N.E.R.D: Seeing Sounds (Interscope/Universal)

Seeing Sounds is a massive step up from the uber-hip trio, NERD’s previous album, Fly or Die. The effort is a fine mix of sexy banging beats…and sweet slower-tempo love songs by Neptunes duo, Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo and their cohort Shae Haley. ‘Everybody’s Nose’ has chorus that sticks in your head like superglue, and the skittering drums on ‘Spazz’ keeps you up on feet. The inclusion of ‘Sooner or Later’ and ‘Love Bomb’ goes a long way to demonstrating that NERD is actually capable of making more than just tight club-friendly tunes. Only the lyrics are something of a letdown, hung up on sex like some pimply adolescent, Pharell is gratingly preoccupied with his own sense of worth and libido.

Text Ili Farhana