Customer Reviews

The Neptunes Present: Clones (Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'd give it 3 and a half if I could, but Ill give it 4 for star power and the following Pharell and Chad, particularly the former, have accrued. As it is, this CD has some big names, as everyone has heard. However, some of the verses are disappointing and the beats are good, although some of the experimental ones arent as good as you'd come to expect. If you like club beats, you'll love Luda's "It Wasn't Us" and NORE's "Put Em Up" (despite Noreaga's horrible lyrics). NERD fans get lucky with one of the best tracks "Loser". Clipse adds a lot to this CD with great lyrics wherever they go, and I hope to see them work with the Neptunes in the future. However, Busta Rhymes disappoints on the experimental percussion beats of "Light Your A** on Fire", in which his verses are disappointing. The Neptunes bring in Kelis and a newer gal, Vannessa Marquez, who do some good tracks. Nas and Kelis go together perfectly on "Popular Thug". Overall, the CD is worth getting if youre a big Neptunes or even hip-hop fan or want a star-studded cast. However, if youre just looking to get a good CD or hit the next thing to look good...this aint it.

I was extremely disapointed in the Neptunes' new Clones album. I was so amped up for this one especially after the soulful slammin lead single "Frontin". The Clones CD is actually a compilation album. Lots of people actually thought that this album would only feature Pharell Williams and Star Trak fam only. But what we have here is one big chaotic mess with no structure. There's no continuity present on this album. And most of all there's no substance. It's like they called up all of the artists that they've previously worked with, invited them to the studio to knock out a track in 5 minutes, This is obvious on a majority of the tracks. The clones album was lazily put together with no sense of direction. This is evident on songs like Popular Thug f/ Nas & Kelis, "Popular Thug is a song that's already on Kelis's wanderland album, which was released a year ago, only this time they excluded Pusha T's verses and insert her hubby to be Nas's. It just dosen't sound right. Why is "Hot Damn" (remixed video version ) on here we've already heard it a million times on the Clipse album. So many of the album's songs just simply [aren't good], compared to what we normally expect from Pharell and Chad. I had bigger expectations for this after playing the N.E.R.D. album all the time in my deck. as a matter of fact the only standouts here are songs by Spymob, N.E.R.D., and a banging song called "Hot" which features a nice up and comming emcee from Philly named Roscoe P. Coldchain. The Rock songs just don't blend in well on this album...and I know 5 out of 10 of the closed minded people that will be buying this album will skip right thru those tracks. The limited addition CD comes with a cool DVD. But nontheless save your money and don't believe the hype. I see a lot of reviews in here rating this album as a 5, but if someone actually gives this album a 5 they honestly don't know much about music. This CD turned out to be so weak that I now use it as a coaster on my coffee table. It's time that the Neptunes start growing and expanding more with their sound or they're going to fall victim to redundancy. I hope they rep Virginia the right way the next time around.

This album is amazing. The style is hip-hop and a lil' rock. Everysong is a winner the lyrics are brilliant. You could listen to this for days on end and wouldnt get bored (i found out myself:) ) If you like most hip-hop, rap and r 'n' b music you'll love this, also if you like rock to you'll love it. Drum's, guitar's, great rapping and singing and of course the wonderful voice of Pharrell. What more could you want???

It seems like people writing reviews have different expectations from the Neptunes than what the Neptunes are all about. The Neptunes have been influenced by all types of music and this album is an excellent production effort. Differing music types arise and the Neptunes prove that they can master production of not only hip-hop, but also rock, r&b, and pop. While the Neptunes often use the same sounds, it is this sound that makes people like them so much. Without the metallic beats and unusual sounds that are unique to the Neptunes characterize this dominating production team. This album is a compilation, dont expect there to be a theme or the songs to match, because they don't. If you like the Neptunes, buy the CD. If you're expecting all hip-hop tracks and beats, then you'll probably not enjoy the CD.

Despite several reviews to the contrary, this old-schooler thinks Pharrell's vocal on Frontin' is moving and extremely affecting. Sure, he's no Aaron Neville vocal virtuoso, but in his way he conjures up associations with Curtis Mayfield's rich, warm falsetto. I loved the song on the radio without knowing who it was, and I was thrilled to find it on this CD.

All the hiphop grooves here, including Frontin', are absolutely and literally state of the art: masterful but playful, highly adventurous yet starkly economical. Busta Rhymes' paean to large posteriors is so graphic that I had to jump back at first, but I'm now obsessed. It seriously cracks me (and friends) up, and has me walking around trying to say "hmm" the way he does it.

Ludacris's cut is the bomb in every way: the rhythm track is just superb, and his verbal flow is unsurpassible. Other outstanding performances include those by Snoop Dog, Nelly, and of course the Jay-Z feature on Frontin'. I don't know who Roscoe P. Coldchain is, but his minimalist (basically just some strange electrokick, a snare and something like a triangle) song of self-appelation is battling in my head for supramecy with Pharrell's, Busta's and Ludacris's cuts.

That's a lot of slam-bang winners. And underneath all these world-class hiphoppers the Neptunes are invariably compelling and superb.

There are a couple of rock tunes here that are true to their styles and well-produced, with especially good guitar sounds, but to my ears they just don't give the Neptunes the chance to do what they do best. I skip over them now.

The bonus DVD is great marketing and provides some fascinating insights into the thinking and working styles of these hiphop monsters.

Get it right people, The Neptunes (Hugo and Williams) are producers hence Neptunes presents. N.E.R.D. is a rock group with Hugo and Williams and another dude. They are not one and the same they are very different: Working with other artists, they give them what they think they want, whether they are 100% on it or not. They bring out new talent like Fam-Lay out of VA and make money producing Other Artists.
This is the reason a N.E.R.D album is coming out very soon, they keep their job and their own personal music separate. Pay attention, please!
The artists on 'Presents' are ok. Im not a big fan of most of them but overall the production values are tight as usual and smooth.

Ok I listened to the whole album, its not as good as NERD, their sophmoric album turns out to be about average. The good songs include Snoop, Nelly, and Vanessa (new artist) I hope to see more of her in the future). I think Neptunes need to drop all these phonies like Roscoa P Coldchain, and keep people like Kelis this girl has brought a lot to the plate with the Milkshake song. Check out her new album if you like the neptunes. Peace 3 stars, AVG.

the album few hot tracks from Nelly,Busta,Jay-z,Nas and more but the album could had been better

Okay, you all know the deal: the production duo known as The Neptunes have made beautiful, dancefloor music for virtually every mainstream artist in the business right now. Everyone from Jay-Z, N.O.R.E., Philly's Most Wanted, P. Diddy, and Snoop Dogg to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Usher have laid vocals on vicous Neptunes beats. So, to promote their new label, Star Trak, The 'Tunes have compiled a bunch of musicians from either their own label or artists they have worked with in the past in order to make a record that is sure to be heard in clubs, car speakers, and home stereos until next summer. A short, musical interlude starts the album off, followed by "Light Your Ass On Fire" by Busta Rhymes and "Blaze Of Glory" by Clipse and Ab-Liva. The former features a minimalist percussion beat and the latter has got funky horns and heavy drums. Both kill. Ludacris and his partner I-20 make strong guest appearances on "It Wasn't Us" but when you get to "Frontin'" by Pharrell and Jay-Z your rump can really get to shakin'. The rest of the compilation is very good as well. The high points include Nelly's slow jam-y "If," Snoop Dogg's ode to the sticky on "It Blows My Mind," and the Kelis and Nas duet "Popular Thug," which features the two, who are actually engaged, trading "romantic" verses. Lower points: Roscoe P. Coldchain's "Hot," whose beat sounds far too simple and boring, even though the verses are fairly well spit, Fam-Lay's "Rock 'N Roll" due to the fact that the dude is a pretty weak rapper, and finally "Put 'Em Up" by N.O.R.E. The beat is pretty tight, but N.O.R.E.'s verses are a bit lame and kinda lack any coherence. It's a good club song though. Finally, the rock tracks in the middle pull off well, as do the R&B and dancehall experiments. All and all, congratulations to The Neptunes on a disc with very little skippable material and a TON of club-style, head-nodding fun.

When I read that The Neptunes were putting out a new record, I immediately had to go check it out. After listening to it at an HMV I picked it up, and I must say I was not in the least bit disappointed. This album is really really tight. The beats are off the hook, and the people they got to do the tracks are ridiculous: Snoop, Busta, Ludacris, Jay-Z, Nelly, Clipse, Nas, N.O.R.E., Dirt McGirt (ex-ODB), and the list goes on. The only track I think doesn't belong is the one-and-a-half minute rock track by The High Speed Scene, which is pretty [weak] and out of place. Outstanding tracks: "It Blows My Mind" (Snoop Dogg), "Hot Damn" (The Clipse and Pharrell), "Loser" (N.E.R.D.), "Put 'Em Up" (N.O.R.E. and Pharrell) and "Light Your Ass On Fire" (Busta Rhymes). A very solid production with very catchy beats.