In Search of... (N.E.R.D album)

In Search of...
Studio album by N.E.R.D
Released August 6, 2001 (2001-08-06)
Genre Funk rock,[1] electro R&B[2]
Length 61:34
Label
Producer The Neptunes
N.E.R.D chronology
In Search of...
(first version)
(2001)		 In Search of...
(second version)
(2002)In Search of...2002
Singles from In Search Of...
  1. "Lapdance"
    Released: May 21, 2001
  2. "Rock Star"
    Released: July 29, 2002
  3. "Provider"
    Released: 2002
First version
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic92/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
NME8/10[5]
Q[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Uncut[8]

In Search of... is the debut studio album by American funk rock band N.E.R.D. The group originally released the album on August 6, 2001 in Europe, where Kelis' Wanderland—produced by The Neptunes, consisting of N.E.R.D members Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo—was better received. Similarly to Kelis' early work, the original version of In Search of... juxtaposes hip hop and rock influences and styles. The album is named after the TV series In Search of..., hosted by Leonard Nimoy.[9]

On March 12, 2002, In Search of... was re-released worldwide, with the largely electronic production backing of the album replaced by live backing provided by 1960s-style power pop band Spymob, giving the new version of the album a more rock-oriented sound. The skits and the intro from the original album were also dropped, significantly shortening the play length.

2001 release

The 2001 version of In Search of..., also known as the "electronic version", features prominent digital-based production, including drum machines and synthesizers, as the backing tracks, with a sound more typical of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo's production work as The Neptunes.

The album features three skits book-ended to the tracks "Things Are Getting Better", "Stay Together" and "Tape You" telling the loose story of N.E.R.D member Shay Haley, who is featured on the cover, meeting two female high-school groupies in a locker room, ludicrously calling in an escort, and taping her during sexual acts.

Track listing

All songs written by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

  1. "Lapdance" (featuring Lee Harvey and Vita) – 3:33
  2. "Intro" – 1:13
  3. "Things Are Getting Better" – 4:55
  4. "Brain" – 3:42
  5. "Provider" – 4:24
  6. "Truth or Dare" (featuring Kelis and Pusha T) – 4:51
  7. "Run to the Sun" – 4:45
  8. "Stay Together" – 6:52
  9. "Baby Doll" – 3:44
  10. "Tape You" – 7:41
  11. "Am I High" (featuring Malice) – 5:00
  12. "Rock Star" – 4:29
  13. "Bobby James" – 6:23

2002 re-release

In Search of...
Studio album by N.E.R.D
Released March 12, 2002
Genre
Length 53:55
Producer The Neptunes
N.E.R.D chronology
In Search of...
(first version)
(2001)In Search of...2001		 In Search of...
(second version)
(2002)		 Fly or Die
(2004)Fly or Die2004
Alternative cover

7243 8 11521 2 6/V2-11521
Second version
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Blender[14]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA−[15]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[16]
Los Angeles Times[17]
NME8/10[18]
Pitchfork6.0/10[19]
Q[20]
Rolling Stone[11]
Spin8/10[2]

For its 2002 worldwide release, N.E.R.D withdrew the original European version of In Search of... and in its place issued a re-recorded version of the album, also known as the "rock version", with the electronic backings of the original version being replaced a more rock-oriented sound with the use of live drums and guitars played by American funk rock band Spymob. After the making of this version, Chad Hugo learned to play the guitar and the band have since kept to this style, now mostly playing their own instruments. Explaining the creation of the new version, Pharrell Williams has stated that as N.E.R.D was to be an entirely different venture to his and Hugo's work with the Neptunes, the band's music should also sound different, hence the decision to re-record the album.

The 2002 version cuts the intro and three skits found on the original album and features a slightly re-arranged track listing. The change of tactics in the re-release also allowed the group to tour and play live as N.E.R.D more easily. It was released as an enhanced CD with extra CD-ROM material as well.

Track listing

  1. "Lapdance" (featuring Lee Harvey and Vita) – 3:29
  2. "Things Are Getting Better" – 4:15
  3. "Brain" – 3:43
  4. "Provider" – 4:18
  5. "Truth or Dare" (featuring Kelis and Pusha T) – 4:22
  6. "Tape You" – 4:51
  7. "Run to the Sun" – 4:51
  8. "Baby Doll" – 3:43
  9. "Am I High" (featuring Malice) – 4:48
  10. "Rock Star" – 4:19
  11. "Bobby James" – 6:11
  12. "Stay Together" – 5:01
UK bonus track
  1. "Rock Star" (Nevins Classic Club Blaster) – 7:42

DVD-A release

In 2005, In Search of... was released as a 5.1 surround sound DVD-Audio edition.[21] This version is based on the 2002 release, featuring slightly different mastering.

References

  1. ↑ Hyden, Steve. "N.E.R.D.". Trouser Press. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Pappademas, Alex (April 2002). "Playing With Your Mind". Spin. New York. 18 (4): 113. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Reviews for In Search Of... [First Version] by N.E.R.D. [The Neptunes]". Metacritic. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "In Search Of... – N.E.R.D.". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ Dalton, Stephen (August 18, 2001). "N*E*R*D : In Search Of...". NME. London. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Q. London (179): 136. August 2001.
  7. ↑ "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Rolling Stone. New York (874): 63. August 2, 2001.
  8. ↑ "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Uncut. London (52): 96. September 2001.
  9. ↑ "Leonard Nimoy Encounter". Billionaire Boys Club. September 18, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  10. ↑ Kot, Greg (June 10, 2002). "N.E.R.D. plays the alienated Everyman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  11. 1 2 Walters, Barry (March 28, 2002). "Recordings: N.E.R.D., In Search Of..., 4 Stars". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on August 26, 2002. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ Hyden, Steve. "N.E.R.D.". Trouser Press. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Reviews for In Search Of... [Second Version] by N.E.R.D. [The Neptunes]". Metacritic. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  14. ↑ Pappademas, Alex. "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of N.E.R.D.". Blender. New York. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  15. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "N.E.R.D.: In Search of...". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ Browne, David (March 11, 2002). "In Search Of...". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Straight From His (Intact) Soul". Los Angeles Times. March 10, 2002. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ Needham, Alex. "N*E*R*D : In Search Of...". NME. London. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bernstein, Michael (March 25, 2002). "N.E.R.D.: In Search of...". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  20. ↑ "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Q. London (189): 119. April 2002.
  21. ↑ Amazon.com
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.