Missy Elliot - The Cookbook

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I haven't heard anything yet, but "On and On" (produced by the neptunes) and "Lose Control" are supposed to be up on http://www.missy-elliott.com/ tommorow. I'm a little worried that the single isn't a Timbaland production...

Out: June 28, 2005

The Cookbook
1.) Joy feat. Mike Jones
2.) Partytime
3.) Irresistable Delicious feat. Slick Rick
4.) Lose Control feat. Ciara and Fatman Scoop
5.) My Struggle feat. Grand Puba and Mary J. Blige
6.) Meltdown
7.) Right One For You
8.) On and On feat. Pharrell
9.) We Run This
10.) Time and Time Again
11.) Gotta Move On feat. Tweet
12.) Mommy
13.) 4 My Man
14.) Tearyeyed feat. Tweet
15.) Smach The Place
16.) Other Things (Bonus Track)

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Sunday, 17 April 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

who is mike jones?

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 17 April 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

I think it's kind of great that the single isn't a Timbaland production because Missy is enough of a force that she should be able to come out the gate without Timbo running behind her (also didn't Tim produce everything on This Is Not A Test! and that album flopped compared to all of the others?).

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

But Tim is behind nearly all of my favorite Missy tracks.

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Sunday, 17 April 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

who is mike jones?

Mike Jones has as album called Who Is Mike Jones? coming out on Tuesday. For serious.

― adam (adam), Sunday, 17 April 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

Unless of course that was the joke that you were making, in which case I'm stupid.

― adam (adam), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Irresistable Delicious feat. Slick Rick

HELLO!

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

Admittedly, This is Not a Test! also came too close on the heels of Under Construction, and it's best moments were mostly rehashes of ideas from Under Construction.

I am hoping for a single close to as good as "Work It."

xxpost

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

I am guessing that the "feat. Pharrell" designation implies a falsetto hook?

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

Oh I fucking hope not.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:06 (twenty years ago)

OTM.

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

haha maybe he sings the hook from Badu's classic! Think about that one for a while.

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

GRAND PUBA!?!?!?!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

Anthony, I would like to take you to the fighting thread on ILE now for making me think about that.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

*lil' devil emoticon*

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood/8520/mjpix/pharrell.jpg

on and on and on and onnnn

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

haha sorry adam, that was the joke i was making indeed.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

foreground l-r: Anthony, me

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

http://www.trashfiction.co.uk/dick_turpin_inside.jpg

foreground l-r: Anthony, me

― The Ghost of TAKE 2 (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

is there any melody that the thought of Pharrell singing won't inspire nausea?

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

NERD feat. Blu Cantrell, "The Battle Of Evermore"

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

The Clipse feat. Pharrell - "Dust In The Wind"

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

I think distance from Timbo is what missy needs forrilla.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:34 (twenty years ago)

you can't get much less distant than the neps tho. i don't think she's ever done a tune with them before has she?

― bugged out, Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

Pharrell - "Nessun Dorma"

― The Ghost of I Just Threw Up In My Mouth A Little (Dan Perry), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

to spare the innocent: Pharrell Sings!

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 17 April 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

"This is Not a Test" may have been rehash of "Under Construction," but it was UC done right: no ballads, no filler. I thought it was her best.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 17 April 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

no ballads? what are you, the zarn?

― vahid (vahid), Sunday, 17 April 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

oops here is the fucking zarn

also no ballads = no "pussy don't fail me now", no sweet robot choir on "take away"

― vahid (vahid), Sunday, 17 April 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

ok fuck this zarn shit

― vahid (vahid), Sunday, 17 April 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)

fuck the zarn indeed.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 17 April 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

Yeh, agreed the last 1/4 of Under Construction was plagued by filler.

This is not a Test! had ballads for sure, none quite as good as "Pussy Don't Fail Me Now."

here is the zarn:
http://krofft.dementedstuff.com/thezarn.jpg

― Matt Boch (Matt Boch), Monday, 18 April 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

If the rest of the album is comparable to the first two tracks this could end up being her greatest. Stay away from the raunchy RnB Missy, no, nooooooooooooooo!

― jmeister (jmeister), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 06:43 (twenty years ago)

Actually I thikn Timbaland produced a lot less on "This is not a test" and maybe that was why the album flopped? Who knows!

― Don Rowlando (Sam Rowlands), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 07:16 (twenty years ago)

It seems Missy has now completely given up making something remotely accessible. 'On and On' is completely crazy as a first single. Amazing, I love it.

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 07:22 (twenty years ago)

Tearyeyed

I like this title, that it's rolled into one word. The way it looks on the 'page' I mean.

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

I think the only problem with This is Not a Test is that it came too close on the heels of Under Construction and it didn't have a stand-out single ("Pass the Dutch" is a good tune but it didn't have the same immediate impact of the backwards vocal trick on "Work It" - and it sounded kind of similar to "Work It") - however as an album, I'll take it over Under Construction any day.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 12:51 (twenty years ago)

I thought Missy might the one American star who'd stay free of the Neps. They really are everywhere and they were a lot more pleasent when Pharrell didn't appear on everything they did. It wouldn't have suprised me if there was less Timba stuff on it (although he his best work with her and that's saying something) because I got the impression she was more in charge of her own production these days.

Do we have a release date yet?

― Nick H (Nick H), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

The Neptunes are everywhere? I thought they only did Snoop videos these days.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

They only half do Snoop vids; Chad never appears in anything.

― Nick H (Nick H), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

He appeared in Drop It

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

I think the only problem with This is Not a Test is that it came too close on the heels of Under Construction and it didn't have a stand-out single

except it did, but Missy decided not to release them as singles - 'Let Me Fix My Weave' and 'Toyz' especially. This Is Not A Test is such an underrated album: sure, it sounds like a bunch of demos at times, but she fucking nails the mid-tempo tracks like 'Dat's What I'm Talking About'.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

I am so excited by this record. The two leaked songs sound great.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

With Alex here. It's very refreshingly 'we're in the FUTURE now' despite whatever familiarity with the signifiers there might be.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

I STILL cannot believe that bass song is timbo! I mean, I love the song he has on Southern Smoke 17 but it still sounds very definitively timbaland, you know? This was like "serious?"

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

except it did, but Missy decided not to release them as singles - 'Let Me Fix My Weave' and 'Toyz' especially

OTM - those would have made great singles.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Chad Hugo is awesome; I eagerly await the day he pokes out Pharrell's eyes and fills the gaping sockets with cardamom.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

i'm with alex and ned too! the two leaked songs are total jamz, i really like them.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Chad was in some Pepsi commercials too. He's not a total shut in or anything.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Chad Hugo is awesome; I eagerly await the day he pokes out Pharrell's eyes and fills the gaping sockets with cardamom.

Hahahah. (Also, the secret reason why Chad Hugo is the real genius in the Neptunes -- the KENNA ALBUM, PEOPLE.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

Not much in the way of hooks (at least in the sense that I listened to this tunes this morning and I can't remember the hooks), but the beats are nice, yah.

The Neps should release a Speakerboxxx/TLB type album just so we can really so what's what between Chad/Pharell.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:52 (twenty years ago)

The Neps should release a Speakerboxxx/TLB type album

The words 'be careful what you wish for' come to mind.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

seriously!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

did anyone else see that dvd doc on them that came with "clones"?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

I've said it before, but I'm waitin' on the Missy singles comp which will PWN.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

You are missing out then. She hasn't released a bad album IMO and a lot of her best tracks aren't the singles.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

Where should I start if I've dug ever single but listened to Da Real World straight through and got bored, Alex?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

The words 'be careful what you wish for' come to mind.

Oh, it would be horrible I'm sure, but we could find out once and for all who's responsible for the hot beats and who likes the cheesy rock jams!

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Raymond, I may be the wrong person to ask cuz I like Da Real World a lot.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

on that doc i mentioned they say that pharrell does the hooks & the beat and chad makes it sound the way it sounds.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Alex in SF OTM, she's got great albums!

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Ray: Start with Under Construction.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

Slocki, that makes sense.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

3 great club bangas. then 8 crap songs: 3 with phone-em-in verses from male rappers, and 5 dreary songs about mama / men / god / dead rappers that probably feature tweet.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Please tell me the Mike Jones verses are all about who's going to win Wimbledon this year, the view from Crystal Palace and how Everton have been a bit shit since they sold Thomas Gravesen.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

so i can deliver judgement as efficiently as possible: which one's the other banger, paul?

― jermaine (jnoble), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

Grand Puba! Slick Rick! Two of my favorite old school MCs ever - Holy shit I can't wait to hear this.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:03 (twenty years ago)

i don't know if 'lose control' is timbaland. on http://sashafrerejones.com/ he says that this album only has 2 tracks produced by timbaland and they're the first 2, so...

― tim_g, Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

Missy produced "Lose Control" herself. Sorry for the misinformation earlier.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

WE SLAY YOU.

Missy knows her stuff, she does...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 03:26 (twenty years ago)

Yeah that sounded way unlike timbaland.

Great song, though.

― Lethal Dizzle (djdee2005), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

yeah I'm way more curious about this album now that I know Timbaland is barely involved. dude has sounded so dried up and exhausted most of the time lately, but Missy has been more and outside producing and writing w/out him the past couple years that it'll be interesting to see her on her own and with other collaborators for these.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 04:37 (twenty years ago)

The fact that Missy produced that herself just made the song a Bajillion times better.

― modernaire, I wanna be, Wednesday, 20 April 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1500385/20050419/elliott_missy.jhtml?headlines=true

I'm pretty pleased by the news that the first single is not yet set in stone (so hopefully "Lose Control" and not "On & On") and that Rich Harrison and Kwame worked on the album.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.spinemagazine.com/pix/cookbook.jpg

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 13 June 2005 07:21 (twenty years ago)

sweet. i am really looking forward to this despite her burning me on the last one. missy my luv 4 u will never die.

― strng hlkngtn, Monday, 13 June 2005 10:23 (twenty years ago)

That cover is like the unreleased video to the scat jazz version of 'I'm Really Hot' that Missy breaks into during the original's clip. Woo!

― Negativa, True Believer (You know you love it when I'm dressed in drag) (Barima), Monday, 13 June 2005 10:28 (twenty years ago)

I've been saying this for a while now but a 20s revival really needs to happen, and I'm glad to see that Missy feels the same way. I want more ragtime interludes like the one Barima mentioned. I want videos set in speakeasies, and for her to invent a range of cocktails. I want flapper hairstyles and Great Gatsby references.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 13 June 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

Beyonce dancing with Usher? But anyway, why are the Japanese the only other ones who remember ragtime anyway? What's wrong with the world? Why aren't there more flappers? God knows I'd like more art students if they dressed up as flappers.

― Negativa, True Believer (Sheryl Crow in a Britney costume) (Barima), Monday, 13 June 2005 10:53 (twenty years ago)

nell/xtina have done this. madonna did this.

― N_RQ, Monday, 13 June 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

WE WANT REVIVAL

― Negativa, True Believer (Sheryl Crow in a Britney costume) (Barima), Monday, 13 June 2005 10:58 (twenty years ago)

"nell/xtina have done this. madonna did this."

Yes, but Missy is Missy and that cover is awesome.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 13 June 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

(it's actually '40s, on closer inspection, yeah? she looks like she's entertaining the troops or something. back to swing!)

― N_RQ, Monday, 13 June 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

Kind of gives a new meaning to "back in the day".

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 13 June 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

I like the cover because it isn't as retro as all that. Just makes me think of the eighties.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

it doesn't make a very specific reference to anything except 'retroness'. i was wrong, it isn't the 40s, the flag is all wrong. but the mic has been chosen for bling rather than authenticity yeah?

― N_RQ, Monday, 13 June 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

http://www.meyersound.com/news/2003/chicago/main.jpg

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 13 June 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

OTM I was about to say it's Chicago innit.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 13 June 2005 22:24 (twenty years ago)

the beat for that interlude in the "I'm really hot" video is sampled from this rapper on Astralwerks. Can anybody here id the artist and the song?

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)

the cover ties into the 'lose control' video

― j blount (papa la bas), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 02:43 (twenty years ago)

I'd say it's not so much the mic that furnishes the retro vibe so much as the jitterbug outfits the dudes in the background are wearing.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

There are only thirteen stars on that flag!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 03:09 (twenty years ago)

If the album is as fabulous as Missy looks on that cover, then I'm all over it. 2 Cool 4 School.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 03:13 (twenty years ago)

Me without Tim is like Jamaicans with no no curry - Missy

So I guess she's like Jamaicans with no no curry now.

Sucks.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 04:29 (twenty years ago)

my friend here is saying it looks more 40s for sure..WWII vintage. whatever it is..its HOTT

― Vichitravirya XI, Tuesday, 14 June 2005 04:55 (twenty years ago)

the beat for that interlude in the "I'm really hot" video is sampled from this rapper on Astralwerks. Can anybody here id the artist and the song?
-- kevin says relax (cockstar1...), June 14th, 2005.

Naw, i sampled "Hot Music" by Soho. You're thinking of "Superstarr Part 0" by K-Os, which sampled the same song.

― deej.., Tuesday, 14 June 2005 06:45 (twenty years ago)

hah by "i sampled" i of course meant "it sampled."

― deej.., Tuesday, 14 June 2005 06:50 (twenty years ago)

K-Os, yeah that's it. thanks!

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 06:58 (twenty years ago)

I think I was dancing to Steve "Silk" Hurley in Grant Park last year when he dropped that track - "Hot Music," I mean, not K-Os or Missy - It was like the greatest moment of ever.

― deej.., Tuesday, 14 June 2005 07:03 (twenty years ago)

"of ever", haha.

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

can anyone peg the samples in "lose control"??

― ZionTrain (ZionTrain), Sunday, 19 June 2005 00:57 (twenty years ago)

It samples "Clear" by Cybotron and some song by Les Rhythmes Digitales

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 19 June 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

As someone upthread says, it's actually a pretty sizeable chunk of it. It's more like an electro 'versioning' (in the ragga sense) exercise than just a sample source.

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 19 June 2005 01:25 (twenty years ago)

who the f. is that dude in the video at the end (the On & On lead-out) by the way? Tommy Lee??

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 19 June 2005 01:33 (twenty years ago)

Yep, looks like Tommy Lee to me.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 19 June 2005 01:44 (twenty years ago)

someone mentioned this upthread but it's not LRD she's sampling, it's "Body Work" by Hot Streak

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Sunday, 19 June 2005 06:41 (twenty years ago)

I just saw the video for "On & On" on MTV Hits, except that the titles in the corner of the screen identified it as "Lose Control"! I'm guessing that was just a titling error?

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

It's both. The beginning is "Lose Control" and then it veers into "On & On" at the end (same thing they did with "Pass The Dutch" and "Wake Up" last go around.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Oh - I see, that makes sense because I tuned into it halfway through.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

i have only listened to it once but at least (at least) 3/4ths of this is...guhhhhhh...

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

great?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

thats rather enigmatic of you.

"guhhhh"?

― deej.., Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:36 (twenty years ago)

xpost: from what i can tell. the rich harrison beat kinda turns my head into cheese curd. and vybz and m.i.a. with full drumline. the slick rick song samples "lick the balls". as usual there are a few lame ballads. but jesus h. she's "back".

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

"guhhhh" is the "eyes rolling back into head, head lolling" noise

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

there SHOULD be a song on the record where Missy, M.I.A., and Ciara dogpile a Timbo beat.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

pretty impressive non-leakage on this so far - i'd be curious to know what measures they've taken

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

well this was a promo that arrived at the store today, so i assume it'll be leaking before too long. (not by me, mind you.)

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

I have seen three different release dates for this, is it really next Tuesday or July 5 or what?

And hell yeah I'm psyched for this, as I actually really love This Is Not a Test

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

july 5, according to the all-knowing database computer

― strng hlkngtn, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

don't store promos usually go out way sooner than this? i mean it's out in 6 days, i assume you've already placed orders right?

xp ah ok

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

The last album didn't leak until the very last moment either IIRC.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

I couldn't be more excited by this btw, but like Haikunym I actually liked the last record.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

I like some of the songs on the last one, by far her most inconsistent though. "Let me Fix My Weave" should have been a single.

― deej.., Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

i am none the wiser after strongo's 'clarifications'

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

He's saying it's great. Read close.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad he has! His Timba enthusiasm of old (and the reversal) has been a big help, so for him to give props to an album that features him less is encouraging because the prospect of Missy thriving without him was a dodgy one at first.

― BARMS, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

so psyched!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

strongo's posts seriously made my day.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

I also got to hear this recently (albeit, a hacked-up, incomplete version they played at a listening session -- it was so fucking annoying when a track would play for two minutes and then just cut out because the guest's verse hadn't been added yet). But yeah, from what I could tell from two listens, it's fantastic. I haven't liked a Missy record since So Addictive, and I think this one at least comes close in scope. The version I heard had about one too many ballads, but even most of the slow shit was great (she's keeping her good ballads for herself, it seems -- the best one has a boogie bass line!). The track that samples "Apache" was my favorite and the 411 reunion of Grand Puba and Mary (rapping!!!) was best-case-scenario fangirldom.

What struck me most, though, was Missy's command throughout -- though there's some weirdness, a lot of the material is straight-up and even informed by trends (one of Tim's productions, for example, is a "Drop It"/"Wait"-esque quiet song, and I actually counted two drumline songs, including the "Apache" one). Missy's smart enough not to take on anything she can't own, and puts her sources to shame. That's a diva for ya.

― Rich (Rich), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

what is "drumline"? (sorry to look really dumb on this thread)

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

When I said it, I was referring to the recent crop of songs with a marching-band feel (the most famous of which is "Lose My Breath"). Missy takes it even further on one of the cuts (I think the one with MIA), by sort of softening the horns, deepening the bass and giving it an echo so that it sounds like it was recorded in a stadium.

― Rich (Rich), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 17:44 (twenty years ago)

actually, there's nothing "lame" about the ballads at all. this album is fucking great. hooray music!

― strng hlkngtn, Thursday, 23 June 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

Lookin' forward to playin' this at the club if it turns out on time. Jess is the Meister.

I think Tim's plans right now mainly involve Kiley Dean, and possibly Coldplay.

― BARMS, Thursday, 23 June 2005 07:35 (twenty years ago)

-- Rich (richju...), June 22nd, 2005.

What, like "Tusk" quarter of a century ago, except that actually was recorded in a stadium?

Revolutions in sound!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 07:44 (twenty years ago)

Yes. Exactly like Tusk.

― Rich (Rich), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Minus the innovation, emotional resonance, innovative production, genuine musical adventure and genuine 112-piece marching band.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

for "innovation" read "imagination."

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

go for a nice walk, dude.

― strng hlkngtn, Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:28 (twenty years ago)

"black american marching band culture directly springs from fleetwood mac."

― strng hlkngtn, Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

jess, cut up or gut up.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:32 (twenty years ago)

Miss E Eliott is not worth taking seriously. The minor innovations of her better known hits "Workout" and "Get Your Skates On" would have been more great aknowledge if there had been a song to acompanni them. She is just Lesley from Big Brother after falling in the treacle barrel, no? :)

― Comstock Carabinieri (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 12:34 (twenty years ago)

If this is the clarion call to the big backlash, you've got to come up with something better.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:02 (twenty years ago)

I started the backlash two years ago, pal.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

Clearly Marcello has more genuine, adventurous, innovative and emotionally resonant things to listen to - like St. Etienne.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

"We Invented The Backlash"

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

I thought the anti-Missy party line was that she's a Dr. Seuss nonsense rhymer with no skills who runs on reflected glow of Timbaland's genius. That I can see (if not buy; there's some genuine craziness there, and it's coming from her). But to flat-out deny that her songs are emotionally resonant... I mean, look at the first 50 posts of the "Work It" thread, until the googlers showed up: it's basically dozens of grown men squealing with delight.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

(xpost x 2)

Absolutely.

Saint Etienne don't record songs about how they're better than every other group.

Saint Etienne don't record songs bragging about how much money they've got.

Saint Etienne don't record songs slagging off other artists' sexual prowess.

Saint Etienne don't record "songs" based on fourth-generation recycled, outmoded production tropes.

Saint Etienne don't have "attitude."

So yes...I'd rather listen to Saint Etienne for a million millennia than listen to Missy Elliott for one nanosecond.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Missy is funner.

― fandango (fandango), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

sometimes

― fandango (fandango), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

I'd love to hear a St. Etienne record that fulfilled that criteria.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

See, that's why I love Black Box Recorder. They are quite like St. Etienne except they *do* have songs about how they're better than any other group ("School of Song") and bragging about how much money they got ("Being Number One"). Not to mention attitude!

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:22 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I would say "attitude" is pretty much mandatory for any artist that I listen to regularly.

Anyway, after reading that list of Marcello's, Missy still sounds more interesting than St. Etienne to me - even though most of her songs are not actually about those things anyway. Nor are her lyrics mostly "Dr. Seuss nonsense rhymes" - that's a small part of what she does, though perhaps that's the impression one would get from her best-known singles like "Work It".

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 23 June 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

Saint Etienne don't record songs slagging off other artists' sexual prowess.

totally what i look for in a band!!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 23 June 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

"Saint Etienne don't record "songs" based on fourth-generation recycled, outmoded production tropes."

They don't?!?!?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 23 June 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

http://www.thelionclan.com/images/Dawn/Troll%20War%20Band.jpg

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 23 June 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

Haha!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 23 June 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

Leakage...

― JoB (JoB), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Excitement!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for the heads up. Getting it now. WIll post YSI in a few. Or perhaps megaupload would be a better idea...

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

The BARMS says..."JUST BRING IT."

― BARMS, Friday, 24 June 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

Jesus, torrentspy is taking forever. I soo need to get an Oink account again.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

Missy Elliott - Bad Man (Feat. Vybz Kartel & M.I.A.)

― ana (ana), Friday, 24 June 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

This is drastically different than the listening-session version, which is kind of a shame.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:04 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, Vybz is great, MIA is OK, Missy's accent is silly in places, and the whole track needs a bassline (something dubby underneath the 2 note synth). It's OK I guess. More interesting than On and On, anyway.

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

I'm uploading it now. And listening to it.

"forget about it like the world forgot sisquo"

hahaha

I hate the Mike Jones track, though. Worst gimmick ever.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:16 (twenty years ago)

I hate Missy Elliott, I hate M.I.A., and I hate this album. Good day to you all.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=18J5JDAO

Enjoy.

I really, really like "My Struggles." Standout so far. "Meltdown" is quite nice, very lush for a Storch production..

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Thanks Brainwasher

― snowballing (snowballing), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

grabbing it now..... many thanks!

― supertwerp (supertwerp), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:37 (twenty years ago)

"We Run This" is BANANAS. B-A-N-A-N-A-S! (sorry, I couldn't resist).

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

w-w-wait! how do we accept this upload?

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Does this come out on Tues?

― deej.., Friday, 24 June 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

July 7, I think.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

ok i got it, megaupload doesn't work on safari, it seems.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

Alright, just a fewe tracks left... I'm not sure what I think of it. There are absolutely killer tracxks, but then quite a few boring sappy/syrupy ballads, and songs that go nowhere (like that Mike Jones track).... hm... It'll probably grow on me.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

Eh...I was hoping Mya would drop a better verse than that.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 24 June 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

Shit, I think "Time and Time" again was the ballad with the awesome bass line and it didn't make the final cut. Sucks.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 24 June 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Sorry. I don't know what I'm talking about (or how to use quotes). "Gotta Move On" is the one that didn't make the album. I'm shaken.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 24 June 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

So wait what is the tracklist now?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 24 June 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

I think I want to wait to hear this album properly. WHERE IS MY PROMO THAT I WAS PROMISED!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 24 June 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

1. Joy (featuring Mike Jones)
2. Partytime
3. Irresistible Delicious (featuring Slick Rick)
4. Lose Control (featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop)
5. My Struggles (featuring Mary J. Blige and Grand Puba)
6. Meltdown
7. On and On
8. We Run This
9. Remember When
10. My Man (featuring Fantasia)
11. Can't Stop
12. Teary Eyed
13. Mommy
14. Click Clack
15. Time and Time Again
16. Bad Man (featuring Vybz Cartel and M.I.A.)

― Rich Juzwiak (Rich), Friday, 24 June 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

Alright, it's grown on me a bit, but I must say the first 7 tracks are terrific then it sort of falls off... Rich Harrison's song is disappointingly tame... the Fantastia song is shite. And please, Missy, quit clogging your albums with saccharine ballads and stick to the rapping. Pls.K.Thx.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 25 June 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

I thought this was supposed to be a double album?

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Saturday, 25 June 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

we run this is great!!

and missy's ballads are great too... do you not like her first album at all?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 25 June 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Bad Man is such a disappointment (thanks anyway Ana!) The song was ruined the moment Missy decided to do the accent herself.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Saturday, 25 June 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

Ah, "Partytime" samples the vocal hook from "Weekend" by Class Action/Phreek.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 25 June 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

So wrong about "My Man" AND the Harrison track. This album is beyond fantastic -- the only weak spots are "Partytime," which I think is the actual disappointingly tame moment, and "Click Clack," which is all boring commerical Southern and, like, a safety net in case everything else flopped.

I think "Remember When" is my favorite. Talk about a great ballad! If Missy only rapped she'd EASILY be half of the artist she is.

― Rich (Rich), Saturday, 25 June 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

Alright, haivng heard it now, my cynical prediction: 3 great club bangas. then 8 crap songs: 3 with phone-em-in verses from male rappers, and 5 dreary songs about mama / men / god / dead rappers that probably feature tweet is wrong...

There's 1.5 club bangas (part time and lose sontrol...sortof)
Only 2 phone-em-ins! Though the Mike Jones track is *truly* atrocious
Throwback tune? Check. Ballads without hooks? check.

― paulhw (paulhw), Saturday, 25 June 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

Mr. Snrub is on to something

― jkhkjhjkh, Sunday, 26 June 2005 08:39 (twenty years ago)

crack

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 26 June 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

The beat on Joy is reeeediculous! This is great.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

Which HALF of the beat haha.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha it just got to the Mike Jones part! Oh shit!

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

By the way, interview with Timbaland in Scratch magazine that just came out - he's lost a lot of weight and is getting in shape, getting ready to produce for new Beat Club artists, wants to work with M.I.A. badly.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

Did he say anything about his lack of work on the Coobook? Did he and Missy have a fallling out or something?

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

Nah, I just skimmed it but I'm pretty sure he's just doing other stuff right now. He does have the opening 2 tracks on the album. As I'm typing I'm listening to the JLC remix of "Lose Control," the part where Ciara raps is awesome! Anyway he said his next shit is some Japanese-influenced deal.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

In line with his bhangra-influenced and egyptian-influenced beats.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

Haha what the fuck I actually like the song w M.I.A.! And I think her part works really well.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

"Joy" is definitely one of my favorite Timbo beats in awhile.

― deej.., Sunday, 26 June 2005 17:32 (twenty years ago)

LL, who once put a muscle-bound man’s face in the sand, was the main inspiration for Mosley’s new gym habit. That and Mosley seeing his former 332-pound self in Jigga’s retirement DVD.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 26 June 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

"I'll smother YOU in hot sauce!"

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 26 June 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

OK, that opening skit when she started bantering about "my favorite episode Fear Factorrrr" was teh roffle.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

That's a good skit. The other two are less good. It's a pretty consistent record.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

Despite being all over the map production and tempo wise.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

Haha why is no one else going on and on and on about HOW FUCKING GREAT this album is?!

'Bad Man' is as good as everyone was expecting when they saw the names Vybz Kartel and M.I.A. beside it. DRUMS!
Mike Jones brings his own beat to the party on 'Joy'!
'Mommy' is terrific and terrifying.
"I'm Mary J Blige, for a fact I don't rap" hahaha.
'Partytime' is hilarious.
'We Run This' is maybe the most fun ever.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 4 July 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

I'm loving it.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

I love love love "Joy."

― deej.., Monday, 4 July 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

i hate most of the slow jams, but everything else is fantastic. rich harrison is our nu-god.

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

I love this album so far and yes Mark, Rich Harrison is our nu-god! Is it too early for a Rich Harrison rough guide C70?

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

"Click Clack" is as good faux-crunk (Shondrae killin' it as usual) as "We Run This" is faux-whatever it is and "Badman" is faux dancehall.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:15 (twenty years ago)

'Meltdown' kind of reminds me of 'Brooklyn Masala' from last year's Masta Ace, which was really nice for summer.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

click clack is just 8ball and mjg's 'no drama' reversed.

― f-a-b-o-l-o-u-s (adamwest), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 01:03 (twenty years ago)

I have sort of always struggled a bit with Missy full-lengths for some reason and yet after two plays this is sounding effortlessly album-of-year. "Tearyeyed" YES. It is all succulent. Bloody HURRAH.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

I've only just really gotten into 'This Is Not A Test' as an album. But this is really easy to listen to. First 8 tracks are excellent.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

"We Run This" is faux-whatever it is

Apache! Its actually my least-favorite track on the album. Favorite moments = missy's verse on the 2nd track, Mike Jones on the first track, and Vybz Kartel on the last. It's all pretty good, and I like most of the ballads. The Scott Storch is OK-ish. He continues to not blow me away and be totally just "there" without giving me strong feelings in any direction.

― deej.., Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah the reversesd you don't want drama was really bizarre. I like how Missy does the faux-southern accent thang.

― deej.., Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:46 (twenty years ago)

I was pretty disappointed by this album. But I felt the same way about This Is Not A Test, and now I love that album (although I liked the singles a lot, which is not the case on The Cookbook). Under Construction is pretty weak in my opinion. M.I.A. sounds very lackluster (I don't think she's all that dynamic of an MC), I love Slick Rick as much as the next guy, but eh, skits suck, slow jams weak as usual. I'm curious to how this will wear on the rest of you (is anyone still saying Gorillaz is album of the year?).

― Gavin, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 23:35 (twenty years ago)

I have unchecked tracks 3 6 9 15 - and now I'm having fun.

Joy, it's hard to describe how I feel about joy... I feel this song is naners. NANERS!

Oh and as for the neptunes conversation earlier, I read an interview with chad where he said pharell basically does everything and then he swoops in and adds a little something.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

nanners

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 00:14 (twenty years ago)

I'd hoped to have reported on this by now, but Tower mysteriously wasn't stocking it when I went in today!

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:50 (twenty years ago)

This is great. Persomally, I'm glad there's far less Tim on this one than usual. I thought he was the weakest link on This Is Not A Test! and the ballads kind of saved it. Here, a couple of the ballads are rub, but "Meltdown" and "Teary Eyed" are wonderful. And the rest is fun, fun, fun.

But lay off the "comedy" accents please, Missy! All the skits are well dodgy.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 09:09 (twenty years ago)

I think I love this album.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

I need to buy this at the first opportunity.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:04 (twenty years ago)

I love at the end of "4 My Man" the way they scratch Fantasia's ad libs in like a sample, it sounds so great.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

Fantasia has such a cool voice.

― deej.., Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:41 (twenty years ago)

Finally ILM sees the light!

(about Fantasia that is)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

Can't Stop is !!!!!!

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

the whole thing is !!!!!!!
I keep listening to it
three times in twelve hours

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

I've been listening to it so much that I haven't even cracked open the R Kelly and Anthony Hamilton records that I got at the same time (and I'm excited about those!).

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 7 July 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO POUNDS!

I'm getting this tonight. W00T!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

And I'll probably even open it in a month!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

This is getting some pretty mediocre reviews across the board, surprisingly.. I suppose the critics are done with Missy?

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I don't get it. Maybe the strong R&B factor and presence of commercial trends is turning people off? Whatever, I gushed about it on Stylus.

― Rich (Rich), Thursday, 7 July 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

This album is f***ing sick. Album of the year?

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 11 July 2005 02:06 (twenty years ago)

Fantasia really DOES sound good on this, doesn't she?

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 11 July 2005 02:27 (twenty years ago)

It's neck-and-neck with Roisin for my album of the year. Top 3, minimum.

And, yeah, Fantasia sounds awesome...her work with Missy is generally great (especially "Good Lovin'" from her own album, which is EXACTLY the kinda vampy throwback she needs to be doing all the time).

― Rich (Rich), Monday, 11 July 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

Why in the allmusic review do they call click clack a houston-style song?

― deej.., Monday, 11 July 2005 06:26 (twenty years ago)

Why do people not know stuff?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

Its not about not knowing, its about getting paid while not knowing! ; )

― deej.., Monday, 11 July 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

*cough* our government *cough*

― Not saying we shouldn't be criticizing them though. (Alex in SF), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

I just bought this yesterday. I am finishing my first listenthrough right now.

Okay, so fucking awesome.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 14 July 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

I can't wait to see the critical appraisals of these records in 10 years once the excitement has worn off. Disclaimer: I'm a causal admirer of Missy's singles. I doubt that she'll be dumped on in ten years, but the appraisal of these records w/ time and distance should be interesting -- they've sort of come out one after another, haven't they?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 14 July 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

All I know as that Under Construction and The Cookbook are pretty much the epitome of what I look for when see Missy Elliott's name.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 14 July 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

I've only listened to the first 2/3rds so far, but its terrific.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 14 July 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

I'll bet that in 10 years this'll be remembered as one of her best.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 14 July 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

yeah I'm really loving this album so far.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

wait till you guys get to "trapped in the pantry parts 1-11" at the end!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

is she a better producer without Timbo? I was relistening to This Is Not A Test (my favorite album) and the self-produced "Toys" opened up real possibilities.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

there are only 2 completely self-produced tracks ("Lose Control" and "Remember When"), but a lot of my favorite tracks are the ones produced by people I've never heard of.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

I just bought this at lunch! Report later.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

Missy certainly picks better "unknown" producers than, say, Nas.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

How's the Slick Rick song? Does he do full verses???

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

Missy certainly picks better "unknown" producers than, say, Nas.

but how hard is that??

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 14 July 2005 17:59 (twenty years ago)

Slick Rick + Missy = nasty sex talk

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 14 July 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

The slick rick thing is great; Missy does a great impersonation!
Also: "causal admirer"

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 July 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

but how hard is that??

Okay, WAY better.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 14 July 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

How many "unknown" producers are on this though? Almost half is name people almost everyone has heard of (Tim x2, Neps, Storch, Harrison, Shondrae, Missy) and I just assumed the rest were fairly well known too (just not by me.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 14 July 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Cardamom!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 14 July 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

producers on the Cookbook that I'm not familiar with (and if anyone knows who they are, feel free to explain): Craig X Brockman, Qu'ran H. Goodman, Rhemario "Rio Beats" Webber, Saint Nick, Associates & Keith Lewis, The Avila Brothers, and Warryn Campbell.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 14 July 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

What about those people?

― Alice Munn, Thursday, 14 July 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

Craig Brockman has been one of Missy's longtime co-production standbys alongside Nisan. Started helping out on Under Construction I think (the ballads) and was also a major player on Tweet's first album (not sure about the new one). I imagine he's been involved in quite a few of the external production jobs Missy's done - the Monica track maybe? etc.

On first listen I like The Cookbook a lot (much better than This Is Not A Test) but I wish that Missy wouldn't be so insistent on distinguishing b/w r&b and hip hop - in retrospect maybe what lifts Under Construction so far above This Is Not A Test was the presence of great, tight pop songs like "Bring The Pain" and "Play That Beat" where all the different aspects of her sound are set against eachother.

In that sense "Can't Stop" is definitely a big step in the right direction.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I thought This is Not A Test had much more great, tight, pop songs than any of its predecessors.

At this point the differences b/w Missy albums are negligible at best. She'll always make a good not great album filled with two or three undeniable tracks, plesant filler, dull ballads, and one exampmle of treacle. Her consistency is her hobgoblin and as such it's not worth raising a fuss. She's like the Neil Young of hip-hop/R&B.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

Isn't Craig X Brockman the guy who worked on the last album and 4 my people (with another guy, Nisan somethingerother - x-post). Anyway 1st half of album = best thing Missy has done since Miss E, 2nd half = worst thing she has done ever (bar the Rich Harrison track). Bad Man in particular is fucking terrible. Has the passage immediately following a cry of DRUMS!!!! ever sounded so limp?

― Vanessa Mae, Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

why does everyone hate 'Bad Man'? It's incredible.

Missy's inconsistency is a total red herring, there are at most 1-2 dodgy tracks on each of her albums, which is completely negligible. the ballads on The Cookbook are pretty good and will probably grow on me even more (esp 'Time And Time Again'), the ballads on This Is Not A Test are the best songs.

i'm surprised no one's mentioned 'Mommy' yet, it's funny as hell.

i'm also surprised that no one's noticed that 'Teary Eyed' = Pink's 'Family Portrait'

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I agree.

― Alice Munn, Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:27 (twenty years ago)

I really love "Best Friend" on the first album; one of the most honest, touching women-to-woman songs ever written. And the robo-soul of "Take Away." And "Pussycat."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:30 (twenty years ago)

The ballads on the first couple albums are so great, Alfred! And I actually like these too, although they're not as good. Lex is OTM about Bad Man, but I have to be honest - Vybz K stole the show.

― deej.., Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

someone needs to segue from Vitalic's 'Fanfares' into 'Bad Man' the next time I'm in a club, I will totally lose my shit if I ever hear this

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:46 (twenty years ago)

actually 'Bad Man' into 'Fanfares' would be better but whatevs, needs to be done like now

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 14 July 2005 22:47 (twenty years ago)

She'll always make a good not great album filled with two or three undeniable tracks, plesant filler, dull ballads, and one exampmle of treacle

This is foolishness. The ballads are often the best songs, and there's usually very little if any filler.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 14 July 2005 23:46 (twenty years ago)

Sez you. Listen to "I'm Not Perfect" or "Can You Hear Me" again.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 14 July 2005 23:53 (twenty years ago)

OK, but you have to listen to "All in My Grill" or "You Don't Know".

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

The ballads are often the best songs, and there's usually very little if any filler

Strange then that she has never released a ballad as a single.

and there's usually very little if any filler

I could go along with that for the first four album, but the last two have at least been half and half. I meanon a lot of the tracks in the second half of this album, Missy sounds completed uninspired (and with half assed oldskoolminimalzm beats like Mommy and Bad Man, who could blame her).

― Vanessa Mae, Friday, 15 July 2005 00:03 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

dude, I love "Take Away" and "Best Friend"! Her ballads are good when they're good. I haven't got the new album yet, so we'll see.

"Take Away" was the third single from "So Addictive"

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:04 (twenty years ago)

Almost as half assed as my typing.

Didn't realize that about 'Take Away' (don't think it came out here is Australia) - easily my favourite ballad by her.

― Vanessa Mae, Friday, 15 July 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)

Strange then that she has never released a ballad as a single

"All in my Grill" was also a single from Da Real World.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:10 (twenty years ago)

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/reviews/missy_cookbook2005.html this review deals with these issues, perhaps a little harshly!

I've only heard "Miss E..." and "Under Construction" but I'm leaning towards the wary myself (UC is fab, Miss E, to the half-way point, unstoppable, but the momentum and track flow is f*cked after that to a degree I can't recall hearing on many other albums ever). I might wait to pick up "The Cookbook" at some stupidly low second hand price off amazon (like all her others sell at) rather than wait for the singles collection :-P

xpost - "4 My People" wasn't a single in the US? Was it the (E) thing?

― fandango (fandango), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:12 (twenty years ago)

Oh, I did actually know that. I still don't agree her ballads are her best tracks tho, but should do more fact checking. She probably released a ballad from her 1st album as well.

― Vanessa Mae, Friday, 15 July 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

Listen to "I'm Not Perfect"

OK, I just did. It wasn't boring. Pretty good song actually.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

"All In My Grill" is a ballad!? wtf

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 15 July 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

That review is awful! I'm not a big fan of Coke-machine glow.

― deej.., Friday, 15 July 2005 01:03 (twenty years ago)

The idea that Miss E or Da Real World has "filler" is nuts to me.

― deej.., Friday, 15 July 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

yeah that review is terrible, although if this part -- Some chick named M.I.A. keeps up pretty well with the awkward marching band funk of “Bad Man,” and, while I’ve never heard of her before in my life, I believe she may be someone to keep an eye on. -- is sarcastic then it's pretty funny.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 15 July 2005 01:44 (twenty years ago)

I wish that Missy wouldn't be so insistent on distinguishing b/w r&b and hip hop.

Could you elaborate on this? I don't hear such a great divide (especially on something like "Irresistable Delicious," which makes the splash of an Olympian when it dives from hip-hop to the R&B hook). Same with "Meltdown." In fact, I think she's more fluid then ever when bouncing between genres (and even bouncing between trend-chasing material and the more avant tracks).

"All N My Grill" is not a ballad. "Beep Me 911" is. That was also a single (first album, no less).

I'll stand by "My Man" forever.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 03:01 (twenty years ago)

"Beep Me 911"...thanks for reminding me about the best Timbaland production ever.

― kevin says relax (daddy warbuxx), Friday, 15 July 2005 03:19 (twenty years ago)

"Beep Me 911" was actually the song that made me come out as a Missy fan. I hated "The Rain" and refused to admit to others that I liked "Sock It To Me".

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 15 July 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

"The idea that Miss E or Da Real World has "filler" is nuts to me. "

Yeah - people used to say Missy had a lot of filler even then, which shocked me as those two albums have among the lowest filler quotients in hip hop/R&B!

"Could you elaborate on this? I don't hear such a great divide (especially on something like "Irresistable Delicious," which makes the splash of an Olympian when it dives from hip-hop to the R&B hook). Same with "Meltdown." In fact, I think she's more fluid then ever when bouncing between genres (and even bouncing between trend-chasing material and the more avant tracks)."

I think this is one of the things that makes The Cookbook a better album than the previous one - that fluidity. BUT she still perseveres with these very carefully delineated ideas of rap and R&B - the former has the chunky beats and the old-skool flow and the latter has the slow clammy production and lyrics about what Missy needs to do keep her man etc. So even when she moves between the two on a single track there's a sense of it being more like two tracks welded together rather than some point in between the two.

There's nothing wrong with this division per se, and it can actually have great results. On the other hand, there's something about the balance of intensities that Missy achieved on a lot of her earlier work (stuff like "Sock It 2 Me", "Hot Boys", "You Don't Know", "We Did It", "One Minute Man", "Bring The Pain", "Play That Beat") which I adore - R&B songs performed as if everyone involved is unaware that they're not actually hip hop tracks. And it's not like those albums didn't have proper honest to goodness ballads as well.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 15 July 2005 03:25 (twenty years ago)

she still perseveres with these very carefully delineated ideas of rap and R&B

Yes, and there's even support to what you're saying ("Time and Time Again": "Lemme stop playin' wit y'all motherfuckers, this ain't no rap record. Get back to the hook"). I guess I can see what you're saying in a lot of places, except for "Meltdown," which is a hip-hop song performed as if everyone involved is unaware that it's actually an R&B track.

I think what I mean when I admire The Cookbook's "fluidity" is that I really dig the sculptures that the welding produces. It all just makes so much sense and sounds so natural to me.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

That should be "explicit support."

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 04:17 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I know what you mean Rich.

― Alice Munn, Friday, 15 July 2005 04:36 (twenty years ago)

"I think what I mean when I admire The Cookbook's "fluidity" is that I really dig the sculptures that the welding produces. It all just makes so much sense and sounds so natural to me."

Yeah I do like this too Rich! And The Cookbook is a very good album. It's more just that I have this idea in my head wrt what "classic" Missy sounds like (and I don't mean "Get Ur Freak On" here, I mean more what I would consider to be the "meat and potatoes" of her earlier work) and it's hard for me to let go...

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 15 July 2005 06:49 (twenty years ago)

The only one I don't really like is the apache rip, its just so un-fun.

― deej.., Friday, 15 July 2005 06:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, the way I feel is that as long as she's busting her ass on the songwriting (which she does all over the place here, re: sculptures), she can go wherever she wants sonically. She's way underrated as a writer.

You're kidding, deej! You have to be. What isn't fun about "We Run This?" Black dudes got big wood!

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 07:03 (twenty years ago)

The beat! Its like an imitation of the fun people had with apache. but not the fun itself! Lose Control is a much better way to capture the old skool spirit!

― deej.., Friday, 15 July 2005 07:16 (twenty years ago)

"Beep Me 911" was actually the song that made me come out as a Missy fan. I hated "The Rain" and refused to admit to others that I liked "Sock It To Me".

Forget Ned, the resemblances (and differences) between Dan and I are straight out of The Clone Saga.

― BARMS, Friday, 15 July 2005 07:20 (twenty years ago)

The thing I like about The Cookbook over ...Test! is the energy of it. ...Test!, although I liked it loads to start with, grew really tied really quickly. The first four tracks on Cookbook are fucking faultless, and while I agree that the second half isn't as good as the first, it's still not bad, is it.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Friday, 15 July 2005 07:34 (twenty years ago)

Lose Control is a much better way to capture the old skool spirit!

A less obvious way, definitely.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 07:45 (twenty years ago)

while I agree that the second half isn't as good as the first

Which is par for the path with Missy albums anyway!

― BARMS, Friday, 15 July 2005 07:46 (twenty years ago)

Insanity!

8. Mr. D.J. Listen Listen
9. Checkin' for You (Interlude) Listen Listen
10. Stickin' Chickens - Da Brat Listen Listen
11. Smooth Chick Listen Listen
12. We Did It Listen Listen
13. Throw Your Hands Up (Interlude) Listen Listen
14. She's a Bitch Listen Listen
15. U Can't Resist Listen Listen
16. Crazy Feelings - Beyoncé Knowles Listen Listen
17. Religious Blessings (Outro) Listen Listen

9. 4 My People Listen Listen Listen
10. Bus-A-Bus Interlude Listen Listen Listen
11. Whatcha Gon' Do Listen Listen Listen
12. Step Off Listen Listen Listen
13. X-Tasy Listen Listen Listen
14. Slap! Slap! Slap! Listen Listen Listen
15. I've Changed Listen Listen Listen
16. One Minute Man (Remix) Listen Listen Listen

― deej.., Friday, 15 July 2005 07:59 (twenty years ago)

The second half of The Cookbook contains 'We Run This', 'Can't Stop', 'Teary Eyed', 'Mommy', 'Click Clack', 'Time And Time Again' and 'Bad Man' => it is not a drop-off at all!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 15 July 2005 08:00 (twenty years ago)

I'd add "Remember When" and "My Man" (and take off "Click Clack") to support that.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 08:04 (twenty years ago)

'Click Clack' sounds like Missy's channeling that Ebony Eyez song, it's strange to hear her biting someone else's style so obviously but still pretty good. I'll probably come round to the ballads at some point, just not yet...

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 15 July 2005 08:07 (twenty years ago)

Has the passage immediately following a cry of DRUMS!!!! ever sounded so limp?

You mean, the part with the drums? Limp? Really?

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 15 July 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

All N My Grill" is not a ballad

OK, maybe it's not strictly a ballad - but that's part of what Missy does, blending the ballads, r&b, and hip-hop tracks together. In any case it's not a straight-up club banger like later singles like "Get Ur Freak On" and "Work It".

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Sure. No argument there -- I just meant to emphasize the other extreme: that it's not a straight-up ballad like "Remember When" or "Take Away."

Meanwhile: it's strange to hear her biting someone else's style so obviously but still pretty good

Yeah, she's biting quite a bit throughout The Cookbook, which is fine with me because if you can own it, do it. It often just makes her sound better. I just think "Click Clack" is ugly.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

I love the queasy, pseudo-ballad feel of "All 'n My Grill" - it's like footage of lions where they look totally relaxed and scarily alert at the same time. I always mentally group it with Kelis's "Mafia".

I just put on the second half of Supa Dupa Fly to check out if it accorded with this whole "second half patchy" rule. It does much more so than Da Real World and Miss E: that three song stretch of understated grooves and ultra-forced rapping from "Don't Be Commin In My Face" to "Why You Hurt Me". Although I love "I'm Talking" and "Gettaway".

The second half of Da Real World is definitely as strong as the first, though Lil Kim's ranting bloats it a bit. "We Did It" in particular is fantastic, a really underrated track.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 15 July 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

I think "Izzy Izzy Ahh" is a second-half highlight. But yeah, SDF suffers from having all of its singles up front.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 15 July 2005 15:28 (twenty years ago)

The second half of Da Real World is definitely as strong as the first

OTM - I think DRW may be the most consistent Missy album, but I like the second half of Cookbook just fine.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 July 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

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