Timbaland
Shock Value II

Campus Correspondent Review By Alex Kruse,
Laurel School

Timbaland’s third studio album, Shock Value II (Universal), is rapidly gaining popularity across the musical spectrum. With featured artists Jet, The Fray, Esthero, Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado, Miley Cyrus, Chad Kroeger, Drake, Bran’Nu, Justin Timberlake and Jojo, Timbaland expands his musical talent among the hip-hop, rock, rap and pop genres, even if the songs on this album tend to be hit or miss.

The album starts with an “Intro” by DJ Felli Fel, which comes across as somewhat unnecessary. “Carry Out,” a collaboration with Justin Timberlake, is a definite hit that becomes easily stuck in your head, and already scored plenty of radio rotation. Jojo’s duet with Timbaland, “Lose Control,” is a bit irritating at times due to the repetitiveness of the song, however it’s interesting to see JoJo transcend even more into hip-hop. 

Timbaland transitions nicely into “Meet In Tha Middle” featuring Bran’Nu, and “Say Something” featuring Drake, with ease by returning to his original rap roots. The producer then continues with “Tomorrow In The Bottle,” sung with Sebastian and Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, a broadening of musical styles by Timbaland, but one that still sounds like a typical Nickelback song.
Yet the record reaches an all time low thanks to Miley Cyrus in “We Belong To the Music,” which sounds suspiciously close to something that could be found on the High School Musical soundtrack. Timbaland redeems himself with Furtado and SoShy’s “Morning After Dark,” which is bound to be popular at parties and clubs. Timbaland also ends Shock Value II strong with a collaboration with The Fray and Esthero in “Undertow” and “Timothy Where You Been,” a remake of a Jet song. In “Undertow,” The Fray’s lead singer Isaac Slade steals the spotlight with his voice that smoothly glides over the Timbaland’s infectious arrangements.