Pharrell Williams - G I R L

He sang on two of last year’s biggest records: Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.” Now the seven-time Grammy winner is molten hot and ready for global domination with his second solo album. Packed full of pop hooks and endlessly funky, the 10 tracks find Pharrell teaming up with Justin Timberlake on the falsetto-drenched conga line of “Brand New” and Alicia Keys on the dreamy, ska-flavored “I Know Who You Are.” Also included is “Come Get it Bae,” a revved-up pairing with Miley Cyrus about popping wheelies on motorcycles. But this isn’t just a collection of superstar duets. The man with the Vivienne Westwood-designed Buffalo hat gets giddy on “Happy,” his Oscar-nominated song from Despicable Me 2, and namechecks famous women including Cleopatra and Joan of Arc on the Michael Jackson-style dance romp of “Marilyn Monroe.” A wild joyride, Pharrell’s latest is a delirious thriller from beginning to end.