Various Artists - The Neptunes Present... Clones

There's a high probability that if you've heard an R&B or hip-hop track screaming up the Top-40 charts in the past three or four years, it came from the production duo The Neptunes. Working with artists ranging from Jay-Z to No Doubt, they've carved out a their own niche, allowing Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo to call their own shots and craft their own trademark, diverse sound. The Neptunes present… Clones is a tremendous example of their range of talent, even if some of the tracks have not previously been fit for public consumption. For those who take the time to notice, The Neptunes sound is unmistakable. Williams and Hugo layer claps, whistles, marching band bass drum hits, assorted percussion, guitar, and live drum kits with the usual hip-hop fare: bass guitar, low-frequency bass tones, 70's-funk horn samples, keyboard and digital accents. But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. It's the duo's melodic sense and ability to craft a beat to fit the personality of the artist that makes this duo a hot commodity. Instead of trying to bend an artist to fit their own style, they bend to highlight artists' strengths. You could call The Neptunes present… Clones a crash course for those not in the know. Forget the Busta Rhymes single, "Light Your Ass On Fire" that is currently all over MTV; there are better tracks on this compilation. "Blaze Of Glory" brings the neck-breaking funk and, with Pharrell providing the contagious hook, The Clipse are provided an arena to drop their hardcore flow. The next track, "It Wasn't Us", showcases Ludacris' sharp delivery and odd style with an equally odd beat. Completing the first triplet is the neo-soul Pharrell track "Frontin'", featuring Jay-Z. The track stutters to a start and lays itself down into a relaxed, 21st century soul groove, accented by Pharrell's own falsetto crooning. The set continues on with notable cuts such as Nelly's "If", the rock-soul from Spymob (who acted as the backing band for the N.E.R.D. album In Search Of…), and some brief and catchy punk-rock from The High Speed Scene with "Fuck N' Spend". In the latter half of the album, N.E.R.D. make an appearance with the keyboard-driven, pop-rock cut "Loser", N.O.R.E. kick in with a bouncy, over-the-top anthem in "Put 'Em Up", and Ol' Dirty Bastard reborn as Dirt McGrit makes his debut with the expectedly bizarre "Pop Shit". Of this 18-track compilation, there are plenty of cuts that any Neptunes fan should hear. Though, in respect to the "Clones" title, there are some beats that seem unusually similar to other Neptunes tracks. With the popularity of Williams and Hugo on the rise, it was only a matter of time before they began to overlap stylistically. Nevertheless, they are true pioneers and know exactly what they're doing in the studio. This collection highlights that fact for the duration. [www.startrakmusic.com]