Fly or Die

The first album from N.E.R.D., the alter-ego of hip-hop superproducers the Neptunes (with rapper Shae), was notable not only because it didn’t suck ass (as most turns on the mike by producers do), but also for venturing from their hip-hop roots toward rock without sounding like posers. The biggest change for their second album is that instead of hiring a band to play the tunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo do it themselves. This hurts in places, mostly because they’re not as fluid as Spymob (the U.K. band that played on the debut). But there’s still plenty to recommend. Pharrell’s soulful shrieks and hollers on “Don’t Worry About It” and “She Wants to Move” are as impressive a James Brown turn as we’ve heard in a while. “Breakout” shimmies from heartrending ballad to ’70s dance floor funk into a propulsive guitar-pop shake and back again. Ultimately, the record is less surprising musically than its predecessor, but Pharrell’s provocative lyrics take enough risks to ensure this one flies not dies.