From Amazon.com
In Search of... is either an elaborate in-joke or the
Neptunes' rather unsuccessful attempt to document the craziness they've experienced since ascending from suburban skate-rat status to membership on the R&B A list. They seem to be going for a Lenny Kravitz-meets-Faith No More sound, which would have made for great music had the experiment succeeded. The duo's signature style is deliberately played down in favor of garage-band instrumentation and a series of identical, preprogrammed Hip-Hop 101 beats. Although a fairly interesting framework has been crafted, Pharrell's voice, effective on Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love U," is simply not strong enough to hold down an entire album. N.E.R.D.'s choice of subject matter--binging on drugs and strippers, getting fake love in the clubs, realizing that most people are full of crap, et cetera--may be of interest to other pop stars or those who aspire to that status. The Jamiroquai-esque "Things Are Getting Better" successfully mines this vein, as does the album's most exciting song, "Rock Star." Unfortunately, the latter's impact is dulled by its remarkable similarity to the Beasties' superior "So What'cha Want." The Neptunes may have experienced international stardom, but they are still nerds.
--Rebecca Levine
Album Details
Terrific debut from electronic/hip hop group N.E.R.D. (which stands for No One Ever Really Dies and is a side project for The Neptunes) whose single 'Lapdance' feat. Lee Harvey, Vita & Kelis. 2001.
