On March 23, 2004 N.E.R.D. released their second studio album Fly Or Die. I didn't fully listen to the album until the summer of 2008, but it quickly became one of favorite albums of all time. In essence, this album is a celebration of the uncool and the hardships of adolescent life. Pretty simple themes, right? However, sonically, this album is anything but plain and simple. The album shifts from punk rock tracks like "Jump" to funky hypersexual love ballads in "Backseat Love" to a funky jazz piece in "Maybe." People knew this band was versatile from their first album, but the range of what the band could do was greatly expanded upon in there is sophomore effort. My personal favorite on this album is "breakout". I love the hook and the guitar rifts throughout are just too funky. Probably the coolest thing about this album is how ahead of its time it really was. The tempo and melodic changes that occur about halfway through a bunch of the songs is just unbelievable. Examples of songs like this are "Trasher", "Wonderful Place", and "Chariot of Fire". If you haven't given this album a full listen you definitely should, you ears will thank you later. Listen to a few of the tracks below:
http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Fly+Or+Die/1085885
Comments