What people search:
 | Title : In Search of...
Author : N.E.R.D.
Release Date : 20020312
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $9.98
Amazon.com Price : $7.89
(21
%)
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Editorial Reviews :
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.
Buyer Reviews :
Like a lot of Neptunes fans, I've been chomping at the bit waiting for this album to come out. They've been responsible for so much great music over the last few years. Even my friends who don't like rap smile when Pharrell sings 'I'm a hustler baby' on Jay Z's 'I Just Wanna Love Ya.' It is also quite obvious, however, that they've been spreading themselves too thin in terms of their production for other people. Sometimes you get the feeling that when a big name artist comes calling they are quite comfortable with dusting off an unused beat and cashing the check (compare the Neptunes-by-numbers production on the admittedly good Fabolous song 'Holla Back' to their inspired work on Mystikal's 'Bouncin' Back'). When the original non-live instrument version of this album come out in Europe a few months back I got my hands on a copy of it. I loved it but was a little underwhelmed. The songs were uniformly strong but the Neptunes seemed to be using the same template that has defined their sound for years. Obviously feeling the same way, they went back to the drawing board. The new version is all live instruments and stronger vocal lines. While 'Lap Dance' and 'Truth Or Dare' are just as great as they were the first time, more laid back tracks like 'Bobby James' and 'Am I High' now really shine. Moreover, while I would have rated the original a four star effort, the vast improvement of 'Baby Doll' (which had struck me a filler on the first version) now makes this album damn near perfect. They also wisely removed the stupid skits and the unnecessary orgasmic moaning from 'Tape You.' The new version of 'In Search Of...' surpasses my very high expectations. I highly recommend this album. Its not really hip hop at all. Its much closer to what Beck was trying to go for on 'Midnight Vultures' but was only partially successful in achieving. Think Steely Dan with a Prince fixation. I know comparisons are pretty much always flawed but that's the best I can do. Get this album. You'll thank me.
(by Ron Neil Griffith)
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