N.E.R.D.’s ‘Seeing Sounds’ Delivers on Its Promise

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Music

Published on June 05, 2008 with 39 Comments">39 Comments

Not that I expected anything less, but Pharrell and crew came through once again. At the heart of this album is an experimental approach to music making. It works for the most part. One sign of a great album is the ability to show you things you may not have experienced before.

The boys from N.E.R.D. not only attempt to redefine the sound of the future, they also take you back to an earlier time, the 60s and 70s to be precise. “Anti Matter” embodies elements of psychedelic funk, while “Sooner Than Later” flirts with retro soul. From the lightning-fast percussion on “Killjoy” to the frenetic rhythms on “Laugh About It,” there’s such a consistent outburst of energy for much of the album that you’re left with no choice but to envision what these songs would sound like at a live concert.

Chad, Shay, and Skateboard P have already given us one of 2008′s most ostentatious singles in “Everyone Nose.” So, I’ll forgive them for including a few filler tracks here. At 12 tracks, the album moves so fast you hardly even notice.

All in all, Seeing Sounds is gloriously retro, yet wildly futuristic.

N.E.R.D. – “Laugh About It”
N.E.R.D. – “Kill Joy”

TRU

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • zamora

    thanks for the links… these guys were great in Houston… they will be back in texas for the ACL concert im sure they will have a few drop off dates in the area.. keep a look out…

  • zamora

    thanks for the links… these guys were great in Houston… they will be back in texas for the ACL concert im sure they will have a few drop off dates in the area.. keep a look out…

  • zamora

    thanks for the links… these guys were great in Houston… they will be back in texas for the ACL concert im sure they will have a few drop off dates in the area.. keep a look out…

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_3m51glqm9h64m Chris

    “Anti Matter” is my shit, that song is crazy.

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_3m51glqm9h64m Chris

    “Anti Matter” is my shit, that song is crazy.

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_3m51glqm9h64m Chris

    “Anti Matter” is my shit, that song is crazy.

  • Mr.IHateRappers

    Damn! There go Riz bringing the jealously out of a nigga again. It’s all good, I can’t wait to hear this album might be the 3rd album i’ll actually bought this year.

  • Mr.IHateRappers

    Damn! There go Riz bringing the jealously out of a nigga again. It’s all good, I can’t wait to hear this album might be the 3rd album i’ll actually bought this year.

  • Mr.IHateRappers

    Damn! There go Riz bringing the jealously out of a nigga again. It’s all good, I can’t wait to hear this album might be the 3rd album i’ll actually bought this year.

  • DB’Ossi

    I haven’t been able to fuck with Nerd since their first album…..

    I keep my hopes up (especially with the everybody nose remix) then I hear their new album (this one and the last) and go “meh”

    CRS don’t fail me now!

  • DB’Ossi

    I haven’t been able to fuck with Nerd since their first album…..

    I keep my hopes up (especially with the everybody nose remix) then I hear their new album (this one and the last) and go “meh”

    CRS don’t fail me now!

  • DB’Ossi

    I haven’t been able to fuck with Nerd since their first album…..

    I keep my hopes up (especially with the everybody nose remix) then I hear their new album (this one and the last) and go “meh”

    CRS don’t fail me now!

  • Hip Hop Made Me Do It

    CRS, Detox Album (Dre..drop that dayum album!), N-E-R-D and Outkast will be the only CDs I’ll buy this year.

  • Hip Hop Made Me Do It

    CRS, Detox Album (Dre..drop that dayum album!), N-E-R-D and Outkast will be the only CDs I’ll buy this year.

  • Hip Hop Made Me Do It

    CRS, Detox Album (Dre..drop that dayum album!), N-E-R-D and Outkast will be the only CDs I’ll buy this year.

  • KINGGS

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

  • KINGGS

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

  • KINGGS

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

  • Timza

    Co-sign Rizoh, I’m copping the album..really impressed

  • Timza

    Co-sign Rizoh, I’m copping the album..really impressed

  • Timza

    Co-sign Rizoh, I’m copping the album..really impressed

  • rg

    i’ll co-sign as well, they did a majority of their album at the glow in the dark tour and i was mad impressed with it. all the ladies went mad when chris brown came out for ‘spazz’ lol. saw them perform it last night as well on leno i think?? album seems mad nice.

  • rg

    i’ll co-sign as well, they did a majority of their album at the glow in the dark tour and i was mad impressed with it. all the ladies went mad when chris brown came out for ‘spazz’ lol. saw them perform it last night as well on leno i think?? album seems mad nice.

  • rg

    i’ll co-sign as well, they did a majority of their album at the glow in the dark tour and i was mad impressed with it. all the ladies went mad when chris brown came out for ‘spazz’ lol. saw them perform it last night as well on leno i think?? album seems mad nice.

  • gee wizz aka young blue eyes

    KINGGS Says:

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

    ^ co-sign
    the sound is so fresh though… no other band sounds like this. i bumped the whole album in the car this afternoon and i was real into it. and the fact that they KILLED it at the GitD show i saw definitely makes them that much more likeable. 4/5

  • gee wizz aka young blue eyes

    KINGGS Says:

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

    ^ co-sign
    the sound is so fresh though… no other band sounds like this. i bumped the whole album in the car this afternoon and i was real into it. and the fact that they KILLED it at the GitD show i saw definitely makes them that much more likeable. 4/5

  • gee wizz aka young blue eyes

    KINGGS Says:

    My only problem with this is the song structures are all a bit too similar.

    ^ co-sign
    the sound is so fresh though… no other band sounds like this. i bumped the whole album in the car this afternoon and i was real into it. and the fact that they KILLED it at the GitD show i saw definitely makes them that much more likeable. 4/5

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    I agree with you guys. Some of the songs sound too similar, but that’s a minor flaw.

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    I agree with you guys. Some of the songs sound too similar, but that’s a minor flaw.

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    I agree with you guys. Some of the songs sound too similar, but that’s a minor flaw.

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_1n2272n9868f4 Burrn

    co-sign, imma buy this one!

    In Search Of was dope, Fly Or Die was a bit dull, but Seeing Sounds is an big improvement.

    So imma order it today!

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_1n2272n9868f4 Burrn

    co-sign, imma buy this one!

    In Search Of was dope, Fly Or Die was a bit dull, but Seeing Sounds is an big improvement.

    So imma order it today!

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_1n2272n9868f4 Burrn

    co-sign, imma buy this one!

    In Search Of was dope, Fly Or Die was a bit dull, but Seeing Sounds is an big improvement.

    So imma order it today!

  • Suo

    the zshare links not working for me. anyone know when i can listen to these songs or can riz re-upload?

  • Suo

    the zshare links not working for me. anyone know when i can listen to these songs or can riz re-upload?

  • Suo

    the zshare links not working for me. anyone know when i can listen to these songs or can riz re-upload?

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  • Sam

    Its good but not as gooad as the reviewer says it is, its experimental and refreshing, yet at times the tracks are to cheesey, too many horrible riffs. The more hip hop jazz influenced songs are better yeah you is a perfect example. At least it is better than there last album at this rate there fourth album might get the global bbc and rolling stones nods up

  • Sam

    Its good but not as gooad as the reviewer says it is, its experimental and refreshing, yet at times the tracks are to cheesey, too many horrible riffs. The more hip hop jazz influenced songs are better yeah you is a perfect example. At least it is better than there last album at this rate there fourth album might get the global bbc and rolling stones nods up

  • Sam

    Its good but not as gooad as the reviewer says it is, its experimental and refreshing, yet at times the tracks are to cheesey, too many horrible riffs. The more hip hop jazz influenced songs are better yeah you is a perfect example. At least it is better than there last album at this rate there fourth album might get the global bbc and rolling stones nods up

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