N.E.R.D.There has always been a rock and hip-hop hybrid within N.E.R.D. but Seeing Sounds manages to combine the sounds and lyrical concerns of the first two records, add some more musical styles to the mix and still sound cohesive. Lyrically, there are equal amounts of party time, social commentary and songs for the ladies. It's a tricky balance because in N.E.R.D. Pharrell is a rapper, a Curtis Mayfield imitator, an R&B crooner and shouty rock cheerleader. On this record it seems not only effortless, but the most natural juxtaposition in the world.
Seeing Sounds seems to be a very loosely themed record based on being able to "see the music." To be fair, the only time the idea is mentioned is in the intro, where record heatwaves prevent young Pharrell from playing outside. So, he stays in and discovers he can "see sounds." Awkwardly, this monologue is tacked onto the beginning of the first track "Time For Some Action." The song starts as a sparse bass and drum workout that slowly adds the Neptunes' old trademarks of '60s spy movie guitar with slightly distorted keyboard stabs. But instead of just rehashing old formulas, N.E.R.D. shows what has been added to its musical toolbox since the last record. "Anti Matter" adds touches of drum 'n' bass breakdowns while Pharrell does his best Dirty South emcee turn on the mic. "Sooner Or Later" goes full tilt Beatles (or is it ELO?) until the extended coda where Brent Paschke, from N.E.R.D's former touring band Spymob, lays on the guitar heroics.
On this very strong showing, special mention has to be given to "Everybody Nose." Somehow N.E.R.D. manages to criticize "all the girls standing in the line to the bathroom" and simultaneously create an anthem for those girls. This record may not be the one to finally push Williams and Hugo into the platinum selling stratus of their clients, but it does show that moonlighting can be a good thing.