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

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]

In Search of...
Studio album by
N.E.R.D.
ReleasedAugust 6, 2001 (2001-08-06)
Recorded1999–2001
Genre
Length61:34
Label
ProducerThe Neptunes
N.E.R.D. chronology
In Search of...
(2001)		 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
Professional ratings
First version
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic92/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
NME8/10[5]
Q[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Uncut[8]

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.

First 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 Shae Haley, who is featured on the cover, meeting two female high-school groupies in a locker room, ludicrously calling in an escort, and taping them during sexual acts.

After the ending of "Bobby James", an unnamed 1:37 instrumental track starts with a child-like voice saying something unintelligible before being joined by a warp sound followed by a repetition of drums and futuristic sounds. Pharrell can be heard in the background doing ad libs as the drums pick up. A saxophone joins the melody three quarters of the way through and then dominates toward the end (with Pharrell taking a brief pause while the saxophone takes center stage before he picks back up a few seconds later). At the outro, Pharrell ad libs one last time as the drums end, the futuristic wails wind down and the saxophone plays a few extra notes before fading out.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo

No.TitleLength
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 Terrar)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 - Poser"4:29
13."Bobby James"6:23
Total length:61:34

Re-release
In Search of...
Studio album by
N.E.R.D
ReleasedMarch 12, 2002
Genre
Length53:55
ProducerThe Neptunes
N.E.R.D chronology
In Search of...
(2001)		 In Search of...
(2002)		 Fly or Die
(2004)
Professional ratings
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 by 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
No.TitleLength
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
Total length:53:55

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.

Legacy

In Search Of... served as a sonic and aesthetic touchstone for many artists who came to prominence after its release. The designer Virgil Abloh said the album "described a whole generation of young black kids and artists who have since been determined to be themselves and jump through that door that was opened by Pharrell."[22] Tyler, the Creator said the album's singles served as his introduction to N.E.R.D. and made him a lifelong fan of The Neptunes.[23] In 2018, Vulture magazine wrote, "...it’s difficult to see today’s most influential acts as uninfluenced by the very elements of N.E.R.D.’s music that confounded audiences in the past."[24]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[37] Gold 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Platinum 300,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Hyden, Steve. "N.E.R.D." Trouser Press. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  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". Metacritic. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  4. 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. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Q. London (179): 136. August 2001.
  7. Ex, Kris (August 2, 2001). "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Rolling Stone. New York (874): 63.
  8. "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Uncut. London (52): 96. September 2001.
  9. "Leonard Nimoy Encounter". Billionaire Boys Club. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. 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. 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". 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. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  17. Weingarten, Marc (March 10, 2002). "N.E.R.D. 'In Search Of ... ' Virgin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  18. Needham, Alex (March 8, 2002). "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. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  20. "N.E.R.D.: In Search Of...". Q. London (189): 119. April 2002.
  21. Amazon.com
  22. "35 Top African-American Artists on the Work That Inspires Them". The New York Times. 2020-03-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  23. Power 106 Los Angeles (May 9, 2013). "Tyler, The Creator on Pharrell and the first time he heard N.E.R.D." YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  24. Ihaza, Jeff (2018-01-04). "Explaining the Cult Popularity of N.E.R.D." Vulture. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  25. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 201.
  26. "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 7th March 2005" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (784): 17. March 7, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Pandora Archive.
  27. "Dutchcharts.nl – N.E.R.D. – In Search Of..." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  28. "Swedishcharts.com – N.E.R.D. – In Search Of...". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  29. "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  30. "N*E*R*D Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  31. "N*E*R*D Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  32. "Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 2, 2004. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  33. "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  34. "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  35. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  36. "The Official UK Albums Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  37. "Dutch album certifications – N.E.R.D. – In Search Of" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 22, 2020. Enter In Search Of in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2004 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  38. "British album certifications – Nerd – In Search Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
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