Timbaland - Shock Value 2

When Timbaland unleashed his second solo album on to the world in 2007 he turned the industry upside down. Singles like 'The Way I Are' (ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E) and 'Apologize' (ft. OneRepublic) took their rightful place at the top of the charts. After having a disagreement with protégé Nathaniel 'Danja' Hills, Timbaland turned to co-producer J-Roc to help score every track on Timbaland's third solo project. Can Timbaland deliver yet another shocking experience with "Shock Value 2"?

With a productionlist as long as the road less traveled, Timbaland is without a doubt one of the most respected recordproducers in today's Hiphop & R&B scene. Artists like Jay-Z ('Big Pimpin', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulders'), Missy Elliot ('Work It', 'Pass That Dutch') and Justin Timberlake ('What Goes Around', 'Sexy Back', 'Cry Me a River') are no strangers to his productions, because like Midas, everything he touches almost literally turns to gold.

After a wonderful 8-bit inspired intro, hosted by DJ Felli Fel -- that regretfully enough doesn't contain any rapvocals -- we roll right into 'Carry Out' (ft. Justin Timberlake), a great clubtrack. Timbaland used his own PSP game Beaterator for a couple of beats on Shock Value 2. 'Carry Out' sounds like it was made with this game and that certainly isn't a bad thing. It's a great track that, without a doubt, will get a lot of plays in the clubs.

The first official single off "Shock Value 2",'Morning After Dark' (ft. Nelly Furtado and Timbaland's newly signed artist SoShy) is doing very well in the States. The track is inspired by the Twilight-series of movies and books and for that reason does have this vampire-feel to it. Nelly Furtado's verse sounds perhaps a bit awkward at first, but after a few sessions sounds right at place between Timbaland and SoShy's vocals.

SoShy, from French descent, can also be heard on the background vocals of 'Ease Off the Liquor'. This track starts with a neat clubbish/trance-like composition that changes while it progresses into something more Spanish oriented, complete with the guitars and trumpets.

Another new face in Timbaland's ranks is Canadian artist Esthero, who with Timbaland's younger brother Sebastian, can be heard on the wonderfully produced 'Can You Feel It'.

Tracks like 'Undertow' (ft. The Fray) and 'Long Way Down' (ft. Daughtry) stand out between the rest of the songs on "SV2". Tim hasn't had -- excluding Chris Cornell's "Scream" album -- a great deal of experience with producing (soft)rock-songs, but this isn't noticeable here at all. Timbaland and J-Roc's compositions sound great and have a strong feel to them.

A track for which not many OneRepublic fans will show Timbaland appreciation is 'Marchin' On'. Where 'Apologize' (off "Shock Value") was a complete remake of the original, in 'Marchin' On's case we're looking at a remix here. The added percussion sounds messy and is totally unnecessary. Tim's vocals on the other hand are of added value compared towards the original, released on OneRepublic's album "Waking Up".

The One I Love is a track that really stirred the media-pot before release. Where it originally contained a verse by Chris Brown, his vocals were removed in favor of Keri Hilson's, a "Shock Value" favorite. When you first hear this song you'll feel right at home because of its sampled lead-melody from 'Popcorn', a track by 70's instrumental coverband Hot Butter.

Another track that stands out is 'Meet in the Middle'. The only track on the album that wasn't produced by Timbo himself but 'Love in this Club' producer Polow da Don. Timbaland is accompanied here by Bran' Nu, rapping alter ego of well known R&B singer Brandy, who returns for a second feature on 'Symphony'. With lines like "So you don't want it with me, I'm on the tip of your tongue, like bubblegum, I got your head strung, it's my return like the kingdome come", she proves she can hold her own against other singers with rapping alter egos like Tyrese.

'Sympony' feels like a classic from the Timbaland & Magoo era. Unfortunately rapper Attitude doesn't add a lot to this track and could have easily been replaced by another artist like Magoo or Bubba Sparxxx. Two artists who by the way are, regretfully, nowhere to be found on "Shock Value 2".

all in all "Shock Value 2" has turned out to be a great sounding album. With artists like teen-idol Miley Cyrus, 'I Kissed a Girl'-singer Katy Perry and Hiphop's newcomer of the year Drake on board, this is one album that'll do quite well with the mainstream crowd. For the Hiphop-lovers with tunnel vision who had hoped for an album from the Timbaland & Magoo era there's not a lot for you here, apart from 1 or 2 tracks. On the other hand, if you're one of those people that enjoys all sorts of music, "Shock Value 2" will immediately sound like a straight classic and certainly one of the best releases of the year! 

Timbaland's "Shock Value 2 in stores December 8th 2009.

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