Pharrell AKA Skateboard P is dropping the "In My Mind" album on December 6th.. The UK folks seem to like it:
Pharrell Williams, In My Mind CD
In the 13 years since Pharrell was discovered at a talent show by revered producer/singer Teddy Riley, he's become a hitmaker extraordinaire, creating, along with Neptunes partner Chad Hugo, hits for everyone from Ol' Dirty Bastard to Britney Spears, not to mention essentially inventing Justin Timberlake's career. Everything they touched turned to platinum, and in 2003 a survey revealed they had a hand in one in five of all songs played on British radio. They've also released two albums themselves as N*E*R*D, but this is Pharrell's debut solo effort. It doesn't disappoint. One half R&B, one half hip hop, this, he says, is the first full representation of the music 'in his mind'.
To us mere mortals, it's just mindblowing. Lead (hip hop) single 'Can I Have it Like That' featuring Gwen Stefani, is a grinding instant smash already shaking dancefloors; second (or lead R&B) single 'Angel' showcases his soaring, sexy falsetto over an infectious bouncy piano loop. The trademark stripped-down percussion-heavy production is finessed throughout, and only a guest appearance by pal Jamie Cullum sits a little oddly.
This is the sound of the bar being raised, again. Effortlessly.
