Pharrell -- In My Mind

While Sean Combs popularized the "superstar producer" trend, Pharrell Williams stylized it, providing vocal hooks on many of his projects that transcended Diddy's daft "uh huhs." As half of The Neptunes, Williams proved himself an inventive knob-twiddler, crafting unique, minimalist soundscapes. As an "artist," Williams' group N.E.R.D. was mired in creating "Alternative Rock" instead playing to his strengths. On In My Mind, his first solo album, Williams tries to stick to the sly Hip Hop/R&B blueprint that made his production work so engaging, but the results are mixed. His talent is his ability to mix spare beats with slanted, quirky sounds and loops, but the R&B tracks, like "Take It Off (Dim the Lights)" and "Young Girl/I Really Like You," fall short due to an over-reliance on cheap, hollow synth sounds, which Williams might intend to sound "80s" but just come off like the hotel-lounge keyboardist showing off his new high-end Casio. The Hip Hop and Pop cuts work better; "Keep It Playa" uses one rat-a-tat beat throughout, with a tinkling, robotic guitar riff and sung loops drizzled on top, while "Can I Have It Like That" has the stuttering herky-jerk of his best work. But Williams, a much better MC than singer, seems obsessed with being a ladies man crooner, and In My Mind carries way too much slinky R&B deadweight. (Mike Breen) Grade: C-

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