Timbaland

Shock Value II (Interscope)

The release date was set back, Chris Brown’s guest spot was taken off the album following his attack on Rihanna and it’s been the victim of a bizarre internet rumour in which Jay-Z, Leona Lewis and The Jonas Brothers were (falsely) named as collaborators. But Timbaland’s finally back with a followup to 2007’s platinum ‘Shock Value’.

With its superstar guest list (Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Nickelback lead singer Chris Kroeger) and inoffensive eclecticism, ‘Shock Value II’ treads familiar ground. David Guetta tribute tracks? Check. Obligatory ‘club bangers’ followed by syrupy rock numbers (including a pretty poor effort from OneRepublic, who found fame on the last album with ‘Apologize’)? Check. Katy Perry’s ‘If We Ever Meet Again’ – an infectious piece of dance rock with a terrace-friendly chorus – along with the slickly melancholic of ‘Say Something’ (feat Drake), are among the standouts. And, as anyone who’s followed his 15- year reign of supremacy knows, Timbaland does what he does – glitchy, effervescent R&B with the odd highly profitable, if regrettable foray into MOR and Eurodance – era-definingly well. However, his musical journey has been one of refinement rather evolution. The signature ‘ficky-ficky’s are still there, as are the obligatory Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado collaborations.

The only real surprise is the unveiling of former R&B princess Brandy’s new rapping alter-ego, Bran’ Nu, and it’s not an entirely convincing one. ‘Shock Value II’ will surely burn both on the dancefloor and all the way up the charts, but real innovation will only come when Timbaland and Missy Elliot join forces again on a new album. That would be truly – and delightfully – shocking.

Tamara Gausi