I’ve always loved remixed albums. To me, it made it more about the music; it gave an album another perspective. From Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album to 9th Wonder’s God’s Stepson, I always checked out remix albums (I even made one myself, Return of the Black). So when I heard that Questlove (along with keyboardist James Poyser) was possibly remixing Pharrell’s album In My Mind, it sounded interesting. While I didn’t think that In My Mind was anywhere near classic material, it did have its good points. Then I heard Pharrell’s label Interscope had possibly shelved the album and that Questlove started leaking tracks off his MySpace (with every 10,000 plays a new song was made available), I had to get hear it. I found some sites that had the whole album for download, but some songs were missing (Mostly “Can I Have It Like That”), so after some minor searching I found all of them and made a quick bootleg cover. Enjoy.
1. Can I Have It Like That
Featuring Gwen Stefani
I always had a soft spot for this song. You gotta admit the horns on the original were sick. It surprised me that I liked the remix even more. It made it more soulful, yet still had the feel of the original. The breakdowns also give the song more complexity.
2. How Does It Feel?
This one starts out with a more latin feel the original didn’t (It actually fits Pharrell’s rhymes better too). I kinda liked the original one, but this one adds to it and make it more listenable. Skateboard P’s flow can still get tiresome.
3. Raspy Shit
The remix of “Raspy Shit” sounds like Pharrell might have set in on a Roots session. The distortion of Pharrell’s voice was a nice touch. I’ll be real with you, I never gave the original much listen; I think I like this one better though.
4. Best Friend
Featuring Natasha Ramos
This one is really not that much different form the original until the hook. If you can make it to that part you good. Other than that the song really didn’t catch me; boring.
5. You Can Do It Too
Featuring Jamie Cullum
The strings on this one are somber like the ones you might hear on a score from a Spike Lee movie. Even though the track is good, Pharrell’s rhymes can seem out of place or not on the same level.
6. Keep It Player
Featuring Slim Thug
The remix simplifies the track which is a good thing. The toned down track fits Slim Thug and Pharrell’s lyrics more than the original. It’s as if all they had was drums and a guitar and that’s it. Sometime simplicity is best. Good track.
7. That Girl
Featuring Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson
This is another track that isn’t really different form the original. The remix is more soulful, but not really that distinctive from the original.
8. Angel
This was the first unofficial single for In My Mind and to be honest, I thought it was almost appalling then.The remix almost give the song a Prince feel and makes it listenable. Yea, P voice still cracks, but the beat saves it here.
9. Young Girl
Featuring Jay-Z
This is more of how the song would sound played live that a remix; nothing really that special from the original.
10. I Really Like You
This song actually was merged with “Young Girl” on the original album. The remix has Skateboard P getting his Michael Jackson on (Again). Its okay, but nothing to celebrate.
11. Stay With Me
Featuring Pusha T
The remix here is really not what I expected. The piano on here is amazing. I thought with Pusha on the track they would go grimey, but I would play this shit around my girl. It’s definitely flyer than the original.
12. Take It Off (Dim The Lights)
On In My Mind, this was Pharrell’s “I’m trying to get sexy” song. I didn’t feel it then and I barely feel it now. When P tries to get his Luther Vandross on, it doesn’t work remix or no remix.
13. Baby
Featuring Nelly
I’m sorry. I just can’t fuck with Nelly right now. Skip!
14. Our Father
I thought there was no saving this song. I mean, most R&B or Hip-Hop artist have this kind of song about God towards the end of their album. I would only listen to this track for the drums.
15. Number One
Featuring Kanye West
I thought it was no way they could remix this song…I was right. It’s not really dissimilar from the original; more like a live version. If you didn’t like the original, it’s a small chance this will change that.
16. Show You How To Hustle
Featuring Lauren
This track has Pharrell’s best rapping on the album. The melody is the same, but the drums change up. I always like the hook (King Jerm says it Lauren London or “New New” from the movie Atl). Not a bad interpretation.
Bottom Line:
All in all, this was not a bad remix of In My Mind. It did what it was suppose to do; give the album a different voice. For me, this remix turned a so-so album to a pretty good album. While some of the tracks aren’t all first-class, they all sound better as a whole with the album. If you wanna hear some good production or just want to give In My Mind another try, you should download this.
nappy Picks: “Can I Have It Like That”, “How Does It Feel”, “You Can Do It Too”, “Keep It Player”, “Stay With Me”, & “Show You How To Hustle”
Download: Pharrell & The Yessirs – Out Of My Mind (Full Album)
