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Seeing Sounds | 
| Artist: N.e.r.d.
Label: Interscope Records
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $3.02
You Save: $10.96 (78%)
New (48) Used (38) from $3.02
Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 840
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 001144702
UPC: 602517743243
EAN: 0602517743243
ASIN: B00195BM8E
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Time For Some Action | | • | Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom) | | • | Windows | | • | Anti Matter | | • | Spaz | | • | Yeah You | | • | Sooner or Later | | • | Happy | | • | Kill Joy | | • | Love Bomb | | • | You Know What | | • | Laugh About It |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
The title of N.E.R.D's third album, Seeing Sounds, was inspired by a TV show the ban watched about synaesthesia--the neurological disorder that causes people to experience sounds as colours or objects in their minds. The concept inspired the trio (Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, a.k.a. The Neptunes, and their rapping pal Shay Haley) to create a record as if it were a live show, as if the listener were really able to see the band playing. As ideas go, it's a dubious one, but it does give the band the opportunity to dive back into their musical ocean and splash noisily around, leaving listeners soaked and astounded. With the usual disregard for genre, Seeing Sounds opens with bass-heavy low-rider "Time For Some Action", before heading off on an intense roller-coaster ride that takes in the choppy, digi-drum & bass of "Spaz" and the infectious booty-bass of single "Everyone Nose" (a look at Hollywood's cocaine obsession) via a veritable kaleidoscope of colourful sound. "Sooner or Later" is all smooth Motown soul, "Kill Joy" is riff-heavy rock and "Anti Matter" has an Atari crunk feel. This breathless diversity is, of course, what N.E.R.D. are best at, and the good news is that Seeing Sounds can be considered a return to form after the nadir of Fly Or Die; though Whether it stands up to their debut or whether their new experiments ever get beyond the superficial, is another matter entirely. -- Paul Sullivan
Album Description
N.E.R.D. "Seeing Sounds" You already know the story of the Neptunes, Grammy Award winning producers and songwriters Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, but the N.E.R.D. trio consists of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and longtime friend and creative wunderkind, Shae Haley. The album is a blistering mash-up of booming hip-hop beats and rollercoastering rock riffs, rumbling crunk rhythms and scintillating soul music. Whereas their first album, "In Search Of...," was an imaginative, exploration of identities, and their second album, "Fly or Die," sought out the range of genres and sounds that have influenced the group, "Seeing Sounds" grinds everything together, evoking a sound that is un-tethered by preconceptions and convention. It is also an album that amplifies the style and attitudes that have made Pharrell, Chad and Shae transcendent cultural icons. "The Neptunes is what we do, but N.E.R.D. is who we are. It's our life" says Pharrell. The three of them together combine for uninhibited explorations of sounds, emotions and truth, adhering to no agenda, subscribing to no rules. N.E.R.D. is the way they live their life, they way they see the world.
Album Description
2008 release release from the Hip Hopsters. Seeing Sounds, their third album, is a blistering mash-up of booming Hip Hop beats and rollercoastering Rock riffs, rumbling Crunk rhythms and scintillating Soul music. Whereas their first album, In Search Of... was an imaginative, exploration of identities, and their second album, Fly Or Die, sought out the range of genres and sounds that have influenced the group, Seeing Sounds grinds everything together, evoking a sound that is un-tethered by preconceptions and convention. It is also an album that amplifies the style and attitudes that have made Pharrell, Chad and Shae transcendent cultural icons.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Vivid sounds! June 10, 2008
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
Opening cut "Time for some action" has a minute long movie-like narration by Pharell sounding like he's going to make some profound statement, before turning into a funky club banger, in which he assures "This is not love/it's lust". At least he is honest!
And with that, Pharell, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley, better known as N*E*R*D return with their third album. Unlike it's mostly Rocky predecessor "Fly or die", this is a mish mash of styles; Funk, Dance, and Rock, sometimes interlacing all in one song.
Similar to the opening cut is the bouncy "Everyone nose...". "Windows" sounds like "Around the world in a day" era Prince, a clap-filled pop/rock song with Pharell even throwing in some Prince-style squeals. "Anti matter" has a buzzing riff with rapped verses and drum & bass in parts, followed by the similar "Spaz".
"Yeah you" is one of my favourites, groovy R&B, as is the Chic-sounding "You know what" complete with scratchy guitars and remniscent of the song "She's not me" Pharell did on Madonna's new CD. Both will definately get a club jumping.
"Happy" is a sunny rocker which wouldn't sound out of place on "Fly or die", "kill joy" (with a rap about Little red riding hood and Prince-like harmonies) is a Funk laced upbeat song with a James Brown feel, while closing cut "Laugh about it" pairs chunky beats with driving guitars.
Slowing things down are the piano ballad "Sooner or later" with lovely harmonies (remember "Maybe" from "Fly or die"?), and "Love bomb" (piano and guitars, eerie flourishes and chunky beats in the chorus).
So there you have it, their most musically adventurous album yet. A fun album with a little something for everyone.
3'5 - They're Back and Everyone Nose! June 15, 2008
Josephll (CET)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
N.E.R.D or (No one ever really dies) is the hobby project of the superproducers The Neptunes, Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo with the assistence from Shay Haley. They make the kind of music that neither Pharell nor The Neptunes could do by themselves. Instead N.E.R.D is more exprimental with alot of Rock influences and Pharell has never made a secret of being a long time Rock fan. In 2002 they recored their debut album In Search of... which was an instant success, although it lacked big single hits (Lapdance and Provider being the closest) it was an artistic fulfillment of talented producers doing it by themselves (and it later triggered a myraid of other producers going solo) But N.E.R.D's debut album is diffrent cause it sound completely diffrent from their usual stuff and proved their musical versatility, Although the original released album (in Europe only) from 2001 was much better and less stripped down with it's rock arrangement but instead with more drum machines and synthesizers. Check it out cause it sounds very diffrent!. However, the band released another good release in 2004 called Fly or Die with a simular formula to their debut, at the time of it's release the neptunes were the most popular producers in the world and it even led to Pharell going solo with In My Mind which was a mix between Hip Hop and 80's inspired Prince R&B. The album didn't get very good reviews even if it wasn't bad in any means. In recent yeras the were close childhood friend Pharell and Chad went seperate ways in their production, and we had Pharell producing Madonna while Chad produced Ashlee Simpson some time ago. On this, third album we have Pharell producing most of the songs and setting the standard for how it's gonna sound, with Hugo only co-producing 3 songs. This album is also more exprimental with more R&B and Funk influeces then Rock, on the other hand it feels more beatoriented then the last album with some awesome and un-orthodox trademark Neptunes beats. The problem with this is the lack of hooks and good lyrics too!, but then again Neptunes are first and formemost beatmakers not pretty pop hook makers.
This album seems to have anything from songs sounding like Lapdance, Provider and even beat-oriented songs like Milshake and Boys that they produced for Kelis and Britney. With other words it's exprimental but it got something for anyone. Opener is called "Time for Some Action" and it starts with Pharell talking by his youth and how he could "see sounds" when he closed his eyes. The rest of the song got nothing to do with his youth but the bassline is deadly but it feels a bit limited. The next song is the first single "Everyone Nose" which is an beat-oriented exprimental song with another remarkable bassline and deals with partying girls "standing in the line for the bathroom". It also get a little repetitive after sometime. "Windows" with it's rock riffs is a midtempo that sounds like it came out in the middle of British Invasion. I never bothered much with the lyrics but I don't think Pharell cares much himself. "Anti Matter" is a rock song in fast pace with aggressive bass and a girl singing the hook. It's stands out as one of the highlights. "Spaz" is simular to their first single and is also a beatoriented song with rather odd arrangements, Pharell sound like a metal-rapper here but it also lack a good hook. "Yeah You" with a very simular bass as the rest is slower with more latin-jazz inspired sound. The next song is called "Sooner Or Later" and is a beatlesque pop-song a bit simular to "Provider" that starts with stripped down arrangements concentrating non melody and hook, eventually it speeds up and becomes a real rocker with guitar solo's and majestic arrangements, highlight. "Happy" is a simular rock song, but slightly faster and ditto with "Kill Joy". Next song "Love Bomb" is another Provider kind of song, it's got a nice hook though even if I could live without the lyrics. "You Know What" is another proof of Pharell's obsession with disco, and reminds me of the songs he did for Madonna. Not my cup of tea, we're in not in 1978 come on!. The beats for the closer "Laugh About It" are probably the best here and it compensates Pharell's inadequate vocals. The song is good anyway. On the British version there's also a song called "Laser Gun" which is more Hip Hopish then anything and sound like it could've been given to Kelis just aswell. A shame it was just a bonus song.
Overall, This album obviously suffer from limitations in vocals, lyrics and hooks but the beats and arrangement compensate for that. I don't think many new fans will be won over with this but old fans should be content. Like aformentioned, There's also more variety in this release then on their last two with more diversity in sound and production. Either way, it's a solid album and you probably get what you expected. 3'5 stars.
comin' down with the boom June 29, 2008
doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is the most solid N.E.R.D. platter yet, though they still haven't combined their two primary interests (as N.E.R.D. that is) into a single sound. This album is split into two halves, with the first delivering the best electronic funky crunk that that the crew has dropped yet. "Everyone Nose..." and "Spaz" are lowdown and powerful, and dig the extra nasty "Anti Matter." But the second half of the album is made up of the other N.E.R.D. obsession, the organic early 70s soul/funk/rock that Lenny Kravitz has already spent two decades retro-ing to death. These songs require a level of songwriting and musicianship that are not among N.E.R.D.'s greatest strengths. True, the songwriting is better here than on the dreary Fly or Die, but the musicianship leaves something to be desired, with only "Kill Joy" working up a bit of steam. This album is still a great listen but N.E.R.D. have not yet brought their two primary interests together in a totally believable way. The groovy crunky side of N.E.R.D. is where it's at. And be sure to get your hands on the limited-edition remix of "Everyone Nose..." with its skanky reinterpretation of the original. [~doomsdayer520~]
"PHA-REAL" has done it again!!! June 11, 2008
Seth J
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This ain't objective in the least. I am a hardcore Neptunes fan and generally give all their stuff high reviews (See: Kelis' 1st and 2nd cds, both Clipse cds, Pharrell's solo cd, Chad's work with Kenna and of course, the first two N*E*R*D cds)
Seeing Sounds is, again, great stuff. While it can't be summed up in just a few lines, I can tell you it's more of typically laid-back grooves given a tough backbeat with a cocktail of sarcasm-and-decadence-lyrics on the side. Not as great as In Search Of or as hard-rocking as Fly Or Die but this is a better-than-solid third effort.
Everybody Nose: Probably the most "hateable" track. The chorus sounds like bad Miami bass rap from the early 90s mixed with drums n bass. But then P brings in a killer keyboard riff and the whole thing suddenly makes sense.
Love Bomb, Windows, Sooner or Later: Pharell and Chad embrace their inner Beatles again.
Time For Some Action: bass-heavy opener. The closest to hip-hop this cd gets.
Anti-Matter, Spaz: Savage fuzzed-out guitar anchors this drums n' bass lite track.
Yeah You: similar to Frontin'. On this and You Know What, Pharell is Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones combined!
Happy: An 80s hard/soft rock/soul track that could have been a collabo between Journey and the Eurthymics.
Kill Joy: They rip off themselves beatboxing "She Wants to Move" and copping the underlying rhythm for this track. But it was so good the first time, you won't mind hearing it again.
I loved it at first listen.
Great, but In Search Of is still their high-water mark June 12, 2008
Mr. J (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is probably more a matter of personal preference but I miss the original N.E.R.D. Like someone else said, they switched up the style. it's actually more of an evolution because you felt it on Fly or Die and it moved even more to that direction on this album. It seems more rock-funk uptempo. That's good but they should balance it out like they did on In Search Of. I just miss the breezy eclectic songs that almost felt like they laid vocals to videogame music. It was just so different, smooth, and out in left field, it obliterated everything else at the time. if you're a N.E.R.D. fan the album won't disappoint, but I HOPE they return to some of their classic form demonstrated on songs like Bobby James, Provider, Run to the Sun, and Stay Together. I hope they continue to make music for N.E.R.D. fans, and don't cave in to people who want them to sound like the canned commercial artists they produce. They can continue to make their money producing commercial artists for them and save the true genius for those who appreciate it.
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