New N.E.R.D. album both frustrating and intriguing Robert Finley’s deep soul validates ‘Goin’ Platinum!’
There’s a new N.E.R.D. album out so it’s best to plan ahead: Carve out some time and be prepared to put in some work. N.E.R.D. albums are not passive things. This is not background dinner music, folks.
The 11-track “No_One Ever Really Dies” by the trio — Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley — is equal parts experimental, intriguing, frustrating and captivating. In other words, very true to its side-project DNA.
Many of the songs don’t seem quite finished and some are completely overcooked. A few switch gears in midstream, as if the band was distracted by something else shiny in the studio. Many of the lyrics are whacky — until they get deadly serious.
It’s tempting to initially dismiss the whole thing as half-baked — or at least made while really baked. But there’s also great richness here, sometimes hiding in the layered swaths of upbeat computer synth, distorted sounds, endless repetition and random electronic shards.
As a testament to Williams’ stature, he has attracted Rihanna, Gucci Mane, Wale, Kendrick Lamar, Future, M.I.A., Andre 3000 and Ed Sheeran to make featured appearances, while A$AP Rocky and Mary J. Blige offer backing vocals on “Kites.”
Just as he asks plenty from his listeners, his guests are also made to work, not just add luster. So Rihanna raps on the N.E.R.D. NO_ONE EVER REALLY DIES Columbia
opener “Lemon” and Sheeran is almost unrecognizable in the closing track, the reggae-themed “Lifting You.”
In “Voila,” Williams mimics a ’80s computer voice and in “1000” he and Future mock conspicuous consumption in a New Wave style. “ESP” is pretty much fully insane and “Lightning Fire Magic Prayer” has complete brilliance often lost in the mix.
N.E.R.D. teams up with Lamar and co-writer Frank Ocean on the groovy “Don’t Don’t Do It!,” inspired by fatal police shootings of black men. “How many more of us gotta see the coroner?” Lamar raps. “Slain by the state badge.” This is an
album that references Voltron and Bentley cars but also notes “corporations won’t pay for effects they cause.”
If most people stumble across “No_One Ever Really Dies” expecting an album of wall-to-wall versions of Williams’ hit “Happy,” they’ll be likely confused. But whoever sticks around and puts in some effort will find little jewels. You have to be a little geeky to unlock N.E.R.D.
History repeating, Robert Finley is another exceptional blues and soul musician getting well-deserved attention at an age when talent contests aren’t likely to consider him, whether it’s his hair that’s gone platinum or his new album, “Goin’ Platinum!”
Which is a real pity, since the 64-year-old, Louisiana native is a gem of a singer — both rough and refined — who lends instant credibility to any song.
A truncated “Mrs. Robinson”-like riff drives opener “Get It While You Can” and drafts the tonal blueprint for Finley’s second record — reverbed, scratchy guitars, handsome horns, sweet backup vocals, perfectly deft percussion and tasteful piano and organ sounds.
Produced and co-written by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, it includes legendary Memphis Boys Bobby Wood and Gene Chrisman, who backed Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin. Recorded swiftly at Auerbach’s Nashville studio, the freshness of the grooves on the 10 tunes is infectious.
“Honey, Let Me Stay the Night” is an energetic slice