N.E.R.D.
IN SEARCH OF...
VIRGIN
Remember R&B? Rhythm and Blues used to be just that, rhythm and blues. Not since Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye were in their prime has R&B had much of anything interesting to say. Pardon me if Usher or Tyrese seem to fall a bit flat in the grand scheme of things. N.E.R.D. is the alter ego of hit production team The Neptunes, responsible for producing booty shakers by, among others, Janet Jackson, Mystikal, and No Doubt. Their approach is a delightfully refreshing one - take all of the standard elements of R&B (crooning, heavy bass, girl-since-you-left vocals), mix in a barrelful of bizarre techno-based loops and samples, and wrap it all up in a woe-is-us persona. What emerges is something quite unusual. Urban radio may not be ready for this - schizophrenic beats and synthesized rushes of sound lift and propel each track light years away from anything Babyface could have come up with. This is irresistibly original music - a unique approach combined with cleverly constructed arrangements and a bizarre sense of humor. "Bobby James" is sad and hilarious at the same time; the essence of any good comedy is the element of tragedy. N.E.R.D. takes this mantra and flies with it - few artists attempt to actually alter their canvas. If being a N.E.R.D. is "believing that its okay to be a little smarter," as they claim, than maybe more artists should get in touch with their nerdiness. This is a hell of a debut record.-AW
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