N.E.R.D. -- Discussion Thread
 

After waiting so damn long for this CD to come out, I can say that I'm happy with it. It's very fresh sounding, although not an original sound. However, I'm still listening to Trail of Dead so much that this isn't sticking in my car stereo...

Anyone else have thoughts on NERD?

as in the Neptunes?
 

if you are talking about the Neptunes: N.E.R.D. (noone ever really dies) then i must say that i love this album. funny thing is i've had it for over a year now. the new version is cool too and the live instruments add alot to some of the songs. Provider, Run To The Sun, and Bobby James are my favorites.

So.... the US version is completely different than the UK version, in that the entire album was reworked, right?

Right, from what I understand it's live instruments instead of synth. I'm thinking about picking it up, it's < $10 at the store.

Which store Aghama?

From what I "hear":

$9.99 @ Best Buy
$8.99 @ Tower
$6.99 @ Virgin

The album is very good. In the past few months I have been playing the import version to death, and I was afraid that this would just be a slightly tweeked version of that album. To my pleasant suprise however, the album just sounds different - and the instruments work much better than the synthasized sounds of the import. The only track that suffers due to the instumentation is ironically Rock Star which is still an effective track. The album is really a breath of fresh air in a very tired hip-hop (or R&B...or even rock for that matter) landscape.

I love the new version of this album. The sound is really beefed up and spectacular. The old album was great, but this is better. Recommended for everyone, not just rap fans...

I had been waiting for this to come out, and i picked it up tuesday and I'm really enjoying it. Coming from someone who doesnt very rarely buys a cd these days, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I've had it for about a week and a half now. I don't know how to classify it, but it's damn catchy. Definitely worth a listen.

Wow, for myself not being a huge fan of rap, this is really a fun record. I have read reviewers state that the instruments and the music itself really gives the songs an extra groove. This album is a real surprise, would be very much interested in hearing the original synthy version.

Well, there's virtually no rapping on the album, so that could be part of it. ;)

I'd like to know how you figure that one, considering most of the album is pure hip hop...which uh, is rapping...

I'm not trying to flame here, I just really want to know how you firgure that.

I was wondering about this comment as well, since most of the songs do have raps. A few of the tracks feature the artists singing, but I'd say at least half of the tracks have raps.

I think it's the instrumentation that really sets this apart from more mainstream hip-hop albums. It gives it a unique sound, since it doesn't rely so much on preprogrammed drum tracks and synths.

I guess we just have different perceptions. There are two tracks that definitely have rapping, and another 3 that are in a gray area, but more towards pop, IMO.

N*E*R*D* 'Fly or Die' 3/23/04 - Thoughts?
 

Picked up the new N*E*R*D* today. I've only listened to the first couple of tracks but I'm not that impressed. The first single is decent. Hope the rest is better.

just started listening to it, not really sure yet, am a big fan of the last cd.

And will see them perform with blackeyed peas in a few weeks.

I've only listened to the CD once (half the tracks on my way to work, the other half on my way home).

So far I'm 50 / 50. I really enjoy half the tracks and I think the other half are okay. I was a big fan of "In Search Of...," but it took me a bit for that album to grow on me. Same should apply to this one.

And I get to see Spy Mob, N.E.R.D., and Black Eyed Peas this Friday night. :)

After seeing NERD live, listening to In Search Of... and hearing the latest single, I'm convinced that they have one good song, "Lapdance." But that's contrary me.

preface: this is not a threadcrap. this is a serious question:

what on earth is this stuff??

i've never heard of them before, and watched both of their songs on SNL last week... i didn't really like it, but i don't think i've heard anything like it before.. what on earth do you classify these guys as?? i found it odd that they were on SNL, because their music sounded anything but mainstream and radio-friendly...

NERD are the Neptunes. Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo.

They actually are pretty upset at the limited attention this release is getting from Virgin

They have produced tracks for loads of people.
Kind of like Dr. Dre for the masses.

NoOne*Ever*Really*Dies

So producing makes all the money, and the neptunes album they put out fit the mould. This however is there pet project where they do whatever they want..


some neptunes produced tracks.
"Hella Good" by No Doubt
"Hot in Herre" by Nelly
"Youngin' (Holla Back)" by Fabolous
"I'm a Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears
"Southern Hospitality" by Ludacris
"Caught Out There" by Kelis
"Got Your Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard
"Girlfriend (Remix)" by NSYNC featuring Nelly
"Truth or Dare" by N.E.R.D. featuring Kelis
"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" by Jay-Z featuring Pharell

Maybe it's getting limited attention because it S.U.C.K.S.

My friend had a copy and I listened to a couple tracks. I say Chad and Pharrell stick to producing and let the other guy go do his thing. Apparently they think that just because they're influenced by a variety of musical styles, it's cool to throw them all in a song. Yes, you can call that originality, but often times it just sounds like tuneless crap. OutKast are one of the few groups who mix styles fairly well. Most of what I've heard from the new N.E.R.D. album, including the two tracks they did on SNL, I'd have to give a :thmbsdwn:

So far I'm not really liking it... there are like 2 or 3 solid tracks, but the rest is pretty bland. I LOVED In Search Of.... in fact, I still listen to it on a regular basis... although, it did take a while to grow on me and when I first got it, didn't love it... so I'm still willing to give Fly or Die a few more spins, but I'm definitely underwhelmed....

MATT

True dat. I agree all the way.

Okay, after giving the disc a spin a few more times (after I imported the CD into iTunes), I have come with this general thought.

In Search Of... is their mainstream album, Fly or Die is their experimental album. Both have their strengths and their weaknesses. As of now, I'm starting to like Fly or Die better than In Search Of..., and I'm sure I'll be in the minority on that.

I like:
Don't Worry About It (track 1)
Fly or Die (track 2)
Jump (track 3)
Thrasher (track 9)
Find My Way (bonus track after 12)

I really like:
She Wants To Move (track 5)
Wonderful Place (track 7)
Preservation (bonus track after 8)
The Way She Dances (track 11)

I love:
Breakout (track 6)
Drill Sargent (track 8) <--- favorite track, kicks everything on In Search Of...'s ass.
Maybe (track 10)

I dislike:
Backseat Love (track 4)
Waiting For You (bonus track after 7)
Chariot of Fire (track 12)