REVIEWED BY CHUCK ARNOLD
CRITIC'S CHOICE
HIP-HOP
Timbaland has been so busy producing hits for everyone from Justin Timberlake to Nelly Furtado that it's a wonder he had any time to record this, his hot second solo album. With guest artists like 50 Cent, Missy Elliott and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger featured on all but one track, though, it's not really a solo project. In fact, Timbaland, rapping and doing what he passes off as singing, barely makes a cameo on some of these songs, while on a couple of cuts he doesn't appear at all. No matter, his presence is always felt behind the boards, where it counts. Some of it is what you have come to expect: "Give It to Me," featuring Furtado and Timberlake, is one of his trademark tribal grooves, and "Release," one of two other tunes with JT, brings back the futuristic funk of "SexyBack." But Timbaland is still full of sonic surprises, getting his rock on with the Hives and Fall Out Boy. Even he, though, can't make the collaboration click with Elton John on "2 Man Show."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Scream"
