Much (well-deserved) ado about ‘Nothing’

N.E.R.D., an ongoing funk-punk side project of producers the Neptunes, is finally a band with some substance.

From uneven skate park sentiments to intergalactic come-ons, N.E.R.D has experienced a rocky, decade-long career plagued with music lacking the maturity and genius of its predecessors (2004’s “Fly or Die” album, with its socio-political themes, is a minor exception).

“Nothing,” N.E.R.D’s fourth album, recalls some of those oddities. This time around, the band utilizes the musical smarts Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were born with.

It’s a hypnotic concoction of doo-wop, malt-shop and theater-pop that’s equal parts Queen and the Temptations.

“Victory” stirs up the pot with stadium music: “Victory, I can smell it in the air/ Only a champion would qualify.”

The Nelly Furtado-assisted single “Hot-N’-Fun” and “Hypnotize U” are album wild cards, backed by smooth funk grooves and seductive lyrics that actually don’t make you wince in pre-pubescent pain.

“Nothing” works because it shows that while N.E.R.D may still be skate park kings, at least they’ll don tuxedos when showing off new tricks.