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Timbaland

Shock Value  Hear it Now

RS: 3of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4of 5 Stars

2007

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Timbaland can do whatever he wants. After the great hip-hop producer’s huge year in 2006, everyone and your grandmother wants to work with him. And on Shock Value, almost everyone does: 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Fall Out Boy, the Hives and Elton John make appearances, among others. For the most part, the guests leave plenty of room for Timbaland to do his thing. But on Shock, Timbaland’s thing isn’t quite what you’d hope.

Shock Value doesn’t feel as random and indistinct as many albums by producers using all-star lineups do: The entire disc has a dark, futuristic mode, with Tim using rhythm instruments like riffs and giving you beat candy in different flavors; even his rhymes don’t get in the way too much. On “Release,” Tim and Timberlake work up disco that sounds a bit like “SexyBack,” in a good way. The seductive “Oh Timbaland” seems to groove sideways and straight ahead at once. “Bombay” splits the difference between Bollywood and synth pop, and “Scream” rides a thumping, guitar-specked beat that deserves to have a better tune attached.

Shock Value sags toward the second half: The Fall Out Boy and Hives songs show that Timbaland has moved past the novelty stage of working with rock bands, but just barely. (The She Wants Revenge-assisted “Time” has a cool New Wave gloss, though.) The guests’ main job is usually just to adorn whatever Tim has in mind, which makes sense – no one can say he doesn’t have lots of ideas floating around that big noggin. But for now, those ideas sound better on the radio, not on this album.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Apr 2, 2007)

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Review 1 of 4

csmith682 writes:

4of 5 Stars


I actually liked Tim's current CD... One thing I can say though is that most producers do EXCELLENT with other artist's but sometimes fall a little short on thier own CD (Diddy). Basically I wasnt having high expectations on Tim's new CD, hence the reason why I like it, I wasnt expecting anything fabulous and was satisfied with what I was hearing... there are a couple of tracks I can do with out *cough* "kill yourself" and the track with 50 cent. But for the most part I like Tim's beat and I like how he mixed the whole bollywood/hip-hop beat. Its different and different is always good. People need to stop putting Hip-hop in this one category that cannot be changed, it can be changed and collaboration is what make's music MUSIC. I say if you want to hear something that isnt talking about bang bang shoot em up from the beginning to end... grab this CD and enjoy the beats.

Apr 30, 2007 14:45:28

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Review 2 of 4

PhilC writes:

4of 5 Stars


I thought Timbaland's new album is dope. When it comes to incorporating hip hop beats into many different genres of music, whether it's rock;pop;gangster rap;dance;groove,etc.,
Timbaland delivers the goods on almost every single track on Shock Value. Timbo's the shit!

Apr 18, 2007 08:10:52

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Review 3 of 4

MusicalJenius writes:

2of 5 Stars


This is some crappy music. It's starts off well enough, but as the CD progresses it gets really tired. Tim's an incredible producer/innovator, but as with other "Producer albums" (ie Puffy, Will.i.am) it falls disappointingly short of what they've done for everyone else. I recommend just picking up Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds & Nelly Furtado's Loose, cause they're Tim's best work to date.

Apr 16, 2007 19:25:10

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Review 4 of 4

daisy1026 writes:

5of 5 Stars


timbaland had the coolest music ever! different style from other musicians out there. i love his cd!

Apr 3, 2007 14:08:18

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