Shock Value II

iTunes Review

The second volume of Timbaland’s landmark Shock Value is even more audacious than the original. While there are appearances from the mainstays of Timbaland’s clique (Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, Keri Hilson), the majority of Shock Value II is devoted to collaborations with new protégés. “If We Ever Meet Agin” (with Katy Perry) and “We Belong to the Music (with Miley Cyrus) continue Tim’s primary interest, which is transforming unlikely partners with his dazzling and futuristic club beats. His songs with Daughtry and the Fray are solid, although those band’s individual styles seem to overtake Timbaland’s idiosyncratic concepts. The anthemic “Marchin On” (with OneRepublic) presents a more even match-up. As one might expect, the Timberlake and Furtado songs are the album’s strongest, although songs with JoJo (“Lose Control”) and R&B singer Brandy (who reinvents herself as Bran’ Nu for “Symphony” and “Meet In Tha Middle”) could earn those singers places on Tim’s regular roster. “Timothy Where You Been” interpolates Australian rock band Jet’s 2003 song “Timothy”, as Timbaland relives his recent successes and shouts out his famous friends.