Review Summary: Timbaland runs dry ground.
What happens when the worlds best non-classical producer releases an album? Much attention was scored towards Mark Ronson at the time, featuring the likes of Amy Winehouse. But too a certain extent, Timbaland can prove to be quite the music mogul as well. His often silent approach to making music is surged out once an electronic hip-hop beat kills the radio, and people are instantly drawn to the sound. I, myself, have been a Timbaland fan since his days with the gender-confused rapper Magoo, but now I see many faults that a fan would instantly notice in his change.
"Shock Value" can prove to be a little more than just a flashy title. It depicts the meaning of the music well, meant to shock first-time listeners with soaring pump-beats and uncanny keyboard samples. Suffice to say, Timbaland has grown a brain big enough to realise that ditching Magoo would be the ideal choice to make his music a little more successful. And following Timbaland's new possy of featured artists come Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, OneRepublic, Dr. Dre and more. Its value for shock, shock for value.
Moving onto the introduction of the CD, "Oh Timbaland" is a rip of Nina Simone's "Sinnerman". While a very original idea, it somehow doesn't reveal Timbaland's full potential in production, resulting in a simple Felix Da Housecat remix with very few tweeks. The hit single, "Give It To Me", rears its ugly head with more of Timbo's middle-eastern signature sounds and tribal boulder Bedrock beats. Featuring long-time students Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, lyrically makes no sense at all. Timberlake speaks of sexy, Nelly speaks of club and Timbaland strays off like a lost dog in the woods going on about how he is more superior than Scott Storch. It may be well produced, but lyrically the entire album fails at some point.
It first seems as if more focus was placed into the futuristic beats rather than the content, and ends up being a re-hash of the failed work, "Under Construction II". Some impressive vocal skills lend Mr. Mosley a helping hand, with Keri Hilson featured on three tracks. She is more than just a pretty face, and has a great voice. Unfortunately, it isn't well enough expressed on this album (rather buy her debut CD). "The Way I Are" is the second single to ever likely break the barrier of hit summer songs. The beat feels like a reworked version of Timberlake's "My Love", but good nonetheless. D.O.E. is featured alongside Hilson, and lets just say he should've never entered Timbaland's domain. Simply, he sucks. Have no fear, "Kill Yourself" will shock and amaze you. Probably the most underrated song on the entire album, Timbaland raps about his superiority to Storch once again, but not in a cheezy sarcastic way like "Give It To Me". The beat is nothing short of incredible, utilizing a clever Resident Evil introduction and rolling piano sample. Definitely a must-listen.
From track 12, the album takes a downward spiral. It suddenly enters the rock side of production, with bands featured Fall Out Boy, She Wants Revenge, The Hives and One Republic. What surprises me is Timbaland attempts to further the bands sound with his own, rather resulting in them sounding like second-grade boy bands (no skill was needed to transform Fall Out Boy into something they already are). "Throw It On Me" is shameful, this coming from a long-time Hives fan. "One & Only" is painful to listen to (many fingers point to Fall Out Boy) and "Apologize", although beautifully remixed, takes away the genuine quality of the original OneRepublic song. The closing track, "2 Man Show", features Elton John on piano and Timbaland muttering pointless commands over a Charlton-styled group of girls for the chorus. Not very impressive at all, but Elton John saves it with crafty piano work.
"Shock Value" is some cases can prove that Timbaland is not backing down from the game easily, but also proves another thing; Fall Out Boy can't be improved, even with a star producer. What this comes down to is Timbaland has used all the tricks up his sleeve, and ends up nothing we haven't heard from his production skills before. It really makes me wonder what he's gonna come up with next, knowing he's got nothing else left to prove.
Recommended Tracks:
1. "Kill Yourself"
2. "Time"
3. "2 Man Show"
4. "Bounce"
