Hey folks!

So we have a little bit of a situation, one I want to loop you in on. Is this one of those things where I’m making too big of a deal of something? Oh, most certainly. But if you’ve been with me for any length of time, you know I want to get things right.

Here are the facts as we know them:

On August 6th, 2001, the band N*E*R*D, comprised of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley, released the rap-funk-rock hybrid album IN SEARCH OF…, but only in Europe. The version, hereafter known as the Electronic Version, was recorded using digital production techniques, including drum machines and synthesizers. (The implication seems to be that no ““real”” i.e. acoustic instruments were used, but I don’t think that’s 100% true.) At some point after, the band re-recorded the music with the help of alt funk rock band Spymob (the “Rock Version”). Seven months later, on March 12, 2002, this version was released worldwide.

Why this is an issue:

Although I’m sure many will not care, I must insist that these are two different albums that were released in different years. Now, the most obvious solution is simple: the Electronic Version, and only the Electronic Version, is allowed into the 2001 tournament, and the Rock Version is only eligible for a potential 2002 tournament. (One could argue that if the Electronic Version is entered, the Rock Version, which is more similar than not, shouldn’t be eligible, but… we’ll deal with that if and when the time arrives.)

However: the Electronic Version is almost impossible to hear.

As far as I can tell, it is not available on Spotify or Apple Music. On YouTube, you can find an upload here but, as the uploader notes, YouTube has muted large portions of it. The uploader also provides a link to their Google Drive (here is that link if you wish to bypass YouTube) that has the Electronic Version in its entirety. I have downloaded the tracks from there. As far as I can tell, without having ever heard the original before, it is in fact the Electronic Version. (You can tell if you listen to both versions of “Lapdance.” The Rock Version has meatier, more natural sounding drums, as well as big guitars that come in during the chorus.)

I’m not saying that the Electronic Version can’t compete. Actually, closer to the opposite: if the Electronic Version is admitted to the 2001 tournament (which it qualified for), then I must insist that that version, and only that version, be considered. That, to me, seems to be a problem, when hearing that version is difficult and when I suspect that most, if not all of us, are only familiar with the Rock Version. (I only heard the Electronic Version for the first time late last year while boning up for the 2001 tournament.) To put it bluntly as possible: can I trust the voters to separate the two albums?

What makes it difficult is that the two albums share a great portion of DNA with each other. The vocals, far as I can tell, are the same on both. The music is also essentially the same, the only difference being how the sounds were created. Yet, for me at least, there is a actual difference in quality between the two. The Rock Version, to my ears, has a bigger, deeper sound, that I find much more pleasing. The Electronic Version, in contrast, sounds like a demo version of the Rock Version. At the same time, though, it’s possible that the tracks I downloaded from some rando aren’t of the highest quality, and comparing them on that level is misleading.

What I suggest:

There appears to be two solutions to choose from. The first is to, before and during the 2001 tournament, launch an education campaign to make sure that everybody understands that this version of IN SEARCH OF… is probably not the version they know, that they should listen to this other version via downloads from a complete stranger, and that all decisions about artistic merit (w/r/t all opposing albums) be filtered through that understanding.

Or: I can disqualify the Electronic Version and, to make up for that, auto-qualify the Rock Version for the potential 2002 tournament.

I prefer the second choice.

But I am loathe to make big heavy-handed decisions without at least some input from the Best Album community. Because there isn’t anything that can’t be solved with a Google Form voting sheet, here is a Google Form voting sheet. Feel free to leave me comments on Bluesky at @bestalbumbrackets.bsky.social or wherever else you can contact me. Also, I’ve turned off the collection of emails with this form. (I normally collect email addresses to enforce 1 person, 1 vote, but I never look at them or do anything with them.) [ETA: unfortunately, had to turn “1 vote only” back on, due to issues with the Google Form. Sorry about that!]

I’ll let the voting form go until end of day Friday February 20th. The results aren’t binding, but if there’s a big majority one way or the other, that’s probably how it’ll be.

Okay, back to listening to the other 2001 albums in the Best Album tournament, as well as figuring out how to distribute the remaining open slots.

Thanks,

Kent