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In My Mind

by Pharrell

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A sort of King Midas of the US pop firmament, as one half of hit-making cartel The Neptunes and a founding member of NERD, Pharrell Williams boasts a remarkable track record. Roughly one half hip-hop and one half R&B, In My Mind follows the magic formula that’s seen Williams reinvigorate the careers of everyone from Britney and *NSYNC to Snoop Dogg and Nelly, drawing on music styles as disparate as metal and reggaeton and shaping them together with adventurous effect. In particular, the marching-band rhythms of "Keep It Playa" and the booming, atonal space-funk of "Can I Have It Like That" - featuring a brief cameo by Gwen Stefani - are startling examples of Williams’ production wizardry.

As an album, it’s not without its flaws: "Our Father" might wash with the God-fearing hip-hop fraternity, but more cynical audiences might balk at the Williams’ assertion that "Jesus is my playa"; meanwhile a duet with Jay-Z, "Young Girls", shows up the occasional weaknesses of his flow. No matter, though – you’ll buy this for the productions, and without exception, they gleam. – Louis Pattison