personally. I don't think I'll remember any of these songs an hour from now. I look forward to reading other reviews to see why this is on the list. Is it supposed to be, like, the Sergeant Pepper of hip hop or something? ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 37 🎧 LPs left to review: 964 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 9 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 12 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10
I had this album when it first came out, although I didn't listen to it loads. I think it is good background music - music to listen to while driving
Me gustó! Bien! No lo compraría, pero es bueno.
Never heard of them (seems a common theme). It's not terrible but it's not enjoyable. Too much Pharrell falsetto. Lyrics don't speak to me. Nothing catchy.
It surpassed my low expectations going in. Hell, they even made a song with the no talent ass clowns from Good Charlotte listenable. I found the second half pretty lacking though. 2.5 but gets a 3 because I expected so much less.
Easily forgettable, guitar chords from Pharell Williams wasn't really impactful and time signatures were inconsistent Vocals overall was decent at best
Energizing and nostalgic
I liked this more than it seems a lot of folks did. It's not quite In Search Of... but gets the job done. Solid 3.
"Middle-aged suburban dad doing Sunday morning chores" was probably not N.E.R.D.'s target demographic, and yet here we are.
Probably the weirdest thing I've had yet on this list; funky, alt-hip-hop rock which is so INCREDIBLY 2000s. I didn't love it, but i was definitely along for the ride.
Greddufönk. Ekki svo galið. 3,5.
I like NERD. This album is a little all over the place I fear.
Sorry rene
Pharrell has to be discussed more in general music. Too bad rap isn’t taken seriously outside of the culture.
It's good if you're into hip-hop.
Apparently these guys must be brilliant producers and musicians. For me as more rock oriented person it is just too slick, too cheesy, too smooth.
Rock, dance, funk, pop, male, hiphop, mid, nice tunes, catchy, blueprint for Pharrell style, solid music and songwriting, aged well, not my pair of shoes
not bad, groovy 2000s club music. a lot of the songs sounded the same 3/5
No.
I don't think people recognize how talented Pharrell is. Would definitely repeat this album. Favorite songs: She Wants To Move, Breakout, Wonderful Place, Drill Sergeant, Thrasher, Maybe (honestly, I feel like I'm listing all the songs. This album is a banger.)
I made it to song 4 or 5, and I had to bring out the gong. Nope. Not for me. Sorry N.E.R.D fans.
ds
2/5 nope
Expected something and a lot more than what I got. Hesitantly rounding up from a very hard 1.5 if not it should probably just be a 1⭐️
I like this. Pharrell always seems to deliver.
4*
Fun. 3 stars
I'm giving this two stars, instead of one, for the purpose that while I think this is a cringe-worthy album (lyrics especially), it certainly does have its audience. That audience being teenage boys between the ages of thirteen and fifteen; I am not among that demographic.
This is kind of a weird one because I want to give NERD a good rating because of their legacy and all of the hits that they make music for. On the other hand, this album is kinda boring. It's not bad, but for a group that was changing the sound of pop music during this period, their solo work tends to be a bit pedestrian 3/5
First NERD album I’ve really listened to. Not bad
Quite ok - runs smooth ;-)
Smooth production you'd expect from the Neptunes. Enjoying the title track and its recurring synth riff. Jump and Breakout as well. Second half is weaker, but Chariot of Fire is a pretty good closer. Overall, this is as middle of the road as it gets.
It’s ok.
This is quite the entertaining album with great musician ship all around. It seems and talented performers however, as fun as it was. I just don't see myself going back to it very often
After giving Fly Or Die a good listen. I can say its a really solid rap rock album. I liked how it could get really wacky at points (Jump and She Wants To Move being prime examples of this) The instruments were all utilized very well as were the vocals. Some of the compositions might not have been perfect but all in all, Its still a really solid album Best Song: Thrasher Worst Song: Chariot Of Fire
2004 must have been a year reviewers where smoking crack and taking bungs. How this is rated is beyond me, let alone in this list Absolutely terrible.
I like this collaboration, poppy, edgy, musically happy.
Nice listen ngl
Better then I thought, but still - I could die without listening to this one.
Album Nr. 19 Nicht meins. :-(
Fun album led by Pharrell’s vocals.
This album was fun. The only thing I didn't like was every song was heavy on repetition.
Mixed bag
Cool album. Good energy and a clear theme throughout the album. I think Pharrell’s solo stuff is better though.
I feel like I really like this album in theory. It has a unique sound that crosses a lot of genre lines with even some 2010s level production near the end and Pharrell is in his prime but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it. I honestly thought I was listening to the same song for the first like 20 minutes and I was just mildly bored for the rest of it. The second Lenny kravitz feature was probably my favorite but I doubt I’ll remember this album by tomorrow.
Find it very lightweight
So nondescript I've forgotten it already.
Notable track: She Wants To Move
Feel good music
There’s really nothing wrong with this - it’s an interesting mashup of genres that often works well - it just wasn’t clicking with me today. I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something about it that reminded me of the Elvis Costello albums I’ve listened to in this project, and it irritated me in the same way. Too upbeat, maybe? Hovering between a 2 and a 3…
pretty cool, not great, kind of repetitive but interesting at least. 3.2.
I'm positively surprised by this album. I just remembered some singles of the past of N.E.R.D. that sounded like they tried to hard. Listening to the full album, it really has some funky rock sounds that tries to have their own soul. It might not have worked on every track but it is certainly above average.
This album wasn't as bad as I was expecting when I first saw the rap/rock label. This was definitely more in the funk/R&B side of things which made it much more palatable. The music itself was fairly inoffensive and I was surprised to hear just how much N.E.R.D. incorporated early 2000s alternative style guitar into their music. Lenny Kravitz's touch can certainly be felt on the tracks he contributed to. This album feels much more experimental than Pharrell's more recent stuff; the incorporation of the various genres works well here and must have sounded exciting at the time.
I'm the first person to heap praise on Pharrell and his ability to be all over everything production wise (JT's debut being the obvious example) but wow was I disappointed by this album. So middle of the road and boring.
Rocking album with ‘Pop’ pop sensibilities because Pharrell
Hmm sounds less like fusion and more like they don’t know what they want to sound like. It’s all okay I guess. I don’t really like Pharrell’s solo stuff but I prefer it to this.
Genuinely shocked by how much I hated this. Pharrell just doen't have the vocal talent to elevate his cheesy ass lyrics. The drum sounds are mixed so lound in each song. Drill Sergeant is one of the worst 'protest' songs I've ever heard and sounds like it was made by a 15 year old who has never read a book but has heard of a few. 1/5
One of the more bizarre records I’ve had on here for sure. I’ve heard some of N.E.R.D’s stuff before, but not too much of this record. It’s just so off the wall and strange and the lyrics get a bit weird in some parts too. I think the production is pretty sweet though. 6/10
chill record, bit too long and repetitive, production too clean fav: fly or die
🤓
un nerd wannabe imo
An interesting album! I know the talent behind it are really good which helps a lot since it takes a big swing and I don't think it hits a home run but a solid double.
Fuck yes. This whole album feels like drinking the "Fun Potion" off of a crazy wizard's shelf of assorted brews and concoctions.
First half was a five, second half was a two.
I like the vibe, but most of this album doesn't resonate with me. Standouts include Don't Worry About It, Breakout, and Maybe.
So, first time listening to N.E.R.D. Can this really be called Hip-Hop? Pharrell’s not really rapping, but then we’re in a place in 2023 where most of the really popular Hip-Hop artists don’t really rap either. He’s a pioneer! This one was fun. The lyrics were by far the worst part, but the music was good enough that I could just tune them out. I was a little worried that the album was gonna be all the same rhythm-centric chugging guitar riff, because that’s what the first five songs are, but then Breakout came on with it’s accordion, which I really loved, and the whole vibe changed to a soul thing that I also really enjoyed. So yeah, I’m game with this. Might even check out some more
jazzy start I listened to this music all day, rnb plus rap was a good combo.
Ok, some good stuff, not sure why it's in this list
A worthy attempt at a unique sound, blending hip hop and rock. Though it sounds a bit dated now, kinda cringy. But creative, sure. Gave some Lenny Kravitz vibes at points. Good Charlotte on track 3 was cool.
A mix of genres lobbed into a stew. It sometimes works but mostly seems juvenile to me. And the lyrics are some of the worst adolescent poetry I’ve ever heard.
Not for me
eh 1
nahhh this is my favorite album of all time! omg! it’s already getting 5 stars!
Every time I listen to NERD I wonder why I’ve never tried to listen to them more. They were definitely genre-defying and innovative and I enjoyed the whole experience. They definitely deserve to be on this list and I would happily listen again - there was enough variety and intelligence to keep me interested.
Never heard this band before. This wasn't bad. I like the vocals and overall production. I'd listen to them again, but probably wouldn't go out of my way.
I used to love the song she wants to move back when it was first released. I don’t know if I heard any of the other songs of the album before this week. Listening to the whole album at once is a lot, because it just started sounding repetitive. Playing the tracks one or two at a time was much more enjoyable - to me at least. I could go anywhere from a three to a four on this.
This was fun. The songs started to feel a bit forced or formulaic as the album went on — less of an album and more a collection of songs, perhaps. So a 3-star is a bit soft, but it wasn't at a 4 for me.
I had never even heard of this before today and enjoyed its eclectic approach. I didn't love the vocal performances so much (I didn't know until sitting down to write this that that was Pharrell), but I liked the Zappa-esque and George-Clintonesque goofiness. And the songs were well written, too. So yeah, a perfect album for a list like this. Glad I heard it.
Really dug this It’s a 3.8
Okay, but NERD improved significantly on Seeing Sounds.
I'll be honest. I was really skeptical going into this album. Never heard of N.E.R.D. before or any song on this track. I was pleasantly surprised. This is not another rap or hip hop album. This is a rock rap album with serious, undeniable musicality imbedded. While some of the sounds are a little raw, the writing is really impressive. Of course, I had no idea that Pharrell was the lead singer and and they had great collaborators including Questlove and Lenny Kravitz too...
A staggering mishmash of genres and influences, which works better than it should. Like most albums by producers / production teams, it exists largely to show what they can do, but in a "cocky" way rather than a "pointlessly complex" way. Pharell is a hell of a frontman, and the guests elevate their songs well. An album where there is a place for every song on someone's playlist, but it's maybe less likely to be anyone's "all time favourite".
2/12, 17%
not my vibe
11/28/23. I have to give Pharrell his due here; this album flows really well and diverse! I love hip hop albums that push the boundaries. Will add to the rotation.
It was good! I enjoyed it, especially Pharell's vocals.
Sounds like it’s been made by horny teenagers
Good beginning to their career
3.5
Good solid pop hip-hop album with a little dada-ist streak, and only a slight smidgen of misogyny, which is refreshing. Had a good time listening to this record, funky, clever, and fun.
Favorite Songs: Backseat Love Wonderful Place Drill Sargeant Thrasher Interesting mix of rap and rock. After the first couple songs I was not that hooked but more and more enjoyed the listen.
Musically great but not into the lyrics. Feels dated
Best Song: Jump. Never thought a Benji Madden collab would be this danceable, but here we are. Worst Song: Thrasher. This feels like Limp Bizkit cosplay. Overall: Knowing Pharell's penchant for production, I really expected more here. He definitely excels more in the pop, rap, and hip hop spheres than this half-rock stuff. Just alright.
I liked the rock hip-hop hybrid at the time, but hadn't listened to n*e*r*d since about 2010. Still appeals. I think the rudimentary funk rock guitar without too many clever noodling combined with good drumming is what attracts me. I'll give it a low 4 as it's not very special, but I do quite like it.
Hasnt aged well...
Best song - Drill sergeant
Really fun to listen to. Nice blend of genres
Certainly a unique sound. Hits at some times (Jump, Breakout, Wonderful Place) but not at others. Wish the hidden tracks were actually separate hidden tracks at the end of the album instead of tacked onto existing songs.
Knew this project was a bit different but it still caught me by surprise. The off-kilter mix of Hip-Hop fundamentals with a heavy dose of pop lyricism/production and the occasional rock beat was enough to keep me genuinely interested for the full runtime. Some tracks did wear their concepts a bit thin, but newer, more boundary-pushing music is what I’ve been asking for with some of the more modern picks on the list.
I had never heard of this before, but I enjoyed it. From what I learned, they learned to play the instruments do they could perform live. It was a fun listen so the way through with a good rock/rap vibe and some funk should in there.
Good
upbeat and energetic. well produced. not necessarily my thing, but i didn’t hate it.
I couldn't really decide what I thought of this. I feel like the writer thought he was being far more clever than he actually was being. The music was catchy. I dunno.
This was a fun listen. I dug it.
An extra star for Pharrel
Thoughts before listening: I remember Pharrell being in this group, but this album cover is not one that I recognize. From what I remember about them, they have kind of a rap/pop/rock mix to their sound and were pretty popular at the time. I'm pretty surprised this is on the 1,001 list though as I don't remember it being highly touted at the time. Review: Yep...this is basically rap/r&b with rock guitars. Definitely not rap metal ala Limp Bizkit...and better for it. This is okay...a lot of this sounds like Happy-era Pharrell meets like Maroon 5 or something...very poppy style rock. According to Spotify listen stats She Wants to Move is the hit here and that makes sense. It's definitely the catchiest song with kind of a Santana-style guitar solo going underneath the music. There are a couple other songs I like fine, but overall this isn't for me.