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Review
While it’s not exactly been languishing in development hell, Timbaland’s sequel to 2007’s starry Shock Value – which saw the likes of 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Fall Out Boy, The Hives and even Elton John collaborate with the accolade-laden producer – has nevertheless seen its release date shunted and shunted until now. And a year-end emergence doesn’t bode well, pre-listen. Few artists unleash their newest wares in December, knowing full well they’re sure to be swallowed by the flood of festive specials and list-topping recommendations. It’s usually a case of damage limitation, labels hoping critical types have already clocked off for Christmas.
The first thing to note here is how the quality of guests has rather dropped since Timbaland’s last solo venture – Furtado and Timberlake return, but both are long-term associates of the man born Tim Mosley. RnB star Brandy appears in her rap guise Bran’ Nu, but elsewhere the credibility tumbles to unforeseen lows. The Fray’s spot on Undertow turns the piece into a slushy Keane-echoing nightmare of sugary excess; teeny popper JoJo – she scored a worldwide hit in 2004 with Leave (Get Out) – shrieks her way through Lose Control like Christina Aguilera having a temper tantrum; and the presence of Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger alone is enough to have many a recipient of this disc scratching it up straight out the box, if only to prevent any stranger picking it up from the second-hand racks.
Alongside JoJo, turns from Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry go some way to painting this album as one focused firmly on pop market disposability, rather than looking to emulate the crossover achievements of Timbaland’s previous, rap-focused material. Cyrus’s We Belong to the Music sounds every note as you expect it to – U-rated, Disney film-friendly lyrics shackled to some beefier-than-normal beats. The banality of her appearance plumbs new depths for Timbaland, who must’ve been on autopilot during the creative process for this particular number. Elsewhere, limp acoustic effort Timothy Where You Been, featuring Jet, answers the question nobody asked: just what has Timbaland been up to since the first Shock Value?
Forget the song’s replies – the straight, honest answer is forgetting what made his name in the first place. There’s nothing here of a vibrancy comparable to what Timbaland’s managed in the recent past, and his (perhaps career-best) breakthrough work with Aaliyah and Missy Elliott now feels like another lifetime ago. --Mike Diver
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Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Mr Mosely is a collaborator. It is his modus vivendi and
of course there's nothing wrong with that in principle.
His stripped-down earlier work with the likes of Missy Elliot
and Magoo remains incomparable and unimpeachable.
Perfect in its own way in fact.
Fame and money have inevitably influenced the sound
over time, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
In some ways he has become a sort of celebrity musical
zoo keeper or circus ringmaster. There are few performers
who wouldn't balance on a beach ball with one hand whilst
consuming a sword with the other for him.
When Timbaland calls you come! (Or pay the price and he's there!)
Having said this, 'Shock Value II' is in many ways a stronger
and more coherent contender than its 2007 namesake.
The formula and the beats are familiar. There's a lot to sing
and dance along to and who could ask for more than that?
The best of the bunch would have to include :
'Carry Out', featuring Mr Timberlake, an enduring creative
partnership which still cuts the mustard. A perfectly pleasant
simple, mid-tempo, number with all the rhythmic and melodic
components tidily tucked into place.
'Losing Control' has a pretty-enough tune, relatively undamaged
by JoJo's pedestrian rapterlude. The vocal punctuation, beloved by
Mr Mosely, can be a bit wearing at times but I think it's here to stay.
Brandy Norwood's feisty performance on 'Meet In The Middle'
complements The Boss's efforts beautifully. Simple stuff but
arguably one of the best and most infectious tracks on the album.
'Undertow' finds a mellow groove with the help of The Fray and Esthero.... Read more ›
of course there's nothing wrong with that in principle.
His stripped-down earlier work with the likes of Missy Elliot
and Magoo remains incomparable and unimpeachable.
Perfect in its own way in fact.
Fame and money have inevitably influenced the sound
over time, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
In some ways he has become a sort of celebrity musical
zoo keeper or circus ringmaster. There are few performers
who wouldn't balance on a beach ball with one hand whilst
consuming a sword with the other for him.
When Timbaland calls you come! (Or pay the price and he's there!)
Having said this, 'Shock Value II' is in many ways a stronger
and more coherent contender than its 2007 namesake.
The formula and the beats are familiar. There's a lot to sing
and dance along to and who could ask for more than that?
The best of the bunch would have to include :
'Carry Out', featuring Mr Timberlake, an enduring creative
partnership which still cuts the mustard. A perfectly pleasant
simple, mid-tempo, number with all the rhythmic and melodic
components tidily tucked into place.
'Losing Control' has a pretty-enough tune, relatively undamaged
by JoJo's pedestrian rapterlude. The vocal punctuation, beloved by
Mr Mosely, can be a bit wearing at times but I think it's here to stay.
Brandy Norwood's feisty performance on 'Meet In The Middle'
complements The Boss's efforts beautifully. Simple stuff but
arguably one of the best and most infectious tracks on the album.
'Undertow' finds a mellow groove with the help of The Fray and Esthero.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Cat
Format:Audio CD
LOve this album, well worth buying. The last one was good and this has definitely followed in it's footsteps.
By Natey Nate
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
lets just say there was a reason for all that hard work Tim, i wasn't disappointed at all amazing tracks to listen to and dance too also.
By Chop
Format:Audio CD
Was lookin forward to this album and shocked at how rubbish it is compared to the first,
its seems timbo has takin on the modern day style of music with autotune on the chorus'
i thought the first album was a class act but this is no where near it!!
Theres to many music artist these days that have already passed their peak.
Shockin Value?? Shockin album!!
its seems timbo has takin on the modern day style of music with autotune on the chorus'
i thought the first album was a class act but this is no where near it!!
Theres to many music artist these days that have already passed their peak.
Shockin Value?? Shockin album!!
By Lizy.B
Format:Audio CD
two years on and im still listening to this awesome album. timbaland is a pure genious! there are some very good singers on this album that make it even better, especially with the likes of katy perry and other great music talents. very good RnB album. well worth getting if your into RnB or are a fan of his first album.
By IAMEPIC
Format:Audio CD
Shock Value 2 features some very big hits with some very big singers such as morning after dark FT Nelly Futardo & Shoshy. It also features Carryout FT Justin Timberlake & If We ever Meet Again FT Katy Perry Who at the moment is number 1 in the charts. This is a very good album however he does too many songs with other artists . The songs with other artists are very good however the only song on his own on this album is not good atall. On the album shock value 1 he also only has 1 song on his own, and all the other songs I know by Timbaland all have Maggoo. This is a very good album but would be better if he sings more. A lot of other singers such as Jay-Z, his album called the bluebrint 22 has also got barely any songs on his own but on his other albums hes singing on his own and jay-z is good on his own. Jay-Z does a song on his own called 99 problems and that is really good.
Format:Audio CD
I was hoping for more of the same as Shock Value I. It was - and it wasn't. The same old gang were there - Justin, Nelly, et al, and a few more surprises to boot, but its more pop than hip hop. If We Ever Meet Again reminds me of Same Difference.....
Apart from Morning After Dark, and the melodic Timothy Where You Been, there are more tracks featuring Timbaland, and lets face it, after a few of his trademark sounds, and the usual shout out to his homies, whats left? Hes more of a writer and producer than a singer, thats for sure.
All in all, its a pleasant album, with some decent tracks, but not as good as the first.
Apart from Morning After Dark, and the melodic Timothy Where You Been, there are more tracks featuring Timbaland, and lets face it, after a few of his trademark sounds, and the usual shout out to his homies, whats left? Hes more of a writer and producer than a singer, thats for sure.
All in all, its a pleasant album, with some decent tracks, but not as good as the first.
By JOE THOMAS
Format:Audio CD
This is the album I have been waiting for All year BUT unfortunatly it doesn't match to the first Shock Value. Beofre this album came out there were rumours saying artists such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Usher, Linkin Park etc were going to make a appearence on the cd BUT nope, Miley Cyrus, Jet, The Fray, JoJo, Katey Perry etc have made tracks. This shows Timbaland is going in a pop/rock direction which doesn't suit him as he's a hip-hop producer. There are a few tracks that definatly stand out, personnal favourite being Carry Out feat Justin Timberlake and Tomorrow In A Bottle feat Chad Kroegar from Nickelback. And ofcourse Morning After. Timbaland has always been my favourite producer and IF he makes a 3rd Shock Value hopefully it'll include some big names and with artists that suit his beats. It's not a bad album but it could've been ALOT bigger. Next single featuring Drake seems like a bit of a boring song aswell. If your a Timbo fan buy it, but overwise don't really bother.
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3.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
shocking value
what can i say......after listening to this c.d i was disappointed.Compared to shock value this is so lame.
Theres about 2 good tracks and the rest is tosh. Read more
Theres about 2 good tracks and the rest is tosh. Read more
Published 21 months ago by D.G
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
I prefer this to the first Shock Value album although going by the BBC reviewer, it should be a disappointment. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2010 by marmaladecat
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars for the effort, 4.5 for the result
This album seemed to have a rather quiet release and didn't have the advertising force behind it that Shock Value did. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by Mr Entropy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Total Awesome
This album is better than the first shock value if that is possible. Some very unusual colabriations. Very catchy some of them. Definitely a good listen.
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by Mrs. S. Harper-ashton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timbaland shock value II
Amazing album a must buy. Love all the collaborations especialy love the song with Chad Kroger (Nickleback). Timbaland is an amazing producer and artist. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by R. Toone
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