Timbaland's Shock Value

[aredwheelbarrow]

Timbaland's new album, Shock Value, received poor reviews. Despite knowing this, I had a good first impression and decided to buy it anyway. But on about 5 listens through, I can see what the reviewers were thinking. The album as a whole lacks depth, sincerity--heart! Many of the songs have good beats, yes. Most have interesting beginnings. But

Comments

[ofthewomb]

Aw, that's so disappointing... it reminds me of those interviews with Björk when Timbaland was all "so what kind of album is it? Will it be crazy, dancy, weird, what?" and she was all "Wtf? Don't we just make the album and call it what you want after?". Perhaps he's a bit shallow with his approach to music.

[aredwheelbarrow]

yeah I don't know. He's so talented, but maybe too formulaic?

[inexpressible]

I have only heard his collaborations with Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, and Aaliyah, for the most part. Is it safe to say, then, that the sounds that he creates are spectacular, while at the same time he is able to maintain the integrity--or however you wish to say it--of the artist with whom he is collaborating; and without the collaboration he alone cannot come close to doing?

With Nelly Furtado's album, Loose, I was impressed by how popular it has become, yet convinced that it was Timbaland who made it so popular. This album strikes me as Nelly Furtado, just all glammed-up. (Kinda like how Jewel went all up-beat/dancy with 0304.) The lyrical content was very Nelly Furtado, though, which kept the inspirational, emotional, and relatable nature very close to Folklore. I dunno. Without hearing Timbaland's album, I can't really say. I don't really care for Justin Timberlake, so I can't really compare him to anything as I don't know his music well enough (or at all, really), even though I bought the album Futuresex/Lovesounds

[aredwheelbarrow]

Yes I was also wondering if he needs to perform backstage of the main artist he collaborates with to really shine. Even though this was an album full of collaborations, Timbaland took center stage (as he should have as it was his album and all)--but him on center stage isn't that great i guess. I think you really hit the nail on the head with everything else you said too.

[skizatch]

You should've bought Year Zero ;)

[aredwheelbarrow]

Grrr.